Lewis Hamilton has invested in TMRW Sports, the company created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in the PGA Tour 's staunch defence of the LIV Golf Series.
Woods and McIlroy have been a pivotal asset to the PGA Tour as golf's civil war continues to unravel. A number of the Tour's biggest stars including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have been lured in by the riches of the Saudi-backed series.
However, arguably the two most well-known names in golf in McIlroy and Woods have remained loyal. Not only have the pair committed to retain their membership on the course, but they have also played a key role in maintaining the Tour's position off it.
This came after Woods and McIlroy announced the formation of TMRW Sports - through which they will launch an innovative golf series that will take place on a virtual course inside an arena with a live audience. It will include a 15-match regular season starting in January 2024, and will feature six teams of PGA Tour players.
And now the golfing stars have been joined by another sporting great in the form of seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton. TMRW Sports confirmed the news on social media in a hugely exciting announcement, in which they teased even more big names: "We're set to announce our investors. In the pole position @lewishamilton."
The introduction comes as one of the PGA Tour's latest innovative measures to fight off the LIV Golf threat, with the digital series also set to give out lucrative prize money to its players. The news of Hamilton's involvement comes days after the breakaway circuit brought the curtain down on its maiden campaign at the season finale in Miami.
With £44 million of prize money on offer at the team championship at Trump Doral, questions marks were once again raised surrounding the Saudi funding of the series, following the Middle Eastern state's dismal human rights record.
Hamilton himself has often spoken out against the country's human rights issues, especially due to their involvement with F1.
What do you make of Woods and McIlroy's new series? Let us know in the comments section below.
Speaking out at last year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Mercedes man said: "Do I feel comfortable here? I wouldn’t say I do. But it’s not my choice to here, the sport has taken the choice to be here.
"Whilst we are here it’s important we do try to raise awareness. In the last race you saw the rainbow helmet that I wore. I will wear that again here and in the next race [in Abu Dhabi] because it is an issue. If anyone wants to take time to read what the law is for the LGBT+ community, it is pretty terrifying. There are changes that need to be made."
