Boston Common Golf ends its drought in the TGL with a closing-hole eagle to beat 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, defeating the Los Angeles Golf Club for their first victory. After failing to win a single TGL duel last season, Boston Common Golf finally broke the streak. Alongside McIlroy, the winning team featured American Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Michael Thorbj rnsen, who stepped in for the Australian 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 represented the Californian team.
TGL: Thorbj rnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
The match was decided on the final hole when TGL rookie Michael Thorbj rnsen sunk a 4.5-meter eagle putt, securing a 7:5 win for Boston Common Golf. Rory McIlroy commented, “It took a long time for Keegan and me to win again,” adding, “Lots of great shots, birdies, eagles, but also risky putts and close mistakes. It was back and forth. Definitely fun to play.”
The duel started with nine holes in the triple format, resulting in a 4:4 tie with six birdies and two eagles scored across seven holes. At the 8th hole, Boston Common Golf earned two points through a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club, closing a one-point deficit. The LAGC’s point on the last triple hole did not threaten the lead.
In the singles, the match was initially balanced until Boston Common Golf took the lead at the 12th hole with Thorbj rnsen’s eagle putt. The next two holes ended tied despite hammer throws, leaving Boston Common Golf ahead 6:5 going into the final hole. Although a draw was still possible, the 24-year-old confidently made the final putt for eagle, sealing the victory.
Thorbj rnsen also became the first TGL player to sink four putts from over three meters in a match, closing the gap with teammates and Ryder Cup adversaries McIlroy and Bradley, significantly contributing to the team’s complete victory on the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy Key to Success
Boston Common Golf’s win was bolstered by a targeted hammer strategy, earning three extra points. “We approach accepting and throwing hammers with a slightly different strategy, guided more by data,” explained Keegan Bradley. “Sometimes you have to take risks with hammers because they can completely change the course of play.”
The defeated Los Angeles Golf Club team also reflected post-match, with Sahith Theegala stating, “We had good chances all day to pull ahead and create a lead, but it didn’t work out. The guys played great, and it’s fun to compete with them.”