While some questioned the viability of the TGL product at first, the made-for-TV simulated golf matches started by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley are now getting ready to debut a second season.
In a departure from Season 1, the first two matches will be played over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday period. The first match of the season will feature defending champion Atlanta Drive Golf Club against New York Golf Club on Sunday, December 28th. It will be an afternoon start time, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The conclusion of the season, the best-of-three final, will take place during the Florida Swing of the PGA Tour season on March 23 and 24.
According to an ESPN spokesperson, last year, the matches delivered what they promised to do in terms of an innovative format, having stars of golf participating and appealing to a younger audience. The golf audience has traditionally been older and wealthier.
“Once again, we worked with our partner at ESPN on an enhanced schedule for our second season that includes TGL’s broadcast network debut on ABC, new marquee prime time matchups on ESPN, and more favorable live match times for fans around the world,” Mike McCarley, co-founder and CEO of TMRW Sports and TGL said in a statement.
Some highlights of the upcoming season include:
A Friday night matchup on January 2nd between Los Angeles Golf Club, featuring Tommy Fleetwood, and Boston Common Golf, headed by Rory McIlroy. The starting time for that match is 7:00 p.m.TGL co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are facing off in TGL’s first Sunday night match on March 1 at 9:00 p.m., following the conclusion of the PGA TOUR’s Cognizant Classic, also in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Tickets go on sale October 8 at 10:00 a.m. TGL executives suggest for best chances to purchase a ticket, fans should preregister at TGLGolf.com. Tickets are available for single matches and for those wanting season tickets.
The full schedule is as follows (all times Eastern):
Match 1 – New York Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC – Sunday, Dec. 28, 3 P.M., ABCMatch 2 – Boston Common Golf vs. Los Angeles Golf Club – Friday, Jan. 2, 7 P.M., ESPN2Match 3 – The Bay Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC – Tuesday, Jan. 6, 5 P.M., ESPNMatch 4 – Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club – Tuesday, Jan. 13, 7 P.M., ESPNMatch 5 – Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Los Angeles Golf Club – Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7 P.M., ESPNMatch 6 – Boston Common Golf vs. The Bay Golf Club – Monday, Jan. 26, 7 P.M. ET, ESPN2Match 7 – Atlanta Drive GC vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club – Monday, Feb. 2, 5 P.M., ESPNMatch 8 – The Bay Golf Club vs. Los Angeles Golf Club – Monday, Feb. 9, 7 P.M., ESPN2Match 9 – Atlanta Drive GC vs. Boston Common Golf – Monday, Feb. 23, 5 P.M., ESPNMatch 10 – Los Angeles Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC- Monday, Feb. 23, 9 P.M. ESPN2Match 11 – New York Golf Club vs. The Bay Golf Club – Tuesday, Feb. 24, 5 P.M. ESPNMatch 12 – Boston Common Golf vs. New York Golf Club – Tuesday, Feb. 24, 9 P.M. ESPNMatch 13 – Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf – Sunday, March 1, 9 P.M. ESPNMatch 14 – Los Angeles Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club – Monday, March 2, 7 P.M. ESPN2Match 15 – The Bay Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club – Tuesday, March 3, 9 P.M. ESPNSemifinals – Tuesday, March 17, 6:30 P.M. & 9 P.M. ESPNFinals (Best of Three) – Monday, March 23, 9 P.M. ESPN2 & Tuesday, March 24, 7 P.M. & 9 P.M. ESPN
