Shane Lowry secured the decisive point and Ludvig Åberg played a key role as Bay Golf Club beat New York Golf Club 9-2 in the first game of the inaugural TGL season.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were among the spectators at the purpose-built SoFi Center in Palm Beach, Florida, for the inaugural event of their company TMRW Sports’ technology-focused golf league that pits PGA Tour stars against one another. Head into teams and with a mix of virtual and real play.

Lowry, Åberg and Wyndham Clark took an early 6-0 lead after just six holes of the 15-hole competition, which is played with alternative shots – or triples – in the first nine-hole session Expand your winning margin by winning the individual.

Bay Golf Club collects two points and sits atop the SoFi Cup season standings, while New York Golf Club – an opening night roster of Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick and Rickie Fowler – remains winless.

Historic evening for the TGL

Lowry hit the first tee shot of the historic contest and just minutes later watched Åberg land a 9-foot birdie putt on The Plank – the driveable par 4 that served as the first hole – for an early 1-0 lead.

The Bay opened with “The Hammer,” which gives a team a chance to pressure their opponents by doubling the value of the hole, with Clark taking advantage on the par-3 third by hitting a seven-footer hole and puts them three ahead.

Åberg fired a brilliant attack on the par fifth, setting up Lowry for birdie from close range. The Swede pulled The Bay further ahead with a 32-foot birdie on the fifth hole, helping them to a stress-free par win on the next.

New York GC didn’t get its first point until the par-5 ninth, where a deft chip from Fitzpatrick led to a birdie being conceded before Lowry Fowler beat singles on the first hole to give The Bay an unassailable lead with five holes to play spare.

Clark and Åberg won the next two holes before Fowler ended the series by defeating Lowry on the 13th. The one-sided contest ended with the two teams sharing the spoils on the final two individual holes.

“It was great,” said Åberg after her win. “I’ve always said I’m so jealous of basketball and football players because they get to do that a lot and we don’t.”

“It’s great to be part of that whole stadium feel and it pushes you forward a little differently than a normal golf tournament.”

Of the inaugural event, Woods said on ESPN: “It was just a dream conjured up. Rory and I talked about it; “It’s hard to believe that this dream has become a reality and that we have truly taken golf into another stratosphere.”

What’s next?

The inaugural season continues Jan. 14, with Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club taking on a Los Angeles golf club led by two-time major champion Collin Morikawa.

Coverage begins at 2am on Wednesday January 15th live on Sky Sports Golf, with play being replayed later in the day. New York Golf Club returns to action on January 22nd against Atlanta Drive GC (12pm UK time), while Bay Golf Club returns with two games on February 17th.

Who will win the first TGL season and the SoFi Cup? Watch every game of the 2025 and 2026 seasons exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Majors and more NOW.