Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy launch tech-infused golf league featuring virtual venues, prime-time matches

ATLANTA — Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are launching a tech-infused golf league in partnership with the PGA Tour that will have players competing on six three-man teams in 15 regular-season matches and a playoff starting in January 2024.

The new league, TGL, will feature two-hour, 18-hole matches on a virtual course. The matches will take place in prime time on Monday nights in a custom-made venue in a yet-to-be-determined location.

Renderings released Wednesday by TGL indicate that the venues will feature a simulator that players will hit longer shots into, along with an authentic green area for chipping and putting.

The matches will probably be played between January and April, and each of the six teams will compete five times during the 15-week schedule.

McIlroy said Woods, 46, planned to compete in the matches. Woods played in only three tournaments this season while recovering from serious injuries he suffered in a car wreck outside Los Angeles in February 2021.

«Who knows where we're going to see Tiger Woods play golf next, right?» McIlroy said. «We don't know what his schedule is going to be. We don't know how his body is going to be. But to be able to see him still showcase his skills on primetime, on TV without really any wear and tear on his body, I think to be able to see Tiger hit golf shots and still sort of provide people with a glimpse of his genius — I think it is a really good use of his time.»

In a statement, Woods called the league the 'next evolution within professional golf."

«Embracing technology to create this unique environment gives us the ability to move our sport into primetime on a consistent basis alongside so many of sports' biggest events,» Woods said in the statement. «As a big sports fan