Justin Thomas leads by example. Hours after his letter to all PGA Tour members was made public, urging them to be more accessible to media and fans during tournaments, the Kentucky native put on a show in his debut at TGL with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy with the Atlanta Drive team. Not only did he win the match against New York GC alongside Patrick Cantlay and Billy Horschel, but he also had a great time and did his part to ensure the audience at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach, Florida, remembered the experience.
No gimmies here. pic.twitter.com/7C0ibqVHOX
— TGL (@TGL) January 22, 2025
Thomas, Cantlay, and Horschel defeated Fitzpatrick, Fowler, and Cameron Young 4-0. The match was closer than the score suggests. In fact, eleven of the fifteen holes ended in a tie. Interestingly, none of the holes were played to double. At no point was the towel thrown in, a clear sign of the equality on the scoreboard.
Thomas brought the game and the spectacle. He sank two crucial putts over seven metres, one to win and another to tie, interacted with the crowd, made gestures, was the most expressive of all, and even gave the flag, with the pole and cloth, to a child in the audience who was amazed. Horschel was not far behind. He entered the field as if he were a rapper before a concert. Cantlay, as expected, was the most reserved. These things aren’t his style. First match for Atlanta and first victory.
Win in your debut ✅
Make a fan’s day ✅
@JustinThomas34 man of the people
pic.twitter.com/oISx0vsf5B— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2025
On the other side, New York played their second match and lost again, this time with a change in their team. Xander Schauffele, absent from the American Express and the Farmers Insurance Open, was not part of the match, and his place was taken by Cameron Young. The New York golfer was the most entertaining on this side. He hit two massive drives of 345 and 360 yards, showcasing his tremendous power.
360 yards 💥 pic.twitter.com/91lV81ao2i
— TGL (@TGL) January 22, 2025
What time do Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy play in the TGL?
Next week, the match will be played on Monday, as initially planned. Tiger Woods‘ team will face Rory McIlroy‘s team, making his debut. Undoubtedly, this is the highlight of this first phase, with the two main proponents of this innovative league going head-to-head. It will be played from 6:30 p.m. in the United States, half past midnight in mainland Spain.
Which channel is the TGL broadcast on?
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+ | Fubo
SoFi Center: Where is the TGL held?
The SoFi Center, completed last autumn, is a nearly 250,000 square foot facility on the Palm Beach State College campus in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The simulator screen measures 64 by 53 feet, and the rotating green sits on a 41-yard-wide platform. It has a capacity for 1,500 fans.
TGL Tickets
Ticket prices for the TGL start at $201.
TGL Schedule
The TGL season concludes with the semi-finals on March 17 and 18 and the grand final on March 24 and 25.
Here is a summary of the upcoming matches in the TGL schedule:
January 27: Jupiter vs Boston, 6:30 p.m., ESPN | ESPN+
February 4: Boston vs LA, 9 p.m., ESPN | ESPN+
February 17: Atlanta vs LA at 1 p.m., Atlanta vs The Bay at 4 p.m.
February 17: The Bay vs Boston at 7 p.m., ESPN | ESPN+
February 18: Jupiter vs New York, 7 p.m., ESPN | ESPN+
