TGL, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s simulator golf league, has announced gameplay enhancements as its second season approaches in December. The changes affect nearly every aspect of the experience, with the digital holes on the screen and the physical putting surface housed in the SoFi Center being among the biggest changes.
The actual hole design remains the same, but the visual quality is much improved. Not only that, but each of the six teams will choose one of the holes featured in the first season and designate it as their own team hole, giving it local context and topography. Certain teams consistently pursued that advantage on certain holes throughout the first season, and with the introduction of team holes, this advantage could become even greater.
This was the biggest change made to the digital portion of the competition, with the rest being made with physical golf in mind.
date
The green zone (short game area and putting surface) has been slightly renovated. With a nearly 40% increase in putting area, the league will now have 12 different hole positions available throughout the match. This total was up from seven in the first season. The larger green also means a wider adjustable putting surface, giving players more to think about.
Initially, there were three greenside bunkers for competitors to fight over, but this has been reduced to two total. While the smallest bunker was removed, TGL decided to increase the size of the other two bunkers. It covers the grass layer and gives it a unique look. A common problem during the first season of play was that golf balls that were supposed to go through the simulator and onto the sand would not fit perfectly into the bunkers, leading to awkward player stances. Time will tell if this is the solution.
Other changes include lowering the highest point of the green zone slightly in favor of in-house fans. This gives fans a better view and in return gives players more options for hitting different shots around the green. The hitting zones, including the tee box, approach box, and fairway bunker box, have also been expanded. Two towers were removed as the ball tracking sensor was relocated to the ceiling.
date
After the first season, which featured 15 regular season games and a postseason, TGL sought feedback from players and data and analysis collected from every game. The fix appears to be a positive one, especially since we know the league is willing to accept and implement areas it deems inadequate, similar to changing the Hammer Rule mid-season.
Ultimately, regardless of the gameplay changes, TGL’s success relies on two other factors that are out of its control given the contracts already in place: the dedication and energy of the players playing these matches in the first part of the PGA Tour calendar, and the simulator technology, which experienced its fair share of bugs in its first season.
