Boston Common Golf ends its drought in TGL – an eagle on the final hole decides the duel against 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, against the Los Angeles Golf Club. Last season, Boston Common Golf did not secure a single victory in any TGL duel but finally broke this curse. Alongside McIlroy, the winning team included 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: Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala represented the Californian team.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
Only on the last hole did TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen decide the close duel by sinking a 4.5-meter eagle putt, securing a 7:5 victory 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 went back and forth. It was definitely fun to play.’
The duel began again with nine holes in the triple format, which led to a 4:4 tie after six birdies, two eagles, and points on seven holes. On the 8th hole, Boston Common Golf secured two points through a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club, resulting in a birdie. This enabled Boston Common Golf to tactically erase their one-point deficit. The Los Angeles Golf Club’s point gain on the last hole of the triples no longer posed a threat.
In the singles, the duel initially remained balanced until Boston Common Golf took the lead from the 12th hole following an eagle putt by Michael Thorbjörnsen. The next two holes ended in draws despite hammer throws, leaving Boston Common Golf ahead 6:5 before the final hole. Although a tie was still possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently sank the last putt for eagle, sealing the victory.
Thorbjörnsen was also the first TGL player to sink four putts from over three meters in a match, closing the gap with teammates and Ryder Cup rivals McIlroy and Keegan Bradley, contributing decisively to the team’s complete victory at the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy as Key to Success
Boston Common Golf’s success was also secured by 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 losing Los Angeles Golf Club team also commented after the match. ‘We had good chances all day to pull away and build a lead, but it didn’t work out,’ said Sahith The