The TGL, an indoor virtual golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, just released its 2025 TV lineup, kicking off in primetime on ESPN on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Although Woods and his team won’t be playing on opening night—he’s set to play the following week—how essential do you think Tiger’s involvement will be for attracting viewers?
In the early stages, Woods’ presence will be the league’s main draw. The TGL is banking on Woods to capture fans’ attention, hoping that the unique format will be compelling enough to keep viewers tuned in on non-Woods weeks as well. How they present the broadcast will be critical, and it’s likely they’ll incorporate elements from the popular “ManningCast” style to enhance player engagement, a trend in many modern sports broadcasts.
This isn’t a case like the James Bond franchise, where you can swap out the lead actor without significantly affecting the audience’s interest. Tiger’s involvement is crucial to building initial interest, but long-term success may depend on whether viewers feel drawn enough to keep watching—and even betting on it.
Tiger will play a big role, but to retain viewers, the TGL will need to create a compelling product beyond Woods. The show aspect will matter too, so golfers will need to engage viewers during both the gameplay and downtime. This has been a challenge in similar events like The Match, so it’ll be interesting to see if TGL can find a winning formula.
The TGL’s venue, the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., holds around 1,500 fans, with ticket prices starting at $160. If you’re in the area, would you be interested in seeing it live?
Colgan: For me, absolutely. It’s a rare chance to see top players up close, in a small setting, and in a golf-loving area. It seems like a great setup for fans.
Sens: I’ll pass. Watching golf on a screen in a packed arena isn’t my idea of a good time. For $160, I’d rather play a round of golf myself than watch one indoors.
Berhow: Living several states away, I wouldn’t be booking a flight just to see TGL. But if I were local, I’d consider it just for the curiosity of the experience. With only 1,500 seats, every spot should be a good one—not the worst way to spend $160!
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