Andrew Novak’s football-related first, Brooks Koepka’s creative Halloween costume and the Internet Invitational’s breakout star

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we are still recovering from a Saturday Halloween in my neighborhood. It’s always crazy on my block, but this was a whole other level:

Good thing I was prepared with my biggest stash of candy yet, thanks in large part to a lot of generous donations from the community:

I even got to return some to Costco this year. But in the meantime, there were plenty of tricks and treats happening in the world of golf. Let me grab another Kit-Kat and get into it.

WE’RE BUYING

Andrew Novak: The 31-year-old American had tasted a PGA Tour victory last year, but this time, he did it for the first time as an individual. It’s kinda like comparing a fun-size Kit-Kat to a king-size one. And Andrew didn’t just win, he cruised by five shots at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open:

The main reason, a hot putter that gained him more than 12 shots on the field through 54 holes as he fired ridiculous rounds of 61 and 62 on Friday and Saturday to build that five-shot cushion. In a less official stat, I’m pretty sure he’s also the first golfer to win a PGA Tour event the same week he hosted a fantasy football podcast:

The man loves him some pigskin. And he probably won’t be celebrating this victory too long. Not because he’s playing in another tournament this week, but because he needed to get a jump on breaking down the NFL Week 9 schedule.

Miyu Yamashita: What a run for this budding Japanese star, who successfully defended her title at the Maybank Championship. That gives the 25-year-old Yamashita three LPGA Tour titles this season and five in the past 15 months.

The World No. 4 has reached win No. 5 on the LPGA Tour faster than any other Japanese golfer. “It's been really great seeing so many Japanese players doing so well again this year,” Yamashita said after. “It's really motivating for me as well.” Speaking of being motivated . . .

Dean Greyserman: While big brother Max (whose great lag putting drill I shared earlier this summer) was finishing T-11 on the PGA Tour, his little bro was putting in a heroic effort in the second stage of DP World Tour Q School. Needing essentially a miracle to move on during the final day, Max delivered just that in the form of a back-nine 28(!):

Talk about coming up clutch. And while we’re on the topic of Q School . . .

WE’RE SELLING

Cas Alexander’s status: Or, lack of status when it comes to the LPGA next season. All this woman has done is dominate the Ladies European Tour to the point that she’s up to No. 23 in the WORLD after winning for the third time in her past five starts. And yet, the 27-year-old South African has to go to Q School to earn her LPGA Tour card:

I know tour cards shouldn’t be handed out like Halloween candy, but c’mon, she deserves one.

Michael Block’s senior season being over: Despite another really good finish (T-10 at the Simmons Bank Championship), Blockie’s PGA Tour Champions season came to an end as he finished 42nd on the Charles Schwab Cup standings (the top 36 advanced). Still, what an effort in only 11 starts. And he gave the fans one final great highlight:

Between Blockie and, potentially, Tiger, I’m very much looking forward to watching the 2027 season on the senior circuit.

This brutal gambling beat: If you’re a gambler, you’ve inevitably had some bad beats. But it’s hard to think of a crazier one than this freak rules situation involving Tom Kim and Brian Campbell:

Ouch. Even crazier? Kim and Campbell continued to follow each other all around the Mexico Open to finish in a tie for sixth. With those two extra shots back, they would have tied for runner-up. Also ouch.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour fall season and Mexico Swing continues with the World Wide Technology Championship, AKA that other one they play in Mexico, AKA that one that sounds made up. Plus, there’s the inaugural match of the WTGL on Sunday afternoon between Los Angeles Golf Club and New York Golf Club (I like how the women’s teams have the same name as the men’s) at 3 p.m. on ESPN. And to talk about that and more, we had LAGC's Alison Lee on this week's episode of The Loop podcast:

Random tournament fact: Ben Griffin is the defending champ at the World Wide Technology Championship so between he and his buddy Andrew Novak, they’ve got the Mexico Swing locked down.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Someone will play the wrong ball in a WGTL match: 1 MILLION-to-1-odds

—Ben Griffin will defend his World Wide Technology title: 13-to-1 odds

—Andrew Novak will be watching a LOT of football this week: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Couldn’t agree more, Martin. Ben Hogan is rolling over in his grave.

PHOTO(S) OF THE WEEK

Let’s check out some of the best golf-related Halloween costumes out there, first from major champs like Rory (Peter) McIlroy:

And Brooks Koepka:

Get it? Flight Crew? Because his son’s name is Crew? Creative! Anyway, those were some great family costumes there, but when it comes to Halloween family costumes, Luke Donald and Co. stood out once again:

And on the amateur side of things, how about the HGGA’s (my golf group) own Tim Quinn putting our green jacket to good use:

Why didn’t I ever think of doing that in the years I won?!

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (CLUTCH SHOT, AMATEUR DIVISION)

There were some incredible moments from the first few episodes of the Internet Invitational, but nothing tops Big John’s dramatic birdie putt that ended a playoff on Day 1 with $4 MILLION on the line:

What a putt by the young man. And he just made that crazy-looking putter company a lot of money as well.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (CLUTCH SHOT, TOUR PRO DIVISION)

Darren Finchardt delivered a walk-off putt of his own to claim his first PGA Tour Champions title. Although, Darren’s was an eagle and he did it to take down current senior dominator Zach Johnson:

What a finish. And what a classy moment of sportsmanship by all involved. And that’s why neither will ever be part of the Internet Invitational.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (DANCING DIVISION)

Check out the moves on (former?) LIV golfer Minkyu Kim at the blank:

I honestly thought this was A.I. at first.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

Speaking of dancing, my latest installment of Golf Digest’s “The Fringe” is out and it’s on “Dancing With the Stars” Season 33 champ Joey Graziadei. The 31-year-old also of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” fame is a reality TV star who has an unreal hole-in-one tale.

And he also happens to be one of the stars of the new Roku rom-com, “The Holiday Spark,” that came out on Monday. Man, the Christmas season used to at least wait until after Thanksgiving to start. Now it’s right after Halloween?!

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Andrew Novak was greeted on No. 18 after winning by Ben Griffin, whom he had previously hoisted his only PGA Tour trophy with:

Awww. That’s what friends are for.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I was very unwell during that game so I knew nothing today on the course could be any worse than that.” —Andrew Novak on how sweating out No. 1 Miami’s Saturday night close call against UNC helped him to close the door on his first (solo) PGA Tour title.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Skratch’s Dan Rapaport on successfully defending his club championship at Brentwood Country Club.

Now there’s a guy who could have done some serious damage in the Internet Invitational. . . . Wyndham Clark had his younger brother Brendan on the bag at the VidantaWorld Mexico Open with the hopes of earning a “nice check” to help him with his upcoming wedding and honeymoon. Unfortunately for Brendan, Wyndham missed the cut. Tough. . . . A guy who had to forfeit a nice check is BYU sophomore Kihei Akina. The 20-year-old amateur has now gone solo ninth, T-17 and solo 15th (Mexico Open) in three PGA Tour fall starts. Stud. . . . And, finally, I know “THEY GROW UP SO FAST!” but this is a bit much:

“Grandma Maddie” certainly put a lot more effort into her costume than dad, but . . . Knicks in five! And, yes, that’s an old John Starks jersey from high school. And, yes, I was stunned it still fit.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Who will win the Internet Invitational?

When will we see Michael Block play golf again?

When is the next Saturday Halloween? (2037!!!)