Kevin Kisner is off Tiger Woods’ TGL team, and he says it’s because Woods wants to play a full schedule. Kisner explained his exit from Jupiter Links Golf Club on the Fore Play podcast this week, a day after TGL released its Season 3 rosters.
“Well, obviously, I’m not on the team anymore,” Kisner said. “I had a two-year contract with Jupiter Links and then they, Tiger wants to play. And then they wanted to sign Keith Mitchell, which is totally fine with me.”
Kisner said he found out by text, and the text came from Woods’ business partner, not Woods himself.
“Rob [McNamara], Tiger’s guy, he text me a long text last week, I think,” Kisner said. “Just telling me what they did on their decisions, how they were moving around and what players were going to do and that Tiger wanted to play a full schedule.”
Woods played only one match in TGL Season 2 because of injury. He returned for the TGL Finals, where Los Angeles beat Jupiter Links 9-2.
Kisner also said he expects Woods to play the Hero World Challenge and the PNC Championship. Woods has not announced plans for either event.
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Mitchell joins a Jupiter Links roster that brings back Woods, Max Homa, Tom Kim and Akshay Bhatia. Kisner said he expects to stay involved with the team in some way.
“I’m sure I’ll still be involved in some sort of fashion at some point. Go down there and do some stuff for them,” Kisner said. “You know, the Bad News Bears are still going to be a part of my life, and hopefully they continue to win.”
Kisner and Woods produced one of TGL’s most viral moments. Kisner bladed a bunker shot off the flagstick, and Woods doubled over laughing.
The TGL news came days after Kisner drew attention for comments about Rory McIlroy. Ahead of the DP World India Championship, Kisner questioned McIlroy’s stated reason for playing in New Delhi.
McIlroy had spoken about growing golf in India. Kisner called it “such a dog shit comment.”
“But I guess for the right price, we could all say that comment,” Kisner said. “He doesn’t want to globally expand in India, he wants to get his $10 million bucks and go play in India.”
McIlroy responded during the event. “Two things can be true at the same time,” he said.
“People can get paid to come and play at a tournament, but at the same time, do it from a place of, you know, a genuine interest in trying to bring the sport to a developing country,” McIlroy said. “A country where the middle class is larger than whole population of the United States. It’s a huge market for golf.”
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Kisner returned to the topic on Fore Play this week. He said the reaction to his comments was overblown.
“Was it really an evisceration, though?” Kisner said. “If you actually listen to the whole rant, it’s basically like, ‘Yeah, I would go too.'”
He said the field in New Delhi made his point. “Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, and Rory McIlroy don’t just suddenly show up in India on the DP World Tour. It just doesn’t happen,” Kisner said.
“I mean, Rory doesn’t even show up to Harbour Town for 20 million bucks, pretty close to home,” he added. “There’s a reason why these guys are going, and I don’t hate them for it.”
Kisner said he supports growing the game in India. He just wants players to say why they’re really there.
“I just think it’s fascinating that nobody wants to be honest with the world, right?” Kisner said. “I think it’s great that we get more people in India to play golf. But if it was zero dollars, you’re not showing up there. You didn’t show up the last 16 years. Why, suddenly, is India great?”
TGL Season 3 begins Dec. 27 at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
