TGL playoffs: Key aspects to observe in the semifinal matches
The second season of TGL is nearing its conclusion with the commencement of the SoFi Cup playoffs, set to begin Tuesday at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Atlanta Drive GC will seek to retain its SoFi Cup title as it faces Los Angeles Golf Club in the opening semifinal match.
Boston Common aims to achieve a remarkable turnaround from last place to first as it competes against Jupiter Links Golf Club in the other semifinal.
The victors of Tuesday’s contests will advance to a best-of-three finals series scheduled for March 23-24.
How to view the 2026 TGL playoffs and championship on ESPN
Semifinal No. 1: Atlanta Drive GC (3-2-0) vs. Los Angeles Golf Club (3-2-0)
When: Tuesday, March 17, 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+)
Atlanta Drive GC lineup:
Patrick Cantlay
Billy Horschel
Chris Gotterup
Los Angeles Golf Club lineup:
Justin Rose
Sahith Theegala
Tommy Fleetwood
Singles matches:
Cantlay vs. Rose
Horschel vs. Theegala
Gotterup vs. Fleetwood
No. 3 seed Atlanta Drive GC will strive to defend its SoFi Cup title from the inaugural season in 2025. However, it will do so without two-time major champion Justin Thomas, who is not participating on Tuesday. He is recovering from back surgery and is exercising caution after playing 72 holes in last week’s Players Championship, where he finished tied for eighth.
PGA Tour veteran Lucas Glover is also absent this week.
Gotterup, who has already secured two victories this season at the Sony Open in Hawaii and WM Phoenix Open, will make his debut in the SoFi Cup playoffs. He is participating in his fifth match as an alternate and is tied for first in TGL with five singles match wins.
Atlanta GC lost to No. 2 seed Los Angeles Golf Club 7-3 in its regular-season finale. Horschel, Cantlay, and Glover took part in that match, but the trio struggled to find their rhythm. Los Angeles Golf Club enjoyed a 20-yard advantage off the tee (319-yard average compared to 299 yards) and performed better in scrambling.
Atlanta GC outperformed Los Angeles in singles matches this season, leading TGL in singles holes won (11) and finishing second with 14 singles points.
Horschel made a notable putt of nearly 18 feet after executing a Hammer, turning around a deficit in the second of three finals matches against New York Golf Club, which helped secure Atlanta GC’s inaugural SoFi Cup title.
Cantlay upheld his “Patty Ice” reputation during the 2025 SoFi Cup playoffs, achieving a record of 3-0-3 in his matches and accumulating five points in singles.
Los Angeles Golf Club, which was eliminated in the semifinals of the SoFi Cup last season, secured its place in the postseason again by winning its last two regular-season matches.
Semifinal No. 2: Jupiter Links Golf Club (2-2-1) vs. Boston Common Golf (4-1-0)
When: Tuesday, March 17, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN+)
Jupiter Links Golf Club lineup:
Max Homa
Akshay Bhatia
Tom Kim
Boston Common Golf lineup:
Rory McIlroy
Keegan Bradley
Adam Scott
Singles matches:
Homa vs. McIlroy
Bhatia vs. Bradley
Kim vs. Scott
There was some doubt regarding McIlroy’s participation on Tuesday. He experienced a back strain while preparing for the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago and did not arrive at TPC Sawgrass until the day before the first round.
McIlroy managed to make the cut and played 72 holes, finishing tied for 46th at even par.
When asked about his intention to compete in the SoFi Cup semifinals, McIlroy replied, “We’ll see.”
The Ballfrogs’ 7-6 overtime victory against Jupiter Links Golf Club on March 1 was one of the most thrilling matches of the regular season. Boston’s Hideki Matsuyama had an opportunity to conclude the match in regulation but missed an 8-foot putt on the 14th hole.
This allowed Kim to make a birdie on the final hole, forcing overtime. Boston Common won a closest-to-the-pin contest in OT.
“We defeated them last year and made it to the playoffs this year, and they only won due to a few fortunate breaks,” Kim stated. “We are not inferior to them. I believe I can speak for our entire team: We are genuinely eager to face Boston.”
After finishing winless in the inaugural TGL season, Boston Common emerged as the No. 1 seed in 2026.
“We have put in the effort,” Bradley remarked. “We aim to improve with each appearance, and this is significant for us, representing the city of Boston. Being the No. 1 seed in the playoffs is meaningful, and we are enthusiastic.”
Jupiter Links will be missing its two veterans—15-time major champion Tiger Woods and NBC Sports analyst Kevin Kisner.
Woods, who has yet to compete in TGL this season while recuperating from another back surgery, is anticipated to attend the match.
Boston Common has excelled off the tee. The Ballfrogs led TGL in driving accuracy (74%), driving distance (325.4-yard average), greens in regulation (70.7%), and scrambling (68.6%).
McIlroy set a TGL record with a 392.3-yard average in the regular-season victory against Jupiter Links.
Boston Common also topped the league in triples holes won (19) and triples points (21).
Finals schedule
March 23: Match 1, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN+)
March 24: Match 2, 7 p.m. ET; Match 3, 9 p.m. ET* (ESPN/ESPN+)
* If necessary
