Russell Henley’s latest theft, Joaquin Niemann’s staggering LIV earnings and Bryson goes full Bryson

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we’re still reeling from losing to my 8-year-old daughter on the back nine of our most recent mini-golf match:

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The putter has suddenly gone cold. Although, to be fair, I didn’t use my actual putter. And my putting didn’t keep me from winning a team event for a second consecutive week, this time the net division of the Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield outing at the Stanwich Club with my high school pals Alex Christon, Kurt Wiesenmaier and Stephen McDermott:

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Hopefully, Yip Strickler won’t start digging into us. In any event, let’s talk about all the other golf happening out there.

WE’RE BUYING

Russell Henley: Golf fans know this guy as one of the most accurate ball-strikers on tour, but he’s quickly becoming one of the biggest thieves as well. And I mean that as a compliment. For the second consecutive year, Henley stole a PGA Tour title that looked like he had very little chance of winning. Last year it was that late-chip-in-fueled victory over Collin Morikawa at Bay Hill and now a turkey of birdies to close out regulation following by a fourth straight to rip Eric Cole’s heart out at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Stacy Revere

With the win, the Georgia Bulldog now has six career PGA Tour titles. Pretty darn good for someone who swings the driver about as fast as this 44-year-old golf writer.

Celine Boutier: First, congrats to the French star on winning a seventh career LPGA Tour title at the ShopRite Classic. But also a special shout-out to her for taking the time to make the day of a young fan who has been battling Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma ahead of Sunday’s final round in Atlantic City:

Evelyn, who in May rang the bell to signify the end of her cancer treatment, was gifted a trip to Disney World. And Boutier earned $300,000 for the win so it was a great day for both.

Malan Potgieter: The senior at Louisiana wound up missing the 54-hole cut at the NCAA Championship, but not before going on one of the most remarkable streaks in college golf history. (Congrats, by the way, to Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout for winning the individual title!) Potgieter—no relation to Aldrich Potgieter—went bogey-free for an insane 93 holes. And all of that came under the added pressure of postseason play.

Tanner Pearson

Again, not the way he wanted his college career to end with a missed cut, but that’s an (unofficial) record that should stand for a long time.

WE’RE SELLING

Eric Cole’s close calls: In his 120th career PGA Tour start, it appeared that golf’s ultimate grinder, a guy who still plays mini-tour events to stay sharp during off weeks, would finally earn win No. 1. On the birthday of his mom, a former LPGA star, no less. While sporting a mullet that would make Cam Smith proud. And then, well, he had it taken from him in crushing fashion.

Stacy Revere

That makes three career runners-up for Cole, including two playoff losses. I feel bad for the guy. I feel even worse for the mini-tour players who he’s probably going to take this latest loss out on.

NCAA’s match-play format: I have been consistent on this, but from time to time I’m reminded why I don’t like it. And this is one of those times. First of all, thankfully, the Stanford women’s golf team won the NCAA team title, their third in the past five years.

C. Morgan Engel

I say “thankfully,” because this team earned the No. 1 seed through 72 holes of stroke play for a SIXTH consecutive season. So, in my book, they really should have six consecutive NCAA titles. But because of (the vagaries of) match play, the Cardinal “only” have three. Anyway, I’m glad justice was served here for Annie Walker’s squad dynasty.

Ian Poulter’s injury: The Ryder Cup legend said he tore his meniscus “hopping up two steps” ahead of the LIV Virginia event a few weeks back. As someone who tore a meniscus swinging a golf club in my house, I can’t talk, but that’s a tough look for the Golfers-Are-Athletes Movement.

HOWEVAH, Poulter racking up a pair of top-20s since on a torn meniscus is pretty darn impressive. The 50-year-old plans to have surgery in September so he should be fully recovered well ahead of 2027. LIV’s long offseason will come in handy this fall.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour season rolls on with the Memorial, AKA that one Jack Nicklaus hosts, AKA that one Tiger used to dominate and now Scottie dominates. Scheffler will try to match Tiger’s three-peat (1999-2001) this week at Muirfield Village. Meanwhile, the U.S. Women’s Open will take place at Riviera(!), so it’s a huge week for golf fans. And to get prepared for that, we had LPGA winner Mel Reid on this week’s episode of The Loop podcast:

Random tournament fact: It’s been 10 years since William McGirt defeated Jon Curran in a playoff at Muirfield Village. No offense to those two, but we’re still not sure how that happened.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Scottie will get hurt “hopping up two steps” this week: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Scottie will win at Muirfield Village again this week: 3-to-1 odds

—Scottie will enjoy (at least) one of Muirfield’s milkshakes no matter what: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK (STATS DIVISION)

Those are just insane earnings from Niemann, whose win in South Korea (in a playoff over Talor Gooch) extended his record of eight career LIV titles. And for those who say going to LIV has hurt his chances of contending at major championships, well, they must not have been paying attention to his major appearances while he was still on the PGA Tour. Regardless, he’s obviously a very good player and he has really found a sweet spot on LIV. While it lasts.

TWEET OF THE WEEK (HUMOR DIVISION)

Well played.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

A casino blackjack setup at a golf tournament?!

Is this heaven?!

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (SLOW-PLAY DIVISION)

College kids getting flamed for playing too slow at the NCAAs. A tradition unlike any other.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (FIGHT DIVISION)

The weather is heating up and so is the tension on golf courses around the country. We’ve got our first big golf fight of 2026:

Now we don’t know a lot of details, but that’s wild. “Everybody is filming,” one onlooker laments. “No one is helping.” Well said, lady.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Nice to see the Henley family on hand to enjoy dad’s latest big win:

Good stuff. And sweet ride.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION?

Speaking of young kids watching golf …

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You really never know what you’re going to see at the range.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY/YOUTUBE GOLFERS

Barstool Sports confirmed the Internet Invitational, one of the most-riveting sporting events of 2025 (I’m not kidding), is coming back. And this year the first-place prize is going to be a whopping $4 million:

Sheesh.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Bryson DeChambeau went full Bryson DeChambeau by crediting his Sunday 65 in Korea to a chat he had with … Google Gemini? Yep, that’s right. Take it away, Bryson!

We know the two-time major champ is trying to be a major player in the AI space, but that’s pretty wild. Anyway, we’ll see if his smartphone can get him prepared for the U.S. Open at Shinnecock in a couple weeks.

THIS AND THAT

Arpichaya Yubol finished runner-up by a stroke at the ShopRite LPGA Classic after being penalized a stroke for slow play during Saturday’s second round. That’s a tough loss, but good for the LPGA Tour for actually taking a stand against slow play. … Congrats to Charlie Woods on qualifying for the U.S. Junior for a third consecutive year. Hopefully, his dad will be able to see him compete at Saucon Valley in July. … The PGA Tour’s San Diego event, long known as the Farmers Insurance Classic, will now be The Sentry going forward. Those “We are Farmers” commercials had a great run. … And, finally, a rare book recommendation from me! And a novel at that! Really enjoyed Rich Poggi’s “Fairways and Greens”: