Boston Common Golf ends drought in TGL with an eagle on the final hole to beat Los Angeles Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy and his team Boston Common Golf shone on Saturday at the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) at the SoFi Center in Palm Gardens Beach, Florida, securing their first victory against the Los Angeles Golf Club. Last season, Boston Common Golf failed to win any TGL duel, breaking that streak now. Alongside McIlroy, the winning team included American Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Michael Thorbjörnsen, who stepped in as a substitute for Australia’s Adam Scott and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, both absent due to scheduling conflicts. The Los Angeles Golf Club also featured stars Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
On the final hole, TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen sealed the tight match with a 4.5-meter eagle putt, securing a 7:5 win for Boston Common Golf. Rory McIlroy commented, “It took a long time for Keegan and me to finally win again,” adding, “Many great shots, many birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and close mistakes. It was back and forth and definitely fun to play.”
The match began with nine holes in the triple format, featuring six birdies, two eagles, and points earned on seven holes, leading to a 4:4 tie. On the 8th hole, Boston Common Golf earned two points through a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club and a resulting birdie, overcoming a one-point deficit tactically. The point gained by Los Angeles on the last triple hole no longer posed a threat.
The singles match stayed even until Boston Common Golf took the lead at the 12th hole with an eagle putt by Thorbjörnsen. The following two holes were tied despite hammer attempts, making the score 6:5 before the final hole. Although a draw was still possible, 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently converted the last putt for an eagle, sealing the victory.
Thorbjörnsen was also the first TGL player to sink four putts over three meters in a single match, closing the gap to teammates and Ryder Cup rivals McIlroy and Bradley, and contributing decisively to the team’s comprehensive win on the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy as Key to Success
Boston Common Golf’s success was also due to a targeted hammer strategy that earned three extra points. “We follow a slightly different approach when accepting and throwing hammers, focusing more on data,” explained Keegan Bradley. “Sometimes you have to take risks with these hammers because they can completely change the game flow.”
After the match, the Los Angeles Golf Club team commented, “We had good chances to pull ahead all day but it didn’t work out,” said Sahith Theegala. “The guys played great, and it’s fun to compete with them.”