Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy scrap controversial TGL idea after embarrassing setback

TGL – Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new golf league – has a launch date and new arena plans after its debut season was abandoned due to construction woes caused by a storm

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) will launch in 2025, albeit with massive changes to the arena structure after an embarrassing incident saw its debut season postponed.

TGL was due to launch in January, but construction of the arena – which will be known as SoFi Center – in Palm Beach Gardens had to be halted shortly before completion after the huge dome that was due to house the league was ripped apart in a storm, with a power cut causing the structure to deflate.

The debut season of TGL had to be abandoned as a result, but TMRW Sports – Woods and McIlroy’s company behind the project – has confirmed the league will launch on January 7, 2025, receiving a huge marketing push from ESPN during the NFL and college football playoffs.

But the dome idea has been scrapped, with a steel-supported structure taking its place at Palm Beach State College and construction will begin soon after winning support from from the school’s board of trustees earlier this month. New artist’s impressions of SoFi Center, which will have 1,500 seats for fans, have been released.

TMRW Sports CEO Mike McCarley said: “As we plan the 2025 launch of TGL presented by SoFi, we now have the first three Tuesdays in January circled to introduce sports fans to this new form of team golf.

“January is a tremendous time of year for fans looking for primetime sports and TGL’s launch will complement the start of the PGA TOUR season and take advantage of ESPN’s promotional machine across their coverage of the NFL and college football playoffs.

“We’re grateful for our tremendous partner SoFi, who shares in our vision to harness tech to create new approaches within traditional institutions. As construction proceeds on SoFi Center, we’re eager to introduce sports fans to TGL as we focus on the league’s debut this coming January.”

TGL will feature six teams representing different cities across the United States, with four players on each team. The players will compete on a 97-yard playing area, hitting longer shots into a 3,000sqft simulator screen. Shorter shots will be played from a dynamic short-game area, with a motorised floor that allows for the topography of the green to change.

McIlroy will play for Boston Common Golf Club, which is owned by Liverpool custodians the Fenway Sports Group, while Woods is the co-owner and captain of Jupiter Links Golf Club.

Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele are among the other players taking part. However, new LIV Golf members Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have left vacancies on the roster after quitting the PGA Tour for the breakaway league.

TGL is a made-for-TV product and will include a 40-second shot clock to maintain the pace of play. There will also be a referee and all players will wear microphones for the broadcast.