On Wednesday, the TGL announced that Collin Morikawa was the first player to sign with its Los Angeles team owned by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian along with Serena and Venus Williams.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Collin to the Los Angeles Golf Club family,” Ohanian said. “Collin’s exceptional skill, commitment to the game, and resonance with fans make him the perfect fit for LAGC.”
Morikawa is the second player-team signing for the league so far after Justin Thomas signed with the Atlanta-based squad Tuesday.
In a video posted to LAGC’s Instagram account, Morikawa said: “I just got chills through my body, I don’t think I’ve ever answered a call like this, I got my Ryder Cup call this year, but I think this tops it almost.”
As you’d expect, golf Twitter found the comments interesting. Is it a bit? Are players taking the new tech-infused league led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy too seriously?
🚨🏌🏻♂️📱Collin Morikawa’s was ecstatic as he received the call to join @WeAreLAGC from @alexisohanian: “I just got chills through my body, I don’t think I’ve ever answered a call like this, I got my Ryder Cup call this year, but I think this tops it almost.”
{🎥: @WeAreLAGC} pic.twitter.com/E0Yms5Vy4h
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) November 1, 2023
Here are several posts reacting to Morikawa’s comments.
KVV of No Laying Up
“This was almost as important to me as the Ryder Cup” does less to elevate the TGL and more to explain what happened to Team USA on Day 1 in Italy, sadly. https://t.co/SNKlYUN3zt
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) November 1, 2023
Brendan Porath of the Shotgun Start podcast
A preposterous quote. I realize Morikawa mostly has just one setting with this kinda thing. But while it has many “serious” people backing it, the indoor screen league taking itself this seriously won’t go great I’d imagine. https://t.co/XH4xk7DLTq
— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) November 1, 2023
D.J. Piehowski of No Laying Up
If this is a bit, it's an all timer.
If it's not a bit: https://t.co/NeoNkOsPWH pic.twitter.com/yYSK6LOyEn
— D.J. Piehowski (@DJPie) November 1, 2023
Matt Vincenzi of GolfWRX
“People aren’t taking TGL that seriously” as Collin Morikawa says the call to join LA Golf Club tops the call to be selected for the Ryder Cup.
Those who criticized Gooch, your turn for Morikawa. https://t.co/V87q4CY7pH
— Matt Vincenzi (@MattVincenziPGA) November 1, 2023
Andy Johnson of The Fried Egg
I wrote about TGL and some early thoughts on what they have going on. This certainly falls in the cringe worthy rollout strategy they have employed. read here: https://t.co/HmC2sVgpquhttps://t.co/i0Ulp2EkAj
— Andy Johnson 🍳 (@AndyTFE) November 1, 2023
No Laying Up
Nope. Not it. https://t.co/pNU4zrKLkx
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) November 1, 2023
Talor Gooch vibes
Heavy Talor Gooch vibes here. https://t.co/HmK8b5oLve
— Michael McEwan (@MMcEwanGolf) November 1, 2023
Isn't that serious
Nope nope nope. The one thing this league cannot do is take itself this seriously. This needs to be unserious, low stakes (semi competitive) and fun! https://t.co/cS2VQMhpIc
— Andrew Crowe (@andrew_crowe5) November 1, 2023
