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03/24 20:22 CDT Tiger Woods returns at TGL and can't stop LA from winning SoFi
Cup
Tiger Woods returns at TGL and can't stop LA from winning SoFi Cup
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) --- Tiger Woods competed for the first time in
more than a year and that wasn't nearly enough to stop Los Angeles Golf Club,
which made three straight eagles to close out a 9-2 victory in the TGL final
Tuesday night to capture the SoFi Cup.
Woods had been captain and cheerleader for Jupiter Links as he recovered from
back surgery in October. He decided Monday evening after Los Angeles rallied to
win the first match in the best-of-3 series that he was ready to play,
replacing Kevin Kisner.
His biggest moment was missing a 3-foot putt on the seventh hole, slamming his
putter to the turf in disgust. That gave LA momentum, and it turned so quickly
the 15-hole match ended in 10 holes.
"We got our (butts) kicked at the end," Woods said. "Three eagles in a row. I
missed a short one to give them momentum and we never got it back."
Woods had said earlier playing TGL was just a step. He gave no indication when
it was over whether he would play in the Masters on April 9-12.
"This body ... it doesn't recover like it did when it was 24, 25. It doesn't
mean I'm not trying," Woods said. "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."
"I want to play. I love the tournament," he said. "I'm going to be there either
way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the Champions Dinner. ...
We'll see how it goes. I'll be practicing, playing at home this week and keep
trying to make progress."
His short miss gave LA its first lead at 3-2, and Tommy Fleetwood followed by
making a 12-foot eagle putt on the reachable par-4 eighth.
Max Homa had suggested earlier throwing a hammer --- that makes the hole worth
two points --- if Jupiter took advantage on a par 5 during alternate shot. That
backfired.
Fleetwood drove into a bunker, and Woods hit 3-wood to keep it short of the
bunker. Homa hit the approach to 15 feet for an eagle chance, but Justin Rose
hit a beauty out of the bunker to just inside 15 feet. Tom Kim missed Jupiter's
eagle putt, and Sahith Theegala swirled in his eagle putt for a 6-2 lead going
into singles.
That lasted one hole. Homa missed the fairway on a reachable par 5 and had to
lay up. Rose hit the fairway and his second shot rolled out to 4 feet. LA threw
the hammer (making the hole worth three points) and Homa had to make it to have
any chance. He missed the putt, the eagle was conceded and LA walked off with
the $9 million team prize.
"It sucked," Homa told ESPN. "Not going to give you a whole lot more than that."
Homa said later he thought Jupiter had to win the hole to extend the matches.
"It was just a really dumb move on my part," he said.
Jupiter Links won $4.5 million.
For Woods, it was about playing again, even in an indoor golf league. He last
played in early March 2025 before rupturing his Achilles tendon, and then he
had a seventh back surgery in October.
His first full swing was 3-wood from 279 yards just off the green that set up
birdie for a 1-0 lead. Jupiter went ahead 2-0 when Woods lagged a 45-foot putt
to a foot for a conceded birdie. That was the extent of his highlights.
Still uncertain is whether Woods decides to be the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for
the 2027 matches in Ireland. The PGA of America is hopeful of an answer by the
end of the month.
His mind was only on the match he played.
"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."
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
