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Kyle Porter continues his preseason preview with a closer look at The Bay Golf Club ahead of their season-opening match against New York Golf Club on Jan. 7 on ESPN and ESPN+.
The most international team in TGL presented by SoFi is The Bay Golf Club, which is made up of players from four different countries and three different continents.
Ludvig Åberg (Sweden), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Wyndham Clark (United States) and Min Woo Lee (Australia) make up this young, dynamic team that should be able to move the ball all over the place as it attacks the custom-designed holes in TGL.
TAKE THE QUIZ: Find Out Which Team You Should Root For
Åberg was a breakout star at the 2023 Ryder Cup and nearly won the 2024 Masters. Clark won the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Lowry is a major winner and recently contended for the 2024 Open Championship, and Lee has won twice worldwide over the last two years, his two best as a professional by far.
Let’s dive into the team and break them down player by player.
Ludvig Åberg
His rise from senior at Texas Tech to top five player in the world has been as impressive as it’s been quick. Åberg is now a threat (and often a favorite) to win any tournament he enters.
Role on the team: Åberg can be softspoken for such a superstar so he may not take a lead role when it comes to team strategy. But he will almost certainly take a big role when it comes to eye-popping performance, especially off the tee where he can hit it a mile.
One thing that excites me: Åberg is so different when it comes to hitting the golf ball. The driver swing is shockingly simplistic, and he made a leap in 2024 with his approach play. He will be incredible to watch if you’re into numbers and data off the tee and should be a stalwart when it comes to play in the ScreenZone for TBGC.
One stat to remember: 20 – When he first tees it up in January, it will be just 20 months since Åberg was playing college golf. In that span, he’s won on the PGA TOUR, finished second at the Masters and won a Ryder Cup with Team Europe. An incredible rise.
Wyndham Clark
Over the last few years, Clark has been among the best drivers in the world for one reason: Ball speed. His 184.5 mph average off the tee last year ranked No. 4 on the PGA TOUR behind Cameron Champ, Rory McIlroy and … Clark’s TBGC teammate, Min Woo Lee.
Role on the team: Clark is a terrific player. He will be leaned on for his length and his putting, which has ranked among the top 25 in the world over the last two years, an unusual trait for someone with his length off the tee.
One thing that excites me: Clark does not seem to be afraid of anyone and embraced the team element during the 2023 Ryder Cup, relishing the opportunity to square off best vs. best. He's a competitor and that fire burns bright.
One stat to remember: 100 – That is approximately how many places that Clark has moved up in the strokes gained approach rankings worldwide over the last two years compared to the two years prior to that. His arrow has been pointing up for a while.
Shane Lowry
Lowry is one of the best personalities in golf and likely will be tremendous on the mic. He doesn't take himself too seriously and has often been the glue on teams he has been a part of.
Role on the team: Lowry’s short game is magic. He will likely find himself in scenarios in the GreenZone where he has to get up and down or make a long putt to win a hole. And he will thrive in those scenarios.
One thing that excites me: Lowry with a live mic! Not only is he a great personality, but Lowry has that rare skill where he seems to get better when he’s talking his way through a round, which means he could be the perfect type of player for SoFi Center.
One stat to remember: 359 – That’s Lowry’s current streak of holes without a three putt on the PGA TOUR, the longest of anybody on the tour.
Min Woo Lee
You may know Lee as the social media star who enjoys the show as much as he does the game. What you might not know about Lee is that he is a menace off the tee. Lee ranks ahead of both McIlroy and teammate, Clark, in average ball speed. That's impressive company. He checked in at No. 2 on the PGA TOUR in 2024 at 187.9 mph, a truly outrageous number.
Role on the team: Lee represents the juice, the swag. Whatever you want to call it, he has it, and he will bring it. We’re talking about someone whose Instagram profile reads: "Full-time chef, part-time golfer.”
One thing that excites me: He’s electric. Of the players who are not yet household names but have the personality and game to become household names, Lee is near the top (maybe at the top) of that list.
One stat to remember: 165 – That’s how many pounds Lee weighs, according to the PGA TOUR. My point being that there cannot be many pro golfers whose ball speed off the tee is over 20 miles per hour greater than their weight in pounds. Lee would win a weight-to-ball-speed ratio contest against anyone else in the world.
Why you should root for them
This is a fun team with some big personalities. They will be good-natured, good talkers and if team ball speed is tracked and displayed during the season, they will almost certainly lead the league. There is a lot to like on The Bay Golf Club.
Related Content
Season Preview: Boston Common Golf
Course Preview: 15 Holes for NYGC vs TBGC
Season Preview: Atlanta Drive GC
Match Preview: New York Golf Club & The Bay Golf Club Set For First Ever Match
New York Golf Club vs. The Bay Golf Club: Ways to Watch