ROSE, SCHAUFFELE SIGN
TGL signs Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele to its growing client list
Ezra Shaw
LOS ANGELES — Even in his youngest days, Justin Rose was never considered one of the hipper guys in pro golf. Maybe it’s hard to truly gather tons of street cred when your proper British diction is the envy of even the Prime Minister. Now that Rose is 42, the chance for being trendy is nearly closed. But there is a sliver of an opening left, thanks to TGL, the televised primetime golf league that was founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
On Tuesday, TGL announced its 10th and 11th signees—Rose and fellow Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele.
“Obviously, for a guy who's been on tour for a long time like myself, I'm just trying to be cool in my household with a teenage son and obviously trying to sort of stay relevant with the young folk,” Rose said with a grin at his press conference ahead of the Genesis invitational at Riviera Country Club.
“I think it's just a new exciting format, an exciting way to see guys compete together in maybe an informal environment but where there's the opportunity to have a little bit of banter and obviously some team spirit and camaraderie. And to do it in a way that doesn't detract from I think championship golf. I think it's just a beautiful blend and something I'm really excited to be a part of.”
The signing of seven-time tour winner Schauffele would seemingly put to rest any more speculation that the 29-year-old would bolt to LIV Golf at some point. Schauffele and his closest friend on tour, Patrick Cantlay, were once rumored to be heading for LIV.
"As the golf landscape continues to change, being a part of TGL is exciting and it is another great opportunity for me to test my skills against the best players in the world,” Schauffele said in a TGL release. “It is also going to be a lot of fun with the unique environment they are building and being able to compete regularly in a team format."
The TGL was announced in August as a development by Woods, McIlroy and longtime golf television executive Mike McCarley. The events are scheduled to begin sometime next year and will consist of 18 players filling out six teams that will compete in a purpose-built venue in Palm Beach, Fla. They will play on a virtual course and a “tech-fused short-game complex.” The season will be 15 Monday night matches, followed by semifinals and finals.
Beyond Woods, McIlroy and the two new signees, others who have agreed to play are Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Adam Scott, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa and Billy Horschel.