Latest news with #FinalsSeries
CNN
28-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Atlanta Drive claim inaugural TGL title with comeback win over New York Golf Club
Atlanta Drive GC may have been the third-best team in the inaugural TGL season, but they flipped a switch in the playoffs to clinch the championship. Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel and Patrick Cantlay – who all came off mixed appearances at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – mounted an impressive comeback against New York Golf Club in the second match of the best-of-three Finals Series on Tuesday, winning 4-3 having trailed 3-0 through 11 holes. Horschel's clutch 18-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole proved to be the decisive moment, prompting wild celebrations as Atlanta took the lead for the first time over a New York team of Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young. With the final hole ending in a tie, Atlanta was handed the SoFi Cup trophy by owner Arthur Blank, finishing the season with a 7-1 record. 'It's really cool to be a part of something with these guys,' Horschel said afterwards, per TGL. 'Team competitions are special. I've only been a part of one, the 2022 Presidents Cup. 'You hear the stories, you know how fun it is … Just being in something that is competitive, you feel the energy, you feel the nerves. It just brings you closer together.' TGL, which stands for TMRW Golf League, is a stadium-based, technology-driven competition launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, along with NBC Sports' former president of golf Mike McCarley, in January. Six teams representing six cities competed in the inaugural season at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with players hitting tee and approach shots into a screen before transitioning to a green in the middle of the venue. Atlanta took an early lead in the Finals Series with a 6-5 victory over New York on Monday, and the crucial win the following day saw the players split a purse of $9 million. Despite falling to a 3-0 deficit after Schauffele's birdie putt on the 10th, Atlanta still had three hammers – which enable a team to increase the value of hole by one point – and used them all effectively across the 12th, 13th and 14th holes. New York declined to accept the first two hammers, cutting the team's lead to a single point, before Horschel's long putt snaked into the hole at the 14th to give Atlanta a dramatic lead. 'We did not want to go to another match,' Horschel said after the match, per Reuters. 'We're all just thrilled that we're not playing right now.'
CNN
27-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Atlanta Drive claim inaugural TGL title with comeback win over New York Golf Club
Atlanta Drive GC may have been the third-best team in the inaugural TGL season, but they flipped a switch in the playoffs to clinch the championship. Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel and Patrick Cantlay – who all came off mixed appearances at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass – mounted an impressive comeback against New York Golf Club in the second match of the best-of-three Finals Series on Tuesday, winning 4-3 having trailed 3-0 through 11 holes. Horschel's clutch 18-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole proved to be the decisive moment, prompting wild celebrations as Atlanta took the lead for the first time over a New York team of Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young. With the final hole ending in a tie, Atlanta was handed the SoFi Cup trophy by owner Arthur Blank, finishing the season with a 7-1 record. 'It's really cool to be a part of something with these guys,' Horschel said afterwards, per TGL. 'Team competitions are special. I've only been a part of one, the 2022 Presidents Cup. 'You hear the stories, you know how fun it is … Just being in something that is competitive, you feel the energy, you feel the nerves. It just brings you closer together.' TGL, which stands for TMRW Golf League, is a stadium-based, technology-driven competition launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, along with NBC Sports' former president of golf Mike McCarley, in January. Six teams representing six cities competed in the inaugural season at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with players hitting tee and approach shots into a screen before transitioning to a green in the middle of the venue. Atlanta took an early lead in the Finals Series with a 6-5 victory over New York on Monday, and the crucial win the following day saw the players split a purse of $9 million. Despite falling to a 3-0 deficit after Schauffele's birdie putt on the 10th, Atlanta still had three hammers – which enable a team to increase the value of hole by one point – and used them all effectively across the 12th, 13th and 14th holes. New York declined to accept the first two hammers, cutting the team's lead to a single point, before Horschel's long putt snaked into the hole at the 14th to give Atlanta a dramatic lead. 'We did not want to go to another match,' Horschel said after the match, per Reuters. 'We're all just thrilled that we're not playing right now.'
USA Today
26-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What does Xander Schauffele think about debut TGL season? He has one important tweak
What does Xander Schauffele think about debut TGL season? He has one important tweak PALM BEACH GARDENS — Xander Schauffele offered one opinion on a change he and other players would like to see as TGL starts looking forward to Season Two. Schauffele, whose New York team was swept by Atlanta this week in the best-of-3 final series, would like to see a shorter season or one that ends before The Players Championship. "I'm sure a lot of fans and the producers and ESPN, everyone is going to have a little bit of input," Schauffele said. "I think just like us players sit down in our off season with our team, they're going to sit down here and see how they can tweak everything, whether it's shortening the season or having it end (sooner). "I was talking to someone earlier about that; having it end sort of just before The Players, that would be something that we'd be up for." More: Will Tiger Woods be at SoFi Center for TGL's Finals Series? The Players is set for March 12-15, 2026. That would mean ending the playoffs a week earlier, March 2 and 3, which is the week between the Cognizant Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational. TGL's inaugural season started Jan. 7 and concluded Tuesday. The schedule included five regular-season matches for each of the six teams and two weeks of playoffs that included single semifinals matches followed the next week by the best-of-3 finals. The league was dark the week of the Genesis Invitational and Players. So what Schauffele is proposing is in essence ending two weeks earlier. TGL, ESPN already working on 2026 schedule Mike McCarley, the man who brought the concept of an indoor, high-tech golf league to co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, said the league and ESPN have started working on the 2026 schedule. Whether or not that includes a shift in the dates is not known. "This is complementary to the existing PGA Tour," McCarley said. "You keep iterating on versions of the schedule. But the core premise is the same. You use football as a promotional platform, not a don't compete with it, right?" One of two things would have to happen for the league to end before The Players: Start in December, which would mean ESPN having to schedule around any bowl games and "Monday Night Football" and then likely taking two weeks off around Christmas and New Year's; or some doubleheaders at the start of the season. The first three weeks in Year 1 were on Tuesdays because of NFL and college football, including the national championship game. One match was played each of the first four weeks. Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@
CNN
26-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Atlanta Drive claim inaugural TGL title with comeback win over New York Golf Club
Atlanta Drive GC may have been the third-best team in the inaugural TGL season, but they flipped a switch in the playoffs to clinch the championship. Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel and Patrick Cantlay mounted an impressive comeback against New York Golf Club in the second match of the best-of-three Finals Series on Tuesday, winning 4-3 having trailed 3-0 through 11 holes. Horschel's clutch 18-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole proved to be the decisive moment, prompting wild celebrations as Atlanta took the lead for the first time over a New York team of Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young. With the final hole ending in a tie, Atlanta was handed the SoFi Cup trophy by owner Arthur Blank, finishing the season with a 7-1 record. 'It's really cool to be a part of something with these guys,' Horschel said afterwards, per TGL. 'Team competitions are special. I've only been a part of one, the 2022 Presidents Cup. 'You hear the stories, you know how fun it is … Just being in something that is competitive, you feel the energy, you feel the nerves. It just brings you closer together.' TGL, which stands for TMRW Golf League, is a stadium-based, technology-driven competition launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, along with NBC Sports' former president of golf Mike McCarley, in January. Six teams representing six cities competed in the inaugural season at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with players hitting tee and approach shots into a screen before transitioning to a green in the middle of the venue. Atlanta took an early lead in the Finals Series with a 6-5 victory over New York on Monday, and the crucial win the following day saw the players split a purse of $9 million. Despite falling to a 3-0 deficit after Schauffele's birdie putt on the 10th, Atlanta still had three hammers – which enable a team to increase the value of hole by one point – and used them all effectively across the 12th, 13th and 14th holes. New York declined to accept the first two hammers, cutting the team's lead to a single point, before Horschel's long putt snaked into the hole at the 14th to give Atlanta a dramatic lead. 'We did not want to go to another match,' Horschel said after the match, per Reuters. 'We're all just thrilled that we're not playing right now.'
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Atlanta Drive beats New York Golf Club on last hole to take TGL Finals Series opener
Atlanta Drive beats New York Golf Club on last hole to take TGL Finals Series opener Show Caption Hide Caption Celebrities attending Tiger Woods TGL golf matches at SoFi Center While most fans attending TGL golf matches since January are ordinary people, there has been no lack of big-named celebrities at SoFi Center. Atlanta Drive GC defeated New York Golf Club 6-5 in the first match of the TGL Finals Series. Patrick Cantlay secured the winning point for Atlanta against Xander Schauffele on the final hole. The two teams will face off again on Tuesday for the second match of the series. The winner of the TGL Finals will receive a $9 million prize. PALM BEACH GARDENS — Atlanta Drive GC is one win away from the inaugural SoFi Cup and a $9 million-dollar grand prize. Atlanta defeated New York 6-5 on Monday night in the first match of the best-of-three TGL Finals Series at the SoFi Center. Patrick Cantlay secured the winning point against Xander Schauffele on the final singles hole after Schauffele's tying putt lipped out of the cup. It was a thrilling late night finish that creeped into Monday's final hour after a delayed broadcast start. "I think all of us are a little amped up right now but also ready to go to sleep," Atlanta's Justin Thomas said. Tied 2-2 after nine holes of triples, New York and Atlanta traded Hammer wins, first by New York's Cam Young and then by Atlanta's Billy Horschel, on the first two holes of singles. Horschel's win provided one of the night's most dramatic moments as he let out a roar and first pump toward a rowdy pro-New York crowd after burying an 11-foot putt. Both teams considered it a turning point in the post-match presser. "Cam did a lot of the dirty work to win us two points, which is a hard thing to do against them, and for us to give it right back, that's probably my biggest regret was accepting that hammer where Billy made that putt," Schauffele said. Young outscrambled Justin Thomas on hole No. 13 to restore New York's 5-4 advantage but Atlanta again recovered on No. 14 with a tremendous tee shot into a par-3 by Horschel. New York declined Atlanta's Hammer throw to send it to the final hole tied. Atlanta and New York will square off once again on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the second match of the TGL Finals Series. A third match will be played at 9 p.m. if necessary. More: Will Tiger Woods be at SoFi Center for TGL's Finals Series? Hole-by-hole results Triples No. 1: Hole tied No. 2: Atlanta wins (1-0) No. 3: Hole tied (1-0) No. 4: Atlanta wins (2-0) No. 5: New York wins (2-1, ATL) No. 6: New York wins (2-2) No. 7: Hole tied (2-2) No. 8: Hole tied (2-2) No. 9: Hole tied (2-2) Singles No. 10: Cam Young def. Justin Thomas* (NY, 4-2) No. 11: Billy Horschel def. Richie Fowler* (4-4) No. 12: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay tied (4-4) No. 13: Cam Young def. Justin Thomas (5-4 NY) No. 14: Billy Horschel def. Rickie Fowler (5-5) No. 15: Patrick Cantlay def. Xander Schauffele (6-5, ATL) *Hammer point multiplier TGL payouts First place: $9 million Second place: $4.5 million Third place: $2.25 million [Los Angeles GC] Fourth place: $2 million [The Bay GC] Fifth place: $1.75 million [Jupiter Links} Sixth place: $1.5 million [Boston Common] TGL delayed The first hole of TGL's Finals Series Match 1 was delayed by more than 20 minutes as ESPN concluded its coverage of the Women's NCAA Tournament game between North Carolina and West Virginia. TGL teed off at 9:25 p.m. ET. TGL finals schedule Match 2: Tuesday, 7 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Match 3: Tuesday, 9 p.m. (if necessary) TGL teams, players Atlanta Drive GC Justin Thomas Billy Horschel Patrick Cantlay Lucas Glover Boston Common Rory McIlroy Adam Scott Keegan Bradley Hideki Matsuyama Los Angeles GC Collin Morikawa Justin Rose Sahith Theegala Tommy Fleetwood Jupiter Links GC Tiger Woods Tom Kim Kevin Kisner Max Homa New York Golf Club Rickie Fowler Xander Schauffele Matt Fitzpatrick Cameron Young The Bay GC Ludvig Aberg Shane Lowry Min Woo Lee Wyndham Clark Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@
