Billy Horschel made a dramatic eagle on the final hole to give Atlanta Drive GC a 6-4 victory over New York Golf Club and a winning start to its TGL title defense.
The technology-enabled golf league, founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s company TMRW Sports, pits PGA Tour stars against each other in team competitions that combine virtual and real-life play.
Horschel’s Atlanta Drive GC won last year’s SoFi Cup Finals by defeating New York Golf Club in a best-of-three series, and despite having to play with a much-altered lineup, the defending champions came out on top again.
Atlanta Drive GC built a 3-1 lead with an alternative shot or triple after the first nine-hole session and extended its lead in singles before New York Golf Club fought back in the 15-hole contest.
Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick earned points as last year’s runner-up, and both teams tied heading into the final hole, with Horschel capping off the win with a 37-foot eagle.
Horschel was the only player from last year’s Atlanta Drive GC team to play in the season opener.
How the Atlanta Drive got off to a winning start.
Justin Thomas had already been ruled out for Atlantic Drive GC, but Patrick Cantlay and Lucas Glover, who were also injured, will join him on the sideline, while Corey Connors and Chris Gottapp will play alongside Horschel.
The teams tied after the first three holes, but New York GC took the lead on the par-5 fourth hole when Connors, who hit the first tee shot of the match, missed the putt from within 5 feet.
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How does team golf work at TGL? Let’s take a closer look at how a technology-infused golf league works
Xander Schauffele missed an 11-foot birdie chance on the next par 3 where New York GC dropped the hammer, doubling the hole’s value, but the Atlanta drive tied the score on No. 8 with Gotterup chipping within chip-in range.
After the Atlanta drive put the hammer down, Horschel won the hole with a 6-foot birdie on the ninth, while Gotterup set up from close range to win the 10th hole and extend his lead to 4-1.
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Watch one of TGL’s new holes wreak havoc on players during the season opener between Atlanta Drive GC and New York Golf Club.
Atlanta Drive declined the hammer and gave up a point on the 11th hole as Gottarup fell off the tee into the water, but Young and Fitzpatrick sank birdie putts from over 20 feet and won the next two holes to tie the contest.
Both teams hit the green in two on the final par-5, with the Hammers scoring two points and Horschel holding a long-range eagle before watching Schauffele try and fail to force overtime.
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Take a look at how the TGL Golf Course is configured and what changes have been made for the 2026 season.
What’s next?
The next TGL match will see Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf take on Los Angeles GC and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf from 12am on Saturday.
Atlanta Drive GC will return to action on January 6th against The Bay Golf Club (starting at 10pm BST), while New York Golf Club will take on Jupiter Links on January 14th (starting at 12am BST). Watch every match of the 2026 TGL season live exclusively on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports now and stream without a contract.
