Here’s how Tiger Woods’ new golf league works

Golf will look a little different on Tuesday night when TGL, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new simulator golf league, debuts on ESPN at 9 p.m ET.

The inaugural match will not feature Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club or McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf Club. Woods is expected to be in attendance for Tuesday’s debut before his team plays next Tuesday (there is a tactical reason for the delay Woods’ first appearance).

Instead, TGL will make its grand entrance with New York Golf Club (Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick) facing The Bay Area Golf Club (Ludvig Aberg, Shane Lowry and Wyndham Clark).

So how does it happen? “Golf but on a screen in a dome” work?

Here’s a quick rundown of the rules and format:

Each team will play five games during the season. Before each game, the team will select three players to compete and one to sit out. Cameron Young (New York) and Min Woo Lee (Bay Area) will sit out Tuesday night.

Matches will be a 15-hole, 3-on-3 competition with two components.

The first nine holes will be an alternate 3-on-3 shot competition called “Triples”. The three players on each team will take turns going through a hole and then roll each shot from there. The final six holes will be a head-to-head rolling competition called “Singles”. “Singles” sees each player play two holes, with competitors rotating after each hole is completed.

For example: Xander Schauffele and Ludvig Aberg will face each other on holes 10 and 13, Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler will play 11 and 14, and Shane Lowry and Matt Fitzpatrick will duel on 12 and 15.

The notation is straightforward. Each hole is worth one point, and the team with the fewest strokes on the hole wins. Draws are worth zero points and points do not carry over. Also, each match will go the full 15 holes even if the score is decided.

So what if there is a tie?

I’m glad you asked.

TGL has a unique overtime competition that will see all three golfers compete in a best-of-three, closest-to-the-top competition. A team wins when it hits two shots closer than its competition.

There is also a shot clock at TGL. Each player will have 40 seconds to hit their shot, or else receive a one-shot penalty. (Governing bodies take note.) Each team will have four breaks per match, two breaks for each of the two sessions. Unused deadlines do not carry over.

TGL will also present “The Hammer” on Tuesday nights. Hammer increases the value of the hole by one point. Only the team holding The Hammer can play it (Bay Area won a coin toss to start with it on Tuesday). A team can play The Hammer multiple times per hole to increase the pressure on the opposing team. An opponent may refuse to play The Hammer but will concede the hole. The Hammer will change possession each time it is used.

Here’s how the season mark works:

Regulation win: 2 points

Overtime win: 2 points

Overtime loss: 1 point

Regulation loss: 0 points

The top four teams from the regular season standings will advance to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals will then play a best-of-three championship series.

After a year’s delay, TGL finally closes on Tuesday night.

Will it become a focal point in the future of golf, or just another afterthought destined for the greenside trash can?

We’re about to find out.

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