Boston Common Golf breaks their losing streak in the TGL—an eagle on the final hole decides the match versus Los Angeles Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy and his team Boston Common Golf shone 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 did not record a single win in any TGL match but finally broke the 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 absent due to scheduling conflicts. The Los Angeles Golf Club fielded prominent players as well: Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala represented the California team.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
Only on the final hole did TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen secure the tight contest with a 4.5-meter eagle putt, clinching a 7-5 victory for Boston Common Golf. Rory McIlroy remarked, \”It took a while for Keegan and me to finally win again,\” adding, \”Lots of great shots, many birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and close mistakes. It went back and forth. Definitely fun to play.\”
The match began with nine holes in the triple format, producing a 4-4 tie after six birdies, two eagles, and points on seven holes. On the eighth hole, Boston Common Golf earned two points from a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club, resulting in a birdie that tactically erased a one-point deficit. The point won by Los Angeles Golf Club on the last triple hole posed no further threat.
The singles matches were initially balanced until Boston Common Golf took the lead at the 12th hole with an eagle putt by Michael Thorbjörnsen. The next two holes ended all square despite hammer throws, leaving Boston Common Golf leading 6-5 before the final hole. Though a tie was still possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently sank the final putt for eagle, sealing the win.
Thorbjörnsen also became the first TGL player to sink four putts over three meters in a single match, closing the gap with teammates and Ryder Cup opponents McIlroy and Keegan Bradley, significantly contributing to the team’s overall win on the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy Key to Victory
Boston Common Golf’s success was also due to a targeted hammer strategy, garnering three extra points. \”We use a slightly different approach when accepting and throwing hammers, focusing more on data,\” explained Keegan Bradley. \”Sometimes you have to take risks with hammers because they can completely change the course of the game.\”
The losing Los Angeles Golf Club team commented after the game: \”We had good chances all day to pull away and build a lead but couldn’t capitalize,\” said Sahith Theegala. \”The guys played great, and it’s a lot of fun competing against