The TGL, the tech-infused indoor golf league founded on the convergence of major athletic talent and cutting-edge simulation, is rolling out its second season. Following a thrilling inaugural year—culminating in Atlanta Drive GC’s nail-biting, one-point victory over New York Golf Club—the league is back, not merely replicating its debut, but introducing significant technological and architectural upgrades designed to elevate both competition and viewership.
While the six team rosters remain static, the star power on the tee box will see a temporary shift. Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods (Jupiter Links GC) and Justin Thomas (Atlanta Drive GC) will be sidelined, recovering from recent back surgeries. Woods, who celebrates his 50th birthday soon, is slated to be an active presence, providing analysis and competitive banter from the sidelines, complete with a microphone setup. This move ensures that while the physical prowess of the league`s founders is absent, their competitive spirit and presence remain integral to the broadcast experience.
The urgency for success is palpable, especially for teams that stumbled last year. Jupiter Links GC and Rory McIlroy`s Boston Common Golf combined for a mere one regular-season win. Tom Kim, a member of Jupiter Links GC, captured the mood succinctly: “I think all of us are ready to not suck anymore. We`re ready to win, especially for a guy who`s not used to losing as much. And he`s on our butts to get into the playoffs.”
I. The GreenZone Transformation: Larger, Faster, More Consistent
The centerpiece of the TGL experience, the dynamically adjustable putting surface known as the GreenZone, has undergone substantial surgery for Season 2. The primary critique of the first season often revolved around the consistency and readability of the artificial turf; the league has responded with a serious upgrade.
The surface is now 38% larger, expanding from 3,800 square feet to a commanding 5,270 square feet. This expansion allows for greater flexibility in pin positions, increasing the total number of hole locations from seven to twelve. Furthermore, the league has refined the technology controlling the surface:
- Actuator Control: 608 specialized actuators are used to instantaneously morph the putting surface, generating radical slopes and contours.
- Topography Adjustment: The large knoll in the upper, fixed tier of the green—which previously sometimes obstructed the view for in-arena spectators—has been dropped by approximately 1.5 feet, enhancing the visual experience for those attending matches at the SoFi Center.
- Turf Grain Uniformity: Perhaps the most critical technical change affecting ball behavior is the adjustment of the turf grain. Last season featured complex, varying grain patterns that made delicate short-game shots unpredictable. Now, the grain is uniformly laid down toward the middle, eliminating those tricky “into-the-grain” chips. As Wyndham Clark (The Bay Golf Club) notes, this change should “create more excitement for the viewership” as players gain greater control over ball spin and trajectory.
II. Architectural Design Meets the Digital World
TGL’s simulation is unique because it is not restricted by the physical realities of real-world golf course construction. This is where the league leans into its “video game” nature, leveraging the talents of renowned architects like Gil Hanse and Nicklaus Design to create fantastical, yet highly strategic, holes.
The biggest architectural innovation for Season 2 is the introduction of six Signature Holes, one tailored specifically for each team.
These holes create a subtle advantage, as the `home` team will play their signature design in every match, providing familiarity that opponents lack. Examples of these conceptual designs demonstrate the league`s imagination:
- The Bay Breaker (The Bay Golf Club): Inspired by the iconic courses of the Bay Area (Pebble Beach, TPC Harding Park), this hole features towering redwoods and mist, with the visual backdrop of Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline.
- Stone & Steeple: Architect Gil Hanse’s par-5 debut features Sahara-style cross bunkers and a stone wall bordering a graveyard next to a New England-style church. The official description warns that shots hit too far left receive a “grim reminder that any shots hit too far left are not long for this world.” A rather stern approach to course management, perhaps.
- Stinger: A new par-4 inspired by Tiger Woods’ low-trajectory power shot. A natural rock formation encourages golfers to hit the tee shot no higher than 50 feet. Success in executing the stinger offers a significant reward: an extra roll boost beyond 260 yards. The alternative, a short draw around the rock, is deemed by the league as lacking in “fun.”
As Atlanta Drive GC member Billy Horschel summarizes, “We can still have the traditional holes, but we can have some holes that you would see in a video game. Because in some sort [of way], this is a video game that we`re playing.”
III. Broadcast Refinements: More Data, Better Angles
The TGL experience is defined by its broadcast quality, necessitating technology that can capture the action within the constrained arena environment. For Season 2, the SoFi Center now employs 79 cameras, ensuring every swing, chip, and reaction is documented.
Enhanced viewing technology includes:
- Virtual Eye Technology: New shot comparison graphics will track ball flight both on the fairway and the GreenZone.
- Augmented Reality Data: Data-rich AR graphics will overlay the green, providing viewers with instant analysis of shot quality by comparing the result against team averages and the best performance ever recorded on that hole.
- SmartPin Cam Return: The league’s award-winning SmartPin Cam, which provides a live, 360-degree view from the perspective of the pin flag, will return alongside new angles, including reverse shots from the fairway and a hovering perspective above the green.
IV. Team Rosters and Season Outlook
Despite the absence of its two biggest stars in the early stages, the TGL remains a star-studded affair. The competition kicks off with a rematch of the inaugural finals, pitting New York Golf Club against defending champion Atlanta Drive GC.
The six teams competing in the 2025-26 season are:
Atlanta Drive GC (Defending Champions)
- Justin Thomas
- Patrick Cantlay
- Billy Horschel
- Lucas Glover
Boston Common Golf
- Rory McIlroy
- Keegan Bradley
- Adam Scott
- Hideki Matsuyama
Jupiter Links GC
- Tiger Woods
- Max Homa
- Tom Kim
- Kevin Kisner
Los Angeles Golf Club
- Collin Morikawa
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Justin Rose
- Sahith Theegala
New York Golf Club
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Rickie Fowler
- Xander Schauffele
- Cameron Young
The Bay Golf Club
- Ludvig Åberg
- Wyndham Clark
- Min Woo Lee
- Shane Lowry
With an upgraded technical infrastructure, creatively unforgiving digital course architecture, and a highly motivated roster of players, the second TGL season promises a more polished, thrilling, and data-rich version of the high-tech league.
