Gulf Golf Club wins its first TGL event…and uses the Hammer for the first time.
Brennan Asplen/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images
The new TGL Golf League debuted Tuesday night, bringing with it a host of innovations not found on the PGA Tour. From shot timers to giant simulators and triple-match formats, viewers saw a new side to the age-old game. Did we mention this all takes place indoors?
But one of the most interesting quirks of TGL’s debut game is “The Hammer.” Here’s everything you need to know about the new rules.
What is TGL’s hammer?
Physically, the hammer is a piece of yellow-orange cloth shaped like Mjolnir. But what we are most concerned with here is what it represents and how it is used.
The team with the hammer can throw the hammer to any hole. When the ball is thrown and received, one point is added to the hole’s total score. While a hole normally counts for 1 point, a hammer increases the score to 2 points.
What does TGL stand for? A pointless investigation (with a surprising twist)
Dylan Detier
If the hammer throw is thrown before the hole begins, the opposing team must accept it. However, if it is thrown to any other shot, the opposing team can choose to reject it, but if they do, they will also forfeit the hole.
You can imagine a situation where a team knows they’re going to lose the hole, so by rejecting the hammer, they limit their opponent to 1 point instead of 2 points.
Either way, once thrown, ownership of the hammer automatically switches to the other team.
Although we didn’t see this happen in the inaugural TGL game, on rare occasions the hammer can be thrown multiple times on a hole.
How to use a hammer in the TGL premiere
The official first use of the hammer occurred on the 3rd hole of the opening match between Gulf Golf Club and New York Golf Club.
In TGL’s debut, this brilliant rule twist makes the whole thing go smoothly
Alan Bastable
Gulf Golf Club started play with a hammer after winning the coin toss, and when TBGC player Wyndham Clark made a seven-foot birdie on No. 3, he dropped the hammer in hopes of earning his team an extra point. . He did it. Clark made a birdie to extend his team’s lead from 1-0 to 3-0.
When the team reached the 7th hole, NYGC still had the Hammer ball despite losing 6-0. TBGC’s Shane Lowry prepared to tee off, but before he could hit the ball, NYGC’s Xander Schauffele dropped the hammer at his feet. You can see the moment below.
Lowry accepted Hammer’s challenge, but both teams ended up on par, so no points were scored and the score was still 6-0.
This was the last time the hammer was used on TGL’s first night. In the end, TBGC continued to maintain a large lead and defeated NYGC 9-2.
” >
