Atlanta Drive GC (6) vs LAGC (5)

For a company that changes so much, and so fast, even I was surprised by the scale of evolution that TGL has brought to these matchups after just a weeklong hiatus. From the repainting and redecorating of the front entrance, to the new lighting additions all over the plaza and stadium, to the increased amount of merch and food options, they’ve taken all the incremental changes week by week and overhauled them in every sector, giving TGL a refreshed feel. This feeling has perfectly carried over into the match, with the teams going back and forth in shots, banter, and hammers like it’s their day job. Sahith summed it up perfectly when in a quick mid match interview, he spoke to TGL’s ability to give the players a fun way to enjoy the game of golf and their camaraderie, harking back to some of the reasons TGL was made in the first place. But, it also speaks to the atmosphere that TGL is looking to create, similar to the one you have with some of your closest friends, where stakes are low enough you can have fun, but each drive, iron, chip and putt is fueled by a passion to win and beat the other team.

The biggest change felt during the matches is the new hammer rules, which have changed it from a neutral strategic option to an aggressive offensive play. This has done wonders for the back and forth ability of the matches, even though it has caused an increase in hammer concessions. But, these increased concessions come hand in hand with a very much increased amount of hammers thrown. It’s been interesting to see how a strategy of multiple early hammer throws can try and chip away at a teams confidence early, while finding the right moments to fight back and throw a hammer of their own. The match remained close throughout the triples section, with dueling hammers and incredible close putt misses from both sides ensuring the competitive pressure remained dense, while the enthusiastically cutthroat attitude Sahith talked about stayed palpable from start to finish. With chipping being a struggle from both sides, it really came down to not just the putts, but some of the strategic on the green hammer throws making the difference.

With two holes to play and down one, Patty Ice, the man known for his clutch singles play, proved once again why he owns that nickname with an insane tee shot on the par 3 “On the Rocks”, putting it to about 2 feet. But, Tommy wasn’t going to let him have his moment, sinking an 18 footer to tie the hole and keep LA afloat. But, ATL had the last laugh, with Sahith going bunker to bunker in his shots, giving JT the opportunity to walk LA down, holing out to win and bringing the match to the second shootout in TGL history. Patty Ice once again put his name to the test and delivered a clutch pitch shot next to the hole, netting ATL a win in their first of two matches today. They take on The Bay GC at 4 PM, with Lucas Glover subbing in for Billy Horschel and Min Woo Lee making his first ever TGL appearance.

Atlanta Drive GC (5) vs The Bay GC (6)

Another Atlanta Drive match, another nailbiter, with a match so close it came down to less than an inch of deciding whether we were going to get our second overtime in a row, or whether the Bay was going to get their first win of the day. The match was back and forth from the start, not so much a war of words but a battle of internal turmoil and golf madness. With debuts on both sides for Lucas Glover and Min Woo Lee, that aspect was always going to be in display alongside the more experienced players. Where Glover took a bit to get going, Lee came out firing, hitting clutch iron shots and sinking at least 40 feet of putts in just 2 holes. But, while Lee didn’t slow down as much as level out, Glover kept turning the heat up more and more, sinking a 10 footer for birdie on a hammer hole, while also holing out for eagle on the last hole of triples, shortening The Bay’s lead to 3-2.

In singles, there was a combination of great golf and ghastly mistakes that contributed to an insane finish down the stretch. On one hole, a late hammer throw added a jolt of confusion to the match, although Glover’s sinking of the putt probably eased most of the problems. On the par 3 12th, a pre-tee shot hammer throw changed everything, making the hole worth 2 points in a 5-3 The Bay game. Min Woo hit a great shot that flew just wide of the green while JT hit an 8 foot dart he enthusiastically sunk for birdie. After ATL conceded a Hammer on 13, both Åberg and Glover had near aces, a rollback and a one hop respectively. With both men making their putts, and their teammates tying the next hole, it all came down to JT vs Min Woo. With Min Woo missing the green and JT almost canning it from over 200 yards, he had a 30 or so footer to win it all for Atlanta Drive. When I tell you, this putt could not have missed from more than a couple centimeters. Almost one of the most clutch putts in TGL history and, given the stakes, comeback potential, and type of putt, JT’s career.

While they came up short in their second match, a huge kudos to Atlanta drive for an entire afternoon of great energy, showmanship, and golfing aptitude. They play the role of arena athletes perfectly, and did so for a very long time in front of thousands of people. Alongside the fresh frenetic fun of LA and the energetic yet steamrolling golf of The Bay, TGL fans have been in for a treat all day. While ATL gets some much deserved rest, The Bay makes a return, with Shane Lowry in tow, to take on a Hideki Matsuyama included Boston Common Golf. With this level of talent on display, it’s sure to be an exciting evening match up that is best enjoyed live and in prime time.

The Bay GC (5) vs Boston Common Golf (4)

With both teams bringing out the big guns for this primetime match, an early Hammer before the tee shots led to a 2-0 Boston Common lead, with who else but Hideki delivering the birdie putt in his first club contact at SoFi to get the point. But, leave it to the Bay to fire right back, picking up a point just on hole 3. After a wayward fade and a long chip by the Frogs, the Bay used this opportunity to throw the Hammer, the added pressure potentially leading to Keegan’s missed putt. The Bay used that extra oomph to make theirs and take a 1 point lead going into the 6th hole. Steady play from both sides kept it close, and a hard lineup of holes led to conservative golf from both sides, keeping the drives dicey and the putts long. “Scoring might open up more in singles”, I somehow correctly thought to myself. The action didn’t stop yet, as a near eagle from Wyndham leads to a tap in birdie that Ludvig matched with ease, tying the hole again.

The teams entered singles with The Bay up 3-2, with neither team playing at their best, but scrappy teamwork and some miraculous hole outs keeping the match at an elite level. After a few ties leveling out the energy, it came back fast and unexpectedly with Keegan holing out for eagle in his first singles hole. Shane Lowry had a chance to tie with a chip in of his own, and while it could not have come much closer without dropping, drop it didn’t, leaving the match tied 3-3 with 5 holes to play. Instead of Common continuing to pile it on, Ludvig took advantage of Rory finding a bunker and sunk his birdie putt, countering Rory’s sandy par to snag another point for The Bay. Hideki’s good shot on the par 3 Craic On, holding the green about 20 yards right, didn’t compare to Wyndham’s 6 foot dart, and when Bay dropped the Hammer, Common still didn’t back down. Hideki left the ball not even an inch for bird, but Wyndham couldn’t get his putt down, both teams settling for a par. The new Hammer rules showed just how high the stakes can become as Lowry’s duffed chip into a bunker turned into a Hammer denial for his team after a Common throw, leaving the match tied 4-4 with two holes to play. With momentum in their favor, Rory hit a beautiful shot pin high and about 5 feet on the 135 yard par 3, but leave it to Ludvig to hit one almost directly next to Rory. Rory’s hammer drop after his make didn’t dissuade Ludvig for a second, both teams dropping birdies and heading to the last hole tied. Wyndham and Hideki battled it across the long and winding par 5 Quick Draw. Hideki’s putt was long but in front of him, although the break and slope is much more treacherous than it seems on TV. He missed by a couple of inches, leaving Wyndham with a chance to bring it all home for The Bay. From 10 feet, he was money, netting The Bay their second win of the day and capping off an unbelievable day of golf here in West Palm.