In TGL, every second counts. With a fast-paced format and a 40-second shot clock, timeouts have become a critical part of play. They offer teams brief yet valuable opportunities to strategize, reset, and disrupt opponents' momentum.

Combined with TGL’s innovative format and the tech environment inside SoFi Center, timeouts bring a layer of drama and decision-making that feels more like basketball or football than golf.

RELATED: TGL Explained

What is a Timeout in TGL?

A timeout in TGL is a 20-second break that allows teams to pause play and recalibrate. It’s one of the unique rules that sets TGL apart from traditional golf.

Each team receives four timeouts per match—two to use during Triples (holes 1–9) and two to use during Singles (holes 10–15). Importantly, any unused timeouts during Triples do not carry over to Singles.

Timeouts can be called by any member of the team, usually to allow extra discussion, delay a shot, or ice the opposing team for a potential momentum shift. These moments are managed by our referee and booth official.

When & Why Teams Use Timeouts

Teams use TGL timeouts for a variety of reasons:

• High-pressure shots: A player facing a long putt or tight approach may pause to gather thoughts and receive input from teammates or the team coordinator.
• Club or strategy changes: If a player is second guessing their club selection, a timeout can allow for swaps or reassessment.
• Disrupting opponent momentum: Similar to “icing the kicker” in football, teams sometimes call a timeout just before an opponent’s putt to throw them off their game.
• Mental resets: After a missed shot or poor decision, timeouts help players slow down and refocus.

RELATED: TGL's Shot Clock Explained

Timeout Rules & Regulations

Here's what you need to know:

• Two timeouts per session (find out more about the Match Format: Triples & Singles).
• 20 seconds per timeout.
• Only one timeout per team per shot.
• Timeouts cannot be called after the ball is addressed.
• A timeout called intentionally after a player has addressed the ball can be deemed unsportsmanlike conduct by the referee and can result in a one-shot penalty
• If a timeout has been granted when a team no longer has any remaining, the team will receive a one-shot penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Injury timeouts: If a player becomes injured during a match, the referee or booth official can grant an injury timeout to provide care and treatment to the injured player. Injury timeouts will not be counted against a team’s official timeout count.

Timeouts must be clearly signaled to the referee before the shot clock expires. Once granted, the shot clock resets, and the team is allowed to confer. Timeouts are reviewable by the booth official via video replay.

For full details, refer to the TGL Official Rules under Article 3: Timeouts.

How Timeouts Were Used in Season 1

TGL’s inaugural season gave fans a real look at how impactful timeouts can be in team golf. Let's take a look at a few of the big moments:

Wyndham Clark's strategic timeout for teammate Min Woo Lee: With a shot to win the hole vs. Atlanta and his ball just off the green, Lee was considering club selection at a vital moment in the match: to putt or to chip? Wyndham Clark called a timeout to give Lee time to strategize, even grabbing a wedge for his teammate and talking him through it. The use of this timeout paid off big time as Lee chipped in to win the hole for The Bay. They would go on to win the match 6-5 over Atlanta.

Tiger Woods' shot clock violation: Tiger Woods' shot clock violation vs. Boston was the first in TGL history and illustrated just how important the timeout can be in the context of a close match. With a putt to tie the hole and the shot clock counting down, Tiger failed to call timeout or get his shot away in time, prompting Jupiter to lose the hole. After the match, Tiger admitted in the press conference that he should have used a timeout.

Timeout Strategy Matters

In TGL, timeouts are more than just a stoppage in play—they're moments of strategy and opportunity. They give teams the chance to shift momentum, recalibrate tactics, and stay composed under pressure.