TGL — the virtual golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — has named the owners and hometown for the fifth of six planned franchises.
San Francisco TGL will be led by Marc Lasry’s Avenue Sports Fund and Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry. Curry’s Warriors teammate Klay Thompson and NBA free agent Andre Iguodala are also involved.
“Our ownership group is excited to become stewards of TGL San Francisco and to represent Northern California, which is the center of tech innovation and is a perfect location for a TGL team in this extraordinary new sports league,” Lasry said in a statement.
Lasry’s Avenue Capital Group spun off a specific $2 billion sports fund earlier in October and TGL would appear to be the first major investment from the fund. Lasry was previously a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks from 2014 until February, when he sold his stake to the Haslam family.
Curry is very invested in the golf world: The future Basketball Hall of Famer has infused millions of dollars into the Howard University golf program and Underrated Golf, a junior tour for players from underserved backgrounds. His Curry Brand with Under Armour also makes golf apparel and shoes.
Lasry, Curry, and company join the Williams sisters and Alexis Ohanian (Los Angeles), Fenway Sports Group (Boston), Arthur Blank (Atlanta), and Steve Cohen (New York) as team owners in the new virtual golf venture. NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is also invested in the Los Angeles team.
TGL recently announced a multiyear media deal with ESPN and is set to tee off on Jan. 9.
