Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, and Shane Lowry overpowered their opponents in the first ever TGL match.
Given that TGL takes place in an arena, it’s fair to compare golf’s newest venture to the NBA. And since Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, and Shane Lowry represent the Bay Area, making a San Francisco Sports analogy only makes sense.
The Bay looked like Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors on night one, dominating New York Golf Club by a score of 9-to-2 in TGL’s debut match. Åberg looked unstoppable, routinely hitting drives with ball speeds higher than 180 miles per hour. Lowry and Clark also played well, as The Bay opened up a 5-to-0 lead through five holes. Åberg even made a long-range putt from beyond 30 feet, emblematic of his team’s play.
“It was awesome. I have always said that I have been jealous of basketball players because they get to [play in an arena] a lot, and we don’t,” Åberg said to SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt after.
“This whole stadium-like feel is awesome and fun to be a part of. It gets you going a little bit differently.”
Nobody knew what to expect before TGL launched on Tuesday. Both fans and players were anxious about whether this new endeavor would be successful. Others hoped that it would not turn into a major letdown, like last month’s Showdown that featured Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka.
“It was great,” Åberg added.
“My heart was racing. I was sweating, but it was good though. It was fun. It’s a different kind of competitive environment that we are not really used to. But I think it’s the future and where we are headed. I love it.”
TGL stands for Tomorrow Golf League, which has infused incredible technology never seen before. The massive screens players hit at, the “Green Zone,” which changes shapes and undulations after every hole played, and even the robot cameras prove how modern this endeavor is. It’s remarkable, and fans expressed their love for TGL online too.
But the competition was somewhat disappointing, only because Åberg and company dominated from start to finish. Something about match play brings the best out of Åberg, and American Ryder Cup fans should remember that at Bethpage Black later this year.
“I’m glad we came out on top today,” Åberg added on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt.
“The whole idea is amazing. I love it, and it’s great to be a part of, and it’s great for the game of golf. I think it’s gonna get better, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
