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Bryson DeChambeau’s copycats, Max Homa’s savage Ryder Cup idea, and a potential world-record controversy – Australian Golf Digest

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  • December 3, 2024
Bryson DeChambeau’s copycats, Max Homa’s savage Ryder Cup idea, and a potential world-record controversy – Australian Golf Digest

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we decided NOT to attempt Bryson DeChambeau’s over-the-house shot for a few reasons. For one, I do not have a backyard green. In fact, I barely have a backyard. For another, it’s freaking freezing. So by Day 16, I don’t think I could stay out there for 16 attempts. And, of course, I’d like to remain happily married. Anyway, kudos to Bryson DeChambeau (more on him in a bit) and others (also more on that in a bit) for going through with this brilliant stunt. I’ll stay inside and continue talking about golf instead.

WE’RE BUYING

Ryggs Johnston: A couple weeks ago, this guy was struggling to get through DP World Tour Q School. And now, the 24-year-old American is the winner of the 2024 Australian Open. What a ride for this Arizona State product who was named after Mel Gibson’s “Lethal Weapon” character, Martin Ryggs.

Darrian Traynor

True story. And now some more truth because I’ve got a big confession to make . . . I’ve never seen “Lethal Weapon.” Any of the “Lethal Weapons.” Wow, that feels good to get that off my chest. While I’m at it, I’ve never watched “Top Gun.” Nope, not even the original. Anyway, congrats to Ryggs on being the top gun this past week.

Carlota Ciganda: Especially when she’s playing in her native country. This Spanish top gun or arma superior (Thanks, Google Translate) closed out the Solheim Cup in Spain last year and over the weekend won a second Spanish Open in three years.

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Tristan Jones

“I’m very happy to win here in Spain in front of so many people and my family, it’s always great to play here,” Ciganda said after winning the Ladies European Tour event. The 34-year-old now has eight career LET titles to go along with two LPGA victories. And if they ever play a major championship in Spain, watch out.

Bryson DeChambeau: He may not have won any tournament this past week, but Bryson still managed to own the golf space. First, with his continued quest to make a hole-in-one over his house that had Golf Twitter riveted for more than two weeks, culminating with this “ace” on Thanksgiving eve:

And also on that day, DeChambeau dropped his latest episode of his popular YouTube series “Breaking 50” with Tom Brady. And I won’t spoil the ending for you, but it’s really good.

Anyway, another big week for golf’s Content King.

WE’RE SELLING

Carlota Ciganda’s pace of play: Her name may start with the word “Car,” but Carlota moves more like a snail around the course. While certainly not alone in the pro game when it comes to taking too much time, Ciganda is often singled out for her slow pace, and this past week was no different with this video going viral:

Just as damning are the comments that list plenty other examples of her tardy transgressions. Of course, us fans can’t do anything about it. That’s up to the tours these golfers play on. But enough public shaming could start to bring about change. Probably not, but we can hope.

Anthony Kim’s claims: First of all, the good news. Anthony Kim made his first professional cut in more than a dozen years. And simply by playing the weekend at the Asian Tour’s International Series event in Qatar, he cut his Official World Golf Ranking in half, jumping to No. 2,314 from No. 4,595.

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David Cannon

Nice job, AK. However, claiming that “contending on Sundays” is “just a matter of time” after one T-37 in the Middle East in December is a bit much (Congrats to fellow LIV-er Peter Uihlein for winning, by the way). Especially when Kim finished 56 of 57 individuals in the LIV Golf standings in 2024 and dead last among those playing a full schedule. Sorry, AK, but we’re going to need to see a litte more.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour is kinda back with the Hero World Challenge, AKA that hit-and-giggle that rewards world ranking points, AKA that one where Tiger Woods plays host, AKA that one where Tiger usually plays. Sadly, the latter isn’t happening this year, leaving golf fans to (once again) speculate if the 15-time major champ has finally reached the end of his playing road. Let’s hope not. And let’s all ask (Mac Daddy) Santa for him to play more in 2025.

Random tournament fact: Scottie Scheffler is the defending champ in the Bahamas. Little did we know that win would lead to one of the greatest seasons in PGA Tour history—and one of the most talked-about arrests of 2024. So whoever wins this year could be in for a BIG 2025. Who are we kidding? Scottie is probably going to win again.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Scottie Scheffler will win the Hero again this week: 2.5-1 odds (Actual odds)

—Scottie and Bryson would “Break 50” together: LOCK

—There are going to be a lot more broken windows now: Also a LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

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I’ll never forget getting to play a round with Danielle and having the pleasure of watching her tie the course record at GlenArbor with a 63. What a talent. She’ll be back.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Max Homa perfectly tapped into a particularly testy Saturday of college football with this tweet:

No, but really, Max might be onto something here with the flag planting. That could really SPICE things up. Remember how mad everyone in Rome got over that silly hat wave? Planting team flags at next year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black would be hilarious. Imagine the scrum that could break out between the lads? They just couldn’t do it on any of the greens, of course. Let’s not get too carried away. Us New Yorkers have to play golf there after.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (NON-BRYSON PRO DIVISION)

Check out this insane 139-yard putt by Australian pro David Micheluzzi to set a new world record:

Great job by David and the DP World Tour, but was it actually a world record for longest putt? If you recall, Wesley Bryan sank this bomb earlier this year . . . from 144 yards:

Hmm. I’m no math major, but that’s five yards longer. Which is 15 feet longer. Which was probably the longest putt I made all year. Anyway, why would the DP World Tour not move that attempt back 16 feet? Looks like we have a world record controversy. And it all could have been avoided if everyone just read The Grind every week.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (NON-BRYSON AMATEUER DIVISION)

The Bryson copycats are coming! But in a good way. Check out this young golfer named Jack pulling off his own hole-in-one challenge 10 days quicker:

Great shot, Jack. And great camera work, dad. And now the Georgia Southern’s men’s golf team is getting in on the action:

Bryson is really out here growing the game.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

I felt a little bad about pouring cold water on Anthony Kim earlier so here’s a beautiful family photo he posted:

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Aww. Happy holidays, AK. And then there’s this Tiger Woods neck tattoo:

And suddenly, hitting golf balls over our house feels like a minor offense.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Jim Nantz hit Tony Romo with an all-time random dagger after a botched snap in the Ravens-Eagles game. Nantz: “Looks like your chipping motion these days, big guy.”

Romo: “Oh, God. I’ve already heard enough of that. But it’s true actually! Wish I could tell you it’s not.”

Nantz: “The old yips!”

Damn, that’s cold. I love it, of course, but that’s cold.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Jiyai Shin for winning the ladies side of the Australian Open. She isn’t named after a “Lethal Weapon” character, but Jiyai is a pretty cool name on its own. . . . Staying with the women’s game, Mollie Marcoux Samaan is out as LPGA commissioner. Our Jay Coffin outlined the highs and lows of her rocky three-year tenure. . . . Speaking of commishes, Jay Monahan reportedly made $23 million(!) last year leading the PGA Tour. That’s . . . a lot of money. We’ll leave it at that. . . . Speaking of lots of money, well, currency, The Showdown will be sponsored by Crypto.com with a multi-million prize paid in crypto. Of course, anyone could just take regular prize money and invest it in crypto, but, anyway, here’s my cover story (nbd) on the event. And finally, my youngest got a nice hug from the man himself at the annual Frosty Day Parade in our town:

https://www.golfdigest.com/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2021/241203-grind-frosty.jpg

She was so happy that she doesn’t want any presents for Christmas now. Kidding. She still wants all the presents. Emphasis on all.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Should I get a Tiger tattoo?

Should I invest in cryptocurrency?

Should I finally watch “Lethal Weapon” this week?

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com

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