Schauffele's return helps New York GC lock up spot in TGL playoffs

Xander Schauffele returned from an injury and earned the match-clinching point as New York Golf Club locked up a spot in the TGL playoffs.

Schauffele, the world No. 2 who hadn’t competed in a TGL match since the first one of the season, chipped in on the par-5 15th for a closing birdie to seal the deal for New York against Boston Common Golf, 10-6.  

With the win, New York joins Los Angeles Golf Club, The Bay Golf Club, and Atlanta Drive GC in the playoffs.

Boston Common was officially eliminated along with Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links GC, who plays Tuesday night versus Atlanta.

“We knew exactly what we needed to do,” Rickie Fowler said. “Not without a little bit of drama and suspense in there.

“Unfortunately, last week we were on the wrong side of (a comeback), but yeah, we did a great job as a team tonight, and like I said, our one and only goal was to go out and win.”

New York got off to a great start, with Fowler hitting his first approach shot of the night to just three feet, and New York was up 1-0.  

Boston Common clawed back quickly, winning Nos. 3 and 4, the former after New York declined a hammer throw.

On the par-3 5th, Boston decided to questionably accept a hammer after Fowler had hit his tee shot to five feet and Keegan Bradley was 20 feet away.  

Boston couldn’t convert and take advantage of its gamble.

Boston finally got on the board on the par-5 9th for two points, with Adam Scott making a birdie after a hammer throw and Schauffele missing an 11-footer of his own.

Rory McIlroy would go on to win the first hole of singles after hitting his third to just 12 feet — taking advantage of Cameron Young hitting his tee shot into the native area. Boston also won No. 11 via Bradley, and for the first time all season, it had won three holes in a row.

Schauffele would go on to earn four points on his own over the final four holes, with Young joining the party on the par-3 13th.

There was no blood in the penultimate hole, with Fowler hitting his tee shot on the par-3 14th to just 17 inches and Bradley stepping up to hit his to just three feet.

That kept the door open ajar for Boston to stage a final-hole comeback to tie it at 8-8, but Scott hit his drive into the rough and didn’t hit his approach to a good spot on the incredibly adjustable green. His first putt was stymied by a big hill, leaving him 26 feet away for a birdie, which he left 17 inches short.

Schauffele, then, stepped up from seven feet away to chip in for two points, a 10-6 winning score, and a spot in the playoffs.

“It's awesome. I missed being out and just sitting at home (with an injury), you sort of appreciate a lot of things when you're sort of sidelined. Got some juices flowing,” Schauffele said of his return. 

The Boston team (which features Hideki Matsuyama along with Scott, Bradley, and McIlroy, who is one of TGL’s co-founders) will be sitting at home for the balance of the year, as they went winless for the season.

“Anytime you have a loss, it's disappointing,” Scott said. “I felt like we were a little unlucky overall on the season. I felt like we played better than our results. But that's kind of the match-play game. That's why this is exciting, and that's why I think the head-to-head and the whole innovation in here really has a future.” 

Earlier Monday, the Los Angeles Golf Club completed a tremendous comeback against The Bay Golf Club — after being down 3-0 after eight holes — to lock up the No. 1 seed heading into the post-season.   

New York will face Los Angeles in one of two semifinal matchups March 17-18 at SoFi Center, while The Bay and Atlanta Drive GC will square off in the other semifinal.

KEY MOMENT 

With Boston on a three-hole winning streak and leading 6-5, Xander Schauffele took advantage of perhaps an ill-timed hammer throw from Boston. Schauffele rolled in an 11-foot birdie with Adam Scott just seven feet away for par for the two points. New York, from there, wouldn’t look back.  

TOP PERFORMER 

In his return to action — Schauffele is also set to tee it up at the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational just outside of Orlando, Fla. — Schauffele earned four points to help lead New York into the winner’s circle. He earned two points on the par-3 12th as well as the par-5 15th.

While Boston was still in the match through 12 holes, Schauffele’s birdie mathematically eliminated Boston Common from the playoffs. After Schauffele’s birdie, Boston was too far behind in ‘total holes won’ to earn their way into the playoffs.

QUOTEABLE 

“We actually call him "Big 'Blank' Rick"; you know what I mean?”—Xander Schauffele on Rickie Fowler’s, well, adult-themed nickname 

UP NEXT 

Tuesday, March 4  

Jupiter Links GC vs. Atlanta Drive GC

7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT 

Of note: The week of March 3 marks the final week of the regular season.  

The playoff picture is set, with Los Angeles Golf Club, The Bay Golf Club, Atlanta Drive GC, and New York Golf Club earning spots in the post-season.