Blog

A PGA Tour wedding, a football-TIGER crossover & Golf Twitter Beef

Published

3 years ago

January 23, 2022

Hello friends! It’s time for another edition of the Weekend Report. I’m feeling really good this week because I’m officially on the way to becoming a Football Gal™️. I grew up “watching” the Patriots and Boston College football, but never really paid attention. Last week, I made it my goal to finally start to understand the game, and to my pleasant surprise, there has been quite some overlap between football and golf. Honestly, the whole thing reminds me of those Disney Channel crossover episodes I obsessed over as a kid! So, let’s get right into it.

Georgia golf alums celebrate the National Championship

Dawgs on top! ⁦ pic.twitter.com/BNnKalnSKo— Kevin Kisner (@K_Kisner) January 11, 2022

When I think of college golf powerhouses, I think of the recent NCAA Championship winners: Stanford, Oklahoma State, etc. It’s not until photos like these appear on my social media feed that I remember the absolute DEPTH of the Georgia Bulldogs’ PGA Tour roster.

We’ve got the second and third place Sony Open finishers in this very photo, as well as Hudson Swafford, Keith Mitchell, Brian Harman and Harris English. Honorable mention to all of them for committing to golf’s official off-course uniform: khaki shorts and sneakers.

A PGA Tour wedding

Keith Mitchell got two birds with one stone on his trip to Hawaii. He got married AND played in the Sony Open. Keith married Claire Watson on the beach in Hawaii, and these are the only photos I’ve come across from the event. Between his T-7 finish at the Sony, Georgia winning the national title, and marrying the love of his life, we’re guessing it was a good week to be Keith Mitchell. Congrats to the happy couple!

Golf Twitter Drama!

A LOT happened on Twitter this week, and I’m breaking the main event into three acts to help you follow along. (Side note: if you are not on Twitter, you absolutely need to be. It’s where personalities shine, jokes are made and drama ensues.)

I. Grayson Murray and Kevin Na go at it

Kevin Na’s pace on the greens has been a point of discussion in the past, but it came up again after this photo of his playing partner Talor Gooch waiting on him at the Sony Open starting making the rounds on Twitter.

Talor Gooch might have a front row seat for a sub-60 round, but he’s not thrilled by the time it’s taking Na to putt. pic.twitter.com/9lcvHHYN0O— Barry W (@sacoomba) January 14, 2022

Next up, Grayson Murray Tweeted about it. And Na didn’t hold back in his reply.

Kevin Na taking 3 minutes to putt them. does get old. https://t.co/kzcJ8GtQjr— Grayson Murray (@GraysonMurray) January 14, 2022

II. The conversation continues, others get involved, Murray doubles down

The beautiful (or horrible) thing about Twitter is that anyone can chime into a conversation at just about any time. Take Ben An, for instance.

Somebody please call an ambulance for grayson here ??— Byeong Hun An (@ByeongHunAn) January 15, 2022

And then Colt Knost.

Dude…..what are you doing???? Just stop— Colt Knost (@ColtKnost) January 16, 2022

You trying hard for that PIP money early in the season— Colt Knost (@ColtKnost) January 16, 2022

Yeah, but normally the people stirring the pot are in the same kitchen as the others….?‍♂️— Colt Knost (@ColtKnost) January 16, 2022

haha sure he’s had a better career but doesn’t mean i’m afraid to take a jab at him for being slow.— Grayson Murray (@GraysonMurray) January 16, 2022

III. Na discusses it all on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio

Kevin Na dunked on Grayson Murray after Murray chirped at him on Twitter last week. He told Colt and Drew that his tweet impressed fellow pros like superstar and Twitter master Brooks Koepka.@kevinna915 | @BKoepka | @ColtKnost | @thesleezyman | pic.twitter.com/g27fwVpvx4— SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR) January 17, 2022

Here’s what Na had to say:

“I had an idea people were going to laugh, because when I tweeted it, my caddie Kenny Harms was texting me, I said, ‘Look at this idiot.’ I said, ‘Watch this,’ and I showed him, he was laughing pretty hard. It was amazing how many players and caddies came up to me and complimented me, not on my round, about my tweet. I’ve had some big boys telling me how good it was. Even Brooks messaged me. Brooks Koepka messaged me saying how good of a tweet that was.Somebody mentioned oh, is this [like] the duel you had with Bryson and Brooks? First of all, [Murray’s] not even on Tour. You have to be somebody to make this worthwhile or make money out of this match. I mean, I can barely create a buzz — barely. I’m not a major-winner. I’m just a maybe above-average player on Tour. And who’s this guy? Nobody cares. That’s the sad part.”

Yikes!

Did Deebo Samuel wear a Tiger Woods mock neck under his jersey on Sunday evening? An in-depth analysis:

The following post blew up on Twitter on Sunday evening when TWLegion grabbed a screenshot of what appeared to be a Tiger Woods mock neck under Deebo Samuel’s jersey.

?#NEW: Deebo Samuel wore red TW shirt under the jersey ? pic.twitter.com/urHaINEJLB— TWLEGION (@TWlegion) January 17, 2022

But truthfully, that grainy image wasn’t enough proof. I zoomed and zoomed on that photo and, as much as I wanted to see the TW logo, I just didn’t. I needed more proof. So I did what any social media manager would do on a Sunday night and looked on Getty Images. Still no luck. Most of Deebo’s photos from the game were face-on. But I wasn’t giving up. I took my talents to his tagged photos on Instagram. Enter River Cracraft, who I’d like to thank for tagging his teammate in the following photo. (Sidebar: It’s amazing how quickly one can go from ‘learning football’ to ‘introducing a football player named River Cracraft to an audience of golf fans.’)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by River (@rivercracraft21)

Ah-ha! Finally, a clearer image. I took the liberty of zooming in here as well and went from being like, 10% convinced that it was a Tiger Woods mock neck to about 50% sure. (It’s not perfect, but hey, it’s something!)

I also learned that both Tiger and Deebo are signed with Excel Sports Management, so it wouldn’t be too much of a reach for the 49ers wide receiver to be sporting the shirt. Of course, I promise to update you all on this very pressing issue if any more information becomes available.

That’s all I’ve got for this week, folks. I’m looking forward to my sleep schedule improving at the Tour moves from Hawaii to California this week — hopefully setting the stage for more appropriately timed Twitter drama. Until next week!

This article originally appeared on Golf.com.

Blog

One of the Greatest Putts in U.S. Open History?

JJ Spaun’s 64-Foot Walk-Off

Published

1 week ago

June 16, 2025

James Fairway

When JJ Spaun stood over a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, few could have predicted what would come next. The ball meandered across the slick green, trickling over every contour, picking up speed at the crest, and then—like it had GPS—dropped center cup. Spaun dropped his putter, raised his arms, and the crowd erupted. With that single stroke, he claimed his first major title in one of the most dramatic finishes in U.S. Open history.

But how does Spaun’s putt stack up against other legendary finishes in the tournament’s storied past? Let’s break down some of the most iconic moments and see where this one lands.

1. Payne Stewart – 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst

Perhaps the most iconic putt in U.S. Open history came from Payne Stewart, who nailed a 15-footer for par on the 18th to win by one over Phil Mickelson. The pose—fist pump and outstretched leg—has since been immortalized in a statue at Pinehurst. What made it legendary wasn’t just the putt—it was the context: Stewart’s final major before his tragic death just months later.

Verdict: Iconic and emotional. Spaun’s putt was longer, but Stewart’s was more poetic.

2. Tiger Woods – 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines

Woods drained a 12-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate—while basically playing on one leg. That tournament went to sudden death after an 18-hole playoff, and Tiger prevailed. This was peak Tiger drama, pain and all.

Verdict: Spaun’s putt was longer, but Tiger’s win was sheer willpower and mystique.

3. Jack Nicklaus – 1972 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach

With a 1-iron shot that hit the flagstick on 17 and a crucial birdie putt on 18, Jack sealed a dominant win. His precision and timing under pressure showed why he’s the GOAT.

Verdict: Not a putt for the win, but a signature finishing statement from Jack. Spaun’s was more electric in terms of pure putter drama.

4. Ben Hogan – 1950 U.S. Open at Merion

Hogan’s 1-iron into the 18th fairway and the par to force a playoff—just 16 months after a near-fatal car crash—remain legendary. He won the playoff and completed one of golf’s great comeback stories.

Verdict: Larger-than-life comeback. Spaun’s putt had more flair, but Hogan’s win was heroic.

5. JJ Spaun – 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont

Let’s not underestimate what Spaun accomplished. The pressure was immense. He wasn’t the favorite. And on the most treacherous greens in golf, he buried a 64-foot bomb—a putt most players would be happy to lag to within 5 feet—to win the U.S. Open outright.

Verdict: For distance, surprise, and drama, Spaun’s putt may be the most shocking winning stroke in U.S. Open history.

Final Thoughts

JJ Spaun may not have the résumé of a Nicklaus or Woods, but for one Sunday afternoon in June 2025, he created a moment that will live in golf lore forever. Spaun’s putt was longer than Stewart’s, more unexpected than Tiger’s, and more dramatic than any final-hole finish in recent memory.

In terms of pure clutch putting? It might just be the greatest walk-off in U.S. Open history.

Blog

The Zen of the Shank: Finding Inner Peace in Your Worst Shots

Find your inner peace even when you aren’t playing well.

Published

1 week ago

June 16, 2025

Ty Webb

Ah, the shank. That glorious, unpredictable misfire that sends your pristine golf ball screaming sideways, often directly into the unsuspecting shins of your playing partner, or perhaps, with a touch of poetic irony, into the very lake you’ve been trying to avoid all day. Most golfers, bless their earnest little hearts, view the shank as a catastrophic failure, a blight upon their scorecard, a testament to their inherent lack of coordination. They curse, they throw clubs, they contemplate a career in competitive thumb-wrestling. But not I. No, my friends, for I, Ty Webb, have found enlightenment in the humble shank.

You see, the shank is not a mistake; it’s a revelation. It’s the universe’s way of reminding you that control is an illusion, that perfection is a myth, and that sometimes, the most direct path to your goal is, in fact, a wildly indirect one. Think of it as a philosophical detour, a sudden, unexpected journey into the unknown. One moment, you’re aiming for the green, a paragon of precision and intent. The next, your ball is ricocheting off a tree, narrowly missing a squirrel, and landing, by some divine comedic intervention, closer to the hole than your perfectly struck drive ever would have. Is that not a miracle? Is that not a sign that the golf gods, much like life itself, have a wicked sense of humor?

The key, my dear apprentices of the links, is acceptance. Embrace the shank. Welcome it with open arms, like a long-lost, slightly inebriated relative. When that familiar, sickening thwack echoes through the air, do not despair. Instead, take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Feel the gentle breeze on your face. And then, with a knowing smile, open them and observe the chaos you have wrought. Is it not beautiful in its own chaotic way? Is there not a certain freedom in relinquishing control, in allowing the ball to choose its own destiny, however bizarre that destiny may be?

Some say the shank is a sign of poor technique. I say it’s a sign of a vibrant, untamed spirit. A golfer who never shanks is a golfer who has never truly lived, never truly explored the outer limits of their own golfing absurdity. They are content with mediocrity, with predictable trajectories and mundane outcomes. But you, my enlightened few, you understand that the true joy of golf lies not in the score, but in the story. And what a story a good shank can tell.

So, the next time you feel that familiar tremor of a shank brewing, don’t fight it. Let it flow. Let it be. For in the heart of every shank lies a lesson, a laugh, and perhaps, just perhaps, a path to a lower score you never saw coming. After all, as the great philosopher Basho once said, “A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.” And a golf game without a shank? Well, that’s just not golf, is it?