Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion and a nine-time PGA Tour winner, is becoming a member of Boston Widespread Golf in TGL introduced by SoFi, the tech-infused golf league that may debut in January, the group introduced Tuesday.
Matsuyama, No. 12 within the Official World Golf Rating, joins previous main champions Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott on the group. He replaces Tyrrell Hatton, who was beforehand introduced as a part of the roster however left the PGA Tour for the LIV Golf League on Jan. 30.
“I am excited to hitch Boston Widespread Golf and be part of TGL,” Matsuyama mentioned in an announcement. “Teaming up with Rory, Keegan, and Adam — three unbelievable gamers I deeply respect — fills me with pleasure and anticipation. Collectively, I hope we are able to push the boundaries of golf and create an unforgettable new expertise for followers world wide. Most significantly, I’m trying ahead to the 4 of us profitable championships collectively.”
Matsuyama was ranked as excessive as No. 2 on this planet after turning into the primary man from Japan to win a significant championship. He has competed within the Presidents Cup 5 occasions and can symbolize Japan within the Olympics for the second time in Paris this summer time.
Boston Widespread Golf is owned by Fenway Sports activities Group, which controls the Boston Pink Sox and Pittsburgh Penguins, amongst different sports activities properties.
“On behalf of Boston Widespread Golf and everybody at Fenway Sports activities Group, I wish to specific our deep appreciation to Hideki for becoming a member of this groundbreaking enterprise that may showcase group golf like by no means earlier than,” Boston Widespread Golf president and CEO Mark Lev mentioned in an announcement. “Hideki’s calm demeanor and resilience will completely complement Rory’s dynamic abilities, Adam’s expertise, and Keegan’s tenacity, making us a formidable pressure.
“His historic Masters victory, technical precision, and unwavering work ethic have solidified his place amongst golf’s elite, and with him, we grow to be a group of gamers representing 4 continents, every a Main champion. His dedication to selling golf globally and in Japan by way of youth clinics is inspiring a brand new technology and we’re lucky to have him on our group.”
TGL’s inaugural season will tee off Jan. 7, 2025, in prime time on ESPN and ESPN+. The six-team league was scheduled to start play Jan. 9, 2024, however the launch was delayed after a storm knocked out electrical energy to the short-term energy system and backup system on the SoFi Heart in Palm Seashore Gardens, Florida, inflicting the dome to deflate and be broken.
Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Colin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele may also compete within the league.
The league is setting up a 250,000-square-foot steel-supported construction.