Scottie Scheffler’s surprisingly epic flex, a PGA Tour ping-pong debate and a walk-off hole-in-one gone viral

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we can’t believe it took our high school friends until they were in their 40s to organize a golf trip. But, boy, am I glad they did. For a second straight year, the Pelham Guys Golf Trip was held at the terrific Turning Stone Resort, and this time, the weather even cooperated. First, Steve McDermott and I won the two-man scramble in dominant fashion:

As if anyone else had a chance against us in those intimidating team uniforms! (The shirts were $14.99 at Costco!) And then I won the championship belt from Steve in the individual portion of the event to match Tom Watson with my eighth career "major" championship.

So while I lost the green jacket on my other buddies trip last month, I now hold the green belt. Emphasis on hold because that’s all you can do with that thing since we ordered a kids size by accident. Anyway, here’s what else is going on in the world of golf. But if you want me to give you a hole-by-hole breakdown of the entire epic weekend, email me.

WE’RE BUYING

Jhonattan Vegas: OK, hand up, I completely forgot about this guy who was laid up much of last year with a shoulder injury. And who didn’t have a top 10 in his first 14 PGA Tour starts of 2024. But all of a sudden the talented Venezuelan was back atop the leaderboard at the 3M Open. And although it wasn’t an easy Sunday, he did what he needed to for career win No. 4 and a first in seven years:

It’s just the latest reminder of how deep the talent pool is on tour.

Jon Rahm: No need for a reminder regarding this guy. He’s still really, really good. And now he’s a LIV winner:

Is it a bit surprising it took this long for him to win on his new tour? Sure. But he’s also finished in the top 10 in every start he’s made and is second to Joaquin Niemann in the season-long points race so he’s played well.

Lauren Coughlin: The 31-year-old finally earned LPGA title No. 1 at the CPKC Women’s Open.

And you could see this result coming during a 2024 season that has included top-five finishes in two major championships. Oh, and the creation of her own Wikipedia page. Yep, it’s been a BIG year for her.

K.J. Choi: The South Korean waited even longer to become a major champion—unless you count the Players Championship!—but now the 54-year-old is exactly that after winning the Senior British Open. And he did it in impressive fashion by firing a back-nine 32 at Carnoustie on Sunday to beat Richard Green by two shots.

If we’re lucky, K.J. will sing about it sometime.

WE’RE SELLING

Xander Schauffele’s trophy room: Actually, I’m not sure if he even has one because there wouldn’t be a point. That’s because his parents keep all his trophies. Just look at this video:

"The trophies are in a very safe place," Stefan Schauffele says with a big grin. "And Xander has none of them." Poor Xander. Although, as long as his parents aren’t keeping all the prize money, he’s doing OK.

Scottie Scheffler’s flex: On the flip side, how about this (surprising) flex from the World No. 1?

To be clear, I’m not selling the flex itself. It’s awesome. Good for you, Scottie. I’m just selling Meredith’s reaction. Because judging by how my golf accomplishments—from the green jacket to the green belt to my hole-in-one displays (damn, it’s been a great year!)—are received around the house, I’m guessing Scottie didn’t get the reaction from his wife that he was hoping for.

Max Greyserman ping-pong criticism: First of all, shout-out to this Met legend for finishing runner-up, the best finish of his young PGA Tour career. Second, kudos to him for going for the green in two on No. 18 unlike someone else (Hint: It rhymes with Cat Poochar). And third, I loved the fact that he played a little ping-pong before a potential playoff with Jhonny Vegas even though others were critical of him not being on the range at TPC Twin Cities:

That’s a great way to stay loose and cool. And, besides, he still had time to hit a few golf balls. In any event, there was no playoff. Well, for golf. Max’s match with Neal Shipley might have been another story.

This spider:

Um, yeah, that’s a no from me, dawg.

ON TAP

Wait a minute, what’s that sound? Is that . . . the Olympics theme song?!

That’s right, it’s that time of the year every four few years when golf (and other sports) get to shine in the Summer Games. You’ve got the men’s tournament this week in Paris and the women’s next week, and hopefully, in another four years, a mixed event involving both fields. And they’re back at Le Golf National, where the Americans got drubbed by the Europeans in the 2018 Ryder Cup. You might want to keep that in mind if you’re placing any bets this week. Just saying.

Random tournament fact: C.T. Pan earned the bronze medal in 2020 2021 by winning a seven-man playoff in Tokyo. Never has there been such drama over who would finish third place in a golf tournament.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—There will be another seven-man playoff for the bronze: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Scottie Scheffler will win the gold medal in France: 3-to-1 odds

—Scottie would wear the gold medal with the green jacket at home: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Between sight-seeing and taking in some Olympics table tennis (No, Max Greyserman is not on Team USA), Scottie Scheffler is having himself a week. Even if Bennett seems to be jet lagged.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Good point, Trevor. Congrats! And this from his dad, Scott, a longtime journeyman tour pro, was great as well.

CLUB PRO GUY TWEET OF THE WEEK

Nothing from CPG this week. Hmm. Hope he's just taking a (well-deserved) vacation!

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (PLANNED DIVISION)

Bryson DeChambeau and Donald Trump teamed up to conquer YouTube:

Impressive numbers.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (UNPLANNED DIVISION)

This walk-off ace to win a member-guest is bonkers:

Imagine doing that in front of the entire club? And imagine the bar tab there that night?

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Jhonattan Vegas being greeted by his family on 18 was awesome.

Make that AWWsome. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (SISTER DIVISION)

Luke Clanton’s sister is her brother’s biggest fan:

You love to see it.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION PATRIOTISM

What an honor for Shane Lowry to be one of Ireland's flag bearers. That probably won’t make up for his close call at Royal Troon, but it will help!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“You’re not gonna love us next year!” —Rory McIlroy to an American fan at St. Andrews, obviously referencing the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Bethpage Black is going to be an absolute madhouse next year.

THIS AND THAT

Kudos to Pace Johnson for playing 283 holes of golf in one (107-degree!) day to raise money for College Golf Fellowship. Pace obviously kept a nice pace—and shot 14 under par to boot!

Gary Player’s replica claret jug for winning the 1974 British Open sold at auction for $481,068. Let’s just say the champion belt I got for winning the Pelham Guys Golf Trip wouldn’t go for as much. . . . And, finally, my boss Sam Weinman has been trying a step-through move with his golf swing of late:

I have dubbed him Ho-Sam Choi, and I might be more proud of that nickname than I am of winning the green belt.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Who has the funniest nickname in golf?

How many holes of golf could you play in one day?

What would a Tiger Woods claret jug sell for?