Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
One would be hard pressed to find a more diverse, star-studded cast of investors than those who have rallied around a budding virtual golf league fronted by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
Last week, TMRW Sports, the parent company of a new virtual golf league that Woods and McIlroy unveiled during August’s PGA Tour Championship, tweeted out a graphic featuring 15 investors who rank among the most recognizable names across a bevy of industries.
“Meet our initial investor group, a roster of icons across sports & entertainment matched with business titans,” reads the tweet, which Woods and McIlroy each shared on their respective feeds.
Meet our initial investor group, a roster of icons across sports & entertainment matched with business titans – headlined by @StephenCurry30, @LewisHamilton, @alexmorgan13, @andy_murray, @Ninja, @CP3, Shohei Ohtani, @tonyromo, @jtimberlake & @serenawilliams. pic.twitter.com/AS18WH6jgA
— TMRW Sports (@TMRWSports) November 2, 2022
Accompanying the tweet was a short video featuring the names of headlining investors, among them pop star Justin Timberlake, game streaming megastar Ninja, NBA players Steph Curry and Andre Iguodala, Serena Williams and Andy Murray from the world of tennis, and MLB all-around slugger/pitcher Shohei Ohtani.
“Over the past year we’ve assembled a team of investors who will help deliver on the TMRW Sports’ mission to positively impact how sports are experienced in the future,” TMRW founder and CEO Mike McCarley said in a statement. “And we’ve been intentional about diversity of expertise, thought, and backgrounds as we mobilized this strategic group.
“From the very beginning our plan has been to partner with the best-in-class in every way imaginable, and Tiger, Rory, and I value the support of this unrivaled team of investors, advisors, and ambassadors who believe in our vision to harness technology to create progressive approaches to sports.”
Other top investors include Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Dallas Cowboy-turned-broadcaster Tony Romo, NBA point guard Chris Paul, and NHL star Sidney Crosby.
“I’m excited to welcome a strong group of investors across sports and entertainment to @TMRWSports,” Woods tweeted a day before the full release of investors.
I'm excited to welcome a strong group of investors across sports and entertainment to @TMRWSports. And first up to join me and @McIlroyRory on the team: F1 great @LewisHamilton. Full list coming tomorrow. https://t.co/kOl5yAgdVx
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) November 1, 2022
The new league, dubbed TGL Golf, will operate under a partnership with the PGA, which not only allowed Woods and McIlroy to announce the creation of the league at a tour event but also has its logo on the TGL homepage and, most importantly, does not object to its players participating in virtual tournaments.
According to the TGL “about” page, the new league will launch in January 2024 and feature six teams of three pros competing on a virtual course in prime time.
“The custom-built arena will combine a data-rich virtual course with a state-of-the-art short game complex,” the page reads. “TGL will offer a high-tech, high-energy fan experience with fans sitting greenside.”
At present, only Woods and McIlroy have committed to play, but, as the PGA seeks to extend its reach into prime-time viewing, the list is sure to grow to include many top names.