Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports is launching a new “tech-infused golf league” in partnership with the PGA Tour, which will begin in January 2024.
The league, TGL, will feature six teams of three PGA Tour players competing in a purpose-built venue. Players will hit their drives and approach shots on a virtual course and then short shots will be hit to a short-game complex.
“TGL is the next evolution within professional golf, and I am committed to helping lead it into the future,” said Woods, who, along with McIlroy is committed to playing TGL. “Embracing technology to create this unique environment gives us the ability to move our sport into primetime on a consistent basis alongside so many of sports’ biggest events. As a big sports fan myself, I’m excited about blending golf with technology and team elements common in other sports. We all know what it’s like to be in a football stadium or a basketball arena where you can watch every play, every minute of action unfold right in front of you. It’s something that inherently isn’t possible in traditional golf — and an aspect of TGL that will set it apart and appeal to a new generation of fans.”
The TGL will feature teams competing against each other in a three-on-three format. Each team will play five times over the 15-week season, held on Monday nights, with the best teams advancing to the semi-finals and final.
“I have the utmost respect for the game of golf, and the TGL, while rooted in the traditions of the game, is taking a bold step into the increasingly tech-fuelled future of sports,” said McIlroy. “TGL will tap into the appeal of team golf within an exciting, fan-friendly environment, comparable to sitting courtside at an NBA game. TGL will widen the appeal of golf to younger and more diverse fans and serve as another avenue to introduce people to the game I love.”
Mike McCarley, TMRW Sports CEO and founder, said: “We're blending a sport with 600 years of history with technology on a grand stage, built specifically for a live, primetime competition. This innovative league provides fans a fresh, short-form version of golf in an unmatched coliseum environment designed for a modern audience. We began working on this concept nearly two years ago and we're happy to be unveiling it today with Tiger and Rory, golf's two biggest stars.”