It’s golf, Jim, but not as we know it.
The Future Golf League (TGL) program is generally considered a roaring success by players, administrators and stakeholders, so expectations have been raised ahead of the 2026 campaign, where technology continues later in the year.
The defending champions will be Atlanta Drive, who defeated New York Golf Club in the last 2025. So, can Patrick Cantlay and CO defend their title in the next series?
A numbers game
The opening plan of TGL was considered a success.
More than 123 million social media impressions were generated – an important metric in this day and age, while some games saw more than a million viewers watching on TV or via Live Stream.
Along with ESPN as a broadcast partner, other household names emerged, including Sofi, Best Buy and Genesis. Big BookMaking products provided TGG Sports Betting Betting for each game and direct tournament competition, which gave punteers the opportunity to bet on their favorite players.
So the commercial aspect was a success, and the audience responded well to the idea of a shot clock – each player had 40 poems from where they put their ball and then where they hit their ball and then when they hit their ball and then when they hit their shot.
All leading up to all games are completed within two hours; In an era of speed of play debates, TGL was a refreshing watch for audiences who might not be interested enough in sports to sit through six or seven hour cycles.
The 2026 Edition will start on December 28 with the Revel of the Last of the past, so the Atlanta Drive – Patrick Cantlay, BILY Golf Clul Couthfit led by Vander Schauffele and World Championship Matt Fitzpatrick.
Back to it?
A key figure for Atlanta in its title was Justin Thomas.
However, there are signs of his participation in the 2026 edition, after Thomas revealed that he had another operation back in November.
The World Number Eight confirmed on social media that he planned to ‘remember some events to restart the year’ as he began to place his position in January where Janan and February, before reaching well into March.
Thomas missed one of the games in the indoor schedule due to injury and was replaced by Nick Dunlap, although at the time of writing it is not known if he will be made up for the 2026 TGL games he does not appear to miss.
Although not confirmed, it is thought that Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley will lead the regular Boston, although the involvement of Tiger Woods seems to be in the air after surgery back in October.
Other players expected to take part in TGG 2026 include Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry.
