By Fred Altvater
The TMRW Golf League (TGL) is the first of its kind indoor golf league bringing some of the world’s best golfers to the world of virtual golf. Held inside an arena with a 50-foot digital screen this is something new in the world of golf.
Created from the minds of Tiger Woods, Rory Mcilroy and their business partner, former Golf Channel executive, Mike McCarley, the TGL has experienced success in reaching a television audience.
To get professional golfers involved in this new venture you must pay them accordingly. The players in the TGL not only receive prize money, based on the performance of their team, but also have an equity stake in the enterprise.
“If you pay them…They will come.”
In an article from Sports Business Journal, Josh Carpenter reported that the inaugural season offers a total purse of $21 million. The winning team will split $9 million ($2.25 million per player). The runners-up will earn $4.5 million, with a payout of $2.25 million for third, $2 million for fourth, $1.75 million for fifth, and $1.5 million for sixth.
Even the players on the last-place team will earn a minimum of $375,000 each for their participation. In addition, all 24 players share a 10% equity stake in the league, further incentivizing their commitment to TGL’s success.
Most players are reportedly signed to two-year contracts, securing their role in the league during its critical formative years. McCarley, who oversees the league, has expressed confidence in the model aligning the players’ interests along with the league’s growth.
Back 9 Report visited a TGL match in February held at the SoFi Center on the campus of Palm Beach State University between Boston Common and the LA Golf Club. Watch this video filmed on the floor at the TGL event.
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The league’s television debut on January 7, 2025, averaged 919,000 viewers on ESPN, greatly exceeding initial expectations. The second week saw an even stronger performance, drawing over 1 million viewers as Tiger Woods made his first TGL appearance. The league’s viewing numbers have dropped slightly over the past couple of matches, but still exceeds expectations and other competitors in the same time slot.
TGL officials are very satisfied with the viewership demographic as they are reaching a high percentage of the 29-49 age group. The average viewer for regular golf telecasts is over 51 years old. TGL is targeting a younger audience for this programming, and it appears they are reaching their goal.
With the PGA Tour coming to the Sunshine State in March for the ‘Florida Swing’ several matches will be contested each week with the semi-finals and finals being contested March 24-25.
