We Try Not to Rush Things: But TGL Delivers on Promises in Its Debut
We try not to rush things. We’re trying to be realistic. We even tried to be patient. (Maybe we’ll fail!) But TGL is undeniably fun, delivering on many of its lofty promises in its debut this week. Seeing a golf brand actually deliver on what it says it does may seem special in the moment, but it only encourages you to wonder… What would TGL look like at its peak?
Opening night at SoFi Center was certainly a success. Tiger Woods will make his debut in a mixed reality setting on Tuesday. The league will have no problem promoting this (and Woods’ other appearances) through prime time on ESPN. But as the season progresses and any remaining issues in the system are ironed out, it’s clear that TGL has plenty of talent – just not all talent.
With only six teams of four players each, many of the biggest names in the sport are involved, but there are also many others who are not. When discussing TGL’s theoretical upper limit of growth space, this is the first thing that comes to my mind. Who else can get involved in making Arena Golf as big as possible?
The answer doesn’t necessarily have to be Scotty Scheffler, the best player in the world. Neither is Jordan Spieth, the three-time major champion who remains popular but is also recovering from a wrist injury that required surgery. Both players are from Texas and will undoubtedly make TGL a stronger product. But both were given the option to join, but declined. Spieth and Scheffler are raising young families in Dallas and are not interested in adding extra travel to their schedules.
Instead, there’s another Dallas resident who can provide all of Spieth’s popularity and most of Scheffler’s performances. My name is Bryson DeChambeau.
DeChambeau seems tailor-made for TGL, with his approach focused on analysis. The TGL simulator measures and displays spin rates on the screen – DeChambeau can recite them by feel. The ever-changing slopes of the variously shaped greens will send him spinning – in a way you can’t take your eyes off. (Whether he likes it or not, a frustrated DeChambeau is almost as funny as a giddy DeChambeau.)
Can you imagine DeChambeau rushing to the edge of the course to piss off the fans, acting like a gladiator like a professional golfer? The monetary value of TGL’s product is on television, but the real glue of this sports product is in the atmosphere of the arena, with about half the audience seated in the quieter reception area. Getting juice in week seven of the TGL season, for example, requires golfers to work hard to provide juice, not just use a 7-iron.
Another big factor about DeChambeau: He’s not everyone’s cup of tea. He never has. But DeChambeau has grown in popularity in recent months, thanks in large part to his content creation and work with many golfers on YouTube. He has hosted the popular “Break 50” contest, which has included Tom Brady and President-elect Donald Trump. He even shared the stage with Trump during the election season.
All of this makes him highly visible, but not necessarily liked by everyone. (He also plays the ball slowly enough that hitting time violations are a sure thing.) Many PGA Tour loyalists who have resisted DeChambeau’s recent surge are staunchly opposed to his departure from LIV Golf and have joined in the campaign against him PGA Tour lawsuit. His presence will add some guaranteed energy to the game as he knows how much some TGL players want to beat him. Or how many viewers would enjoy rooting for him.
Unfortunately, DeChambeau is not in the cards as a TGL golfer…at least not yet. He has his own golf team to worry about elsewhere, starting in Saudi Arabia in a few weeks. TGL is partly owned by the PGA Tour, which means LIV golfers will not compete, at least not until the tour and Saudi PIF finalize an agreement to reunify the sport. But can we see it happening in the future?
This will be one of the first questions asked in the event the Tour and PIF finalize an agreement. Getting DeChambeau into The Players Championship will be a priority, but getting him into one of the tour’s shiny, new, tech-laden side projects isn’t too far off either.
Would you like to see DeChambeau at TGL? Who else do you want to see? The author welcomes comments at sean.zak@golf.com.
FAQ
* Who is Bryson DeChambeau?
Bryson DeChambeau is an American professional golfer who has won several PGA Tour events and has been ranked as the best player in the world.
* Why is Bryson DeChambeau not currently playing in TGL?
DeChambeau has his own golf team to worry about elsewhere, starting in Saudi Arabia in a few weeks. TGL is partly owned by the PGA Tour, which means LIV golfers will not compete, at least not until the tour and Saudi PIF finalize an agreement to reunify the sport.
* Will Bryson DeChambeau be joining TGL in the future?
This is a possibility if the Tour and PIF finalize an agreement to reunify the sport.
Conclusion
TGL’s debut has been a success, and the future looks bright for this innovative new golf league. With its mixed reality technology and engaging atmosphere, TGL is a unique and exciting product that has the potential to bring a new level of excitement to the game of golf. And while Bryson DeChambeau may not be a part of TGL…yet, he would undoubtedly bring a high level of energy and excitement to the league. As TGL continues to grow and evolve, it will be exciting to see what the future holds for this exciting new sport.
