Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are making waves in the golf world with their upcoming venture, TGL, an innovative indoor golf league set to revolutionize the sport. The league, which is scheduled to commence next month, has secured a pivotal TV partnership with Sky Sports, making them the exclusive broadcaster for its initial two seasons across the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Meanwhile, fans in the United States can catch all the action on ESPN.
TGL, launched under the auspices of Woods and McIlroy’s company, TMRW Sports, features a competitive roster comprising 24 of the PGA Tour’s elite, organized into six dynamic teams. The highly anticipated inaugural event will take place at the state-of-the-art SoFi Center arena in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in the early hours of January 8.
Jason Wessely, Director of Golf at Sky Sports, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “TGL represents an exciting and innovative format, appealing to both seasoned and new golf fans alike. We’re thrilled to embark on this journey with TGL, bringing audiences closer to some of the sport’s greatest stars.” He added, “Our collaboration aims to transform the viewing experience into a truly entertaining one, solidifying Sky Sports as the home of golf.”
Mike McCarley, CEO of TMRW Sports, echoed this sentiment, declaring Sky Sports as the perfect fit for TGL in the UK and Ireland. “For avid golf fans, Sky provides the platform where they typically watch the world’s best in action. With five golfers from the UK and Ireland across four teams, local enthusiasts will have familiar faces to root for in this thrilling, fast-paced golf format that remains steeped in tradition.”
British and Irish representatives like Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, and Tommy Fleetwood are gearing up for TGL, where competitors will launch shots into a giant simulator screen that towers five stories high. For precision shots, golfers will transition to the “GreenZone”, a vibrant short-game area akin to the size of four basketball courts, featuring a rotating putting surface that shifts with each hole.
The matches are set to unfold on Monday and Tuesday evenings from January to March, with three-player teams competing over 15 holes. The initial nine holes will utilize an alternate shot triples method, culminating in six singles holes.
Wyndham Clark, the reigning US Open champion, shared his excitement with Mirror Sport, revealing his awe at the SoFi Center: “It was unbelievable. Experiencing it firsthand is a game-changer compared to viewing it through a phone or social media. Walking in was surreal; they even had a simulated walk-up song as I entered through the tunnel and emerged onto center stage. Seeing the enormous simulator and immaculate green is simply astounding.”
