A Russian guided bomb attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia has killed at least 13 civilians and injured about 30 others, officials said.
Graphic footage posted on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Telegram page on Wednesday showed bloodied civilians lying in a city street being treated by emergency services.
“There is nothing more brutal than aerial bombing of a city, knowing that ordinary civilians will suffer,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
High-rise residential blocks, an industrial facility and other infrastructure were damaged in the attack, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said on Telegram on Wednesday. The debris hit a tram and a bus with passengers inside, it added.
Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said Russian forces launched guided bombs at a residential area in the city in the middle of the afternoon, and at least two residential buildings were struck in the attack.
Moscow has frequently launched aerial attacks on civilian infrastructure during its almost three-year war on Ukraine. It has consistently denied targeting civilians.
Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull, reporting from Kharkiv in Ukraine, said that “strikes were aimed at what has been described as an ‘industrial site’.”
Hull described “scenes of devastation outside a factory, in a multi-storey apartment building opposite … in addition to a passing tram and minibus, which would have been carrying passengers.”
Marina Miron, a military analyst at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that “the plant had already been targeted in November, as the Russians say Ukrainians were using it to assemble drones”.
“Owing to the deaths of civilians, however, there is a possibility that Russian navigation systems were jammed,” said Miron.
The attack comes as both Russia and Ukraine seek to project strength before US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian military said it had struck a fuel storage depot inside Russia, causing a huge blaze at a facility that supplies missiles to a Russian air base.
Ukraine’s General Staff said that the assault hit the storage facility near Engels, in Russia’s Saratov region, about 600km (373 miles) east of the Ukrainian border.
As Ukraine faces certain restrictions in using Western-supplied missiles, Kyiv has been developing its own long-range arsenal capable of reaching targets behind its front line.
The attacks have disrupted Russian logistics in the war, which began on February 24, 2022.
‘Serious security guarantees’
Earlier on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said that countries wanting to end the war should offer Ukraine assurances about its future defence.
“To be honest, I believe that we have a right to demand serious security guarantees from countries that aim for the peace in the world,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s leader was speaking at a news conference in Kyiv, responding to comments from US President-elect Donald Trump that he understood Russia’s opposition to neighbouring Ukraine joining NATO.
Speaking to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago estate in a wide-ranging media conference late on Tuesday, Trump said “Russia has somebody right on their doorstep, and I could understand their feelings about that.”
The United States, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia have stood in the way of Ukraine immediately joining the 32-nation NATO alliance, Zelenskyy noted.
The precise temperature control of sous-vide cooking allows you to cook perfectly silky “baked” eggs.
Adding a small amount of cornstarch or rice starch ensures the egg mixture thickens to a custard-like texture once cooked.
I’ve spent my fair share of money at Starbucks, especially on seasonal lattes and extravagant iced teas. Their food menu is also expansive, and one of their most popular items is the sous-vide egg bites, which were introduced in 2017, according to various sources, including Business Insider. It’s easy to see why these portable breakfast bites are popular nationwide; they are an ideal protein- and flavor-packed breakfast featuring smooth custard-like cooked eggs, filled with a variety of savory add-ins.
Since the egg bites were introduced, many copycat versions have appeared online—but most of these aren’t really sous vide (Most are baked in muffin tins and have a tendency to be rubbery.) With this recipe, we set out to recreate these bites using a sous vide cooking method, which gives the egg bites a particularly silky, custard-like texture. They’re a great low effort, mostly hands-off breakfast option that you can easily make ahead at home so they can be enjoyed on the go anytime.
For our version, our Birmingham-based test kitchen colleague Elizabeth Mervosh cooked batch after batch of eggs with an immersion circulator to develop this recipe for velvety egg bites that are loaded with savory bacon and nutty Gruyère cheese. They’re portioned and cooked in individual mason jars that can be enjoyed right out of the jar or popped out onto a plate for serving. Here’s how to make them at home.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
What Is Sous Vide Cooking?
As we pointed out in our guide about how to get started with sous vide cooking, the French phrase sous vide literally means “under vacuum,” referring to the vacuum-sealed bags that are often used in the cooking technique. However, these days, when someone says “sous vide cooking,” they’re generally referring to any kind of cooking that takes place in a precisely temperature-controlled water bath, whether using a vacuum-sealed bag or not.
Sous vide cooking offers unparalleled control over whatever it is you are trying to cook, whether it’s small steaks and chops, large cuts of meat such as pork shoulder and leg of lamb, seafood, vegetables, and, yes, even eggs. With fast-cooking foods like eggs, sous vide removes all the guesswork that traditional methods like baking have: There’s no poking with a thermometer, no cutting, peeking, or jabbing with your finger to check if the eggs are fully cooked—just perfect results every single time when using the correct temperature and time.
Sous vide cooking allows us to cook the egg bites at a temperature that is significantly lower and more stable than baking—here we cook the eggs at 172℉ vs. a typical 325 to 350℉ for oven-baked eggs. This means that we can achieve the most tender results possible, which would be very challenging to achieve if baking in the oven. Your egg bites will come out of the water bath cooked perfectly from edge to edge.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
If you are unfamiliar with sous vide cooking, the process and set-up might seem intimidating at first, but we assure you it is fairly simple, and really only requires two pieces of equipment: an immersion circulator and a large vessel for holding the water for cooking. An immersion circulator is a device that you insert into a tub or pot of water. It draws water from the tub, heats it up to a precise temperature, then spits it back out, simultaneously heating and circulating the water. You can check out our review of our favorite immersion circulators. As to the best water container to use for sous vide cooking, an immersion circulator can be used with any old pot, like a large soup pot or Dutch oven, but we strongly suggest using a large, sturdy food-safe plastic container such as a Cambro container. Plastic is a better insulator and will actually do a better job at maintaining a constant controlled water temperature. If you own an immersion circulator and are planning on sous vide cooking frequently, then it’s worth the investment to find a sturdy large plastic container for cooking.
How to Make Sous-Vide Egg Bites
We’ve kept the preparation and cooking process for these egg bites as simple as possible in this recipe. The first step is to set up your immersion circulator and water bath following the instructions for your specific model. I recommend starting with room temperature tap water. It will take some time for the circulator to reach the set cooking temperature, 20 to 30 minutes depending on the circulator brand. This is plenty of time to blend the egg mixture and portion it and the bacon into individual jars for cooking. Once the water bath has reached 172℉, you’ll use tongs to gently lower the egg filled jars into the water bath. At this point, the egg jars don’t need any monitoring or checking while they cook. It’s a simple, hands-off cooking process.
Elizabeth performed many side-by-side temperature- and time-controlled tests before deciding that the ideal cooking temperature and time for the eggs is 172℉ for one hour. With this temperature and time combination, the eggs cook to a perfectly set baked custard–like consistency; they are firm enough to hold together when turned out of the cooking jars, but still tender when bitten into.
Key Techniques for Perfect Sous-Vide Egg Bites
While the prep and cooking process is fairly straightforward for this recipe, there are a few key elements that Elizabeth incorporated into her recipe to ensure great results.
Add rice starch or cornstarch to the egg mixture to guarantee silky cooked eggs. The starch acts as a binding agent, preventing the egg proteins from setting too firmly, resulting in a much creamier and more tender texture, essentially protecting the eggs from overcooking and becoming rubbery. Elizabeth performed many side by side tests to confirm that using just 1 1/2 teaspoons rice starch or cornstarch blended with the eggs made a noticeable difference in the egg bites’ final texture. When too much starch was added, the eggs became unpleasantly pasty, and when starch wasn’t added, the eggs verged on rubbery.
Blend the eggs with the cheeses until completely smooth. Using a blender to mix the eggs with the cottage cheese, Gruyère, and Monterey Jack is not only an easy way to combine all the ingredients, the sharp blades of the bender also ensures that everything is processed until fully smooth, which helps achieve the best custard-like texture.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
Don’t over-tighten the jar lids. Both water vapor and air expansion can happen at elevated sub-boiling temperatures, which can increase pressure inside tightly sealed jars. This can cause a small risk of the jar breaking when cooking and can also trap unwanted moisture inside the jars. So it’s prudent to only go “fingertip tight”—simply screw the band lid onto the jar until you feel slight resistance, using only your fingertips—to allow any built-up pressure to escape.
Wait a few minutes before serving. Similar to when baking muffins or a cake, it’s best to wait a few minutes before trying to invert the egg bites out of their cooking jars. This allows time for the eggs to cool slightly and set into a firm cohesive custard, so the egg bite holds together when flipped out of the jar and doesn’t fall apart.
Editor’s Note
This recipe was developed by Elizabeth Mervosh; the headnote was written by Leah Colins.
These Make-Ahead Bacon and Cheese Egg Bites Will Energize Your Mornings
1 ounce (28g) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1/4 cup)
1 1/2teaspoons rice starch orcornstarch
1/2teaspoonhot sauce
1/4 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt use half as much by volume
1/3cup cooked and choppedbacon (from about 5 slices)
Prepare an immersion circulator and water bath according to manufacturer’s directions (you can use a 18-by 12- by 9- inch plastic container such as a Cambro, large Dutch oven, or large pot). Set circulator to 172°F (78°C), and allow water bath to come up to temperature.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
Once water reaches temperature, process eggs, cottage cheese, Gruyère, Monterey Jack, rice starch, hot sauce, and salt in a blender on medium speed until smooth, about 25 seconds.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
Divide bacon among five 4-ounce canning jars with lids and bands. Pour blended egg mixture evenly over bacon mixture in jars. Cover with metal lids and screw on bands until just fingertip tight (i.e., only as tight at you can get the jars using just your fingertips). Do not screw on too tight.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
Using tongs, carefully lower jars into the water bath and cook for 1 hour. Use tongs to transfer jars to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the lids. The egg bites can be served directly out of the jar, or run a knife along the edges of the jars to loosen the egg bites and invert onto a small plate before serving.
Serious Eats / Fred Hardy
Special Equipment
Immersion circulator; plastic container such as a Cambro, large Dutch oven, or large pot; Five 4-ounce canning jars with lids and bands; tongs; wire rack
Make-Ahead and Storage
Refrigerate egg bites in their cooking jars or an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat sealed jars in a sous vide water bath set to 140°F (60°C) until heated through, about 20 minutes. Alternatively, remove egg bites from their cooking jars and reheat in microwave until heated through, about 30 seconds, or warm in a 350℉ (175℃) until warmed through, about 5 minutes.
Many people, especially women I have talked to, have never gone to India for various reasons. They do not know anybody in the subcontinent and are insecure about where to start. For many, the thought of traveling to India, a land rich in history, culture, and potential business opportunities, remains an abstract concept.
Fortunately, in the women leadership space, we had the opportunity to meet Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ladies Organization (FICCI-FLO) seven years ago along with other South Asian women for an Asean business conference in Manila. Previous to that, we were invited to the Delhi Dialogue where our Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN) trustee, Pacita Juan, was invited to speak. She and ambassador Beth Buensuceso met our former Philippine ambassador along with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief, George Barcelon, and the Philippines-India Business Council chair, Johnny Chotrani.
PhilWEN officers were further able to engage with FICCI-FLO in person during two major events. In 2017, we had the pleasure of hosting the Indian delegation in Manila, where we connected over shared experiences and explored business potential. In 2018, the dialogue continued in Bangkok, where we had the opportunity to meet other influential women leaders from the Asean region. This series of interactions paved the way for what would become a strategic partnership, sharing a shared vision for fostering international business connections, especially between India and the Philippines.
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One of the most valuable takeaways from these meetings was understanding the unique cultural dynamics of India and the power of collaborative, women-led initiatives in creating sustainable business models. By the time we were planning our visit to India, we knew that the trip would be a blend of both business and leisure, with an emphasis on experiencing Indian culture in all its richness from B-to-B meetings and cultural tours, fashion shows, and shopping. While shopping and cultural experiences were part of the itinerary, the real goal was to create meaningful business partnerships and opportunities.
So what is there to be scared about? If you are hosted by influential women from FICCI-FLO, the answer is simple—absolutely nothing. These women understand the importance of forging strong, enduring connections that go beyond mere transactions. The experience is curated to be a seamless integration of business, cultural exchange, and social enjoyment, creating a harmonious yet productive atmosphere. Over wine, food, and rich cultural exchanges, business opportunities are unearthed, and lifelong friendships are formed—what more can you ask for?
I recall in September 2024, FICCI-FLO organized an impressive series of industry-focused visits in Hyderabad and New Delhi that proved to be immensely valuable and enjoyable for participants. We explored various industries, including health care/pharma, tech, and manufacturing, and see firsthand the innovations driving India’s economic growth. These experiences provide more than just knowledge; they offer invaluable insights into the evolving business landscape in one of the world’s most populous and fast-growing economies.
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So, how can you, as an entrepreneur or a businesswoman in the Philippines, begin to explore India? It starts by realizing that India’s potential cannot be unlocked by thinking insularly. The world is no longer limited by borders; it is interconnected and ever-evolving. Every company, every individual, has the opportunity to be part of a global ecosystem. Whether it’s the internet, artificial intelligence, or other cutting-edge technological innovations, the global market has become a level playing field for all.
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As someone who had the privilege of engaging with women entrepreneurs from across the globe, I can confidently say that India is one of the most exciting places for women leaders to explore new business ventures. In February of this year, we plan to fly once again to India, this time to Mumbai and Bangalore, for a series of business meetings and visits to global companies.
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If you are looking at expanding your horizons, India is one place to visit and the best way is with a group of women leaders and entrepreneurs. You can join any of our organizations in PhilWEN or be a guest of one of our many members. We would be more than glad to take you along to show the best leaders the country has in business and industry.
In the meantime, drop us an email through [email protected] and tell us what you want to discover in India or even if you simply want to explore exports or expansion in other fields like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and even fashion.
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Ana Bobadilla is the secretariat of the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN) and the partnerships manager of the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment. She is a women/youth empowerment, environment, and diversity, equity, and inclusion advocate.
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Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist who was detained last month in Iran while on a reporting trip, was released on Wednesday and is now back in Italy.
Ms. Sala, who had a journalist visa, was arrested on Dec. 19 on charges of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, but officials there have not provided any further details of accusations against her.
The Italian government announced Wednesday morning that Ms. Sala’s release was “thanks to intense work on diplomatic and intelligence channels.”
Ms. Sala, 29, had been held for 20 days and had told her family that she was kept in an isolation cell, with only two blankets and constant light, her family has said.
On Wednesday Ms. Sala’s partner, Daniele Raineri, said she had called him and told him, “I am free.”
“I am so happy,” Mr. Raineri said as he prepared to go to the airport to greet Ms. Sala. He said the wait was “excruciating” but that Italy had done “exceptional work.”
It was unclear how Italy obtained the release of Ms. Sala.
She was taken into custody three days after the police in Milan arrested Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, a 38-year-old Iranian, on behalf of the United States. Mr. Abedini was accused by the United States of providing drone components to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps — the country’s primary military force.
The Iranian authorities said on Dec. 25 that they expected “the Italian government to prevent the violation of the human rights of the Iranian citizen who has been unjustly accused by the United States.”
Iran has often jailed foreigners and dual nationals to extract concessions from their countries, including prisoner swaps, but Iranian officials said on Monday that there had been no connection between Mr. Abedini’s arrest and Ms. Sala’s.
On Wednesday, Mr. Abedini’s lawyer in Italy, Alfredo De Francesco, said he was happy about Ms. Sala’s release and now needed to focus on his client’s case. He did not respond to questions about developments on Mr. Abedini’s case.
Ms. Sala’s visit to Iran was her first since 2021, and since then, much had changed in the country. A new president had been elected, its shadow war with Israel had moved into the open, and Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria and a longtime ally, had recently been ousted.
Ms. Sala, a writer and podcaster, set out to document the shifting atmosphere. She interviewed a standup comedian, and she photographed women in cafes and on the streets who were not wearing head scarves, posting a selection of images on Instagram last month and describing them as “Tehran’s new faces and new streets.”
The news of Ms. Sala’s detention became public about a week later, on Dec. 27, after she received a visit from Italy’s ambassador to Iran. The detention of Ms. Sala dominated media coverage in Italy, and President Sergio Mattarella mentioned her case in his end of year message.
On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy called Ms. Sala’s parents to tell them that she was returning, according to a government statement.
Girl Scout Cookies have fully staked their place in the American culinary zeitgeist. Whether you’re a Samoas fan or a Thin Mint devotee, nearly everyone is happy to shell out as much as $6 to score a box of their favorite Girl Scout cookie — and support a longstanding organization that benefits girls across the country (not to mention argueendlesslyaboutwhat cookieis truly The Best One). With the 2025 Girl Scout cookie season officially upon us, here’s everything you need to know about this beloved cookie tradition.
When is Girl Scout cookie season?
The exact timing depends on where you live, but generally speaking it occurs for only six to eight weeks each year. The majority of cookie sales are held between January and April, but some troops begin slinging cookies as early as September. Find out when cookies go on sale in your area here.
Where can I buy Girl Scout cookies?
Good question. The Girl Scouts website has a handy cookie locator that will help you track them down by entering your zip code. In general, Girl Scouts tend to set up shop outside high-traffic areas frequented by people who probably like cookies — think grocery stores and big-box stores such as Target and Walmart.
In 2014, the Girl Scouts launched online ordering, and even if you don’t buy in person, your purchase can still benefit a local troop. The Girl Scouts’s official website prompts buyers to input their zip code, and then redirects them to a local troop’s page to complete the purchase and have cookies shipped to their home. Per a press release, this feature will be available starting February 21 this year. If you need cookies ASAP, the site will also serve up a list of locations where you can find a group of Scouts selling IRL.
In the beginning, Girl Scouts baked their own sugar cookies and sold them door-to-door; it wasn’t until the late 1930s that the organization began contracting commercial bakers to produce the cookies en masse. Today, every Girl Scout cookie sold in America is produced by one of two big bakeries: Little Brownie Bakers (which is actually a subsidiary of Keebler), or ABC Smart Cookies. Troops choose which baker they purchase from, and each baker makes them using slightly different recipes and different names. That’s right, Peanut Butter Patties and Tagalongs are basically the same thing from different companies, as are Caramel DeLites and Samoas, and Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Do-Si-Dos. (Thin Mints are Thin Mints no matter where you are in the country, though.)
What are the Girl Scout cookie flavors in 2025?
In January, Girl Scouts of the USA announced that it would be retiring two flavors after the 2025 season: Toast-Yay! and S’mores. It’s not the first time the organization has discontinued a flavor, Raspberry Rally cookies were retired in 2023. The 2025 lineup of flavors is as follows:
Thin Mints: a crispy chocolate-mint wafer coated in chocolate
Samoas: crispy coconut and caramel-coated ring-shaped cookies with chocolatey stripes
Tagalongs: crunchy cookies topped with a layer of peanut butter and dipped in chocolate
Trefoils: shortbread cookies
Do-Si-Dos: a peanut butter sandwich cookie
Adventurefuls: a chocolate, brownie-ish cookie with a dollop of caramel “creme” in the center.
Caramel Chocolate Chip: Gluten-free, chewy cookies with caramel and chocolate chips.
Lemonades: lemon-iced shortbread cookies
Lemon-Ups: also a lemon cookie, but with “inspirational messages” printed on it.
Girl Scout S’mores: graham cracker sandwich cookies stuffed with chocolate and marshmallow fluff.
Toast-Yay: icing-dipped, French toast flavored cookies
Toffee-tastics: a gluten-free buttery toffee cookie
Opinions vary, of course. While many will argue that the top Girl Scout cookie is the cool, chocolatey Thin Mint, others vouch for the crispy, creamy, sweet and just-a-little-bit-salty peanut butter and chocolate Tagalongs. The caramel and coconut Samoas also have hordes of devoted fans. Those are easily the top three flavors, and the best-selling flavors according to the Girl Scouts. After that there’s a sharp drop-off from a subjective taste perspective: Trefoils are boring old shortbread; Savannah Smiles are lemon and really, who gets excited about lemon cookies? The peanut butter sandwiches known as Do-Si-Dos are dry and crumbly and a little bit bland; and many of the others aren’t even worth mentioning. Stick with the top three and you won’t go wrong. (Pro tip: Thin Mints and Tagalongs are fantastic straight from the freezer.)
Where does all the cookie money go?
How exactly funds are distributed between local Girl Scouts and the national organization is a bit complicated. According to the organization, the “net proceeds” from each year’s cookie sales are directed to local council, which distributes the money among the troops it oversees to fund activities and “impactful girl-led community projects.”
Occasionally, politically motivated posts will go viral online, claiming that the Girl Scouts have donated money from cookie sales (or money in general) to organizations like Planned Parenthood. The Girl Scouts have made clear that they have no connection with the organization, and that all proceeds from cookie sales — after the bakers are paid — stay within the regional council that oversees the annual cookie bonanza.
How can I get Girl Scout Cookies out of season?
You can’t, unless maybe you find some scalper on Craigslist who keeps stock in their freezer year-round. If you’re really jonesing for a GSC fix, you can find grocery store knockoffs that approximate Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs from both Keebler’s and Walmart’s Great Value brand — but they’re not as tasty as the real thing, and perhaps more importantly, they lack the charitable aspect that comes along with buying direct from the Girl Scouts.
The Girl Scouts have collaborated with a number of food companies on GSC-inspired products, however, including Breyers ice cream, a cereal collab with General Mills, Coffeemate coffee creamer, and a Dairy Queen Blizzard. There is even Thin Mints flavored whey protein powder at GNC. (There’s also a strain of marijuana called Girl Scout Cookies, but that’s a decidedly unauthorized use of the GSC name.)
Like many wonderful things in life, Girl Scout Cookies are fleeting — and really, waiting 10 months for them to come back in season makes them taste even better.
Here are 15 takeaways from TGL’s highly anticipated opening match, which saw Ludvig Åberg and The Bay Golf dominate Xander Schauffele and New York by a score of 9-to-2.
Takeaways:
1. TGL’s launch went way better than expected
Nobody knew what to expect on Tuesday night, but what fans and players saw was an incredible spectacle. Granted, TGL did not resonate with some, but it was a stark departure from last month’s Showdown between PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars. TGL’s opening night did not disappoint, as the technology, broadcast, and the players involved made it a worthwhile experience.
2. Unbelievable Technology
The technology employed by TGL and the SoFi Center is simply incredible. The screen players hit into is 24 times larger than any simulator bay amateurs are accustomed to. Trackman technology is involved, too, which produces real-life numbers such as ball speed, club-head speed, and spin rate. That said, trackman results should be displayed after every shot.
Once a player’s approach found the putting surface, a spot illuminated on the Green Zone, a nearly 23,000-square-foot short game area opposite the screen. Players would then place their ball on the circle and chip or putt out from there. A real-life bunker also sits beside the green so players can hit real-life sand shots.
It offers a legitimate short-game area that most simulators cannot replicate. Sure, some nuances and differences exist, but overall, the players seemed to enjoy the Green Zone, which is revolutionary. Hundreds of mechanisms sit underneath it, undulating the green in real time and changing its contours after every virtual hole played. Players and fans do not even notice these movements, either.
Perhaps the most extraordinary moment of the match — relative to the Green Zone — came when Matt Fitzpatrick played the 9th hole. The Englishman purposefully played a chip shot well beyond the hole and his ball rolled back down the slope towards the cup, not unlike the imaginative shots players attempt every year at Augusta National. Fitzpatrick then had a tap-in, solidifying that, yes, short-game feel and imagination translate to TGL too.
4. Ludvig Åberg is unstoppable
Something about match play brings the best out of Ludvig Åberg. Remember the 2023 Ryder Cup? Åberg, together with Viktor Hovland, defeated Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9 & 8 on Saturday morning, handing the Americans the most-lopsided defeat in Ryder Cup history.
Fast forward to Tuesday, and Åberg played a massive role in helping his Bay side dominate New York. His 30-foot putt on the green was perhaps the biggest highlight, but so was his pin-seeking all throughout. He’s one of the best players in the world and will vie for major championships for years to come.
5. Rickie Fowler… not so much
On the other hand, Rickie Fowler was all over the place. He did not have a good 2024 campaign, and that unfortunate reality reared its ugly head during his TGL debut. He also seemed frazzled throughout.
Fowler routinely missed fairways and greens to the left and right, while Åberg and The Bay seemingly hit their shots directly at the flag every time. Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick did not bail Fowler out, either, as they did lose as a team. But Fowler’s poor performance was especially notable and difficult to watch really.
6. The pace of play is phenomenal
This was the best part of TGL, bar none. Everything moved swiftly, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. Maybe the PGA Tour and LPGA should adopt a 40-second shot clock.
7. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were there, but not playing?
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy took on the action from the stands, a questionable move at first, but it now comes off as brilliant. Woods and McIlroy both felt that TGL would have plenty of hype and build-up for its debut, no matter who would play. So, they decided to delay their TGL starts until January 14 and 28th, respectively.
That will help keep fans engaged with TGL throughout its first month, as Woods remains the biggest needle-mover in golf, and McIlroy continues to be one of the most popular players around the world.
Woods and McIlroy also spent some time on the broadcast, which was nice to hear. Both players offered terrific insight into TGL’s origin and the play itself. Perhaps Woods should call more golf — that might help the declining television ratings.
8. Golfers had some banter, but we need more
There was some back-and-forth between the golfers, and I loved how you could hear their thoughts and emotions directly on the broadcast. Hearing them chat with each other was terrific, yet we need more of it.
Perhaps the match getting out of hand so quickly resulted in less banter, but regardless of the case, golf fans want to see a player’s personality come through the broadcast.
My favorite line of the night came at halftime, when Xander Schauffele said to ESPN’s Matt Barrie, “You know, super fired up about our 1 point. Not gonna lie.”
Golf needs more of this comedic repartee, whether it’s a tongue-in-cheek line such as Schauffele’s or a hot mic incident. And yes, if you are wondering, Shane Lowry dropped the first F-bomb in TGL history.
9. Fans could be rowdier
Roughly 1,500 fans were on hand at the SoFi Center, and they made their presence known early and often. But once the match got out of hand, the atmosphere, aside from the ‘Bronx Cheers’ directed towards the New York Golf Club, died down a bit. TGL should want to have the fans engaged and vocal throughout the match. It creates a unique atmosphere and puts golfers in the middle of the arena, an experience they are not accustomed to. That said, it’s tough to fully engage in a game when it is a blowout, no matter the sport.
10. Please, no more DJ Khaled
Fans want to see live golf, and DJ Khaled came off as gringey.
Do you know how network executives must interview a company’s C-suite executive during a live golf broadcast over the weekend? Those 60- to 90-second conversations of word salad anger fans because they distract from the action. The same principle applies to Khalid. We want to see golf, not Khaled’s cliches. And no, we do not need to see him drape a chain around Ludvig Åberg after.
11. Lengthy Intro and Intermission
Shane Lowry did not hit the first tee shot until roughly 9:15 ET, 14 minutes after the inaugural TGL broadcast began. Luckily for golf fans, the Pittsburgh-Duke game did not go long, thanks to Cooper Flagg dominating once more. But the build-up and the intro took a little too much time. Granted, this is a minor critique — and perhaps the lengthy opening resulted from it being the first match. ESPN needed to explain the nuances. Yet, as my father often says on any big-game telecast, “Just start the game already.”
Similar sentiments can be expressed about the intermission, which came well past the halfway point of the telecast. The midway break was also littered with commercials, but those help pay the bills and produce revenue, so harping on the influx of ads would be counterintuitive. Even then, a two-hour broadcast is a little long for a TGL match, as it could easily be shortened to 90 minutes or less. Keep things moving; it’s the best part of this new endeavor.
Next week, Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club will play Collin Morikawa’s Los Angeles Golf Club. The match will begin at 7 p.m. ET, a much earlier start time that will delight all involved. Hopefully, the first shot will not be played 14 minutes after the broadcast goes on air.
12. ESPN did a phenomenal job
Even though the above takeaway is a minor critique of ESPN, the World Leader in Sports did an excellent job on night one. Matt Barrie handled play-by-play duties live from the SoFi Center and exquisitely guided the action. He balanced his interactions with the players quite well, never interjecting but never saying too little. I thought he gave the perfect amount of context all night. Barrie is a true pros-pro, and that showed Tuesday night. The same can be said for Marty Smith, who served as the “on-course” reporter.
The presentation and graphics worked well from a viewer’s perspective. The viewer understood what was happening and had context for every situation. ESPN’s ability to duplicate what played out on the screen to linear television is also a big win. It helps emphasize the most crucial part of a golf telecast: where will the ball end up? That curiosity angle, which links the player and the fan watching, kept everyone engaged.
Matt Barrie and Tiger Woods call TGL action live on ESPN.Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
13. Scott Van Pelt elevates things
Scott Van Pelt is perhaps the most respected host in the business. It’s no wonder his Midnight edition of SportsCenter has received rave reviews and terrific ratings since its debut in 2015. His presence — and knowledge of golf overall — helped raise TGL’s profile, giving it a big-game feel. As he does with the star player after a Monday Night Football game, Van Pelt interviewed Ludvig Åberg immediately following the debut match. That’s big time, and Van Pelt will only help TGL in the long run.
14. Heartbeat sensor adds drama
I love the heartbeat sensor that beats as the shot clock winds down. Once the shot clock reaches 15 seconds, a heartbeat sound reverberates across the SoFi Center, adding drama and pressure to the player on deck.
Imagine having this at a PGA Tour event? It could work wonders.
A heartbeat that gets faster as the shot clock runs down?!? That would freak me out.
Perhaps the most important takeaway is that sustainability will be key. TGL has never been higher and more popular than it is right now. It received rave reviews from fans, players, and pundits alike. But can they keep riding this momentum through mid-March? Is a 12-week schedule too much? Time will tell, but TGL’s biggest priority right now should be keeping fans engaged during its inaugural season. Night one cannot be the apex of it all.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
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