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TGL: Tiger Woods and perhaps the ‘most embarrassing moment’ of his golf career

Tiger Woods' mistake brings laughter for Kisner and Kim. (Screenshot: TGL)
Tiger Woods' mistake brings laughter for Kisner and Kim. (Screenshot: TGL)

Tiger Woods took his Jupiter Links Golf Club to the TGL for the third time on Tuesday. It was against the New York Golf Club, against whom Tiger’s team suffered a crushing defeat in the course of the evening. Woods will remember one moment in particular, however, which he described afterwards as ‘one of the most embarrassing moments’ of his career.

Embarrassing mistake by Tiger Woods

Before hitting his shot, Woods asked the caddie for the distance. The caddie told him ‘99’, but meant 199 yards, because nowadays caddies often drop the hundredth digit when the distance is obvious. On the simulator, however, this doesn’t seem to be as obvious as the caddie thought, because Woods heard 99 yards and reached for his sand wedge. His team-mates Kevin Kisner and Tom Kim were still wondering what the 15-time major winner was up to. Of course, his shot fell well short. ‘I messed it up,’ said Woods afterwards. ‘That was embarrassing.’ Kisner and Kim could only laugh their heads off.

 
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New York Golf Club dominated Jupiter Links 10-3 on Tuesday night, with New York picking up eight points in eight holes before Jupiter Links could put the first points on the scoreboard. This was the first win for Rickie Fowler, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Max Homa, who have not covered themselves in glory with their team so far, losing twice previously. For Jupiter Links it was their second defeat, having only managed a narrow victory over Boston Commons.

Jupiter Links in danger of missing the TGL playoffs

Both teams now have two points in the table, but the size of the win means New York have an advantage in the hole ratio and are currently above the cut line, while Jupiter Links are in 5th place. All teams have now played three matches, with two more to go before a decision is made on which teams will advance to the playoffs. New York takes on LA next week, who have won two matches so far and lost one in overtime. Jupiter Links will face the previously unbeaten Bay Golf Club.

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Panorama

The Tough Reality Behind the Dream of the PGA Tour

Golf professional and coach Alex Romo breaks down the financial reality of mini tour golf in a social media video. (Source: Instagram @alexromogolf)

The road to the PGA Tour is paved with talent, dedication, and financial risk. For many aspiring professionals, mini tours provide a proving ground, but as Alex Romo recently highlighted, they come with a steep price—and no guarantees.

$2,500 Upfront – and No Promises

Reaching the PGA Tour is a long and costly journey. Most players start on mini tours—small, regional circuits designed to give professionals competitive experience. Unlike the PGA Tour, however, these events offer no guaranteed income. Players pay entry fees, cover travel expenses, and hope to play well enough to turn a profit.

Golf professional Alex Romo recently shared the financial breakdown of a week on the Asher Tour: a $1,350 entry fee, $600 for accommodations, $280 for gas, $60 for golf balls, and $200 for food. That totals roughly $2,500 before hitting a single shot.

For players who fail to make the cut, the financial loss is immediate. There are no appearance fees, no safety nets—just the reality of professional golf at an unforgiving level.

Breaking Even Requires Elite Play

Even for those who make the cut, turning a profit is far from guaranteed. At the event Romo analyzed, tournament winner Michael Feagles finished at 16-under par over three rounds, earning $20,000. A strong payday, but the numbers below him tell a different story.

To break even, a player needed to finish at least seventh, which required shooting 10-under par. Romo pointed out that a scratch golfer—typically considered elite at the amateur level—would average around 75 on this course. To contend, a player needed to perform at the level of a +6.3 handicap, just shy of Scottie Scheffler’s +7.5.

On the PGA Tour, that kind of golf is worth millions. On a mini tour, finishing seventh merely covers expenses. Those who barely made the cut but finished near the bottom saw little return. The last-place finisher after the cut earned just $600—well below the $2,500 needed to break even.

No Clear Path to the PGA Tour

Unlike the Korn Ferry Tour or international development tours, mini tours do not offer Official World Golf Ranking points or direct promotion pathways. Instead, they serve as testing grounds—players who consistently perform well may attract sponsor interest or receive exemptions into higher-level events. But success on a mini tour does not guarantee a PGA Tour opportunity.

For Romo, this particular event ended with a missed cut by three strokes. His 72.5 scoring average translated to a +2.5 handicap—a strong showing on a demanding course. But without making the cut, there was no prize money. And without prize money, the $2,500 investment became just another expense in the pursuit of a bigger dream.

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Panorama

TaylorMade and Dustin Johnson: Parting ways after 18 years

Unusual picture: At the LIV Golf opening event, Dustin Johnson is seen without his TaylorMade cap - the first time in 18 years. (Photo: Getty)
Unusual picture: At the LIV Golf opening event, Dustin Johnson is seen without his TaylorMade cap - the first time in 18 years. (Photo: Getty)

For nearly two decades, Dustin Johnson and TaylorMade were inseparable. But after 18 years, their partnership has come to an end, and the two-time major champion is now without an official equipment deal, as confirmed by Golf.com.

From Rookie to Brand Icon

When Dustin Johnson turned professional in 2007, he immediately trusted TaylorMade. With their clubs, he secured 24 PGA Tour victories, won the U.S. Open in 2016, and triumphed at the Masters in 2020. Two contract extensions, in 2016 and 2021, highlighted the close bond between player and brand.

However, Johnson’s move to the LIV Golf League in 2022 shifted the dynamics of the partnership. While he continued using TaylorMade equipment, he became less visible in the brand’s marketing campaigns. Now, with his contract expiring, TaylorMade has opted not to renew the deal.

A Quiet Farewell

The season opener of the LIV Golf League in Riyadh made it official—Johnson no longer wore a TaylorMade cap, instead featuring logos of his 4Aces team and New Era. The split, long anticipated, was now confirmed.

Since joining LIV Golf, Johnson’s visibility in the sport has diminished. The Saudi-backed league’s tournaments do not contribute to the Official World Golf Ranking, causing the former No. 1 to drop to 578th place. His 2024 major championship performances have also been underwhelming, with two missed cuts and a best finish of T31 at The Open Championship.

Equipment-Free, But Still Using TaylorMade Clubs

Despite the end of his sponsorship, Johnson hasn’t completely moved on from TaylorMade. At the LIV opener in Riyadh, he had a Qi10 driver in his bag—though without the brand’s logo on his cap. Instead, he sported his team’s and New Era’s emblems. The split from TaylorMade follows another major departure—his separation from Adidas in 2023 after 15 years. His team is now outfitted by Extracurricular.

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Panorama

Outlook on golf development: “Golf is still in great health”

(Photo: Paola Andrea/ Unsplash)
(Photo: Paola Andrea/ Unsplash)

While the number of rounds played in the first three quarters of 2024 decreased compared to 2023, the figures for the fourth quarter reflect a different trend: in the period from October to December, the average number of rounds played in the UK rose by 17%. As a report by Sporting Insights shows, more golf was played on British courses at the end of 2024 than in the same period the previous year. The statistics allow conclusions to be drawn about how the popularity of golf is developing globally. Sporting Insights has been recording all rounds played on commercial golf courses on the British mainland since 2000.

Golf development: Optimism despite slight decline

“Upon publishing the half-year figures last year, we suggested that a lot of underlying indicators for growth were still strong. After a Q3 that was effectively flat against 2023 and now a strong Q4, we still feel that analysis holds,” said John Bushell, joint MD of Sporting Insights.

Play was particularly high in the north of England: There, the increase was 30%.The southern and northern regions of the UK saw a slight increase over 2023 throughout the year. As a result, despite the decline in the first three quarters, the average number of rounds played for the year fell by just 2% nationally, and is slightly higher than 2022 levels. There were also more average tee times used in 2024 than in 2023.

Sporting Insights believes that assessment of golf’s popularity falling back to pre-pandemic levels is exaggerated. According to Bushnell, the results show that the supposed decline in popularity has been overestimated: “As fashionable as it can be to put golf down, the truth is that the sport has demonstrated now over multiple years a sustained boost in participation, especially female participation, and in the total amount of play. Key metrics don’t get much more key than that.”

Difficulties due to rising costs

Nevertheless, there are challenges, as Bushnell acknowledged: “Golf is not immune to economic pressures affecting discretionary spending, and we know that many clubs are also feeling the pinch of rising operational costs, which will be a theme of 2025 and beyond. However, the bottom line is that golf does appear to have become a critical part of so many people’s lives that it is so far weathering the economic storm, at least as far as appetite to step up to the tee goes. […] Golf is still in great health and we are positive for 2025.”

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Panorama

Mourning in the Woods household: Mother Tida passes away at the age of 80

Tiger Woods mother died at age 80. (Image: Getty)
Tiger Woods mother died at age 80. (Image: Getty)

At the age of 80, the mother of golf legend Tiger Woods passed away on Tuesday, February 4. The world star made the announcement in a statement via his social media channels. Born in Thailand, she was an important pillar for Woods and is also said to have been the origin of the legendary “Sunday-Red” shirt. Most recently, she attended the TGL match in her adopted home of South Florida last week.

Touching statement from Tiger Woods

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning. My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh,” Woods said in a social media statement. “She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible. She was loved by so many,  but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie. Thank you all for your support, prayers and privacy at this difficult time for me and my family. Love you Mom.”

Tida, as she was often called, is said to have been a major influence on Tiger’s career. She always demanded respect and sporting behavior from him. “ She’s a very tough, tough old lady, very demanding… I love her so much, but she was tough,” Tiger said about his mother in an interview with USA Today in 2017. She was also the driving force behind Tiger’s red shirts on finals days. “Mom thought being a Capricorn that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments,” Tiger Woods said at the launch last year of the Sun Day Red brand. “I go to a university that is red — Stanford is red. We wore red on the final day of every single tournament, and then every single tournament I’ve played as a professional I’ve worn red. It’s just become synonymous with me.”

Kultida met Earl Woods in the 1960s during the Vietnam War as a soldier in the US Army when they were both stationed in Thailand. Tida followed Earl to New York, where they married. They moved to California and in 1975 Eldrick Tont Woods, who would later make golf history as Tiger, was born. Her husband Earl died in May 2006.

TGL holds a minute’s silence for Tida

Tiger’s mother was also remembered at yesterday’s TGL event. Just a few hours after the news broke, fans and golf stars held a moment of silence for Tida at the SoFi Center. Afterwards, ESPN TGL presenter Matt Barrie addressed the audience: “Sad news today in the golf world as everyone here at TGL, TMRW Sports and ESPN is remembering Tida Woods, the mother of Tiger Woods, who died this morning at the age of 80. Tida was a towering figure in Tiger’s life, someone he described as ‘a force of nature all her own.’ Prior to the match tonight here at SoFi Center, we held a moment of silence honoring Tida Woods, who was so instrumental in Tiger’s life and his success. Throughout his amateur career as a young phenom in California and through his major championships and even here at TGL, the very league her son co-founded, she was here to support him. Last week, in fact, last Monday, Tida was ever present here at SoFi Center, cheering on Tiger, who got the win. Our thoughts and prayers with Tiger, Charlie and Sam and everyone for the loss of Tida Woods. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Co-host Scott Van Pelt also had his say and shared a little insight into his encounter with Tida on the golf course. “Getting to know her was such a treat,” Van Pelt said. “We developed a little tradition through the years, on Sundays of majors. I’d see her, as her son teed off — she was in red, always, of course — and she’d ask me, ‘What do you think, Scott?’

“I’d say, ‘Well, Tida, I think your saw is going to do what you taught him to do.’ She’d always smile and say, ‘We’ll see.’ And then we did.”

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Shane Lowry’s ball hits Volunteer

Shane Lowry at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (Photo: Getty)
Shane Lowry at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (Photo: Getty)

In the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday, an incident in the leading flight caused a brief moment of shock: Shane Lowry hit a ball that then struck a volunteer.

Lowry slightly misjudged his tee shot on hole 15 of the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links and missed the fairway on the right-hand side. A volunteer was standing there and the ball hit him on the left shoulder in flight. He fell to the ground, but fortunately remained uninjured: CBS reporters announced shortly afterwards that the volunteer was fine and in good health.

Shane Lowry’s behaviour criticised

The incident caused a lot of discussion on social media. The particular misfortune of the volunteer, who was in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time, was summarised by a comment on X: “Wow… that’s like getting struck by lightning. What are the odds? He’s all by himself too”.

Sky Sports commentator Andrew Coltart criticised Shane Lowry for not warning the volunteer loudly: “Didn’t hear him shout ‘fore’. We need to be hearing players shout ‘fore’.” But some fans on X defended Lowry: “That volunteer was irresponsible. He should have been looking at the ball or standing further in the rough. There’s no reason for him to be standing that close to the fairway”. One suggestion from the community was: “I’ll never understand why the spotters in the landing areas aren’t given hard hats with sponsor logo??!! Perfect opportunity for volunteer safety and good pr for sponsor!!!”

Another volunteer who was on site at Pebble Beach posted in the comments and confirmed that the person concerned was fine, but that he would still be feeling the pain the next day. It is also said that the volunteer received a medal from a PGA rules official.

Shane Lowry went into the final round in a tie for second place and played for the title in the final flight together with Rory McIlroy and Sepp Straka. Lowry finished the tournament in second place behind McIlroy with a round of 68 (-4).

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Panorama

Storm Éowyn destroys golf courses

(Photo: Facebook.com/@Thornhill Golf Clubs)
(Photo: Facebook.com/@Thornhill Golf Clubs)

Damage report: ‘Storm Éowyn caused severe devastation in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Friday,’ reported the news agency Agence France Press (AFP), for example. ‘Gale-force winds with record wind speeds of over 180 kilometres per hour uprooted trees, knocked down power lines and caused train and flight cancellations. In Ireland, a man was killed when a tree fell on his car, according to police reports. In total, almost a million households were temporarily without power.’ Und naturally, Éowyn also hit a lot of golf courses. The most prominent ‘victim’, for example, was the world’s most famous opening hole. On hole 1 of the Machrihanish Old Course on the Scottish peninsula of Kintyre, known as the Battery, where a cut in the Atlantic Ocean has to be played over from the tee, the storm drove the sea inland and flooded the fairway. Until further notice, the round therefore begins with hole two.

There are also documents of destruction from other places; the comments speak for themselves:

It remains to be seen what further damage will be reported – especially in terms of coastal erosion, which by its very nature affects link courses in particular.

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Fun Panorama

Watch: DP World Tour Stars receive influencer training

(Screenshot: Youtube.com/@dpworldtour)
(Screenshot: Youtube.com/@dpworldtour)

Chapeau to the DP World Tour social media team. It couldn’t be more imaginative and funny. Whether it was the staged round table to find a Ryder Cup team captain or the self-help course in anger management for Tyrrell Hatton – it was all world class, including the cinematic realisation. The creative team’s latest coup is an influencer training course for tour professionals aka: How do I put myself in the limelight in the best and most effective way, how do I generate maximum attention. It goes without saying that there is a pinch of self-irony and a wink. But enough words, the result speaks for itself:

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Panorama

Big TGL premiere with a clear winning team

(Photo: X.com/@ShaneLowryGolf)
(Photo: X.com/@ShaneLowryGolf)

On Tuesday night, the long-awaited TGL finally premiered on ESPN in prime time. The indoor league led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy made its first big appearance and after much has been reported about the format and features of this entertainment product, many were eager to see what the final product would look like.

TGL: Clear victory for Bay GC

On the first day of play, Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark and Ludvig Åberg played for the Bay GC against Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler and Matt Fitzpatrick from the New York GC. In two hours, they competed in a match over 15 holes, with Bay GC as the clear winner: 9 to 2 was the final score.

The players hit their long shots onto a video screen, some from real grass, others from turf, and bunkers filled with real sand from Augusta National Golf Club. Once the teams got to within 45 metres of the pin, it’s on to a short game complex – with a green set on a 37-metre-wide turntable and around 600 pieces of equipment underneath to change the contours. Over the first nine holes, all three players compete at the same time, taking turns to hit the ball. The last six holes are played 1 against 1.

Shane Lowry hit the first tee shot in league history and a few minutes later Ludvig Åberg secured his team’s first birdie and the first hole won. From then on, the Bay Golf Club was unstoppable. With a ‘hammer’, the team immediately secured two points on hole 3 and after six holes they were 6-0 up. That was not to be expected, explained Wyndham Clark afterwards. In a practice match the day before, Schauffele & Co. were already 6-0 up after three holes. But when it counted, they had the system and its tricks down pat.

The ‘hammer’ is one of the special features of the TGL. Each hole is normally worth one point. The team in possession of the hammer can ‘throw’ it and thereby increase the value of a hole in order to gain an advantage or increase the pressure on the opponent. The hammer then becomes the property of the opposing team. If the hammer is thrown before the start of a hole, it is automatically accepted; if it is thrown after the tee shot, the opposing team has the option of rejecting it. In return, however, it automatically loses the hole.

New York GC scored the first point after nine holes, but was ultimately unable to catch up.

The TGL will have to prove itself in the long run

The reactions to the first event show a lot of enthusiasm, but also room for improvement. The players emphasised how much fun they had during the event: ‘It’s a game, it’s not necessarily pure golf, it’s a bit more game and trick,’ said Wyndham Clark after the team victory. ‘I feel like we were very comfortable with it. I have to say we had a lot of fun.’

Paige Spiranac wrote on Twitter, ‘It’s fun to see the boys a little more relaxed! I think we’ll really let their personalities shine in this format,’ and both journalists and players praised the shot clock for keeping the game brisk and the energy high. The fans on site were enthusiastic, cheered the players – and also acknowledged bad shots with boos.

There is still room for improvement. As a TV viewer in particular, you have to be prepared for a lot of background noise between the players’ conversations, commentators, interviews and music from the hall. Michael McEwan (Bunkered) describes the event as ‘entertaining, but largely forgettable’ and James Colgan (Golf.com) is also of the opinion that the TGL still needs to find the ‘balance between flash and substance’.

Tiger Woods, however, seemed satisfied. ‘It was just a dream,’ he said on the ESPN broadcast. ‘Rory and I have talked about it; it’s hard to believe that this dream has become a reality and we’ve been able to take golf into another stratosphere, really.’

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Panorama

Wildfires in LA threaten historic Riviera Country Club

Wildfires in LA threaten historic golf course. (Image: Getty)
Wildfires in LA threaten historic golf course. (Image: Getty)

The dramatic images from Los Angeles show the destructive power of the fires that have been ravaging the region for days. While over 50,000 people have had to leave their homes, a golfing landmark is also in danger: the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. The flames are not only threatening a place steeped in history, but also the planned Genesis Invitational, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the PGA Tour.

Wildfires in LA: Thousands of people fleeing the flames

The fires started near the Pacific Palisades Highlands and spread rapidly due to strong Santa Ana winds. Within hours, more than 1,200 hectares of land were covered and the evacuation zone grew steadily. Firefighters battled under difficult conditions as water hydrants failed in some areas. Thousands of people, including prominent residents of the neighborhood, had to leave their homes, often with little more than the bare essentials.

A historic golf course under threat

In the midst of this tragedy, the Riviera Country Club also becomes the target of the flames. The golf course, a masterpiece of architecture and home to the Genesis Invitational, is considered one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the world. For players such as Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, Riviera is a place that is highly praised – a “sanctuary” for golf.

In addition to its sporting significance, the course is deeply rooted in history. It has not only hosted legendary tournaments, but will also host the 2028 Summer Olympics and the 2031 US Open in the coming years.

The Genesis Invitational in danger?

The Riviera Country Club is not only a place for golf enthusiasts, but also home to the prestigious Genesis Invitational, which is due to take place in a few weeks’ time. The tournament, organized by Tiger Woods’ foundation, is a highlight of the PGA Tour calendar. But now everything is in doubt. As the flames relentlessly approach, it remains unclear whether the course, as part of the evacuation zone, can be saved in time.

Firefighters try to keep the flames away from the course, but the danger remains real. This is not the first time golf courses have been affected by natural disasters. The Atlas Fire of 2017 damaged infrastructure at the Silverado Resort in Napa, but the current situation in Los Angeles could be more devastating.