PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — In one of the thrilling matches of the TGL season, Atlanta Drive GC defeated New York Golf Membership 6-5 to win the primary match of the best-of-three TGL ultimate.
Xander Schauffele, who has made a degree of constructing clutch putts when he is wanted to during the last 12 months — after successful two main championships — couldn’t convert a six-footer on the ultimate gap after Patrick Cantlay had made a six-footer of his personal, with extra time looming massive.
Atlanta now has a 1-0 lead within the TGL ultimate sequence, with New York needing to win back-to-back matches Tuesday to win the SoFi Cup.
Atlanta was up 2-0 early after Billy Horschel hit a powerful method on the par-5 4th from 233 yards away to simply 9 ft. Cantlay made the eagle putt and Justin Thomas shushed the gang, a hearty variety of whom was boisterously cheering for the New York aspect.
“I type of felt just like the loser in school tonight. Like we had everyone towards us,” Thomas stated with a smile.
“I do not know who flew these guys down, nevertheless it in all probability can be good to have them tomorrow night time, as effectively,” Schauffele added.
New York mounted a fast comeback, nevertheless, and made it 2-2 after Horschel hit a chip throughout and thru the inexperienced on No. 6 resulting in a bogey.
That’s the way in which the rating stayed after 9 holes, marking simply the second time all season that the groups have been tied after triples.
Cam Younger then made it 4-2 for New York on No. 10 after Atlanta Drive accepted a New York hammer throw — with Younger handing Thomas his first singles lack of the season. Thomas would additionally go on to lose the penultimate gap. No. 13, to Younger.
The par-4 eleventh, nevertheless, was the outlet of the night time.
With Rickie Fowler in for par, Horschel was a nine-footer for birdie. Horschel’s Atlanta teammates have been discussing throwing the hammer and Horschel exclaimed he was going to make that putt — and make it he did.
Horschel then went nuts, throwing a double fist pump, yelling out, “Let’s go!” and screaming immediately on the New York crowd within the stands of the SoFi Heart.
“Actually, I feel Billy making that putt when the hammer was down… It finally nonetheless got here down to creating putts. So, Billy making that putt was actually, I feel, the deciding level within the match tonight,” Cantlay stated.
New York, in the meantime, threw solely one in every of their three hammers on the night time, admitting they didn’t assume there have been good alternatives to throw it. Schauffele did admit he regretted accepting the hammer on No. 11, resulting in Horschel tying the match.
“I feel a questionable hammer resolution, and the golf was loads adequate to have received the match tonight,” Younger stated.
New York might want to dig deep — and doubtlessly pivot on a few of its hammer technique — if they’re to mount a comeback and win the SoFi Cup.
That has been the story of the latter half of 2025 for New York, nevertheless, having began 0-2 after which going 3-0-1 of their final 4 matches previous to the TGL ultimate to clinch a playoff berth and a spot within the ultimate, so it’s not fully out of the image.
“You possibly can inform everybody was making an attempt to win, and them being up one is an enormous benefit, however in my eyes and I am certain these boys and our workforce, we misplaced our first two matches, so this technically is not one thing that we have not already confronted this precise season,” Schauffele stated. “It’s going to be a enjoyable go tomorrow.”
Match 2 and three of the SoFi Cup Last that includes New York Golf Membership vs. Atlanta Drive GC in a best-of-three sequence on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Match 2: March 25 at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT
Match 3: March 25 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT (if wanted)
Source link
