Here's how Tiger Woods' TGL is changing the rules mid-season

USA Today

16-02-2025

Here's how Tiger Woods' TGL is changing the rules mid-season
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Video inside Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy's TGL golf league SoFi Center
Inside the SoFi Center with three of the 24 PGA Tour pros who will make up the six teams and be televised on ESPN on January 7, 2025.
TGL Golf League modified its "Hammer" rule to encourage more strategic use and exciting gameplay.
Previously, only the leading team possessed the "Hammer," allowing them to dictate its use and potentially stifle comebacks.
The updated rule grants both teams three "Hammers" each at the start of the match, usable once per hole, adding a layer of strategy and risk-reward decisions.
This change aims to address concerns about the "Hammer's" underutilization and enhance the viewing experience by creating more opportunities for dramatic turnarounds.
TGL has seen enough — or in this case — not enough and decided to make the first significant rule change in its short history.
Noticing the "Hammer" has become a popular topic on social media but often ignored by the players, the indoor golf league's competition committee has tweaked the rules hoping the yellow flag that challenges a team to double down on the hole, thus providing more opportunity for the trailing team to come back, will be thrown more often.
Now, at the start of a match, each team will have three Hammers to use at their discretion, but only once per hole. The maximum a hole can be worth is three points if both teams throw a Hammer on the same hole and each is accepted. As previously defined, a Hammer thrown prior to the start of a hole, must be accepted.
The change starts with Monday's triple-header at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, the first time TGL will host more than one match in a day. Previously, only the team that possessed the Hammer could throw it and then it would transfer to the other team.
When the Hammer is thrown and accepted by the other team, the value of the hole multiplies to two points. If it is not accepted, the other team concedes the hole and its value, one point, does not change.
The league's competition committee is comprised of representatives from each of the six TGL teams in the league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, along with a member from the PGA Tour and TGL leadership. The committee examined multiple simulations from matches already played to come up with different iterations of the Hammer rule.
In two of the last three matches, the Hammer was never thrown, remaining in the pocket of the team that jumped to an early start.
The strategy has become if you have the lead, do not give the trailing team the opportunity to win two points on one hole and then possess the Hammer.
Los Angeles Golf Club, which defeated Boston Common, 6-2, two weeks ago, jumped to an early lead.
"The fact we were 3-up through three holes, that was it from that point," L.A.'s Justin Rose said. "All we could do was get them back in the game by giving them the opportunity to win a two-hole situation."
Boston players were heard on the broadcast lamenting L.A.'s reluctance to throw the Hammer.
"If they had any guts they'd throw it," Boston Common's Keegan Bradley said.
Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel wanted the Hammer but not Patrick Cantlay
During the Atlanta Drive's 4-0 victory over New York, Atlanta's Justin Thomas and Billy Horschel wanted to throw the Hammer and teammate Patrick Cantlay was heard explaining to them why it was to their advantage to keep it tucked away.
'We just got up early and didn't need to (throw it),' Cantlay said. 'It's that simple.'
After Boston's loss, Bradley offered his opinion about tweaking the Hammer rules.
"I personally think there should be some sort of rule where if you don't use it for three or four holes you lose the Hammer because it's such a valuable thing in this league," Bradley said. "I think it creates a lot of fun and adds to the atmosphere.
"Especially when you're down like us. We were trying to egg them on to throw it. Smartly, they didn't."
Although it's not exactly what Bradley proposed, the committee has been listening.
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [e-mail].