TGL is going to be a failure, at least that’s what people believed for a long time. But boy, were they wrong! The tech-powered golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy has been a huge success, surpassing expectations in its debut season with strong viewership, averaging at 513,000 viewers per match on ESPN. The league’s team owners, including billionaires like Arthur Blank and Stephen Cohen, are now looking to expand, with potential bidders lining up to create new franchises.
Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams’s husband and co-owner of the Los Angeles Golf Club, is even pushing for a women’s division, having already “bugged” the league about an LPGA deal. While all this is happening, McIlroy has signed yet another deal! The world’s second-ranked golfer is expanding his presence beyond the golf course through his investment firm, Symphony Ventures.
McIlroy’s firm is teaming up with private equity firm TPG to launch TPG Sports, an investment fund focused on businesses across the sports industry. McIlroy co-founded Symphony Ventures with Sean O’Flaherty in 2019, and both will serve as operating partners for TPG Sports. “We were talking about what’s the next step for us,” McIlroy said. “The timing was right.”
McIlroy’s increasing involvement in business is not unusual among golf’s elite, with Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, and Jack Nicklaus all having built significant business portfolios. His partnership with TPG comes amid a surge in sports investment, driven by media companies competing for premium live content and creating demand for new teams. “Sports is undergoing a big transformation,” McIlroy said.
“There is a lot of investment going into the sports world and trying to make it more professional, and trying to bring it into the 21st century.” TPG’s president, Todd Sisitsky, noted that some of the best investment opportunities have arisen during times of uncertainty. “Probably the best opportunities that we’ve seen and invested in over the past 30 years have also come at moments of uncertainty,” Sisitsky said.
. @McIlroyRory‘s Symphony Ventures is teaming up with the PE firm TPG to form TPG Sports, per @dealbook.
“Sports is undergoing a big transformation. There is a lot of investment going into the sports world and trying to make it more professional — and trying to bring it into… pic.twitter.com/XXiM5E3WEH
— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) May 1, 2025
TPG Sports has secured an investment commitment from Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based fund, although the size of the investment was not disclosed. TPG manages over $200 billion in assets and has experience in the media industry, which is increasingly intertwined with sports. McIlroy’s experience as a former member of the PGA Tour Policy Board will likely prove valuable in this new venture. But that is not the only reason why the Northern-Irishman is making the headlines.
Rory McIlroy is doing it all
Rory McIlroy’s custom irons, the RORS•PROTO, have long been a topic of interest among golf enthusiasts. Crafted to meet his precise specifications, these clubs feature CNC-milled construction from a single block of metal. TaylorMade, his equipment partner, worked closely with McIlroy to deliver the exact performance he needed.
After McIlroy’s victory at the 2025 Masters, TaylorMade is releasing a limited edition run of RORS•PROTO replica irons. These irons will be available in 4-PW and feature TW2 grooves and thinner toplines in the shorter irons, mirroring McIlroy’s own set. A subtle detail includes four colored dots under the “Forged” badging, representing McIlroy’s Grand Slam wins. The replica irons will be available for order from May 1st to May 15th, with shipping expected in September. The irons are fully customizable to fit individual specifications, making them a unique opportunity for golfers to own a piece of modern golfing history.
Have you checked these irons out, or are you planning to? Let us know below!
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