Robert MacIntyre turns Golf Twitter against him, Bill Murray gets the luckiest bounce ever and Nate Bargatze does golfers proud on SNL

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we want to give a special thanks to Reed Hughes. The man who finished in dead last place on the PGA Tour this past week at the Sanderson Farms Championship by four shots. That’s because Reed is 71 and the fact that he even qualified for a PGA Tour event at that age is pretty darn inspiring. And he looked like he might even shoot his age when he was one under through 10 holes in the first round. Again, in a freaking PGA Tour event.

"It's hard for me because I'm used to riding in a cart and playing in about three hours," Reed said after. What a legend. From time to time I think about getting old and not being able to play this game as well or at all. And then I see this dude, who is three decades my senior, out there playing with the best in the world. And I think, man, I could still have another 30-plus years of hacking it around a golf course. Yay. In the meantime, here’s what else in golf has us talking.

WE’RE BUYING

Tyrrell Hatton: This fiery Brit is far more known for his antics on the course—and when critiquing courses—but that’s going to change if he keeps this up. Hatton, still a member of the DP World Tour while he appeals his fines for playing in the competing LIV Golf League, beat a strong field in Scotland to capture the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship for a third time, closing with a 70 at St Andrews after a ridiculous 61 there on Saturday.

And forget about what the Official World Golf Ranking says—his LIV Golf starts don't earn him any points—he’s one of the best players on the planet. Something Max Homa called earlier this year:

Well done, Max. And well played, Tyrrell. We’re pretty sure he’ll never have anything bad to say about the Old Course. We can't say the same about another Ryder Cupper … more on that in a bit!

Kevin Yu: Speaking of great predictions, the latest winner of the coveted Sanderson Farms rooster trophy will also have a sweet parking spot when he returns to Mississippi next year. Something his dad called when they pulled into the parking lot last week:

Nailed it. Just like Yu nailed this winning birdie putt:

So congrats to the man nicknamed “Soulja Boy” on claiming his maiden PGA Tour title. I’d make a Soulja Boy joke, but, like Reed Hughes, I’m too old to know anything about Soulja Boy. (Side note: Ts & Ps to Keith Mitchell for three-putting the 72nd hole to lose by one.) (Side note No. 2: Who does Mr. Yu like to win this week?)

Braden Thornberry: No one except maybe Braden himself could have predicted this. The former World No. 1 amateur started at No. 51 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list and needed to finish in the top two at the KFT Championship to earn his PGA Tour card—and he delivered with a one-stroke victory, the first pro win for the 27-year-old.

Thornberry’s clutch 66 at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Golf Resort was made even more impressive by the fact that track was playing extra beastly on Sunday in windy conditions. Let’s just say the guys at the HGGA Championship, AKA my annual buddies golf trip, in July were struggling a bit more. We’re also buying everyone who earned their PGA Tour card, the last of which was Noah Goodwin, who had to watch as Doc Redman and Dan Campbell, the final two players on the course, knocked in testing 7-8 footers to tie for second. That bumped poor Alistair Docherty out of the top 30 and made Noah this year’s bubble boy:

What drama. Anyway, whether you earned your PGA Tour card or not on Sunday, hopefully you got a ride up to the clubhouse there. Not sure if that was one last trick from the great Pete Dye, but that’s a freaking hike.

Rocco Mediate: He’s not 71, but winning on the PGA Tour Champions at 61 is still pretty special. But look at the shape this guy keeps himself in:

Must be all the cigars. Anyway, as Rocco pointed out afterward, he has now won a PGA Tour-sanctioned event in his 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. We’re guessing he enjoyed a few (extra) cigars after that performance.

WE’RE SELLING

Robert MacIntyre’s week: It was a tough homecoming for the Scottish star. First, he appeared to throw a bit of a hissy fit when Rory McIlroy drove the green where he was lining up a putt on Friday:

And I was stunned by all the negative comments toward Bob, who has been widely hailed as one of the feel-good stories in golf of 2024. (And I was stunned by all the creative derogatory terms European golf fans have!) But apparently, there are a lot of people out there who are not fans or who think the sudden fame has changed him. Anyway, he didn’t help his cause when he said they should “Blow it up” of the iconic Road Hole. That’s right, THE Road Hole. Arguably the most holy hole on the most sacred courses on the planet.

Wow. That’s how you turn an entire country—your home country, to boot—and basically all of the Golf Twitter community to turn against you. Even if Tyrrell Hatton felt that, he’d know better than to say that. MacIntyre eventually apologized for the hot take, but the damage was already done.

Beau Hossler’s rules question: Look, on some level, we get it. You’re desperately trying to win your long-awaited maiden PGA Tour title and you just screwed yourself with a bad drive that leaves you directly behind a tree on the final hole. But to ask for a TIO (Temporary immovable object) ruling? And then to ask for a second opinion? And to get a little snippy about it?

To be clear, a lot of tour pros ask for a lot of ridiculous rulings. Often, because they are coddled by rules officials. But that’s a tough scene.

Getting robbed of a hole-in-one: Moving onto an even tougher scene, this golfer was actually robbed of a hole-in-one—on a par 4 no less!—because of some shoddy cup work.

That is beyond brutal. The course should issue him a formal apology. Then give him free drinks. Then issue him an official hole-in-one certificate. Then go to his house and frame and hang it for him. Then give him free green fees for the rest of his life.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour heads to … wait, is this right? Utah? Yep, Utah, for the inaugural Black Desert Championship. And, man, does this Black Desert place look incredible:

In fact, I feel like I’ve seen more amazing photos of golf courses in Utah—specifically, the St. George area—this year than I have of any other state. Maybe next year’s HGGA Championship should be held there. Utah golf. So hot right now. Utah golf. Meanwhile, the DP World Tour heads to France and the LPGA begins its Asian Swing with the Buick Shanghai LPGA. So there will be high-level golf being played in just about every time zone.

Random tournament fact: This is just the ninth PGA Tour event ever played in Utah, and the first since 1963. Reed Hughes was only 10! Heck, Rocco Mediate was still a baby!

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Someone will get robbed of an ace like that at Black Desert: 1 MILLION-1 odds

—Keith Mitchell will win the Black Desert Championship: 16-to-1 odds (Favorite!)

—Keith Mitchell is still thinking about that three-putt on the final hole: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Remember earlier this year when 15-year-old Miles Russell was too young to go in the men’s locker room at Detroit Golf Club?

And now you have a 71-year-old playing on the PGA Tour? Golf!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

What a world.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (DOG DIVISION)

Gareth Bale had his golf ball stolen by a dog at Carnoustie on Friday:

As if Carnoustie isn't tough enough as is.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (LUCKY DOG DIVISION)

Bill Murray may have gotten the luckiest bounce in the history of St. Andrews, an impressive feat considering it’s THE HOME OF GOLF. You'll have to trust us on this and watch the video on Instagram here because for a variety of reasons we can't embed it. But here's a screenshot of Murray's golf ball miraculously making its way back onto the 18th hole after bouncing off a stone wall way outside the out of bounds stakes:

Talk about leading a charmed life. Any Hollywood producer would laugh at a script that had that happening.

THIS WEEK IN (OTHER) CELEBRITY GOLFERS

Then there was Nate Bargatze, another avid celebrity golfer, representing our beloved sport on Saturday Night Live with this wildly funny sketch about him accidentally killing all the wildlife on a golf course during a tournament:

It’s not quite to the level of his famed George Washington SNL segment—and whoever thought of the idea is one sick puppy—but that’s great stuff. Speaking of great stuff, we’ve got an early front-runner for golf Halloween costume of the year:

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (KIDS DIVISION)

I wonder if I could convince my daughters to dress up like this. And mom to go along with it. On second thought, there’s a better chance Scottie gets arrested again.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (LEGENDS DIVISION)

An Old Tom Morris statue was unveiled last week in St. Andrews:

And as far as statues go, that’s really good! Old Tom would be pleased!

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION PARTYING

Kevin Kisner told the craziest story about Jim Furyk getting down to Eminem on Team USA’s bus after winning the Presidents Cup:

If Jim’s new nickname isn’t Slim Shady, then what are we doing here?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

We’ve got a double dose of Keith Mitchell! First on how he would handle the pressure of a 54-hole lead:

“I guess I need to set my fantasy football lineup. I haven’t done that yet,” Mitchell, 32, said, before going deeper. “I picked some guys off the waiver wire, and I’ve got to get it in before I tee off tomorrow.”

And then after letting the tournament get away from him with a gutting three-putt on the final hole:

“Long story short, glad I fought 71 and a half holes.”

Well, you nailed those quotes at least, Keith.

THIS AND THAT

Paul Tesori confirmed Team USA members got personal and, yes, cursed at Tom Kim during the Presidents Cup. Pretty wild, but if it happened in any other sport it wouldn't be a big deal. … Congrats to Heather Lin on winning the Epson Tour Championship to earn her LPGA Tour card for next season. In other words, she pulled a Braden Thornberry. … Caitlin Clark will play in the LPGA's Annika Pro-Am in November. Maybe she was actually serious about becoming a professional golfer this offseason. … Donald Trump announced a second course in Aberdeen opening in 2025, making him the first Presidential candidate to announce a new golf course less than a month from an election. Politics aside, his first course there is one of the coolest spots I’ve ever played. … And, finally, congrats to my 6-year-old, Julia, on making back-to-back holes-in-one at mini golf, the first two aces of her career!

She was not as thrilled when I told her she had to buy the drinks after.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Which American players cursed at Tom Kim?

Which American players have a video of Jim Furyk rapping?

Did Keith Mitchell win his fantasy football matchup on Sunday?