An all-time lucky bounce, the latest PGA Tour slow-play viral video and a 12-handicapper’s big day in the sun

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we couldn’t be more proud of our colleague and friend, Joel Beall. I’ve worked with this guy for about a decade—putting up with his use of a questionably hot 3-wood for much of that time—and watched him become one of the best golf writers around. And now, he’s delivered big-time with his debut book, Playing Dirty, which, come to think of it, is a perfect title for him considering that 3-wood:

But I’m just as proud of him for finding a way to get a free summer-long dream golf trip to Scotland. Great, brilliant stuff, Joel. Seriously, though, go buy his book. In the meantime, here’s what else is happening in golf.

WE’RE BUYING

Brian Campbell: In what will likely wind up as the biggest underdog win (270-to-1 odds) of the PGA Tour season, this 31-year-old journeyman won the Mexico Open for his first victory as a pro. Anywhere. And giving the result a real David-vs.-Goliath vibe is the fact that Campbell was the shortest hitter in the field while the guy he took down in a playoff, Aldrich Potgieter, was the longest:

That’s pretty wild. Of course, all of that was overshadowed by Campbell getting one of the luckiest breaks in golf history on the second playoff hole when he sliced a tee shot that appeared headed toward U.S. customs only to ricochet off some trees and safely back in play:

The birdie he made from there, however, was all skill. And I’m sure a guy with a decade littered with close calls was due for a big break in a big spot. Good for him.

Aldrich Potgieter’s driver-off-the deck skills: First off, great effort from the young South African who lost that heartbreaker in Mexico. And great job handling the aftermath of such a tough loss. Impressive for a 20-year-old. But even more impressive was the pop he showed all week, including on this incredible driver-off-the-deck during the second round:

No offense to our pal the DOD King, but Aldrich is the DOD King until further notice.

Angel Yin: Speaking of big hitters, what a performance by this 26-year-old in winning the Honda LPGA Thailand with a record-breaking tournament score of 28 under par.

What I also liked is that Yin won with a caddie who filled in at the last minute ahead of the first round when her regular looper got sick. Another big W for my “pro caddies are interchangeable” movement. But we also must mention 22-year-old Japanese rookie Akie Iwai, who shot a final-round 61 to nearly take down Yin. "She is an amazing player,” Yin said of Iwai. “Her game is awesome. Only good things to come. I assume.” Same for you, Angel! No matter who is carrying your bag.

David Greed: The only thing we know about this guy is that he’s a 12-handicap with an amazing nickname: Greedy. Oh, and he took down Marc Leishman in a random one-day event at an Australian golf club:

Indeed, our guy Greedy, will be living large on that story for years to come. As he should. Taking down a six-time PGA Tour winner (Leishman was playing at the club he grew up at, by the way) is no small task. Even if you are getting 17 bumps. That’s the beauty of the handicap system. And we wanted to give a normal hacker some love. Hopefully, Greedy won some nice shop credit for his victory. And hopefully no stories emerge about him being a giant sandbagger.

WE’RE SELLING

AimPointing tap-ins: A Lim Kim’s new nickname is going to be Aim Lim Kim after stomping around the cup to determine the break on a mere tap-in:

Tough scene. She’s lucky Jim Nantz wasn't announcing. Now, some have pointed out that Kim only did this briefly before knocking in the putt, but it still looks bad. I get golfers wanting to go through their normal routines and that there’s a lot on the line for these players, but c’mon now. That’s a gimme.

Aaron Rai’s putting routine: Not to be outdone was Aaron Rai! While the screenshot of Kim drew more attention, it was actually Rai taking a full two minutes to miss a 10-footer that was even more egregious. Have a look:

Aaron seems like a lovely bloke, but that’s ridiculous. And it remains ridiculous that the PGA Tour does nothing about it. So we’ll continue to do our part to point it out like Andrew Novak suggested to us a few weeks back on The Loop podcast. Shame, shame, shame!

Golf course closing: Our Ts & Ps go out to the members of Holyhead Golf Club in Wales after a local council forced the course to close its 18th hole. Apparently, after the course has been standing as is for 113 years, all it took was one neighbor complaining about stray golf balls landing in his garden to shut down what many locals call “the best hole on the Isle of Anglesey.”

Such a shame. The club has started a GoFundMe to raise the £75,000 needed to renovate the hole by building a different green away from the neighboring property. Until then, it’s a 17-hole course—with a very unpopular neighbor.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour season begins its Florida Swing with the Cognizant Classic, AKA the old Honda Classic, AKA the one they play at PGA National, AKA that one with the BEAR TRAP. The LPGA Tour continues its Asian Swing with the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the DP World Tour heads to South Africa for the first of two events. In other words, there will be pro golf happening somewhere around the world pretty much 24/7.

Random tournament fact: After no player ever finishing 14 under or better at PGA National since the PGA Tour started going there in 2007, five people have done it over the past two years, including last year’s winner, Austin Eckroat, at 17 under. Has the BEAR TRAP gone soft? People are asking.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—There will be a PGA Tour playoff at -20 again this week: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Brian Campbell will win again this week: 80-to-1 odds (Actual odds)

—Another slow-play video/screenshot will go viral this week: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK

AimPoint 3.0! I don’t know what show that originally comes from, but that’s funny.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

This was a hilarious idea to have Brian Campbell and his caddie take a photo giving cheers to the tree(s) that helped them win:

Just look away, Aldrich Potgieter (and all Aldrich Potgieter bettors).

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (ON-COURSE DIVISION)

Check out Joel Dahmen making what will likely be the longest putt of the PGA Tour season, a bomb from 95 feet:

The crazy thing? Only a day earlier Ryan Fox made this incredible birdie putt from 92 feet:

The New Zealander isn’t just long off the tee.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (ON-COURT DIVISION)

Another week, another college bball fan draining a full-court putt. Only this time, the guy got to celebrate with Patrick Mahomes:

What a moment. Of course, it’s definitely all downhill for that dude after that.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (TRICK-SHOT DIVISION)

In the Definitely-Don’t-Try-This-At-Home category, how about Rory McIlroy hitting this laser through a car window?

Not that I’m surprised after seeing Rory in person doing a similar challenge in just two takes during a promotional shoot for “The Showdown.” The guy has some ability.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

We finally have a release date (June 4) and a title (“Stick”) for the Apple TV+ comedy series featuring Owen Wilson as a washed-up golf pro:

Call me crazy, but I’m more excited for this than “Happy Gilmore 2.” Especially since Adam Sandler never cast me.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Brian Campbell’s girlfriend Kelsi McKee went through ALL of the emotions supporting her guy on Sunday.

Good for her. Well, them. That was awesome. And in related news, our favorite golf couple, the Hadwins, had a great response to this. And Adam actually got the best of Jessica.

For once.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Oh my gosh, that bounce … I mean, I’ll take it.” —Brian Campbell. Um, yeah.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Jacques Kruyswijk on winning his maiden DP World Tour title at the MAGICAL Kenya Open. If you’re going to win once on that tour, you may as well make it MAGICAL. … Speaking of magic, congrats to the (only?) guy who bet on Brian Campbell to win in Mexico:

And he’s got a great Twitter handle. You, sir, are a genius. … Season 3 of “Full Swing” is officially out on Netflix, although I was able to screen it earlier (NBD). Here’s what our “Full Swing” expert, Shane Ryan, thought of it. … And, finally, shout-out to whomever this vanity license plate belongs:

That’s a true golf guy/gal right there.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Will I ever buy a golf vanity plate?

Will there be a fourth season of “Full Swing”?

Who does “Hyman Roth” like this week?