Tiger Woods may not be seen in action in a PGA Tour event for a few more months, but the 15-time major champion is about to provide the organization a huge boost, according to world No. 7 Wyndham Clark.

Woods is set to compete in TGL when the innovative tech-infused league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy debuts in January. TGL will see 24 of the PGA Tour’s top stars compete in weekly made-for-TV matches at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

It promises to be the first time the 49-year-old has committed to a regular schedule of events since his high-speed car crash in 2021, which left him badly injured and has resulted in a number of lasting physical issues.

Woods played only the four majors and The Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour this year, and it was apparent that the challenge of walking 18 holes day after day is extremely difficult at this stage of his career.

The TGL arena will mitigate those issues, though. The players will hit full shots into a huge simulator screen during the three-vs-three. 15-hole matches before turning their attention to a nearby dynamic short-game area.

Woods will represent Jupiter Links Golf Club and is set to play his first TGL match on Jan. 14, and 2023 U.S. Open champion Clark – a member of The Bay Golf Club, who is set to play in TGL’s inaugural match seven days previously – believes Woods’ return to regular competitive action is a timely boost for the PGA Tour and the sport at large.

Justin Rose provided a sneak-peek of TGL's SoFi Center, where Woods is set to make his return to regular competitive action

Justin Rose provided a sneak-peek of TGL’s SoFi Center, where Woods is set to make his return to regular competitive action ( 

Image:

Justin Rose/X)

“It’s massive. Regardless of how good Tiger is playing, just having Tiger involved in golf and playing is massive,” Clark told Mirror Sports. “And obviously, with his complications with his body and health, it’s hard for him to play four rounds in a row, multiple weeks in a row.

“And in this, though, it takes away a lot of the physical challenges that he’s struggling with. And now he can just hit the shots. And so that’s amazing for the game of golf.

“It’s amazing for TGL. And selfishly, it’s awesome for me that I get to play alongside Tiger and compete with him. I’ve never really had that opportunity as kind of a younger, up-and-coming player.”

Woods returned to the public eye over the weekend, competing alongside his son, Charlie, in the PNC Championship. The Woods finished runners-up to Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason, but Tiger showed once again he is golf’s greatest needle-mover with masses of fans tuning in to watch the climax of an exhibition tournament.

Men’s professional golf has endured a challenging couple of years as a result of the LIV Golf breakaway in 2022, with fans becoming jaded by the off-course politics that have dominated the narrative. The divisions in the game have doubtless played a part in concerning viewing figures for the PGA Tour.

TGL is set to give the tour fresh opportunities to attract new fans, though. The weekly matches will be contested mostly on Monday nights live in primetime on ESPN, filling the void left by the end of the NFL regular season. Clark, 30, believes TGL promises to have a hugely positive impact.

“Oh, it’s amazing,” he said. “I’m hoping it’s the start of a lot of primetime stuff for golf. I think TGL has been very smart and strategic to plan it right after the NFL season’s over. People want to watch sports still and taking over that Monday night slot is massive.

“People are home on Monday nights and they want to see sports. And I think that’s going to be great for the game of golf. And I hope people love this and want more of it. And then next thing you know, a lot of golf is on primetime.”