TGL Indoor Golf League Unveils Schedule
TGL, an indoor team-based golf league supported by golf icons Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is set to launch its inaugural season. The league, consisting of six teams and 24 participating PGA Tour athletes, is scheduled to start in early January, coinciding with the NFL playoffs. Broadcasts will occur weekly on ESPN, running through late March.
Game Structure and Venue:
- Match Schedule: TGL matches will take place on Tuesday nights and will typically last around two hours. The matches will occur at the SoFi Center, a specialized venue in Palm Beach Gardens. This center is designed to host both advanced golf simulators and accommodate approximately 1,500 on-site spectators.
- Season Format: The season features 15 regular-season matches, followed by a four-team playoff and a two-team championship series. Each match includes 15 holes: nine played by teams and six in singles match play.
- Technological Integration: Combining simulation technology for drives and a physical green for short game play, the TGL offers a unique challenge. The league has created 30 different holes, with 15 selected for each match.
Team Details:
- Teams are linked to specific cities and have ownership ties to notable sports figures such as Steve Cohen (Mets), Arthur Blank (Falcons), and Fenway Sports Group (Red Sox).
Opening Matches:
- Jan. 7: New York Golf Club (featuring players like Matt Fitzpatrick and Rickie Fowler) will face Bay Golf Club (with players such as Ludvig Åberg and Shane Lowry).
- Jan. 14: Jupiter Links Golf Club (including Tiger Woods and Max Homa) will compete against Los Angeles Golf Club (featuring Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood).
- Later in the season, teams like Atlanta Drive GC (Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay) and Boston Common GC (Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley) will participate.
Background and Delays:
The league was conceptualized through TMRW Sports, a partnership between Woods and McIlroy, against the backdrop of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf conflict. Unlike the PGA Tour’s typical format, TGL emphasizes team play, akin to LIV Golf’s structure. The league’s launch was postponed by a year due to storm damage.
With a comprehensive online presence and branded merchandise, TGL aims to quickly establish a connection with fans, leveraging both players’ appeal and city affiliations. The playoffs conclude in March, just ahead of the Masters and the spring major tournaments.