Double Monday session in the TGL. Atlanta Drive and Boston Common Golf faced off in a crucial duel, while Los Angeles Golf Club and New York Golf Club battled to secure a playoff spot.
Undoubtedly, this second match stole the spotlight. Los Angeles was trailing 4-0 on the 12th hole tee, and artificial intelligence gave them just a two percent chance of winning the match. Against all odds, the team of Sahith Theegala, Collin Morikawa, and Toni Finau made a comeback to defeat New York Golf Club of Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler, and Matthew Fitzpatrick in overtime, securing a playoff spot with the most improbable victory in TGL history.
The 5-4 victory ensures that Los Angeles will finish in the top four in the SoFi Cup standings. It couldn’t have come in a more dramatic fashion. Los Angeles sits at the top of the table with a total of seven points in the standings and becomes the first team to secure a postseason spot.
Sahith Theegala started the comeback with a 28-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole to make it 4-1 and keep his team alive in the final three holes.
Tony Finau, who joined LAGC on a one-match contract as Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood were unavailable, approached the par 4 of the 13th after Los Angeles played the hammer to make the hole worth two points.
With even more pressure on the new player, Finau hit his approach to 9 feet for a birdie putt with the chance to cut the deficit to one. After letting the clock run before calling a timeout, Los Angeles made a great read, and Finau sank the putt to make it 4-3 with two holes to play.
It was Collin Morikawa’s turn to make his move on the 14th, leaving his tee shot 6 feet on the par 3 and sinking the birdie putt to tie the match and complete a furious three-hole comeback. In the playoff, New York could no longer stop the Los Angeles team, who secured the victory.
New York remains in fourth place for now and stays alive in the postseason race, having gained a point with the overtime loss.
In the other match of the day, Atlanta with Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, and Justin Thomas defeated the team of Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Hideki Matsuyama and also secured a playoff spot. After a back-and-forth match, Billy Horschel made a birdie on the 14th hole, par 3, for Atlanta Drive GC to defeat Boston Common Golf 6-3. Rory’s team, with just one point, is in last place and will need a strong final sprint to qualify.
The regular season will run until March 4th, with the top four of six teams advancing to the semifinals, leading to the finals scheduled for March 24th and 25th.
