After an up-and-down first three weeks, TGL, the simulator golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, had its best week to date on Monday when Woods’ Jupiter Links GC defeated McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf in overtime.
TGL has shown a lot of promise through one month, but the startup venture has kinks to work out and an identity to form if it wants to have long-term staying power.
To veteran broadcasters Peter Kostis and Gary McCord, the future of TGL is murky at best.
On the latest episode of “Kostis & McCord: Off their Rockers,” a GOLF production, the two reviewed the first match of the TGL — a blowout win by Bay Golf over New York Golf Club — and discussed whether or not they believe the league has a future.
“What’s the revenue stream on this, and how does this work long-term as a business?” McCord said. “I’ve sat there and looked at this. It cost $50 million to build [the SoFi Center,] and it only houses 1,500 people. Now, if I am an owner — football, baseball, basketball — I own the stadium. I rent that stadium out or lease it out to whoever when I’m not there doing that. So they’ve got a long time where that thing is sitting there doing nothing with no revenue stream. There is $21 million worth of prizes, OK? That’s $71 million. You’ve got these teams in there. Where is the revenue stream?
“I’m looking as a business entity and how in the world that works without an injection of capital constantly going in. There’s really nothing.”
Kostis believes TGL’s future will come down to one thing.
“TV ratings are ultimately going to be the deciding factor whether this is successful or not,” Kostis said.
For more from Kostis and McCord, check out the video above or watch the entire episode on YouTube below.
Josh Schrock is a writer and reporter for Golf. com. Before joining GOLF, Josh was the Chicago Bears insider for NBC Sports Chicago. He previously covered the 49ers and Warriors for NBC Sports Bay Area. A native Oregonian and UO alum, Josh spends his free time hiking with his wife and dog, thinking of how the Ducks will break his heart again, and trying to become semi-proficient at chipping. A true romantic for golf, Josh will never stop trying to break 90 and never lose faith that Rory McIlroy’s major drought will end. Josh can be reached at josh.schrock@golf.com.
