(L-R) Ludvig Åberg, Shane Lowry, and Wyndham Clark at TGL
The inaugural match of Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), the indoor golf exhibition format founded by former ESPN CEO and endorsed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, aired this week on ESPN, attracting 919,000 viewers during its 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET time slot. The peak viewership surpassed one million between 9:15 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.
A team called The Bay Golf Club, featuring Ludvig Åberg, Shane Lowry, and Wyndham Clark, triumphed 9-2 over another team named New York Golf Club, which had Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, and Matt Fitzpatrick. The match, held at the newly constructed 1,500-seat SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, followed a 15-hole format, with each hole worth one point. Despite a strong performance from New York, The Bay dominated, winning both the 9-hole triples session 6-1 and the singles 3-1.
Woods and McIlroy were present at the event, offering commentary and insight during the broadcast. The TGL’s technological innovations set it apart, with golfers using giant golf simulator screens for tee and approach shots, and a rotating green for putting and chipping.
In terms of comparison, TGL’s debut outperformed other recent sports broadcasts, including LIV Golf on The CW, The Sentry PGA Tour event, and the Crypto.com Showdown. The debut’s success, drawing 28% more viewers than last year’s Duke-Pittsburgh basketball game on ESPN, signals positive potential for the league.
While the indoor format received praise for its speed, players faced challenges adapting to the rotating green and artificial turf, and short-game shots were more difficult than anticipated.
The league’s smaller focus on player banter allowed for more authentic moments between competitors, and the commentary was less intrusive, offering genuine insights into the action.
However, TGL may not appeal to all viewers. While younger audiences responded positively to the fast pace, traditional golf fans found it harder to connect with the format. The league’s sustainability will depend on maintaining its early excitement, especially as more high-profile players like Woods and McIlroy make their appearances on January 27.
The 15-match TGL regular season runs through March 4, followed by playoffs. The league’s challenge will be maintaining consistent viewership as the novelty value wanes.