Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL to be delayed until 2025

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's new TGL, backed by the PGA Tour, will be delayed until 2025 after the league's roof collapsed last week.

Andy Roberts

20 Nov 2023

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL to be delayed until 2025

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's new TGL will be delayed by a year until 2025 following extensive damage made to the league's arena.

TGL was supposed to start up on January 9, 2024, but those plans have now been scuppered as a result of the air-supported dome of the TGL's SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens collapsing last week due to what officials cite as a power failure.

The incident happened on November 14 and thankfully nobody was injured.

All you need to know about TGL

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL to be delayed until 2025

While a spokesperson for TGL last week confirmed there was confidence the league could still start as planned in two months time, it has emerged today the TGL will not start until 2025.

An official statement from TGL read:

"Overnight on Tuesday, November 14, a failure of the temporary power system and backup system used during construction caused the dome to deflate, which caused damage to the air-supported dome section of the site. There were no injuries, and most of the technology was not impacted. Following discussions with key partners, including players, our six team owernship groups, PGA Tour leadership and our commercial partners, SoFi, ESPN and Palm Beach State College, the decision has been made to postpone the start of the TGL season until early 2025. This decision came after reviewing short-term solutions, potential construction timelines, player schedules, and the primetime sports television calendar. Despite this new timeline for the venue, we remain excited about the future of TGL and will continue to build excitement between now and the start of the season with our players, fans and teams. We have begun to update plans and timelines and are confident that the extension will only improve our delivery."

According to Sports Business Journal, postponing the TGL by just a couple of weeks or months was not possible as ESPN - which will broadcast the new league - could not adjust to the shift in the schedule for its broadcast windows.

Woods and McIlroy in shock as TGL stadium roof collapses

Both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have since responded to learning TGL will not start until 2025.

Woods said in a statement:

"I've been a believer in TGL and as the momentum has built this past year, I'm even more excited about what this can become for fans of the game all around the world. Although the events of last week will force us to make adjustments to our timelines, I'm fully confident that this concept will be brought to life by our great committed players."

McIlroy added:

"The postponement brings mixed feelings of disappointment and excitement. Above all, we are happy that no one was injured. We are looking forward to the launch of the TGL. Given the circumstances, while the delay is disappointing, the postponement will allow us to regroup, refocus and return stronger."

The TGL is a new tech-inspired golf league that has been launched in partnership with the PGA Tour to provide golf fans with a new way to watch the game they love.

Devised by Woods and McIlroy, the new league is set to take place in the state-of-the-art purpose-built facility, the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA.

The venue will give up to 2,000 golf fans the chance to spectate up close and personal thanks to a huge virtual simulator and short-game complex area.

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