🏎️ Speed golf

I’m not totally sure what I just watched.

I knew that the Netflix Cup on Tuesday night would feature pro golfers and Formula 1 racers and that they’d play some type of scramble-format among teammates.

But the speed-golf curveball on the first hole was madness. The celebrities hanging around tee boxes — shout out to Steve Aoki — was awkward. And somehow, it all ended with a closest-to-the-pin competition — which is how team Justin Thomas and Carlos Sainz secured their victory. In between, there were some good and very bad golf shots.

To be fair, I counted more than a few entertaining moments during Netflix’s first-ever live sporting event: 

• The Sphere just continues to deliver amazing content, especially when golf is involved. 

• Marshawn Lynch previewing the upcoming holes was incredible. We need more of this whenever possible. 

• Having the event be decided by a closest-to-the-pin competition was ridiculous, but it actually provided a brief moment of pressure for JT. He needed to put his ball inside of Tony Finau’s — which he did, which was kind of cool. 

• Carlos Sainz dropping — and breaking — the actual Netflix Cup trophy was hilarious and actually, the perfect way for this thing to end. 

One issue — Even though Joel Dahmen was pretty good in the booth, it felt like there was way too much commentary from up top and not enough color from the players themselves. 

• Maybe that’s because these guys are professional athletes and not, say, professional YouTubers (who are comfortable chatting it up on camera). 

• That’s fine — again, not all athletes are natural entertainers. But it makes me increasingly nervous for another upcoming golf experiment — the TGL virtual golf league — which could fall totally flat if the banter amongst players isn’t there. 

For now, onto the news. 

Finally, the finale 

The final tournament of the PGA Tour season (the RSM Classic) is finally upon us, and it’ll be played at Sea Island — a golf destination in Southern Georgia and home to several pros, including Harris English, Brian Harman, Zach Johnson, and Keith Mitchell. 

• Davis Love III — also a resident — has been described as the “de facto mayor” of Sea Island and has a pub named after him on the premises. 

The RSM doesn’t have the strongest of fields (and there’s a lot going on across the world of golf right now), so let’s skip this week’s pick ‘em contest if that’s okay. We’ll start them up again next season in some form or another. 

For now, here are some storylines to follow while watching the RSM:

1. Bubble watch. The last tournament of the year means it’s the last chance for players to guarantee their PGA Tour status for next season by finishing within the top 125 in FedEx Cup points. 

• All 20 players ranked between 121 and 140 are playing this week, including Troy Merritt (123), Carl Yuan (125), Ryan Moore (128), and Jimmy Walker (139). Expect some drama on Sunday around that magic, 125 number. 

• Another bubble watch to track is who finishes between 51st and 60th in FedExCup points, aka “The Next 10.” Those players will be invited to two of the first Signature Events next season, which have limited fields and more money at stake. 

• Beau Hossler, No. 51, has already secured a place in The Next 10 and isn’t playing this week. Meanwhile, Stephan Jaeger (62), Thomas Detry (63), Alex Noren (64), and Keith Mitchell (69) are all looking to make moves. 

2. How will Brian Harman fare? 

Harman had a banner year in 2023 winning his first major at The Open, but we haven’t seen him play since a disappointing Ryder Cup almost two months ago. So, it’ll be interesting to see the state of Harman’s game. 

Last year, the island resident (and Georgia Bulldog) finished T2 at the RSM. 

Bonus points: Here’s a cool video of Brian Harman talking about growing up on a golf course and learning the game, even though no one else in his family played. 

3. Will we get a big-name, first-time winner? 

Two of the biggest names (and betting favorites) in this week’s field are Ludvig Åberg and Cameron Young, both of whom are searching for their first wins on the PGA Tour. Could this be the week for one of them? 

Åberg has been inside the top 20 in his last seven tournaments — a stretch that included a win at the DP World Tour’s Omega European Masters. This fall on the PGA Tour he’s finished T2, T13, and T10. 

Young, meanwhile, is undeniably one of the most talented golfers in this week’s field, but he hasn’t been overly impressive in recent starts. Just a couple weeks ago at the WWT Championship, he finished T54. 

But, perhaps Young having more time with his new, custom Titleist irons (which he debuted down in Mexico) will produce a different outcome. They do look beautiful.  

More news 

Rory McIlroy, an outspoken critic of LIV Golf over the past couple of years, resigned Tuesday from his position as one of six players on the PGA Tour policy board. (NYT) 

• Commissioner Jay Monahan cited Rory’s “professional and personal commitments” as reasons for stepping down. 

• As golf writer Geoff Shackelford’s headline read: “Rory finally does what’s best for Rory.” (The Quad) 

Also on Tuesday, Commissioner Monahan sent a letter to players that said conversations between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) remain ongoing and that a “definitive agreement” between the group’s is still a “priority.” 

• As part of the memo, Monahan also mentioned the Tour may offer its members “direct equity ownership” of its new for-profit entity — something no other sports league provides to their players. (Golf Digest) 

This week’s DP World Tour Championship is in Dubai and features Rory McIlory, Jon Rahm, and Viktor Hovland. (CBS) 

Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark, and Sahith Theegala, meanwhile, are playing on the Japan Tour this week. (Golf Monthly) 

Chris Kirk, who struggled with alcohol abuse and depression, won this year’s PGA Tour Courage Award. Here’s a really good video on Kirk’s journey to sobriety. (PGA Tour)

And finally…

A proud Cal alumni moment. Go bears. 

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading, ya’ll. And I’ll see you back here on Sunday. 

Until then, Nick B.