Could the days of playing golf outside be a thing of the past? Well, if the new TGL golf format, which is being led by leading players Rory McIlory and Tiger Woods, takes off – then the world’s best hitters might as well ditch their umbrellas and waterproofs.
TGL Golf – The New High-Tech Indoor Golf Event Explained
It’s been years in the making, but TGL golf – which is a sort of virtual reality high-tech indoor golf simulator – is finally here.
With golfing heavyweights Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy at the helm, the project was always going to have a big helping hand – with the pair teaming up with TMRW Sports and Mike Carley to get the idea out of the clubhouse and onto the first tee.
Held at the SoFi Center and with broadcasting big hitters EPSN carrying their bags, the Woods/McIlroy TGL golf event finally tee’d off on Tuesday 7th January 2025 – a period on the golfing calendar that is quieter than most.
The idea behind the event was not only to provide the 1,500-capacity stadium with golf with no weather issues but to also try and attract a younger crowd to the sport.
TGL Golf Staged at The SoFi Center
The SoFi Center is situated on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach, Miami – which is about 70 miles north of the Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Dolphins play in the NFL.
Then inside the SoFi Center, which is 250,00 square feet, there is a huge golf simulator screen that measures 64ft by 53ft and also has a rotating green that sits on a 41 yard turntable.
Meaning event organisers can chop and change the undulations of the green many times to mix up the putting experience.
TGL golf dates saw the event start on Tuesday 7th January – with the showdown Finals Series on March 24th.
Ahead of the event Rory McIlroy said
“Golf, but it’s reimagined, sort of trying to take golf into the 21st century.”
“We have teams, obviously, there’s a lot of technology involved, trying to bring it into the digital era,” he told ESPN. “A lot of things that we’ve taken from other sports like a shot-clock, a timeout, things that you don’t see in regular golf. (We’re) trying to appeal to that bigger sports audience out there.”
McIlroy added
“Tiger and I have been a part of this from day one and whenever you see the concepts and the renderings you think, ‘Yeah, that looks really cool,’” McIlroy told ESPN. “But until you actually stand in here (the SoFi Center) and you see what they’ve been able to do, I think the scale of it is the thing for me that blows my mind.
“Every time I step in here, I’m just blown away by the size of the screen, the fact that we’re able to put something that looks like golf on a stage like this. It’s really cool and we’re obviously really excited about it within the game of golf. I think a lot of other people outside of the game are going to see this and hopefully get excited about it as well.”
Rory McIlroy will play in the Boston Common Golf TGL team, while Tiger Woods is in the Jupiter Links Golf Club.
Both sides are sure to be popular with the best betting sites in the UK to win the event.
WATCH: How To Play A TGL Golf Hole
What Does TGL Stand For?
Many people will also be wondering what the TGL stands for here?
Well, to answer this question – it means ‘Tech Golf League’.
What Is The TGL Golf Format?
The TGL golf format will see 24 players split into six teams. Meaning there will be four players in each of the sides. (teams listed below)
These golf teams will then play each other over a two month period with the players hitting tee and approach shots into a 64ft-53ft simulator screen that will have an array of different holes programmed.
The golfers will then end up on the GreenZone. Which is a unique green, with greenside bunkers that can be rotated to create different undualtions so each hole can again be different.
McIlroy said – “The playing surfaces are very realistic, whenever you hit it out of the rough, you have to think about whether you’re going to get a flyer (or) whether it’s going to come out soft. A lot of things that you would have to think about on a real golf course.”
The TGL Golf Matches Explained
A singles game is staged over two sessions – with each match having three players from the team of four in action.
These will go head-to-head with another team over 15 different holes. With nine holes of triples and six holes of singles.
The triples TGL golf format means the players in that team rotate who hits the shots and also taking it in turns to tee-off.
Then the singles TGL golf format will match-up players with another from the opposing team – with each player on the side of three contesting two singles holes.
Each hole is then worth a point – a tied hole is zero points and then the team after the 15 holes with the most points wins the match.
If the scored are drawn after 15 holes – there will be a closest to the pin competition so there will ALWAYS be a winner.
TGL Golf Hammer Play
In an added twist the TGL golf format also sees the ‘Hammer’, which can be played by either side.
This allows a team to double the value of a hole if played. If the oppo agrees to the ‘Hammer’ play that hole is worth two points.
However, the oppo team could also chose to pick their ‘Hammer’ on the same hole, this makes it worth three points.
If a side declines the oppos Hammer call – this will also see them concede that hole and the points on offer.
WATCH: The TGL Opening Night Highlights
TGL Golf Teams 2025: Who Is Taking Part?
Atlanta Drive GC
- Justin Thomas (USA)
- Patrick Cantlay (USA)
- Billy Horschel (USA)
- Lucas Glover (USA)
Boston Common Golf
- Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
- Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)
- Keegan Bradley (USA)
- Adam Scott (Australia)
Jupiter Links Golf Club
- Tiger Woods (USA)
- Max Homa (USA)
- Tom Kim (South Korea)
- Kevin Kisner (USA)
Los Angeles Golf Club
- Collin Morikawa (USA)
- Sahith Theegala (USA)
- Justin Rose (England)
- Tommy Fleetwood (England)
New York Golf Club
- Matt Fitzpatrick (England)
- Rickie Fowler (USA)
- Xander Schauffele (USA)
- Cameron Young (USA)
The Bay Golf Club
- Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)
- Wyndham Clark (USA)
- Min Woo Lee (Australia)
- Shane Lowry (Ireland)
TGL Golf Schedule and Dates 2025
Regular Season
- January 7th: New York GC vs. The Bay GC
- January 14th: Los Angeles GC vs. Jupiter Links GC
- January 21st: New York GC vs. Atlanta Drive GC
- January 27th: Jupiter Links GC vs. Boston Common GC
- February 4th: Boston Common GC vs. Los Angeles GC
- February 17th: Atlanta Drive GC vs. Los Angeles GC, Atlanta Drive GC vs. The Bay GC, The Bay GC vs. Boston Common GC
- February 18th: Jupiter Links GC vs. New York GC
- February 24th: Los Angeles GC vs. New York GC, Boston Common GC vs. Atlanta Drive GC
- February 25th: The Bay GC vs. Jupiter Links GC
- March 3rd: The Bay GC vs. Los Angeles GC, New York GC vs. Boston Common GC
- March 4th: Jupiter Links GC vs. Atlanta Drive GC
Post Season
- Semifinals: March 17th, March 18th
- Finals Series: March 24th, March 25th
