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Draft:TMRW Sports

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TMRW Sports (pronounced "tomorrow sports"), the company responsible for creating TGL, was founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroyand sports executive Mike McCarley. The focus is on harnessing technology to build progressive approaches in sports, media, and entertainment that will create new pathways for the next generation to enjoy sports.[1]

An all-star roster of athletes, celebrities, and business leaders from the worlds of sports, media, technology, and finance, comprise TMRW Sports robust and diverse investor group. TMRW Sports’ first project, TGL, is an innovative, tech-driven golf league launched in partnership with the PGA Tour.[2]

TGL

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TGL is a planned golf league created by TMRW Sports, a venture formed by sports executive Mike McCarley and professional golfers Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, in partnership with the PGA Tour. It will launch in January 2024, with events held on Monday nights in conjunction with the PGA Tour schedule.[3]

TGL, a new tech-infused team golf league in partnership with the PGA Tour, will showcase team competitions fusing advanced tech and live action from a custom-built venue. Woods, McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm[4] were the first four golfers to commit to competing. [5][6] The next pair to join the group, former Masters Tournament champion Adam Scott, who told Sports Illustrated his decision to join TGL was highly motivated by his desire to enhance the future of the game, on both a recreational and professional level [7] and former PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa. [8] U.S. Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick was number seven, [9] followed by six time PGA champion Max Homa and seven time PGA Champion Billy Horschel who round out the first half of the league's members. [10][11] The second half of the group started with two Olympic Gold Medalists. Justin Rose won gold in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and Xander Schauffele in Tokyo in 2020. [12][13]

On August 24, 2022, the PGA Tour, along with McIlroy, Woods, and McCarley, announced the formation of TGL.[14] It will initially feature six teams of three PGA Tour players each, competing head-to-head in 18-hole match play. The venue offers a first-of-its-kind experience for golf, enabled by a data-rich virtual course combined with a tech-infused short-game complex. [15]

Fifteen matches make up the regular season, each lasting two hours and played in primetime on Monday nights. The semifinals and a final match end the season.

TMRW Sports is building the first TGL venue in Palm Beach, FL, through a partnership with Palm Beach State College. The group broke ground at the venue on February 20, 2023 on the interactive, indoor tech golf league.[16][17] It includes educational and recreational initiatives that will benefit Palm Beach State College students, by offering paid internships and other technology, hospitality and administrative services opportunities. [18]

CAA Icon will design, develop and oversee the construction of the venue. The technological aspects of the building will be the first of its kind, in part because the golf action will flow between virtual and reality on every hole.[19]

History

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In an article in Golf Magazine, Tiger Woods said he meets people from all walks of life that share his same passion for sports as well as a desire to build a better future for the next generation of sports fans. That's why he joined McIlroy and McCarley on this project.[20]

“For the last few years off the course, I’ve been focused on helping to lead golf into its digital future," said McIlroy. "Now, by joining forces with Tiger, Mike, and other TMRW Sports partners, we can shape the way that media and technology improve the sports experience. In a world where technology provides us with so many choices for using our time, we want to make sports more accessible for as many people as possible.”[21]

In the January 9, 2023 edition of Sports Business Journal McCarley, CEO and founder of TMRW Sports said the project has been in the works since 2019. “It evolved into how we can harness technology to enhance the experience for both participants who play and for fans,” said McCarley. “We believe there is a difference between following and watching -- so shorter-form experiences are going to be more important as we continue to be crunched for time.”[22]

TMRW Sports was officially formed on August 23, 2022, and is headquartered in Jupiter, FL.

Diverse Investor Group

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Among the group of highest-profile investors are NBA stars Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant,[23] Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, women's soccer player Alex Morgan, Los Angeles Angels All-Star Shohei Ohtani, Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen, entertainer Justin Timberlake, tennis star Serena Williams, and Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi. The investment group’s sports experience includes team ownership in every major league and ranges across F1, NFL, NBA, Premier League, MLB, NHL, MLS, tennis, esports, surfing, and golf.[24]

Dick Ebersol was one of the initial investors of TMRW Sports. Ebersol, a sports and entertainment industry icon, is the former chairman of NBC Sports and executive producer of many of the most-watched events in television history, including the Olympics and Super Bowls. In addition, he was the creator and producer of game-changing entertainment programs, including Saturday Night Live, which he co-created with Lorne Michaels.[25][26]

“We wanted a group of people who have a vision for how technology can help make sports more accessible and culturally relevant and attract new and different groups of fans — and that's ultimately younger fans, and families,” McCarley told CNBC.[27] “From the very beginning, our plan has been to partner with the best-in-class in every way imaginable and Tiger, Rory, and I value the support of this unrivaled team of investors, advisors, and ambassadors who believe in our vision to harness technology to create progressive approaches to sports. Their combined broad reach and cultural relevance will expand potential opportunities and fanbases for TMRW projects.”[26]

References

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  1. ^ The Athletic Staff. "Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy launch TMRW Sports". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  2. ^ Hoggard, Rex. "Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy headline new technology-centric golf league". Golf Channel. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  3. ^ Hoggard, Rex. "Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy headline new technology-centric golf league". Golf Channel. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  4. ^ "Tiger Woods welcomes Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas to TGL, the tech-infused competition set for 2024 start". Golfweek. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  5. ^ Herzig, Gabrielle. "Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm Join Tiger Woods' Monday Night Golf League". Sports Illustrated Golf: News, Scores, Equipment, Instruction, Travel, Courses. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  6. ^ Inabinett, Mark (2022-11-30). "Justin Thomas joins new golf league". al. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  7. ^ Herzig, Gabrielle. "Adam Scott Joins Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's Monday Night Golf League". Sports Illustrated Golf: News, Scores, Equipment, Instruction, Travel, Courses. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  8. ^ "Collin Morikawa and Adam Scott join TGL league run by Tiger, Rory". MSN. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  9. ^ Kukreti, Shobhit. "Matt Fitzpatrick joins TGL, becomes seventh player to join Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods' simulator event". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  10. ^ "Max Homa, Billy Horschel become latest signees to new 'Monday Night' golf league TGL". Golfweek. 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  11. ^ "Billy Horschel on why he joined Tiger Woods' golf league". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  12. ^ "TGL adds Schauffele, Rose to star-studded lineup". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  13. ^ "Xander Schauffele, Justin Rose are latest commitments to new 'Monday Night' golf league TGL". Golfweek. 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  14. ^ "Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports announces TGL, a new tech-infused golf league in partnership with the PGA TOUR". PGATour. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  15. ^ Greenberg, Doug (2022-08-24). "Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy Announce Tech-Infused Golf League". Front Office Sports. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  16. ^ "Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy help break ground on TGL venue at Palm Beach State College". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  17. ^ "Woods, McIlroy break ground on high-tech golf league site". AP NEWS. 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  18. ^ "Woods, McIlroy behind tech-infused golf league in TV venture". AP NEWS. 2022-08-24. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  19. ^ "TMRW's 18-hole TGL will be part simulator, part reality and a one-of-a-kind event". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  20. ^ "Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy take aim at the future of sports entertainment with 'TMRW Sports'". Golf. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  21. ^ "Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy team up to form TMRW Sports, a technology-focused startup". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  22. ^ "McCarley helps Woods, McIlroy launch tech-based venture TMRW Sports". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  23. ^ Novy-Williams, Eben (2023-03-21). "Shaq, Durant, Dwyane Wade Invest in Tiger's TMRW Sports". Sportico.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  24. ^ "Stars back Tiger-Rory tech-infused golf venture". ESPN.com. 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  25. ^ "TIGER WOODS, RORY MCILROY & MIKE MCCARLEY FORM TMRW SPORTS – TMRW Sports". Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  26. ^ a b Zucker, Joseph. "Stephen Curry, Lewis Hamilton, More Invest in Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy Golf Company". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  27. ^ Golden, Jessica. "Serena Williams, Justin Timberlake are among big-name investors in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's sports venture". CNBC. Retrieved 2023-01-09.