"Bring golf into the 21st century" - Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy break ground for TGL venue
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were at Palm Beach State College for the ceremonial groundbreaking of TGL on Tuesday, February 21. They did it by putting silver-plated shovels into the dirt. TGL is an interactive, tech-infused indoor golf league that is set to kick off next year.
Woods and McIlroy were joined by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and others for a press conference at Palm Beach State College.
TMRW Sports Group is a newly formed company founded by McIlroy, Woods, and sports media executive Mike McCarley. Professional golf players will participate in a high-speed sport, involving a combination of virtual and real-life golf played within an enclosed arena.
“The really exciting thing is trying to bring golf into the 21st century. In terms of fan experience, it’s going to be nothing like golf has offered before," McIlroy said.
So far, the likes of Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Billy Horschel, Adam Scott, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, and Xander Schauffele have committed to the new league.
“Technology is a part of our sports now," said Woods. "We’re going to have excitement, we’re going to have something different.
Woods added that golf professionals have been in team events, the Ryder Cup, the President's Cup, the Irish national team, for me, high school, college, and others. The new league will also provide fans with a similar experience.
"You're going to get home and away, you're going to get some people that you want to win and not win. We're going to have that type of excitement," he said.
Woods was here after playing his first PGA Tour event in a long time last week at the Genesis Invitational.
The facility is expected to be completed by late 2023. TGL will start next year with 15 Monday Night Events that will feature six teams of three players each competing head-to-head.
Monahan called it a one-of-a-kind and almost unimaginable concept:
“It’s innovative, it’s progressive, it’s authentic and it’s technology driven.”
"It's just a more in-depth look into that" - Rory McIlroy on TGL
Rory McIlroy said on Tuesday that the new TGL will give fans both at home and in the arena a more in-depth view of things, just like the NBA.
"It's just a more in-depth look into that," he said.
Mike McCarley, the third founder, is also the former Golf Channel president. He added that the new arena will be constructed on 10 acres of unused land.
TMWR Sports has pledged to donate $1 million to Palm Beach State College as part of an agreement to expand on the Palm Beach Gardens campus, which involves introducing educational and recreational programs that will be helpful for the students.
"Think about how cool this will be for this land, this campus, to become a launching pad for future leaders in sports and media and technology as they learn here as part of TGL. We are breaking ground on much more than a dream, much more than a prime-time golf league, " said McIlroy.