Rory McIlroy is never shy of backing himself or his own opinions on golf matters and he’s been on fine form with members of the press talking about team golf ahead of the upcoming TGL.
McIlroy is one of the key men in getting the TGL off the ground and he will be part of the Boston Common team looking to win.
Of course, McIlroy is always outspoken if he feels there’s a need to be and there’s two subjects he’s been more than vocal on – LIV Golf, and Team USA being paid for the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy has said he’d pay to play in the Ryder Cup in comments against the US team, while when it comes to LIV, his history goes way back.
And speaking to the media today about TGL and team golf, McIlroy couldn’t resist a small dig at both the US team and LIV.
Rory McIlroy says what TGL is already doing something better than LIV Golf
In comments shared by Rex Hoggard from a media scrum with McIlroy, the Northern Irishman was asked about TGL being a rival to LIV Golf, before seizing his chance to bring up not being paid.
“Yeah, absolutely Team Golf has been around since 1927 in the professional game, you go back to the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said.
With the reporter quipping back ‘they didn’t get paid back then’, McIlroy used his chance to get the first dig into the Team USA players.
“Some of us still don’t get paid!!,” McIlroy chirped back.
“But I think the one thing that…what TGL has done a really good job of is trying to locate the different teams in cities or geographies where you can really plug into the wider sports fans of that city.
“So obviously with Boston Common and everyone knowing, I guess, the intensity in which Boston fans support their teams, trying to plug into that. So, plugging into the sort of Red Sox fans and obviously everyone else, whether it be Celtics, Bruins, Patriots, I think to me that at least gives you a connection to something.
“Now that we have Keegan as well. He’s from that area, so he’s proud to be playing for a Boston sports team. So, we have that in our favour. I think that’s what TGL has done maybe a little bit better to connect with certain fan bases than say, LIV, for example.”
What TLG is planning for the future with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods involved
The TGL has caused plenty of conversation and at the moment, it has the star power to draw eyes to the product and keep interest.
Like any new venture, though, the key will be maintaining things.
However, a TGL executive has spoken of plans to ensure there’s enough for fans to keep wanting to come back, such as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods not playing in the very first week, for example.
Over time, it will depend how the TGL is shown to viewers at home and also how the in-arena experience feels. If they can get that right, then TGL might just be a success.
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