Inaugural TGL champions Atlanta Drive GC members (from left) Lucas Glover, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel and Justin Thomas with their trophy at the SoFi Centre in Palm Beach Gardens on Tuesday. Image courtesy TGL presented by SoFi.
From a Correspondent
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida: Down 3-0 with four holes to play, Atlanta Drive GC scripted an epic comeback capped by a 17-foot Billy Horschel birdie putt to win Match 2 of the Finals Series and capture the SoFi Cup 4-3 over New York Golf Club.
While the best-of-three Finals Series appeared to be headed to a decisive Match 3, Atlanta remained in the hunt through 11 holes having saved all three Hammers (two-point challenges) to that point.
Atlanta cut the deficit to 3-2 by putting the Hammer in play on holes No. 12 and 13, both of which were declined by New York.
New York accepted the third Hammer throw on hole 14, where Horschel was standing over a 17-footer for birdie while Rickie Fowler was in a greenside bunker needing to get up-and-down to save par.
Figuring the odds of Fowler getting up-and-down were better than Horschel making the putt to win the hole, New York accepted to make the hole worth two points.
Horschel made them pay, stepping up to the moment like he’s done all season with a winding putt and an ensuing celebration that will add to his TGL highlight reel.
“This is my … house!,” Horschel shouted, dropping his putter and throwing his hat before being mobbed by Atlanta teammates Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay.
Nerveless finish
Horschel’s match and season-championship-clinching putt was his longest-made putt of the TGL season at 17′ 10″.
He finished the season with the most singles holes won (8) and the most singles points (13), six more than the next best player
The two-point swing gave Atlanta a 4-3 lead entering the final hole, which was also worth two points when New York threw the Hammer prior to Cantlay and Cameron Young hitting their tee shots.
Knowing he likely needed to get up-and-down to avoid Match 3, Cantlay chipped it inside three feet to ice the victory.
“I figured if we made birdie we’d have a good chance at closing it out,” Cantlay said. “I like being in that spot, the anchor spot. …And it’s no surprise (Horschel) made another putt worth two points.”
Horschel also helped spark a comeback victory with Atlanta trailing 4-2 on Monday night in Match 1, draining an 11-foot birdie putt to tie it up and set the tone for an eventual 6-5 victory.
No answers
“I think it’s the same story,” Young said. “The short game in here is what wins you matches and unfortunately we just didn’t have anything go in tonight.”
New York began the year 0-2 before emerging as one of the top teams in the second half of the season, upsetting No. 1 seed Los Angeles Golf Club in the Semifinals to get to the Finals Series.
Atlanta finished the year with a 7-1 record and were the most-consistent team all season at SoFi Centre, where team owner Arthur Blank hoisted the SoFi Cup before passing it down the line to Cantlay, Horschel, Thomas and Lucas Glover.
“It’s completely exceeded my expectations,” Thomas said of the inaugural season of TGL. “It’s been a blast.
“The competitiveness once the playoffs got here. (New York), I’m sure they would say the same, they were different last night. Not chippy, but it was competitive. We wanted to win. And, yeah … Billy does Billy things.” (courtesy TGL)
Also read: Atlanta rebound to win TGL finale match 1 against New York
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