Los Angeles Golf Club beats New York 3-1 to win the first WTGL match in history

The women's indoor golf league WTGL played its first match in history on Sunday at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where Los Angeles Golf Club beat New York Golf Club 3-1 to claim the league's first victory. Sky Sports reported that about 1,500 fans attended as the women's offshoot of the men's TGL — founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — made its debut.

Los Angeles led 2-1, then Lee sealed the win

Los Angeles fielded Michelle Wie West, who has come out of retirement, Alison Lee and Mexico's Gaby López, while New York lined up Rose Zhang, Linn Grant and New Zealand star Lydia Ko. The match was played over 15 holes — nine holes of three-player alternate-shot Triples followed by six holes of head-to-head Singles. Los Angeles led 2-1 after the first nine holes; Lee beat Grant on the 11th, Zhang missed two short putts on the 13th and Grant missed a 10-foot putt on the 14th, sealing a 3-1 win for Los Angeles before the teams tied the final hole.

Zhang hit the first shot in WTGL history — a 301-yard drive

New York's Zhang hit the first tee shot in WTGL history, a drive of 301 yards, and Wie West came agonisingly close to a hole-in-one at the par-three seventh. The WTGL follows the TGL indoor format: a giant simulator screen, a rotating green, a shot clock and players mic'd up throughout, with matches designed to fit inside a two-hour broadcast window. The inaugural season has five teams of five players and runs through November and December; Los Angeles next plays Motor City Golf Club on Tuesday.

A new stage for women's golf, with an $11 million purse

The WTGL is the women's edition of the TGL, run by TMRW Sports in partnership with the PGA Tour. Lee said after the match that growing purses, the chance to play courses the players had never seen, and a more intimate setting for fans could bring more eyes to the women's game. The 25 players in the league share an $11 million purse, and matches are broadcast by ESPN and Ion.