The TGL (Tech-infused Golf League) is not merely commencing its second season; it is undergoing a calculated, high-fidelity upgrade. Following the dramatic conclusion of the inaugural season—where Atlanta Drive GC clinched the SoFi Cup title against New York Golf Club—the league returns with immediate modifications aimed squarely at improving competitive fairness and enhancing the spectator experience. The premise remains the fusion of elite golf talent with massive simulation technology, yet the execution has become measurably more refined.
The 2025-26 season tees off with a highly anticipated rematch of the finals, signaling the league’s commitment to competitive continuity. While the six team rosters remain stable, the immediate absence of two pivotal figures—15-time major champion Tiger Woods and two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas—is a critical variable, as both continue recovery from back procedures. Woods, a founding principal and competitor, will nonetheless maintain a presence, serving as an on-site, mic’d-up motivational element for Jupiter Links GC. As Tom Kim, a member of Jupiter Links GC, pointedly noted: “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.” Woods, nearing 50, now finds himself leveraging his legendary status primarily through verbal performance management—a new, highly monitored dimension to his involvement.
Engineering Precision: The Revamped GreenZone
The single most substantial technical modification for Season Two resides in the core interactive element: the GreenZone putting surface. This surface, which dynamically changes topography via hydraulics and actuators, has been significantly enlarged and calibrated for improved performance feedback.
Key technical specifications of the upgrade:
- Size Increase: The GreenZone is now 38% larger, expanding from 3,800 square feet to 5,270 square feet.
- Hole Locations: The number of available hole locations has increased from seven to twelve, providing vastly greater variability in setup.
- Actuator Deployment: 608 actuators are utilized to morph the surface, ensuring rapid and precise terrain changes.
Furthermore, the virtual full-swing greens, which project the landing area, have been modestly increased in size. Andrew Macaulay, Chief Technology Officer at TMRW Sports, confirmed critical adjustments to the turf layout. To eliminate unpredictable interactions that plagued players last season, the turf grain is now uniformly laid down towards the center. Wyndham Clark of The Bay Golf Club noted the expected impact: “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.” This change favors aggressive shot-making and reduces the randomness of delicate short-game execution, prioritizing skill over simulation anomalies.
Architectural Strategy: The Signature Hole Dynamic
TGL courses are a collaboration of renowned golf course architects, including Gil Hanse and Nicklaus Design, leveraging the simulated environment to create holes impossible in traditional outdoor venues. For Season Two, the league introduced a strategic innovation: Signature Holes for each of the six teams.
This development is not merely aesthetic; it introduces a clear home-field advantage. Each team will play its signature hole in every match, granting them familiarity that their opponents lack. For instance, The Bay Golf Club’s `Bay Breaker` features towering redwoods and distant views of Alcatraz, drawing inspiration from iconic Bay Area venues like Pebble Beach.
The new architectural additions are notably playful, often blurring the line between simulation sport and video game design:
- Stone & Steeple (Par-5): Hanse’s creation features Sahara-style cross bunkers and a stone wall bordering a New England-style church and graveyard. The description offers a grim, yet technically precise warning: “Players must be accurate with their approaches — the church provides a grim reminder that any shots hit too far left are not long for this world.”
- Stinger (Par-4): Named after Tiger Woods’ signature low-trajectory shot, this hole features a natural rock formation that incentivizes players to hit drives no higher than 50 feet. Success is rewarded with boosted roll past the 260-yard mark. The designers cheekily acknowledge the less aggressive alternative: “But where’s the fun in that?”
“We can still have the traditional holes, but we can have some holes that you would see in a video game,” said Billy Horschel. “Because in some sort [of way], this is a video game that we’re playing. We’re playing a high-tech video game in a sense.”
The Viewer’s Interface: New Graphics and Camera Infrastructure
The viewing experience is also undergoing significant technological refinement. The SoFi Center now houses 79 cameras to maximize coverage from every possible perspective. This extensive infrastructure includes the return of the award-winning SmartPin Cam, which provides live, 360-degree views from the flag`s perspective.
The league has heavily invested in data visualization, utilizing Virtual Eye technology to overlay data-rich, augmented-reality graphics onto the fairways and greens. This technology provides instantaneous shot comparison data, measuring a player’s performance against team averages and historical best approaches on that specific hole—a crucial element for educating the spectator on immediate shot quality.
Additionally, the live shot tracing system will track golf balls in flight before they impact TGL’s massive projection screen—dubbed the largest simulator in all of golf. This holistic approach ensures that while the technology operates behind the scenes to create the environment, its output is clearly articulated to the viewer via advanced real-time graphics.
TGL Season 2: Rosters and Schedule Overview
Despite the initial absences, the rosters feature a concentration of elite PGA Tour talent:
Team Rosters (2025-26)
- Atlanta Drive GC: Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Lucas Glover
- Boston Common Golf: Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama
- Jupiter Links GC: Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Tom Kim, Kevin Kisner
- Los Angeles Golf Club: Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala
- New York Golf Club: Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young
- The Bay Golf Club: Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry
2025-26 Schedule Highlights
The regular season concludes March 3, followed by the SoFi Cup playoffs.
- Sunday, Dec. 28: New York Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC (Season Opener)
- Tuesday, Jan. 13: Jupiter Links GC vs. New York Golf Club
- Monday, Feb. 2: Atlanta Drive GC vs. Jupiter Links GC
- Tuesday, March 3: The Bay Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links GC (Regular Season Finale)
SoFi Cup Playoffs & Finals Series
The road to the championship begins March 17, culminating in the Finals Series, which can extend up to three matches, scheduled for March 23-24.
Murray Blackwood