Teams of three will take the stage Tuesday for the inaugural TGL match! Each made-for-TV event will take two hours and be contested over 15 holes. Here’s the format: The opening nine holes will be a THREE-man alternate shot. Teams earn points for winning holes. The final six holes will be as head-to-head matches. Those lineups are predetermined, and each matchup gets two holes. Once again, win a hole and get a point.
Shot clocks, hammers, synthetic turf, screen shots versus live ones are all explained in more detail on TGL’s website. That’s what we do know. Here’s what we don’t … who will win? When it comes to ranking the six teams in a brand-new golf league utilizing cutting edge technology, the true basics of the game are what gives us an edge.
Golf doesn’t try something new very often, so we should all be excited and plan to watch. Tiger Woods hitting into a massive simulator screen with 700-yard par 5s, NOW we are talking about innovating the game. I’ll be inside the SoFi Center on Tuesday night covering the first match. Bettors are bullish on this enterprise, and they should be. The technology was essentially built for this. Not to mention, it will give us all a blueprint for how we can elevate our indoor matches at home.
If we can wager, then you know I am going to provide some Power Rankings for the TGL teams. Here’s my breakdown for who will win the SoFi Cup!
The Key:
- Roster: Four PGA Tour stars make up each team. Matches only require three players, starting lineups will be released the Friday before each match week.
- Odds to win: The current odds each team has to win the SoFi Cup. (FanDuel odds)
- Average world ranking: A quick measure of the team’s overall playing ability in the biggest events.
- Match dates: The regular season match calendar for each club.
- Notes: A quick summary for each TGL team and their chances to win the inaugural season title.
RELATED: 5 things you should watch for during the TGL’s debut event
TGL team rankings: 6. Jupiter Links Golf Club
Roster: Tiger Woods, Tom Kim, Max Homa, Kevin KisnerOdds to win: +650Average OWGR: N/A Match dates: January 14 (LAGC), January 27 (BCG), February 18 (NYGC), February 25 (TBGC), March 4 (ADGC)
Tiger’s team may be the most “popular” group, but when it comes to the essentials, starting with ball speed, I have concerns. The opening match scorecard is 6,594 yards for 15 holes! The average length par 5 in Match 1 is 633 yards. Where Jupiter Links lacks length, they have short-game savvy. I just wonder how influential chipping will be inside off a perfect lie. These guys are all good, and they’ll need to really outperform their ball-striking stats. Big Cat might draw the biggest audience, but unfortunately his team also drew the longest odds to win.
5. New York Golf Club
Roster: Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie FowlerOdds to win: +380Average OWGR: 39.5Match dates: January 7 (TBGC), January 21 (ADGC), February 18 (JLGC), February 24 (LAGC), March 3 (BCG)
There’s no doubt this team has ball speed, but they rank near the bottomT2G and on approach collectively on tour. Remember these weekly matches are 60 percent alternate shot. We are taking the best golfers in the world and giving them a perfect lie. The world’s best will hit great shots and GIRs—can NYGC keep up? I imagine these matches play out like a charity scramble and you don’t win those by chipping. NYGC is the best team on the greens, but my concern comes whether they are making putts for birdie or par?
4. Los Angeles Golf Club
Roster: Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala, Justin RoseOdds to win: +340Average OWGR: 18.3Match dates: January 14 (JLGC), February 4 (BCG), February 17 (ADGC), February 24 (LAGC), March 3 (TBGC)
Much like NYGC, Los Angeles raises a couple of red flags. As a team, they rank near the bottom in driving distance. Looking at the length of these courses, LA will be under more proximity pressure attacking with a longer club. For a team that also ranks near the bottom in GIR percent average, those two qualities cause me a great deal of concern. The West Coast vibes team can putt and that will help, but overall playing golf in a vacuum will help the better ball-strikers more than LA’s flatsticks can finish.
Roster: Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas, Lucas GloverOdds to win: +450Average OWGR: 24Match dates: January 21 (NYGC), February 17 (LAGC & TBGC), February 24 (BCG), March 4 (JLGC)
The four from Atlanta Drive Golf Club raise a very interesting question: How important will around-the-green acumen be? What will scoring be like from short range off a synthetic surface? I’m giving an edge to ADGC for being the best short game squad. Match play always creates defining moments on and around the putting surface. These four rank second in birdie or better percentage, and they also rank first in birdie to bogey ratio. I think they will grab a couple early wins in the schedule based upon bogey avoidance. Once everyone settles in water will find its level, but in the meantime, keep an eye on these Atlanta guys.
2. The Bay Golf Club
Roster: Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Shane Lowry, Min Woo LeeOdds to win: +470Average OWGR: 22.3Match dates: January 7 (NYGC), February 17 (ADGC & BCG), February 25 (JLGC), March 3 (LAGC)
Here’s another very important question: how much of an edge will ball speed be? The boys from The Bay Golf Club have enough power to go around. Their ability from long range kind of reminds me of one of their owners, Steph Curry. You’ll see The Bay’s “bombs-away mentality” on display in Match 1. This team ranks first in strokes gained/off the tee (SG:OTT) and driving distance. Utilizing shorter approach irons gives them an edge and all are above average putters. Short game is a concern, and that’s why I ultimately put them second. But when it comes to excitement in the TGL, The Bay Golf Club will definitely be appointment viewing!
1. Boston Common Golf
Roster: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Keegan Bradley, Adam ScottOdds to win: +360Average OWGR: 9.8Match dates: January 27 (JLGC), February 4 (LAGC), February 17 (TBGC), February 24 (ADGC), March 3 (NYGC)
As if Boston needed another championship caliber team, Boston Common Golf gathers together a four-man squad with an average world ranking of 9.8, the best in TGL. There’s not much to worry about here from a well-rounded skill set. As four, they rank first in tee to green, first on approach and first in GIR%. I think it will be easier to hit GIRs in TGL, but then BCG’s proximity only improves. If there is any weakness it might come on the greens, but let’s face it they are putting the same surface for every match. I’m a believer for TGL that familiarity breeds confidence. The more these guys play, the more their edge in world ranking will shine through to the SoFi Cup. That’s why my favorite bet is the second favorite team on the odds board at +360.
Looking for insider golf betting knowledge? Subscribe to Read The Line for Stewart’s weekly picks.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor and content partner with Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA Tour. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith’s winning content can also be found on SportsGrid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
