PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Xander Schauffele is set to kick off his season in rapid succession, playing at two vastly different locations just a week apart, spanning over 5,000 miles.
The first event is The Sentry, which marks the start of the PGA Tour on Thursday. Taking place on the picturesque hills of Maui, this tournament offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Schauffele, who won this event six years ago with an impressive final round score of 62, returns to a venue familiar to him and one where he knows what to expect.
The second event begins the following Tuesday at the innovative TMRW Golf League, hosted inside a remarkable 250,000-square-foot facility situated on the Palm Beach State College campus. This new venture excites Schauffele, presenting a completely different atmosphere with a fresh take on the game.
The TMRW Golf League features six teams that include legendary players such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, along with 24 players in total—13 of whom are major champions. Matches will be condensed into two hours and broadcast in prime time on ESPN, making for an engaging viewing experience. Schauffele, who represents the New York Golf Club, expressed his enthusiasm for the unique setup. “I’ve been there twice and played a mock match, and there was still a wow factor,” he stated, emphasizing the arena’s atmosphere with lights and large screens creating an incredible backdrop.
This new league consists of team-based play inside the SoFi Center, combining simulator technology with authentic shots aimed at a massive putting green that can rotate to alter angles during competition. The opening match will feature New York against The Bay Golf Club (based in San Francisco) on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST, where teams of four will put up three players in a match consisting of 15 holes—nine played in alternate shot format, followed by six individual hole constructions.
Upcoming matches will showcase Woods’ Jupiter Links as they host Los Angeles on January 14. The league has been structured to fit within players’ existing tour schedules, with the top four teams moving forward to playoffs and a best-of-three championship series taking place two weeks before the Masters, resulting in a grand prize of $9 million for the victorious team.
The TGL is an initiative from TMRW Sports, boasting Woods’ and McIlroy’s dual roles as co-founders. It strives to capture the interest of both new participants and traditional golf fans within a facility accommodating 1,500 spectators. Players will be utilizing real grass or sand (like that from Augusta National’s bunkers) from 35 yards away, hitting into an impressive screen that measures 64 feet wide and 53 feet high. Architects have crafted 30 potential holes that can be employed throughout the tournament, while shots closer than 50 yards will be genuinely executed into the course.
Rapid gameplay is expected, with a condensed two-hour competition timeframe and a 40-second shot clock, marking a significant shift from conventional golf approaches. McIlroy noted the uniqueness of the endeavor, pointing out that it complements the existing landscape of professional golf while aiming to attract a younger demographic by cramming the excitement into more digestible time slots.
Originally scheduled to launch in early 2024, the TGL’s debut was pushed back due to a power outage that damaged an inflatable dome. Now equipped with a permanent arena that includes locker rooms and a stunning lighting setup, the venue also features electronic displays to keep track of scores and shot timing side-by-side with the enormous screen. The overall experience will be nearly the size of a football field.
Billy Horschel from Atlanta Drive GC remarked that the simulator aspect may lead some to perceive it as a gimmick, asserting that TGL encompasses something far beyond that. He highlighted, “We’re hitting off real grass, we’re hitting real shots. We want to make it distinctive and exciting—different from traditional golf.”
Competitors will be mic’d up, gaining insights into yardage and wind conditions ahead of each strike. Points earned per hole will motivate players, with one point awarded for winning a hole without carryovers for ties. The participants are divided into teams, including Atlanta Drive, New York, Los Angeles, The Bay, Boston Common, and Jupiter Links, with notable ownership backing among them, including figures like Arthur Blank, Stephen Curry, and Serena and Venus Williams.
This imaginative format brings “night golf” into play, coinciding with college basketball broadcasts on Monday and Tuesday evenings. It revolutionizes how golf is presented—combining team spirit with an indoor setting, setting the stage for a novel experience. Patrick Cantlay, part of the Atlanta Drive team, expressed anticipation about attending this new show, stating it provides an exciting chance to see PGA Tour players from an engaging perspective that’s likely to resonate better with fans.
