Alison Lee sank a one-meter putt on the 14th hole, securing a 3-1 victory for the Los Angeles team over New York in the inaugural Women’s Team Golf League (WTGL) match on Sunday night.
The historic event, held at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, marked the league’s first competitive action, Golf Post reported.
The decisive moment came after a tightly contested battle. The teams were tied through seven of the nine holes in the triples format, before Los Angeles pulled ahead 2-0 after New York conceded the third hole.
New York later won a doubled hole to close the gap to 2-1, but Los Angeles sealed the deal in the six individual matches. Alison Lee secured the winning point by defeating Linn Grant at the 11th hole and then halving the 14th to clinch the match.
Los Angeles Used the Hammer to Gain an Early Lead
Using the "hammer" strategically helped win the early stages of the match. Los Angeles deployed it on the third hole, doubling its value and forcing New York to concede, giving LA an early lead.
Two holes later, New York turned the tables, using the hammer to win a hole and bring the score to 2-1. The drama peaked with Michelle Wie West, whose Sunday night return to competition was nearly legendary.
On the seventh hole, a 184-yard par 3, Wie West sought advice from Rickie Fowler, who was watching in the gallery. His simple advice: “Go straight.” Wie West followed it to perfection. Her 6-iron shot struck the flagstick and settled just 1.5 meters away.
While it wasn’t the league’s first ace—both teams made birdie and halved the hole—it was the most electrifying moment of the night. “I was really nervous,” Wie West admitted after the match. “The fans were electrifying, the music also.”
A Global Launchpad for Golf
With teams in major international markets like Los Angeles and New York, the league is positioning itself as a new frontier for golf, attracting investment and media attention from around the world. For Lydia Ko, for Team New York, the league’s potential is clear.
“This is a great chance for us as a brand and, I believe, for the sport overall,” Ko stated, viewing the league as a platform for golf to grow its international footprint.
It also serves as a soft-power tool, exporting American sporting culture to a global audience while creating a stage for international athletes to showcase their talents.
Los Angeles beat New York 3-1 in WTGL’s debut. At SoFi Center, the enthusiasm of young girls in the crowd made the league’s promise feel real. https://t.co/hiiBWp7VZR
| Team | Players | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Michelle Wie West, Alison Lee, Gaby López | 3-1 (Win) |
| New York | Lydia Ko, Rose Zhang, Linn Grant | 1-3 (Loss) |
Los Angeles Faces Motor City Golf Club Next
With the first win in the books, Los Angeles now leads the inaugural WTGL season. The team’s focus shifts almost immediately to its next challenge. Early Wednesday morning (2 AM German time), LA will face the Motor City Golf Club from Detroit. The Motor City roster is a blend of established stars and rising talent, featuring Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson, Jeeno Thitikul, and Swiss player Albane Valenzuela.
The league’s regular season consists of ten matches, followed by playoffs on December 20-21 and the championship on December 22-23.
League Success Could Influence Global Sports Commercialization
The league’s success will be watched closely by global economists and sports industry analysts. It could influence how other niche sports are commercialized, potentially leading to similar ventures in other regions. The question is whether this model can be exported, creating a new global standard for team competition and transforming golf from a primarily individual sport into a team-based spectacle with mass-market appeal.
