Tyrell Hatton causes headache for Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods thanks to LIV Golf move

Tyrrell Hatton was removed from the TGL roster (Image: 2023 Getty Images)

Tyrrell Hatton was initially one of the 24 PGA Tour stars to commit to Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ TGL, but the Englishman has been removed from the roster after joining LIV Golf

Tyrrell Hatton’s move to LIV Golf has created an issue for Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, with the PGA Tour stars now looking for a replacement on their TGL roster.

McIlroy and Woods are co-founders of the innovative indoor golf league that will launch in January 2025, after being forced into a 12-month delay due to stadium damage. One of those committed was Hatton, who was named alongside McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott as part of the Boston Common franchise last October.

Just over three months later though, the Englishman saw his name removed from the Boston and TGL roster after opting to make the mega-money move to LIV Golf in February.

This means the co-founders have been forced to look elsewhere to re-complete their roster, with two spaces left to fill. A gap was made by fellow European Jon Rahm, who also opted to sign with Greg Norman and co in joining LIV, signing a record-breaking deal last December.

Rahm announced his decision to quit TGL just weeks before joining the LIV setup, and has since founded Legion XIII, teaming up with his Ryder Cup partner Hatton. The latter appeared to be initially all-in on the idea of TGL having committed to the Boston setup which is owned by Fenway Sports Group (FSG).

Being a part of the Fenway Sports Group family through Boston Common Golf is truly surreal,” Hatton claimed last October. “As a lifelong Liverpool F.C. fan, it’s a dream come true to be part of the same ownership group. This is an incredible opportunity to represent the spirit of excellence and winning that Fenway Sports Group embodies, and to play with some of the golfers I have admired throughout my career.”

This was an opportunity he was willing to give up last month though, after make the mega-money switch in the footsteps of Rahm. Hatton signed with LIV at the 11th hour, having only been announced as part of the newly-formed Legion XIII just days before the league’s opening event of the season in Mexico.

Opening upon his move – which he claimed to have been decided on a coin toss – he told Fairway To Heaven podcast: “So we had some chats in December. I spoke with Jon during that time and to be honest nothing happening in the December. Then for me it was the weekend I was playing the Dubai Desert Classic and that is when we had another call to my agent and we obviously spoke about it after the tournament had finished.

“Then we basically had a week to work it all out and here we are.” Remarkably revealing that his decision was made by the help of a coin toss, he added: “I had a deadline of 7:30 on the Sunday night [before Mayakoba]. With the help of a coin toss,” he said with a smile, “I signed the contract at 7:29.”