Lewis Hamilton joins Tiger and Rory in PGA Tour's battle with LIV Golf

Lewis Hamilton has been announced as an investor in TMRW Sports, the company founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy after the emergence of LIV Golf.

Ben Smith's picture
Wed, 2 Nov 2022
Lewis Hamilton joins Tiger and Rory in PGA Tour's battle with LIV Golf

Lewis Hamilton appears to have joined the LIV Golf battle with the PGA Tour as he has been named as investor in Tiger Woods' and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports. 

The company was founded in August, which you can read more about here

Hamilton was named as an investor on Tuesday, with more big names expected to follow. 

Related: Bubba Watson claims PGA Tour owe him $1.5m

"We're set to announce our investors. In the pole position @lewishamilton," TMRW posted on social. 

Both Woods and McIlroy have been heavily involved in the PGA Tour's response to LIV Golf. 

Woods and McIlroy spearheaded a meeting before the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs last season where the games biggest stars reportedly spoke about what they should do to fend off their new rival. 

As many as 20 players were involved. Some players still decided to leave and more are expected to follow. 

The PGA Tour have since rung the changes

LIV Golf kicked off its inaugural $255m eight-event tournament season in June and it has caused widespread disruption. 

That season came to a close in Miami last weekend where Dustin Johnson - who has resigned his PGA Tour membership - came up clutch once again with his 4 Aces GC side, scooping the $16m top prize. 

Despite this win Johnson, who has earned more than $35m on the course with LIV this season, has already axed one of his team mates. 

After the announcement of TMRW Sports, Woods and McIlroy also confirmed the formation of TGL. 

TGL will be tech-fused golf league and according to McIlroy the idea has been in the work for more than two years. 

What is TGL?

 

TGL will run in partnership with the PGA Tour and will launch in 2024. It has been designed to engage with a new TV audience. 
It will feature six teams of three PGA Tour players competing over 18 holes on a "data-rich, virtual course complete with a tech-infused, short-game complex". 

 

 

Of course, one of the biggest issues surrounding LIV Golf is due to the source of their money. 

They are bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund which has drawn accusations those involved in the league are complicit in attempting to help the Kingdom soften its global reputation through sport. 

A number of players have batted away accusations of sportswashing

The aforementioned Hamilton has spoken out against Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses before. 

Related: Nine players who changed their mind about LIV Golf

Before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he said: 

"Do I feel comfortable here? I wouldn’t say I do. But it's not my choice to here, the sport has taken the choice to be here.
"Whilst we are here it’s important we do try to raise awareness. In the last race you saw the rainbow helmet that I wore. I will wear that again here and in the next race [in Abu Dhabi] because it is an issue.
"If anyone wants to take time to read what the law is for the LGBT+ community, it is pretty terrifying. There are changes that need to be made."

Watch our latest YouTube video: