The first TGL season will end in the tee-off playoffs on Monday at Sophie Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Top-seeded Los Angeles Golf Club meets No. 4 Seed New York Golf Club in the first semi-finals on Monday, with the second Seed Bay Golf Club playing the third Seeded Atlanta Drive GC in the second semi-finals on Tuesday.
The winners of each semi-finals will return to Sophie Centre for the final three of the Sophie Cup the following week. The first final will take place on March 24th, with the second and third (if necessary) being held the following day.
Los Angeles Golf Club’s Sahith Theegala expects the first playoffs to have plenty of action.
“The best thing is, especially with the new hammer rules, you won’t come out of it,” Tegala said. “It’s a running game. It really feels like a college basketball game. That’s the closest thing I can explain. It’s fine to 15 or 16 points (basketball), one run, and then come back soon.
Semi-final No. 1: New York Golf Club (2-2-1) vs. Los Angeles Golf Club (4-0-1)
When: Monday, 7pm (ESPN2/ESPN+)
New York Golf Club Lineup
Xander Schauffele
Ricky Fowler
Cameron Young
Los Angeles Golf Club Lineup
Collin Morikawa
Tommy Fleetwood
Sahith theegala
Single Match
Shaufele vs Morikawa
Fowler vs. Fleetwood
Young vs. Tegara
According to TGL Metrics, it was the club’s dramatic overtime rematch on February 24th, and was only 2% likely to win, returning from a 4-0 deficit on hole 12.
Theegala made a 28-foot birdie putt on hole 12 and put the Los Angeles GC on the board. Tony Finau, who had been playing on a one-game contract with Laguk due to Fleetwood and Justin Rose not available, scored two points on the par-4 13th hole with a 9-foot birdie after New York GC threw a hammer.
On par 3, hole 14, Morikawa hit a tee shot to 6 feet and drained a birdie putt to tie the score. Morikawa and Finau defeated Fowler and Matt Fitzpatrick in the contest that is closest to the closest pin in an overtime session to win the match. Los Angeles GC scored a playoff spot in a comeback victory.
“It was so much fun,” Tegala said. “I think it’s our preparation that has become the most successful team ever. It feels like we’re probably practicing more than the other teams. Our schedules are consistent and everyone on the team is very competitive.
Los Angeles GC won four of five regular season games and earned the No. 1 seed. That only defeat came in a 6-5 setback to Atlanta Drive GC in overtime on February 17th. Ragk secured the top seed on March 3rd by knocking off the undefeated Bay Golf Club 5-3.
After dropping the first two games, New York GC has scored two of the last three, earning the fourth seed in the playoffs. The New York GC qualified for the playoffs on March 3rd, beating Boston Common Golf 10-6. Also, on February 18th, he defeated Jupiter Links GC 10-3.
The Los Angeles GC led the TGL with the total hole (27), with single holes winning (13). Morikawa (3-0-5) and Fleetwood (3-0-3) have not dropped singles matches this season.
Fowler and Young are second-bound with a 19-point victory total. Bay Golf Club’s Wyndham Clark (who had to withdraw from the player’s championship due to a neck injury) is the first with a 26.
Semifinal No. 2: Atlanta Drive GC (4-1-0) vs. Bay Golf Club (4-1-0)
Time: Tuesday, 7pm (ESPN, ESPN+)
Atlanta Drive GC lineup
Justin Thomas
Billy Hoshel
Patrick Cantray
Bay Golf Club Lineup
Shane Laurie
Min Woo Lee (subsequent to Wyndham Clark)
ludvigÅberg
Single Match
Thomas vs. Laurie
Hoskell Vs. Lee
Cantlay vs. Aberg
The club’s regular season meeting in the President’s Day triple header was one of the most exciting finishes of the TGL’s first season. Thomas drilled a long putt on the par 5 15th hole and sent the game into overtime. He barely missed, giving Bay a 6-5 victory, and handing the only loss of the season to Atlanta Drive GC.
Bay GC does not have Clark for this match after retreating in the second round of Friday’s athletes championship due to a neck injury. He will be replaced by Min Woolly in the starting lineup.
Lee helped Bay’s victory over Atlanta Drive GC with his TGL debut on February 17th. He also set a TGL ball speed record at 191 mph on No. 9. Lee leads the league with average driving distance (332 yards) and is second in fairway hits (90.9%).
Clark was the most consistent golfer in the TGL this season. In addition to leading the league in total points, he was first scored with 21 triple points won and five single points won.
Teams rank first or second in birdies, so they get strokes and match evenly across totals, around green, and both putting and scrambling.
“I think golf and personality are what fill the gap between us,” Thomas said. “We obviously mesh pretty well. We had a great run.”
With Aberg, Clark and Lee on the team, it’s no surprise that Bay leads the TGL in almost every driving stat, including average distance from the tee (319.7 yards) and fairway hits (76%).
Thomas led the TGL with strokes: putting (+2.79), putts in feet (101), and putts made with over 12 feet (4).
“At the end of the day, I think it’s a different style of golf, but it’s still golf,” Thomas said. “You need to play better and hit the shots properly. Obviously, when you win a match, it’s more fun so we hope we can run and win the first year of the Sophie Cup.”
Final Schedule
March 24th: Match 1, 9 PM ET (ESPN2/ESPN+)
March 25th: 2pm, 7pm. Match 3, 9 PM ET* (ESPN/ESPN+)
*as needed