Just when local link-warriors are putting their clubs away for the season, an all-star team of professional golfers tees up another way to enjoy the game. TGL is a new-age concept linking the traditional sport with cutting-edge tech and wicked team rivalries. The virtual golf format is to; step-up and let the good times rip!
Monday morning, Zineb Curran, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Management welcomed Boston Common Golf President /CEO Mark Lev, Professional Golfers Keegan Bradley, Terrell Hatton, Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy to the MGM Music Hall adjacent to Fenway Park. The power-panel of teammates said this new approach to golf has been in start-up mode for 3 years. It’s nearly time to hit the virtual links.
Boston Common Golf’s squad: Keegan Bradley, Terrell Hatton,Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy
With the Fenway Sports Management Group the Legends explained the launch of this innovative league combines live-golf-action, with the latest in technology and fierce team competition. Swapping golf courses for stadiums, players anticipate and welcome rowdy fan interaction.
Boston Common Golf will be playing against other TGL franchises from Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. The roster of competitors includes Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark,Tom Kim,Tommy Fleetwood,Max Homa, Cam Young, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala, Lucas Glover, Shane Lowry, Min Woo Lee, Billy Horschel, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Kevin Kisner.
A preview of the new format will debut on ABC Saturday, December 30th, 2023.
Fans watching will learn how the 15-hole ‘course’ develops new styles of competition. Match-play combines real grass tee boxes with high-tech simulators, 20 times the size of standard simulators. Shorter challenges will be played on a custom built “Green-Zone” with adaptable sand and putting surfaces that change the slope on every hole. Teams will play 9 holes in a triple format with 6 holes of head-to-head singles play. For added pressure, there’ll be a shot-clock.
Inaugural matches begin in January. They’ll be televised on ESPN and ESPN+ from the SoFi Center on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. So-Fi’s 250,000 square-foot venue is an adaptive site that accommodates long drives and complex short game challenges.
SoFi rendering : Photo Credit Fenway Sports Management
On Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 9:00 PM the official season of competition begins. ESPN will feature two teams driving this exciting fan-inclusive iteration of golf into the New Year.
STP-News didn’t miss the opportunity to ask Boston Common Golf player Adam Scott what ‘wanna-be-great golfers’ can learn from the new league. Click the link to see his answer.
For up-to-the-minute details follow @Commongolf and @BostonCommonGolf…..
In the mean time watch Keegan Bradley’s introductory video, catch the vibe, and get ready to rip into new sports rivalries!