Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in shock as TGL stadium roof collapses
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL suffers a blow as roof of venue collapses causing "significant disruption to construction of area".
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have been dealt another big blow ahead of their new tech-infused TGL starting up in January 2024 as the roof of the TGL's SoFi Center has collapsed overnight.
The TGL is a new tech-inspired golf league that has been launched in partnership with the PGA Tour to provide golf fans with a new way to watch the game they love.
Devised by Woods and McIlroy, the new league is set to take place in the state-of-the-art purpose-built facility, the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA.
The venue will give up to 2,000 golf fans the chance to spectate up close and personal thanks to a huge virtual simulator and short-game complex area.
But those plans have suffered a huge blow in the lead up to the first night, which is now less than two months away.
TGL stadium roof collapses ahead of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's new virtual league
According to a source on the ground, the collapsed roof of the TGL venue has led to "significant disruption".
Thankfully nobody was hurt, confirms the source, who considers the first night of TGL will now be delayed.
But a spokesperson for the league believes TGL is still very much on track for its January 9, 2024 start.
None of the technology has been damaged, the spokesperson for TGL confirmed.
News of the collapsed roof at the TGL venue was first posted on X by the popular account, @FlushingItGolf, with a photo sent in by @LuckiestGolfer.
Check out the damage below:
The roof of the TGL’s SoFi Center has collapsed overnight leading to significant disruption to the construction of the arena.
A source says no-one was hurt, but the start of the TGL is likely to be delayed.
Thanks to @luckiestgolfer for the pic. pic.twitter.com/p1120I6OSy— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) November 15, 2023
Here's also some drone footage that shows the extensive damage done to the dome at the SoFi Center:
#WATCH: A drone video shows the extensive damage done to the dome at the SoFi Center, home to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new @tglgolf simulator league.
(Via: @pbpost) pic.twitter.com/t1J3kOQIlu— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) November 17, 2023
In a statement, TGL said:
TGL will attempt to give golf fans the opportunity to watch some of the best players in the world compete against each other in a team-based format that promises a "high-tech, high-energy fan experience."
Although TGL will not include three of the best four players in the world in Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland, it will have the likes of McIlroy, Woods and many other PGA Tour stars on show.
Rahm revealed the real reason he decided to walk out of the TGL, having previously confirmed his participation in the league earlier this season, during his DP World Tour Championship press conference today.
McIlroy is confident TGL will attract younger people into the sport.
He even thinks it will do a better job than what the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League has done in its two years on the map thus far.
McIlroy decided to remove his seat at the PGA Tour table earlier this week.
TGL was established in 2022 and revealed alongside a number of additional incentives to persuade the best players in the world to remain on the PGA Tour instead of jump ship to LIV Golf.
It is understood that all players who have signed up to TGL will not be allowed to head over to LIV Golf anytime soon.