As the regular season of The Golf League (TGL) winds down, the pressure is mounting, and the stakes are high. In the penultimate match, Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC) faced off against Bay Golf Club – a hitherto undefeated team. The showdown was eagerly anticipated. The LAGC had to outplay Shane Lowry and his team to claim the top seed, and Sahith Theegala emerged as the hero, leading his team to a crucial 5-3 victory. This triumph secured their first seed position and a playoff date with the New York Golf Club.
It was after this intense match that Bay Golf Club took a moment to reflect on the grueling schedule that the golfers must endure. Among them, Shane Lowry, the Irish golf maestro, shared his insights. Lowry, who resides in Florida with his wife Wendy Honner and their two children, benefits from the PGA Tour’s East Coast swing due to reduced travel time. He also appreciates the convenience of the TGL matches held at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach State College, Florida, just a few minutes from his home. “It’s refreshing not having to pack and fly, stay in a hotel or rented accommodation. It’s nice to have your own things,” he said.
Lowry is also participating in the Seminole Pro-Member Tournament, an exclusive event hosted at the Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. He’s paired with PGA Tour chairman Ed Herlihy. “The last couple of weeks have been helpful since it’s been happening where I live. I really enjoy that tournament,” Lowry confessed.
The Irish golfer has had a busy schedule as of late. He finished an impressive T11 at the Cognizant Classic, six strokes behind the winner, Joe Highsmith. “I enjoyed the Cognizant last week. I had a really busy week, and it’s leading into another busy week. But this is what we love,” Lowry admitted.
The upcoming days promise to be even more eventful for the 2019 Open Championship winner. He’s looking to gain momentum before the major at the Augusta National. The Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship are lined up back to back. Then there’s the TGL playoffs, and, before anyone realizes it, the Masters will be upon us. “That’s why we do it. Masters only around the corner, obviously we’ve got Bay Hill this week, then the Players, then the playoffs here. It’s a nice run of events, and it’s nice to be involved in this,” stated Lowry.
His teammate, Wyndham Clark, expressed envy listening to Lowry’s take, mainly due to the ease of travel that Lowry enjoys. Clark, an Arizona resident, has been shuttling back and forth with little rest – a situation Lowry views as less than ideal. “I don’t envy Wyndham, making frequent trips to Phoenix,” he said, sympathizing with his fellow golfer.
Clark’s schedule and travel woes need addressing, especially with the much-anticipated playoffs around the corner. If the team is to emerge victorious, Clark must bring his A-game.
The result of the recent match meant that LAGC claimed the first seed from Bay Golf Club. Bay GC will now face Atlanta Drive GC in the playoffs on either March 17 or March 18. In a previous encounter, the San Francisco-based team narrowly defeated Atlanta Drive 6-5.
Shane Lowry’s absence in that match led to Ludvig Aberg stepping in. The Bay GC initially led 3-0, but Atlanta Drive, led by Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, and Lucas Glover, fought back fiercely. The match reached a 5-5 deadlock, but Clark sealed the win for his team by defeating Cantlay in the 13th Hole. As both teams prepare for the playoff showdown, memories of this closely contested match remain fresh. Can the Bay Golf Club repeat their victory against Justin Thomas and the Atlanta Drive? Only time will tell.