Billy Horschel has strongly debunked any link between the high-tech TGL league and the recent string of injuries plaguing top players, including Collin Morikawa‘s abrupt withdrawal from The Players Championship and Rory McIlroy’s ongoing back concerns.

Morikawa, a two-time major champion and member of TGL’s lineup, was forced to pull out after just one hole during Thursday’s opening round at TPC Sawgrass. The World No. 4 experienced discomfort while taking a practice swing on the 11th tee — his second hole of the day — following a par on the opening hole. The injury came amid heightened scrutiny over back and hip issues affecting several TGL participants.

McIlroy, co-founder of TGL and captain of Boston Common GC, has been managing persistent back problems, having withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, prior to The Players. Other notable cases over the past year include stars like Justin Thomas (back), Sahith Theegala (oblique/back), Xander Schauffele (ribcage tear), and Horschel (hip surgery).

Speculation on social media and among fans pointed to TGL’s unique format — full swings in an indoor arena with projected virtual courses — as a potential culprit for added physical strain as players are forced to swing harder in the simulation.

Posts highlighted a perceived pattern among TGL-affiliated players dealing with injuries. Horschel, an eight-time PGA Tour winner and member of Atlanta Drive GC, pushed back firmly on X (formerly Twitter). Responding to a post listing injured TGL players, he wrote: “Please stop! TGL had nothing to do with my injury. And I would suspect nothing to do with the other guys.

“The denial aligns with broader views in the golf community that injuries stem from the cumulative demands of the modern game: repetitive high-impact swings, extensive travel, rigorous training, and age-related factors rather than any specific aspect of TGL’s controlled environment.

Sports medicine experts, including those consulted in recent analyses, have emphasized that back issues remain common in elite golf and show no direct causation tied to the simulator-based league. TGL’s matches involve limited shots per event compared to full tournament rounds or practice sessions, and players use standard equipment on a setup designed to minimize unusual stress.

Horschel, who has been transparent about his recovery and continued participation in both the PGA Tour and TGL this season, appears intent on defending the league’s reputation during its second year. Co-founded by Tiger Woods and McIlroy, TGL positions itself as a complementary entertainment format rather than a source of added risk.