Ben Griffin’s new ride, Gary Player’s crazy golf claim and a bold hole-in-one Venmo request

Memorial Day weekend. Combine the Knicks’ stirring comeback to save their season (for now) on Sunday night with a 5:45 a.m. tee time on Monday (in part because that was all that was available a week out, even at a mediocre-at-best course) and you get one sleep-deprived golf writer. As Danny Glover says in the Lethal Weapon movies, “I’m too old for this sh–.” But I’m not too old to talk about all the sh– going on elsewhere in the world of golf. Let’s take another shot of soda and get to it.

WE’RE BUYING

Ben Griffin: This guy continues to be one of the best stories in all of golf. As he’s clarified in many places, including The Loop podcast earlier this year, the story of him “retiring from golf” to be a mortgage loan officer is a bit overblown (Griffin always intended to make another run at pro golf once he got his finances in order), but it’s still a great tale of perseverance by the former All-American at UNC. Like the Knicks coming back from a 20-point deficit on the road in Game 3. Anyway, four years after his three-month sabbatical, Griffin is now a two-time PGA Tour winner after capturing the Charles Schwab Challenge:

And driving away with that nice new ride. Well, a nice new-old ride since it was a fully-restored 1992 Defender, I guess. In any event, what a story. And what a player. And if any of his fellow players have any questions about their finances or the mortgage process, this econ major is their guy.

The Iwai twins: Chisoto and Akie are both 22-year-old rookies on the LPGA Tour from Japan. That’s impressive in its own right. But on Sunday, Chisoto won her maiden LPGA title at the Mexico Riviera Mayo Open—and she did so in dominant fashion.

Entering the final round trailing by one, Chisoto shot a Sunday 66 to win by six to match the largest margin of victory on the LPGA in 2025. And Akie finished T-16. “I think my sister Akie would be motivated to get her own win if I win,” Chisoto said after.

John Pak: After storming to a three-shot lead at Colonial after Round 1, the young tour pro revealed he’s a “die-hard Knicks fan” and credited the team’s stunning Game 1 loss as “lighting a fire under me.” And now, I have a new favorite PGA Tour pro.

"I didn't sleep well after that loss last night,” Pak added. You and me both, buddy. That was as brutal as it gets if you’re a sports fan. Although, I can’t sleep well after they win, either. Unfortunately, Pak had a tough weekend to finish T-28, but a few more Knicks results like Sunday night’s victory will help ease the pain. GO New York, GO New York, GO! And go John Pak.

WE’RE SELLING

Will Zalatoris’ back: We kind of figured something was up when Will was a WD from both his hometown PGA Tour events, and he made that official with this Memorial Day announcement that he's undergone a second back surgery:

What a shame. On the bright side, the Wake Forest grad is still only 28, but this is another huge setback in a young career that has been filled with them. Here’s hoping my fellow Demon Deacon gets healthy—and resumes contending in majors—soon.

Golf pro injuries: I was recently talking to a PGA professional (No, it wasn’t Michael Block) and he was telling me about all the times he’s been hit with golf clubs by kids. And I thought being a golf instructor is a sneaky-dangerous occupation. And then I hear about this $1 million lawsuit involving a pro allegedly getting struck in the face by an adult wielding a golf club. Scary, gruesome stuff. No wonder Blockie rarely teaches lessons anymore.

Gary Player’s claim: I’ve heard this claim from Gary Player for a number of years—including in person—but seeing it in video again compelled me to comment. Have a listen:

As Monday Q Info, AKA Ryan French, and we have calculated before, that means Player would have had to shoot his age or better every round for more than two decades. There’s no doubt the Black Knight is one of the greatest golfers ever. And he’s aged as well as a person can thanks to all his work in the gym. But, I’m sorry, there’s just no way that’s true. But GP has aspirational self-confidence. It’s kinda like how Jack used to say he never missed a big putt on the 18th hole. So, maybe there’s a lesson there for the rest of us golf mortals.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour season continues with the Memorial Tournament, AKA that one Jack Nicklaus hosts, AKA that one at Muirfield Village Golf Club, AKA that one Jack Nicklaus designed. You’re going to hear a lot about Jack this week—and for good reason. This premier PGA Tour event—now a SIGNATURE event—will be played for the 50th time. So a golden anniversary for the Golden Bear’s tournament. And on the women’s side, there’s a huge event as well with the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills. BIG week on tap for golf fans.

Random tournament fact: After declaring how difficult his new “showcase” course would play, Jack Nicklaus shot 66 during an opening-day exhibition at Muirfield Village in 1974. John Houston’s 61 in 1996, however, is the course record. It's too bad Gary Player is 89 and not 61 or he could have probably broken that.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Ben Griffin will work as a mortgage loan officer again: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Scottie Scheffler will win (again) this week: 2.8-to-1 odds (LOL)

—Whoever wins will be honored and thrilled to shake Jack’s hand: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK (PGA TOUR PRO DIVISION)

Well played, Ben.

TWEET OF THE WEEK (PGA CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION)

As always, CP nailed it.

TWEET OF THE WEEK (U.S. OPEN DIVISION)

Why any course would do this to such extreme with the developing wind problem on this planet (That only I seem to be talking about!) is beyond me, but you do you, Oakmont.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Daniel Berger and . . . Mike Tyson?

We need to hear the whole story on this hang.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (ON-COURSE CELEBRATION DIVISION)

Loved this from Pontus Nyholm after sinking a long winning putt to claim his first Korn Ferry Tour title:

He almost went full flying chest bump with his caddie like the Knicks of the 1990s, but thought better of it. Probably for the best.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (OFF-COURSE CELEBRATION DIVISION)

Here’s Max (and Lacey) Homa after selling some furniture on Facebook Marketplace:

Hilarious. Although, I can speak from experience that getting rid of something you don’t want anymore and making a few bucks in the process is pretty exhilarating.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

There was some great PDA from Ben Griffin and his fiance Dana Myeroff:

But this answer about his parents sacrificing for him when he was a kid despite them dealing with hardships from the 2008 Financial Crisis was the best:

What an amazing week for the entire Griffin family.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh looks like he’s enjoying the NFL offseason—and looks like he has nice touch with his wedges!

Look at that backspin!

THIS WEEK IN BRYSON BEING BRYSON

LIV guys have been promoting the tour’s August event in Indianapolis, but no one did it in more spectacular fashion than Bryson DeChambeau (of course), who bombed this drive down the track at the Indy 500:

And even went for a spin around the track:

Almost as impressive as when he, um, lapped the field at Winged Foot.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“You know, I’ve had a lifelong problem with getting confident and cocky and I did on the 15 tee box it was such a simple tee shot. 5-wood, a little draw down there, and I just totally didn’t get into it enough and then panicked at the last moment and hit a big hook. . . . It’s always plagued me my whole life since I’ve been a kid.” —Padraig Harrington after a tough finish at the Senior PGA Championship. Despite the close call, Paddy remains the best for great insights like this.

THIS AND THAT

Speaking of the Senior PGA, Angel Cabrera won a second senior major in two weeks. This is a, um, complicated situation given all of Cabrera’s legal troubles in recent years. What’s not complicated is that he’s playing some great golf. . . . Congrats to Ole Miss junior Michael La Sasso on winning the NCAA individual national championship.

I wonder who hits it longer: Michael or fellow Rebel and new New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart? In any event, the dude wears short shorts and hits it long. . . . Congrats to Kristoffer Reitan for earning his maiden DP World Tour title despite facing a nine-shot deficit entering Sunday and having just a .1 percent chance of winning on Sunday. Which is the same percent the Pacers had of winning Game 1 against the Knicks. Sigh. . . . And, finally, congrats to Joel Dahmen for making his first PGA Tour hole-in-one:

Although it came with this outrageous Venmo request from former PGA Tour pro and CBS analyst Colt Knost:

That is way, way (way) too aggressive. Especially since Joel missed the cut! Anyway, it’s the latest example that this (silly) golf tradition has gotten out of hand.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How much was Joel Dahmen’s bar tab last week?

Will I ever get over that Knicks Game 1 loss?

Will it ever get easier to get a tee time around here?