The second season of TGL is nearly right here—and it guarantees to look considerably totally different than it did this yr.
The tech-infused simulator league was reasonably profitable in its inaugural season as TV rankings on ESPN have been unspectacular however nonetheless a strong enchancment on the community’s earlier programming in these time slots (total common of 500,000 viewers).
TGL has proven it has a excessive ground due to an advantageous TV contract, the inclusion of Tiger Woods (whose future participation as a participant is unsure resulting from yet one more again surgical procedure) and the monetary backing of many titans within the sports activities world.
The query now could be whether or not it additionally has a excessive ceiling.
Early returns have been inconclusive. Regardless of a number of constructive (and viral) moments in 2025, TGL suffered from uncompetitive matches, expertise failures, awkward manufacturing and overwhelmingly boring digital golf holes that seemed extra fascinating than they performed.
The foundations and gameplay proceed to evolve dramatically. Making matches extra compelling will likely be an absolute should if the league goes to construct on the novelty of its opening marketing campaign.
The parents behind TGL are conscious of this and have made some sweeping adjustments as we head into 2026.
Will they work? Let’s check out 4 of essentially the most fascinating alterations and what influence we expect they are going to have.
1. Gap designs have been up to date with extra risk-reward
Maybe essentially the most urgent concern for TGL popping out of the primary season was to deal with how the monotonous gameplay.
Providing a digital world with completely unserious golf holes—lava, temples and island fairways included—the designers nonetheless couldn’t handle to make gamers uncomfortable or pressure them into awkward selections.
More often than not, gamers routinely pulled driver and hit it to the identical spot. Solely a few holes compelled actual selections to be made.
TGL is promising that extra of this season’s holes will likely be extremely strategic, attractive gamers to tackle plenty of threat. Every workforce may even be getting one gap with metropolis/geographic branding.
Impact: This was my greatest frustration with the primary season of TGL. I’ll stay skeptical till we truly see among the new designs in motion however I’m glad there may be some motion right here.
These are the perfect gamers on this planet. Give them quite a lot of challenges, like break up fairways with safer or riskier routes to the outlet. That may make every shot extra significant and entertaining.
2. There are up to date graphics
In case you learn MGS usually, you’re in all probability conscious of our tackle TGL’s expertise.
Sadly, Full Swing is simply not the answer for this sort of league the place you will have a 53-foot-tall display screen. We noticed many errors final yr—and even a state of affairs the place the simulator missed selecting up a shot solely.
We doubt that expertise element will get a makeover since Woods has a stake in Full Swing however a minimum of the graphics for the gameplay are getting up to date.
This was one other sore spot final yr because the digital world seemed just a little an excessive amount of like Golden Tee.
Impact: It’s nonetheless loopy how the expertise element is so shaky. All the league relies on this expertise and it’s not totally dependable.
It will likely be good to see higher graphics, nevertheless. Followers care extra about how the product seems to be and feels than the accuracy of the simulator so this can be a good funding.
3. The enjoying areas are getting greater
The placing floor is now 38 p.c bigger (5,270 sq. ft) to accommodate 12 gap places as a substitute of seven. The excessive level of that inexperienced has additionally been lowered 18 inches to create extra pure and gradual slopes, giving the in-person viewers a greater perspective of the inexperienced.
With this modification, we may even be seeing bigger bunkers (50 p.c greater) and extra expansive tee packing containers to assist with divot administration. The chipping areas have additionally been regraded, which might influence method photographs and quick recreation.
Impact: It’s attainable we are going to see extra greens being hit and extra putts being holed, which might translate to extra leisure. TGL needs gamers to really feel challenged however nonetheless have the chance to make plenty of birdies in the event that they execute.
The inexperienced complicated appeared just a little wonky at instances final yr so hopefully this offers a extra constant floor that acts like an actual inexperienced.
4. Matches are being performed on a greater diversity of days
Final yr, matches have been solely held on Mondays and/or Tuesdays.
This yr, a couple of Friday and Sunday matches have been added to that Monday/Tuesday combine.
This features a Sunday, Dec. 28, opener—an earlier begin date than we noticed final yr—and a Friday, Jan. 2, match. There’ll even be a Sunday primetime match between Tiger’s and Rory McIlroy’s groups later within the season.
Impact: The draw back right here is that viewers nonetheless can’t get into any form of a routine with realizing when TGL goes to be performed. Even on Monday and Tuesdays, the time slots range. There will likely be plenty of eventualities the place individuals come upon a match with out even realizing it was scheduled for that point.
The upside is that sure weekend time slots are extra favorable for rankings. This isn’t a jammed portion of the sports activities calendar so TGL has to contend primarily with the likes of school basketball, NBA and NHL. It’s going to largely avoid the NFL, apart from the opening match being at 3 p.m. ET on a Sunday.
Closing ideas
There’s a lot to love about TGL however there are nonetheless some warts to kind by means of.
All of those adjustments look like they’ve potential to be useful. The improved gameplay with higher digital holes is essentially the most promising improvement.
TGL should present it may be profitable with out Tiger as a result of there is no such thing as a assure he’ll play ever once more.
To do this, the product needs to be thrilling, humorous and just a little bizarre.
That’s simpler stated than executed however TGL is making some promising steps with these adjustments.
Let’s see how issues shake out for 2026 now that they’ve labored out among the kinks.
How do you are feeling about these adjustments? Tell us within the feedback.
The put up TGL Is Making Large Adjustments For Season Two appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
