Phil Mickelson gives surprising verdict on $9million TGL finale despite being blocked from playing in it
The inaugural TGL season finished with a bang that looks to have cemented its future. Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods pushed ahead with their vision for a arena-based simulator tournament despite the format raising a few eyebrows. GettyJustin Thomas, left, and Billy Horschel celebrate their TGL triumph[/caption] It got the backing of the PGA Tour and fans have come around to the unusual idea if Tuesday’s finale was anything to go by. Leading after Monday night’s opener, Atlanta Drive GC produced an epic comeback to take Match 2 of the final series 4-3 over New York Golf Club for a 2-0 win. Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas, and Lucas Glover split a $9 million prize thanks to their triumph and will go down in history as the first-ever TGL champions. A viral clip of Horschel sinking a crucial putt and throwing his club in an X-rated celebration quickly went viral. Golf podcaster Dan Rapaport shared the clip, as well as his musings on the product on offer. “TGL a huge success in Year 1. Plain and simple,” he posted on X. “So many viral moments. “Additive to the current landscape without taking anything away. Enjoyed it way more than I thought I would and I think a tonnnnn of people feel the same way.” One of those people was Phil Mickelson, who was prevented from taking part in the PGA-backed event after signing up for the breakaway LIV Golf tour. “That’s great news! It would be great for golf if this were to succeed,” he wrote in the comments. “The golf fan is the most loyal fan in sports. Buy a ticket, walk miles and see a fraction of the action, but this could allow the golf fan to buy a ticket, sit down and watch of the action just like other sports. GettyHorschel’s wild celebrations went viral[/caption] Mickelson LIV Golf’s first massive recruit in 2022Getty “It could really be good for the game if it’s compelling.” Fans were eager for Mickelson, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau to join the next edition. It may be possible if talks aimed at bringing the two tours together succeed. After losing 6-5 in the opener, New York looked set to force a decider as Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young ran out into a 3-0 lead. But Atlanta won back-to-back holes before Horschel secured two points on the penultimate hole after throwing down a hammer, which doubled the points on offer, before a brilliant 18-foot birdie. New York’s four-man roster, which includes Matt Fitzpatrick, share $4.5million for coming second. View Tweet: https://t.co/fWpWGtVnbu Cantlay secured victory on the final hole by chipping it to three feet to match Young’s birdie. “I think we all have had a lot of fun,” said Horschel. “Obviously it is a little bit of a challenge with everything we’ve got going through the year with our own schedules, but I don’t think anyone has ever walked away and said this felt like a burden. “It’s just something new and exciting and we all enjoyed it. To walk away as champions with these guys is pretty cool.” “I figured Billy Ho [Horschel] has got a lot of energy, but anyone running around that much is going to run out of steam,” added Schauffele. “Billy is a dog. He made some really big putts when he needed to.”
The inaugural TGL season finished with a bang that looks to have cemented its future.
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods pushed ahead with their vision for a arena-based simulator tournament despite the format raising a few eyebrows.
It got the backing of the PGA Tour and fans have come around to the unusual idea if Tuesday’s finale was anything to go by.
Leading after Monday night’s opener, Atlanta Drive GC produced an epic comeback to take Match 2 of the final series 4-3 over New York Golf Club for a 2-0 win.
Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas, and Lucas Glover split a $9 million prize thanks to their triumph and will go down in history as the first-ever TGL champions.
A viral clip of Horschel sinking a crucial putt and throwing his club in an X-rated celebration quickly went viral.
Golf podcaster Dan Rapaport shared the clip, as well as his musings on the product on offer.
“TGL a huge success in Year 1. Plain and simple,” he posted on X. “So many viral moments.
“Additive to the current landscape without taking anything away. Enjoyed it way more than I thought I would and I think a tonnnnn of people feel the same way.”
One of those people was Phil Mickelson, who was prevented from taking part in the PGA-backed event after signing up for the breakaway LIV Golf tour.
“That’s great news! It would be great for golf if this were to succeed,” he wrote in the comments.
“The golf fan is the most loyal fan in sports. Buy a ticket, walk miles and see a fraction of the action, but this could allow the golf fan to buy a ticket, sit down and watch of the action just like other sports.
“It could really be good for the game if it’s compelling.”
Fans were eager for Mickelson, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau to join the next edition.
It may be possible if talks aimed at bringing the two tours together succeed.
After losing 6-5 in the opener, New York looked set to force a decider as Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young ran out into a 3-0 lead.
But Atlanta won back-to-back holes before Horschel secured two points on the penultimate hole after throwing down a hammer, which doubled the points on offer, before a brilliant 18-foot birdie.
New York’s four-man roster, which includes Matt Fitzpatrick, share $4.5million for coming second.
Cantlay secured victory on the final hole by chipping it to three feet to match Young’s birdie.
“I think we all have had a lot of fun,” said Horschel.
“Obviously it is a little bit of a challenge with everything we’ve got going through the year with our own schedules, but I don’t think anyone has ever walked away and said this felt like a burden.
“It’s just something new and exciting and we all enjoyed it. To walk away as champions with these guys is pretty cool.”
“I figured Billy Ho [Horschel] has got a lot of energy, but anyone running around that much is going to run out of steam,” added Schauffele.
“Billy is a dog. He made some really big putts when he needed to.”
