The inaugural season of TGL, golf’s ambitious tech-driven league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, has captured attention across the sports world since kicking off in January 2025. Rarely does a new sports property launch with such immediate fanfare, but the combination of superstar PGA Tour players, innovative technology, and prime-time television slots has quickly positioned TGL as a compelling addition to the golf landscape. As the regular season races toward its conclusion, fans are increasingly curious about what happens next when the league transitions to its first-ever playoff format.

With six teams battling throughout the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. Bay Area Golf Club currently leads the standings with 6 points and a perfect 3-0-0 record, followed by Los Angeles GC (5 points), Atlanta Drive GC (4 points), and New York GC (2 points) occupying the final playoff position. As TGL’s inaugural playoffs approach in March 2025, understanding the structure that will crown the first SoFi Cup champion becomes essential for both casual viewers and die-hard golf fans alike.

How the TGL playoffs work

The TGL playoff structure follows a straightforward yet compelling format. The top four teams in the regular season standings qualify for the postseason, with seeding based on points accumulated throughout the season. Teams earn 2 points for each win (whether in regulation or overtime), 1 point for an overtime loss, and 0 points for a regulation loss. In case teams finish with identical point totals, tiebreakers come into play, with the first being the total holes won during the regular season.

The postseason kicks off with single-elimination semifinals on March 17-18, 2025, where the No. 1 seed faces the No. 4 seed, while the No. 2 seed battles the No. 3 seed. Winners from these crucial matchups advance to the championship round. “We wanted a format that rewards regular season excellence while creating high-stakes moments in the playoffs,” TGL Commissioner said about the structure.

The championship series features a unique Best-of-Three format—the first team to win two matches claims the inaugural SoFi Cup. This series, scheduled for March 24-26, creates multiple opportunities for dramatic swings and strategic adjustments between matches. If a team dominates by winning the first two matches, the third becomes unnecessary. Each playoff match follows TGL’s standard 15-hole format, divided into two distinct sessions: nine holes of “Triples” (3-v-3 alternate shot) followed by six holes of “Singles” (head-to-head matchups).

The scoring system remains consistent with the regular season—each hole is worth one point, with the team scoring lower on a hole winning the point. Ties result in zero points with no carryovers. Teams can strategically use their “Hammer” to increase a hole’s value by one point, with each team having three Hammers per match. If a match ends tied after 15 holes, a decisive 3-v-3 closest-to-the-pin competition determines the winner, with the first team to win two such contests claiming victory. While these rules provide the framework, TGL’s cutting-edge technology adds another dimension to the playoff experience.

The technology powering TGL’s playoff drama

The technological innovations that define TGL take on heightened importance during the playoffs. The massive simulator screen where players hit their tee and approach shots creates a virtual environment that combines the precision of real golf with the visual spectacle of esports. “What makes our playoff matches unique is how we leverage this technology to create pressure moments that test the best players in the world,” a TGL technology expert noted.

The GreenZone—where players complete each hole with actual short-game shots—features a rotating turntable and motorized actuators that reshape the putting surface between holes. During the playoffs, these mechanisms create particularly challenging green configurations that demand precision under pressure. The 40-second shot clock adds another layer of tension during playoff competition when every second counts, forcing players to trust their instincts rather than overthink crucial shots.

The strategic “Hammer” rule takes on greater significance in the playoffs, with teams carefully deploying their three opportunities to increase a hole’s value at optimal moments. Real-time data analytics help teams determine when to use hammers based on historical performance in specific situations, adding a chess-like strategic element to high-stakes matches.

The TGL playoffs showcase a bold vision for golf’s future, blending traditional skills with cutting-edge technology to create a fast-paced, team-oriented spectacle. Fans now witness the evolution of a new competitive format that could transform how players compete and how audiences consume golf for years to come. As the March playoff dates approach, the drama builds toward crowning the inaugural SoFi Cup champion. What team are you rooting for in the TGL playoffs? Let us know in the comments section below!