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SPORTS Wednesday 22 February 2023
Woods, McIlroy break ground on high-tech golf league site

By TIM REYNOLDS home and away, you’re
AP Sports Writer going to get some people
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. that you want to win and
(AP) — Tiger Woods and not win. We’re going to
Rory McIlroy put the silver- have that type of excite-
plated shovels into a pile of ment.”
dirt and left sizable divots. And you can bet on it. Liter-
With that, their high-tech ally, Woods pointed out.
golf league got a bit closer “Wagering is part of our
to launch. sport, part of our culture,”
The ceremonial ground- Woods said, then turned
breaking for the arena that and looked at McIlroy.
will house the league that’s “We don’t know how to
being called TGL was held play golf without it.”
Tuesday at Palm Beach Access is part of the allure
State College, with Woods of the concept, along with
and McIlroy two of the co- the technology.
founders of TMRW Sports Only a handful of fans at
there for the first step of ac- typical golf events can get
tual construction. close to the action, and
TMRW pronounced “to- they’re often running from
morrow” says TGL play Golfers Tiger Woods, second from left, and Rory McIlroy, second from right, join others in breaking hole to hole to stay with a
will begin early next year, ground for the future home of a new tech-infused golf league, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, on the certain group.
and the league will be in campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Others from left, Palm Beach TGL players will be mic’d-
partnership with the PGA State College President Ava Parker, TMRW Sports founder and CEO Mike McCarley, and PGA TOUR up, and fans won’t have
Commissioner Jay Monahan.
Tour. Woods and McIlroy, Associated Press to guess what their thought
so far, have 11 players processes are on certain
committed to the league. or better in the world, plus course that also includes “We’re going to have ex- shots.
Besides them, the league the game’s biggest draw in a short-game complex for citement, we’re going to “It’s going to give the view-
will include world No. 1 Woods. chipping and putting. have something different, er at home and also the
Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, “In terms of fan experience, It’ll be played on Monday something that is is passion- people in the arena just
Adam Scott, Collin Mori- it’s going to be nothing like nights, and will take only ate,” Woods said. “We’ve more of an in-depth of sort
kawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, golf has offered before,” two hours, with in-arena been involved in teams of how we do things and
Max Homa, Billy Horschel, McIlroy said. fans all very close to the before whether it’s Ryder how we sort of think through
Justin Rose and Xander The concept is this: six teams action. There will be 15 Cup, President’s Cup, Irish things in our head,” McIlroy
Schauffele. of three PGA Tour players, matches in the regular sea- national teams, for me high said.
That list includes six play- squaring off in match play son, followed by semifinals school, college, whatever “It’s just a more in-depth
ers currently ranked 10th on a data-driven virtual and a final. it is. You’re going to get look into that.” q

Brittney Griner re-signs with Phoenix

Mercury

By DOUG FEINBERG locker room, around our or- of the public spotlight, with
AP Basketball Writer ganization, and within our the exception of appear-
Brittney Griner will be back community was greatly ances at the Super Bowl,
in the WNBA this season, missed,” Mercury GM Jim the Phoenix Open and an
once again playing with Pitman said. “We will con- MLK Day event in Phoenix,
the Phoenix Mercury. tinue to use the resources where she lives.
Griner, who was a free of our organization to sup- “I do not think any of us
agent, re-signed with the port her, on and off the will forget where we were
team Tuesday. The 32-year- floor, and we are thrilled for on Dec. 8 when we heard
old Griner had said she her that she gets to return BG was coming home or Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner (42) shoots over Seattle
would return to Phoenix in to basketball, which she on Dec. 15 when she an- Storm’s Mercedes Russell in the first half of the second round of
a social media post in De- loves so dearly. This is a spe- nounced she intended not the WNBA basketball playoffs Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Everett,
Wash.
cember, after she returned cial signing and today is a only to play basketball in Associated Press
home from her 10-month special day for all of us.” 2023 but that it would be
detainment in Russia. Gri- The 6-foot-9 center last for the Mercury,” Mercury three months from today at tions, such as charter flights,
ner had been arrested at played for the Mercury in President of Business Op- our Welcome Home Open- after she signed.
an airport just outside of 2021 and helped the team erations Vince Kozar said. er.” She skipped a USA “We are very cognizant
Moscow on drug posses- reach the WNBA Finals. She “And I know none of us will Basketball training camp of BG’s unique situation,”
sion charges a year ago averaged 20.5 points and ever forget what it will feel earlier this month, but the WNBA Commissioner Cathy
and was brought home in a 9.5 rebounds that season. like to welcome her back organization made it clear Engelbert told the AP earli-
dramatic high-level prison- Griner, who was drafted onto her home floor on she could take all the time er this month. “We’ve been
er exchange in December. No. 1 in 2013 by the Mer- May 21. To know BG is to she needed to decide if planning and we’ve been
“We missed BG every day cury, was listed Saturday love and appreciate BG, she wanted to play for the thinking it through with se-
that she was gone and, on Phoenix’s roster on the and we can’t wait to show U.S. again. curity experts, BG’s side, our
while basketball was not WNBA website. her that in person with thou- The WNBA has said it will side. We’ll find the right time
our primary concern, her Since returning home from sands and thousands of her address getting Griner spe- to comment on it when she
presence on the floor, in our Russia, Griner has been out biggest supporters exactly cial travel accommoda- signs with a team.”q