Boston Common Golf ends its dry spell in the TGL with an eagle on the final hole securing a win against the 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, against the Los Angeles Golf Club. Last season, Boston Common Golf had not won a single TGL match but finally broke this streak. 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 attend due to scheduling conflicts. The Los Angeles Golf Club also featured prominent players: Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala represented the California team.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
It was only on the last hole that TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen clinched the tight duel with 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 misses. It was back and forth. It was definitely fun to play.” The match started with nine holes in the triple format, producing six birdies, two eagles, and points on seven holes resulting in a 4-4 tie. On the 8th hole, Boston Common Golf gained two points from a hammer throw accepted by the Los Angeles Golf Club and a subsequent birdie, tactically erasing a one-point deficit. Even the Los Angeles Golf Club’s point on the last hole of the triples was not a threat.
Hammer Strategy as Key to Success
In the singles, the match 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 attempts, leaving the score at 6-5 ahead of the final hole. Though a tie was still possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently sank the final 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 Keegan Bradley, contributing decisively to the team’s comprehensive win at Palm Beach State College’s campus. Boston Common Golf’s success was also due to a focused hammer strategy, which secured three additional points. “We take a slightly different approach when receiving and throwing hammers, relying more on data,” explained Keegan Bradley. “Sometimes you have to take risks with these hammers because they can completely change the game’s flow.” The losing Los Angeles Golf Club team reflected after the match: “We had good chances all day to pull ahead and secure a lead, but it didn’t work out,” said Sahith Theegala. “The guys played great, and it’s a lot of fun to compete with them.