Justin Thomas starred in his TGL debut to help Atlanta Drive GC to a convincing 4-0 win over New York Golf Club in the season opener.
Thomas lined up with fellow former FedExCup champions Billy Horschel and Patrick Cantlay for their first match in the new technology-infused team league, which pits PGA Tour stars against each other in a specially built indoor arena.
The two-time major champion saw his side lead from the first hole and never trailed throughout the competition at the TGL Sofi Centre, where they claimed two points in the first nine-hole session which uses the alternative shot format – or threes.
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Atlanta Drive's Billy Horschel danced his way to the SoFi Center ahead of his TGL debut against New York Golf Club.
Atlanta Drive won the first two singles holes to seal a convincing victory, with the New York line-up of Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young becoming the first team to fail to score a point in a TGL match.
With the win, the Atlanta Drive moved two points into joint first place in the SoFi Cup standings, while New York sits at the bottom of the six-team league after a second straight loss and is now struggling to qualify for the playoffs at the end of the season.
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Billy Horschel, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay dominated the third night of TGL and celebrated in style!
Thomas leads Atlanta to a winning start
New York GC fell behind immediately when Young hit his initial putt out of bounds to allow Atlanta Drive to win the hole with a par, and Fitzpatrick then missed an eight-foot putt to tie the match at the next.
Young also squandered a chance to win the third as the Atlanta Drive stayed in front when Thomas recovered from losing his footing and hitting the par-five fourth into the box by draining a 25-footer to tie.
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Justin Thomas hit two big shots for his TGL team Atlanta Drive when they faced New York Golf Club on night three.
Cantlay couldn't convert a 15-foot putt to win the fifth but saw his side double their lead at the sixth when Thomas knocked his approach to six feet and Horschel holed the putt with the remainder of the holes tied in a three-for-one session leaves Atlanta Drive 2-0 in singles.
Young failed to get up and down to match Thomas' birdie at the 10th, while Fitzpatrick conceded at the 11th against Horschel after finding the water with his second and then hitting his next two shots into bunkers.
Thomas holed another long putt to birdie the 13th against Young, who fired 360 yards and left his approach in range, while Fitzpatrick couldn't earn New York their first point when he burned his birdie at the 14th.
Atlanta Drive opted against using the 'Hammer' throughout the match, giving the team a chance to put their opponents under pressure by doubling the hole's value, with the elimination confirmed despite Cantlay's missed birdie chance at the last.
Need a boost from New York?
Fowler said, “We just have to find a way to play better than the other team. We were outplayed both times. I don't think we played too bad, except for our first hole.
“We got off to a rough start, but other than that, no fault there. I missed the green with a chip. Yeah, we dug ourselves a little hole, but I felt like we played decent from there. But the big thing is we've got to find a way to hit some shots .”
Young added: “I thought it was a really fun game. Obviously it's not the result we wanted, but I feel like it was the best golf I've seen watching the other two matches and then ours tonight. It was great, and I think we'll be better next time.”
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Luke Donald reflects on his experience watching TGL and discusses the similarities it has with the environment a player might face at the Ryder Cup.
What's next?
Rory McIlroy is set to make his TGL debut on Monday when his Boston Common Golf side take on Tiger Woods' Jupiter Links Golf Club, beaten by Los Angeles GC in the season opener, live from 11.30pm on Sky Sports Golf.
Atlanta Drive GC returns to action with two matches on February 17 against Los Angeles GC (6 p.m.) and The Bay Golf Club (9 p.m.), while New York GC will play on February 18 against Jupiter Links (February 19, 12pm UK time).
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