Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy Launch Indoor Golf League with an Exciting and Rapid First Match

Ludvig Aberg will be remembered as a trivia answer: he registered the inaugural birdie in TGL history.

Thus, the indoor golf competition that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have envisioned for years finally commenced.

TGL kicked off on Wednesday (AEDT), featuring a matchup between Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Xander Schauffele from New York Golf Club against Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark, and Aberg representing The Bay Golf Club. The 15-hole contest lasted just under two hours, precisely aligning with TGL’s vision. The final score was The Bay 9, New York 2.

“I had more fun today than I’ve had in quite some time, probably since last September,” Lowry remarked, glancing at Clark—an obvious nod to their shared experience as part of the European Ryder Cup team that triumphed over Clark and the US in 2023.

It turns out banter is also part of TGL—even amongst teammates.

“Honestly, I had an incredible two hours,” Lowry added.

Lowry took the first shot, and merely four minutes later, Aberg sank a 9-footer to complete the first hole in TGL history and score the league’s opening point. Yes, it does move that quickly.

“This was merely a dream brought to life,” Woods stated during the ESPN broadcast. “Rory and I conversed about it; it’s hard to fathom that our dream became a reality and we are propelling golf to new heights.”

Woods and McIlroy, the masterminds behind this ambitious project, were in attendance as anticipated. DJ Khaled was spotted as well, mingling about while players warmed up, displaying his swing with an imaginary club.

The event took place in a sprawling 250,000-square-foot facility at Palm Beach State College. Players launched shots into a video screen, some off real grass, others off artificial turf, and the bunkers featured sand sourced from Augusta National Golf Club, the same type Woods uses at his home practice area. With advanced technology, data was collected for every shot.

“No one had more fun than we did,” Clark commented.

Players wore microphones, there were betting opportunities, and fans surrounded the “course” in a lively arena where music played and noise was encouraged.

“It’s like a high-tech man cave,” Fowler remarked.

When teams approached within 50 yards of the pin, they transitioned to a short-game area—a green that rests on a 41-yard-wide turntable with around 600 devices underneath to adjust the contours. Players found it challenging to sink putts, which is understandable.

The atmosphere was electric; fans cheered and booed—albeit lightly. Schauffele, who had his fair share of struggles during the night, acknowledged the boos he received after a misplayed chip. “I probably would have booed myself too,” he admitted.

The players seemed to thrive on the environment. Lowry delivered one liners with ease, including:

“I’m going to be the Scottie Scheffler of indoor golf.”

“A bit like me— a touch chunky,” he quipped after misjudging one shot.

The evening wrapped up on a 729-yard par-5—an accessible 729-yard par-5, if that’s even a conceivable description. Amidst handshakes and cheers, Lowry waved at the fans as the event concluded.

“It was an absolute blast,” Aberg described.

Woods applauded the fans for their spirited reactions, suggesting they were slightly louder than usual as Clark prepared to putt on an early hole. “You won’t generally experience that at other events,” Woods noted. “But you’ll definitely hear it here.”

Woods is anticipated to debut with his Jupiter Links team on January 14, while McIlroy is set to make his entry on January 27 when Boston Common faces Jupiter Links. The regular season will continue until March 4. There are 24 players—six teams of four—with the top four teams progressing to the playoffs, culminating in a best-of-three championship series two weeks before the Masters.

Each team fields three players for a match, and the 15-hole competitions are designed to wrap up in approximately two hours. All matches will be broadcasted on ESPN platforms, often during prime time. This league has been in development for a few years; its original launch was slated for last year, but construction delays postponed the debut to 2025.

“It’s certainly not traditional golf, there’s no denying that,” Woods said. “But it’s still golf, and that’s what matters.”

Fowler highlighted that while the audience at the arena is one aspect, the true measure will be how well it resonates with viewers at home. “If it gains traction there, there’s really no limit to what could be achieved,” Fowler said. “This is merely the beginning.”