The underdog New York Golf Club stunned top-seeded Los Angeles Golf Club with a 6-4 victory in the TGL playoff semifinals on Monday night at the SoFi Center.

New York, the No. 4 seed who finished the regular season with a modest 2-2-1 record, knocked off the previously dominant Los Angeles squad that had compiled an impressive 4-0-1 mark during the regular season.

Key Players Deliver When It Mattered Most

Xander Schauffele emerged as the hero for New York, securing two critical points in the singles matches against Collin Morikawa. His birdie putt on the eighth hole shifted momentum decisively in New York’s favor after a tight battle through the first seven holes.

“It was a tough start to the season,” Schauffele said. “We all thought it was possible to come back and get to where we’ve gotten. The comeback isn’t complete yet, but it’s definitely nice to be here.”

Rickie Fowler also delivered a standout performance for New York, contributing several crucial points including a 5-foot birdie on the second hole and a 6-foot birdie on the sixth that gave his team a 3-2 lead heading into singles play.

Match Hinged on Critical Putts

The match featured several pivotal moments, none bigger than Tommy Fleetwood’s missed 5-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole that would have kept Los Angeles alive. The short miss effectively sealed the victory for New York.

“They gave us a little gift there,” Fowler admitted afterward. “Not the way we wanted to win, we wanted to close out in style, but we’ll take it and we’re looking forward to next week.”

Los Angeles had their chances, including a near-ace from Fleetwood that helped his team level the score at 2-2 on the fifth hole. However, the team’s inability to convert key putts proved costly.

Strategic Hammer Use Proved Decisive

The match showcased the strategic importance of the TGL’s unique “Hammer” rule, which allows teams to increase a hole’s point value. Los Angeles declined New York’s Hammer on the first hole, conceding the opening point.

Later, Schauffele strategically “threw the hammer” during his singles victories on the 10th and 13th holes, with Los Angeles again declining both times to limit damage. The 14th hole was worth two points due to a Hammer being in play, amplifying the pressure on Fleetwood’s missed putt.

Los Angeles Left Wondering What Might Have Been

Los Angeles players didn’t hide their disappointment after seeing their dominant regular season end prematurely.

“New York played great and we had our chances,” said Morikawa, who struggled in his singles matches against Schauffele. “I didn’t play great and I take responsibility for that. You have to make putts in this format. We weren’t getting the ball in the hole first. That matters a lot.”

Sahith Theegala echoed his teammate’s sentiments: “I think we played really nicely and we had our chances, but just one or two putts that very easily could have gone in just lipped out for us, and that was kind of the deciding factor.”

New York Advances to TGL Finals

With their upset victory, New York advances to the best-of-three TGL Finals, where they’ll face the winner of the other semifinal between The Bay Golf Club and Atlanta Drive GC.

Cameron Young, whose precise approach shot on the eighth hole set up Schauffele’s crucial birdie, emphasized the team’s growth: “I think we’ve just learned how to play the game well and kind of figure it out, just how to get comfortable. We’ve played better and better, so I think it’s just been a team effort.”

The New York team has shown remarkable improvement, leading the league in strokes gained total and holes won over their last three matches.

The TGL Finals are scheduled for next week, with New York looking to complete their improbable playoff run by capturing the inaugural TGL championship.

TGL Playoff Semifinal Final Score

Team Rosters

Match Progression

Key Hole Results

Regular Season Records

TGL Hammer Rule Usage

Player Performance Stats