Boston Common Golf ends its drought in the TGL with an eagle on the final hole deciding the duel against Los Angeles Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy and his team Boston Common Golf finally shone on Saturday at the Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) at the SoFi Center in Palm Gardens Beach, Florida, defeating the Los Angeles Golf Club. Boston Common Golf had not won a single match last season in the TGL and has now broken that streak. Besides McIlroy, the winning team included American Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Michael Thorbjörnsen, who filled in for Australian Adam Scott and Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, both absent due to scheduling conflicts. The Los Angeles Golf Club featured notable players such as Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala.
TGL: Thorbjörnsen Decides Thriller with Eagle Putt
Only on the final hole did TGL rookie Michael Thorbjörnsen secure the narrow duel with a 4.5-meter eagle putt, sealing 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, many birdies and eagles, but also risky putts and close mistakes. It was back and forth. Definitely a lot of fun to play.\”
The match started with nine holes in the triple format, producing a 4:4 score with six birdies and two eagles across seven holes. On hole 8, Boston Common Golf earned two points courtesy of a hammer throw accepted by Los Angeles Golf Club and the resulting birdie, overcoming a one-point deficit tactically. The point gained by Los Angeles Golf Club on the last triple hole was no longer threatening.
In the singles, the duel remained balanced initially until Boston Common Golf took the lead at hole 12 with an eagle putt by Michael Thorbjörnsen. The next two holes ended in a draw despite hammer throws, leaving Boston Common Golf ahead 6:5 before the final hole. Although a tie was still possible, the 24-year-old Thorbjörnsen confidently converted the last putt into an eagle to secure the victory.
Thorbjörnsen also became the first TGL player to sink four putts from more than three meters in a single match, closing the gap with teammates and Ryder Cup rivals McIlroy and Bradley and contributing decisively to the team’s success on the Palm Beach State College campus.
Hammer Strategy Key to Success
Boston Common Golf’s victory was also thanks to a targeted hammer strategy, which earned three additional points. \”We follow a slightly different strategy in accepting and throwing hammers, relying 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 Los Angeles Golf Club team also reflected on the match: \”We had good chances all day to pull ahead and build a lead, but it didn’t happen,\” said Sahith Theegala. \”The guys played great, and it’s a lot of