Boston Common Golf ends its losing streak in the TGL with a final-hole eagle securing victory over 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. In the previous season, Boston Common Golf had not won a single TGL duel but finally broke this curse. The winning team included McIlroy, 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
The tight match was only decided on the final hole when TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen sank 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 finally win again,\” adding, \”Many great shots, many birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and close mistakes. It went back and forth. Definitely fun to play.\”
The duel started with nine holes in the triple format, featuring six birdies, two eagles, and points won on seven holes, resulting in a 4-4 tie. On the 8th hole, Boston Common Golf secured two points through a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club and a resulting birdie, erasing a one-point deficit. The final triple hole point gained by Los Angeles Golf Club did not threaten the outcome.
In the singles, the duel remained balanced until Boston Common Golf took the lead at the 12th hole with an eagle putt from Thorbjörnsen. The next two holes ended tied despite hammer throws, leaving Boston Common Golf ahead 6-5 before the final hole. Although a draw was still possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently converted the last putt for eagle to seal the victory.
Thorbjörnsen was also the first TGL player to sink four putts over three meters in a single match, closing the gap with teammates and Ryder Cup rivals McIlroy and Bradley, significantly contributing to the team’s complete victory on the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy as Key to Victory
Boston Common Golf’s success was also secured thanks to a targeted hammer strategy that earned three additional points. \”We follow a slightly different strategy when accepting and throwing hammers, focusing 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 defeated Los Angeles Golf Club also reflected after the match: \”We had good chances all day to pull away and build a lead, but it didn’t work out,\” said Sahith Theegala. \”The guys played great, and it’s a lot of