With excitement buzzing among golf enthusiasts, the inaugural TGL playoffs are about to commence, showcasing the innovation and competitive spirit of this new league created by golfing legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. The postseason kicks off with two exhilarating semifinal matches set to take place this week, culminating next week with the crowning of the first-ever champion.
On Monday, March 17, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET, the No. 1 seed Los Angeles Golf Club will face off against the No. 4 New York Golf Club at the SoFi Center located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The following day, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, also at 7 p.m. ET, No. 2 seed The Bay Golf Club will take on No. 3 Atlanta Drive GC.
Fans are eager to see how the teams stack up against each other. The Los Angeles Golf Club squad, featuring stars Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, and Tommy Fleetwood, boasts stellar momentum, entering the playoffs with the best record of 4-0-1, having only suffered one overtime loss to Atlanta Drive GC during the regular season.
Meanwhile, the New York Golf Club team, comprised of renowned players Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, and Cameron Young, managed to sneak its way to the playoffs with some impressive late-season performances. Notably, New York's strengths lay in their ability to lead the league with 28.6% putts made over 30 feet, complementing their strong average ball speed of 181.0 mph and exceptional driving distance.
On the other side of the brackets, Atlanta Drive GC, featuring Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel, and Patrick Cantlay, will face The Bay Golf Club – which includes players Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Åberg – with expectations high after their previous encounter saw The Bay winning 6-5.
The playoff format adds another layer of excitement, utilizing unique game dynamics. Matches will be played over 15 holes, with the first session consisting of triples (three-person alternate shot play) over holes 1-9. Following this, the matches will switch to singles (head-to-head play) for holes 10-15. Overtime, should it be needed, will consist of the three players competing closest to the pin. Each hole played is worth one point, with the opportunity to double up when teams choose to utilize power-ups known as 'hammers.'
Some strategic twists include shot clocks requiring players to hit within 40 seconds or face penalties, and each team having four timeouts to navigate through challenges. With teams competing at such high levels of intensity at the SoFi Center, fans can expect thrilling showdowns as strategies and skills collide.
To note, the playoffs have seen some unexpected absences, as both Woods' Jupiter Links and McIlroy's Boston Common Golf failed to qualify. Woods, still recovering from an Achilles injury, likely wouldn’t have participated even if his team had made the playoffs. Given these developments, the tournament now belongs to the battling four top-seeded teams.
Looking forward, the championship will comprise the winning teams from the semifinals who will compete next week in a best-of-three series on March 24 and 25, 2025. With $21 million on the line and the winners set to share $9 million as well as take home the illustrious SoFi Cup, the stakes are definitely high.
Viewers can catch the action live on ESPN2 or stream via Fubo. Golf fans and sports enthusiasts alike are buzzing with excitement as they look forward to witnessing this unprecedented playoff series and the emergence of the first champion of the TGL. The playoffs represent not just the culmination of competition but also the innovative future of golf as it adapts to contemporary viewing experiences.
