LA Golf Club reaches TGL Finals with win over Atlanta Drive

Tommy Fleetwood's 'genius' move sends LA to TGL Finals

Mar. 18, 2026 at 2:48am

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Justin Rose's clutch putting helped LA eliminate defending TGL champion Atlanta, 6-4, to advance to the best-of-3 finals that starts March 23. Tommy Fleetwood's strategic move with the Hammer proved crucial in LA's comeback win over the Atlanta Drive.

Why it matters

The TGL is a new high-tech golf league featuring some of the top PGA Tour players. LA Golf Club's victory over the defending champions Atlanta Drive to reach the TGL Finals is a significant milestone for the upstart league and showcases the competitive nature of the new format.

The details

With LA trailing 4-1 after seven holes, Fleetwood recognized that using their Hammer on the final hole would be ineffective. He laid out three scenarios to his teammates, and they decided not to use the Hammer, putting Atlanta in a tough decision. Horschel was reluctant to accept the Hammer, knowing a miss would end the match, while Cantlay wanted to take the chance. Ultimately, LA clinched the match when Fleetwood tied the final hole, sending them to the TGL Finals.

  • The TGL Finals will start on March 23, 2026.
  • LA Golf Club eliminated the defending TGL champion Atlanta Drive on March 18, 2026.

The players

Tommy Fleetwood

A 35-year-old English professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and European Tour. He was instrumental in LA Golf Club's strategic decision-making that led to their victory over Atlanta.

Justin Rose

A 42-year-old English professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. His clutch putting helped LA Golf Club overcome an early deficit and advance to the TGL Finals.

Sahith Theegala

A 24-year-old American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and was part of the LA Golf Club team that reached the TGL Finals.

Billy Horschel

A 34-year-old American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and was part of the Atlanta Drive team that lost to LA Golf Club in the TGL semifinals.

Patrick Cantlay

A 30-year-old American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and was part of the Atlanta Drive team that lost to LA Golf Club in the TGL semifinals.

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What they’re saying

“It just felt like the right thing to do. It obviously gave them a pretty tough decision to make. Maybe I got lucky with thinking the right way at the right time.”

— Tommy Fleetwood

“Rosie was saying, 'make sure you don't throw your back out fist pumping too hard.'”

— Sahith Theegala

“When TGL started, all of us can honestly say nobody knew what to expect, but we wanted to be a part of it. Because you didn't know what it was, what it was going to be like. I think very quickly you become close, you become a team, you play for each other, and you're competitive, and it's a really cool thing.”

— Tommy Fleetwood

“He has a way with them. I love watching him go through his process and the way that he goes about it and the way he hits his putts. I've been lucky enough to be his partner before and watch him hole putts at the perfect moments, and he did that two or three more times tonight.”

— Tommy Fleetwood

“I back myself every time from inside 10 feet anywhere. But, you know, it just needed to be declined at that point so we could at least have a chance to still tie the match going to the last hole.”

— Billy Horschel

What’s next

The TGL Finals between LA Golf Club and Jupiter Links will start on March 23, 2026.

The takeaway

Tommy Fleetwood's strategic decision-making and Justin Rose's clutch putting propelled LA Golf Club to an impressive comeback victory over the defending TGL champions Atlanta Drive, showcasing the competitive spirit and unpredictability of the new high-tech golf league.