Boston Common Golf ends its drought 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 in 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 had not won a single TGL match and finally broke their losing 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, 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: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen clinched the tight match with a 4.5-meter eagle putt on the last hole, securing a 7:5 victory for Boston Common Golf. Rory McIlroy commented, \”It took a while for Keegan and me to finally win again,\” adding, \”Many good shots, many birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and close mistakes. It was back and forth. Definitely fun to play.\” The match started with nine holes in the triple format, featuring six birdies, two eagles, and points on seven holes, resulting in a 4:4 tie. At the 8th hole, Boston Common Golf gained two points through a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club and a resulting birdie, closing in on their one-point deficit. The Los Angeles Golf Club’s point on the last hole of the triples posed no threat thereafter.
The singles match was initially balanced until Boston Common Golf took the lead from the 12th hole with an eagle putt by Michael Thorbjörnsen. The next two holes ended in draws despite hammer throws, leaving the score at 6:5 in favor of Boston Common Golf before the final hole. Though a draw was possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently sank the final putt for eagle, securing the win.
Thorbjörnsen 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 opponents McIlroy and Keegan Bradley and contributing decisively to the team’s overall victory on the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy as Key to Success
Boston Common Golf’s success was also thanks to a targeted hammer strategy, earning three additional points. \”We pursue a slightly different strategy when accepting and throwing hammers, basing decisions more on data,\” explained Keegan Bradley. \”Sometimes, you must take a risk on these hammers because they can completely change the course of play.\” The losing Los Angeles Golf Club team also shared thoughts post-match. \”We had good chances all day to pull ahead and build a lead, but it didn’t work out,\” said Sahith Theegala. \”The guys played great, and it’s a lot of fun competing