TGL expansion bidders emerge as Serena Williams’ husband puts Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods on spot

TGL, the tech-powered golf league pioneered by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is set for a big year in 2026 after a successful launch, with the introduction of an expansion franchise on the horizon

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods' TGL league is set for 'turbocharged' growth in 2026
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ TGL league is set for ‘turbocharged’ growth in 2026(Image: Brennan Asplen/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)

The man behind Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL says bidders are lining up to create an expansion franchise, while Serena Williams’ husband continues his push for the league to launch a women’s division.

The tech-powered golf league was dreamt up by Woods, McIlroy and their business partner, Mike McCarley, and it exceeded expectations in its debut season, drawing strong viewing figures on ESPN from its launch in January to the finals last month.

The Palm Beach-based six-team league features many of the top stars on the PGA Tour, although the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth sat out the inaugural season. Thus, there are appealing expansion opportunities in the years ahead, both in terms of new teams and venues.

McCarley and other TGL executives appeared on a panel at the CAA World Congress of Sports this week, and he talked up the possibility of introducing an expansion team. Per Sports Business Journal, the TMRW Sports co-founder told the audience he was “pleasantly surprised” by the number of potential bidders who have come forward.

He added that the pool of potential investors has been narrowed down to those based in the United States, and that the expansion process will “start with one [new team] and then it’ll grow from there.”

TGL’s teams are owned by a slew of billionaires, including Atlanta Falcons supremo Arthur Blank and New York Mets owner Stephen Cohen. Dynasty Equity also holds a significant stake in the league and its CEO, Don Cornwell, believes improvements to betting markets offered on TGL will “turbocharge” growth in 2026.

Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian cheer from the Los Angeles Golf Club owners box during a TGL presented by SoFi match between Los Angeles Golf Club and Atlanta Drive GC at SoFi Center on February 17, 2025 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Husband and wife duo Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams are one of the driving forces behind TGL(Image: TGL Golf via Getty Images)

For one team owner, Los Angeles Golf Club founder Alexis Ohanian, expanding TGL to the women’s game is a top priority. The Reddit co-founder is married to tennis icon Williams, and they are the owners of NWSL club Angel City FC.

“I’ve been bugging these guys about the LPGA deal for a minute,” Ohanian said. “They have been very interested. It’s just these things take time, and I’m not allowed to make any news.”

McCarley added: “There’s no secret we’re working on that. Alexis has been a great thought leader for us on that, and I think most of our team owners are right behind them in that area, too.”

Ohanian discussed the importance of creating brands that resonate with viewers and foster fandom. He shared an anecdote Reddit’s early years when he saw a stranger with the website’s logo tattooed on them.

“That’s when I knew we were probably onto something,” Ohanian said. “We knew the individual athletes had huge followings. We believed in the format, all the other things these folks are saying, but could we actually build a brand that one day someone might want a tattoo on their bodies?”