Tiger’s Team Wins Despite Time Penalty, Kiz Rebounds, Tom Kim Shines

This is what we had envisioned for TGL, to have an experience like this. And I think we delivered,” Tiger Woods said after his team, Jupiter Golf Links, won Match 4 of the first TGL series in an evening that had plenty of quality shots, fabulous putts, and arena excitement.

Jupiter Golf Links, with Woods, Kevin Kisner, and Tom Kim, was pitted against Boston Common Golf Club with Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, and Keegan Bradley.

Once again, they started with two creative holes designed by Agustin Pisa, the Flex, which could be called the volcano hole because some of the hazards are lava pools, and Bonnie Link, which could be an homage to the time Pisa spent as a graduate student in course architecture at the University of Edinburgh.

Many of the holes from all three design teams, Pisa, Nicklaus Design, and Beau Welling, have just enough danger built in that even the golfers were holding their breath hoping to land in a fairway or on the green instead of a chasm or lava field.

The first nine holes each player took turns hitting, which is an unusual way to play golf, but keeps everybody participating. A point was earned for low score on each hole.

On the final six holes, it was match play with Woods playing McIlroy for two of the holes, something everyone wanted to see.

 

Woods made a putt that mattered to tie things up at the 13th. Adam Scott made a 31-footer on the 14th to tie the match 3-3.  And Tom Kim holed out from a bunker on 15.  At the end of 15 holes, they were tied and went to a chip-off to determine a winner.

In overtime, all players could have had a chance to chip closest to the pin until two from the same team won. Kim was 10 feet 4 inches to Bradley’s 26 feet, 6 inches. Then Kevin Kisner was 14 feet 2 inches to Adam Scott’s 21 feet 2 inches, giving Jupiter Golf Links the victory.

Woods and McIlroy didn’t have to play the final chip shots.

Adam Scott was asked about the pace of play and the shot clock.

“I think for this format, it’s definitely creating a good tempo,” he suggested. “You’ve got just enough time, but you can’t mess around much or you’re going to be stressing getting over the shot and could lead to an error. I think it’s really good.”

Keegan Bradley admitted to having jitters.

“I was very nervous initially, settled in, but what a fun experience,” he said. “I had about a four- or five-footer on the first hole to halve the hole, and my hands were shaking a little bit. It felt like a final hole of a tournament or something.”

If there was a prize for most improved, it would have to go to Kevin Kisner, who nearly took out other players when he slammed a ball off the flagstick on one hole in a losing effort two weeks ago.

“I think the experience from the first time really helped, just seeing where you failed and how you can get better and spending more time here,” Kisner explained.

He also praised Tom Kim’s play.

“One thing I am really glad is that Tom is on my team this time, and I don’t have to watch him make all those putts against us in the Presidents Cup,” he said. “He pours every one of those putts right in the middle, and he doesn’t even flinch, and I love that.”

Kisner said Kim’s putts gave him and Woods more confidence and the team some momentum and adrenaline.

McIlroy, taking the big picture view, agreed with Woods that Match 4 was more what they had in mind.

“It was a great match all night, back and forth, and exactly what the league needed,” he said.

When asked about the importance of Tiger Woods participating, McIlroy emphasized Woods’ stature in the game.

“I don’t think anyone can underestimate the impact that he’s had on our game and the impact that he’s had on all of us as professional golfers. Would TGL exist if Tiger wasn’t around for 20 years? Probably not,” he noted.

Woods was asked about the shot clock violation when he took more than 40 seconds to hit a putt. His answer provided some good information on what he does before he putts and is perhaps an indicator of why he has been so good on the greens over the years.

“Normally I slow my heart rate down before I pull the trigger,” he said. “Dropping my heart rate down sometimes takes a little bit longer than others.”