Here's all you need to know about the TGL, a new tech-inspired golf league, that has been launched by TMRW Sports in partnership with the PGA Tour
There is a lot to cover when introducing Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new tech-infused golf league. We've put together a quick overview to bring you up to speed with everything TGL.
TGL Overview
The league was launched in August 2022, with the intent of providing a unique fan and viewer experience. The golf will be played on a big screen. And we mean a big screen, a cinema style set-up, approximately a hundred feet from the golfers hitting. Think simulator, but a lot further away.
Instead of a course, we’re in a stadium. Rather than wet Bermuda grass, we have artificial turf - able to recreate a variety of lies. We’ve got shot clocks, player microphones and robotically manipulated greens - that will alter depending on the course and hole selected.
If you’re imagining a virtual reality style of golf that is nothing like you’ve seen before, you’d be right. Read on as we try and clear up some commonly asked questions, and some quickfire answers to get you clued up for TGL’s arrival in January 2024.
Who is behind the TGL?
Mike McCarley. He is the CEO of TMRW Sports, where Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have joined forces to bring the game of golf forward, with technology at the heart of the company.
Where will the golf be played?
In a stadium called the SoFi arena in Palm Beach, Florida. Monday nights, under the lights.
Is it normal golf?
No. TMRW Sports intends on accelerating everything in the game, from the duration of the round to switching up the formats, to reducing time between shots and providing graphics on a new scale. For a start, they’re in a stadium, playing a virtual course by hitting into an enormous screen. More on this below.
Who is playing in the TGL?
Those committed so far are:
Tiger Woods - Rory McIlroy - Justin Thomas - Collin Morikawa - Adam Scott - Matt Fitzpatrick - Max Homa - Billy Horschel - Justin Rose - Xander Schauffele - Rickie Fowler - Patrick Cantlay - Wyndham Clark - Lucas Glover - Min Woo Lee - Tyrrell Hatton - Tommy Fleetwood - Shane Lowry - Tom Kim - Keegan Bradley - Sahith Theegala - Cameron Young - Kevin Kisner
Do they have teams?
Yes! There are currently six teams, owned by some of the most influential people in the business and athletic world. Each team has a captain and four players. The roster is still being juggled around, with Jon Rahm withdrawing from the roster earlier this month.
The teams are Jupiter Links, Boston Common Golf, Atlanta Drive, Los Angeles GC, New York and San Francisco. The 24 players are split across the four teams, but it appears not every aspect of the team arrangement has been finalised.
Who is playing for each TGL team?
We don't know the full team set up just yet, but here's who is playing with who so far:
Atlanta Drive GC - Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel and Lucas Glover
Boston Common Golf - Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley and Tyrrell Hatton
Los Angeles Golf Club - Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala
Jupiter Links - Tiger Woods
Is it at least eighteen holes?
No. The format will be 15 holes, purely because they figured this is doable in two hours. Much like baseball, a shot clock will be introduced meaning teams are penalised when they exceed 40 seconds. (Big thumbs up from me).
What does the 15-hole format look like?
For starters, it’s matchplay.
Holes 1-9 will be called "triples" - alternate shot for the three players, with one point awarded for winning a hole.
The final six holes will be singles, with each of three team members playing two holes. (Remember, each team has four players on the roster, so three will be selected to compete at once).
Any match ending in a tie goes to overtime, with each player going one-v-one in a closest-to-the-pin competition.
Do they compete for points?
Yes. A team win is worth two points, the losing side can pick up one if the contest stretches to overtime, like a losing bonus point in other sports.
Will this overlap regular Tour events?
There are expected to be 15 regular season matches, followed by play-offs and a championship match. Commencing on January 9, 2024, the events will be broadcast on ESPN and Sky Sports every subsequent Monday, probably finishing just before the Masters.
So; it’s a golf league, with some of the top players in the world, over 15 holes and two hours, played inside a stadium, using robotically controlled greens, and combining virtual aspects of the game with the physical?
Yes! Great summary. The aim is to combine history and credibility with advances in technology to broaden the fan base, and capitalise on the post-pandemic boom seen within golf. Shortening the time required to complete a round is a big plus.
I hope this article informed you of the upcoming tech-infused golf league, commencing in January 2024. There are still a lot of unknowns, so keep an eye on this article as I'll update with more information as I get it.
I think the venture has the potential to engage a lot of people who would normally give golf a miss – which is a good thing for us all!
For more information on the TGL visit tglgolf.com
Meet Patrick Brennan
Patrick is originally from the Lake District, UK but moved to British Columbia, Canada after university. He writes for several media outlets, including Golficity, and has been doing so for over 18 months.
His main writing interests are professional golf tours, the Majors and any good underdog story!
He comes from a sporting family and, when not cycling or skiing, plays off a six handicap - trying and failing to keep the family bragging rights, often due to a streaky driver!
