The Drought Ends
Jupiter Links Golf Club had been searching for answers. Five consecutive losses dating back to last season. Zero wins in Season 2. The pressure was mounting with each passing match at SoFi Center.
Monday night, everything clicked.
Akshay Bhatia, Max Homa and Kevin Kisner delivered Jupiter’s most complete performance in team history, defeating Atlanta Drive GC 8-6 and handing the defending champions their first loss of the season. More importantly, they proved Jupiter belongs in the playoff conversation.
“We all hit really good shots,” Bhatia said after the match. “This one feels really, really nice.”
The Turning Point
Atlanta jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead through two holes, and the familiar sinking feeling could have set in for Jupiter. Instead, they responded with their best stretch of golf as a franchise.
Five consecutive holes won. Five straight points. A 5-2 lead heading into Singles.
It started at the par-3 third hole, where Kisner hit a perfect tee shot at “Cenote” while Billy Horschel found the penalty area. From there, Jupiter was relentless. They played Atlanta’s team hole “Fore-0-Fore” to perfection for a birdie. Homa stuck his tee shot inside six feet at the fifth. Bhatia delivered a masterful chip over a bunker at the sixth.
Then came the signature moment. Bhatia hit his tee shot to inside five feet at “The Last Toll,” becoming the first player to hit the green in regulation on that hole. Atlanta declined the hammer. Jupiter led 5-2.
“Typically our first match we got up early and then lost some momentum,” Bhatia explained. “They had it early and we switched it so fast. It just felt like we were never going to lose that feeling.”
Kisner’s Redemption
Kevin Kisner has taken his share of good-natured ribbing over the past year. His play hadn’t matched his competitive standards. Monday night was different.
Facing Horschel in Singles on the 12th hole with the hammer in play, Kisner stepped up. A tap-in par gave Jupiter two crucial points and an 8-2 lead that effectively sealed the match.
“I heard in my ear at the very end that I led strokes gained overall for the match, and I’ve never done that in my entire career other than putting,” Kisner said with a grin. “Suck on that, Atlanta.”
He continued: “You play bad by yourself and it’s okay. You play bad for your teammates and it really stinks. To go out there and hit shots for these guys is a lot more fun.”
Atlanta’s Streak Snapped
The loss ended Atlanta’s seven-match winning streak and dropped them to 2-1-0 on the season. Chris Gotterup set a TGL record with a 374-yard drive on the first hole, but Jupiter’s precision approach play proved too much.
“All three of them played really good tonight,” Horschel admitted. “There was no weak link.”
Lucas Glover provided a bright spot in his first match of Season 2, going 1-0-1 in Singles to maintain his undefeated record. But Atlanta couldn’t overcome Jupiter’s momentum after falling behind.
Playoff Picture
Jupiter’s victory moves them to 1-2-0 and back into the playoff mix. They’re tied with New York and Los Angeles at two points, though both those teams have played one fewer match.
Boston Common Golf remains the only undefeated team atop the SoFi Cup Standings.
Tiger Woods, watching from the sidelines as his team finally broke through, kept it simple: “We haven’t won a match in a couple years, so it was nice to actually get up on the right side of the leaderboard finally.”
Jupiter returns to action March 1 against Boston Common Golf. Atlanta faces a February 23 doubleheader against Boston and Los Angeles.
For now, Jupiter can finally exhale. The drought is over.