Atlanta Drive GC Splits TGL Doubleheader With 5-2 Victory and 7-3 Defeat

In a marathon session at the SoFi Center, Atlanta Drive Golf Club secured a 5-2 win over Boston Common Golf but succumbed to a 7-3 loss against Los Angeles Golf Club.

Atlanta Drive Golf Club concluded a high-stakes TGL doubleheader at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens on February 23, 2026, finishing the evening with one win and one loss. The Georgia-based squad opened the broadcast with a 5-2 victory over Boston Common Golf before dropping the second match 7-3 to Los Angeles Golf Club. This twin-bill featured a rotating roster for Atlanta, as Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, and Chris Gotterup handled the first assignment, while Billy Horschel and Lucas Glover entered the fray for the nightcap alongside Cantlay.

The opening contest against Boston Common Golf saw Atlanta take an early lead through a tactical maneuver on the first hole. Atlanta secured their first point when the Boston side, comprised of Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Michael Thorbjornsen, opted to decline a hammer throw. This strategic concession allowed Atlanta to move ahead 1-0 without a completed putt. Boston struggled to find rhythm early, leaving Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott on the bench as inactive participants for the session.

Keegan Bradley provided a spark for the Boston side on Hole 6, narrowing the deficit to 2-1. After both teams landed their approach shots within 13 feet of the pin, Justin Thomas missed a birdie attempt that drifted left of the cup. Bradley capitalized on the opening, sinking an 11-foot putt to claim the hole for the Common. Despite this momentary shift in momentum, Atlanta’s Chris Gotterup responded on Hole 8. After two shots left the ball 15 feet from the hole, Gotterup drained his birdie putt to extend the lead to 3-1, while McIlroy’s matching attempt failed to find the center of the cup.

Statistical history was made on Hole 11 when Keegan Bradley unleashed a 384-yard tee shot. This strike officially set the record for the longest drive in TGL history, surpassing all previous marks recorded at the SoFi Center. However, the record-breaking distance did not translate to a scoreboard gain, as the hole ended in a tie. Atlanta maintained their composure through the final frames, utilizing a unique short-game approach from Justin Thomas on a later hole. Faced with a 36-foot distance on the green, Thomas bypassed his putter in favor of a wedge, chipping the ball to within three inches of the hole to secure a par and protect the lead.

Transitioning into the second match of the doubleheader, Atlanta faced a fresh Los Angeles Golf Club roster featuring Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Collin Morikawa. Sahith Theegala remained the odd man out for the LA side. The momentum shifted instantly toward the West Coast team, as Los Angeles swept the first three holes of the match. By the time the players reached the fourth tee box, Atlanta trailed 3-0, struggling to match the precision of Fleetwood and Morikawa on the synthetic and natural turf surfaces.

Atlanta attempted a mid-match surge to close the gap. On Hole 11, Patrick Cantlay executed a high-pressure approach from 43 yards out, sticking the ball just 24 inches from the pin. This shot placed immense pressure on Los Angeles to save the hole. Tommy Fleetwood answered the challenge by holing out a chip shot from 18 feet, 1 inch away. This successful scramble prevented Atlanta from gaining a second point and kept the Los Angeles lead at 5-2, effectively demoralizing the Atlanta pursuit.

Collin Morikawa put the finishing touches on the Los Angeles victory during the closing stages. On the final decisive hole, Morikawa stuck his approach to a distance of 10 feet, 2 inches, securing the hole and the 7-3 final scoreline. The result left Atlanta with a balanced 1-1 record for the night’s work, while Los Angeles celebrated a dominant performance that saw them lead from the opening drive to the final putt.

The evening’s events highlighted the physical and mental demands of the TGL format, particularly for the Atlanta Drive players who participated in both matches. The SoFi Center crowd witnessed a total of 17 points scored across the two matches, with the longest drive and the most significant chip-in of the season occurring within the same four-hour window. Atlanta now looks ahead to their next fixture, having tested all five roster members in a single night of competitive play in Florida.