Justin Thomas starred in his TGL debut to help Atlanta Drive GC to a convincing 4-0 win over New York Golf Club in their season opener.
Thomas lined up alongside fellow former FedExCup champions Billy Horschel and Patrick Cantlay in their first match in the new technology-packed tag team league, which sees PGA Tour stars go head-to-head inside a purpose-built indoor arena.
The two-time major champion saw his team lead from the opening hole and never trailed throughout the contest at the TGL Sofi Centre, winning by two points in the opening nine-hole session that used an alternate shot – or triple – shot format.
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Atlanta Drive's Billy Horschel danced his way into the SoFi Center before his TGL debut against New York Golf Club.
Atlanta Drive won the first two holes of singles and closed out a convincing win, as New York's lineup of Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young became the first team to fail to score a point in a TGL match.
Victory sees Atlanta Drive pick up two points and move to the top of the SoFi Cup standings, with New York bottom of the six-team league after a second straight defeat and now struggling to qualify for the final playoffs of the season.
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Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay dominated night 3 of TGL and celebrated in style!
Thomas leads Atlanta to a winning start
New York GC immediately fell behind when Young hit his opening shot out of bounds and allowed the Atlanta Drive to win the hole on par, then Fitzpatrick missed an eight-foot putt to level the game on the ensuing play.
Young also missed a birdie chance to win the third, while the Atlanta Drive stayed ahead when Thomas recovered from a loss of footing and hit his shot at the fifth into the box by draining a 25-footer to scramble for par.
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Justin Thomas made two big shots for the TGL Atlanta Drive as they faced New York Golf Club on night three.
Cantlay couldn't convert a 15-foot putt to win the fifth, but saw his team double their lead with the sixth, when Thomas hammered his way to six feet and Horschel holed the putt, with the rest of the holes in the three-way session tied to leave the Atlanta Drive 2-0 heading into singles.
Young failed to get up and down to match Thomas' birdie at the 10th, while Fitzpatrick conceded the 11th against Horschel after finding the water on the second and then hitting the next two shots into the bunkers.
Thomas holed another long-range putt to make a birdie at the 13th against Young, who shot from 360 yards and left his approach within gimme range, while Fitzpatrick couldn't earn New York their first point when he burned his birdie look at the 14th. .
Atlanta Drive opted against using 'The Hammer' throughout the match, giving the team the opportunity to put their opponents under pressure by doubling the value of the hole, with the shutout assured despite Cantlay's missed chance at the end.
Improvement needed from New York?
“We just have to find a way to play better than the other team. We were outscored both times. I don't think we played too badly, except for our first hole,” Fowler said.
“We got off to a rough start, but other than that, there's no blame here. I missed the green with a putt. Yes, we dug ourselves a little hole, but I felt like we played well from there. But the important thing is we've got to find a way to hole some “The hits.”
Young added: “I think the match was really fun. Obviously it wasn't the result we wanted, but I feel like it was the best golf I've seen from watching the other two matches and then our match tonight. It was a blast, and I think we'll do better next time.” “.
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Luke Donald reflects on his experience watching TGL and discusses its similarities to the environment a player might encounter at the Ryder Cup.
What's next?
Rory McIlroy is set to make his TGL debut on Monday when Boston Common Golf Club takes on Tiger Woods Jupiter Links Golf Club, who were thrashed by LAGC in their season opener, with live coverage from 11.30pm on Sky Sports Golf.
Atlanta Drive GC returns to action with two matches on February 17 against Los Angeles GC (6pm) and The Bay Golf Club (9pm), while New York GC next plays on February 18 against Jupiter Lynx (February 19, 12am UK time ).
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