The debut of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL led to mixed reviews as fans grappled with the virtual style – but the shot clock proved an immediate hit.
McIlroy and Woods have been preparing to launch TGL for some time. The high-tech golf league is set to feature 24 top PGA Tour players in weekly televised matchups at a one-of-a-kind indoor arena in Florida.
The 24 players have been split across six teams: Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, New York Golf Club, The Bay Golf Club, Jupiter Links GC, and LAGC. TGL takes place indoors and relies on a giant golf simulator, with the league attempting to weave technology into the sport.
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The first match saw Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, and Matt Fitzpatrick of New York Golf Club against Wyndham Clark, Shane Lowry, and Ludvig Aberg of The Bay Golf Club. The launch of TGL ultimately led to a mixed reception; the shot clock was a hit, and others fawned over the facility at Palm Beach State College’s state-of-the-art SoFi Center.
“Yep, it’s something….first impressions is hopefully this normalizes a shot clock,” one fan wrote. Another commented: “I actually don’t hate it yet. I’m mostly jealous that there’s a place that exists with a 3000 square foot simulator screen and a green / pitching area that can change contours. That’s actually cool. Imagine having that as a practice facility.”
The virtual aspect of TGL has appealed to some, with one fan writing: “I like the technology and engineering of it. Also love the different style and shot clock to make it fast paced (once it actually started).”
“I’m enjoying it so far… watching the ball fly on the screen with a shot tracker is weird for me… but other than that I’m enjoying it. the pace is good and the inane banter is minimal… a win so far IMO,” posted another fan. One commented on the funky nature of the holes being contested, saying: “Unrealistic holes are a choice but given that it’s virtual anyway, I think I’m good with it? I mean watching someone play virtual St Andrews wouldn’t measure up… so something new. Who knows.”
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The SoFi Center in Palm Beach is the home of TGL (
AP)
However, some fans were more negative. One critic wrote: “How does TGL, a made for TV golf simulator league, not show the distance on the shot tracer” – and another wrote: “What purpose does the ref serve?”
“It’s already boring,” said another fan, with the slow pace of the first edition of TGL irking some. “17 minutes before they hit their first shot. Hype man. Pass.”
Another wrote: “If I were launching a FUN NEW EXCITING golf league, I wouldn’t have the first 15 minutes of the inaugural TV window consist of … golfer interviews and rules/format explanations.”
In TGL, the winner of each hole will earn one point, and the team with the most points prevails. A match takes place over 15 holes and will include two sessions, with session one including a ‘triples’ nine-hole three vs three foursomes match, and session two compiling of a ‘singles’ one-on-one clash over six holes, with each player playing two holes.
If matches are then tied in regulation play, overtime is played with a penalty shootout-style challenge competed with a team required to hit two shots closer to the hole than their rivals to secure a win. Following the end of the 15-week season, the league’s top four teams will compete in the playoffs before a best-of-three final will crown the first TGL champion.
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