Boston Common Golf ends its dry spell in TGL – an eagle on the final hole decides the duel against 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, beating the Los Angeles Golf Club. Last season, Boston Common Golf had not won a single TGL match but finally broke that streak. Besides 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 also featured notable 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 sealed the tight match 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, lots of birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and close mistakes. It was back and forth. It was definitely fun to play.\”
The duel 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 through a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club leading to a birdie, leveling the previous one-point deficit tactically. The Los Angeles Golf Club’s point on the last triple hole no longer threatened the lead.
The singles began evenly until Boston Common Golf took the lead from the 12th hole when Michael Thorbjörnsen made an eagle putt. The next two holes ended in draws despite hammer plays, leaving Boston Common Golf ahead 6-5 before the final hole. Although a tie was possible, the 24-year-old confidently sunk the last putt for an eagle, sealing the victory.
Thorbjörnsen was also the first TGL player to make four putts from over three meters in a match, closing the gap with teammates and Ryder Cup rivals McIlroy and Keegan Bradley and significantly contributing to the team’s complete win at the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy as Key to Success
Boston Common Golf secured the win thanks to a targeted hammer strategy, earning 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 course of the game.\”
The losing team, Los Angeles Golf Club, also commented post-match. Sahith Theegala said, \”We had good chances throughout the day to break away and build a lead, but it just didn’t happen. The guys played great, and it