The PGA Tour has partnered with a new team-based live virtual golf league called TGL, co-created by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley. Let’s review what we know about this new indoor golf league and answer your most frequent questions before the official launch in January 2025 (delayed).
TGL initially planned the first venue for January 2024, but the dome of the Florida-based arena collapsed after a power failure. Following that incident, partners decided to report the launch of TGL in early 2025.
What is TGL?
TGL (Tech-infused golf league) is totally different from what we are used to seeing on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour. TGL is a live indoor golf league created by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley in 2022 under the venture of TMRW (Tomorrow) Sports and in partnership with the PGA Tour.
According to Mike McCarley, fans will be at the heart of the action, sitting at the vibrant arena’s edge like during an NBA game, with music and player announcements.
How does it work?
This is what a TGL arena should look like
TGL aims to offer a shorter, entertaining, high-tech prime-time golf experience consisting of live team-based 3v3 18-hole tournaments lasting 2 hours.
Each team (6 total) will consist of 3 Tour players and be city-based. As of now, we already know the following teams:
Which cities do you think will feature the two remaining TGL arenas? Chicago? Austin? Minneapolis? Kansas? Seattle?
The regular season will consist of 15 matches, playoffs, and a Championship match (reasonably similar to the functioning of the FedEx Cup).
Each venue will feature a purpose-built arena with custom-built indoor golf simulator bays and virtual greens larger than a basketball court (more information on the technology is available in the article).
Which golf pros will be part of it?
As of September 2023, the following Tour players will be part of the TGL virtual golf league: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Billy Horschel (my favorite player by the way), Sahith Theegala, Cameron Young and Keegan Bradley.
Even though the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour (ex-European Tour), and LIV Golf have announced a merger on June 6th, 2023, no golf pros who pledged allegiance to LIV are currently part of the TGL.
Given that there will be 6 teams of 3 players each, and we know the names of 11 players, we have yet to see the names of the 4 other players who will join TGL in January 2025.
Where will the first venue be?
The first TGL live event is set to take place at the TGL Arena of Palm Beach State College (Palm Beach, FL).
How can I watch TGL events on TV and online?
If you can’t make it in person, TGL golf events will be broadcasted on Disney’s ESPN TV channels and ESPN+
Who is backing TGL and the teams?
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley co-founded the TGL golf league in 2022 under the TMRW Sports venture. NBA star Steph Curry is also part of the TMRW investors. Different companies and investors individually own The teams’ licenses (more details below).
New York
The New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has purchased the rights to the TGL New York team through his asset management from Point72.
Related article : the 5 best indoor golf venues in New York City
Atlanta
AMB Sports and Entertainment is the company backing TGL Atlanta. AMBSE owns the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United (soccer), and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Los Angeles Golf Club
LAGC is backed by Alexis Ohanian (Seven Seven Six), his wife Serena Williams, and her sister Venus Williams. Investors include several professional Greek basketball stars: Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Antetokounmpo, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
Boston
TGL Boston is funded by Fenway Sports Group, famously known as the owner of the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, and the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL).
Related article : the 5 best indoor golf venues in Boston
What about the technology used in the arenas?
Screen-size comparison
Full Swing (not the Netflix documentary, but the indoor golf simulator brand) has been selected as the official partner of the TGL. Arenas will feature :
- Custom-made Full Swing golf simulators and launch monitors
- Large HD screens measuring 64 x 46 ft (about 20 times the size of a standard indoor golf screen)
- Three 15x27ft virtual greens within a 3,800 square foot putting zone (that replicates the slope of each hole played with 189 actuators)
- Virtual caddy technology providing a live yardage book on a touchscreen monitor.
- A virtual driving range powered my Full Swing Pro 2.0.
Players will be mic’d-up just like in YouTube golf (a feature that viewers really appreciate, not being the case in Tour events).
Which golf courses will be played?
It has been announced that no actual golf course will be played virtually. Instead, TMRW has hired famous golf architects to design golf courses for TGL events.
Is the TGL a direct response of the PGA to LIV Golf?
The announcement’s timing would suggest yes, but Mike McCarley and Full Swing CEO Ryan Dotters have been working on this project since 2019, long before the creation of the controversial LIV Golf. In other words, initially, no, but ultimately yes?
We will update this article once we hear more about the TGL and look forward to the official launch in Florida!
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