Golf fans pick holes in Rory McIlroy's latest sales pitch ahead of TGL

Rory McIlroy believes his new tech-infused golf league with Tiger Woods has attracted "most of the best 24 players in the world" - but it's fair to say a number of golf fans are having none of his latest sales pitch with exactly two months to go.

TGL is the brainchild of both McIlroy and Woods and it will officially tee off in partnership with the PGA Tour on Jan.9. 

Here's all you need to know about TGL

Despite attracting a number of the world's best players to TGL, it's fair to say McIlroy and Woods have suffered something of a blow with the likes of World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, World No.3 Viktor Hovland and World No.4 Jon Rahm all declining opportunities to take part in 2024. 

Three-time major champion and former World No.1 Jordan Spieth (current World No.14) has also declined the offer. 

Rahm backed out of TGL last week having previously been confirmed in the lineup. 

The Spaniard's exit from TGL has now led to some thinking he could be contemplating a big-money move to LIV Golf in 2024. 

Rahm was reportedly offered in the region of $300m to join LIV Golf last season, so it will be interesting to see what happens next.

Related: Huge money PGA Tour players have turned down to join LIV Golf

McIlroy has responded to the rumour of Rahm leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. 

It is understood all four players were not able to commit to the schedule as a result of their home locations.

A total of 15 regular season games will take place in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. 

Matches will be taking place on Monday and Tuesday nights, which many critics believe could interfere with playing schedules for PGA Tour events and even preparation for the four majors.

But despite the above four big-name PGA Tour player omissions, among others, a buoyant McIlroy considers TGL has still been able to attract the best players in the world. 

McIlroy, who will represent Boston Common in the TGL alongside team members Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley, has told the media: 

But a large number of golf fans on social media are not buying that statement from McIlroy, especially given three of the best four players in the Official World Golf Ranking are not taking part in the TGL.

Neither are three of the four current major champions of 2023. 

Rahm is of course one those players having won The Masters in April.

There is also no reigning US PGA champion in Brooks Koepka, obviously as a result of his ties to the LIV Golf League, and no Brian Harman, who etched his name on the famous Claret Jug at The Open. 

The only 2023 major champion currently on TGL is Wyndham Clark, who clinched his maiden major title at the US Open.

Related: PGA Tour schedule 2024

Rory thinks they have “most of the 24 best players in the world” on the TGL.

Except obviously, 3 of the 4 best players in the world, 3 reigning major champions, the man who shot 58 this year, plus all the others who aren’t on the TGL…

So really, it’s about half pic.twitter.com/41VTeMbroC

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) November 9, 2023

Other notable omissions from in and around the current World Top 20 include Jason Day, Tony Finau and Sungjae Im. 

As a result those three names have been heavily linked with potential moves to LIV Golf in 2024. 

GolfMagic this week ranked what we consider to be the best PGA Tour and LIV Golf players in the world... just so you could shout at us!

The Saudi-backed league yesterday revealed details about its latest transfer window. 

The TGL also does not have other LIV Golf stars competing such as Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau - three players many golf fans still consider some of the best players in the game today.

With the TGL backed by the PGA Tour, no LIV Golf players are allowed to take part in McIlroy and Woods' tech-based golf league. 

As it stands, 23 PGA Tour players have confirmed their services to TGL in 2024.

Here are the confirmed TGL players, with their current OWGR: 

• Tiger Woods - 1291 
• Rory McIlroy - 2
• Justin Thomas - 28
• Rickie Fowler - 24
• Collin Morikawa - 12
• Matthew Fitzpatrick - 7
• Justin Rose - 37
• Xander Schauffele - 6
• Max Homa - 8
• Adam Scott - 45
• Billy Horschel - 54
• Tyrrell Hatton - 13
• Tommy Fleetwood - 15
• Shane Lowry - 35
• Tom Kim - 11
• Keegan Bradley - 16
• Sahith Theegala - 30
• Cameron Young - 17
• Min Woo Lee - 44
• Patrick Cantlay - 5
• Lucas Glover - 31
• Kevin Kisner - 149
• Wyndham Clark - 10

One more player will be revealed very soon - in order to replace Rahm in the lineup and make up 24 players.

There will be six teams of four players competing in the TGL. 

Get involved in our latest poll: 

Which will become a bigger success?

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) November 9, 2023

Here's how a number of golf fans reacted to McIlroy's "best players" comment: 

"Absolutely no way, Rory. How can you say that when you don't have Scottie, Jon, Vik and Jordan?!"

"Yes it's still a great mix of PGA Tour players but to say they are the best players is ridiculous."

"He would say that wouldn't he LOL!"

"To be fair Rory is a good salesman!"

"Most of, yet four big ones are missing."

"Oh come on Rory!"

"Yes, Kevin Kisner is really one of the best players in the world... do me a favour Rory! He's 149th in the world ha ha!"

"We all love Tiger Woods but to say he's one of the best in the world is laughable... he's outside the top 1,000!"

"You cannot say you've got the best in the world when you have three of the top four players in the world missing, and even the likes of Smith and Koepka from LIV Golf."

"TGL has about half of the world's best 24." 

What do you make of McIlroy's comments? Is not having Rahm, Scheffler, Hovland and Spieth part of the league a big blow for them? Will you be watching TGL in 2024? Do you think it will be a bigger success than LIV Golf? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.