PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (CBS12) — Women’s professional golf entered a new era Sunday as the WTGL played its first-ever match at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens.
Los Angeles Golf Club defeated New York Golf Club 3-1, earning the first victory in league history.
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The matchup featured some of the biggest names in women’s golf, including Michelle Wie West, Alison Lee and Gaby López for Los Angeles, and Lydia Ko, Rose Zhang and Linn Grant for New York.
Los Angeles made history early, scoring the first two points in WTGL competition during the opening three holes. Gaby López hit the green, and Michelle Wie West left the ball about 16 inches from the cup. Los Angeles used the Hammer and won two points on the hole. The club carried that momentum through the match to claim the league’s first win.
The match featured three players for each team and was played over 15 holes. The first ten holes were played in a team format, with players taking turns hitting for their team. The final five holes were Singles, with players competing head-to-head.
In the closing holes, New York had chances to cut into Los Angeles’ lead, but Rose Zhang missed two short putts on the 13th hole and Linn Grant missed a 10-foot putt on the 14th. That secured the win for Los Angeles, 3-1, before the teams tied the final hole.
The debut marked the start of a new stage for women’s professional golf, giving its players a team competition and a spotlight in a fast-paced format. Los Angeles’ win will be remembered as the first result in WTGL history—and the beginning of a new chapter for women in sports.