Tomorrow’s Golf League was such a hit its first year the boys are bringing it back for another go, though with a few tweaks for the second season. An earlier start is one difference with the first of 15 matches being played on December 28. There are also changes in technology at SoFi Center to enhance virtual reality holes.
TGL Week 1 Preview
Season 2 gets underway on Sunday, December 28 with a match between defending champion Atlanta Drive GC and New York Golf Club in a rematch of last season’s SoFi Finals. Play is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET with the match airing live on ABC.
Atlanta and New York pulled off upsets in last season’s semifinals to reach the best-of-three championship with Atlanta sweeping the Finals. If this match is anything like last season it should be close with the last two matches between the teams coming down to the final hole.
A big question for Atlanta is can Billy Horschel play like he did last season. Horschel led TGL with 8 singles points during the season and added 5 more in the playoffs. He also sank what turned out to be the winning birdie putt to give Atlanta the title.
- Atlanta is the TGL betting favorite to repeat as champions with odds of +295
- New York opened as the betting favorite in the initial match as it looks to avenge last season’s Finals loss.
- Boston failed to win a match last season going 0-4-1, but the team is getting plenty of interest this season, mostly due to the presence of Rory McIlroy. Boston is the second TGL futures favorite.
Tomorrow’s Golf League Schedule and Betting Lines – Week 1
Betting interest for Tomorrow’s Golf League picked up over the course of last season and executives made the wise decision to start Season 2 with a SoFi Finals rematch between Atlanta and New York. A key member of the championship run, Justin Thomas had surgery in November and is expected to miss some time. No replacement has been named as of yet leaving the team shorthanded. Thomas was not listed on the lineup for the opening match.
Atlanta is still loaded with a team that came together using the strengths of each individual. Lucas Glover was one of the most accurate players last season hitting the fairway on every tee shot and Patrick Cantlay was voted the No. 1 Hammer strategist by other players.
Week 1 TGL Schedule
Sunday, December 28, 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
Atlanta Drive GC (+109) vs. New York GC (-129)
- The injury to Justin Thomas and his absence from the lineup had an impact on the opening betting line with Atlanta Drive GC a slight underdog. Thomas didn’t lose a singles hole last season going 3-0-5.
- Thomas is expecting to contribute this season, which is why the defending champs are the futures odds favorite. However, at the start of the season all the pressure falls on teammates Cantlay, Glover and Horschel.
- Atlanta won all three matches played between the teams last season scoring a 4-0 victory during the regular season and winning two close matches that came down to the final hole in the Finals.
- New York GC has the perfect opportunity to make amends for the Finals loss and get off to a better start. The team played the opening match of last season falling to The Bay GC 9-2 and overcame a 0-2 start to reach the playoffs as the No. 4 seed.
- New York has a weapon on long holes in Cameron Young and his prodigious tee shots. Young’s average driving distance was more than 331 yards.
- Rickie Fowler had a strong close to the PGA season with a pair of top 10s and four top 20s in his last six starts. He was a machine for NYGC last season finishing tied for second in points scored and triples points won.
TGL Week 1 Top Matchups
- The Finals matches were close with each decided by one point and both coming down to the final hole. NYGC can look at Singles play as the biggest reason why it failed to win any of the three matches last season. Atlanta outscored New York 10-4 in Singles play and had a 4-0 run in the deciding Finals match.
- The anchor matchup between New York’s Xander Schauffele and Atlanta’s Billy Horschel figures to play a pivotal role in the outcome. Two of last season’s fiercest competitors will attack a brand new hole on No. 12 and finish with a lengthy par-5. Schauffele averaged nearly 15 yards more off the tee, but Horschel led TGL in Singles scoring.
- Not having Thomas in the lineup will definitely have an impact on Atlanta’s scoring. He is expected back for the season but his competitive nature and ability to win holes will be missed. Thomas didn’t lose a Singles hole all last season and he was the only player to make two putts from 23 feet or longer.
Best TGL Bet for Week 1
- Nearly everything went right for Atlanta last season with Horschel and Thomas playing unbelievable golf. Glover’s accuracy was a thing of beauty and Cantlay played the Hammer to perfection. Those are tough acts to follow and with New York looking to avenge a Finals loss backing them on the money line is the smart play. For additional wagering options, check out the TGL betting guide.
- After getting smacked down in Singles play last year, expect NYGC to make a serious effort to improve in that segment. And with the lineup they have it’s hard to imagine them getting beat again as bad as they did last season.
TGL Week 1 Betting Tips
- With the same players returning for Season 2 of Tomorrow’s Golf League everyone has a better grasp of what to expect. Simulator play is much different than being out on the course and a few players may have struggled with the concept initially. That wasn’t the case for Atlanta, which went on a roll from the outset.
- NYGC overcame early season struggles and peaked down the stretch with 2 wins and an overtime loss to reach the playoffs. They pulled a huge upset over LAGC, the only team that didn’t lose a match during regulation during the season.
- With New York looking to avenge a Finals loss and Atlanta playing without Justin Thomas, last year’s runner-up is poised for a statement win.
