Ava Romero
TGL (Tech-infused Golf League) is a new golf league that combines advanced technology with teams of top players from the PGA Tour for two-hour weekly competitions in primetime. The league was founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and TMRW Sports, with six teams representing six different cities. TGL matches are played across 15 of 30 holes designed by Beau Welling Design, Nicklaus Design, and Pizá Golf, along with technology partner Full Swing Golf. The league has attracted a diverse audience and prominent investors, signalling a successful first year and potential for expansion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of founders | 3 |
| Names of founders | Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley |
| Founding year | 2023 |
| Founding concept | Offering a faster-paced product that fits in a two-hour primetime ESPN window and appeals to a more diverse audience than the traditional golf demographic |
| Location | SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Names of teams | Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club |
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What You'll Learn
TGL's founding investors
TGL, or the Tech-infused Golf League, is a new golf league that combines advanced technology with teams of top players from the PGA Tour for two-hour weekly competitions in primetime. The league was founded by golf legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports, in collaboration with the PGA Tour and ESPN.
The founding investors of TGL include Alexis Ohanian, the founder of Seven Seven Six and lead investor of Angel City FC, and Neal Hubman, co-founder and president of Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC). Ohanian is known for his successful endeavours in establishing thriving communities through Reddit and sports, most notably with Angel City FC. Hubman, a founding member of Reddit's revenue discipline, brings valuable experience in engaging with online communities.
The Los Angeles Golf Club, the first team of TGL, is also backed by other prominent investors, including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and limited partners like the Antetokounmpo brothers, Alex Morgan, Servando Carrasco, and Michelle Wie West. The ownership group sets the stage for a groundbreaking development, integrating golf into the city's bustling culture and extending its reach online.
In addition to the founding investors, TGL has attracted a diverse group of initial investors, including NBA players Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, and Klay Thompson, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, soccer player Alex Morgan, MLB players Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, and pop artist Justin Timberlake. These investors bring a range of expertise and star power to the league, contributing to its success and appeal to diverse audiences.
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TGL's founding concept
TGL is a golf league that combines advanced technology with teams of top players from the PGA Tour. It was founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and TMRW Sports. The league is presented by SoFi and features six teams representing six different cities in a season-long competition. Each team consists of four PGA Tour players, with three players competing in each match.
The founding concept of TGL was to offer a faster-paced product that fits into a two-hour primetime ESPN window and appeals to a more diverse audience than traditional golf. TGL achieves this through the use of simulator golf for tee-to-green play and a real putting surface, allowing for a hybrid of virtual and real-life action. The league also aims to highlight player personalities through its non-traditional format, such as the use of the Hammer to double a hole's score value.
TGL matches are played across 15 custom-designed holes, with each hole carrying a different nickname and inspired by various real-world or virtual landscapes. The virtual holes are designed by Beau Welling Design, Nicklaus Design, and Pizá Golf, along with technology partner Full Swing Golf. Each match is divided into two match play-style segments, with each team selecting three of its four players to participate in each segment.
The inaugural season of TGL featured six teams: Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club. TGL has since expanded, adding the Motor City Golf Club as its first expansion team, with play beginning in 2027.
TGL has attracted a diverse audience and received positive reviews for its innovative format and use of technology. The league has also benefited from the star power of its founders, Woods and McIlroy, and the participation of top PGA Tour players.
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TGL's inaugural season
TGL, a team golf league, was initially planned to launch in 2024. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the launch was postponed to 2025. The league is a collaboration between golf legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports, the PGA TOUR, and ESPN. TGL's inaugural season kicked off on January 7, 2025, with The Bay Golf Club defeating the New York Golf Club by a score of 9-2.
During the first five weeks of the season, matches featured a unique "hammer" rule, where one team possessed a hammer that they would cede to their opponents after use. This rule was later modified to give each team three hammers to use at their discretion, addressing a loophole that favoured the leading team. The matches are played across 15 holes, with each match divided into two segments: Triples (Holes 1-9) and Singles (Holes 10-15). Each segment features different formats, with teams selecting three players to participate in the Triples segment and each player competing head-to-head in the Singles segment.
The league's innovative format, which combines simulator golf with a real putting surface, offered a faster-paced product that fit within a two-hour primetime window on ESPN. TGL also benefited from the star power of Woods and McIlroy, who were both involved as players and co-founders. The inaugural season laid the foundation for the league's expansion, with the Motor City Golf Club from Detroit announced as the first expansion team, set to join in 2027.
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TGL's first expansion team
TGL, the indoor, high-tech golf league, announced its first expansion team in May 2025. The Motor City Golf Club from Detroit will start playing in 2027, becoming the league's seventh team. The franchise ownership group is led by Middle West Partners, led by Michael Hamp, Peter Hamp, and Kevin Kelleher. The Hamp family has been longtime co-owners of the NFL's Detroit Lions, whose principal owner, Sheila Hamp, and her husband, Steve, will also be co-owners of Motor City Golf Club.
The inaugural season of TGL sparked curiosity about how the tech-infused golf league would translate to television and if players would embrace the team concept. The league's co-founders, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley, expressed confidence in the league's success, with Woods highlighting TGL's ability to showcase player personalities and build teamwork within the teams. The league's first season also featured rumours of potential expansion, indicating interest from new markets.
The Motor City Golf Club's addition to TGL is a testament to the league's strength and long-term growth potential. TGL's unique format, which combines simulator golf with a real putting surface, offers a faster-paced game that fits within a two-hour primetime ESPN window. This format appeals to a diverse audience beyond the traditional golf demographic, tapping into the star power of Woods and McIlroy.
The expansion team benefits from Detroit's rich sports culture and passionate fan base. The city's championship legacy and loyal supporters create a strong foundation for the Motor City Golf Club to build upon. The team's ownership group includes prominent figures such as NBA players Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, and Shaquille O'Neal, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, soccer player Alex Morgan, MLB players Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, and pop artist Justin Timberlake.
The Motor City Golf Club will join TGL's original six teams: Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club. TGL matches are played in the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, offering a unique experience for fans with its combination of a data-rich virtual course and a state-of-the-art short game complex.
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TGL's founding members
TGL Golf, or the Tech-infused Golf League, was founded by golf legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, in collaboration with their company TMRW Sports, the PGA Tour, and ESPN. TGL is presented by SoFi, which has a purpose-built venue in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, that combines a virtual course with a real short-game complex.
The league features six teams representing six different cities, with four players assigned to each team. Each match features three players competing for each team in a two-hour primetime match. TGL's original six teams are Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club.
The Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC) is the flagship team of TGL, owned by Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Seven Seven Six, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams, along with limited partners like the Antetokounmpo brothers, Alex Morgan, and Michelle Wie West. Neal Hubman is a co-founder and the president of Los Angeles Golf Club. Before joining LAGC, Hubman held multiple executive leadership roles at Reddit, most recently as VP of Global Client Solutions.
The Bay Golf Club, another founding team in TGL, is owned by Marc Lasry's Avenue Sports Fund and Stephen Curry, with additional investors Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson.
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Frequently asked questions
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and TMRW Sports founded TGL Golf.
TGL Golf has a range of investors, including NBA players Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, Shaquille O'Neal, and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the co-founders of TGL Golf.
The owners of the TGL Golf clubs include Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Arthur M. Blank, and Steven Cohen.
