Jupiter Links GC defeated Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common to reach the TGL final, where they will face Los Angeles, led by Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
Tiger Woods remained sidelined for the 2026 season as he recovers from injury, while McIlroy returned to action after an unsuccessful defence at The Players. Jupiter Links — last in the inaugural TGL season — upset Boston Common 9-5 at the SoFi Center. Los Angeles Golf Club dethroned defending champions Atlanta Drive 6-4, a match shaped by Fleetwood’s tactical use of the Hammer on the 14th and several clutch putts from Rose.
Akshay Bhatia, signed as an alternate by Jupiter Links in January, has now posted par or better in 20 straight PGA Tour rounds since early February and was influential alongside Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner. Homa, matched against McIlroy in singles, swept their two holes together; his par-saver on No. 13 — celebrated with the Steph Curry “Night night” gesture — proved the match-winning point.
“Now the ‘Bad News Bears’ can play,” Woods said of the team’s progress, praising the unique bonding that comes with team events. Bhatia echoed that sentiment: “I think the bond is the biggest thing. I’ve definitely gotten a lot closer with Max… Obviously to have the greatest player of all time in your corner is really, really cool. I’m glad that I was an alternate for this team because this is definitely the kind of the best… gathering of guys that I could have imagined.”
Los Angeles recovered from an early deficit when Rose nailed a 24-foot birdie to open the scoring for his side, then took the lead with a birdie at No. 14. Fleetwood’s decision to deploy the Hammer on the 14th proved pivotal. With Los Angeles leading 5-4 and Billy Horschel needing a par to tie, the team put the Hammer into play. Patrick Cantlay reportedly urged Horschel to accept it — which would have given Los Angeles a clean chance to close on No. 15 — but Horschel declined, and the match swung to Atlanta Drive 6-4.
Rose called the move “genius” while admitting he had no idea what was happening when the Hammer hit the ground. Fleetwood said the choice “just felt like the right thing to do,” adding that perhaps he got lucky in thinking the right way at the right time.
Adam Scott, who partnered with McIlroy and Keegan Bradley, reflected on the narrow elimination: “It’s kind of win or go home. Unfortunately, we’re on the ‘go home’ end of that tonight.”
Jupiter Links’ run to the final and Los Angeles’ tactical victory set up a compelling decider, pitting a resurgent, tightly bonded Jupiter Links squad against Fleetwood and Rose’s experienced Los Angeles side.