Mid-match banter: Tiger Woods (right) with his Jupiter Links teammates, Max Homa (left) and Kevin Kisner (centre)
Arguably one of golf’s all-time greats, 82-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods’ much-anticipated debut in the TGL has proven to pay off for the fledgling simulator golf league. Drawing an average of 1 million viewers on ESPN and peaking at 1.1 million, the event surpassed the viewership of many PGA TOUR broadcasts. TGL, co-founded by Woods and World No. 3 Rory McIlroy, is rapidly carving out an identity in the competitive landscape of televised sports.
The decision to have Woods debut in the league’s second week was a calculated move aimed at maintaining momentum after the January 7 inaugural match, which had garnered an average of 919,000 viewers. This carefully orchestrated strategy was further amplified by ESPN’s Monday NFL Wild Card promotion, leveraging a prime opportunity to attract viewers. The numbers tell a compelling story, with Woods’ match outperforming concurrent NBA games in viewership and affirming the league’s ability to command attention in a crowded sports market.
The Tuesday night showdown saw Woods’ Team, Jupiter Links GC (JLGC) take on Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC), which is co-owned by Seven Seven Six founder Alexis Ohanian, his wife and 23-time Tennis Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, and her sister Venus Williams, who has 7 Grand Slam titles to her name.
LAGC owners Serena Williams (left) with husband Alexis Ohanian (right) came out to support their team in its debut match
The LAGC squad—2-time Major Champion Collin Morikawa, 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist Justin Rose, and PGA TOUR winner Sahith Theegala—delivered a crushing 12-1 defeat for JLGC, which had Woods alongside two of his teammates, PGA TOUR winners Max Homa and Kevin Kisner.
Sahith Theegala (left), Justin Rose (centre), and Collin Morikawa (right) of the LAGC Team delivered a crushing 12-1 defeat
The league has already drawn comparisons to the PGA TOUR, with its average viewership now at roughly half of a typical PGA broadcast—a remarkable achievement for a league in its infancy.
However, challenges remain on the horizon for TGL. Both opening matches concluded in blowouts, raising concerns about competitive balance—a factor that could impact audience retention if not addressed. Some players have also expressed reservations about the accuracy and reliability of the simulator technology, which is central to the league’s unique format.
The league’s upcoming schedule offers opportunities to build on early momentum and dispel these concerns. January 28 will feature a highly anticipated showdown between Tiger’s JLGC and Rory’s Boston Common team—a marquee matchup that promises to attract even larger audiences.