TGL Indoor Golf League Debut Draws Nearly 1 Million Viewers, Surpasses LIV and PGA Ratings
The much-anticipated debut of the TGL indoor golf league captured widespread attention, drawing an average of 919,000 viewers on ESPN during its Tuesday night broadcast, according to Nielsen ratings reported by Front Office Sports. This impressive viewership outperformed any LIV Golf broadcast on The CW in 2023 and 2024, as well as last week’s PGA Tour season opener (The Sentry) on the Golf Channel and NBC, according to Sports Media Watch.
Despite the absence of league co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy on the course, the broadcast from 9-11 p.m. ET significantly outpaced other sporting events aired during the same time slot. For comparison, last year’s Duke-Pittsburgh men’s college basketball game on ESPN drew 717,000 viewers during the same window.
First Match Highlights
The inaugural TGL match saw The Bay Golf Club defeat the New York Golf Club 9-2 at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Woods and McIlroy, while not competing, attended the match and joined ESPN play-by-play announcer Matt Barrie in the booth, adding star power to the evening.
Upcoming Matches and Schedule
The six-team TGL will see Woods make his debut when his Jupiter Links Golf Club faces Los Angeles Golf Club next Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf Club is set to take on Woods’ team in a marquee matchup on January 27. The league’s 15-match regular season runs through March 4, followed by playoffs later in the month.
The league’s innovative indoor format, star-studded rosters, and engaging matches are already creating a buzz, with its debut setting a high benchmark for future broadcasts.
