TGL is Here! Good, Bad, Boring?

The Tomorrow Golf League (TGL), co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, launched its inaugural match yesterday, January 7, 2025, at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This innovative league aims to revolutionize golf by merging advanced technology with live competition, creating a fast-paced and engaging experience for both players and fans.

First Ever Match

The opening match featured the New York Golf Club, with players Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Xander Schauffele, competing against The Bay Golf Club's Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Åberg. The Bay Golf Club dominated from the start, going up 6-0 and eventually won 9-2.

Format (Alternate Shot & Singles)

The match starts off with 9 holes of triples alternate shot with a brief intermission before 6 holes of singles. Players hit long shots into a massive simulator screen that projects virtual holes. The holes aren't your typical holes that you would play on your local indoor simulator. The holes are set in exotic locations such as the middle of the ocean or in a volcano. For short-game play, they transition to a dynamic, rotating green that adjusts to simulate various putting scenarios. This setup allows for holes to be completed within 5 minutes, making the 15-hole match about 2 hours long.

Atmosphere

The league put an emphasis on entertainment. All players are mic'd to show real-time interactions and insights, allowing the golfers' personalities to show. This is something traditional golf broadcasts lack. The arena features smoke machines, strobes lights and a DJ to get the crowd going.

Good For TV?

While the in-person event might seem like hole 16 at the Waste Management Open (minus the beer throwing) the television entertainment aspect seemed to be lacking. Outside of Tiger and Rory joining the broadcast, golfers' personalities just weren't on display. The energy from inside the arena just didn't make its way to our television screens.