TGL 2024 Format: How does it differ from PGA Tour?

The upstart, alternative golf league is the latest competitive golf product created to appeal to a younger audience. However, TGL should not be confused with another breakaway golf circuit that’s been testing the status quo and pushing boundaries – LIV Golf. In fact, TGL was created not as a rival to the PGA Tour, but to complement it instead.

Let’s dive right into it and learn more about what you can expect from this high-profile golf league.

Who is teeing it up in TGL – The Players

Star power will be on full display for TGL as 10 out of the top 15 players in the OWGR are participating, including 2-7. There will be six teams comprised of four players each for a total of 24 players, including Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, and Tiger Woods, just to name a few.

All matches will be played at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens; however, each team represents a city from across the U.S., including Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York City.  For example, Jupiter Links Golf Club’s team is comprised of Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Tom Kim, and Kevin Kisner.

The ‘Golf Course’ – Simulation Golf on Steroids

TGL is meant to be a fully immersive experience for players, as well as fans watching both at the arena and at home on TV, including mic’d-up players providing instant feedback and commentary.

You may have had your own experience playing golf in a simulator, but it’s doubtful you’ve experienced simulator golf like you’ll see at TGL. The TGL experience will bring simulator golf as close to real golf as possible, with players hitting golf shots into a 64x53’ screen powered by Full Swing. Players will hit shots from real grass – including ‘fairways’ and ‘rough’ – as well as bunker shots from real sand.

Once a player makes it to the green or green adjacent, they will play their next shots from a short game area and putting green. This is unlike any green you’ve seen. It is custom-built by GreenZone and features over 20,000 square feet that can transform between holes to match that hole’s topography.

Three world-class golf course design companies created 30 original, virtual golf holes that can be used to create unique golf courses for a particular match. Each of those holes can also be calibrated to play different lengths with varying weather conditions so that there are virtually limitless options when creating golf courses for the matches.

The Format – Modified Match Play

Three out of the four players for each team will play a match. Matches consist of 15 holes divided into two sessions – a triples session where all three players compete for nine holes and a singles session for the other six holes.

Triple sessions consist of nine holes of 3-on-3 alternate shot and singles sessions consist of six holes of head-to-head golf.

As in traditional match-play golf, the team with the lowest number of shots for a hole wins that hole. Each hole is worth one point – the team with the most points after 15 holes wins the match. If the match is tied after 15 holes of regulation golf, overtime will commence. If you love a closest-to-the-pin contest, then you’re in luck. The three players from each team will compete to see who can get the closest to the pin from a set yardage, with the closest ball earning the W for their team.

But wait, just when you thought that was all, TGL drops The Hammer…literally. The Hammer is a special tool that can be used by a team to increase the point value of a hole by one point. Used strategically, The Hammer can be used to keep the pressure on a team or change the momentum in a match. After a team plays The Hammer, it changes possession to the other team.

If you’re familiar with professional hockey and how its points and standing system works, you’ll feel right at home with TGL.

• 2 points – a team receives two points for a win in regulation.

• 2 points – a team also receives two points for a win in overtime.

• 1 point – a team receives one point for a loss in overtime.

• 0 points – a loss in regulation nets a team 0 points.

The top four teams at the end of the regular season advance to the playoffs which consist of a single-elimination semifinal round and a best-of-three league championship.

TGL matches will be played on Monday or Tuesday nights in primetime on ESPN. The first match of the inaugural season between New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club is Tuesday, January 7th at 9:00 p.m. ET with guest appearances in the commentary booth from Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.