Sepp Straka’s one-of-a-kind(?) collectible, Shane Lowry’s controversial exit and Hideki Matsuyama’s crazy PGA practice video

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we could listen to Jim Nantz talk about anything. And in addition to hearing Jim call the Truist Championship, his CBS teammate Amanada Balionis filmed him giving this Philly cheesesteak review:

I don’t even like Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, but I love listening to Jim’s dulcet tones. In fact, I think “Jim Nantz Reviews” could be a fun new series as he gives his takes on non-golf things and places. I’ll work on the title. In the meantime, here is what’s happening on the golf course.

WE’RE BUYING

Sepp Straka: With the biggest win of his career (so far) and a second victory of 2025, Straka is all the way up to No. 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking. And because he happened to be born in Austria—by all accounts the Georgia Bulldog who lives in Alabama is as southern as they come—the European Ryder Cup team is now even more of a force.

Straka was so dialed at Philly Cricket Club—in particular, with his irons—that he won the PGA Tour signature event without his normal caddie on the bag due to an injury. Then again, if you know my stance on that, I am NOT surprised. These guys are good. And their caddies—in this case, mini-tour pro and Straka’s friend Drew Mathers—are just along for the ride. But if Drew actually gets 10 percent of that $3.6 million check, that’s an amazing payday for a few days of work. Also amazing? The trophy Straka received:

Get it? A cricket bat (I know what it’s called thanks to watching “Bluey”) because he won at Philly Cricket Club? With the tournament normally played at Quail Hollow, that could be the only such trophy ever made. So Sepp walked away with a one-of-a-kind collector’s item. Not that we ever expect to see him selling it on eBay. Oh, and his regular caddie, Duane Bock, got him onto Pine Valley on Monday for his birthday. What a freaking week.

Ryan Fox: Congrats to this New Zealander for picking up his first PGA Tour title in the opposite-field event at Myrtle Beach. And by doing it in dramatic fashion with a walk-off chip-in:

Talk about coming up clutch. Even better? The four-time DP World Tour winner snuck into this week’s PGA Championship thanks to the win. Oh, and it all counted as a Mother's Day gift for his wife.

Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

Jeeno Thitikul: The World No. 2 picked up LPGA title No. 5 and a first of 2025 by holding off World No. 1 and others at Liberty National to claim the Mizuho Americas Open. Thitikul shot a bogey-free Sunday 69 to beat Celine Boutier by four and Nelly Korda by six.

The 22-year-old will be one of the favorites at the U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills later this month. “Hopefully, I can keep the momentum going for the majors, but the U.S. Open, it's really tough conditions every year,” Thitikul said after. “Fingers crossed for a kind result.” Both male and female golfers are always at the USGA’s mercy with that one. Speaking of talented 22-year-olds …

Martin Couvra: I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling twenty-twooooo. Sorry, we’ve been listening to a LOT of Taylor Swift on our family car rides. But, seriously, how about this 22-year-old Frenchman? With a closing 64, Couvra claimed his maiden DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open.

You know who also won his first major tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open? Brooks Koepka back in 2014. Just saying.

WE’RE SELLING

Greg Norman’s scary flight: The Shark’s private jet had to make an emergency landing after the windscreen shattered. Yikes.

I say this with all sincerity: I NEVER want to fly private. Not that flying commercials are any picnic, especially these days. In fact, I’m already nervous about flying out of Newark for my golf trip to Michigan next month. But those smaller planes seem to be more susceptible to something going wrong. But … yeah … we might want to look into that Newark flight . . . Hmm . . .

Shane Lowry’s Irish goodbye: Lowry came up just short of Straka at Philly Cricket Club and then left without doing media to join a growing list of golfers who have done the same in the past year that includes Rory McIlroy (2024 U.S. Open) and Collin Morikawa (2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational).

Where Lowry’s situation is unique is that he went on a rant about this at the Masters about how golfers should get a cool-down period. Fair enough, Shane. And I’m sure reporters still would have loved to hear from you 30 minutes after the round. What’s a shame is that Shane is such a good quote. And he seems like such a good bloke. But this is a bad look. And I hope the PGA Tour and its players can figure out a compromise so this doesn't keep happening.

On-course bathroom emergencies: Golf Twitter great Michael Kim took to X to share an absolutely wild—and gross—story. We’ll let him tell it:.

Look, we’ve all been there. Or know someone who’s been there. It’s a tough spot. And that’s all we need to say. OK, let’s move on …

ON TAP

The PGA Tour season continues with the PGA Championship, AKA that major that used to be in August and everyone complained, so they moved it to May, and now people are complaining that it’s not in August. People will always find a reason to complain. Those same people are complaining about Quail Hollow hosting another major as well, but we’re staying positive. This is MAJOR. And nothing can dampen our spirits. Not even the rain.

OK, so the rain—and it’s actually going to be worse in the New York area—is dampening our spirits. But not Hideki Matsuyama! I have absolutely no clue what he could be getting from that, but the guy is an all-time grinder! And we previewed the PGA with SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio's Taylor Zarzour, who also happens to be a Quail Hollow member.

Random tournament fact: Rory McIlroy has won four times at Quail Hollow and he’s 102 under par at the course, 55 strokes better than anyone else during that time. HOWEVAH, the course’s logo kinda looks like the New York Golf Club logo so maybe that’s a sign for Xander Schauffele, who has finished runner-up there at the past two Wells Fargo Championships. Be careful, because this is one of those weeks you can be talked into betting on a LOT of players. And, as always, I did my best bets ranking. Good luck!

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Scottie Scheffler will get arrested at the PGA again: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Scottie Scheffler will win the PGA this week: 4-to-1 odds

—Golf Twitter will be ready for either scenario: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Of course, the best weather day of the year was the one where most dads couldn’t even think about playing. Of course.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Remember Chris Wood? Well, he’s had a rough few years, but he shot a Sunday 64 to record his first top-10 finish on the DP World Tour since 2018. Which is four years before the European Tour’s name was even changed to the DP World Tour.

“It's been horrendous to be honest,” Wood said after. “It's been—since 2019 really—I just feel like I've been going through hell so to put a score together today is obviously great.” Good to see the former Ryder Cupper back in form. We love a good comeback story.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (RECREATED GOLF SHOT DIVISION)

Johnson Wagner took his popular shot recreation segments to the next level last week by going on a tour of North America to attempt some of Tiger Woods’ famous shots from his historic 2000 season. (Side note: I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. Wow, am I old. And is Tiger even older!) There were some good ones in there, but nothing tops the iconic birdie putt from the first playoff hole at the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla when Woods ran after his golf ball pointing at it before it dropped. Here was Wagner’s effort:

Amazing. Talk about a one-take wonder!

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (CREATIVE GOLF SHOT DIVISION)

Epson Tour player Laura Wearn found herself in a tricky spot on the final hole—and did this:

Absolutely ridiculous, indeed.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (BAD GOLF SHOT DIVISION)

This was a tough result for Jeff Maasen, but kudos to him for blurting out “Jordan Spieth” and still managing to go viral with a bad shot:

But he did throw away his shot. Lin-Manuel Miranda would not approve.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Jason Kelce played with Shane Lowry, who dressed up as Travis Kelce for Halloween.

What a full-circle moment! (Would love to hear Jason or Travis’ thoughts on Shane ducking the media, though!)

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS (NON-JASON KELCE DIVISION)

Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers seems inevitable—especially after this golf-related story!

Hey, smart move on his part to line up some good golf before moving somewhere new.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I guess I would say Quail Hollow is like a Kardashian. It’s very modern, beautiful and well-kept. But it lacks a soul or character.” —Hunter Mahan to The Athletic's Gabby Herzig. OK then.

THIS AND THAT

Charlie Woods failed to advance out of U.S. Open local qualifying for a second consecutive year. The 16-year-old son of 15-time major champ Tiger Woods missed by seven shots. … Ken Griffey Jr. and Michael Collins have a new golf show, “Caddie & The Kid,” debuting May 15 on LOL Network YouTube channel. Here’s a sneak peek:

Shout-out to Golf Digest’s Will Irwin on firing a career-best 68 at Seawane Golf Club—during the Golf Digest Match Play Championship. We’ve got some players on staff! … And, finally, happy to share that despite having to be moved to repair our patio, my azaleas still bloomed this year:

Just don’t look at the rest of the yard (I zoomed in so you couldn’t see much). It’s a disaster.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Should we drive to Michigan for our golf trip?

How much reality TV does Hunter Mahan watch?

What are Jim Nantz’s thoughts on Costco?