What is ‘the Hammer’ in TGL? An explanation of the innovative rule

Tuesday night saw the debut of the new TGL golf league, and with it a host of innovations not seen on the PGA Tour. From shot clocks, to an enormous simulator and a triples format, viewers were treated to a new-look form of the ancient game. Did we mention it all took place indoors? But one of the most interesting quirks featured in TGL’s inaugural match was “the Hammer.” Here’s everything you need to know about the new rule.

What is TGL’s Hammer and how does it work?

UPDATE: Ahead of TGL’s Presidents Day tripleheader, the league overhauled the rules for the Hammer. Moving forward, each team will receive three Hammers at the start of a match, which they can use at any time, though only once per hole. The other rules will remain the same.

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Physically, the Hammer is a yellow-orange piece of cloth featuring a Thor-like hammer design. But here we’re most concerned with what it represents and how it’s used.

The team in possession of the Hammer is permitted to throw it down on any hole. When it’s thrown and accepted, the point total of the hole increases by one. While holes normally count for 1 point, the Hammer increases the points to 2.

If the Hammer is thrown before the start of the hole, the opposing team must accept it. However, if it’s thrown on any other shot, the opposing team has the option to reject it, but if they do they also forfeit the hole.

You can imagine a situation in which a team knew they would lose the hole, so by rejecting the Hammer they limit their opponents to 1 point instead of 2.

Either way, once it is thrown, possession of the Hammer automatically switches to the other team.

Though we didn’t see it happen during the inaugural TGL match, in rare cases the Hammer can be thrown multiple times on a hole.

How it was used in TGL debut

The official first use of the Hammer occurred on the 3rd hole of the debut match between the Bay Golf Club and the New York Golf Club.

The Bay Golf Club began the match with the Hammer after winning on a coin toss, and when TBGC player Wyndham Clark had a seven-footer for birdie on Hole No. 3, he threw down the Hammer hoping to earn his team an extra point. And he did. Clark drained the birdie improving his team’s lead from 1-0 to 3-0.

When the teams reached the 7th hole, NYGC, now losing 6-0, still had possession of the Hammer. TBGC’s Shane Lowry set up to hit his tee shot, but before he could, NYGC’s Xander Schauffele threw the Hammer at his feet. You can see the moment below.

Lowry accepted the challenge, but both teams finished with a par, so no points were awarded, and the score remained 6-0.

That was the last time the Hammer was used on the first night of TGL’s existence. In the end, TBGC was able to maintain their large lead and finish of NYGC by a final score of 9-2.