Tiger Woods has been making waves with his new venture into the world of TGL, calling the league a groundbreaking step for golf. After his team’s match, Woods praised the fact that the league was able to bring the sport to primetime, saying, “The fact that we’re able to play on ESPN and during primetime, we don’t get a chance to do that very often.” He went on to highlight the league’s innovative late-night matches running from “9:00 to 11:00,” noting, “We haven’t had golf at those times because we don’t have that with our daylight schedule.”
It’s a solid point from Woods. But there’s just one little issue with this—LIV Golf has already done this, and they did it months ago. LIV took golf under the lights, outdoors, and on an actual course with their event in Riyadh, where the entire tournament was played at night, lit up by over 1,000 massive stadium lights. Jon Rahm, one of LIV’s biggest stars, summed it up best: “It’s all about what LIV Golf is all about. It’s innovating and creating a new product for the consumer.” So while Tiger is celebrating TGL’s breakthrough, LIV Golf might just be having the last laugh as they continue to innovate, making their mark in ways others can’t quite match.
Brendan Porath, in a recent video on Fried Egg Golf’s official YouTube channel, offered an interesting perspective on TGL’s early beginnings. Reflecting on the deal with ESPN, he said, “Two years, $10 million on ESPN, which, not a lot… but honestly, seems like a good deal for all involved.” He pointed out how important the deal is for TGL, especially since they needed ESPN to give the league a platform. But there’s another side to the deal that’s crucial to consider. “T needed ESPN. They needed ESPN more than they probably needed the rights fee right now.” Porath continued by highlighting just how little revenue TGL is generating compared to LIV Golf. “That is more revenue per year than LIV generated last year or 2023 an entire season,” he noted, revealing that LIV’s entire 2023 season brought in somewhere around $5 million.
The contrast with TGL’s deal shows how much of an uphill battle the new league has in terms of drawing revenue. TGL might be getting a big boost from ESPN, but in terms of actual revenue, they still have a long way to go. Despite this, TGL is forging ahead with its massive sponsorships and corporate backing, including some big players who are helping the league get off the ground. But Porath was again quick to point out the scale of TGL’s spending, saying, “I think TGL feels like they might be pushing the PIF pretty soon for sinking five billion dollars into this thing.” As extravagant as the league’s financials may be, the money involved is eye-watering, and it remains to be seen whether TGL will truly make an impact on the golf landscape. For now, TGL seems to be doing a decent job generating buzz, with ESPN helping push the sport into the primetime spotlight.
American Tiger Woods during the second round at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, on Friday, July 19, 2024. Tiger Woods missed the cut and finished with a score of fourteen over par. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY LON2024071940 HUGOxPHILPOTT
However, LIV Golf, under the leadership of Greg Norman, continues to quietly advance in its own way, proving that innovation isn’t just about being first—it’s about being bold and willing to break the traditional rules of the game. And if LIV Golf’s progress is any indication, the last laugh might just go to Norman and his team, who have found success not just in pushing golf’s boundaries but in doing so with purpose.
TGL is certainly shaking up golf with its innovative format, catering to a fresh audience. However, when it comes to authentic night golf, LIV was the first to make it happen—without any need for simulators. Let’s not forget that LIV already hosted a full tournament under the stars, setting the stage for true nighttime golf.
The unnoticed similarities between LIV Golf and TGL
Despite the rivalry talk, TGL and LIV Golf actually share more similarities than they’d probably admit. Brooks Koepka, one of LIV’s biggest stars, recently proved this point during an unexpected visit to a TGL match, where he even took a tour of the virtual course. A few days later, on The Joe Pomp Show, Koepka shared that while the two leagues have their differences, they’re both reacting to the same challenge: Golf needs to evolve. “Look, it’s just golf at the end of the day, and you’ve gotta make it more fun and entertaining,” Koepka explained.
“The attention span of the younger generation isn’t as long as everybody sitting on the couch watching golf for five or six hours. You’ve got to innovate and be creative, and that’s what we [LIV Golf] are trying to do. TGL is trying to do the same thing.” That’s where both leagues find common ground—they realize the traditional, slow-paced format isn’t built for today’s audiences. Koepka also emphasized fan engagement, pointing out how today’s sports fans are more vocal and expect reactions from the players. “As a player, you look out at the crowd and see young people and you want to be able to bring your family,” he added.
LIV brings a lively, concert-like atmosphere, while TGL brings that energy indoors. While they may be rivals, both leagues are undoubtedly shaking up golf in their own way. Tiger Woods might take credit for night golf, and LIV may call itself the sport’s biggest disruptor, but the reality is that both leagues are playing a key role in golf’s ongoing evolution. Whether they admit it or not.
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