Serena Williams swapped the tennis court for the world of indoor golf Tuesday night but infuriated golf fans felt she should have stayed in her lane. 

The tennis legend, along with her husband Alexis Ohanian and sister Venus, heads up the star-studded ownership of Los Angeles Golf Club – one of the six teams competing in TGL.

And the 23-time Grand Slam winner was in the house to watch her team take on Tiger Woods and his Jupiter Links teammates in the second match of the golf simulator league’s inaugural season.

The 43-year-old was spotted cheering on her team of Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala and Justin Rose inside LA’s VIP suite at SoFi Center in Palm Beach, Florida.

But partway through the 15-hole showdown, Williams swapped her front-row seat for a spot in the booth.

Williams joined ESPN’s Matt Barrie on the network’s broadcast, lending her commentary for two holes.

LA Golf Club owner Serena Williams appeared on ESPN’s broadcast of TGL Tuesday

Tiger Woods and his Jupiter Links made their debut against Williams team this week

Serena Williams loves the fun vibes @TGL brings to golf 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VvnrXx9cxq

— ESPN (@espn) January 15, 2025

However, golf fans were less than impressed with the retired tennis star’s appearance with many brutally taking aim at her lack of golf knowledge.

‘Serena Williams knows next to nothing about golf #TGL #LAGC,’ one fan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

‘Serena Williams has no idea what’s going on,’ another agreed, before adding: ‘It’s actually incredible how dumb Serena Williams sounds.’

However, one appeared to find the funny side, writing: ‘Serena Williams has absolutely no idea what’s going on and I love it.’

Others called for Williams’ removal from their TV screens as they continued to rip into her commentary.

‘Someone get serena williams off the f***ing mic for TGL,’ one social media user said. ‘She has absolutely no idea what she is saying.’

‘Get Serena Williams off this broadcast,’ another echoed, before a third furious user chimed in, saying: ‘So serena williams is single handedly ruining TGL.’

Others claimed the tennis sensation was single-handedly destroying the venture and their enjoyment of the match.

Many golf fans were less than impressed with the retired tennis star’s appearance

‘Serena Williams looks like she’d rather be having a Root Canal,’ one fan account claimed.

‘Serena williams on the tgl broadcast is killing me,’ another chimed in.

‘There is literally nobody worse than Serena Williams they could’ve had on this broadcast,’ a third wrote.

‘This Serena Williams interview might of just killed TGL before it even took two steps,’ another said of the fledgling venture from Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Williams is just one member of a star-studded fleet of investors backing the latest venture to revolutionize the world of golf.

The likes of NBA star Steph Curry and Liverpool chiefs Fenway Sports Group have also joined the various ownerships of the six teams – Atlanta Drive, New York, Los Angeles, The Bay, Boston Common and Jupiter Links.

Meanwhile, the NBA’s Antetokounmpo brothers, Giannis and Thanasis, Alex Morgan, Servando Carrasco, and Michelle Wie West have joined Williams at the helm of Los Angeles Golf Club.

In response to the backlash, Williams addressed the situation on her social media platforms. She acknowledged her primary expertise in tennis but emphasized her genuine enthusiasm for golf and commitment to learning more about the sport.

Williams stated, “I’m passionate about expanding my horizons and supporting ventures like TGL. Constructive feedback is always welcome as I continue this journey.”

Williams’ involvement in TGL reflects a broader trend of athletes crossing into different sports domains, bringing diverse perspectives and expanding their personal and professional interests.

While her recent commentary received mixed reactions, it underscores the challenges and learning curves that come with stepping into new arenas.

As TGL progresses, it will be interesting to observe how Williams and other non-golf athletes adapt and contribute to the sport, potentially attracting new audiences and fostering greater inclusivity within the golfing community.