1. The Players Actually Care
Unlike other made-for-TV shows like The Match on TNT, NBA All-Star Game and NFL Pro Bowl Weekend, the PGA Tour participants seem to actually give a damn and put on a great show. Their enthusiasm and excitement of playing against each other in a unique, high-tech environment comes off as real and not contrived. It’s such a great vibe. It’s like these big name PGA Tour players are meeting at some giant sports bar every week and cranking up the simulator to have some fun with a little bit of good natured ribbing. It seems relaxed and real, which makes for great, easy-going viewing.
2. Tremendous Technology
Teams hit their shots from boxes featuring real grass or sand to play custom-designed, virtual holes projected onto a 3,400-square-foot screen (64’x53’), nearly 24-times larger than a standard golf simulator screen (16’x9’). Each match, the simulator course is comprised of 15o of TGL’s 30 custom-designed holes by renowned golf course designers. The holes are inspired by authentic golf landscapes such as links, canyons, coastal, deserts, and tropical settings and created to uniquely challenge TGL’s teams of world-class golfers.
3. Short Game Heroics
One of my favorite parts of the show is the short game aspect. For shots of approximately 50 yards or less, the players transition from the big screen to the “Green Zone”, with is larger than four basketball courts. The innovative green includes jacks that change the slope to create a different challenge on each hole. TGL’s green uses advanced technology to modify the shape of the green on every hole, including a 41-yard-wide turntable that rotates the green and three bunkers to change approach angles and nearly 600 motorized actuators embedded under the synthetic putting surface to morph its topography.The player’s putting, chipping and pitching skills are on full display and you can pick up some tips just watching the world’s best players performing under pressure amid the bright lights with fellow competitors staring each other down.
4. The Team Concept Works
While the team concept has been pretty much a dud with the LIV and other events, it really works for TGL. The players have embraced playing with each other as part of a group and the teams are owned by a who’s who of sports superstars including Serena Williams, Steph Curry, Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Michael Strahan and Alex Morgan. The star owners are showing up, too, and celebrities are often spotted cheering on their team. Enhancing the team concept was having players representing areas where they live or are connected to such as Tiger Woods with the Jupiter, Florida Team, Keegan Bradley with Boston and Justin Thomas with Atlanta.
5. Engaging and Entertaining
ESPN’s Matt Barrie is the play-by-play commentator and he does a great job of describing the the competition without being too much of an an over-the-top shill or promoter like some on LIV golf. TGL’s technology mix allows for every shot to be broadcast live; a shot clock – forcing teams to hit within 40-seconds; unprecedented audio access with all players mic’d; advanced shot data; a production plan featuring robotic and embedded cameras throughout the field of play; and a high-tech, in-venue lighting and video presentation. Says Barrie: “Golf is a gentlemen’s sport. Hats off and handshakes. Not TGL. We’re encouraging and want the trash talk. The players are mic’d up for a reason. I can’t wait to see who emerges as the league’s best trash-talker.”
