TGL delivered a wild swingy night at SoFi Center, and it ended with a single putt that finally stopped the bleeding.
Los Angeles Golf Club beat Jupiter Links Golf Club 8-4 on Tuesday, closing it out late after a match that nearly flipped in the final stretch.
Los Angeles was cruising with a four-point lead at one stage, then watched Jupiter claw back to within one point. With the pressure peaking, Collin Morikawa drilled a 17-foot birdie putt that effectively clinched the win.
The box score says 8-4, but the story is bigger than that. This match had the first albatross in TGL history, multiple momentum swings, and a Hammer sequence that turned into a strategy lesson.
The headline moment from Rose
Justin Rose produced the shot of the night, and maybe the shot of the season. On the first hole of Singles, the par-5 Sterling, Rose holed out from 227 yards with a 4-iron for an albatross.
The reaction told you everything. The SoFi Center crowd exploded, Sahith Theegala celebrated with Rose, and even Tiger Woods was shown smiling and congratulating him. Rose said it was the first albatross of his career.
Los Angeles won with a plan
Los Angeles won by managing the Hammer better and forcing Jupiter into tough decisions.
Early, Los Angeles baited Jupiter into accepting a Hammer and jumped out 2-0. Later, they declined a Hammer throw from Jupiter at the fifth, keeping control of risk when the match still had plenty of holes left.
The finishing sequence mattered most. Los Angeles saved two Hammers for the late holes, then threw one at the 14th after Morikawa was in for birdie. Jupiter had to accept to stay alive, and Akshay Bhatia’s 10-foot birdie attempt slid by. That miss sealed the direction of the match.
Jupiter nearly stole it back late
Jupiter looked dead down four through 11. Then the comeback started.
They took a point at 12, then created a two-point swing at 13 with Max Homa making birdie while the Hammer was in play. That sequence pulled the match to 5-4 and put real pressure on the final stretch.
It still was not enough. Los Angeles had built too much cushion early, then made the right calls late when the margin tightened.
Triples set the tone, then Singles turned into chaos
Los Angeles carried a 4-1 lead after a nearly mistake-free Triples session. It was controlled and methodical.
Singles flipped the energy. Rose’s albatross pushed the lead to 5-1 and made the night feel like it might turn into a runaway. Instead, Jupiter responded and turned it back into a match.
This match also leaned into what makes TGL feel different. Two new Season 2 holes stood out, The Last Toll and Stinger, and both produced memorable shots.
Kevin Kisner and Theegala threaded tee shots through a tight window at The Last Toll. At Stinger, Bhatia and Morikawa both kept tee shots under the overhanging rock and in play, a difficult task that has punished players earlier in the season.
What the result means right now
Los Angeles moved to 1-1-0 and pulled back into the playoff picture. Jupiter dropped its fifth straight match dating back to last season, which keeps the spotlight on how quickly they can turn close calls into points.
If you want background on how new leagues and formats fit into pro golf’s bigger ecosystem, Golfspan’s explainer on who owns the PGA Tour is a useful starting point.
If you are watching these matches and wondering how the stars are setting up their gear, you can see previous coverage of what’s in Collin Morikawa’s bag and what’s in Max Homa’s bag add context without overthinking it.
The simplest takeaway
TGL matches can swing fast, but the best teams treat the Hammer like a weapon, not a coin flip. Los Angeles built a lead, survived the counterpunch, then finished with one clean read and a 17-foot birdie that ended the drama.
Clint is PGA-certified and was a Head Teaching Professional at one of Toronto's busiest golf academies. He was also featured on Canada's National Golf TV program, "Score Golf Canada," twice. He graduated with a degree in Golf Management from the College of the Desert in California and studied under Callaway's co-founder, Tony Manzoni. He has a handicap index of 6.2 and spends the winters near Oaxaca, Mexico, where he plays twice a month at the Club de Golf Vista Hermosa. He's written over 100 articles at GolfSpan since 2021. You can connect with Clint at LinkedIn, FB, his website, or Clintcpga@gmail.com.
