The launch of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s virtual golf competition has been pushed back one year, to early 2025, after its facility in Florida sustained damage.
TGL, an indoor “high-tech league”, was due to start on 9 January 2024.
But those plans have been delayed after a power outage caused the collapse of the air-supported dome roof at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens.
No injuries occurred at the facility, which covers about 250,000 square feet.
“This decision came after reviewing short-term solutions, potential construction timelines, player schedules, and the primetime sports television calendar,” TGL said in a statement.
“Despite this new timeline for the venue, we remain excited about the future of TGL and will continue to build excitement between now and the start of the season with our players, fans and teams.”
Fifteen of the current world’s top 20 are among the 24 PGA Tour players to have signed for the inaugural season.
Six teams of four players are set to compete in the TGL. They are the Los Angeles Golf Club, Atlanta Drive Golf Club, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, TGL New York and TGL San Francisco.
Woods is set to compete for Jupiter Links, while McIlroy will play for Boston Common.
The Sofi Center is set to host each event, which will take around two hours to play and be broadcast live in the US with all players wearing microphones.
Woods, a 15-time major winner, said: “Although the events of last week will force us to make adjustments to our timelines, I’m fully confident that this concept will be brought to life by our great committed players.”
McIlroy said: “The postponement brings mixed feelings of disappointment and excitement.
“Above all, we are happy that no one was injured,” he added. -BBC
