UR-Golf Blog Entry 3: Is TGL the Future of Golf?

My Thoughts on the TGL So Far

The TGL (Tomorrow Golf League) presented by SoFi is a new, tech-driven indoor golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Now, in its seventh week, here are my thoughts: The TGL is good for what it is… something to watch. It’s not easy to get excited about seeing the best golfers in the world play in a simulator for 2 hours. Still, when nothing else is on TV, it’s honestly pretty entertaining. The league consists of six teams, each with four players, representing cities across the U.S. It’s fun to see these players interact outside of a traditional golf setting, and it is an excellent replacement for the 2v2 Vegas matches that have ended up being a complete bust. The 3-man alternate shot format, flowing into the 6-holes of singles matches, adds a fresh twist to keep each 15-hole match more engaging. The pacing of each shot is just right, especially with the help of the new shot clock. This avoids the awkward silences in the golf cart or the forced small talk between the players. The stadium atmosphere gives each broadcast a better vibe all around.

What I have found most amusing is how much fun Tiger seems to be having. For example, his reaction to Kevin Kisner blading this bunker shot straight into the flag stick:

Kevin Kisner has Tiger Woods in TEARS after this bunker shot. 😭

(🎥: @espn)pic.twitter.com/xmSlvU5XOl

— theScore (@theScore) January 15, 2025

Or when Tiger thought he had 99 yards when he actually had 199 yards:

Tiger Woods grabbed the wrong club and Rickie Fowler wasn't gonna let it slide 😂 @TGL pic.twitter.com/EK6Qg45ybd

— ESPN (@espn) February 19, 2025

When have we ever seen Tiger laugh so hard he cries?

Players are starting to get used to the overall flow of the new sport, but we are consistently seeing them struggle around the greens, possibly hurting some of the entertainment factor. I feel like every match so far, a player has left a bunker shot in the sand or duffed a chip. Alignment may be an issue while hitting into the 64’x53′ screen, as in the beginning matches, players were consistently missing the ball left, which tells me that they’re being set up right of their target line. Some of the players have also expressed that they hit it further. For example, in LA Golf Club’s first match, Sahith Theegala hit a drive with 182mph ball speed and exclaimed that it was his fastest speed ever. One flaw that should never happen again is Tommy Fleetwood’s misread. For background, Tommy Fleetwood had 167 yards into a hole, and it went about 50. If people are betting on TGL, everything needs to be perfect, or else sports bettors aren’t going to be too thrilled.

Overall, as a young, up-and-coming league, I think TGL has a lot of potential. It’s unreal to me how many people are involved and investing money into it. Athletes and superstars are featured as part-owners of teams. For example, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Mets owner Steve Cohen were showcased as part-owners of the New York Golf Club. During the triple header on Monday, February 17th, Serena Williams was presented as part owner of the LA Golf Club—not to mention DJ Khalid’s frequent cameos during the events.

With all the time and money invested in the TGL, whether you view it as an exhibition or a game show, I wonder if these investors actually view this new sport as an alternative to the PGA Tour or just as a spotlight for the players who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour. Either way, people talk about it and tune in each week.

2025 Mexico Open @ VidantaWorld

The Vidanta Vallarta Course hosts the Mexico Open for the fourth consecutive year. This Greg Norman design plays as a par-71 at 7,436 yards (https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2025/02/17/vidantaworld-nuevo-vallarta-resort–championship-golf-meets-unmatched-hospitality-mexico-open). Jake Knapp won with a final score of -19 (67, 64, 63, 71), 2 shots over Sam Välimäki.

My first pick this week is the favorite, Akshay Bhatia (+1400). Akshay has played in four events this year and is 4/4 in cuts made, with one top-10 and two top-25 finishes. The 23-year-old is a stick and has the firepower to win this week if he can perform around the greens. Stats-wise, Akshay is 12th in SG: putting and 41st in SG: approach to the green; however, he has been struggling in SG: around the green, as he is ranked 162nd.

Odds are, one of the Højgaard twins are going to be in contention this week (Rasmus +1800, Nicolai +4000, Top 20 parlay +466 😉). Rasmus was a serious contender at the WM Phoenix Open and played well at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. I am curious to see how he comes back after missing the cut last week at the Genesis Invitational. Rasmus is 26th in total driving stats and 11th in driving distance, which can play a big factor this week at Vidanta Vallarta. Nicolai has played in one tour event this year at the WM Phoenix Open. His stats are similar to his brother Rasmus as last year he was ranked 25th in driving and 30th in SG: approach to the green. This course sets up well for the Højgaard’s as the weaker field will allow them to play with confidence.

Finally, Justin Lower (+7500) is searching for his first PGA Tour win. With a T3 finish last year, he should feel comfortable going into this week. Justin Lower capped a top-5 finish at the American Express earlier this year and has only missed one cut in the 2025 season. Justin can combine his ability to hit good approach shots with his putting and put together winning scores this week.