Bob Dylan famously sang, “The times they are a-changin’,” and the golf industry is no exception. Thanks to the increased infusion of technology including ShotLink, Toptracer and AR/VR, the industry, and specifically the PGA TOUR, has its sights set on the future, while continuing to honor the game’s storied past.
Primetime Entertainment
That sentiment is shared by two of golf’s alltime greats—Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who, along with former Golf Channel president Mike McCarley, created TMRW Sports and recently announced their first venture: TGL.
New Audience Attraction
“It’s a great opportunity for PGA TOUR players to show a different side of themselves primetime on Monday night,” McIlroy said. “I think it’s great for brand exposure to try to engage a different audience. We’ve all heard about the fact of how old the golf audience is trying to get younger eyeballs on to it.
… It’s just another prong to what the PGA TOUR are trying to do to push the TOUR forward, and there was so much excitement in the room with that as well.”
How it Works
With Woods and McIlroy already committed, TGL will feature six teams of three PGA TOUR players competing across 15 regular season matches followed by the semi-finals and finals. Each week two teams compete against each other, so each team plays the other five teams once per season.
The matches will take place in a tech-infused venue, while providing a first-of-its kind experience for golf enabled by a data-rich, virtual course on a “not quite” IMAX-size screen complemented with a short-game complex. Fans in-person or watching at home can follow every shot live across 18 holes during the two-hour primetime televised match.
Engage with the Action
“For the fans, think sitting courtside at an NBA game,” Mike McCarley said. “It’s that type of environment—music, player introductions. You’re right on top of the action as a fan. You see everything play out in front of you.” While many details of TGL are still to be announced including full rosters, broadcaster partner and purse, the participating players boast a combined 104 PGA TOUR victories, 19 major wins and 789 weeks atop the Official World Golf Ranking. TGL will partly be owned by its players, who get equity in the league.
Watch This Space
“As a big sports fan myself, I’m excited about blending golf with technology and team elements common in other sports,” said Tiger Woods. “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.” News and rollout updates can be followed on https://tglgolf.com