- TGL’s opening night will be Tuesday, January 9 at 9 p.m. ET
- A series of star golfers have been confirmed, with more to follow
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The TGL Indoor Golf League between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN in the United States starting on January 9.
The exciting new format is the brainchild of two golf superstars and is part of a response to the Saudi-backed LIV Tour.
Each Monday night, six teams and three PGA Tour players will compete in 18 holes of golf at a venue with a capacity of 1,500 to 2,000 spectators. The first game will be played on January 9 at 9pm ET.
TGL has a string of celebrity investors, including LeBron James, Justin Bieber and Lewis Hamilton.
Currently, four of the six ownership teams have been announced ahead of the January launch, with locations in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles and New York.
Serena and Venus Williams, along with Serena’s husband Alexis Ohanian, invested in the Los Angeles team, while Boston is backed by Fenway Sports Group, a Red Owner of Sox and Premier League team Liverpool.
Players will have open mics during games, and McIlroy said in August: “We’ll be able to say some things we wouldn’t normally say. Hopefully it’ll be fun for the fans and have something new they’ve never seen before. form.”
Jon Rahm also expressed his excitement for TGL launching next year. “Acting to a different audience depending on when we play, the type of golf we play… we have an opportunity to do something very special,” he said in a speech over the summer.
Rahm committed with Justin Thomas, Adam Scott, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Billy Hochel, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele Playing in the league together. The names of six additional players will also be announced soon.
TGL CEO Mike McCarley said of the ESPN deal: “We believe ESPN is a good fit for TGL and recognize the strategic advantages to Disney’s portfolio.
“ESPN is often the first stop for sports fans regardless of platform, and we are honored that ESPN considers TGL to complement their current offering of major league sports.”
The full TGL schedule will be released later this year, but the season runs from January to April and lasts 15 weeks.
ESPN said Woods has committed to play, but there are naturally concerns about the 47-year-old Woods’ health.
Woods underwent ankle surgery in April in New York to treat arthritis, and ten days later, Woods worsened plantar fasciitis while limping on a rainy Augusta National course during the Masters.
Woods has not given a timetable for his return, but before this year’s tournament, Woods hinted it could be his last time competing for a green jacket.
He was spotted back on the golf course last week, but only caddying for his son Charlie at a tournament.