The indoor golf league, which was co-founded by Grand Slam winners Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, has made a series of upgrades ahead of its second season
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the faces of TGL(Image: Getty Images)
TGL, the indoor golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, has implemented a series of major modifications as it approaches the launch of its sophomore season.
TGL made its debut in January and surpassed projections with impressive viewership numbers on ESPN. The league features a lineup of some of the most prominent names and top performers from the PGA Tour, and the television-friendly format was broadly welcomed as a valuable addition to the golf schedule.
The second season kicks off on Dec. 28, with reigning champions Atlanta Drive, spearheaded by Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay, facing off against Xander Schauffele’s New York City Golf Club at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The matchup launches the final season before the league brings in expansion teams.
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The inaugural season, despite its achievements, encountered several problems and technical difficulties, including an uncomfortable situation when Tommy Fleetwood was forced to replay a shot after the ball-tracking technology malfunctioned.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, TGL has implemented numerous enhancements to better the experience for competitors, attendees, and television audiences.
“After a successful inaugural season, we conducted a comprehensive review of data and learnings from all aspects of competition with players, teams and our broadcast partners to elevate the fan experience, enhance gameplay and create even more excitement for Season 2 of TGL presented by SoFi,” said Andrew Macaulay, the chief technology officer of TMRW Sports, TGL’s parent company.
Big changes have been made to SoFi Center for season two(Image: Getty Images)
“These updates are part of our continued effort to increase drama, intrigue and dynamic moments while further challenging TGL’s teams within SoFi Center’s one-of-a-kind environment.”
GreenZone revamped
Much of TGL’s offseason work has centered on enhancing the GreenZone, the innovative short game zone that features a rotating green with adjustable slopes.
For season two, audiences will observe that the putting surface has grown substantially larger. The playing area has expanded by 38 percent to 5,270 square feet, bringing it close to the dimensions of a typical PGA Tour green.
TGL’s green has been enlarged for season two, with one of the three bunkers removed(Image: TGL)
This size expansion has allowed the number of pin positions to grow to 12, nearly doubling the seven that were offered in the previous season. Improvements have also been implemented below the artificial turf to allow greater customization of the green’s slopes.
To accommodate the expanded green, one of the three sand traps has been eliminated. The surviving hazards have been made considerably larger and deeper, with more severe faces to make bunker shots more demanding for competitors.
Enhanced holes and improved graphics
TGL has yet to reveal new additions to its collection of virtual holes – they are scheduled to be announced soon – but a range of modifications have been applied to those featured last year. There are new teeing areas to create different angles and make risk-reward choices more significant.
Each of the six teams now has a designated home track, complete with “localized backdrops and terrain.” So, anticipate seeing a towering skyline surrounding New York City’s team hole, while Los Angeles Golf Club and The Bay will likely boast ocean themes.
A significant graphics upgrade has been achieved thanks to a switch to the Unity 6 engine. The league is confident that this will “deliver more realistic and immersive virtual golf environments.”
Hitting zone improvements and better fan experience
The hitting boxes in the ScreenZone, where players launch their longer shots from real grass or sand into a gigantic simulator screen, have been expanded. According to the league, this will assist with divot management and provide players with more room to maneuver.
New sand trays feature enhancements to the dynamic bunker lip, which can be adjusted in size depending on the depth of the bunker that players find themselves in.
Season one’s ScreenZone appeared somewhat congested, especially for fans watching in the arena. However, season two promises improved sightlines and fewer obstructions after two towers were removed from the field of play, with ball-tracking cameras now installed in the ceiling.
