In case you have been to recreate the game of golf for the yr 2025, what would it not appear to be?
TGL believes it has that every one discovered: A major-time golf league that includes PGA Tour gamers competing on groups hitting pictures in opposition to a large display screen and ending their holes on a shape-shifting placing inexperienced in a stadium of 1,500 spectators. Welcome to skilled golf’s newest science experiment.
TGL will broadcast its first match at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday on ESPN, and the golf world is anxiously ready to see the way it’ll play out on dwell TV and in individual on the SoFi Middle in Palm Seaside, Fla. Right here’s all the pieces it’s essential to know concerning the new league forward of its debut:
What’s TGL?
TGL is a 15-week golf collection began by TMRW Sports activities — an organization based by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley, a former NBC Sports activities government, and backed by big-name buyers that embody Steph Curry and Fenway Sports activities Group.
The league will happen indoors, in a customized stadium on the campus of Palm Seaside State School outfitted with a simulator display screen that’s 5 tales excessive, grass tee containers for full-swing pictures and bunkers which might be stuffed with what’s believed to be the identical sand used at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership. As soon as the gamers attain the world surrounding the inexperienced on every digital gap, they’ll flip round to the rotating inexperienced to finish it. Almost 600 hydraulic jacks will assist change the undulation of the inexperienced to differentiate the holes, which have been designed by varied golf architects with no building constraints. That is online game golf, in any case.
There are six TGL groups, representing cities across the U.S., consisting of 4 PGA Tour gamers every. All through the season, these groups will face off in opposition to one another dwell. Then the highest 4 groups will transfer on to playoffs. The golfers will likely be mic’d up and shot-clocks will necessitate a quick tempo of play. There will likely be referees and timeouts like in different main league sports activities — even smoke and walk-out music will introduce the gamers to the ticketed crowd. No glass plates or nets separate the followers from the golfers. So sure, a skulled greenside bunker shot may get dicey.
A volcano splitting a fairway? Attainable in TGL’s digital world. (Courtesy TGL)
What does TGL stand for?
Tomorrow’s Golf League
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Who’re on the TGL groups?
Woods and McIlroy headline the record of PGA Tour gamers on the TGL roster, however neither will seem within the first match-up, which is between the New York Golf Membership and The Bay Golf Membership. The league is working in partnership with the PGA Tour, which implies no LIV golfers have been included. Main champions similar to Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka received’t be hitting into the 60-foot tall display screen. Notably, the world’s No. 1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler, didn’t join both. Right here’s the total breakdown of the six groups:
• Atlanta Drive GC: Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Lucas Glover
• Boston Frequent Golf: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott
• Jupiter Hyperlinks GC: Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Tom Kim, Kevin Kisner
• Los Angeles Golf Membership: Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood
• New York Golf Membership: Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Younger
• The Bay Golf Membership: Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry
It’s New York vs. The Bay for opening night time, with Fitzpatrick, Fowler and Schauffele taking part in for the previous and Åberg, Clark and Lowry for the latter. Lowry has already indicated the tee is his first.
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TGL is large, aggressive and never concerning the cash. That offers it an actual probability
What’s the TGL format and guidelines?
Three gamers from every four-man staff will compete in every match-up. The matches will run for 2 hours and the gamers will play 15 holes.
Within the first nine-hole session, the gamers will compete in “Triples,” which is 3 vs. 3 alternate shot. Every staff will alternate taking part in till they full the outlet, and the bottom rating wins. No factors will likely be awarded for a tied gap, identical to in conventional match play.
Within the second session, head-to-head play will start with “Singles.” One participant will face off in opposition to one other participant on the primary gap, then the second set of gamers will go in opposition to one another, then the third set. That cycle will repeat as soon as extra for the total six-hole “Singles” portion.
Groups can improve the stakes of a gap by implementing a characteristic known as “The Hammer.” If the opposing staff accepts, the worth of the outlet turns into two factors, reasonably than one. If they refuse, they successfully concede the outlet.
Extra time will likely be a 3 vs. 3 closest to the pin contest between the groups, till a winner is determined.
The inexperienced rotates on the SoFi Middle relying on the outlet’s format, with pistons beneath the floor additionally altering the undulation. (Courtesy TGL)
How lengthy is the TGL season?
The TGL runs from January by way of March, with the common season concluding on March 4. Matches will solely air on Monday and Tuesday nights, relying on the week and conflicting broadcast schedules. The highest 4 groups after common season play will advance to a four-week playoff season, with matches on March 17-18 and 24-25.
watch
TGL will broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET.
(High picture of Rory McIlroy: Courtesy TGL)