Tiger Woods made his debut in the TGL on Tuesday night at SoFi Center in Palm Beach State College, marking a significant moment in the evolution of indoor golf. He was the last player to enter, and the crowd didn’t need an introduction—the opening chords of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” set the stage for Woods, one of golf’s greatest players.
The event was a milestone for Woods, who, along with Rory McIlroy and others, had spent years trying to bring indoor golf to television. “It is a reality now,” Woods said, acknowledging how far the concept had come. Week 2 of TGL saw Woods join teammates Kevin Kisner and Max Homa of Jupiter Links Golf Club as they faced the Los Angeles Golf Club, consisting of Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala.
The match didn’t start well for Woods’ team, as they fell behind 5-0 early. However, Woods helped steady the ship, making a crucial 6-footer for par on the fifth hole, which kept his team in the game. This putt came right after Woods missed a 7-footer to the left.
As Woods played, his longtime friend, tennis legend Serena Williams, commented on the match. Although she was rooting for Woods, she found herself torn as she is also part of the ownership group of the Los Angeles Golf Club. “It’s about time, Tiger,” Williams remarked on the ESPN broadcast, adding a personal touch to the moment.
There were moments of brilliance from Woods, such as when he seemed to enjoy shots he liked, as video boards displayed how the ball would have traveled outdoors. But there were also frustrating moments, like when Woods hit a 101-yard wedge into the water on the second hole, a mistake that even his son, Charlie, who was seated in the arena, couldn’t help but laugh at.
Serena Williams sat nearby in the Los Angeles box, enjoying the spectacle of the event, which included light shows, smoke, and booming music, all elements more common in tennis or basketball but rarely seen in golf. “It’s so wild,” Williams said.
“It’s something that you see a little bit in tennis. We see it all the time in basketball, right? We don’t really see it so much in golf. Actually, we never see that in golf. It’s so good to kind of see their personalities and see them shine as golfers. … It’s so cool to see a new aspect.”
The night highlighted the excitement and potential of this innovative format for golf, and Woods’ presence solidified its significance as a milestone in the sport’s growth.
