Tom Kim’s outrageous TGL hole-in-one delivers a dream finish
Look — if you’re not on TGL, if you’re picking your golf out of the blue and untested, if you’re not at all interested in learning more about “the hammer” or who can play “Bay GC,” I’m not here to convince you.
But that it was hell for a second.
Tom Kim teed off on the second-to-last hole of the season. His side was down by one point, but they just threw the hammer, the hole count was doubled. If he loses a hole, Jupiter Links season is over. As TGL goes, this is as big as it gets. How did you react? By flying his shot directly over the flag and watching as it bounces back to the center of the bottom of the cup.
Here’s the time – followed by five quick reactions to why this it was the end of TGL’s dream.
my goodness Tom Kim, hammer down, down 1, playoffs on the line, make an ace, how long, this whole thing is a fever dream pic.twitter.com/VPH3KA0ovk
– Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) March 4, 2026
1. Tom Kim was built for this era.
Week in, week out there aren’t many golfers who lose their minds after doing something cool. But put Tom Kim in a team situation – whether it’s the President’s Cup or the TGL – and you can just about guarantee that at some point he’ll slip up. So when something as mind-bending as this hole-in-one happens, it would be the perfect guy at the perfect time. (We need Kim to find his game on the PGA Tour; he’s too happy not to be in the mix.)
2. Boxing Tiger Woods is a TGL dream.
See, when Woods and Rory McIlroy and their various business partners dreamed up TGL, they probably pictured Woods pumping his fist. yours hole-outs than his teammates – but whenever he kneels like he’s holed up that chip shot at Augusta National, an all-time winner.
3. It is a miracle that no one was injured.
Also, golfers don’t usually celebrate and they don’t usually celebrate as a team.
“I’ve never faced one before,” Kim said after the win.
It’s a miracle he didn’t take Homa out, hit the floor, too, and given Woods’ health condition it’s not fun to watch Kim jump into his arms, too. We’re just not happy that everyone is moving away from this…
4. This also meant getting rid of Kevin Kisner.
Kim’s time would have ultimately been for naught if Kevin Kisner had gone on to lose on the final hole. Given that he was playing a long par-5 against the fast-swinging Wyndham Clark – and since Kisner hasn’t been a TGL star so far – the odds didn’t seem to be in his favor.
“I sent Max Homa a text when I saw the letter in the yard at 7:15 this morning and I said if it gets to 15 we’re probably defeated, because Wyndham can get there by two and I can’t,” said Kisner.
But Kiz split the hole with two layups and a flagged short iron, Clark hit a greenside chip shot and the rest is history. Restoration of Kisner.
(And it should be noted that Max Homa’s birdie putt on No. 13 made it all happen.)
5. This final is set
It’s not exactly Rory competing against Tiger, because Tiger is unlikely to play. (“Well, I’ll be here either way,” he said, leaving the door open.) Regardless, it’s Rory McIlroy’s team against Tiger Woods’ team; the sides are set to clash in the semi-finals in two weeks’ time.
Four of the six teams in the TGL make the playoffs, so this is not the stuff of a Cinderella story. But last year was a nightmare for the league when McIlroy’s Boston Common and Woods’ Jupiter Links were the two teams that missed the postseason.
This time they are scheduled for a tournament.
How long is this for Woods? He gave a perfect answer.
“The best indoor experience.”
For now, back to real golf. Not bad for a Tuesday night game, though…
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