The playoffs are the ultimate test in a season, where only the best teams from the regular season earn a shot at the championship. It's all about teamwork, strategy, and determination heading into the Finals. In the inaugural season, Atlanta Drive emerged victorious, claiming the first-ever SoFi Cup and cementing their place in TGL history.

Let's dive into the playoff format:

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What are the playoffs?

The playoffs are the postseason matches that follow the regular season. Each team plays a total of five regular season matches, accumulating points based on wins and losses. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams (out of six) with the highest points in the SoFi Cup Standings advance to the playoffs, which ultimately determine the season’s champion.

The playoff structure is intense but straightforward. It begins with single-elimination Semifinals, where the stakes couldn't be higher. It's win or go home. Based on the final SoFi Cup Standings, the No. 1 seed plays the No. 4 seed, and the No. 2 seed faces the No. 3 seed.

From there, the best-of-three Finals Series determines the ultimate winner of the SoFi Cup.

How Do Teams Qualify for the TGL Playoffs?

Qualification for the playoffs is based on regular season performance. Teams earn two points for a match win, one point for a loss in overtime, and zero points for a loss in regulation.

After five regular season matches per team, the top four teams with the most points move on to the playoffs. But what if two teams finish on the same number of points in the SoFi Cup Standings? Well, a series of tiebreakers are then applied to determine their final positions.

The tiebreakers are applied in this order:

1. Total holes won
2. Singles holes won
3. Fewest holes lost
4. Head-to-head result between the tied teams
5. Strength of victory, comparing head-to-head results across teams starting from the top of the standings
6. Coin flip

The first tiebreaker (Total Holes Won) ensures that every hole counts during the season and reinforces the importance of each match. It also highlights the importance of consistency and strategy—making each hole vital in a team’s quest to qualify for the playoffs.

LEARN MORE: Official Rules of TGL

TGL Playoff Bracket

Once the top four teams are determined, the playoff bracket takes shape.

The match format remains the same in the postseason: Teams compete in a 15-hole match, featuring both Triples (three-player alternate shot) and Singles (individual head-to-head play), ensuring that both team coordination and individual prowess are tested.

If a match is tied after 15 holes in the playoffs, Overtime rules come into play to find a winner. Just like in the regular season, Overtime is a best-of-three-shots, closest-to-the-pin competition that emphasizes each player’s skill under pressure.

Playoff Matchups & Seeding

In the playoffs, matchups are based on seeding from the SoFi Cup Standings, with the higher-seeded team facing the lower-seeded team in the Semifinals:

• #1 Team vs. #4 Team
• #2 Team vs. #3 Team

The higher-seeded team in each matchup gets the advantage of choosing their first player during lineup selection. This slight strategic edge allows the higher seed to tailor their lineup based on strengths and weaknesses, and they begin the match with Honor—a term used to describe the first shot of the match.

What's at Stake in the Playoffs?

The SoFi Cup is the ultimate prize—the trophy is awarded to the winning team in the Finals. The winning team also takes home substantial prize money, which is distributed across the league based on the final standings.

For Atlanta Drive, the reigning champions, the Season 2 playoffs offer a chance to repeat their triumph and prove their dominance. For other teams, it’s an opportunity to win the SoFi Cup for the first time in their history.

How the Playoffs Played Out in Season 1

Atlanta Drive, led by standout performances from players like Billy Horschel, showcased their skill and teamwork throughout the postseason. Their journey to victory was marked by several thrilling moments, none more so than Horschel's dramatic putt vs. New York in the Finals that swung the match and ultimately helped Atlanta to the title.

LAGC came into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed after a stellar regular season, but they were upset by the No. 4 seed New York Golf Club thanks in part to an inspired performance from Xander Schauffele, who won two points in Singles to help his team to a 6-4 victory.

In the other Semifinal, Atlanta Drive downed The Bay Golf Club 9-3. The champs jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, with Patrick Cantlay clinching a three-point win on Hole 12 vs. Ludvig Åberg to put the match away.

That set the stage for Atlanta vs. New York in the Finals and for Horschel to step up to the plate. Match 1 in the series was a nailbiter but Horschel tied it at 5-5 on Hole 14 before Cantlay iced Schauffele to hand Atlanta an opening 6-5 win. The next day, Horschel's 17-foot putt on Hole 14 in Match 2 lit up SoFi Center and put Atlanta on its way to the championship.

Atlanta won four points over the final four holes to overturn a 3-0 deficit and ultimately win the match 4-3 and the series 2-0.

No matter the sport, the playoffs represent the pinnacle of competition.