Rory McIlroy believes the new Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL), which starts this week and is live on Sky Sports, is “golf reimagined for the 21st century”.
The indoor simulator league's name comes from TMRW Sports, a company founded by McIlroy, Tiger Woods and former NBC golf executive Mike McCarley to focus on producing “technology-based ventures” in the world of sports and entertainment.
Woods and McIlroy are not involved in the inaugural season opener, where New York Golf Club plays Bay Golf Club over 15 holes – in front of 1,500 spectators – in Florida on Tuesday night (2am UK Wednesday).
New Yorkers Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele will face The Bay's Ludvig Åberg, Shane Lowry and Wyndham Clark in alternate triples and singles, with each hole worth a point. If the teams are tied at the end of regulation, the closest to the pin contest will determine the winners.
Woods will play in week two for his Jupiter Links Golf Club and again in week four against McIlroy's Boston Common Golf, with the top four of six teams advancing to the play-offs.
“The first thing I want people to know is that it's golf, but it's reimagined, kind of trying to bring golf into the 21st century,” McIlroy said. “We have teams, obviously a lot of technology involved, trying to bring it into the digital era.
“A lot of things that we've taken from other sports like the shot clock, the time out, things that you don't see in regular golf (we're) trying to appeal to that larger sports audience.”
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Billy Horschel explains what to expect from TGL and why he's excited about its impact and future in golf
'Blessing in Disguise' Launch Delayed
TGL's delayed start was caused by the facility's roof collapsing during a storm that swept through Palm Beach County, though Woods described it as a “blessing in disguise” because it allowed more time to produce a better product.
“Tiger and I have been a part of this since day one and whenever you see the concepts and renderings you think 'Yeah, that looks really cool,'” McIlroy said. ESPN.
“But until you actually stand here (SoFi Center) and see what they've been able to do, I think the magnitude of it is the thing that blows me away.
“Every time I walk in here I'm just blown away by the size of the screen, the fact that we can put something that looks like golf on a stage like this. It's really cool and we're obviously very excited about it in the game of golf.
“I think a lot of other people outside of the game will see this and hopefully get excited about it.”
Players will hit tee boxes with real grass, fairway, rough and sand on tee shots and approach shots into a 64ft x 53ft screen. For shots from about 50 yards or less, the ball will be placed in a short game area that includes an adjustable putting green.
“The playing surfaces are very realistic,” added McIlroy. “Whenever you get out of a rough situation, you have to think about whether you're going to get a flyer; will it turn out soft. A lot of things you would have to think about on a real golf course. “
Who plays and for which team?
Atlanta Drive GC – Patrick Cantlay, Lucas Glover, Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas
Boston Common Golf – Keegan Bradley, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott
Jupiter Links Golf Club – Max Homa, Tom Kim, Kevin Kisner, Tiger Woods
Los Angeles Golf Club – Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose
New York Golf Club – Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young
Bay Golf Club – Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry
Who will win the inaugural TGL season and the SoFi Cup? Watch every match in the 2025 and 2026 season exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more INSTANTLY.