New Women’s League Puts South Florida at the Center of Golf Innovation
The women’s game is getting a high-tech stage of its own in South Florida.
The newly announced WTGL, a women’s team-based, indoor golf league, is set to debut in winter 2026-27, expanding on the fast-paced, prime-time format pioneered by TGL. The launch marks a significant moment not only for professional golf, but also for Palm Beach County, where the league will compete at the purpose-built SoFi Center on the campus of Palm Beach State College.
Created by TMRW Sports, co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, TGL launched its inaugural season in January 2025 in partnership with the PGA Tour. The league blends real golf shots with immersive simulation, advanced ball-tracking technology and a live, arena-style production designed for prime-time broadcast.
WTGL will follow a similar model in partnership with the LPGA Tour, featuring top LPGA players competing in a condensed, team format during the tour’s offseason.
WTGL will follow a similar model in partnership with the LPGA Tour, featuring top LPGA players competing in a condensed, team format during the tour’s offseason. The league is guided by leaders “who believe in what’s next,” with Trybe Ventures, co-founded by soccer star Alex Morgan, announced as the lead capital partner.
“I’m so proud to bring this amazing group of women together to support and accelerate the growth of women's golf. We all love the game and look forward to working together with TMRW Sports and the LPGA to build this innovative new property to showcase the best players in the world,” said Morgan.
Trybe and Morgan have brought together an investment group that includes fellow U.S. soccer legends Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach, along with business leaders and investors Linnea Roberts, Jenny Just, Susan Lyne, Jennifer Mackesy, and Gabrielle (Ellie) Rubenstein to help shape the league’s future.
A tech-driven evolution of the game
At the center of both leagues is a hybrid competition model. Players hit real golf balls into a 64-foot-wide simulator screen, where advanced tracking systems measure ball speed, launch angle and spin in real time, projecting shots onto custom-designed digital courses.
Once players move inside roughly 50 yards, competition shifts to a physical short-game complex known as the GreenZone. The putting surface rotates and adjusts slopes between holes, allowing the arena to transform dynamically throughout a match.
The SoFi Center was engineered specifically for this format, featuring broadcast-calibrated lighting, integrated data systems, a shot clock and seating for more than 1,000 spectators. Players are mic’d up, and real-time analytics are integrated into the television broadcast, creating a faster-paced product aimed at modern sports audiences.
“In partnership with the LPGA, WTGL is another step in creating a modern, media-focused version of a centuries-old game that appeals to today’s sports fan. Since the launch of TGL a year ago, TMRW Sports has been putting the pieces in place to create a women’s league featuring the best players in the world. Now, along with the LPGA and its athletes, we look forward to creating a stage to help showcase the stars of the LPGA,” said Mike McCarley, founder and CEO, TMRW Sports.
The expansion into a women’s league signals confidence that the technology-driven format can elevate visibility for the women’s game while maintaining competitive integrity.
Although generally positive, mixed reactions from players
The announcement of WTGL has drawn both praise and criticism.
Supporters say the dedicated platform provides additional exposure, sponsorship opportunities and prime-time visibility for LPGA athletes, particularly during the offseason. The team-based format and condensed schedule could introduce new audiences to women’s golf.
However, some players have questioned the decision to create a separate women’s league rather than integrate men and women into the same competition. Nelly Korda, one of the top-ranked players in the world, publicly described the separation as a “huge and unbelievable miss,” suggesting that mixed-gender competition could have been more impactful for the sport’s evolution.
Even so, Korda and others have acknowledged that additional investment and visibility for women’s golf is ultimately a positive step.
Impact on Palm Beach State College
The league’s location carries strategic importance. The SoFi Center sits on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, placing a nationally televised sports property directly within a public higher-education institution.
The presence of TGL and WTGL brings recurring national exposure to the college. Each broadcast, media mention and event reinforces the school’s connection to innovation, sports technology and large-scale production.
Beyond branding, the proximity has created internships and workforce pathways. Students studying business, media production, engineering, hospitality and sports management have opportunities for internships, experiential learning and industry access without leaving campus.
For a state college focused on workforce development, alignment with a global sports-tech venture strengthens its position as a bridge between education and emerging industries.
Economic ripple effects in South Florida
The broader South Florida ecosystem stands to benefit as well.
Regular season matches generate demand for hospitality, transportation, security, catering and technical services. Media crews, sponsors, investors and fans contribute to hotel stays and local spending. The permanent nature of the facility ensures recurring economic activity rather than a one-time event boost.
Strategically, the league reinforces Palm Beach County’s identity as a sports and innovation corridor. South Florida already hosts major tennis, golf and soccer events. The addition of a purpose-built sports-technology arena further positions the region as a destination for next-generation sports infrastructure.
As WTGL prepares for its inaugural season, its success will be measured not only in ratings and ticket sales, but also in its ability to expand the women’s game, refine a new competitive format and strengthen the region that hosts it.
In Palm Beach County, the future of golf is being tested indoors and its impact is extending far beyond the arena walls.
