Justin Thomas starred on his TGL debut to assist Atlanta Drive GC to a convincing 4-0 victory over New York Golf Membership of their season opener.
Thomas lined-up alongside fellow former FedExCup champions Billy Horschel and Patrick Cantlay for his or her first match within the new tech-infused group league, which sees PGA Tour stars go head-to-head inside a purpose-built indoor area.
The 2-time main champion noticed his aspect lead from the opening gap and by no means trailed all through the competition on the TGL Sofi Middle, the place they gained two factors within the opening nine-hole session that makes use of a alternate shot – or triples – format.
Atlanta Drive gained the primary two holes of singles and closed out a convincing win, the place New York’s line-up of Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Younger grew to become the primary aspect to fail to attain a degree in a TGL match.
Victory sees Atlanta Drive earn two factors and transfer joint-top of the SoFi Cup standings, with New York backside of the six-team league after a second successive defeat and now struggling to qualify for the season-ending playoffs.
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Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay dominated on evening three of the TGL and celebrated in fashion!
Thomas leads Atlanta to successful begin
New York GC instantly fell behind when Younger hit his opening shot out of bounds and allowed Atlanta Drive to win the outlet with a par, with Fitzpatrick then lacking a putt from eight toes to stage the match on the subsequent.
Younger additionally squandered a birdie probability to win the third, whereas Atlanta Drive stayed forward when Thomas recovered from dropping his footing and hitting his drive on the par-five fourth into the penalty space by draining a 25-footer to scramble a par.
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Justin Thomas made two huge putts for his TGL group Atlanta Drive after they confronted New York Golf Membership on evening three.
Cantlay could not convert a 15-foot putt to win the fifth however noticed his aspect double their lead the sixth, when Thomas knocked his strategy to 6 toes and Horschel holed the putt, with the rest of the holes tied within the triples session to go away Atlanta Drive 2-0 up heading into singles.
Younger didn’t rise up and right down to match the birdie of Thomas on the tenth, whereas Fitzpatrick conceded the eleventh in opposition to Horschel after discovering water along with his second after which hitting his subsequent two pictures into bunkers.
Thomas holed one other long-range putt to birdie the thirteenth in opposition to Younger, who had fired a 360-yard drive and left his strategy in gimme vary, whereas Fitzpatrick was unable to earn New York their first level when he burned his birdie have a look at the 14th.
Atlanta Drive elected in opposition to utilizing ‘The Hammer’ all through the match, which supplies a group the chance to place their opponents underneath strain by doubling the worth of the outlet, with a shutout confirmed regardless of Cantlay’s missed birdie probability on the final.
Enchancment wanted from New York?
Fowler stated: “We’ve just got to find a way to play better than the other team. We’ve gotten outplayed both times. I don’t think we played very poorly, other than our first hole.
“We obtained off to a tough begin, however apart from that, there isn’t any blaming right here. I missed the inexperienced with a chip. Yeah, we dug ourselves a small gap, however I felt like we performed first rate from there. However the huge factor is we now have to discover a technique to gap some putts.”
Young added: “I believe the sport was actually enjoyable. Clearly not the consequence that we wished, however I really feel prefer it was the perfect golf I’ve seen from watching the opposite two matches after which ours tonight. It was a blast, and I believe we’ll do higher subsequent time.”
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Luke Donald displays on his expertise watching TGL and discusses the similarities it has with the setting a participant might face on the Ryder Cup.
What’s subsequent?
Rory McIlroy is about to make his TGL debut on Monday when his Boston Widespread Golf aspect tackle Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Hyperlinks Golf Membership, who had been thrashed by Los Angeles GC of their season opener, with protection stay from 11.30pm on Sky Sports activities Golf.
Atlanta Drive GC return to motion with two matches on February 17 in opposition to Los Angeles GC (6pm) and The Bay Golf Membership (9pm), whereas New York GC subsequent play on February 18 in opposition to Jupiter Hyperlinks (February 19, 12am UK time).
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