Tiger Woods Rakes in Millions from the Sale of Golf Simulator Company Full Swing

Tiger Woods has long been more than just the most successful golfer of his generation. Ever since he became the first golfer ever to surpass the billion-dollar mark in 2022, one thing has been clear: The 50-year-old thinks far beyond the tee box. In addition to sponsorship deals with partners like Rolex and TaylorMade, Woods has built up a substantial portfolio of business investments in recent years—and one of them is now paying off in a big way.

The Deal at a Glance

Versant Media Group, a publicly traded media company and subsidiary of the communications conglomerate Comcast, has reached an agreement with the previous majority owner, Bruin Capital, to acquire the golf technology company Full Swing. The purchase price amounts to approximately $530 million—and will be paid entirely in cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

For Bruin Capital, it’s a brilliant deal: The investment firm had acquired Full Swing in 2021 for approximately $160 million—and is now, just five years later, realizing three times that purchase price.

Woods’ Role at Full Swing

Woods has held a stake in Full Swing since 2015. At that time, he made his first investment in the company and simultaneously took on the role of brand ambassador—a position he still holds today. To reach his current stake, he made at least one additional investment round over the years.

His stake in Full Swing is estimated at one to two percent—a minority stake that, at the current sale price, is nonetheless worth approximately $11 million. Yet Woods’ influence on the company has always been greater than his formal stake would suggest: According to consistent reports, the 15-time major champion has had a significant influence on the company’s strategic direction and product development.

What is Full Swing?

Full Swing was founded in 1986 and has evolved over the past decades from a niche provider to a market leader in the field of golf simulators. The Carlsbad, California-based company is an officially licensed simulator partner of the PGA Tour. In addition to Woods himself, prominent users include top players such as Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, and Dustin Johnson—as well as athletes from other sports, such as NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, and NBA legend Steph Curry.

The product range extends from commercial installations to home simulators, with complete studio kits costing between $11,500 and $15,000. Launch-Monitors are available starting at around $5,000. Most recently, Full Swing has also expanded its technology to baseball and other sports.

TGL and the Strategic Partnership

Particularly noteworthy is the close connection between Full Swing and the TGL—the indoor golf league that Woods launched together with Rory McIlroy through their joint venture, TMRW Sports. Full Swing’s technology forms the technological backbone of the league, which holds its matches in a 1,500-seat arena in South Florida—on a 53-foot-tall high-tech screen that displays virtual golf courses with impressive detail. The TGL’s second season ended in March 2026.

With the acquisition of Full Swing, Versant is now in close proximity to the TGL—and at a crucial moment: The league is currently negotiating a new broadcast deal following the expiration of its two-year agreement with ESPN. Golf Channel, which is part of Versant’s portfolio, is considered a serious contender for the broadcast rights—both for the TGL and for the newly planned women’s league, the WTGL. Thanks to the Full Swing deal, the interests of all parties involved are now more closely intertwined than ever before.

Versant CEO Mark Lazarus outlined the strategy behind the acquisition in a company statement: “Full Swing is exactly the kind of strategic platform that reflects how we’re building Versant: by investing in our core markets, expanding the reach of our iconic brands, and finding new ways to engage passionate audiences. Sports are becoming more interactive, data-driven, and connected—and Full Swing enables us to capitalize on this momentum.”

Full Swing CEO Ryan Dotters added in the same announcement: “By joining Versant, we gain the scale and reach to make our technology accessible to even more golfers, athletes, and fans.”

Context: An Entrepreneur on the Rise

The investment in Full Swing exemplifies Woods’ transformation from a pure sports star to a strategically minded entrepreneur. While many athletes use their fame for short-term sponsorship deals, Woods has for years focused on long-term investments in the golf ecosystem. In addition to Full Swing, these include TMRW Sports, restaurant investments, and golf course design projects.

Woods is not alone in this: A growing number of top athletes—including McIlroy—are trading mere name recognition for actual ownership stakes in the companies shaping the future of the sport.

Outlook

Once the deal is finalized, Full Swing will be integrated as a standalone unit into Versant’s portfolio of digital platforms and ventures. CEO Ryan Dotters will remain on board and will report to Will McIntosh, Versant’s President of Digital Platforms and Ventures. Versant plans to expand Full Swing into a multi-sport technology platform—for athletes, coaches, and fans of a wide variety of sports.