PALM BEACH GARDENS (Fla.) — Just five miles from where they met in the Honda Classic nine-years ago, Tiger Woods & Rory McIlroy plowed the ground at Palm Beach State College Tuesday to mark the official groundbreaking of TGL, an interactive indoor golf league.
Woods and McIlroy drove from their homes to be with Jay Monahan (PGA Tour commissioner), Gov. Ron DeSantis joined other journalists at PBSC. They did not answer any questions.
TMRW Sports Group’s first project – a sports technology business created by Woods, McIlroy, and Mike McCarley – is in partnership to the PGA Tour. The game will be fast-paced and include both virtual and in-person play in an enclosed area.
McIlroy stated that “the really exciting thing about golf is trying to bring it into the 21st Century.” It will offer a completely new fan experience.
Woods added: “Technology has become a part our sports.” We are going to experience excitement and something new.
It is expected that the venue will be complete in late 2023. The league will begin in 2024 with 15 regular season Monday night events that feature six teams of three PGA Tour golfers competing in 18-hole match play. Matches will last for two hours.
Monahan stated, “This is an unimaginable and unique concept.” It’s original, progressive, authentic, and technology-driven.
Woods and McIlroy make up a roster that currently includes six of the top ten in the current rankings. Jon Rahm, No. 3 McIlroy, No. 6 Xander Schauffele, No. Max Homa (No. 9 Justin Thomas, No. Collin Morikawa along with Matt Fitzpatrick and Adam Scott, Billy Horschel, Justin Rose, and Justin Rose.
The venue features a virtual golf course and a short-game complex that incorporates tech. The action will be visible from the fans’ perspective and the players will be available for mic-ing.
Woods stated that it will be “like being courtside, at a rink, or any other type of team sport environment in which you don’t need to move,” They will literally be there with us.
“The back-and-forth banter. Fans want more of this. That will happen when we have this league, I believe.”
Bets are also part of this concept.
Woods stated that “Wagering” is part of the sport and culture.
The arena will be constructed on a 10-acre parcel that was previously undeveloped at the school’s Palm Beach Gardens campus. This partnership will provide educational and recreational opportunities for Palm Beach State students. As part of the agreement for the construction of the campus, TMWR Sports will gift $1 million to Palm Beach State College.
Ava Parker, president of Palm Beach State College, said that “this truly is a transformative gift that delivers unprecedented exposure that positions Palm Beach State College to be a national leader in innovation in higher education.”
DeSantis praises Palm Beach County’s golf interest
DeSantis stated that it was appropriate that this happens in the “epicenter,” of the golf world.
DeSantis stated, “It’s fitting that they are doing this not only in Florida but also here in the Palm Beach County region.” “This is the epicenter for golf in the entire world. You can see how many people live between Jupiter and here, when you consider the number of golfers on tour winning championships. It is a large number. It’s hard to believe that there’s ever been so much talent at one time in modern golf’s history.
“This is where you should be if golf interests you.”
