Billy Horschel issues warning to PGA Tour stars ahead of TGL launch

Billy Horschel has warned the PGA Tour stars taking part in TGL the success of the venture is entirely dependent on them. 

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's Tomorrow Golf League gets underway next Tuesday. 

Approximately $50m has been spent building the purpose-built facility in Palm Beach, Florida. 

Celebrities, business leaders and other high-profile athletes are among those who have invested in the company behind the project. 

And that's before a ball has even been hit. 

The big question is obvious. 

Will TGL be a success or a complete failure?

The proof will be in the pudding. 

Horschel is one of 24 PGA Tour players who will be taking part in the league. 

The American is part of the Atlanta Drive quartet which also features Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Lucas Glover. 

Horschel told GOLF that the players have to be willing to step outside of their comfort zone and offer something that we don't usually see inside the ropes at regular Tour events. 

"I think it all falls on the players," Horschel told the publication. 

"Listen, with all the companies who have signed up, with everyone who's put in the hours to make this something special, if the players are not entertaining and not engaging — if they're not talking and dissecting stuff — we're not going to be successful."

He added: "We have to be entertainers. We have to take ourselves away from what we are at PGA Tour tournaments inside the ropes and we have to be different. We have to show more of ourselves in here than we would out on the course."

McIlroy spoke about the launch of TGL just before Christmas. 

He's excited and nervous. 

But he claimed that TGL has already done a better job than the rival LIV Golf League in one aspect. 

"The one thing that TGL has done a good job of is trying to locate the different teams in cities or geographies where you can really plug into the wider sports fan of that city," McIlroy previously said.  

"With Boston Common, everyone knowing the intensity in which Boston fans support their teams.

"Fenway [Sports Group] owns the team so plugging into Boston Red Sox fans and everyone else, whether it be the Celtics or the Patriots, that at least gives you a connection to something – which is great.

"We've got Keegan who is from that area so he is so proud to be playing for a Boston sports team. 

"We have that in our favour as well. That's what TGL has done maybe a little bit better to connect with certain fanbases, than say LIV for example."

TGL kicks off on 7 January at 7pm ET (11pm GMT). 

The action can be followed on ESPN. 

UK viewers can also watch on Sky Sports. 

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