TGL acquired off to a rip-roaring begin on Tuesday night time contained in the So-Fi Middle in Palm Seashore Gardens, Florida – shiny lights, pumping music and plenty – I imply, tons – of influencers; WWE-like participant introductions; ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt waxing poetic on the published.
After which it was Shane Lowry’s flip to hit the primary shot in league historical past.
There was only one downside: He forgot his tee.
“There was all kinds occurring,” Lowry stated. “Yeah, I used to be just a little bit nervous.”
Lowry rapidly recovered, teaming with The Bay Golf Membership comrades Ludvig Aberg and Wyndham Clark to ship a 9-2 win over New York Golf Membership within the inaugural matchup for the indoor golf league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who have been each within the crowd for opening night time.
Fifteen holes of this modern tackle simulator golf have been performed contained in the 250,000-square-foot area that encompasses a display 24 occasions that of an everyday simulator and a 22,475-square-foot, turfed short-game space full with a revolving digital inexperienced, the place Aberg rolled in a 15-footer on the opening gap for the league’s first birdie.
A gap later, Aberg grew to become the primary TGL participant to discover a penalty space, on the par-5 Choose Yer Plunder (gap of the night time?), although The Bay nonetheless led 6-1 after 9 holes of three-man alternate shot.
“I’ve at all times stated that I’m so jealous of basketball and soccer gamers as a result of they get to do that loads and we don’t,” Aberg stated whereas talking to Van Pelt after the match. “So, this entire stadium-like really feel … it will get you going just a little bit totally different than a standard golf event.
Aberg added: “My coronary heart was racing, I used to be sweating … it was a distinct aggressive setting that we’re not likely used to, however I feel that is the longer term, that is the place the sport’s going to move, and I find it irresistible.”
That’s when DJ Khaled stepped in, interrupting the reside TV interview, to drape a SportsCenter High 10 chain round Aberg’s neck. Khaled was proven seconds into the published and was additionally interviewed by ESPN’s Marty Smith whereas Matt Fitzpatrick hit a shot; Fitzpatrick’s ball practically rolled off a cliff, too, whereas Khaled rambled.
OK, so it wasn’t an ideal debut, however there’s a pleasant basis to construct on.
The shot clock, “enforced” by NBA ref Derrick Stafford, saved a swift tempo. The banter was strong, particularly from best-on-the-mic Xander Schauffele, Lowry and Clark, who could possibly be heard chirping at Woods after Woods stated throughout his time within the sales space that New York, already down massive, ought to be throwing the hammer to double the factors (one other criticism: why is the hammer a flag?).
“Tiger, have you ever ever performed hammer?” Clark shouted. “They’re off the inexperienced!”
Schauffele throwing the hammer flag in entrance of Lowry proper earlier than a drive was good theatre, as was Rickie Fowler conceding a putt to Lowry earlier than realizing the viewers was unaware; Fowler then instructed Lowry to play alongside, and as Lowry struck his putt, Fowler tossed the flagstick down on the inexperienced to reject the ball.
The night time wrapped with a 729-yard par-5, although by that point the thrill had simmered amid The Bay’s blowout. The match final just below 2 hours, ending simply after 11 p.m. ET. Subsequent Tuesday night time will see two new groups compete, as Woods is predicted to make his TGL debut with Jupiter Hyperlinks Golf Membership, which can tackle Collin Morikawa and Los Angeles Golf Membership.
“This was only a dream conjured up,” Woods stated in the course of the broadcast. “Rory and I have been speaking about it; it’s laborious to consider that dream got here into actuality and we have been capable of take golf into one other stratosphere, actually.”
