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Rory McIlroy has stood by TGL's choice to establish a women's division instead of a mixed format following criticism from Nelly Korda. Korda represents women's golf's most prominent figure, yet the four-time major winner will be absent from WTGL when it begins next month. The 28-year-old described it as a "huge and unbelievable miss" for WTGL not to feature men and women competing together. WTGL has assembled an impressive line-up featuring multiple major champions, though Korda's non-participation remains notable.
She ranks as women's golf's biggest personality, but alongside her reservations about the structure, she shared uncertainty regarding the time commitment before her absence was confirmed. McIlroy, who co-owns the technology-driven golf league with Tiger Woods through their TMRW Sports enterprise, supports the choice to maintain separate gender divisions.
He said: "In my opinion, I think it's amazing to give the women their own platform. When we talked about WTGL, obviously there was talk of a mixed team.
"I mean, I think the guys are going to go and support the women, and we'll be there; we'll be at games, and we'll help to raise the profile of the overall platform. But I do think that it is important to give the women their own platform and encourage them to grow that themselves.
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"I think from a TGL perspective and the men's, I think it's been really beneficial for guys to show a bit of their personalities and to show a different side of themselves. And, you know, hopefully that'll be the same for the women coming up here in a few weeks."
Lexi Thompson, Charley Hull, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Jeeno Thitikul and Michelle Wie West are among the players set to feature in WTGL, though Korda expressed her reservations to Golfweek in January. She said: "I have mixed feelings on it if I'm being very honest, and I'm surprised no other girls have, or no one's really spoken out about it.
"I think it's a huge and unbelievable miss that we're not playing alongside the men. There's no greater way to grow the game, and it would have been revolutionary.
"It would have been the first time, I think, that men and women are on the same playing field, playing for the same exact amount of money. But I also think it's great that we are getting this opportunity, so that's my mixed feelings."
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