Get ready for a jaw-dropping tale of sports drama that will leave you on the edge of your seat! In a thrilling last-minute turnaround, Jupiter Links pulled off a stunning comeback to secure the final spot in the TGL Playoff lineup, leaving fans and critics alike in awe. But here's where it gets even more thrilling: with just three holes left and a three-point deficit, Jupiter Links defied the odds, capped off by Tom Kim’s jaw-dropping hole-in-one on the second-to-last hole, to edge out Bay GC and leapfrog Shane Lowry’s team into the playoffs.
And this is the part most people miss: after his disappointing performance at the Cognizant Classic, Lowry was notably absent from Bay GC’s lineup. Instead, Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, and Min Woo Lee faced off against Jupiter’s Max Homa, Tom Kim, and Kevin Kisner. Bay GC initially took control with wins on holes one and four, putting them in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals—as long as they didn’t lose the match outright. But Jupiter Links wasn’t ready to throw in the towel, leveling the score with back-to-back wins on holes six and seven.
Controversially, just when it seemed Jupiter had regained momentum, Bay GC struck back with wins on holes eight and nine, reclaiming their lead heading into singles play. Homa reignited Jupiter’s hopes with a victory over Åberg on the 10th, but Bay’s exceptional putting—with Lee and Clark sinking long-range putts on holes 11 and 12—put them three points ahead with just three holes remaining. This forced Jupiter Links to deploy their remaining strategic ‘hammers’ on holes 13 and 14, a risky move that paid off when Homa sunk a 10-footer to narrow the gap.
Then came the moment that will go down in TGL history: with the pressure at its peak, Kim stepped up on the 14th tee and delivered a wedge shot for the ages. The ball landed inches from the hole, bounced six feet past, and then—in a stroke of pure magic—spun back down the slope and dropped in for only the second hole-in-one in TGL’s brief but eventful history. The crowd erupted in wild celebration, and when Lee’s response fell short, Jupiter had transformed a three-point deficit into a one-point lead in just two holes.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Bay GC still had two hammers left, and they used one on the final tee, setting up a do-or-die scenario. If Clark could outplay Kisner on the par-5 ‘Spear’ hole—where his power advantage allowed him to reach the green in two shots while Kisner had to play it as a three-shot hole—Bay would secure the win. Clark’s approach shot fell short, leaving a tricky up-and-down, while Kisner positioned himself 13 feet from the hole. When Clark’s chip rolled 23 feet past and he missed the comeback putt, Kisner sealed the deal with a single putt, completing a 9-6 victory after trailing 3-6 with three holes to play.
‘I’ve never been tackled before,’ Kim joked about the chaotic celebration following his ace, where Homa accidentally knocked him over. ‘It’s a shot I’ve practiced countless times in the stadium, and there’s no better way to execute it than today.’
Now, Jupiter Links advances to face top-seeded Boston Common in a rematch of last week’s overtime thriller, while defending champions Atlanta Drive and L.A. Golf Club will clash in the other semi-final during a St. Patrick’s Day double-header. But the real question is: did Jupiter Links truly earn their spot, or did Bay GC let victory slip through their fingers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is sure to spark some heated opinions!
