Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy‘s TGL indoor golf league will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN in the United States, starting January 9.
The exciting new format emerged as a brainchild between two of golf’s biggest stars as part of a response to the emergence of the Saudi-backed LIV tour.
It will see six teams with three PGA Tour players each play 18-hole golf matches every Monday night, with venues holding 1,500-2,000 spectators. The first match will be played at 9pm ET on Jan. 9.
TGL has a string of celebrity investors, including LeBron James, Justin Bieber and Lewis Hamilton.
At present, four of the six ownership teams have been announced ahead of the January launch with teams in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles and New York.
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have struck a deal with ESPN to broadcast its new TGL
TGL is set to launch on the night of January 9 with a string of star players set to feature
TGL is the brainchild of Woods and McIlroy – and have Mike McCarley (right) as CEO
Serena and Venus Williams have invested in the LA team – along with Serena’s husband Alexis Ohanian – while the Boston one is backed by Fenway Sports Group – the owners of the Red Sox and Premier League team Liverpool.
Players are going mic’d up during their rounds, with McIlroy saying in August: ‘We’re going to be able to say some stuff we wouldn’t normally say. It’s hopefully entertaining for fans and with some new formats they haven’t seen.’
Jon Rahm has also spoken of his excitement at TGL’s launch next year. Speaking in the summer, he said: ‘Appealing to a different audience with the time of day we’re playing, the type of golf we’re playing… we have the opportunity to do something very special.’
Rahm is committed to playing in the league alongside Justin Thomas, Adam Scott, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Billy Horschel, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele. Six more players are set to be announced soon.
TGL CEO Mike McCarley said of the ESPN deal: ‘We believe ESPN is the right home for TGL and recognize the strategic benefits of Disney’s portfolio.
‘ESPN is often the first stop for sports fans, no matter the platform, and are honored by ESPN’s view that TGL complements their current offering of major league sports.’
The full TGL schedule is going to be released later this year but it is 15-week season running from January to April.
ESPN says Woods has committed to playing but there will naturally be some concern at present over how the 47-year-old is shaping up.
Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian have invested in an LA TGL team
LeBron James has also invested in McIlroy and Woods’ idea to help get it up and running
Woods had surgery in New York in April on his ankle to help with arthritis, 10 days after aggravating his plantar fasciitis as he hobbled his way around a rainy Augusta National course during The Masters.
No timeline was given for his return but before the tournament this year, Woods hinted it could be the last time he competes for a green jacket.
He was spotted back on the golf course last week but only as a caddy for his son Charlie in a tournament.
