Boston Common Golf ends its drought in the TGL with an eagle on the final hole securing victory over Los Angeles Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy and his team Boston Common Golf shone for the first time at the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) on Saturday at the SoFi Center in Palm Gardens Beach, Florida, defeating the Los Angeles Golf Club. In the previous season, Boston Common Golf had not won a single TGL duel, but they finally broke this streak. The winning team included McIlroy, American Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, and Michael Thorbjörnsen, who stepped in as a substitute for Australians Adam Scott and Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, both absent due to scheduling conflicts. The Los Angeles Golf Club also fielded star players: Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen seals thriller with eagle putt
It was only on the final hole that TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen decided the tight match with a 4.5-meter eagle putt to secure a 7-5 win for Boston Common Golf. Rory McIlroy commented, \”It took a long time for Keegan and me to win again,\” adding, \”Many good shots, many birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and narrow mistakes. It went back and forth. It was definitely fun to play.\”
The duel began again with nine holes in the triple format, resulting in a 4-4 tie after six birdies, two eagles, and points on seven holes. On the 8th hole, Boston Common Golf scored two points through a hammer throw accepted by the Los Angeles Golf Club and a resulting birdie, making up their one-point deficit tactically. Even the point won by the Los Angeles Golf Club on the last triple hole did not threaten their lead.
The singles were initially balanced until Boston Common Golf took the lead at the 12th hole with an eagle putt by Michael Thorbjörnsen. The following two holes ended in draws despite hammer throws, making it 6-5 for Boston Common Golf before the final hole. Although a draw was still possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently sank the last putt for eagle, securing the victory.
Thorbjörnsen was also the first TGL player to sink four putts from over three meters in one match, closing the gap to his teammates and Ryder Cup opponents McIlroy and Keegan Bradley and contributing decisively to the team’s overall victory at the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer strategy as key to success
Boston Common Golf also ensured their success through a targeted hammer strategy that earned three additional points. \”We use a slightly different strategy when accepting and throwing hammers. We rely 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 team of the Los Angeles Golf Club also commented after the game. \”We had good chances all day to pull away and build a lead, but it didn’t happen,\” said Sahith Theegala. \”The