Motor City Golf Club won the first hole and never let off the gas Tuesday, dominating with clutch putting and sound Hammer strategy in an 8-3 victory over Los Angeles Golf Club in its WTGL debut at SoFi Center.

Lexi Thompson, Jeeno Thitikul and Ronni Yin were unflappable, playing off each other and executing big shot after big shot to start 1-0 in a stellar debut for the new team.

Los Angeles couldn’t find the same spark it had during Sunday’s win over New York Golf Club in the season opener, slipping to 1-1 on the year.

KEY MOMENTS

WELCOME HOME: The 11-time LPGA winner did not disappoint, setting up a birdie with a stellar approach shot at the second and sinking several key putts – including a 14-footer for birdie at No. 6 and another birdie at No. 9.

LINKS LEGENDS: Michelle Wie West paid homage to her predecessors over the weekend, wearing an LPGA Founders shirt featuring faces of iconic players to the first-ever WTGL match. Tuesday night the legends came to her, with Beth Daniel, Meg Mallon and Karrie Webb taking in the match at SoFi Center. That’s 92 combined LPGA victories in just one row, for those keeping score at home.

DETROIT DEBUT: Motor City Golf Club couldn’t have scripted a better SoFi Center debut, with the new club out of Detroit scoring a dominant victory. MCGC is a new addition for the 2027 season of TGL presented by SoFi as well, with team members Brooks Koepka and Bud Cauley in the house Tuesday to support their WTGL counterparts.

“I think it’ll be just so much fun,” Koepka said of his forthcoming TGL debut. “The energy here is great. It’s fantastic and it’s a lot of fun for the players and a lot of fun for the fans, so hopefully we can create that energy.”

TRIPLES

Detroit didn’t waste any time getting comfortable. MCGC earned a win at the first hole via concession and picked up another point at the par-5 second, where Thompson hit the green from 211 yards out and Thitikul rolled a great lag putt to make it 2-0, Motor City.

Wie West got in on the action with a 12-foot birdie at No. 4 and LAGC immediately threw the Hammer. Thitikul calmly rolled in a crucial 6-footer to tie the hole, avoid a huge momentum swing and keep it 2-0, Motor City.

Thompson came up big again with a 14-foot birdie putt at the sixth to extend the MCGC lead to 3-0. A full team effort continued with Yin making an 11-footer after a Hammer throw at the seventh to take a 5-0 lead.

Thompson added another birdie putt worth two points at the ninth to make it 7-0 Motor City Golf Club entering Singles.

SINGLES

Los Angeles threw the Hammer before players even teed off at 10, looking to make up ground in a hurry. Wie West did her part with a birdie, but Thitikul answered again with an 11-foot birdie to tie the hole and ice the match for Motor City.

LAGC finally got on the board with Aki Iwai earning a point at the 11th, but Detroit got it back with Thompson winning the 12th hole to make it 8-1.

Iwai overcome a rough start in Triples and ultimately went 2-0 in Singles, earning another point at No. 14 to cut the deficit to 8-2. Kiara Romero added another point for Los Angeles by winning the final hole over Thompson in an 8-3 defeat.

THEY SAID IT

Motor City Golf Club: “We just have good vibes. Jeeno’s playing good, Lexi’s playing good, I’m playing good and we are making everything.” – Ronni Yin

Los Angeles Golf Club: “I mean, that’s just rude.” – Wie West, after Yin’s 11-foot birdie make to give Motor City a 5-0 lead.

NEXT FROM SOFI CENTER

Motor City Golf Club looks to keep the momentum rolling next week, when it returns to SoFi Center at 8 p.m ET Monday to take on New York Golf Club (0-1). Los Angeles has time to regroup ahead of its next match at 8:30 p.m. ET December 6 against Atlanta Drive GC.

Motor City tops LAGC 8-3, cruises to first WTGL victory

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