CNN
—
Tiger Woods’ debut in the TGL, a new high-tech indoor golf league, ended in disappointment Tuesday, as his team at Jupiter Links Golf Club was defeated 12-1 by Los Angeles Golf Club.
Woods, who led the new venture alongside Rory McIlroy, entered the arena with great enthusiasm as Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” blared through the speakers, but the former world No. did not live up to expectations.
He was joined by Kevin Kisner and Max Homa on his team, but the trio struggled against Los Angeles Golf Club’s Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala.
Jupiter Links quickly trailed 5-0 after just four holes and finished the first session 8-1.
“We were entertaining,” Woods said, laughing at the blowout defeat. “We made a lot of shots. I think the people there got to see how bad the pros can be. It was just a boat race, oh my God. But we had a great time.
Woods added that he was “always sore from laughing” during the competition.
Despite the lack of display quality, there was plenty to keep the star-studded audience and TV viewers entertained.
At one point, when Woods hit a shot into the virtual water on the second hole, his son Charlie couldn’t help but laugh as he overlooked the virtual course.
Charlie was joined in the crowd by 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, co-owner of the Los Angeles team.
“It’s about time, Tiger,” Williams said on the broadcast, when Woods holed an eight-foot putt for par on the fifth hole.
The TGL sees six teams comprised of 24 PGA Tour stars compete in a 15-match regular season at the 1,500-seat Palm Beach Gardens arena before the start of the playoffs, culminating in a final series at the best of three. showdown for the SoFi Cup on March 24.
Golfers on each four-player team hit tee shots and approach shots in a 64-by-53-foot simulator before moving on to the GreenZone; a green that can be rotated and tilted uniquely on each hole thanks to a turntable and actuators located beneath its surface.
A single match is played over two sessions, with each match pitting three players from each team against each other over 15 specially designed holes and two different formats – nine triples holes and six singles holes.
Triples see the three players on a team alternating hitting shots and taking turns getting the start. In the singles format, players compete directly against an opponent, with each player on the team of three playing two singles holes.
Each hole is worth one point, a tied hole is worth no points and the team with the most points at the end of the match wins. If scores are tied after 15 holes, the closest competition to the bowling competition will decide the winner.
