TGL contemplating expansion for next season, following successful debut
For those who think golf needs a longer offseason, TGL might be the ticket.
The high-tech indoor golf league wrapped up its inaugural season last week with Billy Horschel hitting the putt heard' round the SoFi Center to lead Atlanta Drive to the title over New York.
And now it goes away for nine months.
Mike McCarley, the co-founder of TMRW Sports with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, began taking notes even before the season started on what can be improved for 2026, whether it's technology or having players connect with their city (San Diego native Xander Schauffele plays for New York).
The average rating on ESPN platforms was just over 500,000 viewers. TMRW Sports pushes that number over 850,000 using Nielsen Big Data + Panel, which includes smart TVs along with cable boxes.
The number that stood out to McCarley was a viewing audience some 12 years younger (median age 52) than traditional golf, trailing only the NBA.
There also were the intangibles, such as the joy Horschel and Atlanta Drive owner Arthur Blank showed when they won.
'I was visiting the locker room of the teams that won and lost. Hearing them talk about what they should do differently next year was meaningful,' McCarley said.
That indicated to him the players bought into it, even though there were times of hit-and-giggle (Woods getting the yardage wrong by 100 yards, any of Kevin Kisner's shanks).
'They started to figure out the ins and outs of competition, some of the strategy and rules, like the hammer,' he said.
TMRW Sports already is working with ESPN on a schedule for 2026, though it likely will fall into the January-March window again. Expansion is a strong possibility. One group already is planning to bid for a franchise in Dallas and has put the total investment at $77 million.
McCarley said the six original teams — Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Jupiter — return with few, if any, changes to the rosters. As for more teams for 2026?
'There's been a ton of interest over the course of a season,' he said.
McCarley said at least one potential expansion group has been to every match, most of them owners of franchises in sports from cricket to soccer.
He also said TMRW Sports is exploring sites for a potential arena on the West Coast, which might help with travel. That's in the early stages and more than a year away if it happens.
And if the team concept is supposed to work, shouldn't the Atlanta Drive club of Horschel, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas and Lucas Glover get rings?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Entrepreneur
28 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
Meet Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine
Come to the first-ever live taping of Entrepreneur's "How Success Happens" podcast and clink glasses with celebrity chef, philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert Irvine. Many of us were first introduced to Robert Irvine, the take-charge chef who is equally skilled at whipping up meals as he is at kicking some butt, on his Food Network show Dinner: Impossible. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Irvine is passionate about helping and inspiring others. On June 17th, he is sitting down for a live taping of our podcast, How Success Happens — and you are invited! This event will feature Irvine sharing his success tips, a live Q&A where you can ask him anything, plus light bites and drinks — and it is all free! How Success Happens LIVE When: Tuesday, June 17 at 7:00pm Where: Convene at 101 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10006 RSVP: Sign up here As skilled as he is in the kitchen, he's not too shabby in the boardroom either. Irvine has had massive success building companies like FitCrunch and Irvine Spirits, is the author of Overcoming Impossible, and created the Robert Irvine Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to helping military veterans and first responders. "I love talking to people," Irvine says. "I am usually the last person to leave these events — so bring your questions and tons of energy. This is going to be a lot of fun!" Reserve your spot, seats are limited! Here's a little taste of what Irvine has to share.
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Bitcoin's Rally Means All of Strategy's Purchases Are Profitable
The mini rally in Bitcoin over the past few trading sessions has made every purchase of the cryptocurrency by Michael Saylor's Strategy over the last four plus years profitable. The former MicroStrategy Inc. announced earlier Monday that it had acquired an additional 1,045 tokens for $110.2 million from June 2 to June 8, or for an average price of $105,426 each. Bitcoin was up about 1.7% to $108,022 as of 12:39 p.m. in New York, and has climbed around 7.5% since June 5.
NBC Sports
2 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Pete Alonso closing in on Mets home run record
DENVER — When he re-signed with the New York Mets last winter, Pete Alonso saw an opportunity to become the team's career leader in home runs and multi-homer games. He checked one record off his list with a pair of two-run shots in a 13-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies — and the burly first baseman is closing in on the other. Alonso's 23rd multi-homer game broke a tie with Darryl Strawberry for the most in Mets history. The four-time All-Star and two-time Home Run Derby champion now has 243 career homers, passing David Wright (242) for second place on the franchise list — nine behind Strawberry. 'Honestly, it's just one of those things where I can't really be too involved in it,' Alonso said. 'For me, I just want to win. Whatever happens, capitalize on certain pitches in the zone, then I'll get my chance to do so by helping my team win. That's always been the focus.' Alonso hit two of New York's season-high six homers to help complete a 5-2 trip. He has six home runs and two multi-homer games in June after going deep just four times in 27 games in May. He went 5 for 14 during the weekend series and has raised his batting average from .288 to .301 over the last eight games. 'There's a lot to like about his bat right now,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'Just dominating pitches in the strike zone. That's who he is. We know that the power's always been there, but now we're looking at a really good hitter.' Alonso wasn't the only Mets player with a banner day. Juan Soto had three hits and walked three times to reach base in all six plate appearances. He became the first New York player to accomplish that feat since Alonso on Aug. 15, 2019, at Atlanta. 'It's not easy to do at the big league level,' Mendoza said. 'You get six times at the plate and you find a way to get on base. Finally getting results, but I feel the at-bat quality has been there.' Alonso's path toward becoming the Mets' career home run leader began when he set the major league record for rookies with 53 in 2019. He has hit at least 34 homers in each of his five full big league seasons and is on pace for 41 this year. 'Pete's been pretty incredible this year. He's been locked in every single at-bat,' said teammate Jeff McNeil, who also hit two home runs. 'Seems like big situations he's going to do some damage. 'It's fun to watch and I feel like he's putting on a show every time he's at the ballpark.'
