Tiger Woods’ TGL debut ended in heavy defeat as Jupiter Links Golf Club was beaten 12-1 by Los Angeles Golf Club in the season opener.

The former world No. 1 lined up alongside Max Homa and Kevin Kisner for her first game in the tech-infused golf league founded by Woods and Rory McIlroy’s company TMRW Sports, in which PGA Tour stars compete on teams using a mix of virtual and real game.

Woods emerged from the tunnel to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” at the SoFi Center only to see his team go after just four holes of the 15-hole competition, which uses alternate shots – or triple shots – for the first nine holes , quickly fell behind 0-5 -hole session before switching to singles.

They took the game’s only point with a second shot on the sixth as Los Angeles Golf Club finished the session with an 8-1 lead, with Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala adding three holes at singles and their lead at one expanded competition on the side.

The win gives Los Angeles GC two points and moves The Bay Golf Club – which beat New York Golf Club 9-2 in its opening game last week – to the top of the SoFi Cup season standings, along with Woods’ Jupiter Links -Last in the six-team league.

Tiger fights in the TGL opener

Woods immediately threw “The Hammer,” giving a team a chance to pressure its opponents by doubling the value of the hole, although both teams secured a share of the spoils with a par the first time.

On a chaotic par-5, both Homa and Woods went into the water, allowing Jupiter Links to win the hole with a bogey, although Theegala also spotted danger, while Rose made a 10-foot birdie on the next par-3 rolled in and won two points with “The Hammer”.

Jupiter Links won two more points with “The Hammer” in the fourth game after Kisner found the box. Woods was unable to convert his seven-foot bogey putt to share the hole, but hit his next shot from eight feet to avoid falling further behind.

Theegala sent his tee shot into the hazard on the sixth shot, conceding the hole after Morikawa missed her putt for par, but Rose won the eighth shot with a birdie and Los Angeles secured the ninth shot with “The Hammer” to take the lead 8:1 lead in the singles.

Rose and Woods tied the 10th hole with bogeys and a par was enough for Morikawa to beat Kisner on the 11th hole before Woods hit his tee shot into danger on the 13th hole and made two attempts from a bunker on the way to losing the hole .

Woods and the players were left in stitches by Kisner’s strange shot from the sand on the 14th hole, which hit the flag and flew to the other side of the playing arena, with Morikawa winning that hole and Theegala taking the final hole after Homa conceded .

Woods finds humor in blowout loss

“We were entertaining,” Woods said. “We made a lot of shots. I think people here have seen how bad professionals can be. It was just a boat race. Oh my God. But we had a great time.”

“I don’t know how much (skill) was evident today; I have no golf knowledge. Hey, it’s the start of a new year. We had a great time. Hopefully people watched the entire broadcast.” “

Regarding the Kisner incident on the 14th hole, Woods added: “We honestly didn’t think anyone could get hit here. But that was one of the funniest moments I’ve ever seen when Kis (Kisner) hit that shot like that. We were just dying.

What’s next?

The next TGL game sees New York Golf Club take on Atlanta Drive GC again on January 22nd (start: 12pm UK time) before Jupiter Links GC take on Rory McIlroy’s Boston on January 27th (start: 11.30pm). Common plays golf.

Los Angeles GC’s next game against Boston Common Golf will be on Wednesday, February 5 (starting at 2 a.m.), every game of the 2025 and 2026 seasons exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Majors and more NOW.