Boston Common Golf ends its drought in the TGL – an eagle on the final hole decides the duel against Los Angeles Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy and his team Boston Common Golf shined for the first time on Saturday at the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) at the SoFi Center in Palm Gardens Beach, Florida, defeating the Los Angeles Golf Club. Last season, Boston Common Golf failed to win a single TGL duel but finally broke that streak. Joining McIlroy on the winning team were American Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Michael Thorbjörnsen, who stepped in as a substitute for Australian Adam Scott and Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, both unable to participate due to scheduling conflicts. The Los Angeles Golf Club also featured prominent players including Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
It was only on the final hole that TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen nailed a 4.5-meter eagle putt to secure a 7:5 victory for Boston Common Golf. Rory McIlroy commented, “It took a long time before Keegan and I finally won again,” adding, “Many good shots, many birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and close misses. It was back and forth. Playing was certainly fun.”
The duel began with nine holes in the triple format, featuring six birdies, two eagles, and points on seven holes resulting in a 4:4 tie. On the 8th hole, Boston Common Golf secured two points thanks to a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club and a resulting birdie, closing a one-point deficit. Even the Los Angeles Golf Club’s last triple hole point was no threat.
In the singles, the match was initially balanced until Boston Common Golf took the lead from the 12th hole following an eagle putt by Thorbjörnsen. The next two holes ended in draws despite hammer throws, leaving the score 6:5 before the final hole. Although a draw was still possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently sank the last putt for eagle, sealing the win.
Thorbjörnsen became the first TGL player to make four putts from over three meters in a single match, bridging the gap with teammates and Ryder Cup rivals McIlroy and Bradley, and contributing decisively to the team’s complete win on the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy Key to Victory
Boston Common Golf also secured their victory thanks to a targeted hammer strategy, earning three additional points. “We follow a slightly different strategy when accepting and throwing hammers. We focus more on data,” explained Keegan Bradley. “Sometimes you have to take a risk with these hammers because they can completely change the course of the game.”
The defeated Los Angeles Golf Club team also spoke after the match. “We had good chances all day to pull ahead and build a lead, but it didn’t happen,” said Sahith Theegala. “The guys played great, and it’s a lot of fun to compete with them.”