Justin Thomas becoming a member of tech-infused golf league’s Atlanta Drive GC

Two-time main championship winner Justin Thomas is becoming a member of Atlanta Drive GC, one of many six groups in TGL offered by SoFi, the tech-infused golf league being developed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, the franchise introduced Tuesday.

Thomas, a 15-time winner on the PGA Tour, is the primary participant to be assigned to one of many six groups in TGL, which is scheduled to start play Jan. 9 at SoFi Middle in Palm Seaside Gardens, Florida.

Three different gamers will likely be assigned to Atlanta’s roster later, in response to the information launch. Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United proprietor Arthur Clean added Atlanta Drive GC to his portfolio of sports activities franchises in August.

“Atlanta and the state of Georgia have been the house to a number of the greatest sporting occasions within the nation, and I am excited to symbolize followers there as a part of TGL and Atlanta Drive GC,” Thomas stated in a press release. “To be aligned with an proprietor like Arthur Clean and his unbelievable number of companies as they increase their golf portfolio looks like a fantastic match for me.

“I promise our crew will compete arduous to win championships and have a whole lot of enjoyable alongside the best way. We are going to symbolize Atlanta in one of the best ways attainable whereas serving to develop the sport in all places via this distinctive TGL format.”

4-man rosters for Boston Frequent Golf, Los Angeles Golf Membership, TGL New York and TGL San Francisco will likely be launched quickly as nicely. TMRW Sports activities, which developed TGL, hasn’t but introduced the possession group for its sixth franchise.

Main championship winners Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Adam Scott are additionally a part of the league’s 24-man roster. McIlroy and Woods may even compete within the league.

Based on the discharge, TGL labored with the PGA Tour, gamers and their managers “with the objective {that a} participant’s TGL schedule will likely be largely complementary to his PGA Tour aggressive schedule.”

“We’re completely thrilled to welcome Justin Thomas to Atlanta Drive GC and consider he is an ideal match for who we would like this crew to be and the way we wish to play,” Dick Sullivan, CEO of PGA Tour Superstore and Atlanta Drive GC supervisor, stated in a press release. “Thomas’ outstanding expertise, unwavering dedication to the sport and aggressive spirit make him a fan favourite and somebody who represents the values that drive all [AMB Sports and Entertainment] groups and companies.”

The league will include six groups with four-man rosters; matches will function three golfers enjoying for every crew in a match-play format on a digital course with a short-game complicated.

On Tuesday, TGL launched further particulars about how the matches will work. Within the fashionable match-play format, every gap is price one level. There are not any ties or carryovers. Every match will embrace two periods: one 3-on-3, nine-hole match of alternate shot plus one six-hole, head-to-head singles match by which every participant competes in two holes.

If a match is tied after the 2 periods, the result will likely be determined in a shootout that ends when a crew hits two photographs nearer to the pin than their opponents. All gamers will put on microphones through the matches.

The season-long standings will use a points-based system just like the NHL’s: two factors for a win in regulation or extra time, one level for a loss in extra time, and no factors for a loss in regulation. The highest 4 groups on the finish of the common season will advance to the playoffs, which is able to embrace a single-elimination semifinals and a best-of-three finals.

TGL additionally launched new particulars in regards to the course at SoFi Middle, situated on the Palm Seaside State School campus. The 250,000-square-foot venue can have a 75-foot-high apex and can be capable of host about 1,600 folks for matches. The course will likely be roughly 97 by 50 yards, in regards to the measurement of a soccer area.

Gamers will hit from tee bins, fairways and tough areas of actual grass and sand. Lengthy photographs will likely be hit right into a display that’s roughly 20 occasions the standard measurement of a golf simulator. For photographs which can be about 50 yards, or much less, gamers would possibly transition from screenplay to inexperienced play, which is a custom-built complicated referred to as the “Inexperienced Zone.” Based on a TGL launch, it’s 4 occasions bigger than 4 basketball courts and can function the largest-ever adaptable placing floor.

“The three,800 square-foot tech-infused inexperienced contains three 15 x 27 foot Digital Greens by Full Swing, every with 189 actuators and jacks that change the slope of the inexperienced creating a wide range of play on each TGL gap,” the discharge stated.

The inaugural season will embrace 15 regular-season matches, adopted by the semifinals and finals. The matches will likely be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+.