“They are starting to play well at the right time,” said Justin Thomas, and his Atlanta Dive GC swung this beautifully with a 9-3 win over Shane Lowry‘s The Bay on Tuesday to advance to the inaugural TGL Golf Finals Series next week. Led by Thomas, Atlanta dominated the match, entering the par-three 12th with a 5-2 advantage, before Patrick Cantlay sealed the win with a clutch putt with three holes to play.

Next up, they’ll face Xander Schauffele‘s New York, who knocked out top-seeded Los Angeles with a 6-4 win on Monday night. Thomas is feeling confident, saying “I like our team and I like our chances. I’m excited. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.” Meanwhile, Lowry, still reeling from the loss of $9 million, drew parallels between the TGL’s team format and the atmosphere of the Ryder Cup, hinting that Woods’ brainchild might just be onto something basic.

Speaking at the TGL playoff press conference, when asked about the importance of putting in the team format, Shane Lowry had a straightforward response. “That’s golf,” he said, emphasizing that the team that makes the most putts tends to win, not just in TGL, but in golf in general. “I think that’s golf. I think if you watch the Ryder Cup every two years, the team that holes the most putts wins the Ryder Cup. And I think that’s just team golf.”

The team that gets off to the best start and makes the most putts often wins. He also noted that this principle applies not just to team golf, but to individual golf as well. “Even week-in, week-out on the PGA TOUR, the guy who putts the best has a great chance to win.”

The “70% Rule” in PGA Tour wins hinges on this idea. It suggests that winners nail the Greens in Regulation (GIR), Scrambling, and One-Putts (5-10 feet)—totaling around 70% combined. Well, it seems like Shane Lowry is ready to move on from his recent loss as the next tournament is just around the corner.

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Shane Lowry looks to bounce back at Valspar Championship

Dusting setbacks with a clear mindset, the Irish golfer is focused on the Valspar Championship, the final stop of the Florida Swing (March 20 to 23), and he’s looking pretty good on paper. With four top-20 finishes in his last five events, including a recent outing at The Players Championship, Lowry is certainly one to watch out of the top 23. He’s competed at the Valspar Championship twice before, finishing T49 in 2018 and T12 in 2022, so he’s got some experience under his belt.

Lowry’s stats are also looking promising, with the Clara native ranking seventh on the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee to green and approach play. He’s also showing consistency in other key metrics, including driving accuracy, bogey avoidance, and scrambling. Notably, he ranks in the 92nd percentile for proximity from 150-200 yards over the past year, which could give him an edge at this venue. With odds as long as 33/1, Lowry seems good. Do you think he can redeem himself at the Valspar Championship? Let us know in the comment section below!