Statistically speaking, Los Angeles Golf Club had just a two per cent chance to close out this match.
But TGL — just like tournament golf — proved to be unpredictable in the first of two matches on Monday as LAGC came back from a 4-0 deficit with just three holes to go to defeat New York Golf Club 5-4 in overtime.
LAGC, which signed Tony Finau to a one-match contract with Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood out with prior familial commitments, earned the first playoff spot with the win.
"It was so much fun. I really couldn't have had more fun. We were playing fine in the beginning, even though we were in a deep hole," Finau said. "We knew we just kind of had to be patient. But we started to run out of holes at the end, but we all stepped up to the plate when it was our turn to get a point.
“It kind of exceeded my expectations being here, being a part of it, and just to be able to have a comeback like we did today and help these guys get to the playoffs, it was kind of a dream couple days for me, honestly.”
LAGC seemed out of it, holding onto those two per cent odds, as it stood on the 12th tee. But the points came fast and furious from there.
Sahith Theegala nailed a 28-foot birdie on No. 12 to make it 4-1. Finau then stepped to the tee on No. 13 and threw the hammer, making it worth two points. He proceeded to hit his approach to just nine feet and convert the birdie to cut the lead to just one with two holes left after LAGC took a timeout.
Then, Collin Morikawa hit his tee shot on the par-3 14th to just six feet and made that putt to cap an impressive three-hole rally that tied the match at 4-apiece.
LAGC topped New York in the first two frames of overtime, and that sealed it for the team in black.
“We’re all competitors … we hate losing. Probably hate losing more than winning, at least for me, and I think these guys might say the same thing. Just to know we’ve clinched that (playoff) spot, and we have a chance at the title — playoff sports is a whole different beast,” Theegala said. “So, we’re ready for it.”
It was still a valiant effort from New York, which saw some incredible putting prowess through the match.
Rickie Fowler set the TGL record for longest putt in league history, nailing a 36-footer for birdie on the very first hole. He was outdone, however, by teammate Cameron Young on No. 4, who made a 38-foot birdie.
New York remains in fourth place and is still alive in the post-season race, having earned one point for the overtime loss.
“We know what we need to do, so we’ve been playing well, and like the boys have said, we’ve got better and better and more comfortable with the more reps in (the SoFi Center),” Fowler said. “We know exactly what we need to go do to play some good golf, win some holes, and win the match.”
With the New York loss, The Bay Golf Club also clinched a spot in the playoffs. There are just two spots still up for grabs for the post-season.
Key moment
Finau was not afraid to throw the hammer at an important time (he was also not afraid to throw out a dance move or two, including on the first hole when his shimmy shake pushed the shot clock to just one — much to the chagrin of Morikawa) and he came up clutch when he needed to on No. 13 to cut the New York lead to 4-3 after he nailed an important birdie with the hammer on the ground.
Top performer
Morikawa not only tied the match 4-4 with his tidy tee shot on the penultimate hole, but he also hit the winning shot in overtime, with his approach landing just six feet away to Rickie Fowler’s nine feet.
Quoteable
“’So you're telling me there's a chance,’" right? Famous Jim Carrey line,” Tony Finau when asked about the two per cent chance his team had to complete the comeback late in the match.
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: Only the top four teams in the SoFi Cup standings reach the post-season, which begins March 17.
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