After a year of anticipation, the highly awaited high tech indoor golf league, led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy has catched everyone's attention. The TGL, or TMRW Golf League, will launch at the custom built SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN, marking the start of a unique and innovative golf experience. Rory Mcllroy explained this sport to the World.
A New Era of Golf
Designed with the aim of attracting a younger audience, TGL brings golf into the 21st century with technology and excitement. The virtual nature of the league, alongside the 1,500capacity stadium, provides an immersive and futuristic setting for the sport. The league, the brainchild of Woods, McIlroy, and TMRW Sports, offers an exciting twist on traditional golf.
The first match in the league featured teams from the New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club. The New York Golf Club’s trio of Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Xander Schauffele will go up against Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Åberg from The Bay Golf Club.
McIlroy Talks TGL’s Revolutionary Approach
Before the first match, Rory McIlroy spoke about the league’s innovative approach to golf. He described TGL as “golf, but it’s reimagined, sort of trying to take golf into the 21st century.” He emphasized the use of technology, saying, “We have teams, obviously, there’s a lot of technology involved, trying to bring it into the digital era. A lot of things that we’ve taken from other sports like a shotclock, a timeout, things that you don’t see in regular golf. (We’re) trying to appeal to that bigger sports audience out there.”
McIlroy and Woods have been heavily involved in every aspect of the tournament’s organization. “Tiger and I have been a part of this from day one,” McIlroy added. “Every time I step in here, I’m just blown away by the size of the screen, the fact that we’re able to put something that looks like golf on a stage like this. It’s really cool and we’re obviously really excited about it within the game of golf. I think a lot of other people outside of the game are going to see this and hopefully get excited about it as well.”
How TGL Works: Unique Format and Scoring
The TGL will feature six teams consisting of 24 PGA Tour stars, all mic’d up for the action. The regular season will last for 15 matches, with the postseason culminating in the SoFi Cup Finals on March 24. Matches will take place in the SoFi Center, where players will hit tee and approach shots into a 64by53foot simulator. After hitting the ball, players will move to the “GreenZone,” a rotating, sloped green that provides a realistic and interactive experience for every hole.
Each match consists of two sessions. The first session features a triple format, where three players rotate who hits shots and who tees off. The second session is a singles format, with players going headtohead. Each hole is worth one point, and in the event of a tie, a closesttothepin competition will decide the winner.
An exciting feature of TGL is the “Hammer” rule. This rule allows teams to double the value of a hole. If the opposing team accepts, the hole is worth two points, or three if the opposition uses the “Hammer” on the same hole. If a team declines, they forfeit the hole and the points.
TGL Teams and Their Star Players
TGL boasts an impressive roster of players, many of whom are major champions. The teams are backed by highprofile owners, including tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams, NBA stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry, and the Fenway Sports Group, owners of Liverpool FC.
Here’s a look at the teams:
Atlanta Drive GC: Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Lucas Glover.
Boston Common Golf: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott.
Jupiter Links Golf Club: Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Tom Kim, Kevin Kisner.
Los Angeles Golf Club: Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood.
New York Golf Club: Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young.
The Bay Golf Club: Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry.
TGL 2025 Schedule
The TGL regular season kicks off with the match between New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club on January 7. The league will continue throughout the first quarter of 2025, with exciting matchups scheduled across various dates. The postseason will culminate with the Semifinals on March 17 and 18, followed by the Finals Series on March 24 and 25.
TGL Schedule
January 7: New York GC vs. The Bay GC
January 14: Los Angeles GC vs. Jupiter Links GC
January 21: New York GC vs. Atlanta Drive GC
January 27: Jupiter Links GC vs. Boston Common GC
February 4: Boston Common GC vs. Los Angeles GC
February 17: Atlanta Drive GC vs. Los Angeles GC, Atlanta Drive GC vs. The Bay GC, The Bay GC vs. Boston Common GC
February 18: Jupiter Links GC vs. New York GC
February 24: Los Angeles GC vs. New York GC, Boston Common GC vs. Atlanta Drive GC
February 25: The Bay GC vs. Jupiter Links GC
March 3: The Bay GC vs. Los Angeles GC, New York GC vs. Boston Common GC
March 4: Jupiter Links GC vs. Atlanta Drive GC
Postseason Semifinals: March 17, March 18
Finals Series: March 24, March 25
With its unique format, hightech elements, and exciting lineup, TGL is poised to redefine the golf landscape and attract a new generation of fans.
