TGL, the innovative team golf league supported by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports, is set to kick off its first season on January 7, 2025. What exactly is TGL? After a delay in its initial launch in January 2024 due to weather problems at the host venue, recent developments have been spurred by a strategic alliance with the International Golf Federation (IGF). Sponsored by Sofi, this interactive golf league, conceived by sports executive Mike McCarley alongside Woods and McIlroy, in collaboration with the PGA Tour, combines cutting-edge technology with live stadium action and broadcasts. The events will unfold at a specially constructed venue, the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Key technological features include long-range shots projected onto a 64 x 46-foot screen, a dynamic short-game area that changes between holes, and a 40-second shot clock, with players equipped with microphones and a deluge of data. The league will comprise six teams, each with four players, and each match will see three players from each team engage in a two-hour team golf contest. The emphasis is on technology, innovation, and fan interaction. Celebrity team ownership includes Serena and Venus Williams for the Los Angeles Golf Club, Fenway Sports Group for the Boston Common Golf Club, and Stephen Curry for The Bay GC, among others. The competition format is detailed by Rickie Fowler on www.tglgolf.com. Matches consist of two parts: first, a 'triple' 3 on 3 nine-hole alternate shot competition, followed by singles, a six-hole head-to-head format. Each hole scores one point, with ties resolved in overtime. The TGL will conclude with season-long playoffs and a championship. Is the golfing community prepared for this new venture? Antony Scanlon, IGF Executive Director, expressed confidence in TMRW Sports' vision to merge virtual and live competitions to attract new fans and enhance their connection to golf. He noted the potential for growth in golf through tech-driven innovations and the ability to engage wider, including younger and non-traditional audiences, to boost participation. Despite concerns from some players about excessive golfing worldwide and the need for more rest, we will monitor the progress of these plans, with Khaleej Times Golf providing further updates as available.
![TGL: A New Era in Team Golf Launches January 2025 TGL: A New Era in Team Golf Launches January 2025](https://world-arabia.com/storage/images/news/crops/news-promo/SoggX1xTNVpKRBclLjtEqkrejfMIuHagJKq2Fnkh.webp)
Text: Lara Palmer
23.07.2024
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL Brings Tech and Innovation to Golf, Set to Launch in 2025