Last week the air-supported dome of TGL’s SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. collapsed due to what TGL officials cite as a power failure. “At this time, while we assess the damage, it is too early to determine the impact on our timelines,” a TGL spokesperson said in a statement. “There were no injuries, and no technology was impacted. Other work on site is continuing.”

However, the league is now expected to be pushed back to 2025. According to Sports Business Journal, postponing the league’s launch just by weeks or months was not an option, as ESPN—which is set to present the league on its networks—could not adjust to the shift in schedule for its broadcast windows.

“Following discussions with key partners, including players, our six team ownership groups, PGA Tour leadership and our commercial partners, SoFi, ESPN and Palm Beach State College, the decision has been made to postpone the start of the TGL season until early 2025,” a TGL spokesperson said on Monday. “This decision came after reviewing short-term solutions, potential construction timelines, player schedules, and the primetime sports television calendar. Despite this new timeline for the venue, we remain excited about the future of TGL and will continue to build excitement between now and the start of the season with our players, fans and teams. We have begun to update plans and timelines and are confident that the extension will only improve our delivery.”

The six-team league was set to begin play on Jan. 9. TGL previously provided details on the SoFi Center, which will be 250,000 square feet and accommodate about 2,000 spectators. The air-supported dome will be 75 feet high and covers the entire playing surface of 97 yards by 50 yards. TGL matches will feature two teams of three players each—in advance of each match, the teams will designate three active players—competing in both alternate-shot and singles sessions in a weekly competition. The alternate-shot session is a three-on-three contest over nine holes followed by six holes of singles in which each player plays two holes in head-to-head competition. The matches are supposed to fit into a two-hour broadcast window.

“I’ve been a believer in TGL, and as the momentum has built this past year, I’m even more excited about what this can become for fans of the game all around the world,” Tiger Woods said in a statement. “Although the events of last week will force us to make adjustments to our timelines, I’m fully confident that this concept will be brought to life by our great committed players.”

Added McIlroy: “The postponement brings mixed feelings of disappointment and excitement. Above all, we are happy that no one was injured. We are looking forward to the launch of TGL. Given the circumstances, while the delay is disappointing, the postponement will allow us to regroup, refocus and return stronger.”

The 24 players who originally committed to compete in the inaugural season were Woods, McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Shauffele, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Tommy Fleetwood, Billy Horschel, Shane Lowry, Tyrell Hatton, Justin Rose, Keegan Bradley, Sahith Theegala, Wyndham Clark, Lucas Glover, Kevin Kisner, Min Woo Lee, Cameron Young and Tom Kim. However, Jon Rahm ultimately decided to drop out citing scheduling concerns.

Sources tell Golf Digest the league is targeting a similar January timeline for launch in 2025.

Image: Getty Images

The post Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy’s TGL delayed until 2025 after venue’s roof collapses appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The post New venue for Tiger Woods-Rory McIlroy golf league suffers partial roof collapse during power outage appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that there will be a total purse of $21 million on the line, with $9 million going to the winning team. And Mike McCarley, a co-founder of TGL and TMRW Sports with Tiger and Rory, confirmed those figures on this week’s Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast.

RELATED: Rory McIlroy shares first look at TGL ‘clubhouse’ locker rooms

“They’re playing for $21 million, the purse is $9 million to the winning team, so it’s legit competition,” McCarley said on the pod. “And these guys are some of the most competitive guys on the planet.”

With four players on each team, that comes out to $2.25 million per player on the winning team. That’s a decent chunk of change for a handful of two-hour Monday night matches played in a gigantic simulator. Remember, these aren’t four-day, 72-hole marathons like PGA Tour events.

re: Tiger/Rory's TGL:

"They're playing for $21 million. The purse is $9 million for the winning team. It's legit competition."

Listen to the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast:
Apple: https://t.co/sW7aL3v0HX
Spotify: https://t.co/ZMCSAzI7IG
Google: https://t.co/TH7gG77o4y pic.twitter.com/gdoJf4ByBN

— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) November 8, 2023

Also, keep in mind that most of the players in the league live near the SoFi Center at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., a specially designed domed venue scheduled to be completed in early December. And that only three of the four players on each of the six squads are needed per match. Of course, this is also in addition to the normal PGA Tour schedule.

But apparently, that $21 million won’t be the only money on the line once TGL launches on Jan. 9.

“It’s exciting that this group of guys is coming together for a two-hour window and we’re just going to basically hit balls, talk a lot of (trash) and people are going to be gambling on absolutely everything, each and every shot,” Woods told the AP’s Doug Ferguson. “Every shot there’s going to be a wager.”

Main image: David Cannon

The post TGL co-founder Mike McCarley confirms new league’s lucrative first-place prize: ‘It’s legit competition’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

TGL announced Tuesday that Woods’ TGR ventures has partnered with pro sports mega owner David Blitzer in the formation of Jupiter Links Golf Club, the sixth and final TGL team in the new tech-based golf league developed by Woods’ and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports Group. Furthermore, Woods, a 15-time major winner who has not competed since withdrawing from the Masters and undergoing surgery on his lower right leg, is the first of four players to be assigned to the Jupiter Links roster.

Terms of the investment and the ownership percentages in Jupiter Links were not disclosed, consistent with the announcements for the other five ownership groups.

“Through its use of technology, TGL is a modern twist of traditional golf and ultimately will make the sport I love more accessible,” Woods, 47, said in a statement. “Having the opportunity to not only compete, but also own a team to represent Jupiter is an exciting next chapter for me. I expect Jupiter Links GC to showcase the golf culture of my hometown as we compete against the best players in the world.”

TGR Ventures’ portfolio also includes The Woods Jupiter, TGR Design, TGR Foundation, Full Swing Golf and T-Squared Social.

According to a TGL release, Blitzer, who founded Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment with Josh Harris and is co-chairman and managing partner of its portfolio, is the first person to hold equity in five North American sports teams: Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Joe Gibbs Racing, Cleveland Guardians and Washington Commanders, the latter two of which he is co-owner. Blitzer also owns stakes in several soccer clubs in the U.S. and abroad.

“Tiger Woods is one of the most influential and iconic athletes in the history of sports, and I’m thrilled to partner with him to form Jupiter Links GC,” said Blitzer, who is personally investing in Jupiter Links. “Golf is a sport that has a proven ability to bring people together from all over the world and I’m excited by the potential reach and impact we can have as a team and league. By harnessing the power of technology and innovation and leveraging the skill and expertise of the game’s most transcendent and accomplished player, our team is well positioned for long-term success.”

TGL’s 15-match season featuring 24 PGA Tour players begins Jan. 9 following the College Football Playoff National Championship. All matches will be broadcast live in prime time on ESPN or ESPN2 and streaming on ESPN+ from the SoFi Center at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., a specially designed domed venue featuring a giant simulator screen and short-game complex.

Rosters for the six four-man teams are still being developed and TGL has yet to replace world No. 3 Jon Rahm, who opted out of TGL’s inaugural season last week. The six teams, and players thus far named to rosters are:

o Atlanta Drive GC—Justin Thomas
o Boston Common Golf—McIlroy, Adam Scott, Tyrrell Hatton and Keegan Bradley
o Jupiter Links GC—Tiger Woods
o Los Angeles GC—Collin Morikawa
o TGL New York—Players to be named
o TGL San Francisco—Players to be named

Main image: Andrew Redington

The post TGL announces Tiger Woods as owner and player for tech league’s sixth team, Jupiter Links appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

??? @commongolf pic.twitter.com/Osv9CVoTF2

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) November 6, 2023

It ain’t always easy being green, however, and the Twitter gallery quickly made their feelings about the new digs heard …

This is too American ? Golf is golf. Not baseball. What’s the gear all about. Don’t like it already

— Dooney (@CalvinDooney) November 6, 2023

Sorry Rory, I can't affiliate with anything boston related

— New York MIDgers (@NewYorkMlDgers) November 6, 2023

Keeping the Boston theme going.. ??? pic.twitter.com/m2v72HHGIT

— LadGolf (@lad_golf) November 6, 2023

Had to put a green light in the locker because you won't ever win a Green Jacket. Another Rory/Tiger money scam copying LIV Golf team play.

— David Baillie (@BBaillie17) November 6, 2023

For now we’ll let the haters hate and withhold our judgement for January, but one thing is already certain:

These sure beat the locker rooms at the old Gahden.

Main image: Rory McIlroy Twitter

The post Rory McIlroy shares first look at TGL ‘clubhouse’ locker rooms appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Just days after introducing its 15-hole match-play format and points-based scoring system, TGL announced on Monday that it will institute a 40-second shot clock that will be enforced by a referee, though teams will have the opportunity to call a timeout before incurring a one-stroke penalty.

According to Mike McCarley, CEO of TMRW Sports and TGL, the format and technology used for the new indoor league allows it to incorporate elements that are familiar to fans from other sports in ways that would not translate on a traditional golf course. “Instituting a shot clock and timeouts will help make matches entertaining, fast-paced, and exciting for sports fans,” McCarley said in a press release. “These elements also add another level of strategy for the players in how they approach team decisions similar to other sports.”

While a time limit for executing a shot exists on most professional tours and elite amateur competitions, it is rarely enforced. For TGL, the referee, in coordination with a booth official, controls when the shot clock starts and when a team is assessed a penalty.

Each team will have four timeouts at their disposal in a match but can only use two per session, and they cannot call timeouts back-to-back without hitting a shot. TGL announced on Wednesday that its 15-match season will feature a nine-hole alternate shot session among three players followed by six holes of singles split into three two-hole matches. A team collect a point for each hole they win. Ties are broken with an overtime session consisting of a closest-to-the-pin contest.

The season standings also will reflect a points system similar to professional ice hockey. The top four teams among the six teams in the league advance to the playoffs. The six teams, representing different cities, are composed of four PGA Tour players each. Other than the Boston team, which features McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Tyrell Hatton and Adam Scott, rosters for the league are still to be filled out. Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa also have committed to teams from Atlanta and Los Angeles, respectively.

Main image: Justin K Aller

The post A shot clock and timeouts are coming to golf as Tiger and Rory’s TGL league unveils more wrinkles appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

“Jon is one of the most talented players in the game and we will miss him during the inaugural TGL season,” TGL officials said in a statement. “We understand that players have to balance a lot of different facets of their professional and personal lives and respect Jon’s choice and wish him well.”

A TGL spokesman confirmed to Golf Digest that Rahm, the No. 3 player in the world, left of his own volition. Rahm put out a statement on social media on Thursday morning.

I am sad to confirm that I will not be participating in the first TGL season. While I still think it’s a great opportunity, right now it would require a level of commitment that I can’t offer. Best of luck to everyone envolved and may the best team win!

— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmpga) November 2, 2023

Rahm, 28, who threw out the first pitch prior to Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night in Phoenix while wearing his green jacket, was one of the first players to sign up for the new league, which debuts in prime time on Jan. 9. It was almost a year ago, on Nov. 29, 2022, when Rahm and Justin Thomas were introduced as the first players to sign up for the new league launched in partnership with the PGA Tour.

Of course, the revelation of Rahm’s removal from the TGL website has fueled speculation across the internet that the two-time major winner might be contemplating a move to the LIV Golf League. Rahm reportedly turned down a hefty nine-figure offer from LIV, and as recently as August, Rahm had reiterated his decision to rebuff any overtures from LIV while appearing on a Spanish-language podcast.

“I laugh when people rumor me with LIV Golf,” Rahm said on the podcast, Golf Sin Etiquetas. “I never liked the format. And I always have a good time with Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia in the practice rounds of majors.

“Phil respects my decision, and I respect his [choice],” added Rahm, who like Mickelson, went to Arizona State in college and is represented by SportFive. “Mickelson has told me that I have no reason to go play for LIV, and he has told me that multiple times.”

A TGL spokesman said the league will name a replacement soon to fill the 24th spot on the roster. Just two days ago TGL released its competition format for its 15-match season, which launches on ESPN Jan. 9 following the College Football Playoff National Championship. All matches will air live in prime time on ESPN, ESPN2 and streaming on ESPN+.

TGL is to be comprised of six teams of four players each, a lineup that includes founders Woods and McIlroy. The six teams represent six cities, with five officially named: Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. On Thursday, the Boston Common Golf team announced its roster of McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott and Tyrrell Hatton. Previously, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa joined Atlanta and Los Angeles, respectively.

Main image: Richard Heathcote

The post Jon Rahm abruptly pulls out of participating in Tiger and Rory’s upstart TGL venture appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

But that wasn’t all that he said. With cameras rolling, Morikawa stammered out something he probably shouldn’t have; something that, if true, probably says a lot about the state of US team golf in November 2023. Check it out.

???‍?Collin Morikawa’s was ecstatic as he received the call to join @WeAreLAGC from @alexisohanian: “I just got chills through my body, I don’t think I’ve ever answered a call like this, I got my Ryder Cup call this year, but I think this tops it almost.”

{?: @WeAreLAGC} pic.twitter.com/E0Yms5Vy4h

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) November 1, 2023

“I just got chills through my body. I don’t think I’ve ever answered a call like this,” Morikawa said. “I mean, I got my Ryder Cup call this year, but this is … I think this tops it almost.”

As you’ve probably heard, the US Ryder Cup performance in Rome earlier this fall was a disaster. Morikawa and co. were effectively finished by the start of Friday’s afternoon session and the rest of the weekend was marred by ignominious benchmarks (including a record 9-and-7 defeat for Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler on Saturday) and rumours of internal friction.

Hat Gate needs no further embellishment, but Xander Schauffele was also reportedly unhappy with the terms of his offer and sought to renegotiate at the last second. It was messy. It was complicated. We’ll never know the whole truth, but Morikawa’s off-the-cuff claim on Wednesday sums up the vibes, or lack thereof, succinctly.

We’ll see if there’s more buy-in (literally) from the PGA of America in 2025 and if that reinvigorates players like Morikawa. If not, expect the Ryder Cup to matter less and less and big-money side gigs like the TGL to matter more and more. Call it greedy, call it unpatriotic, but that’s just capitalism, baby.

Main image: Ben Jared

The post Collin Morikawa admits the call to join the TGL topped his Ryder Cup call-up, says the quiet part loud appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Woods, McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Rickie Fowler, Tom Kim and Billy Horschel have previously committed.

The 19 players committed include 11 of the top 20 players in the world, who have won 30 major championships, 202 PGA Tour titles and 118 victories worldwide.

??????? ?? ???: ?????? ???????

6⃣-time @PGATOUR winner @Keegan_Bradley is set to compete in the inaugural season of TGL presented by @SoFi. ?

More: https://t.co/IL97i2ZPtM pic.twitter.com/95ZHTuQm8k

— TGL (@TGL) October 11, 2023

Bradley, the 2011 PGA champion, won twice during the 2022-23 PGA Tour season to increase his career victories to six. Young was the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2022 and played on the victorious US Presidents Cup team. He has six runner-up finishes on tour. Theegala just collected his first PGA Tour title at the Fortinet Championship last month in California.

“As a sports fan, I think TGL is going to appeal to a lot of people who simply love to watch sports in general and not just golf,” Bradley said.

Said Theegala: “This is truly an honor to be a part of TGL alongside many players who I have looked up to during my career. TGL has a different energy than traditional golf and provides us as players with a chance to bring in new fans and engage a younger audience, which is very exciting.”

Teams from Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles and New York have already been announced, with two more teams remaining to round out the six. The league, billed to fuse technology with live action in a match-play format, will start on January 9 from an arena in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Main image: Orlando Ramirez

The post Keegan Bradley, Cam Young, Sahith Theegala latest to join the new Tiger-Rory league appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

On Thursday, TGL and ESPN announced a multi-year deal, financial terms of which were not released. The cable channel will air TGL events with the inaugural TGL match broadcast on January 9 in prime time.

Additionally, ABC will air a “TGL Preview Show” on December 30 that will serve as a fans’ tutorial of sorts for the new golf league, introducing the six teams of PGA Tour and showcasing the SoFi Center and its custom-built virtual course.

I can’t wait for @TGL to launch in January. Catch the action on @espn! https://t.co/aNyNwkY5KW

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) October 5, 2023

“Innovation and creativity are core to our ESPN mission and TGL will bring those tenets to life for golf fans,” said Rosalyn Durant, ESPN Executive Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions. “TGL is going to be a two-hour presentation unlike anything you have seen before. All players will wear live microphones and viewers will have unprecedented access during competition. It’s an exciting landscape for presenting golf and we look forward to bringing it to fans.”

Teams will play 15 regular-season matches, followed by semi-finals and the final.

In addition to Woods and McIlroy, TGL has already got commitments from the following tour pros: Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, and Billy Horschel. Tom Kim, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Shane Lowry were the latest commitments announced on Thursday. Two spots remain to be filled.

Four of the six teams also have ownership groups in place.

• TGL Atlanta led by Arthur M Blank, AMB Sports and Entertainment (Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, PGA TOUR Superstores)
• TGL Boston led by John Henry, Tom Werner, and Fenway Sports Group (Boston Red Sox, Liverpool, Pittsburgh Penguins)
• Los Angeles Golf Club led by Alexis Ohanian (Angel City), Serena Williams, and Venus Williams; as well as limited partners the Antetokounmpo brothers, Alex Morgan, Servando Carrasco and Michelle Wie West
• TGL New York led by Steven A Cohen (New York Mets), Cohen Private Ventures

Main image: Supplied

The post ESPN signs TV deal to broadcast Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new TGL simulator golf league appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.