The Tech Turf War: TGL Season 2 Unveils Major Course and Gameplay Overhauls

The TGL, the technologically amplified indoor golf league co-founded by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, is officially teeing off its second season. Following a dramatic inaugural run that saw Atlanta Drive GC clinch the SoFi Cup title in a razor-thin finish against New York Golf Club, the league is back—and it has undergone significant technical reconstruction aimed at boosting competitive parity and visual spectacle.

While the six team rosters remain largely intact, the league will commence without two of its highest-profile players. Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods and two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas are sidelined, at least initially, as they recuperate from back surgeries. This absence immediately shifts the narrative from star power to competitive engineering, placing intense scrutiny on the newly refined SoFi Center arena.

The Captain’s Pressure: Jupiter Links GC and the Search for Success

The most pressing narrative early in the season belongs to Jupiter Links GC and Boston Common Golf, the two franchises that collectively managed to win only one match during the entire inaugural season. While Tiger Woods will be present on the sidelines—reportedly mic’d up to interact with competitors and teammates—his physical absence means the pressure falls squarely on players like Max Homa, Kevin Kisner, and particularly Tom Kim.

«I think all of us are ready to not suck anymore,» quipped Tom Kim, reflecting on the team’s debut performance. «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.»

Winning, in the second season, will require rapidly adapting to what is essentially a brand-new course environment. The technical changes implemented during the offseason are not minor tweaks; they represent a fundamental evolution of the indoor golf experience.

The Technical Deep Dive: A Bigger, Smoother GreenZone

The most consequential upgrade is the massive expansion and refinement of the GreenZone, the adaptable putting surface that defines TGL’s unique challenge. The new GreenZone is 38% larger, expanding from 3,800 square feet to 5,270 square feet, and now features 12 hole locations, up from seven.

The technical sophistication is staggering: 608 actuators are employed to morph the green’s topography, creating slopes and contours on demand. According to Andrew Macaulay, Chief Technology Officer at TMRW Sports, the goal was not simply to make the green bigger, but to make it more consistent and readable. For professionals accustomed to analyzing minute details, a more reliable surface is critical.

Wyndham Clark, a member of The Bay Golf Club, welcomed the adjustments:

«The green is almost double the size. I`ve heard that it`ll be easier to read and a little more consistent, which I think is awesome for any of us, but especially guys that pride themselves on being good putters.»

Eliminating the Guesswork: The Turf Grain Revolution

Perhaps the most fascinating, and technically subtle, adjustment involves the turf laying. Last season, players were perplexed by tricky `into-the-grain` chip shots that defied conventional expectations. For Season 2, the turf has been universally laid down-grain toward the center. This eliminates inconsistency and mandates a more aggressive style of play, potentially leading to more exciting results.

Long iron approaches on par-5s, which may have stopped dead last season, are now prone to bounce and roll toward the hole. More importantly, the change liberates the short game. As Clark notes, «Now, every chip`s down grain, which I think will create more excitement for the viewership, because we`ll be able to do anything we want with a golf ball.» It transforms chipping from a cautious survival effort into a dazzling display of high-risk skill.

The Advantage of Home Turf: Signature Holes Arrive

TGL has introduced six new signature holes, designed by acclaimed course architects including Gil Hanse, Beau Welling Design, Pizá Golf, and Nicklaus Design. Critically, each of the six teams has adopted one of these designs as their unique «signature hole.»

For instance, The Bay Golf Club’s «Bay Breaker» features towering redwoods and fog, inspired by iconic Bay Area courses like Pebble Beach. The strategic advantage is clear: every team gets to play their signature hole in every match, providing a consistent edge over opponents who only encounter it during specific matchups. It is the ultimate expression of home-course advantage in a simulated environment.

Beyond the signature concepts, the league has added new, dramatically themed holes:

• Stone & Steeple (Par 5): A Hanse design featuring Sahara-style cross bunkers and a stone wall bordering a graveyard next to a New England-style church. TGL’s own description offers a grim reminder that «any shots hit too far left are not long for this world.»
• Stinger (Par 4): An homage to Tiger Woods` iconic low-trajectory power shot. The hole encourages players to hit the tee shot no higher than 50 feet to gain extra roll past 260 yards, bypassing a natural rock formation.

Billy Horschel of Atlanta Drive GC views these dramatic layouts as embracing the league’s high-tech premise. «We can still have the traditional holes, but we can have some holes that you would see in a video game,» Horschel said, acknowledging that the TGL is, in a sense, a «high-tech video game» played by professionals.

Advanced Spectacle: Graphics and Camera Technology

To enhance the broadcast experience, the TGL is heavily leveraging technology. The league boasts 79 cameras, including new reverse shots from the fairway and a hovering perspective above the green. The fan-favorite SmartPin Cam, which delivers a live 360-degree view from the flagstick, returns.

New shot comparison graphics utilize Virtual Eye technology, providing live tracking and data-rich augmented reality overlays. These overlays illustrate shot quality by comparing the current effort to team averages and historical best approaches on that specific hole. In essence, the broadcast will analyze the quality of the shot in real-time, providing technical context previously reserved for the most advanced data analysts.

TGL Season 2 Team Rosters and Schedule

Despite the initial injury setbacks, the league features an elite field of global talent prepared to fight for the second SoFi Cup.

Team Rosters

2025-26 Regular Season Schedule Highlights

SoFi Cup Playoffs & Finals Series