For much of TGL’s debut season, there really appeared to be a question mark over whether there would be any sort of appetite for a second year of the league after a number of teething problems.
There was plenty of intrigue heading into the inaugural year of TGL. Of course, fans had to wait an additional year for the league to get going. And there were times when it did not appear to be worth the wait.
The early weeks saw a number of one-sided matches, while the hammer rules left fans confused and uninspired. It also would have felt like a potential disaster had fans been told that there is a good chance that both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will miss out on a playoff spot.
However, TGL has been transformed in recent weeks. The hammer rules have changed and created a number of much more exciting finishes. Meanwhile, it is clear just how much the players enjoy the format – particularly as the stakes ramp up.
The shocking change in TGL
And it seems that the signs for the future are extremely positive. Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard claimed that he had been taken aback by the improvement in the product as the weeks have gone on.
“We talked a lot about this, in person, it’s a really cool experience. And now that I had a chance to go back and sort of double down and kind of enjoy it after seeing it for the first time, if you’re in South Florida over the next few weeks and you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend going with a group of friends. It is a fun scene. It’s loud, it moves along really, really quickly. There’s beverages, there’s food. There’s a lot of reasons you would want to show up and do this live,” he said.
“Now, as a TV product, I’ve also taken how much better the TV product has gotten. I’m also shocked how much better the actual golf has gotten. It is amazing, and at the end of the season, it will be fun to break this down amongst the players – how much the quality of golf now versus in those first matches is so much better. You’re seeing hole outs, you’re seeing long putts made, you’re seeing so much better shots.”
TGL showing its own ability to help make stars on the PGA Tour
Many of us assumed that TGL’s success would largely be determined by how Woods and McIlroy performed. They are the two superstars of the modern game, and the co-founders of the league. So if the pair could not steal the show, it would have presumably been difficult for the rest of those involved to make it work.
However, there have been others who have taken to the league like a duck to water. Min Woo Lee looked like a superstar this past week, while Kevin Kisner has been the most entertaining player to watch.
It bodes incredibly well for the next few years. There is scope to expand the number of teams, while the LPGA should definitely look to get involved at some stage.
Given how quickly TGL has improved, there is so much to be optimistic about.
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