At the Sofi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Tom Kim delivered a remarkable hole-in-one during the penultimate hole of a crucial match on March 4, 2026, elevating the excitement of Tiger Woods’ return to the TGL indoor golf league. Although Woods has not played professional golf since July 2024 due to injuries, Kim’s spectacular 138-yard ace energized Woods and the 1,500-strong crowd, highlighting the growing appeal of the Tom Kim hole-in-one moment.
Kim’s achievement came in a win-and-in contest between the Jupiter Links Golf Club and Bay Golf Club, where Woods, sidelined by recovery from a ruptured Achilles and spinal surgery, showed his signature roar and fist pump before embracing his teammate after the ball backed into the cup.
The Unique Team Spirit of TGL Brings a New Dynamic to Golf
Unlike Woods’ previous golf experiences, including eight Ryder Cups, the TGL league offers a fresh opportunity to compete alongside the same teammates year after year. Woods emphasized the camaraderie, telling The Post,
“If you asked all these guys on the various teams what makes the experience, I think it’s just being with your teammates.”
Woods also noted,
“We don’t get a chance to do that very often. Once a year if you’re on the U.S. Team (in the Ryder or Presidents Cup), but not on a more routine basis like we are here with TGL.”
This sense of regular team engagement distinguishes the league and is part of its growing appeal.
Jupiter Links’ Roster and the TGL Format Elevate Competition
The Jupiter Links team, which made the TGL playoffs after missing out last season, features notable players like Max Homa, Kevin Kisner, and alternate Akshay Bhatia, whose FaceTime call sparked celebrations among teammates gathered in the media room. The TGL format condenses play into 15 holes over a two-hour prime-time ESPN broadcast. It begins with three-against-three alternate shot matches for the first nine holes, followed by singles for the final six, all set on an indoor surface the size of a football field to maintain fan engagement.
This innovative layout is part of Woods’ vision, co-founded with Rory McIlroy in 2022, to attract a younger, more restless generation of golf enthusiasts. Kim’s hole-in-one is a viral highlight that captures that new energy perfectly.
Tiger Woods Reflects on TGL’s Impact and Nighttime Excitement
Woods described the TGL experience as a breakthrough for golf’s popularity and format, stating,
“This is what we set out to do with TGL: We tried to grow the game, we tried to do it differently.”
He added,
“We don’t normally play golf at 9:00 to 11:00 at night, so to be able to do this out here and to have this showcase, to have this group of guys, to be able to do what we did at the end, to have a hole-in-one, that’s what it was all about.”
Although Woods remains sidelined, he continues to support and mentor his Jupiter teammates as they prepare to face Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf team in the semifinals on March 17, 2026.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to play, but I’ve been here with these guys and have rooted and cheered and pulled for them,”
Woods said.
How Team Strategy Transforms the Game’s Traditional Experience
Unlike traditional golf’s individual focus, TGL’s three-against-three and singles combined format demands strategic collaboration between players. Woods’ team demonstrated this by winning three consecutive holes through Max Homa, Tom Kim, and Kevin Kisner to secure a comeback victory.
Kim, who became the youngest three-time PGA Tour winner since Woods with his 2023 Shriners Children’s Open triumph, now shares an unprecedented bond with the golf legend in this team-centric competition.
Tom Kim on Celebrating Milestones Alongside Tiger Woods
Reflecting on Woods’ unusually enthusiastic reaction to the hole-in-one, Kim remarked,
“We’re starting now to have more team events, and you probably never see Tiger celebrate that much for another person to have a hole-in-one.”
Woods ranked this moment as his best indoor golf experience ever, underscoring how TGL is transforming how the sport is played and enjoyed.
TOM KIM MAKES A HOLE-IN-ONE AND JUPITER'S NOT OUT OF IT YET!!! pic.twitter.com/kYJ7GUr4I5
— TGL (@TGL) March 4, 2026
Hang it in the Louvre pic.twitter.com/cfivRdB7IM
— TGL (@TGL) March 4, 2026
