Tyrrell Hatton, dropped from TGL, is still friends with Rory McIlroy

DORAL, Fla. — Tyrrell Hatton has defined his departure from TGL, the interactive golf league headed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, and guaranteed he and McIlroy stay pals.

Hatton was a member of McIlroy’s Boston Frequent Golf crew earlier than becoming a member of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League for a reported $60 million, invalidating his TGL contract. Hatton stated Thursday he had a pleasant dialog with McIlroy when he determined to make the change.

“I referred to as Rory,” stated Hatton, the Englishman who lives in Orlando. “The contract stated you can’t play on TGL if you’re on LIV. I instructed Rory I used to be becoming a member of LIV in order that meant I used to be not taking part in TGL.”

Hatton, who’s taking part in this weekend within the LIV occasion at Trump Nationwide Doral, stated the dialog was amicable.

Hatton and McIlroy, from Northern Eire, had been teammates on the successful 2023 European Ryder Cup crew. Hatton was the one participant to win three matches and not using a loss through the occasion in Rome.

When Hatton joined TGL, it was thought the league was beginning in January 2024. When his determination to flip from the PGA Tour to LIV grew to become official in late January, TGL already had made the choice to push its launch date again a yr after the venue’s roof collapsed due to an influence outage and wind storm.

Hatton was trying ahead to being a part of the startup league, which will likely be performed in Palm Seashore Gardens on the campus of Palm Seashore State Faculty.

“TGL looks as if it will likely be a enjoyable league to play in,” he stated.

As for LIV golfers ultimately being welcomed to TGL if the Public Funding Fund that funds LIV and PGA Tour are capable of attain an settlement to mix the entities, Hatton believes it will be tough due to the variety of LIV occasions held world broad.

TGL’s first season begins January 7

TGL introduced final month the league, which is backed by TMRW Sports activities, will play its first three matches the primary three Tuesdays in January. The prime-time matches will likely be televised by ESPN. The rest of the schedule was not revealed.

McIlroy’s crew, which incorporates Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott, is trying so as to add a participant to exchange Hatton. One risk may very well be Shane Lowry, an Irishman who additionally was a member of the European Ryder Cup crew.