The TGL’s second season kicked off on Sunday, December 28, and last year’s finalists, Atlanta Drive Golf Club and New York Golf Club faced each other in the season opener. However, Atlanta Drive featured Chris Gotterup and Corey Conners as replacements for their regular players.
In the opening match of the TGL 2026, Atlanta Drive featured Billy Horschel, Chris Gotterup, and Corey Conners, while New York GC had Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young, and Matt Fitzpatrick. Atlanta didn’t have the services of Justin Thomas, who underwent surgery recently, but the other two players were also unavailable due to injury.
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“Atlanta Drive GC and TGL today announced Chat Chris Gotterup and Corey Conners will join Atlanta Drive GC as alternates alongside Billy Horschel for Match 1 against New York Golf Club on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC,” the official statment read.
“Both Patrick Cantlay and Lucas Glover are unable to participate in Atlanta Drive GC’s opening match due to injury, and teammate Justin Thomas is unavailable due to previously announced back surgery.”
Speaking of the performance, while Gotterup earned one ppoint in two singles matches, Conners lost both the points in debut match.
Chris Gotterup and Corey Conners give thier first impression of TGL
During the post-round interview, both Chris Gotterup and Corey Conners shared their experience of competing at the TGL. Conners called it a blast with an electric atmosphere.
“Really cool being a part of a team,” he added. “Brought me back to my younger days playing hockey and other sports. “We were all playing for each other tonight, and that was a fun feeling. Just pretty speechless with “Big Game Billy” knocking that putt down, knowing I’d rather have him out there to make that one. It was just a blast, and really fortunate to have been able to play.”
Chris Gotterup also called his experience awesome and a little ‘nerve-racking’.
“Billy said in one of our interviews afterwards,” he added. “The type of juice that you feel is what you feel coming down the stretch to win big tournaments, and to have that recreated playing for fun is cool and something that it’s hard to recreate.
The atmosphere is amazing, and playing alongside Billy, he definitely made it a little bit more relaxed, kind of picking your brain and telling you what to expect. Corey played great, hit some clutch shots when we needed it, and obviously the putt helps at the end, too. A lot of fun, and really enjoyed it.”
Atlanta Drive will next compete on January 7 against Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf Club.
Edited by Shobhit Kukreti
