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NAPLES, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 20: Lexi Thompson looks on the 15th tee during the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf on November 20, 2021 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Getty
NAPLES, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 20: Lexi Thompson looks on the 15th tee during the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf on November 20, 2021 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Lexi Thompson believes a revolution is coming to women’s golf, and it has nothing to do with a traditional 18-hole course. The LPGA and TMRW Sports announced the launch of the WTGL. 11-time LPGA winner Lexi Thompson spoke to SportsCenter to explain why this new venture is a total game-changer for women.
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“I think it means so much. What TGL has done for the guys—it just brings a whole different fan base to the game of golf. I think that’s what’s needed, ” Thompson noted. “It’s quicker golf, different shots, obviously hitting into a screen, but having all those numbers… I think fans really get involved more and see the personalities of the guys, and now the women. So, it’s just amazing for the game of golf in general, but especially the women’s side.”
Thompson’s excitement makes perfect sense when you look at the men’s TGL success. Last year, fans loved seeing Tiger Woods double over in laughter after Kevin Kisner bladed a bunker shot. Or consider the viral “99 not 199” incident where Woods shouted at his teammates in disbelief.
Season 1 gave fans a peek at their golfers in a more light-hearted manner, setting the stage for the second season. The league kicked off its second season on December 28, 2025, and gained good viewership amidst the NFL window. TGL drew an average of 646,000 viewers, outperforming the PNC Championship and the World Champions Cup. More impressively, nearly 42% of these viewers were young and coveted 18-49 demographic.
These stats show that people are desperate for a golf product that finally prioritizes personality. That’s why Thompson added, “To me, one of my favorite parts of doing TGL is getting to know the players more. In our day-to-day tournaments, people don’t get to see our personalities because we’re there to win. Of course, here it’s very competitive too, but you get the trash talking, [get to] know, the personalities out of these players.”
“It just brings a whole different fan base to the game of golf.”
LPGA star Lexi Thompson shares what the launch of WTGL means for the growth of golf for women 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XncbLJT5vi
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 6, 2026
The WTGL officially debuts in the winter of 2026-2027, and the buzz is already reaching a fever pitch. Lexi Thompson is joining Tiger Woods’ TGL Women’s Circuit. She has already spent time at the SoFi Center testing the high-tech simulator screens lately. And the LPGA and TMRW Sports made their announcement of the new league, with Thompson in the spotlight. She currently plays a limited LPGA schedule, so her schedule with WTGL will be interesting.
The excitement for this digital fairway extends far beyond just Lexi Thompson, as other LPGA stars are also lining up to share their dreams for the WTGL event.
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Beyond Lexi Thompson, the other LPGA players wanted WTGL, too
Former World No. 1 Nelly Korda has long voiced the need for a stage built for women. Rose Zhang also shared her deep interest after partnering with Bay Golf Club earlier last year. Even Lilia Vu mentioned that having a women’s team would be “really cool” for the fans. These endorsements prove that the world’s best players are hungry for this modern platform. Thai star Jeeno Thitikul also finds the idea of indoor golf very fun for the off-season.
“I think it should be fun (indoor golf) in the off-season. I experienced it once in Korea. It’s just like a golf simulator. But it’s not as good as what they play in that one. That one is just like hitting it in the simulator and chipping it, putting it,” Thitikul said at the press conference of the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
Michelle Wie West even teased the idea of a women’s circuit back, and her voice held more weight as part-owner of LAGC. These collective voices have finally turned this ambitious dream into reality, and the league is targeting a winter 2026-27 launch with many more exciting details coming soon.
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