Two days of TGL

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL

Four TGL matches in less than 24 hours! I'm back in the SoFi Center for the second day in a row. The biggest story heading into Tuesday night was will Tiger Woods play. Woods withdrew from his host tournament the Genesis Invitational. TGL officials originally heard Tiger would not play. In a fantastic change of events, Tiger told TGL he will compete and is in the lineup tonight! Both of these teams need to desperately win if they are going to try and catch the TGL league leaders we saw yesterday.

The Golf Pro Betting Show is broadcast live this afternoon from the SoFi Center at 3:00pm ET. Keith are Wiley are preparing for back to back wins... make sure you watch! ​

The format, course, and starting lineups

After eight matches, I believe most of you know the TGL format, but in case you have been living under a rock, check the videos on the TGL website for the rules of play (​​​TGL EXPLAINED​​​). 🚨 Speaking of rules, TGL changed the HAMMER rules prior to this week's matches. The change made a huge difference as the HAMMER was thrown 16 times yesterday! Straight from the TGL website here's the new specifics on "throwing" the HAMMER.

• Starting Monday, each team will begin the match with three Hammers. Playing the Hammer raises the stakes of a hole by one point when played and accepted. Teams can only throw the Hammer once on a given hole but are otherwise free to use them at any point in the match. The maximum number of points on offer per hole is now 3 (should each team throw a Hammer that is accepted by their opponent). Teams can decline the Hammer but by doing so concede the hole and the points on offer. However, teams can’t decline the Hammer when it is thrown before the first tee shot on a given hole. TGL Link​

Cameron Young takes us out tonight and will hit the opening tee shot. Young might be having a little imposter moment as he is followed off the first tee by Tiger Woods in Match 9. The incredible New York bomber, Young will have his hands (and mind) full going up against Tiger most of the evening including two H2H holes. New York GC enters the match winless at 0-2-0. Jupiter Links GC looks to build upon their last match and sits just above them in the standings at 1-1-0.

Keith's "TGL" Keys 🗞️ A couple of key insights you can claim as your own idea at the water cooler and cocktail party conversations. Putt for points: Favor the teams that close out holes from inside 10', they keep winning more points than their opponents. Bunkers: Bunker play continues to baffle these guys. We saw several shots left in bunkers by the world's best yesterday. Green gain: The best way to avoid the bunkers is to hit GIRs. Both of these teams need to hit more greens. One will (Jupiter) and I think they'll win.

Well, they did it again. The TGL have given us another repeat course. For Match 9, our par 60 scorecard measuring 5,809 yards is the same rotation as Match 7 yesterday. Seeing this take place twice, I asked TGL officials why we repeated two designs in two days. They returned a very technical answer as to why? The green surface rotates between holes depending on the design. Rotating the green takes a specific amount of time to move. If they choose a rotation of holes that calls for large rotations between holes, it slows down play. Based upon everyone's love for TGL's pace, let's be satisfied with the current design blueprint and keep it all moving.

With Tiger Woods signed on, Jupiter Links Golf Club returns with the same winning lineup they put out in Match 4 against Boston Common Golf. The same JLGC team that was led by Tom Kim. The South Korean match play star will be lined up against Matt Fitzpatrick in the H2Hs. You have to love that matchup based upon recent form for the southeast Florida squad. I mentioned earlier, Tiger versus Cam, and in the middle matchup it is Kevin Kisner against Rickie Fowler. No Xander Schauffele on TOUR and TGL to date. Let's hope the 2024 two-time major champion heals before the PLAYERS. The moneyline tells a story, the books believe this match will be New York Golf Club's first win.

• Match 9:
  • Jupiter Links Golf Club (+125) - Tiger Woods, Kevin Kisner, Tom Kim (Max Homa)
  • New York Golf Club (-163) - Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick (Xander Schauffele)

Watching three matches in a row yesterday was exciting and very telling. First, the HAMMER rule change(s) has made a world of difference for the fans, and the players. Los Angeles GC is very good. They took Atlanta Drive to overtime without Collin Morikawa. Buoyed by The Kid, The Bay GC was one hole better than Atlanta Drive in Match 7 and again won late in Match 8 over three players ranked in the top 15 in the OWGR. Remember each team only gets five matches, by the end of tonight one team can already be eliminated from the playoffs!

Match breakdown

I think Tiger Woods is ready to play some golf. The loss of his mother may have set him back emotionally, but physically he has looked better and better in the arena. If you were listening to him in the booth Sunday with CBS, he sounded like he was itching to compete. A sense we all haven’t really felt from him since before the crash. Couple that with a passionate Tom Kim and I believe Jupiter Links GC increases their win total this evening. Cameron Young missed the cut by two strokes at Genesis and Rickie Fowler and Matt Fitzpatrick didn't finish ranked inside the top 45 players T2G for the tourney. Fitzpatrick and Fowler lost a combined five strokes on approach in the final round. A Sunday where 70% of the field shot under par; they shot 74 (Fowler) and 75 (Fitzpatrick).

New York has been very accurate off the tee hitting 80% of their fairways in two TGL matches. Unfortunately, successfully hitting fairways has not led to hitting GIRs. NYGC only secured 63% of their greens in their first two matches. Jupiter Links has hit less by percentage, but their first match was an unmitigated disaster. Their second match was much better from a ball striking perspective and the trend is your friend. Another reason I'm backing the JLGC is their HAMMER history. Jupiter Links has thrown more HAMMERS than any other team before the rule change. In doing so, they are better prepared for the new rules. Couple that with two match play legends in Woods and Kisner and I think this undervalued aspect becomes much more of a impact on scoring.

Ball striking takes care of Triples. I see Jupiter Links taking the early format and bringing us another first nine winning ticket. Tom Kim will bury a couple of crucial putts and NYGC will have their backs completely against the wall heading into Singles play.

• Woods versus Young: Cameron Young has been on a cold streak of approach play. Young has not gained positive strokes with his iron game in 2025. Temple (Hole 13) is a great approach test. I'll take the greatest iron player of all-time against Young as Tiger takes Temple. Sterling (Hole 10) is an odd setup for a par 5. Like most par 5s in TGL these two will tie.
• Kisner versus Fowler: This is the most interesting matchup of the evening for me. Two veterans heading in different directions. One toward the booth and the other still making cuts and contending from time to time. Hole 14 is a 150-yard approach. Fowler has a proximity of about 21' in that range. He's decent with a scoring club in his hand. I like Rickie to take the par 3 over Kisner who hasn't been sharp in either of his two matches. The Plank (Hole 11) is too straight forward for me to see an edge. Kevin can still hit a driver and a wedge inside 15', therefore these two tie.
• Kim versus Fitzpatrick: Much like Rickie, Matt Fitzpatrick's consistency has essentially evaporated. The approach play is getting better, but ARG is a liability. Both the par 3 twelfth and closing par 5 will require a short shot to score. Tom Kim is going to take over this match one more time and win both. In three starts since his last TGL match, Kim has gained with his iron game and OTT significantly. There's a chance Fitz can halve the final hole after the match is over but Set in Stone (170-yard par 3) is perfect for Tom’s current form. Take him and his team as we close out a busy week of TGL action.

Match 9 Card

Match 9 JLGC vs. NYGC Match 9 winner: Jupiter Links Golf Club (+125 FD) ​ Match 9 prop bet ​(member only content)​ ​ For more TGL bets, become a member of Read The Line. ​(Click this button!) ​ Betting markets have been slow to post for TGL, especially Fanduel. They generally come out after we publish, so compare before you bet as they may have a better line.

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