PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — The organizers of TGL have a closest-to-the-pin challenge they do with celebrities, influencers and special guests who come to the SoFi Center and want to take a swing at an already iconic short hole dubbed On the Rocks.
Canada’s Brooke Henderson hit her tee ball to just two feet on Tuesday afternoon to vault herself into second place on the running tally of sharpshooters.
“It was nerve-wracking hitting some shots, but it was amazing,” Henderson told Sportsnet.ca in an exclusive conversation.
Henderson, who was announced as one of the first five participants of the Women’s TGL which will launch later in 2026, said she can’t wait for everyone to see the best female golfers in the real world take on the virtual world built in south Florida.
“It’s just so massive and the technology is amazing. I’m really looking forward to WTGL having a new audience and a bigger range of viewers and fans who can see the personalities and the talent of the LPGA Tour,” Henderson said.
Henderson has long been a top-ranked player on the LPGA Tour, and she now joins Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko and world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul as the first batch of female participants.
The first season of WTGL is set to launch after this year’s LPGA Tour season wraps, which isn't until after American Thanksgiving.
Henderson visited the SoFi Center for the first time Tuesday and played the three holes that have quickly become favourites — Stinger, Cenote and The Plank — while also trying her hand at the “post-apocalyptic” hole, The Last Toll, which makes its broadcast debut in the Tuesday match featuring Jupiter Links GC and Los Angeles Golf Club (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT).
“It’s so amazing. You watch it on TV and it’s cool, but to actually be here and be in the building — it’s so huge,” Henderson said. “I’m so excited for (Tuesday night) to watch everyone perform and feel that energy because it’s so innovative. I love what they’re doing down here.”
Golf is, of course, an individual game, but Henderson is eager to see if some of the announced players will actually be teamed up with her when the season tees off. The team aspect of TGL is one of the unique parts of the Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods-co-founded virtual golf league.
She has rarely played team golf before but was a member of the World Team at the biennial International Crown competition — alongside Ko and Hull — last fall in South Korea.
“I love playing team golf and we don’t have the opportunity very often but I’m really looking forward to that,” she said. “They’re all really good friends of mine and great players. They’ll be super fun to watch.”
The native of Smiths Falls, Ont., heads into 2026 at No. 25 in the world rankings. She told Sportsnet.ca at the end of last year that she is as eager as ever to improve her scoring average and get back into the top 10 in the game.
“The last part of the 2025 season was awesome. I feel like my game was really coming around and it was in a great spot. There was a lot of momentum. There was a lot of confidence. I’m hoping to continue that on in 2026,” Henderson said. “I had a nice break but I’m looking forward to getting things started again.”
Henderson will start her 2026 campaign on the LPGA Tour at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions next week, a tournament she won in 2023.
