Tiger Woods definitely knows how to keep people guessing. Before his debut at the TGL, he said, “I’m part of the playing process now.” He is! Wasn’t just in the debut match. He was there as a spectator and commentator, expressing his excitement about TGL’s much-awaited launch. You see, Woods’s decision to skip the first match could be decoded as a part of a brilliant strategy.

As golf writer Alex Myers put it, “I still think it was weird/risky to not have Tiger and Rory play in the first TGL match, but the move looks like it’s going to pay off. Opening night still received great overall reviews, and now there is added anticipation for next week when Woods makes his debut.” Well, Woods is set to take the stage on January 14, 2025, for the second week of TGL at the SoFi Center at 7 pm. 

His team, Jupiter Links (which also includes Max Homa, Kevin Kisner, and Tom Kim), will face the L.A. squad, made up of Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala, and Justin Rose. The delay in Woods’s debut actually will work in his favor. Fans’ anticipation, and excitement are off the charts, and when he finally steps onto the course, you know it’s going to bring in even more viewers. Even more than what the debut match brought in. 

The event pulled in over 3.2 million viewers—beating out all other major sporting events that night, including the NBA and college basketball. What’s more? Overall, the event averaged more than 1.2 million viewers during the entire broadcast on ESPN. That’s a huge win for the TGL and a sign that the league is already making waves. 

Playing indoors would be easier for Woods compared to the grueling demands of a full tournament schedule. “It’s a little bit harder for me to play a full-time schedule, but this is something neat and we’re able to bring it to all the fans all around the world,” said the 15x major winner. 

Initially, when the schedule was announced, the community was not sure about Woods not playing in the first week. People had their doubts about TGL, so the idea was that the 82x Tour winner playing the first day would bring in what TGL exactly needs. Viewpoints are changing now!

Fans credit Tiger Woods for his strategic play

One fan commented, “Yes, a soft opening and a tease to bring you back” And honestly, they’re spot on. The TGL’s opening week wasn’t just about playing golf; it was about setting the stage. Bay GC won over New York Golf Club. Fans loved the use of the hammer, and it was overall a very laid-back vibe, much different from what you see on the course.

Another fan chimed in writing: “The PGA TOUR for decades has needed to pump personality into its sport. TGL’s biggest positive is that it has a chance to provide that kind of personality infusion.” They’re not wrong. Golf has often struggled to appeal to younger, broader audiences, and TGL might be exactly what the sport needs. The fast-paced format, tech-driven atmosphere, and arena setup make it a whole new experience. After all, it’s “reimagined” golf, as McIlroy puts it. 

One fan noted, “Was my initial thought, as well. Best attempt at reasoning is TW will bring people back for week 2. Him vs Rory will drive week 3. Get people watching for 3 wks and it’s onto something.” Another fan even called it a “Masterclass move. Let the owners go second after the explanations have been done the first week. It would have been too much last night.” It’s a long-term play that makes sense. On January 27, we will see Jupiter Links and Boston Common Golf go head to head, and fans will surely want to see it. 

And, of course, some fans couldn’t help but be impressed by the league’s numbers: “Almost 1 million viewers. Not bad.” For a brand-new league, that’s a strong start, and it shows the massive potential of this format.

So what do you think of this million-dollar move? Let us know in the comments!