Key Points
TGL, co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is launching its second season on December 28, 2025, featuring defending champions Atlanta Drive.
The GreenZone short game area has expanded by 38 percent with 12 pin positions, and bunkers have become larger and more challenging.
TGL upgraded its virtual course experience with new teeing areas, team-specific home tracks, and enhanced graphics using the Unity 6 engine.
TGL, the trailblazing indoor golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is teeing up for a highly anticipated second season with a slew of significant upgrades aimed at both players and fans. After a debut in January 2025 that smashed ESPN viewership expectations and injected fresh energy into the golf calendar, the league is determined to build on its momentum. With the opening match set for December 28, 2025, at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, all eyes are on the defending champions Atlanta Drive—led by Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay—as they prepare to battle Xander Schauffele’s New York City Golf Club in what promises to be a spectacle of skill and innovation.
The first season of TGL was a bold experiment, blending top PGA Tour talent with cutting-edge technology and a made-for-TV format. Fans quickly embraced the action-packed, fast-paced matches, and the league’s roster reads like a who’s who of modern golf. Yet, even with its resounding success, the inaugural campaign wasn’t without hiccups. Technical glitches, such as the infamous moment when Tommy Fleetwood was forced to replay a shot after a ball-tracking malfunction, highlighted areas ripe for improvement.
Determined to smooth out the rough edges and raise the bar, TGL’s leadership embarked on a comprehensive review of every aspect of the league. Andrew Macaulay, chief technology officer of TMRW Sports (TGL’s parent company), emphasized the league’s commitment to innovation and fan engagement: “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.” He added, “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.”
So what’s new for season two? The most eye-catching transformation is the dramatic expansion of the GreenZone, TGL’s innovative short game area. The putting surface has grown by a remarkable 38 percent, now covering 5,270 square feet—nearly matching the scale of a typical PGA Tour green. This larger footprint allows for 12 distinct pin positions, up from just seven last season, promising more variety and strategic depth. Beneath the synthetic turf, the league has introduced advanced customization features, enabling even more dynamic slope adjustments to challenge the world’s best golfers.
To accommodate this expanded green, TGL has made a bold move: one of the original three sand traps has been removed. But don’t think for a second that escaping the sand will be any easier. The remaining bunkers are now significantly larger and deeper, with steeper faces, making recovery shots even more demanding. Players will have to dig deep—literally and figuratively—if they find themselves in trouble around the green.
Of course, it’s not just about what happens on the green. The league has also focused on enhancing the virtual course experience. While new virtual holes are set to be unveiled soon, existing holes have received a facelift. New teeing areas have been introduced to create different angles and force players to weigh risk and reward with every shot. Each of the six teams now boasts its own designated home track, complete with localized backdrops and terrain. Expect to see a striking skyline enveloping New York City Golf Club’s hole, while Los Angeles Golf Club and The Bay will feature ocean-inspired themes, adding a splash of personality and hometown pride to each contest.
One of the most exciting behind-the-scenes upgrades is the switch to the Unity 6 engine, a leap forward in graphics technology that promises “more realistic and immersive virtual golf environments.” Fans tuning in—whether in the arena or from their living rooms—can look forward to a broadcast that captures the look and feel of championship golf like never before.
The league didn’t forget about the nuts and bolts of gameplay, either. The hitting boxes in the ScreenZone, where players launch their long shots from real grass or sand into a massive simulator screen, have been enlarged. This not only gives golfers more room to maneuver but also aids in managing divots—an often-overlooked detail that can make a big difference over the course of a match. The sand trays have also been upgraded: the dynamic bunker lips can now be adjusted in size, depending on the depth of the bunker, introducing yet another layer of realism and challenge.
For fans in attendance, the viewing experience has received a thoughtful overhaul. The first season’s ScreenZone could feel a bit cramped, especially with two large towers obstructing sightlines. Those towers are now gone, replaced by ball-tracking cameras mounted discreetly in the ceiling. The result? Clearer views, more excitement, and fewer distractions as the action unfolds on the arena floor.
As the league readies for its sophomore campaign, anticipation is sky-high. The opening match between Atlanta Drive and New York City Golf Club is more than just a battle for early bragging rights—it’s the curtain-raiser for a season packed with innovation, star power, and the promise of even more drama. With expansion teams waiting in the wings for the following year, season two marks the end of an era and the start of something even bigger for TGL.
While the league has yet to announce all of its new virtual holes, the enhancements already revealed signal a clear intent: to keep pushing the boundaries of what indoor golf can be. The combination of elite talent, technological wizardry, and a relentless drive to improve has made TGL one of the most intriguing stories in sports. As Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s vision continues to evolve, fans and players alike are left wondering—what will they think of next?
For now, the countdown to December 28 is on. With the defending champs set to take the stage and a host of new features ready for their close-up, TGL’s second season looks poised to deliver the kind of high-stakes, high-tech golf that only this league can offer. Whether you’re a die-hard golf fanatic or a casual sports fan, it’s shaping up to be a season you won’t want to miss.
