SHERIDAN, WYOMING – January 6, 2026 – TGL Presented by SoFi has officially opened its second season, and it didn’t ease into 2026 quietly. The league launched on December 28 with a headline rematch between Atlanta Drive GC and New York Golf Club, bringing back the two inaugural finalists for an instant “round one” moment. Atlanta Drive GC won the opener in a tight matchup, setting an early tone for a season built around pace, personality, and technology-driven golf. For sports fans who love competition but don’t always have time for four-hour broadcasts, TGL’s faster format is designed to make prime-time golf feel more like an event you can follow live.
A Season Opener Built for Drama
If you’re going to kick off a season, bringing back the finalists is a reliable way to create instant stakes. Atlanta Drive GC entered as the defending champion and, according to the release, carried a 3–0 head-to-head record into the new season. New York Golf Club returned with a roster built to answer that storyline, and the opener leaned into the kind of tension fans love: familiar opponents, a trophy history, and a fresh start.
One of the night’s biggest highlights came when Billy Horschel made a 37-foot eagle putt, a “did that really happen?” moment that helps a new league feel memorable. Those sparks matter early, because the first few matches decide whether a season becomes appointment viewing or background noise.
What Makes TGL Different From Traditional Golf
TGL is built on a tech-driven approach that blends advanced simulation with live, primetime competition. Matches are played at the SoFi Center in Florida, a venue designed specifically for this format, including a 64-by-53-foot simulator screen and an adaptive short-game GreenZone that recreates real-world golf conditions inside an arena.
That indoor, purpose-built setup changes the vibe. Instead of a slow drift across an entire course, the action is framed for spectators and television, with a structure that keeps things moving and encourages the kind of reaction moments that fans talk about the next day.
The Format Is Fast, Team-Based, and Intentionally Loud
TGL matches are contested across 15 holes, split between a nine-hole Triples session and a six-hole Singles session, with up to three players per team active at a time. The league also uses elements designed to keep pace and add pressure, including “The Hammer,” a Shot Clock, Timeouts, and live “Hot Mic” access.
In practice, that mix is what makes TGL feel more like a prime-time sports show than a background weekend broadcast. It’s golf, but with built-in urgency—and for many viewers, that’s the point.
Hankook’s Sponsorship Puts Branding Front and Center
Hankook Tire, the Official Tire Partner and Founding Partner of TGL, says its branding will appear throughout Season 2 via on-site LED displays, broadcast-visible placements, and national television coverage. The company frames this as a way to reinforce its premium positioning with golf and sports fans during a season that’s designed for visibility.
"The launch of TGL Season 2 marks an important moment for both the league and our partnership," said Rob Williams, President, Hankook Tire America Corp. "Hankook has a long history of supporting performance-driven sports, and TGL's technology-forward approach aligns naturally with how we think about innovation, allowing us to engage fans in a fresh and compelling way."
Who’s Playing and How Long the Season Runs
Season 2 runs through March and includes 15 matches featuring six teams: Atlanta Drive GC, New York Golf Club, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, and The Bay Golf Club. The league also says 24 PGA TOUR players will compete as the season builds toward its championship conclusion on March 23, 2026.
Co-founded by sports executive Mike McCarley with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, TGL has leaned into star power while also trying to make the experience feel accessible. The promise is less about replacing traditional golf and more about giving fans another way to watch it—shorter, sharper, and built for modern sports attention spans.
3 Ways This Matters for Sports Fans Right Now
- If you like golf but struggle with the time commitment, a 15-hole, prime-time format can feel easier to follow live.
- Team matchups and rivalry rematches create clearer storylines than a typical week-to-week tournament grind.
- The tech-infused arena setup is designed to make big moments feel immediate, whether you’re watching in person or on TV.
Learn more at TGLGolf.com