For an opening week, TGL seemed to get off to an extremely positive start, with the players involved clearly embracing the format as The Bay secured an emphatic victory over New York.
After more than two years of anticipation, TGL has finally arrived. The opening game saw Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark and Ludvig Aberg take down Xander Schauffele, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rickie Fowler.
The match itself did not prove to be the most exciting contest. The Bay were ahead from the first hole and had the match all but won by the time the singles started. However, TGL has clearly whet the fans’ appetite for what is to come.
Max Homa suggested that it would be an incredible experience. And, while there do appear to some teething problems, particularly when it comes to some of the presentation, there is reason to be optimistic.
Anthony Kim makes LIV Golf claim after TGL’s debut
It is not difficult to imagine TGL attracting a new audience to the sport, while also giving golf fans a new way to look at some of the best players on the PGA Tour.
Of course, it is not the only team format being played at the elite level right now. LIV Golf will start its fourth season next month. And it is probably fair to assume that TGL was, in part, inspired by the offering from LIV.
LIV has come in for a lot of criticism. And it seems that some feel that the league has been treated unfairly with many now excited about TGL.
Anthony Kim returned to golf last year on LIV. And he has now reacted to TGL’s debut night on X…
Why Kim is so wrong about criticism of LIV Golf
What LIV’s defenders do not seem to understand, or choose to ignore perhaps, is the format is not the biggest problem in the eyes of many.
Yes, there are problems with the LIV format. It has arguably worked too hard to be everything the PGA Tour is not, and thus, is offering too much when it comes to team and individual titles at each event.
But if you rewind the clock back to June 2022, you will find that many were also impressed by how polished the first LIV event at Centurion proved to be. It was hard not to be impressed by what they put together given how quickly it came together.
Instead, the heaviest criticism surrounded the PIF, and the players who offered pretty poor responses to genuine questions about making the move.
Admittedly, the PGA Tour certainly does not have the moral high ground any longer after the framework agreement was announced.
But it is strange to suggest that support for TGL is hypocritical of all those who criticise LIV.
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