Robert MacIntyre’s wild week, LeBron James’ mid-game swing tip and a Ryder Cup karaoke controversy

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we are happy to report the completion of a historic golf double. Just one you didn’t know about. In addition to winning the HGGA Championship (my original buddies golf trip) green jacket earlier this year, I retained the Pelham Guys Golf Trip (my second buddies golf trip) green belt on Sunday in Hilton Head.

/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2021/251007-grind-belt-jacket.jpg

Yes, I made my wife take that photo. No, she wasn’t particularly impressed. With 10 career majors (six HGGAs, two PGGTs and two Golf Digest Editors Putters), I’ve now passed the likes of Ben Hogan and Gary Player. Well, not Hogan because the 1942 Hale America Open should count as a major, but that’s a discussion for another day. Anyway, for now, I’m just going to savor this latest win. Oh, and talk about everything else happening in golf that you actually care about.

WE’RE BUYING

Robert MacIntyre: The 29-year-old Scot pulled off an amazing double of his own, winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews after helping Europe reclaim the Ryder Cup. Just an amazing recovery after the celebration Europe had at Bethpage Black. And now he has a trophy that holds a LOT more booze:

2239384352

Jan Kruger

MacIntyre shot three rounds of 66 in the wind-shortened event to move to a career-best eighth in the Official World Golf Ranking. And he would have been proud of me showing my Scottish roots in Hilton Head and playing through the wind and rain. So, cheers, Bob. To both of us.

Steven Fisk: The 28-year-old former U.S. Walker Cupper picked up his first PGA Tour title at the Sanderson Farms Championship. While Fisk didn’t hoist a trophy you can drink from, he took home the coveted rooster trophy by birdieing the final three holes:

2239446464

Raj Mehta

That thing better be the first thing people see when you go to his house.

Adrian Dumont de Chassart: The 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Rookie of the Year will be headed back to the PGA Tour after winning the Compliance Solutions Championship—and breaking the tour’s 72-hole scoring record in the process. Dumont de Chassart shot 33 under for the week to win by seven shots:

I’ve known this guy’s name for a few years since he was a star at the University of Illinois, but now I really need to know how to spell it because he’s a stud.

WE’RE SELLING

Steven Fisk’s timing: The only bad news for Fisk? Due to Augusta National’s recent announcement, he will NOT be getting an invite to next year’s Masters. Being a PGA Tour winner is still a life-changing moment as evidenced by his wife going crazy:

That was awesome. But he’ll have to win again once the new season starts—or move into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking by the cut-off dates—to play in next year’s first major.

Trying to make the PGA Tour Champions: I bring up from time to time how delusional some non-tour pros are about “Making a run at the Senior Tour” and this is the perfect example. When you turn 50 you’ll be competing with freaking PGA Tour winners who can’t even get a spot on the senior circuit! Case in point, Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, who had no status upon hitting the big five-oh in August. But after Monday qualifying last week for the Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament, Gainey earned his first PGA Tour Champions title. And gave us a great emotional interview:

Good for Two Gloves. He should have status on the senior circuit now. And you should probably forget about ever playing out there.

Karaoke-gate: The Ryder Cup fan fallout continued with a report from The Times that PGA of America President Don Rea did a little Karaoke at an official hotel for players’ families and guests that Saturday night. And that he performed Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” The horror!

2214876888

Andrew Redington

I certainly agree with the backlash against Rea for failing to condemn the crowds at Bethpage sooner for their bad behavior (not that it would have kept anyone from shouting disgusting stuff), but he’s not allowed to take a few minutes to have fun at a party now? That seems a bit much. Condemn him for his comments—or for his karaoke choice because rapping is a bold move—but let the man live a little.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour fall season continues with the Baycurrent Classic, AKA that one that used to be called the Zozo Championship, AKA that one they play in Japan. Meanwhile, the ladies are in China for the Buick LPGA Shanghai, the DP World Tour has the Spanish Open and the Korn Ferry Tour Championship will be at French Lick, the site of last year’s HGGA Championship (I know, all my golf trips are getting really tricky to keep track of). What a brutally hard Pete Dye golf course. Well, for us mere mortals.

Random tournament fact: It’s now been six years since Tiger Woods won the Zozo Championship for his 82nd career PGA Tour title to tie Sam Snead’s (dubious) record. Tiger hasn’t won since and has only played in eight official non-major events. Sigh.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Tiger Woods will ever win the Zozo/Baycurrent Classic again: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Tiger Woods will ever win on the PGA Tour again: 10-to-1 odds

—Tiger Woods would win if he came on either of my buddies trips: LOCK

TWEET/INSTAGRAM OF THE WEEK

Bobby Mac got the last laugh on the fans who were mean to him at Bethpage Black:

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

LeBron James’ newfound golf obsession continues to grow. Here’s King James getting a swing tip from teammate Austin Reaves (one of the best celebrity golfers around) … during a timeout!

He’s going to be even happier that he picked up the game when he finally retires from the NBA.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS ACTUALLY PLAYING GOLF

Bill Murray hit one of the luckiest shots ever on the 18th hole at the Old Course at St. Andrews:

Absolutely wild. But it’s only one of the luckiest shots ever because he did something similar … last year! The golf gods (and comedy gods) really blessed this man.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Shout-out to my childhood friends:

I just wish it hadn’t taken us 30 years to put a golf trip together.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I think he nudged a couple of putts in for me for sure, maybe him or Grayson.” —Steven Fisk on his father, Christopher, who passed away earlier this year and having Jay Green, Grayson Murray’s former caddie, on his bag.

THIS AND THAT

LIV Golf’s U.K. entity lost $590 million last year and has lost $1.4 billion since the summer of 2022. I’m not a businessman, but, um, that seems bad. … Youth On Course celebrated its 5 millionth subsidized round, the last million of those rounds coming in the past year. Now that is definitely good. … Speaking of good, the Skins Game will return on Black Friday after a 16-year-hiatus and will feature a foursome of Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Keegan Bradley and Tommy Fleetwood. Tommy’s in a great spot to trash talk given what happened at the Ryder Cup. … Speaking of scheduling, TGL’s second season slate is out. Hopefully, Tiger Woods will be back in action for Jupiter Golf Links’ opening match on Jan. 13. … And, finally, shout-out to Christopher Shapoff for finishing runner-up and Golf Digest’s Kevin Harrigan for finishing third. We took a LIV podium pic after:

/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2021/251007-grind-podium.jpg