Boston Common Golf ends its drought in the TGL with an eagle on the final hole to defeat Los Angeles Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy and his team Boston Common Golf shined on Saturday at the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) at the SoFi Center in Palm Gardens Beach, Florida, securing their first victory against the Los Angeles Golf Club. Last season, Boston Common Golf did not win a single TGL match but finally broke that streak. Alongside McIlroy, the winning team included 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 featured notable players as well: Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala represented the California team.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
The match was decided on the last hole when TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen sunk a 4.5-meter eagle putt to secure a 7:5 victory for Boston Common Golf. Rory McIlroy remarked, ‘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. Definitely fun to play.’
The duel started with nine holes in a 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 through a powerful hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club and the ensuing birdie, overcoming a one-point deficit tactically. The point Los Angeles Golf Club won on the last triple hole posed no threat afterward.
In the singles, the match remained balanced until Boston Common Golf took the lead by an eagle putt from Michael Thorbjörnsen on the 12th hole. The next two holes ended in draws despite hammer throws, bringing the score to 6:5 before the final hole. Although a tie was possible, 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently sank the last putt for eagle to seal the win.
Thorbjörnsen also made history as the first TGL player to make four putts from over three meters in a single match, matching his teammates and Ryder Cup rivals McIlroy and Bradley, playing a key role in the complete team victory on the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy as Key to Success
Boston Common Golf’s victory was also secured by a targeted hammer strategy, generating three extra points. ‘We follow a slightly different strategy when accepting and throwing hammers. We rely more on data,’ explained Keegan Bradley. ‘Sometimes you have to take risks with these hammers because they can completely change the game’s course.’
The losing Los Angeles Golf Club team also commented after the match: ‘We had good chances all day to pull ahead and gain a lead, but it didn’t work out,’ said Sahith Theegala. ‘The guys played great, and it’s a lot of fun competing with them.’