Golf
The first pieces of Woods’ innovative project with McIlroy. It’s called TGL and it will take place in stadiums
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and their newly formed company TMRW Sports have revealed for the first time the grand plans that the two famous golfers have been working on for two years. It’s called TGL (it’s not clear what the initials stand for, but there is speculation about the abbreviation in translation: The Technology Golf League) and is set to launch in 2024. It will also become part of the PGA Tour’s seasonal calendar.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and their newly formed company TMRW Sports have revealed for the first time the grand plans that the two famous golfers have been working on for two years. It’s called TGL (it’s not clear what the initials stand for, but there is speculation the acronym translates to: Technology Golf League) and is set to launch in 2024. It will also become part of the PGA Tour’s seasonal calendar.
On Wednesday, the PGA Tour made a number of major changes to take world golf to the next level. One of the additions of new tournaments and higher revenue will be the TGL, whose creators are two of perhaps the most famous golfers in modern history – Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
The league is to be based on modern virtual technology and is to be played in closed, sold-out stadiums. It will be a kind of virtual show, based on the precise swings of the best players in the world, all in partnership with the PGA Tour.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are also officially the first players to take part in the league. It’s expected to start in 2024, with more players to be added by then. It is not yet clear whether it will be the best players based on the PGA Tour performance rankings or if players will qualify based on other criteria.
What is clear is that it will be a team game, made up of six teams of three players. According to the first promo video, it is estimated that they should be timed for a two-hour interval.
The custom-built arena will combine a data-rich virtual playground with a state-of-the-art short game complex and is intended to offer viewers a high-energy experience.
Matches are scheduled for Monday evenings so as not to interfere with the NFL’s Sunday broadcast time, while also not disrupting the focus of classic PGA Tour tournaments. It is scheduled to feature 15 matches in the regular season, which will then be supplemented by semifinal and final bouts.
“The TGL is the next evolution in professional golf and I am committed to helping lead it into the future. Embracing technology to create this unique environment gives us the opportunity to move our sport into prime time on a consistent basis, alongside the sport’s biggest events,” said Tiger Woods in an official statement on the TGL project.
“Weall know what it’s like to be in a football stadium or basketball arena where you can watch every play, every minute of the action right in front of you. It’s something that’s inherently not possible in traditional golf. TGL is an aspect that will set it apart and appeal to a new generation of fans,” added the winner of fifteen majors.
“TGL will broaden the appeal of golf to younger and more diverse fans and serve as another avenue to introduce people to the game I love,” said Rory McIlroy
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan enthusiastically endorsed the idea: “The Tour was committed to matching our athletes with innovative technology and this initiative combines that vision with a unique golf atmosphere. A prime-time experience with PGA Tour players will help attract a wider audience to our sport and the world’s best players,” believes the US Tour’s top man.
Source: PGA Tour, TGL Golf