Shane Lowry secured the match-winning level and Ludvig Åberg performed a key position as The Bay Golf Membership thrashed New York Golf Membership 9-2 within the first match of the inaugural TGL season.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy had been amongst these watching on the purpose-built SoFi Heart in Palm Seaside, Florida for the opening occasion of the tech-infused golf league, launched by their firm TMRW Sports activities, which sees PGA Tour stars go head-to-head in groups and utilizing a hybrid of digital and real-life play.
Lowry, Åberg and Wyndham Clark raced right into a 6-0 lead after simply six holes into the 15-hole contest, which is performed utilizing alternate shot – or triples – for the opening nine-hole session, then assured victory early within the singles earlier than extending their successful margin.
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Ludvig Åberg holed an enormous putt through the TGL season opener, impressing Tiger Woods within the course of!
The Bay Golf Membership earn two factors and go prime of the the season-long SoFi Cup standings, whereas New York Golf Membership – consisting of Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick and Rickie Fowler on the opening evening – stay and not using a victory.
Historic evening for the TGL
Lowry struck the opening tee shot of the historic contest and watched on simply minutes later as Åberg drained a nine-foot birdie putt at The Plank – the driveable par-four used as the primary gap – for the early 1-0 lead.
The Bay opened with ‘The Hammer’, which provides a group the possibility to place their opponents beneath stress by doubling the worth of the outlet, with Clark taking benefit on the par-three third by holing a seven-footer and shifting them three forward.
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Wyndham Clark and The Bay Golf Membership throwed ‘The Hammer’ through the third gap, the place they pulled additional forward!
Åberg fired an excellent strategy on the par-five fifth to arrange a close-range birdie for Lowry, with the Swede pulling The Bay additional clear by draining a 32-foot birdie on the fifth and serving to them to a stress-free successful par on the subsequent.
New York GC did not earn their first level till the par-five ninth, the place a artful chip from Fitzpatrick resulted in a birdie being conceded, earlier than Lowry beat Fowler within the opening gap of singles to offer The Bay an unassailable benefit with 5 holes to spare.
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Shane Lowry secured the successful level for The Bay, regardless of Rickie Fowler’s greatest efforts to cease him!
Clark and Åberg gained the following two holes earlier than Fowler ended the streak by beating Lowry on the thirteenth, with the one-sided contest ending with the 2 groups sharing the spoils on each the ultimate two singles holes.
“It was awesome,” Åberg stated after their victory. “I at all times stated I used to be so jealous of basketball and soccer gamers as a result of they get to do that loads and we do not.
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The New York Golf Membership and The Bay Golf Membership stroll into the TGL area in a by no means seen earlier than ambiance at a golf occasion
“So this whole stadium-like feel is awesome to be a part of, and it gets you going a little bit differently from a normal golf tournament.”
Talking in regards to the opening occasion, Woods stated on ESPN: “This was just a dream conjured up. Rory and I were talking about it; it’s hard to believe that dream came into reality and we were able to take golf into another stratosphere, really.”
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The New York Golf Membership and The Bay Golf Membership stroll into the TGL area in a by no means seen earlier than ambiance at a golf occasion
What’s subsequent?The inaugural season continues January 14, with Woods’ Jupiter Hyperlinks Golf Membership up towards a Los Angeles Golf Membership headlined by two-time main champion Collin Morikawa.
Protection begins from 2am on Wednesday January 15, stay on Sky Sports activities Golf, with the match repeated later that day. New York Golf Membership are again in motion on January 22 towards Atlanta Drive GC (12am begin UK time), whereas The Bay Golf Membership return with two matches on February 17.
Who will win the inaugural TGL season and the SoFi Cup? Watch each match of the 2025 and 2026 seasons solely stay on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and extra with NOW.
