"I've been pleasantly surprised" – $30M-worth golfer gives his verdict on Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL

PGA Tour player Justin Thomas recently reflected on the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL. The newly tech-infused golf league, TGL, started last week at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. On Tuesday, January 14, the second match of the TGL was played in which Woods' made his debut.

Thomas, who has a net worth of $30 million as per Celebrity Net Worth, is gearing up to compete at the 2025 American Express golf tournament. In the pre-tournament press conference, Thomas was asked if he had seen the first two TGL matches and if he had learned anything that he'd use during his own turn. Thomas said:

"There's definitely some things I've learned. I'm not going to share 'em until we play, for sure. No, I've been pleasantly surprised. I don't want to say that in a sense of like I thought it wasn't going to do well, but I just, I truly didn't know. I think all of us went into this like I don't know how it's going to be, this is totally different, how is it."

Justin Thomas is a team member of Atlanta Drive Golf Club. His team will play its debut match against New York Golf Club on Tuesday, January 21. Thomas further said:

"I've really enjoyed watching it, and the coolest thing for me is and I mean, I'm sure can relate to this, but I just, I cannot ever, I can't think of a time where I've seen six golfers have that much fun, so like that's, to me, that's a good sign."

Thomas reminded the reporter that it had been a long time since anyone had seen Tiger Woods lose so badly yet smile as much. He said that it wouldn't have been possible had Woods been playing a regular tournament.

Further, about his performance in 2024, Thomas said that despite him having a solid season with several top-10 finishes, it wasn't his "favourite thing in the world" as it didn't have any trophies. He last won a PGA Tour tournament in 2022 and will look to end his title drought at the 2025 American Express.

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Justin Thomas on TGL: "This isn't the realest thing in the world"

In the pre-tournament press conference, Justin Thomas said that he was excited for his match next week and hoped that it'd be fun. Talking about the competitive aspect of the sport, he said:

"I understand it's competitive, and we're competitive and we all want to win, but at the same time like it's different. It's a simulator golf league, like this isn't the realest thing in the world. But I've been pleasantly surprised and I really enjoyed how much fun those guys look like they're having."

He further said that he hoped that his team would end up on the winning side like the first two teams. He said that he had enjoyed watching TGL and was excited to play.

The first was played between New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club. New York won the match by 9-1. The second match was won by Los Angeles Golf Club by 12-1 against Jupiter Links Golf Club.