Rory's Pre-Quail Form and Belated TGL Reactions

Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

I’m glad to report that I have, in fact, swung a golf club this week - a welcome change after a colder-than-usual December and January.

This week we’re diving into a topic rarely broached by this publication - professional golf! A statement win by a certain Northern Irishman is pulling me into the fray, but only because there is a Charlotte angle.

We’ll also hit some quick news and notes from the week - as always, thanks for reading!

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINE

Three Pro Golf Thoughts: Rory’s Big Win and Belated TGL Reactions

If you’ve been following this publication the last few months, you’ve likely gleaned this is NOT a newsletter about professional golf (or professional screen golf). I didn’t rush to the keyboard to share TGL hot takes and have yet to weigh in on the state-of-pro-golf debate (and probably won’t). Despite this predisposition, the allure of Rory McIlroy’s dominant victory at Pebble Beach and some reflection on he and Tiger’s new indoor golf venture have my gears turning.

Here are three quick thoughts on current events in the professional game:

1. PGA TOUR - Rory/Quail hype set to kick into overdrive

   If you’re trying to figure out who is going to be the fan-favorite on the grounds at Quail Hollow come May, look no further than the winner of last weekend’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. As his now 10+ year major drought continues, early season flashes like this typically work golf fans into a frenzy about when McIlroy will get #5. Couple that with a PGA Championship in ~3 months at a venue he’s owned, and you’ll end up with high expectations and short betting odds when he returns to Charlotte this spring.

   Everyone is going to be picking him at Quail Hollow, which is why it probably won’t happen. We’ve seen Rory struggle with expectation management chasing the career grand slam at the Masters and in recent returns to venues he previously conquered (Kiawah, Hoylake, Valhalla, etc.). Will he be able to crack the code this spring and break through on a friendly and familiar course? I don’t have the answer, but brace yourself for the lead-up.

2. TGL - The magic happens on the stage, not the screen

   I’ve watched a few TGL matches now and… it’s fun! I don’t understand the need/desire to call the upstart league a winner or loser after a month. One thing that stands out to me is the dichotomy of the screen vs. green experience during TGL matches - the screen component feels like a formality required to set up the GreenZone portion. The short-game shots, putts, and live, in-arena action strike me as the most compelling elements of this indoor golf endeavor, so I’m curious how they either amplify that piece or make the screen golf more interesting by introducing elements like wind, firmness, or new hole designs.

3. TGL - The prospect of expansion and multiple venues is intriguing

   My first thought when I saw the SoFi Center on TV? They HAVE to rent this place out for buddies trips/bachelor parties. The venue is going to sit empty three-quarters of the year, so I’m sure it’s on the organization’s radar.

   There has also already been talk of TGL expansion (Sports Business Journal, subscription required), which could include actual home arenas for the various teams. My main request - make sure they are all unique and different! It would be additive to the competition to see real home field advantages develop and local knowledge rewarded, and tying the clubs to their city via a physical location would help spur fan interest in each geography.

STORIES TO TRACK

Adam Sperling Named Truist Championship Executive Director: There will be a new sponsor and new leadership when Charlotte’s tour stop returns in 2026 (after a year away for the PGA). Sperling, who previously served as Executive Director for the Presidents Cup (overseeing the 2022 edition in Charlotte), started in the role earlier this week.

UNC Charlotte Golfers finish 2nd and 3rd at The Stono: Daniel Boone (-9) and Eli Schmidly (-8) had strong showings at the early-season individual tournament hosted by College of Charleston. The Charlotte team begins its spring season in earnest on February 15th at the Gator Invitational hosted by University of Florida.

• Local lad: Schmidly is a Redshirt Freshman from Myers Park High School. Apparently his hobbies include listening to Chris Stapleton and playing ping pong, so he’s got a fan in me!

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