• Loading stock data...
Saturday, May 24, 2025

No Tiger, No Rory: TGL Playoffs Will Lack Some Star Power in Year 1

TGL concludes its first regular season Tuesday night. Neither of its superstar cofounders, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, will be competing in the inaugural playoffs.

Palm Beach Post

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy won’t compete in the inaugural playoffs of TGL, as their teams are the only two that did not qualify for the postseason of the indoor golf league that the duo cofounded and launched this year.

Boston Common Golf (McIlroy’s team) and Jupiter Links Golf Club (Woods) were eliminated from playoff contention Monday night when New York Golf Club clinched the final spot by defeating Boston. Four of TGL’s six teams reached the playoffs: Los Angeles Golf Club, The Bay Golf Club, Atlanta Drive GC, and New York.

TGL’s single-elimination semifinal matches will take place March 17–18, before a best-of-three finals series March 24–25. 

Speed Bump

The absence of Woods and McIlroy is likely to negatively affect ratings as TGL crowns its first champion.

The most-watched match of the season has been the debut of Woods in Week 2, when ESPN drew 1 million viewers for Jupiter’s season-opening loss to Los Angeles. That marked a bump from the audience of 919,000 for TGL’s debut match featuring The Bay and New York.

However, TV ratings for McIlroy’s TGL debut, which came against Woods and Jupiter Links on Jan. 27, were not as high as expected. That match drew 864,000 viewers on ESPN.

With the playoff field set, Tuesday night’s Jupiter Links–Atlanta Drive match, the regular-season finale, ended up with no postseason implications.

TGL’s season-long ratings should be available later this week. While the numbers from this season have not been earth-shattering, many matches have drawn larger TV audiences than comparable windows on ESPN platforms in 2024, mostly college basketball games.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

New LPGA Commissioner: Women’s Golf ‘Really Hard’ to Find on TV

Former PGA of America COO Craig Kessler will lead the tour.

Paul Skenes Blockbuster Trade Buzz Is Building. Will the Pirates Cash In?

Trade talk reflects the pitcher’s big surplus value and the Pirates’ struggles.

New CFP Seeding Rewards Rankings, Not Titles—Except on the Paycheck

Last season, only conference champions could earn first-round byes.

Featured Today

Around the Horn - October 26, 2020
May 23, 2025

‘Quirky, Nutty, Bombastic’: 10 ‘Around the Horn’ Faces on Their Top Moments

“A quirky, nutty, bombastic, mostly wrong, sometimes right, crazy sports family.”
AA Mint Cards
May 18, 2025

Young Collectors Are on a High-Stakes Chase for Ultra-Rare Trading Cards

“They just want that excitement of the chase,” says a 23-year-old collector.
Donnie Gobourne JDL
May 17, 2025

U.S. Professional Softball Players Are Flocking to Japan to Get Paid

The Diamond League offers paychecks and amenities that the U.S. can’t beat.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) pulls into pit lane Monday, May 19, 2025, during a practice for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
May 22, 2025

Indy 500, Monaco GP on Same Weekend for the Final Time

The three Triple Crown races will be on consecutive weekends.
May 22, 2025

Pacers-Knicks Game 1 Drew 6.6M Viewers, a 7-Year High

The game had 8.5 million people watching at its peak.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
May 22, 2025

MLB Weighs Olympic Participation After NFL Flag Football Approval

MLB, LA28 continue discussions about 2028 participation by big leaguers.
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden (2) takes off his helmet Monday, May 19, 2025, after practice for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
May 22, 2025

Indy 500 Sells Out for First Time Since 2016 Despite Series of..

The 109th running of the iconic race is Sunday.
Tottenham
May 21, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur Ends Miserable Season With Nine-Figure Champions League Jackpot

The sloppy Europa final was decided on a questionable own goal.
May 21, 2025

French Open Raises Purse to Record  $63.7M, $2.9M First-Place Prize

French Open sets record $63.7M purse as Sinner, Alcaraz headline youth movement.