The tension at SoFi Center was electric this Monday night. As Tommy Fleetwood holed a spectacular 17-foot birdie in overtime, the 1,500-strong crowd erupted, momentarily drowning out the carefully curated playlist echoing through the arena. Yet, Patrick Cantlay sealed the celebration with a precise approach, clinching a dramatic 6-5 victory for Atlanta Drive GC over Los Angeles Golf Club.
In its inaugural season, TGL has delivered moments like these week after week. The matches initially drew impressive numbers, with the first week garnering over 1 million viewers. However, recent weeks have seen a concerning trend. Viewership has dropped significantly, hitting a season-low of 544,000 viewers during a recent LA Golf Club match. This decline mirrors challenges faced by the PGA Tour, which has been grappling with its viewership concerns in recent years.
As the post-match excitement settled, Billy Horschel wasn’t just thinking about the win. His mind was already racing with ideas that could revolutionize the TGL experience.
Billy Horschel defends TGL’s early success
In the post-match press conference following Atlanta Drive GC’s thrilling overtime victory, the PGA Tour veteran addressed the growing concerns about TGL’s viewership decline. Despite the ratings dropping to almost half of its initial number, Horschel remained staunchly optimistic. “I think for a new startup, we’ve been very successful. You look at the viewership for the entirety of the year, what are we, somewhere around 600,000, 700,000, 800,000 per match, which is unbelievable,” Horschel shared, his voice carrying the conviction of someone who sees beyond the immediate challenges.
His defense wasn’t just about numbers. “I think the more, the further we go on, the more that we can have fans from the cities sort of attached, fans in the golf world, sports fans understanding what this is about and the excitement,” he explained, emphasizing how TGL offers “something different than golf and it’s a new avenue to try and show that there’s other ways to get involved in the game of golf and be a part of it.”
But Horschel wasn’t content with just defending the status quo. He had bold suggestions for Tiger Woods and the TGL leadership to consider. “I think there are some things we can do possibly that we could explore,” he began, before unveiling his most innovative proposal: introducing celebrity players into the competition format. “Obviously it’s been talked about maybe having a celebrity be on the team to hit some shots, that maybe you have to use a celebrity for three shots over the 15-hole match, and it has to be outside 50 yards,” Horschel explained, adding that this was his thought that hadn’t been officially discussed yet.
Apr 15, 2021; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Billy Horschel tees off on the ninth hole during the first round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Given TGL’s current format of 9 simulator shots and 6 short-game holes, this suggestion could add an entirely new dynamic to the competition, especially during the simulator portion where celebrities would face the same 40-second shot clock as the pros on the massive 64×53 ft screen. Drawing inspiration from baseball, he proposed another game-changing idea. “Maybe you have all four team members there and you can call in like a reliever in baseball. Lucas surely would have been called in for me today because I was stinking it up out there early on,” he admitted.
While these format changes could revolutionize the viewing experience, Horschel’s vision extends beyond just rule modifications—it’s about creating a deeper connection with the fans.
TGL is about building a new generation of golf fans
The state-of-the-art SoFi Center serves as TGL’s innovative home. Inside, fans enjoy Bluetooth connectivity for in-arena audio experiences. Additionally, a 405-square-foot adjustable putting green in the concourse adds to the unique atmosphere. Together, these features create an environment that breaks away from traditional golf’s constraints—a crucial factor in attracting and retaining younger viewers.
Perhaps most crucially, TGL’s city-based team format has begun fostering the kind of local loyalty typically reserved for traditional sports leagues. As Horschel emphasized, “I think the more, the further we go on, the more that we can have fans from the cities sort of attached.” This connection to local communities could be the key to TGL’s long-term success, transforming it from a novel concept into a staple of the modern sports landscape.
Horschel has been actively supporting TGL since its inception. He previously noted that TGL is indeed different from the regular event, and even players need to understand that. He said, “Players need to be entertainers… we need to be different than what we are out at a PGA Tour event inside the ropes.”
What changes would you like to see in TGL’s format? Let us know in the comments section below!
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