Rory McIlroy can now say he has experienced a perfect night in the TGL. After a first season without joy for Boston Common Golf, the Northern Irishman has finally celebrated a victory in the indoor league… and he did it with two luxury ingredients: an unexpected hero, Michael Thorbjornsen, and a “fratricidal” duel resolved in his favour against Justin Rose.
Boston Common Golf defeated Los Angeles Golf Club 7-5 in the early hours (Spanish time) at the SoFi Center, the venue where the entire competition takes place, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The six protagonists of the night were Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Michael Thorbjornsen for Boston; and Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, and Sahith Theegala for the Los Angeles team.
A movie-like ending with Thorbjornsen as the protagonist
The match was a rollercoaster. The Triples session left constant alternatives and a 4-4 that left everything open for the decisive part: the three individual points. That’s where the name no one expected to see as the main figure appeared: Michael Thorbjornsen, Boston’s reserve for this debut, who delivered a lesson on Florida’s artificial greens.
The decisive moment of the night came on the 15th hole. Thorbjornsen sank an eagle putt of over four metres to close the duel, spark the celebration at Boston Common, and secure the franchise’s first official victory in the TGL. It was curious to see Rory and Bradley celebrate the win together after the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
McIlroy delivers in the head-to-head with Rose
But it wasn’t just Thorbjornsen’s night. McIlroy also contributed, starting with a key point against Rose, his partner many times in the Ryder Cup. Rory won the 10th hole with a birdie and secured his duel with a subsequent draw.
“This victory has taken a long time to come for Keegan and me,” McIlroy acknowledged after the match. “Many quality shots, many birdies and eagles, many ‘Hammers’ launched… It was back and forth. It was fun to play.”
The “Hammer”, a decisive factor
Boston also finally found the strategic key with the “Hammer”, the wildcard that can double the value of a hole and is pure gold in the TGL if used well. The team knew when to push, and on such a tight night, that management ended up weighing on the final score.
Los Angeles, despite the defeat, showed flashes of very high level with Morikawa, Rose, and Theegala, but left the SoFi Center with the feeling of having had real chances without finishing. “We had a very good opportunity throughout the day to open a gap and it didn’t work out,” admitted Theegala.
Boston, meanwhile, finally has what had eluded them for so long: a victory. And McIlroy, at last, a great night in the TGL.
