February 4th, Palm Beach Gardens – Pregame thoughts: Fresh off his 27th PGA Tour victory, a masterclass at Pebble Beach, Rory McIlroy returns to the Sofi Center just eight days after an overtime TGL loss to Tiger Woods and the hometown Jupiter Links Golf Club.
Adam Scott and Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley return beside the Ulsterman, attempting to get the first victory for Boston Common. Los Angeles brings Justin Rose and Colin Morikawa back to the Sofi Center, but Sahith Theegala stays behind for Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.
L.A Golf Club got off to a quick start with Tommy Fleetwood making his debut at SoFi – hitting the opening tee shot down the middle on Tuesday night. Teammate Morikawa flagged his approach to 3 feet, and Justin Rose sank the putt to take the early 1-0 lead.
L.A took a 2-0 lead when Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley hit consecutive shots into the water for Boston Common.
At the third, L.A stayed on a heater when Tommy Fleetwood holed his 7 foot putt to go 3 up.
The par 5 fourth measures 586 yards, Fleetwood layed up off the tee, while McIlroy bombed it 318 yards into the short grass. Adam Scott hit his 3 wood just off the green, Rose hit wedge to 15 feet for his third. Keegan almost chipped in for eagle, and Fleetwood missed his birdie chance. Rory had a chance to win the hole from 7 feet, but the ball lipped out. Hole halved.
On the 179 yard fifth, Morikawa hit it to 10 ft, Adam Scott hit his in the front bunker. Rose poured it in, and L.A jumped out to a 4 zip lead.
Holes 6 thru 8 were tied.
At the 601 yard ninth, Tommy Fleetwood smashed his 3 wood approach 269 yards to 24 feet. Morikawa ran the eagle putt 5 feet past. Boston had a chance for birdie, but couldn’t convert. Rose once again played the hero canning the putt to send Boston up 5-0 . . . and the rout was on.
The 602 yard tenth was tied after both Fleetwood and McIlroy missed their birdie putts. The eleventh Morikawa vs Scott, was also tied in the singles format. Hole 12 Rose vs Bradley, Boston finally came to life with a Keegan dart inside of a foot. Rose had 26 feet to tie the hole but missed – L.A 5 – Boston 1.
Running out of holes, Boston lost all hope when Rory drove it into a hazard on the thirteenth, all but handing Fleetwood the point and an unsurmountable lead at 6-1. The fourteenth was tied.
At the last, the 590 yard par 5 “Navigator”, Keegan Bradley provided a closing highlight, stuffing it to two feet, earning a point for Boston – Final L.A 6 – Boston 2.
Tommy Fleetwood talked about his maiden voyage in the SoFi Center, “I thought the atmosphere was great,” Fleetwood said of his TGL debut. “Being in the arena the last couple of days prepares you for a lot of it. We got off to a great start, that always helps. And it was comfortable from there on in.”
The SoFi center had a moment of silence in observance of Tida Woods passing Tuesday morning.
TGL is off next week and returns with a tripleheader on February 17th. LAGC looks to keep it rolling at 1 p.m. against Atlanta Drive GC. Boston will tee it up in the third and final match of the day, taking on The Bay Golf Club at 7 p.m.
