In an effort to increase interest in its upcoming inaugural season, WTGL has announced that popular influencer and former golf pro Paige Spiranac has been added to its playing roster.
Spiranac, who has more than four million Instagram followers and was a star at the Internet Invitational last summer, has been named captain of the newly formed Arizona Big Knockers.
The team will begin play next winter during the inaugural WTGL campaign.
“I am excited to join the WTGL as we look to introduce women’s golf to a national audience,” said Spiranac. “I love competition. I usually perform better when there’s a bit of pressure on me. I know I have my doubts, but you’d be surprised what I can do with the right club in my hands.”
Joining Spiranac on the Big Knockers team is fellow influencer Claire Hogle. The next member will be announced at a later date to complete the trio.
“We really think they make a great couple,” said TMRW Sports CEO Mike McCarley. “These are two strong individuals who will bring personality. We expect many golf fans will enjoy coming to WTGL.”
WTGL has already revealed a handful of players in its lineup. Jeeno Thitikul, Charley Hull, Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson, Rose Zhang, Lottie Woad and Michelle Wie West will be part of the effort.
Despite the star power, league organizers have remained concerned that there aren’t enough LPGA Tour players to attract sustained fan interest. The men’s TGL has struggled to attract viewers and there are fears that women will not be able to support their own league.
This is where Spiranac and Hogle come into play. It is hoped that their millions of social media followers will tune in to the weekly broadcast.
As part of the announced team, the Arizona Big Knockers have unveiled a logo as well as a custom golf hole that will be played during the WTGL season.
The new logo (right) features an upright cactus with two golf balls. According to league officials, the two golf balls symbolize the popular “Arizona two-step” dance.
“This is absolute bullshit,” wrote one commenter on Twitter. “Golf balls are clearly titties. Whatever. I’ll still watch.”
As for the custom golf hole, reports indicate that Big Knockers is reinventing the sim golf concept by introducing two large circular greens that each have a hole directly in the middle. Both greens are volcanic craters with slopes falling in all directions. Golfers must choose which green to target. As an interesting wrinkle, one green is slightly larger than the other.
“It’s going to be hard for everybody to say which one it is until we’re on the green,” Hogle said. “Fans will just have to watch and feel it for themselves.”
There is a possibility that Big Knockers will introduce one the third hole that will be open only for special occasions.
The Big Knockers are also expected to use unconventional uniforms, no surprise given Spiranac’s long fight against the traditional golf dress code.
“Our team color is soft spray tan,” Spiranac said while holding a top that was identical to her skin tone. “I think the crowd will be on our side.”
Another key change will be how the Big Knockers team enters the arena. While the LPGA pros are walking through a tunnel in a smoke machine, the Big Knockers will descend from the rafters as each player spins on a pole and playfully blows kisses to the crowd as “Pony” by Genuine plays throughout the SoFi Center.
Some fans have expressed concern that WTGL has been manipulated. Despite the playoff system originally having the top four teams advance to the semifinals, officials have changed that concept and given the Big Knockers an automatic bye to the championship round.
At press time, WTGL had received an unexpected flurry of ticket requests.
Editor’s Note: This story is part of MyGolfSpy’s April Fools series. As with many of the references within, this article is not real.
