Rory McIlroy's mic-drop moment, Rickie Fowler's viral hole-in-one and a stunning golf media development

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we now have a motivational rallying cry as we get closer to returning to the golf course after undergoing offseason surgery: DON’T STOP, BELIEVIN’! HOLD ON TO THAT FEEEEEEELIN’!

So thank you, Rory McIlroy, for that bit of inspiration. I promise I won’t stop believin’. And I won’t stop writin’ about all that’s happening for others on (and off) the golf course. Let’s get to it.

WE’RE BUYING

Team Ireland: In addition to showing off his pipes, McIlroy and Ryder Cup buddy Shane Lowry did some rallying of their own to win the Zurich Classic in a playoff over Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer. Given the rest of the underwhelming leaderboard, their emergence was great for the tournament that went to a team format in 2017.

It took Rory a while to convince himself to tee it up here—he said Bubba Watson unsuccessfully “hounded” him for years to play—but once he went, he was all in, as evidenced by the matching uniforms. And as we watched these guys with beers in hand wearing their title belts and belting out karaoke, one has to wonder why more big names don’t play this event. Like the Ryder Cup, it’s basically another buddies trip for work. And unlike the Ryder Cup, you actually get paid, too! Seems like a no-brainer to play in.

Team Australia: LIV’s Adelaide event couldn’t have asked for a better finish as the all-Aussie Ripper crew topped the South African Stinger squad in a playoff that featured a raucous home crowd:

And even fans going crazy for a bad bunker shot from the “away” team:

For a league trying to establish itself as being different from the PGA Tour, this was certainly different. And for a second consecutive year, this event proved to be LIV’s most successful tournament. Unfortunately, it happened while everyone was sleeping in America.

Hannah Green: Speaking of Aussies, this one has turned into the ultimate example of horses for courses with a T-3, runner-up and a pair of wins at Wilshire Country Club in the past four years. Considering that dominant track record, Nelly Korda definitely made the right decision to try to win a record sixth consecutive event somewhere else. Green’s second consecutive win at the JM Eagle LA Championship gives her five career LPGA titles.

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Harry How

Although does it really count if she didn’t do a “Shoey”?

WE’RE SELLING

Throwing full water bottles: Like at the WM Phoenix Open, I’m sure there were just a few bad apples taking things too far, but this was really bad:

Repeat after me, folks. “DON’T THROW, FULL BOTTLES!” And, of course, “DON’T STOP, BELIEVIN’!”

The PGA Tour’s bookkeeping: I have no problem with the tour awarding full credit for a win to golfers who win team events. What I have a problem with is the inconsistency. Rory now has 25 career PGA Tour titles and five of Sam Snead’s 82 victories came with a partner. But why doesn’t Tiger Woods (and David Duval) get credit for their 2000 World Cup victory? Not to mention a bunch of other discrepancies that I wrote about a few years ago and Shane Ryan talked about this week on our Local Knowledge podcast. Brandel Chamblee clearly agrees:

Thanks for the shout-out, Brandel!

NBC’s lead analyst situation: Kudos to Dave Shedloski for his eye-opening report on the state of NBC Golf right now, most notably the fact that they still haven’t apparently locked in a lead analyst for THE U.S. OPEN. Although one guy who has been filling in admirably, Kevin Kisner, hopped on this week’s Loop podcast to discuss—although he will NOT be around for the U.S. Open in June either as a player or broadcaster:

Seriously, how is it possible that NBC hasn’t found a full-time replacement? When I made this video back in December, I figured a full-time replacement would be named for Paul Azinger within weeks.

Thanks again for the shout-out, Brandel! And you have my number, NBC. The ball is in your court on your tee.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour heads to Dallas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, AKA the old AT&T Byron Nelson, AKA the Byron Nelson, where Jason Day will try to defend his title. Dallas resident Scottie Scheffler is NOT in the field as he and his wife await the birth of their first child. Elsewhere, LIV Golf heads to Singapore, where Talor Gooch will try to defend his title. In other words, there will be no asterisks by the winner’s name there. So what will happen this year? Well, some will win, some will lose. Some are born to sing the BLUES. (Sorry, can’t get that song out of my head now.)

Random tournament fact: Before there was Hannah Green, there was K.H. Lee. The guy won his first two starts at TPC Craig Ranch in 2021 and 2022, beating Jordan Spieth and Sam Burns in the process.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—This week’s winner will sing a victory song: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Jordan Spieth will win this week: 14-to-1 odds (favorite)

—Jordan Spieth will do something else that goes viral: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Will Ferrell is hilarious even when he’s just being randomly spotted at golf tournaments.

CLUB PRO GUY TWEET OF THE WEEK VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (HAPPY TOUR PRO DIVISION)

How about Rickie Fowler making a hole-in-one during an off week at Pine Valley? And Justin Thomas was excited about it as anyone:

Drinks on, Rick. By the way, I made a nice sandy par on that hole the one time I played. NBD.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (MAD TOUR PRO DIVISION)

Kevin Na had a bit of a meltdown Down Under:

Kevin Na getting stuck in the woods is a tale as old as time. No matter what tour he’s playing on.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (CLUB PRO DIVISION)

It’s nearly PGA Championship time, which means it’s Michael Block Szn: Check it out as he demonstrated that amazing flop shot from Oak Hill last year—and he holes out!

What a legend.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

How about Frankie Capan III shooting a 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour—and having to be told what he shot by his mom:

Talk about being in the zone. And then there was Tommy Fleetwood caddieing for his stepson, Oscar Craig, in his first Challenge Tour event. And the 17-year-old amateur making the cut thanks to this clutch up and down?

Amazing. Looks like someone never stopped believin’.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

It looks like a certain two-time Super Bowl MVP had a front-row seat to that Rickie Fowler ace at Pine Valley:

Long live Eli The Great! Now there’s a guy who never stopped believin’.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“No, the issue is we’re opposite people. He loves looking at Excel spreadsheets, and I like playing video games. There’s probably not too much in common.” —Alex Fitzpatrick on brother Matt Fitzpatrick. With Matt sitting right next to him.

They finished T-11 by the way. And we’re guessing they didn’t go out for a bit of karaoke after.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Tim Widing winning for a second consecutive week on the Korn Ferry Tour and breaking a scoring record in the process by shooting 31 under par. Scandinavian golf. So hot right now. … On the flip side, Miles Russell “only” shot four under and missed the cut in his second Korn Ferry Tour start. Some are wondering if this 15-year-old is washed up already. … Tiger Woods announced Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner will round out his TGL Jupiter Links squad. If TGL ever actually gets going, that is. … After sustaining a much more serious injury than me at about the same time, 66-year-old Bernhard Langer will make his return to competitive golf this week before I even make my return to a golf course. Sounds about right. … And, finally, I bought our 6-year-old her first new bike. And let me tell you it was NOT cheap!

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But that smile was worth every penny.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How many hours will she actually ride that bike?

How many PGA Tour wins will Rory wind up with?

How do you get a song out of your head?