After successful first season, Rory McIlroy wants to see TGL makes these two changes in 2026
HOUSTON — The first season of TGL is in the books.
Justin Thomas' Atlanta Drive GC beat New York 2-0 in the best-of-three championship series Tuesday thanks to Billy Horschel's late heroics in the second match. It was a thrilling end to the inaugural season of the indoor simulator league, which was founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports.
McIlroy wasn't in attendance at the season finale of Tomorrow's Golf League, as he's teeing it up at the 2025 Texas Children's Houston Open in his final start before the Masters. He was tuned in however.
On Wednesday after his pro-am, Golfweek caught up with McIlroy about the first year of TGL. The world No. 2 said he was impressed with how much the players bought into the new experience.
"I think everyone that played had an amazing time," McIlroy said. "Even the guys that played one match, whether it be Nick Dunlap or Tony Finau, they all just talked about what an amazing experience it was. So I think for that, having player buy-in, if the players are enthusiastic about it, then that will translate into the crowd or the media or whoever the audience is being enthusiastic about it as well."
"I think that was amazing and that the players really got into it and we were able to create a product that the players really liked."
Being that the league was in its inaugural season, there were plenty of bumps along the way. But TGL was proactive, including changing rules a couple weeks in to help make matches more competitive, and it paid off in the long run.
"I think being able to change on the fly, so obviously change in that hammer rule midseason was huge," McIlroy added. "You know, there was a couple of really non-competitive matches at the start, and then once we changed the hammer rules, um it it became a lot more competitive or at least had the potential to stay competitive with how the hammer rules started to work. So I think that was a really good thing."
The league carries some significant momentum into year No. 2, and TGL is already in discussions with ESPN about building a schedule for 2026. There has also been talk for expansion and other changes to grow the league.
What does McIlroy think TGL can build upon in 2026?
"I think we could do better job with being a little more imaginative with the golf holes, like design golf holes that you would never be able to play in real life," McIlroy said. "I think that would be pretty cool, right? I think that something that we could do a better job of. I would say the putting surface needs looked that, like I think it's much harder to hole putts on that TGL green than it is the hole putts on on a normal green. We could have a look at changing the putting surface maybe,as well.
"Apart from that, ESPN is happy. Sponsors are happy. The players are really bought into it, so as a first season has went, I think it's went really, really well."
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The lighter competition schedule gave him more free time, and he has used that time to test himself in new ways. 'YouTube has massively helped, I can tell you that,' he said, 'being able to just release the emotions in the way that I know I can. When I was a kid, I was super emotional, obviously, but I got frustrated on the golf course, I got really excited on the golf course.' 'Then when I got on tour, it was like everybody [said]: 'Hey, no, come on, just be in control. Control yourself. Control yourself.' There were times where I got frustrated but also times where I realized: 'Hey, no, I should be expressing my emotions, because that's me. I don't want to be someone that I'm not.'' Even if he captures another major title this weekend, DeChambeau is unlikely to be content. He wants to affect the entire sport, and then do it again and again. 'I think Bryson, in his mind, would really like to do some great things for the game,' Parra said. 'Obviously, he does it different than everyone else. But you do see a lot of guys that have made a lot of money and get a little complacent. They're okay with finishing 20 to 50th. That's not Bryson. Bryson is not going to stop.'
