Traditional golf is evolving faster than ever before. Maybe this is why different Tours are trying new things. Case in point. TGL, Creators Classic, The Duels. The purpose of all of these is to create a vibrant visual element and make entertainment features central to golf’s future growth strategy. 

We know TGL gained impressive traction with remarkably similar innovations. The league’s inaugural season has averaged 513,000 viewers per regular match, with prime-time events drawing 686,000 viewers. Its peak performance came with Tiger Woods’ Week 2 debut, which attracted over 1 million viewers. This success is particularly striking when compared to traditional PGA Tour events like January’s American Express, which drew just 232,000 viewers for Sepp Straka’s victory – less than half of TGL’s average viewership. Even TGL’s lowest-rated match (682,000 viewers) tripled the AmEx final round numbers.

TGL’s demographics tell an even more compelling story about its appeal. The league has succeeded in attracting a significantly younger audience than traditional golf broadcasts. With a median viewer age of 51.9 years, TGL boasts the youngest audience in golf. Importantly, 41% of viewers fall within the coveted 18-49 demographic. This is more than double LIV Golf’s 19% in the same age bracket and suggests TGL’s format might be winning the battle for younger viewers, but Bubba Watson thinks otherwise. 

Bubba Watson spoke highly of LIV’s The Duels and its importance at a recent LIV Golf Miami press conference. The two-time Masters champion was addressing the importance of partnering with content creators to grow the game. “I know my kids are into it now because they’ve seen all these videos,” Watson explained during the pre-tournament media session. “They love LIV and they love the colors and the team aspect.” This personal insight revealed exactly what elements are resonating with the next generation of potential golf fans.

When asked about LIV’s mission to grow the game, he offered a broader perspective. “I think golf is in a beautiful spot right now,” he said. “This is the most that golf has ever been talked about from the creator side, from the tour side, from the league side, so golf is growing at a good pace.” 

Although The Duels hasn’t come without controversy. It was reported that the PGA Tour had emailed the creators taking part in Miami that they’ll be banned from creating content on the PGA Tour, and later Phil Mickelson confirmed it. 

These parallel innovations in team structures and visual presentation are transforming how fans experience golf across both leagues. Let’s examine how these specific elements are reshaping the sport’s identity and appeal.

The colors and teams transforming golf’s presentation

Modern golf broadcasts increasingly depend on eye-catching visuals to attract viewers. TGL’s SoFi Center creates a stadium-like atmosphere with dramatic lighting, augmented reality graphics, and interactive elements. LIV counters with colorful team uniforms, distinctive on-course branding, and dynamic music. Both approaches represent radical departures from traditional golf broadcasting’s subdued aesthetic. The visual transformation extends beyond mere cosmetics. TGL leverages its high-tech simulator screen for immersive shot tracking while including a real short-game complex for putts inside 50 yards. LIV showcases its team identities through consistent visual branding across merchandise, on-course signage, and social media.

Team formats are fundamentally changing how golf is experienced by players and spectators alike. TGL’s six city-based squads (Boston Common, Jupiter Links, etc.) create natural geographic fan allegiances. LIV’s model features branded teams like RangeGoats GC and Ripper GC that operate more like traditional sports franchises. Both approaches transform what was historically an individual sport into something with broader appeal. The team dynamics have notably altered player experiences as well. In TGL, the 15-hole match combines Alternate Shot (Triples) and Head-to-Head (Singles) formats that require strategic teamwork.

LIV strengthened its team competition for 2025 by counting all four player scores, creating greater interdependence. Players across both leagues consistently mention how team structures have reinvigorated their enthusiasm for competitive golf after years of individualized play. These visual elements create recognizable identities that fans can follow and support beyond individual tournaments. The competition between formats has accelerated innovation, with both leagues refining their approaches based on audience response.

Golf’s entertainment future clearly rests on these team-based, visually dynamic approaches pioneered by both TGL and LIV Golf. Whether fans ultimately prefer TGL’s tech-forward, city-based teams or LIV’s more traditional course experience with colorful franchise identities remains the sport’s most fascinating ongoing experiment.