Golf is going high-tech, and some of the sport’s biggest names are jumping on board.
Starting next Tuesday, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and 22 other top players will compete in a revolutionary indoor golf league that feels more like a video game come to life than traditional golf.
Name
Events
Top 10
Money
Xander Schauffele
184
65
$57,295,643
The new TGL league will play out inside a massive 250,000-square-foot arena in Florida, complete with a giant 64-foot-wide screen, rotating greens, and enough tech to make Silicon Valley jealous.
“It’s nothing like we’ve ever seen before, especially in golf,” says McIlroy, who helped create the league alongside Woods.
Here’s how it works: Players hit real golf shots from real grass into a massive screen that displays virtual courses. For closer shots, they play on an actual putting surface that can tilt and turn to create different challenges.
The whole thing happens in prime time on ESPN, with matches wrapped up in just two hours – a far cry from the usual four-hour-plus tournament rounds.
“I’ve been in there twice and played a mock match, and there was still a wow factor,” says Xander Schauffele, who’ll play for the New York team. “Even the second time around with lights and the stadium and really big screens.”
The league features six teams representing different cities, backed by some serious star power. Stephen Curry has a stake in the San Francisco team, while tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams are part-owners of the Los Angeles squad.
Players compete in 15-hole matches – nine holes of alternate shot and six holes of singles play. There’s even a 40-second shot clock to keep things moving.
The winning team takes home $9 million.
It’s quite a change for golf traditionalists. Instead of peaceful fairways and chirping birds, players will compete in an arena that holds 1,500 fans, complete with dazzling lights and electronic scoreboards.
“We want to make it different than what people are seeing on the golf course,” says Billy Horschel. “This is supposed to be fast, engaging, and you’re going to see every single shot.”
Players will wear microphones, adding to the entertainment value. They’ll get wind and yardage readings before each shot, just like in regular tournaments.
The league was actually supposed to start a year ago, but a power outage damaged the original dome structure. That delay led to something better – a permanent arena with proper locker rooms and enough space to rival a football field.
Patrick Cantlay, playing for Atlanta’s team, sums it up best: “It’s a brand new concept, a brand new presentation of golf. There’s something exciting about being on the ground floor of this.”
The season runs through the spring, with playoffs wrapping up just before the Masters in April.
