Atlanta Drive GC needed a comeback — again — but in the end, it was mission accomplished as it clinched the third playoff spot in the inaugural TGL season.
Atlanta defeated Boston Common Golf 6-3 — after being down 2-1 early — to improve to 3-1-0 on the season.
Los Angeles Golf Club had secured a playoff spot earlier in the day after a come-from-behind victory over New York Golf Club, while The Bay Golf Club was also a beneficiary to the New York loss.
“Every time I walk into this arena, I get goosebumps,” Billy Horschel said. “To be in the playoffs with teams and something that’s not been done before — obviously we have the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup, but this is completely different. It’s exciting. It’s new.
“Our plan is to continue to build this and make this up in the years to come, so to be in the playoffs for the first time and have a chance to win the inaugural SoFi Cup, you couldn’t ask for a cooler moment over the next couple weeks.”
Atlanta got off to a quick start with Horschel nailing a five-footer for birdie on the second hole to send the squad off to a 1-0 lead early. Boston, however, stepped on the gas winning hole Nos. 4 and 5 — the ladder coming after Rory McIlroy rolled in a 13-foot birdie try after a tidy tee shot from Hideki Matsuyama.
The final four holes of Triples saw no points on the board for either team, but Atlanta pulled away with an impressive effort in singles.
Horschel won No. 11 after Matsuyama left his greenside bunker shot in the sand. Patrick Cantlay then hit his tee shot on the par-3 12th to just three feet and Boston accepted the hammer thrown by Cantlay. McIlroy couldn’t convert his pitch from just off the green and Atlanta Drive locked up two points.
“I think the big turning point was obviously Patrick hit in close there and they threw the hammer, and I felt like I had to accept it,” McIlroy explained. “I wanted to at least have a chance to tie that hole and give it a good run with the chip. But then (Atlanta) getting those two points and going 4-2 up at that point was obviously a big turning point.”
Horschel won another two points after he rolled in a six-footer for birdie on the penultimate hole and threw the hammer. Matsuyama couldn’t convert his own six-foot birdie try (“Very disappointed in how I played today,” he said) and the match was over.
“We came in here really expecting to win,” Bradley said. “We got off to a bit of a slow start. We didn’t play that great at the beginning, but we picked it up at the end. Some good shots for the boys there. Good on Atlanta to beat us in the end.”
Boston has now gone all four matches without a victory; however, it is still in the playoff picture, albeit barely. Boston will be eliminated with a victory from Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links GC on Tuesday night.
The final playoff spot will come down to one of Boston, Jupiter Links, or New York — which currently holds the fourth and final spot.
KEY MOMENT
One hole after Cantlay notched two points for Atlanta via a hammer on the par-3 12th, we had as impressive a two-shot effort as we’ve seen all TGL season.
First, Justin Thomas hit a wedge from about 35 yards away, over a bunker (difficulty degree had to be a 9/10) to just four feet. Keegan Bradley — who had just driven the green on the short par 4 — then two-putted from 46 feet for birdie. Thomas rolled his birdie in on top of Bradley to preserve Atlanta Drive’s two-shot advantage and, ultimately, pushed them to victory.
TOP PERFORMER
Horschel, who secured four points for Atlanta Drive.
He rolled in the birdie putt on No. 2 to get the first point of the night for his team before topping Hideki Matsuyama in singles on both No. 11 and No. 14 for the match-clinching two points.
QUOTEABLE
“Is Billy playing tonight or is he just caddying for the other two? Every time I see him, he’s running,” McIlroy on Horschel’s penchant for retrieving clubs for his teammates.
UP NEXT
Monday March 3 –
The Bay Golf Club vs. Los Angles Golf Club
3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
New York Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf
7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Tuesday March 4 –
Jupiter Links GC vs. Atlanta Drive GC
7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Of note: The top four teams in the SoFi Cup standings reach the post-season, which begin March 17.
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