TGL TV schedule, Tiger next start and more

Sign up every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in sports and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss the TGL TV schedule announcement, the World of Heroes Challenge field, Justin Thomas’ latest disappointment, and more.

TGL, the indoor virtual golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, announced its TV schedule for 2025with the first matchup airing in primetime on Tuesday, Jan. 7, on ESPN. Tiger Woods and his team will not play on opening night — he’ll play next week — but how important do you think Woods will be when it comes to viewership?

James Colgan, news and features editor (@jamescolgan26): Uh, Tiger’s role in this league is basically only which matters for viewer interest in the early days. TGL is betting — and hoping — that fans will enjoy the concept so much that they’ll feel compelled to watch it during non-Woods weeks. A lot depends on how the broadcast looks and feels, but my bet is that they will steal elements from ManningCast to expand player access (as every new sports telecast seems to be doing).

Josh Sens, Senior Editor, (@joshsens): This isn’t like the James Bond franchise, where you can change the lead actor without diluting public ticket sales. As James notes, Tiger is the key to getting this thing started. However, long-term durability will likely depend more on how people feel compelled to play with it.

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Tiger will be a big part of it, but the key will be using his name to attract viewers and then using the product to keep them coming back. But this is a TV show, after all, so the players playing will have to be fun and carry the action when they’re not hitting shots. I’ve always felt the pros at The Match struggled with that part, so we’ll have to see how it all goes with TGL.

The venue for TGL, the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., has about 1,500 seats and tickets start at $160. If you’re a fan of the area, what’s your level of interest in attending one of these in person?

Colgan: I would think very highly! Some of the best golfers, in a super intimate setting, in an area that’s already crazy about golf? Sounds like a good business proposition to me.

Meaning: Sartre was wrong. Hell is not other people. Hell is sitting in an arena with a ton of other people, watching grown men hit golf balls on a screen. If I have $160 earmarked for entertainment, I’m playing golf. You don’t see it indoors.

Berhow: As someone who lives several states away, I’m not buying a plane ticket to head south and see TGL, but if I were in the area I would definitely consider it, mostly for the curiosity factor. There are far worse ways to spend $160, (other) Josh! Plus, by only holding so many people, you won’t be sitting on nosebleeds.

Seventeen of the 20 countries were announced for the World Hero Challenge will be played in December in the Bahamas, although the 15-time major champion will again be a last-minute decision following his back surgery in September. Given what we know so far, do you think Woods plays?

Colgan: I think he probably I won’t play, considering the PNC Championship is just a few days later and would serve ostensibly the same purpose. Better safe than sorry.

Meaning: Agreed. Granted, Tiger has shown a Deadpool-like ability to bounce back from physical injury. But the agonies have now piled up to the point where I expect him to focus his energies on his waiting duties while saving what’s left of his back, knees and legs to play with his son.

Berhow: I do not agree! I think he will play. We don’t know the specifics about his recovery, but the surgery was minor and he will most likely be on the mend by then.

Nico Echavarria won the Zozo Championship in Japan, defeating Justin Thomas and Max Greyserman with one hit. Thomas, who held a share of the lead at one point, is still winless since the 2022 PGA Championship, a drought of 49 starts on the PGA Tour. Was his performance and close call this week more encouraging or discouraging?

Colgan: I would say encouraging. JT played some of the best golf we’ve seen from him in a long time, and more importantly, he played some of more stable golf we haven’t seen from him in a long time (only one bogey in 72 holes!). That’s the winning formula for him, he just didn’t get the win.

Meaning: He put himself in contention to win a tournament. That’s no small feat, especially considering his recent struggles. Encouraging. I don’t know how you can see it any other way.

Berhow: Encouraging. Winning golf tournaments is hard.

After a chaotic 2024 WM Phoenix Openorganizers announced the changes for the 2025 edition in what they say will be a “better, not bigger” event in February. Among the changes: a new entrance and widened walkways, a fully digital ticket format, relocated food and alcohol vendors to reduce foot traffic and more. Do you think these changes will be enough to solve the tournament’s problems? Or does his reputation mean that changes like this won’t go as far as one might think?

Colgan: I like the WM Phoenix Open, but I think it’s unlikely to change significantly as long as the fans continue to participate in the chase to get absolutely skinny.

Meaning: Last year was a perfect storm, literally. The ground wet from the rain. A crowd of fans well served. It was destined to become The Jackass Invitational. But I’m with James. Even in dry conditions, I don’t see how you change the essential character of the tournament with these changes. Wildness is a feature, not a bug.

Berhow: This may improve some of the logistics, but I have a hard time thinking it will change much more than that. The tournament’s biggest problem is its perception, and that’s the hardest to change. You’ll still get the same crowd of fans who attend simply because they think it’s a free pass to act like idiots.

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