TGL is back for Season 2, and the anticipation is greater than ever.
Tiger Woods, despite recently undergoing his seventh back surgery and managing a lingering knee injury, has confirmed he’s returning to the league.
Joining him are Ryder Cup champions and grand slam winner Rory McIlroy, setting the stage for a star-packed season beginning on Dec. 28.
Amid all the hype, Tommy Fleetwood’s team, the Los Angeles Golf Club, secured a major investment from Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, the Detroit-based group behind the Red Wings and Tigers, per Sports Business Journal.
Although the precise amount was not made public, the Sports Business Journal estimated the valuation to be around $90 million.
The Los Angeles Golf Club has attracted significant investors in the past as well. The majority of the company is owned by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who is joined as an investor by his wife Serena Williams, her sister Venus Williams, Michelle Wie West and Good Good Golf.
In addition, a Dallas-based group reportedly paid more than $70 million for another TGL franchise earlier this year, highlighting the league’s quickly rising value. In addition to the investment, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment will act as the team’s official sponsorship agency, directing data analytics, media strategy, brand development, and general franchise operations.
This collaboration enhances Detroit’s presence in TGL, particularly given that the Motor City Golf Club, scheduled to launch in 2027, was recently purchased by the Detroit Lions’ ownership group for an estimated $70 million.
TGL is Looking to Expand
In an indication of plans for new franchises, the league filed trademark applications for “Texas Golf Club” and “Chicago Links Golf Club” earlier this year.
Furthermore, TMRW Sports, the parent company of TGL, which was valued at $500 million as of mid-2024, filed trademark applications for “WTGL,” a possible women’s league.
This action is part of a larger effort to change the gender dynamics in the sport. In addition to Serena Williams, other LPGA players who have expressed support for a women’s tech league include Nelly Korda and Megan Kang.
Alexis Ohanian publicly supported the idea in April, saying that he had been “bugging these guys about the LPGA deal for a minute.”
The launch of WTGL has the potential to revolutionize women’s golf by altering how the sport is played, viewed, and promoted. With well-known investors and athletes urging support, it appears to be about to take off.