TGL, the technology-driven indoor golf league backed by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and a number of big-name investors, will delay its debut from early next year to 2025 after significant damage to the Palm Beach tournament facility. Fla.
Due to a power outage, the dome above the facility lost its air overnight last Tuesday, causing extensive damage to the dome itself. TGL officials determined there were no injuries and most of the technology at the technology-intensive facility was unaffected. However, given the tight combination of repair time, synchronization of player availability and transfer windows, TGL officials decided to postpone the opening until 2025.
Drone footage of the facility illustrates the extent of the destruction caused by the collapsed dome and the necessary repair work:
TGL released a series of prepared statements from Woods, McIlroy and others expressing confidence that the league will be stronger as a result of the delay. “The postponement brings with it mixed emotions of disappointment and excitement,” McIlroy’s statement said. “Above all, we are glad that no one was injured.” We are looking forward to the start of TGL. While the delay is disappointing given the circumstances, the postponement will allow us to regroup, refocus and return stronger.”
ESPN, which was scheduled to broadcast the games, announced that it would continue to work with TGL in the future. “We partner with TGL and fully support their decision,” Rosalyn Durant, ESPN EVP of programming, said in the TGL statement. “We believed in them and their vision from the beginning and nothing has changed.” The extra time to plan, test and rehearse will only make it better. We look forward to launching the inaugural season on ESPN.”
TGL was created as a weekly prime-time team golf event spanning the weeks between the start of the new year and the Masters. Six teams of four players each competed throughout the season in front of a live audience in the technologically enhanced facility. Major owners of the NFL, MLB and other sports hold significant or full ownership stakes in all six franchises.
