What Happened
A unique rules controversy arose during a TGL match between New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club on February 24, 2026. The incident involved Xander Schauffele of New York Golf Club, who faced a challenging bunker shot on hole No. 13. Before he could play his shot, Wyndham Clark from The Bay Golf Club executed a “Hammer” throw, prompting a review of the situation by officials.
Why It Matters
The rules official, Mark Russell, determined that Schauffele had already “addressed” his ball, which meant that Clark’s team could not proceed with the Hammer challenge. Despite this ruling, Schauffele’s subsequent shot from the bunker failed to escape the sand, resulting in a loss of the hole and contributing to New York Golf Club’s overall defeat, 5-3. This marked the first application of the Hammer rule in TGL history, highlighting the complexities of the new format and its potential impact on match outcomes.
What’s Next
Following this match, New York Golf Club will aim to regroup and improve in their upcoming matches. The TGL format continues to evolve, and teams will likely analyze this incident to better understand the implications of the Hammer rule in future competitions.
