Blades Brown makes PGA Tour history, LeBron James gets accused of sandbagging and an all-time drunk golf performance

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we are going to really miss the Internet Invitational when it’s over. The drama. The daggers. The Duke. This event is absolute cinema and it’s been years since I’ve had a show that I’ve been more looking forward to episodes dropping. I’ll try to avoid any spoilers, but it’s been 24 hours since that epic Episode 5 came out. And, besides, it was only two hours so if you’re not done watching yet, you’re not putting in enough effort. Anyway, let’s get to everything else going on in the world of golf.

WE’RE BUYING

Blades Brown: There are great players and there are generational talents. I’m beginning to think Blades might be the latter. By winning the World Wide Technology Championship, Blades became the youngest PGA Tour winner of the modern era at 19 years, five months and 18 days. I literally have golf shirts older than this guy.

And yet he does it with such calmness and maturity, especially in his dealings with the media—something I asked Blades about in a recent episode of The Loop podcast. Blades fired a final-round 63 on Sunday and then made two more birdies in a playoff to take the title and bump Jordan Spieth as the youngest player to win on tour in the past 95 years. This kid is special, and I look forward to watching what he does over the next few decades.

Ben James: But let’s not forget about the guy Blades beat in the playoff. Unlike Blades, James went to college, and what he’s done since graduating and turning pro this summer is remarkable. Sunday was the UVA product’s fifth top-five finish in his past nine PGA Tour starts and his second runner-up. And while I’m sure he’s very disappointed to lose that 54-hole lead, how sick was that 72nd-hole eagle to force the playoff?

Again, special stuff. Although, it didn’t feel great realizing I’m older than Blades and Ben combined. Anyway, between these guys and 21-year-old Jackson Koivun (not to mention 17-year-old Miles Russell), the future of American golf looks extremely bright.

Jon Rahm: But the biggest name—at least, for now—to win on Sunday was this 31-year-old Spaniard, who won in Abu Dhabi in his first DP World Tour start since officially leaving LIV. Is Big Jon—not to be confused with the Internet Invitational’s breakout star Big John—BACK?!

It will be tough for him—or anyone—to track down Scottie Scheffler to regain his World No. 1 status, but you have to think he’ll be in a better head space with his LIV career behind him. Speaking of that financial dumpster fire . . .

WE’RE SELLING

LIV Golf: This thing has died more times than Trump has declared victory in the war with Iran. But, yet, somehow headlines still remain of a possible last-minute save. I guess I need to read up more on bankruptcy cases or learn how to crunch numbers better, because I don’t know how this thing that has lost an estimated $6 billion goes on. Rahm cutting ties was a major death blow and this Bryson DeChambeau statement seems to be the final nail in the coffin with BC Partners pulling out their potential $300 million investment:

What a strange, messy few years in pro golf. Let’s hope everyone still standing at least learns from it.

WTGL’s timing: Like with the LIV bankruptcy stuff, I’m not an expert in this matter and I’m sure there were reasons for this from people much smarter than me, but having the inaugural WTGL match at 3 p.m. on an NFL Sunday? That’s a bold strategy, Cotton. From what I briefly saw from flipping between RedZone and the Giants game, the ladies seemed to bring it. They played good golf. They showed off their personalities. And they enjoyed making fashion statements upon arriving.

But, again, they were right up against the NFL. Right at the start of Scott Hanson’s beloved “WItching Hour”—when wins become losses and losses become wins! Hopefully, the ladies get better time slots going forward.

LeBron James’ handicap: Or, lack thereof. I’ve been as excited as anyone to see the NBA legend get into golf, but I hadn’t considered that he hasn’t been posting scores. But, of course, Sandbagger Sheriff Yip Strickler has been all over it. Even getting all over LeBron from a courtside seat at the Sixers-Pistons game:

In an interview last year with GQ, LeBron estimated his handicap to be 20 to 25 but one of his employees said he’s more of a 14-15. And that was a year ago. Hmm. Anyway, great job by Yip. No one is above the law when it comes to net golf. Not even a King.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour fall season rolls on with the Austin Championship provided by Compliance Solutions, AKA that one that was supposed to be sponsored by Good Good. But with all due respect to this new event and the Annika on the LPGA Tour, but biggest tournament of the week is the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, AKA the finish line for the Race to Dubai.

Random tournament fact: Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick with three wins each have combined for nine victories (See, I can do some math) in the past 14 years.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Jon Rahm is done answering questions about LIV: 1 MILLION-to-1-odds

—Jon Rahm will win in Dubai this week: 5-to-1 odds

—Good Good will feel bad bad watching the PGA Tour this week: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Michael Kim absolutely nailed it as usual after losing to two young guns by one shot in Mexico.

Don’t worry, Michael, you’re still at the top of the Golf Twitter leaderboard.

TWEET OF THE WEEK (INTERNET INVITATIONAL DIVISION)

I legit LOL'd when Riggs’ shot bounced into the middle of the bunker. To be fair, the Barstool Foreplay host played extremely well in Episode 5, but that reaction was hilarious. Even Michael Block thought that was a bit much showmanship.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

This is a crime scene photo showing what Frank Kennedy did, admittedly in “frustration,” during the fourth round of DP World Tour Q School to be disqualified:

Great job by Ryan French reporting. Bad job by Frank Kennedy. Damaging your own equipment is one thing, but damaging the golf course, especially one where people are fighting for their livelihoods, is another. I’m OK with the DQ.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Michelle Wie was not pleased with this result:

The SoFi Center simulators don’t discriminate when it comes to men and women.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

Jason Williams was not happy with his Internet Invitational captain, Peter Finch. And Peter Finch was not happy with Jason Williams not being happy about him:

What a crazy, entertaining event.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (FAMILY DIVISION)

This, especially given the backstory of Parke Brown's health, was something you absolutely love to see:

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (FRIENDS DIVISION)

And so was this:

Find you a friend that cares about you like Ben Griffin cares about Austin Hitt.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION ALCOHOL

Scientist might have to study how Salim Sirur plays golf so well while being absolutely blitzed:

It had people comparing his swing to Jake Knapp’s silky action!

Just an all-time drunk golf performance. Although, it seems like Salim has reeled in the drinking since the Internet Invitational wrapped:

We’ll have to see if that’s a tell for what happens in the sixth and final episode dropping Thursday. I hope not, because I’m rooting for Big John. All heart.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“He obviously played great today, but I feel like he might be the best out of all the younger guys that I played with. The way his club makes contact with the ball, that's kind of only those that are true, true talents of the game can kind of make that contact. I was very, very impressed with him.” —Michael Kim had more to say about Blades Brown than that funny tweet.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Shuri Sakuma on winning her first LPGA title at the Toto Japan Classic thanks to making five consecutive birdies on the back nine. Must be nice! . . . Congrats to Dylan Block, the son of Michael Block, on cruising through Stage 1 of PGA Tour Q School by earning co-medalist honors thanks in large part to a first-round 62. What a talented family. . . . Speaking of sons, congrats to Charlie Woods on making his commitment to FSU official at a signing ceremony:

Although, it's weird seeing Tiger Woods in a different shade of college red. . . . And, finally, the time has come for me to buy my new Puma sweatsuit from Costco. (I waited until it went on sale like a Costco pro.) And they’ve got this new “Blue” for the first time: