TGL Game #1 – The Bay Dominate New York 9-2

RECAP

As we kick off the first ever TGL game, The brain child of Rory Mcilroy and Tiger Woods.  The weird feeling of hearing hip hop as players walk in, in substitution off a subtle clap on the box sets the tone for something a whole lot different than we’ve ever seen from Golf.

If you didn’t watch and you’re still confused about how all this works, check out TGL’s website where they break down the entire match and league format. Click here

Hole 1

Shane Lowry kicks off the first ever tee shot and finds the fairway with ease. Matthew Fitzpatrick provokes off the first ever boo from the crowd here at Sofi by missing the green left. So great to see the crowd holding the players responsible as opposed to just not clapping. As they would on the course. Wyndham Clarke would find the first ever green in regulation.

As the players shift to the rotating adjusting green for their first short game shots you can just feel the excitement. Xander barely finds the green from about 15 yards. And Aberg sinks a 12-footer to get a hold of the first ever point in TGL history!

Hole 2

The 2nd hole would see Ludwig draw the first penalty on a very fantasy type par 5. They would end up splitting the hole as Fitzpatrick failed to sink a 15 footer for birdie. 

Hole 3

The 3rd hole would be the first Par 3 where Aberg would find the center of the green and Xander would find the front Bunker. Both would have not so good second shots. Leaving Fitzpatrick and Clarke with long putts for par. Fitzpatrick misses to the right. Wyndham would throw down the hammer. NY accepts and Wyndham hits the 10 footer for the first ever Hammer Points! 2 points for The Bay makes it 3-0 with 12 holes to play.

Hole 4 – Boomerang 

On hole 4, a par 5, Lowry would fail to find the fairway leaving Wyndham Clarke to lay up on the second shot. Rickie would split the Fairway allowing NY to go for the green in two. Fitzy would unfortunately miss left again and leave Xander with a tricky up and down.

Aberg would hit an absolute dart to 4 feet from the hole for birdie. With this pretty much in for birdie, Xander will have to go up and down to the tie. A hole that NY had the initial advantage. 

Xander wouldn’t be able to get his wedge shot close to the hole. Leaving it long a left and about 7-8 feet for Rickie’s putter. Mats fitzpatrick would contest rickie read of right to left saying “from this angle I want to say left to right” Rickie would ignore it and fall right of the hole. 

Lowry sinks Aberg’s 4-footer. 4-0 The Bay.

Hole 5 – CRAIC ON

The 5th hole would probably have to be the highlight of the night. Wyndham would find the green but leave about a long putt for Aberg.

Fitzpatrick misses left side of the green for the 3rd time. Xander would finally find his touch around the green and stick it to gimme range. In for the par.

But The Bay cannot be stopped. Aberg would drain the long birdie scoring another point! 5-0 The Bay!

Hole 6 –  Blue Bonnet

The sixth hole would see A NY three putt giving the Bay another Point. 6-0 The Bay.

Hole 7 – Oh Chute

As Lowry is about to tee off, Xander Schauffele throws a hammer in front. Pausing the shot clock and making the hole worth 2 points. Lowry hits short and left of the green. First up and down The Bay will have to to make.

Rickie would hit a similar shot but have a little but of the advantage as NY would be a little closer.

Whydham would hit a good chip online but with a little too much speed. Leaving Aberg a 6-footer for par on a Hammer Hole!

Fitzpatrick would chip it to gimme range and now put the pressure on Aberg for a 2 point swing. 

Never a doubt. Aberg sinks the putt and splits the hammer hole. No points awarded to either team. 

Hole 8 – Flex

The eighth hole, “Flex,” brings chaos. Wyndham’s ball barely stays out of simulated lava, while Fitzpatrick finds the fairway. Xander lands his shot short but in a solid spot. Åberg, despite hitting the simulated rough, reaches the green left of the hole. Rickie has a chance to break the goose egg with a chip to win, but it misses left. Another tied hole keeps the score at 6-0.

Hole 9 – Spear

On the ninth hole, “Spear,” Åberg finds the rough off the tee while Xander splits the fairway. Lowry lays up, and Rickie goes for the green, ending up long and left, a recurring issue for NY tonight. Clark’s approach barely stays on the green, and Fitzpatrick capitalizes with a stunning up-and-down to finally win the hole.

That would bring the Alternate shot portion to an end. Up next, singles.

Singles – serpent – 616 Par 5

Lowry and Rickie step up for a critical hole, with Rickie’s drive finding the right OB for a penalty. Lowry keeps his ball barely in bounds, hugging the left side and drawing a collective “eeesh” from the crowd. 

After a drop, Rickie finds the fairway but faces a tough task to get up and down for bogey. Lowry opts for a safe layup, setting himself up for a manageable approach. 

From 139 yards out, Lowry lands his shot right of the pin, which rolls back onto the green in regulation. Wyndham briefly considers throwing the hammer but ultimately decides to hold off. 

Rickie’s approach misses long, landing in the rough just on the edge of the green. Despite the misstep, he follows up with an impressive downhill chip to gimme range. 

In a lighthearted moment, Rickie concedes Lowry’s short putt but insists he putt it anyway, tossing the flagstick in his way for a laugh.

The Bay goes up 7-1 but officially making it the first ever win in TGL history!

The match continues for tie breaker purposes but The Bay are the winners of this match. It is still important for NY to win more points as well as they may need points in a playoff tie breaker at the end of the season. 

To quote DJ Khalid who had an in audience interview, the night was “Historic”!