ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 20: Tiger Woods of the United States hits his tee shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club on December 20, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Tiger Woods is looking to spearhead the next evolution in golf. After the LIV Tour failed and was marred with controversy, many wondered what the next big thing would be. It seems that an indoor golf league is the answer. Looking to launch in early 2024, many analysts are thinking this could be huge.
Tiger Woods Launching An Indoor Golf League
Woods is not the only big name surrounding this league. Rory McIlroy is also a big part of the launch team. Mike McCarley of TMRW Sports is also a part of the team. Many big names have already committed to playing including Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa. Many celebrities are also investing including Josh Allen, Steph Curry, Justin Timberlake, and DJ Khaled. There is no shortage of star power but how would the league work?
Format Of The Indoor Golf League
There would be six teams of three players each. 18-hole matches would be played every Monday night in a 135,000-square-foot arena in Palm Beach, Florida. The golfers will hit long-distance shots into a simulator that has a huge screen before moving to the short game area. The arena can hold between 1,500-2,000 fans meaning you get the element of the crowd while the matches are being played. There is a lot of optimism around this league for good reason.
Better Equity In Ownership
The LIV tour happened because of concerns over the payout structure of the PGA Tour. This indoor league is owned by four different groups. The TMRW Sports group, the PGA Tour, the individual teams, and the players. Everyone is motivated to make this work. As the sport grows, so does the cash flow. The money would then be distributed to all parties. This is an aspect of the game that will help sustainability.
TMRW SPORTS
Primetime Golf
The television slot also is good for the sport. The season would run January-April which is a perfect time in terms of what they would be competing against. The only major sports running are the NBA and the NHL. The NFL is still going but their Monday night schedule would be over. That would also give the indoor golf league an advantage as sports enthusiasts already are used to tuning in for sports on Monday nights. Having it in primetime also ensures greater visibility as people are not at work.
Gambling And Social Media Presence
With so many states legalizing sports gambling, this type of sport would be very attractive to sports books. It would be easy to come up with thousands of different bets that would keep fans engaged. Every player would also be mic’d up which has been proven to play well with viewers. This leads to great social media content. Great gambling matches plus social media impressions will equal a popular product.
The Tiger Woods Effect
Woods has not been in the hunt in many majors over the past five years. However, he is still the most popular golfer in the world. If Woods is involved in this league, that means that they will have no problems securing television rights. One of the major networks will jump at the chance to draw a bunch of viewers especially if the star power of the golfers continues to grow.
Can An Indoor Golf League Be Successful?
It won’t be for a lack of trying that is for sure. This has all the elements of an entertaining product. Primetime sports has always played well with fans and fans are often open to new ideas. High-profile athletes and celebrities are behind the project. I’ll be honest, I’m absolutely tuning in to watch this as a golf fan. January 2024 will be here before you know it meaning the next evolution of golf is right on the horizon.
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