In a turn of events, the highly anticipated launch of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's virtual golf competition, known as TGL, has been postponed by a year, now scheduled for early 2025. The setback is attributed to damages sustained by its Florida-based facility, the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, following a power outage that led to the collapse of its air-supported dome roof.
Initially slated to kick off on January 9, 2024, the delay was deemed necessary after careful consideration of short-term solutions, construction timelines, player schedules, and the primetime sports television calendar, as stated in a released statement by TGL. Fortunately, no injuries were reported at the facility, which spans approximately 250,000 square feet.
Despite this unforeseen turn of events, TGL remains optimistic about the future and is committed to building excitement in the lead-up to the season's commencement. The league boasts an impressive lineup, with fifteen of the current world's top 20 players among the 24 PGA Tour players signed up for the inaugural season.
The competition will feature six teams of four players each, representing prominent golf clubs such as the Los Angeles Golf Club, Atlanta Drive Golf Club, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, TGL New York, and TGL San Francisco. Tiger Woods is set to compete for Jupiter Links, while Rory McIlroy will play for Boston Common.
The Sofi Center is slated to host each event, promising around two hours of thrilling gameplay, broadcast live in the United States, with all players equipped with microphones. Despite the setback, both Woods and McIlroy express confidence in the success of the concept. Woods, a 15-time major winner, believes that despite adjustments to timelines, the concept will come to life, thanks to the commitment of the players. McIlroy acknowledges mixed feelings of disappointment and excitement, emphasizing their relief that no injuries occurred during the incident.
