Rory: TGL is more NBA than LIV

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Golf fans, good morning as we prepare for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

1. Woods on ankle and leg

AP report …”Tiger Woods claims to be pain-free in his right ankle, which was fused last April. The rest of the leg is still a work-in-progress.”

• There’s no sign of him returning to the golf course.

• “My ankle is fine.” Woods stated Tuesday that he has no pain at all where they fused his ankle. “That pain has completely disappeared.” “It’s not the pain that has been compensated, but other areas.”

• He compared the procedure to when he had lower back fusion surgery. He said that the L5 vertebrae and S1 vertebrae are fine.

• He said, “But the areas around me are where I had my issues and still have them.” “So, if you fix one area, the others will have to become hypermobile in order to get around, which can cause some issues.”

2. Tiger’s TGL Team Announced

In a press statement …”TGL, presented by SoFi – the new, tech-forward prime time team sport league created by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and TMRW Sports, in partnership with the PGA TOUR – announced today the formation of Jupiter Links Golf Club. The ownership group is led by Tiger Woods, TGR Ventures, and David Blitzer. Woods, the first TGL-accredited player on Jupiter Links GC’s roster, was announced today. Woods, Blitzer and Mike McCarley CEO of TMRW Sports, TGL and TMRW made the announcement today.

• “Through the use of technology, TGL offers a modern twist on traditional golf. This will ultimately make my favorite sport more accessible. The opportunity to own and run a team that will represent Jupiter, as well as compete in the sport is an exciting new chapter for me. I expect Jupiter Links GC will showcase the golf culture from my hometown when we compete against the top players in the World,” said Woods.

3. Tiger caddies to Charlie on his way to a top-20 finish

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romaine …”The Notah Begay III Boys Junior Golf National Championship concluded on Monday at Koasati Pines Golf Club, Allen Parish in Louisiana. Misha Golod (16-18), Lucky Cruz (14-5), Maverick Midthun (13-13), and Kai Molina (10-11), took home the titles.”

• The 16-year old Ukrainian who won the 14-15 division in the previous year was able to win the event for the second consecutive time. Golod has been living in Florida ever since the war in his home country broke out. He is expected to sign for North Carolina on Wednesday, when the early signing period starts for Class of 2024.

• Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods’ 15-time major winner father, caddied for Charlie Woods during all three rounds.

• Tiger carried Tiger’s son’s bag and walked the entire way. Charlie finished the race at two over, which was 13 shots behind Cruz.

4. McIlroy: TGL is “more NBA than LIV”.

Brentley Romine …”McIlroy, of Golf Channel, compared TGL concept to professional basketball on Monday.

• McIlroy stated, “I believe that when it is referred to as a simulator golf it does it a disservice.” It’s much more than that. We are trying to bring the game of golf into 21st Century. I think that many people will be attracted to the fact we are playing indoors. It won’t look like traditional golf. It will look like an NBA game, hopefully. “We’re trying to create a courtside experience for people who are in the stadium.”

• McIlroy said: “As it relates specifically to LIV McIlroy continued, “I don’t really want to talk about LIV but you could argue that they either haven’t innovated far enough from traditional golf, or that they innovated so much they aren’t traditional golf. They are in a sort of no-man’s territory. “[TGL] is so different from golf as we know it.”

5. Butterfield Bermuda Picks

Who our betting expert Matt Vincenzi likes….

• Ben Griffin +2500 (FanDuel)

Ben Griffin was in the lead after 54 holes at Port Royal last year but struggled to finish the tournament, shooting 72, and falling into a tie for the third place. Ben Griffin, 27, came close to winning the Sanderson Farms Championship a few weeks back but missed a putt of eight feet. He lost the tournament on the first playoff.

Griffin finished 13th at the World Wide Technology Championship last week. This performance will boost his confidence when he returns to the course he loves. Griffin is ranked 8th on the field in Strokes Gained Approach, 11th for Strokes Gained Putting in Bermudagrass, and 21st for Strokes Gained Short Game. Port Royal is a great fit for Griffin because of his ability to score well on shorter courses.

Griffin’s career began with a few disappointing Sundays. I think he has the scar tissue necessary to win when he is in the thick of the race again.

• Taylor Pendrith +2500

Taylor Pendrith was close to winning the event in 2021, when he led by 54 holes before shooting a score of 76 on Sunday. The Canadian has been in great shape since the event’s 2023 edition. In his two previous starts, he’s placed 3rd and then 15th at the Shriners World Wide Technology Championship.

Pendrith, despite being a big hitter, has excelled on shorter courses all his life. Pendrith has achieved top-20 finishes in Pebble Beach, Sedgefield CC Port Royal, and Sea Island. The courses are short and all coastal, something that the 32-year old clearly enjoys.

Pendrith has a lot of talent, but is still winless on the PGA Tour. A weak field at a course he has played successfully on is the perfect place for him to win his first PGA Tour title.

6. Nelly works with new putting coach

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols …”Nelly Korda hopes to achieve what Annika Sorenstam accomplished twice during her LPGA career. She wants to win the event three consecutive years.”

• “Korda worked on the practice green with Eric Dietrich, a putting instructor. They began working together during the Solheim Cup and since then, she has changed her grip and putter. Korda says she feels more organized since moving to Dietrich.

• Korda said, “I felt like I had a plan or that I knew my tendencies and I could always do a drill to work on them.”

• Before, I used to be a little blind when going to the putting green. I did it myself.”

7. Donald 2025

Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post …”The players are not the sole ones who want Luke Donald back as the captain of the European Ryder Cup Team.”

• Four former European Ryder Cup Captains competed in the TimberTech Championship at Broken Sound. Padraig Harrington from Ireland won the event.

• “And all four players share the same sentiments as the players who began chanting “two years more” after soundly beating the United States, 16 1/2-111/2, five weeks earlier.

• The Europeans expressed their desire that Donald return as a captain for a second time in 2025 when the Ryder Cup returns to the U.S., and is played at Bethpage Black Golf Club in New York. Donald has expressed interest in returning. “The decision is now in the hands the European Ryder Cup Committee.”