Michael Thorbjornsen’s special NFL shout-out, a major champ’s amusing alcohol quote and the new best stat in pro golf

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we have a newfound respect for caddies. I made my debut looping at a Met Open qualifier last week at Rockaway Hunting Club, and it was a real, well, grind. There’s a ton to keep track of, and you really feel the pressure watching your player, in this case Quaker Ridge head pro Mario Guerra, one of Golf Digest’s Best In State Teachers. The MGA even got a cool shot of us in action:

Thank goodness the predicted rain didn't come or I would have been a total mess. Anyway, I got my best night's sleep in months after that round. So shout-out to all the caddies out there. OK, let's talk about everything else happening in golf.

WE’RE BUYING

Shiho Kuwaki: In a year of major championship surprises (on the men’s side, particularly), it was fitting to end with the biggest one of them all. Japan's Shiho Kuwaki doesn't have LPGA Tour membership and was planning on going to LPGA Q School this fall, but now she’s got her tour card for the next five years (!) after winning the AIG Women’s Open.

It’s nice having job security, especially these days. Kuwaki found herself in a playoff after Esther Henseleit’s dramatic 72nd-hole birdie bomb, and she looked like her chances of winning might be dashed following a layup on the first playoff hole, but an all-time gritty par save kept her going.

And after winning on the second playoff hole, she delivered an all-time quote about how she planned to celebrate. “I really love to drink alcohol and just drink and have fun,” Kawaki said through a translator. “So I intend to drink a lot tonight.”

Good for her. And now she’s got a nice silver cup to drink from.

Michael Thorbjornsen: Another week, another young American stud breaking through for a maiden PGA Tour title. And this time, it gave The Loop pod boys a much-needed group gambling win. Thank you, Michael.

What a sizzling performance by the former Stanford standout at the Rocket Classic, especially on Sunday with that clutch 63 at Detroit Golf Club. Those last few holes are beastly, and Thorbjornsen handled them with a couple easy pars and a closing birdie. Afterward, Michael, who wore a Drake Maye jersey to his TGL debut earlier this year, got a nice shout-out from his favorite non-golf athlete.

The kid is on top of the (golf) world right now.

Korn Ferry Tour’s new stat: I’m a bit late to the party on this and I knew the PGA Tour’s development circuit is trying it out, but to see the speed-of-play stats listed so prominently is quite awesome.

Also awesome? The speed at which Dylan Menante plays. The dude ranks No. 1 in three of the four categories and he’s No. 2 in approach shots (shout-out Jack Maguire for topping that category). Would love to see how this list would look on the PGA Tour.

WE’RE SELLING

People knocking Brad Dalke: The former standout amateur golfer turned YouTube star played in the Rocket Classic on a sponsor's exemption and finished DFL with scores of 81 and 75, but I’m NOT here to kick dirt on him.

Having a few local events under my belt this year both as player and caddie, I have a new appreciation for just how different tournament golf is, and I’ve chronicled that here and here in my ongoing “Late Scratch?” series. Obviously, there’s a reason why he doesn’t play tournament golf for his job and he’s carved out a very successful niche playing golf other ways. Enough so that he was invited to play in this event and a DP World Tour event last month in which he finished a very impressive T-30. Before sponsor's exemptions get phased out under the new PGA Tour structure, I have no problem with him getting more looks. And I certainly won’t criticize him for shooting high scores. Tournament golf is so freaking tough.

Charley Hull’s prank: On the flip side, I will criticize this LPGA star for the prank she pulled. I get that she’s launched her own YouTube Channel and I’m sure she has a great relationship with her caddie, Adam Woodward. HOWEVAH, it’s not a good look when the rich golfer is pranking her employee over money. No matter how many times she doubles down on it.

That being said, I’m not offended to the point that I’d change my opinion about her or change her Wikipedia entry like someone did:

Ouch. But I think this was a bogey. Plus, I have to stick up for my fellow caddies now.

$350 green fees: Especially for places you used to play for a quarter of that. Look, I get that things cost more and golf is SO HOT RIGHT NOW, but it gets to a point where you feel like you’re being taken advantage of. Heck, my driving range went from a medium bucket costing $8 to $11 just this year. Anyway, that leads me to Yale Golf Course and a tweet of mine that went viral:

I want to clear a few things up. First, I love Yale and I think it’s one of the coolest courses in the country. And, yes, I played on a rainy day that followed another rainy day. Also, I’ve heard from numerous people that the course was in great shape when it reopened this spring after a two-year, $25 million renovation (The greens and bunkers were still very good the day I went). But I would expect it to still be in great shape just a few months after reopening following, again, a two-year, $25 million renovation. Especially when they’re charging $350. Anyway, it’s still a special place and worth playing if you’ve never been.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour regular season wraps up with the Wyndham Championship, AKA that one they play in North Carolina, AKA that one where people finally start to care about the FedEx Cup. And to that point, here’s what the bubble boys need this week to advance:

The LPGA is off, but there’s also the LIV New York event, which takes place in New Jersey. Go figure. And the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship begins today at The Honors Course in Tennessee.

Random tournament fact: The Wyndham Championship record for 72-hole score is 258 and it’s shared by three people: Cameron Young last year, J.T. Poston in 2019 and Henrik Stenson in 2017. Man, Stenson could really cook back then.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—A golfer will pull that lotto prank at the Wyndham: 1 MILLION-to-1-odds

—Cameron Young will successfully defend his title at the Wyndham: 8-to-1 odds

—A lot of guys at the Wyndham don’t want to be timed: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Michael Kim sharing this incredible Si Woo Kim story about him crossing the Canadian border accidentally and nearly getting stuck there without a passport:

Glad to see shooting 59 hasn’t changed Michael from being Golf Twitter’s top follow.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

And in related news …

Well played, toll company. Well played.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

President Trump added to his collection of club championships (the total seems to differ a bunch) with the senior and super senior titles at Trump Bedminster ahead of this week’s LIV event. And we even got to see a saucy wedge shot:

"It's called talent" is hilarious. However, I’m sorry, but it’s really tough to believe this 80-year-old shot 70, especially in competition. Serious question: Could an 80-year-old Jack Nicklaus have even done that? OK, moving on …

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Michael Thorbjornsen had plenty of support from his girlfriend, Charley Stowell:

Aww. But Esther Henseleit’s husband and caddie, Reece Phillips, wins for this reaction to her amazing 72nd-hole birdie:

What a cool moment.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

RIP to Sopranos star Vincent Pastore, AKA “Big Pussy.” I once ran into him at a driving range in the Bronx and he said he had started to be invited to celebrity golf events so he was working on his game to not embarrass himself.

Considering a Google search about his golf produces nothing, I guess he never really got into the game. Anyway, I’m just glad he got to see our beloved Knicks win an NBA title again before he passed.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I do love some Eminem. I may have to blare some Eminem on the way over to the course to kind of get the mojo going." —Davis Riley after taking the 54-hole lead in Eminem’s Detroit. Unfortunately, that didn’t work for Davis, but he still had a great week with a solo third.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Scott McCarron on beating cancer:

You love to see it. … Congrats to Derek Hitchner on winning his first Korn Ferry Tour event at the Utah Championship. The same Derek Hitchner who didn’t have a top 30 this season and had missed six of seven cuts. Predicting winners on the KFT might be even tougher than the PGA Tour. … The USGA has rolled out a new privacy setting keeping people outside of your club from viewing your individual scores. Great news for those worried about their bosses keeping tabs on all the golf they’re playing. … And, finally, I finally broke in my new sneakers from Costco:

By wearing them to Costco. Man, I’m old.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

What’s the most you’d pay to play a round of golf?

Who’s the best rapper on the PGA Tour?

Are any rising stars looking for a caddie?