Young Guns Credit Tech-Infused TGL for PGA Tour Success

Chris Gotterup and Michael Thorbjornsen say virtual golf league has helped prepare them for PGA Tour competition.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Two young PGA Tour players, Chris Gotterup and Michael Thorbjornsen, are crediting the tech-infused, virtual golf league TGL for helping them perform well on the PGA Tour. Gotterup, a member of Justin Thomas's Atlanta Drive squad, and Thorbjornsen, a sub on Rory McIlroy's Boston Common, both had strong showings at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, with Gotterup winning the event and Thorbjornsen finishing tied for third.

Why it matters

TGL is a new virtual golf league that aims to attract younger fans and golfers. The fact that two rising stars on the PGA Tour are crediting the league for helping them succeed suggests that TGL may be an effective way for young players to prepare for the high-pressure environment of professional golf.

The details

Gotterup and Thorbjornsen both cited TGL's ability to simulate the adrenaline rush and pressure of PGA Tour events as key factors in their success. Thorbjornsen said TGL has helped him focus when the crowds are loud and people are "hanging over you," while Gotterup said the league has helped him get used to hitting shots under pressure.

  • Gotterup competed in the most recent TGL match on Monday, February 3, 2026, just ahead of the WM Phoenix Open.
  • The 2026 WM Phoenix Open took place from February 5-11, 2026.

The players

Chris Gotterup

A young PGA Tour player who is a member of Justin Thomas's Atlanta Drive squad in the TGL virtual golf league.

Michael Thorbjornsen

A young PGA Tour player who is a sub on Rory McIlroy's Boston Common team in the TGL virtual golf league.

Justin Thomas

A PGA Tour player who owns the Atlanta Drive squad in the TGL virtual golf league.

Rory McIlroy

A PGA Tour player who owns the Boston Common team in the TGL virtual golf league.

Hideki Matsuyama

A PGA Tour player who lost to Chris Gotterup in a playoff at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like TGL has definitely helped me focus when the crowd is loud and you kind of have people hanging over you. I wish I could putt as well as I did on these greens here as I do on TGL. I feel like it definitely helps giving me some confidence out here on the greens. I know I can make putts on Astroturf or grass. It can be done. Again, yeah, just having people kind of hanging over you and getting booed when you hit a poor shot, you just kind of deal with it now.”

— Michael Thorbjornsen (Yahoo Sports)

“We were flying back from TGL and I was like, 'I need to see Saturday here this week,' meaning he really wanted to make the cut in Scottsdale. I think to start the year I really felt like I worked hard in the offseason to get ready for the season. TGL in the offseason also, just getting used to adrenaline rush you get inside there and being able to hit shots under pressure has helped me and my game.”

— Chris Gotterup (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The PGA Tour will continue to monitor the impact of TGL on the performance of young players like Gotterup and Thorbjornsen as the league gains more popularity.

The takeaway

The success of Gotterup and Thorbjornsen at the WM Phoenix Open suggests that the new TGL virtual golf league may be an effective way for young players to prepare for the high-pressure environment of professional golf. As the league continues to grow, it could become an important part of the development of the next generation of PGA Tour stars.