TGL Final: Los Angeles Golf Club Wins, Tiger Woods Returns & Misses Crucial Putt

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Los Angeles Golf Club defeated Jupiter Links 9-2 Tuesday night in the final match of the TGL season, capturing the SoFi Cup title in a decisive victory marked by a late surge of eagles.

The win came in Tiger Woods’ first competitive appearance in over a year, following back surgery in October and a ruptured Achilles tendon in early March 2025. Woods had been serving as captain and cheerleader for Jupiter Links during his recovery and made a late decision Monday evening to play, replacing Kevin Kisner in the lineup.

The turning point of the match occurred on the seventh hole, where Woods missed a three-foot putt and visibly expressed his frustration by slamming his putter to the turf. This moment appeared to shift momentum in favor of Los Angeles, leading to a rapid unraveling for Jupiter Links. The 15-hole match concluded after just 10 holes.

“We got our (butts) kicked at the complete,” Woods said after the match. “Three eagles in a row. I missed a short one to give them momentum and we never got it back.”

Following the match, Woods remained noncommittal about his participation in the upcoming Masters tournament, scheduled for April 9-12. He emphasized the challenges of recovery at his age.

“This body … It doesn’t recover like it did when it was 24, 25. It doesn’t mean I’m not trying,” Woods stated. “I’ve had a couple bad injuries here over the past years that I’ve had to fight through and it’s taken some time. But I keep trying.”

Despite his uncertainty about future tournaments, Woods expressed his commitment to remaining involved with the sport. “I seek to play. I love the tournament,” he said, adding that he would be present at the Masters for both the Champions Dinner and the launch of “The Loop.” He plans to continue practicing and evaluating his progress.

Los Angeles Golf Club extended their lead after Woods’ missed putt, with Tommy Fleetwood sinking a 12-foot eagle putt on the par-4 eighth hole. Earlier in the match, Max Homa had jokingly suggested a rule where a “hammer” – doubling the hole’s point value – could be thrown if Jupiter Links capitalized on a par 5 during alternate shot play. This strategy backfired when Jupiter failed to convert their opportunity.

Fleetwood found a bunker on the par 5, but Woods hit a 3-wood to position the ball just short of the bunker. Homa’s approach shot landed 15 feet from the hole, while Justin Rose delivered a precise shot from the bunker to within 15 feet. After Tom Kim missed Jupiter’s eagle attempt, Sahith Theegala made his eagle putt, giving Los Angeles a 6-2 lead heading into the singles competition.

The decisive blow came on the next hole. Homa missed the fairway on a reachable par 5, forcing a lay-up shot. Rose hit the fairway and his second shot rolled to within four feet of the hole. Los Angeles then threw the hammer, making the hole worth three points, and Homa was forced to develop the putt to keep the match alive. He missed, and Los Angeles secured the victory and the $9 million team prize.

“It sucked,” Homa told ESPN after the match, offering a terse assessment of the loss.

Homa later acknowledged a miscalculation in his strategy, stating, “It was just a really dumb move on my part.”

Jupiter Links received $4.5 million for finishing as runners-up.

Woods’ return to competition, even in the indoor simulator league format of the TGL, was a significant step in his recovery. His first full swing of the night – a 3-wood from 279 yards – set up a birdie and gave Jupiter Links an early 1-0 lead. The team extended their advantage to 2-0 when Woods lagged a 45-foot putt to within a foot for a conceded birdie. These proved to be the highlights of his performance.

The PGA of America is still awaiting a decision from Woods regarding his potential role as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland, with a response expected by the end of the month.

“It felt great to be back with these guys,” Woods said. “Frustrated we didn’t get it done. We had opportunities. It feels good to be back. I’d like to be back in better circumstances.”