PALM BEACH GARDENS FL. Tiger Woods Rory McIlroyPlace the silver-plated shovels on top of a pile dirt and leave large divots.
Their high-tech golf league was now closer to being launched.
The ceremony of groundbreaking for the arena to house the league, which will be called TGL, was held Tuesday at Palm Beach State College. Woods and McIlroy, two co-founders of TMRW Sports, were there for the first stage of actual construction.
TMRW is pronounced tomorrow and means that TGL will begin in the early part of next year. The league will be partnered with the PGA Tour. Woods and McIlroy have so far committed 11 players to the league. The league will also include the world No. 1 Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Adam Scott, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Billy Horschel, Justin Rose Xander Schauffele.
The list includes six players ranked 10th or higher in the world, as well as Woods, who is the games biggest draw.
McIlroy stated, In terms of the fan experience, it will be nothing like golfs offered before.
The idea is that six teams of three PGA Tour players will play match play on a data driven virtual course. It also includes a short-game complex to chipping and putting.
It will be played on Monday nights and last only two hours. In-arena fans will be close by the action. There will be 15 matches during the regular season. The semifinals will follow and then there will be a final.
Woods said, Were gonna have excitement, we’re going to experience something different, something passionate. Weve been involved with teams before, whether its Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, Irish National Teams, for me high school, college or whatever it is. Youre going away and home, youre likely to meet people who want to win and some that dont. That type of excitement is what were going to experience.
Its possible to bet on it. Woods used the literal word.
Woods said that Wagering is part of the sport and culture of his country. He then looked at McIlroy. We don’t know how to play the game of golf without it.
Access is part and parcel of the appeal of the concept. Only a few fans can enjoy the action at traditional golf events. They are often running from hole-to-hole to stay with one group.
TGL players wont be micd up, so fans won’t have to guess their thoughts on specific shots.
McIlroy stated, Its going give the viewer at-home and the people in attendance just more of an in depth of sort of how and what we sort of think through things in my head. Its a deeper look into that.
Mike McCarley is another co-founder, and a former president of Golf Channel. He said that the arena would be built on a 10-acre parcel. The partnership will provide educational and recreational opportunities that will benefit Palm Beach State University students. It also offers paid internships and other opportunities to students in technology, hospitality, and administrative services.
McCarley said, Think of how cool this land, this campus will become a launching platform for future leaders in sport, media and technology as the learn here as part TGL. We are advancing on more than a dream, much greater than a premier-time golf league.