Tag: Detroit Golf Club

These 24 golf holes measured more than 600 yards during the 2024 PGA Tour season

There were 738 holes used in tournament play during the 2024 season.

Of the 738 holes used in competition during the PGA Tour’s 2024 season, 24 of them stretched beyond 600 yards, with one of them just 23 yards shy of 700 (and no, it wasn’t one of those playing at high altitude).

Castle Pines, which hosted the BMW Championship, has three holes on this list. Not too surprising, considering that course plays at 6,400-foot elevation.

Grand Reserve Club (Puerto Rico Open), TPC San Antonio Oaks Course (Valero Texas Open), Vidanta Vallarta (Mexico Open at Vidanta), Puntacana Resort and Club Corales Course (Corales Puntacana Championship) each had two holes on this list.

The U.S. Open and the Open Championship each had one here. The Masters and the PGA, however, didn’t register among the men’s majors with holes more than 600 yards.

Here’s the list of 24 golf holes that played more than 600 yards in 2024:

Hole Course Tournament Yardage
No. 18 Plantation Course at Kapalua The Sentry 677
No. 1 Castle Pines Golf Club BMW Championship 662
No. 14 Castle Pines Golf Club BMW Championship 655
No. 11 Colonial Country Club Charles Schwab Challenge 639
No. 12 Vidanta Vallarta Mexico Open at Vidanta 637
No. 4 Detroit Golf Club Rocket Mortgage Classic 635
No. 18 Grand Reserve Club Puerto Rico Open 630
No. 14 Puntacana Resort and Club Corales Course Corales Puntacana Championship 626
No. 13 Dunes Golf and Beach Club Myrtle Beach Classic 625
No. 8 Memorial Park Golf Course Texas Children’s Houston Open 625
No. 6 Royal Troon Open Championship 623
No. 12 Puntacana Resort and Club Corales Course Corales Puntacana Championship 623
No. 13 Torrey Pines South Farmers Insurance Open 621
No. 10 Pinehurst No. 2 U.S. Open 617
No. 9 Torrey Pines South Farmers Insurance Open 615
No. 5 Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course Valspar Championship 605
No. 8 TPC San Antonio Oaks Course Valero Texas Open 604
No. 6 Vidanta Vallarta Mexico Open at Vidanta 603
No. 2 TPC San Antonio Oaks Course Valero Texas Open 602
No. 9 TPC Sawgrass Players Championship 602
No. 8 Castle Pines Golf Club BMW Championship 601
No. 16 Pete Dye Stadium Course American Express 600
No. 3 Renaissance Club Genesis Scottish Open 600
No. 15 Grand Reserve Club Puerto Rico Open 600

Just missing out on being the 25th hole to measure more than 600 yards is the fourth at Royal Troon for the 2024 Open Championship, which officially came in at 599 yards.

2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic prize money payouts for each PGA Tour player at Detroit Golf Club

Here’s a closer look at who made what in Motown.

Aussie Cam Davis made more money in four days in Detroit than he had made in his previous 16 PGA Tour starts this season.

Davis, 29, closed in 70 and won the Rocket Mortgage Classic for the second time in his career. In doing so, he took home $1.656 million from a purse of $9.2 million. Davis hadn’t recorded a top-10 finish all season. His best result was a T-12 at the Masters in April. His season earnings soared to $3,061,884.

Akshay Bhatia was the hard-luck loser after missing a 5-foot par putt at 18. If it’s any consolation, the 22-year-old surpassed $7 million in career earnings, which is making his decision to skip college look like a wise one.

Aaron Rai, a 54-hole co-leader, settled for T-3 but cracked $6 million and passed Jack Nicklaus ($5,734,031) and Hale Irwin ($5,966,031) on the career money list. Among those at T-3 was 25-year-old Aussie Min Woo Lee, who crossed $5 million in career earnings.

Cameron Young (73) cracked the shaft of his driver in anger on the 14th hole and settled for a T-6 finish. It wasn’t all bad news for Young, who is still seeking his first Tour title. He did pass major winner Steve Elkington on the career money list as he neared $16 million in earnings.

Here’s a closer look at who made what in Motown.

Pos. Player Score Earnings
1 Cam Davis -18 $1,656,000
T2 Davis Thompson -17 $616,400
T2 Min Woo Lee -17 $616,400
T2 Aaron Rai -17 $616,400
T2 Akshay Bhatia -17 $616,400
T6 Rico Hoey -15 $300,150
T6 Eric Cole -15 $300,150
T6 Erik van Rooyen -15 $300,150
T6 Cameron Young -15 $300,150
T10 Taylor Moore -14 $206,233
T10 Dylan Wu -14 $206,233
T10 J.J. Spaun -14 $206,233
T10 Hayden Springer -14 $206,233
T10 Nick Dunlap -14 $206,233
T10 Luke Clanton (a) -14 $0
T10 Sam Stevens -14 $206,233
T17 David Skinns -12 $149,500
T17 Ben Silverman -12 $149,500
T17 Troy Merritt -12 $149,500
T20 Carl Yuan -11 $113,068
T20 Patton Kizzire -11 $113,068
T20 Andrew Novak -11 $113,068
T20 Ben Kohles -11 $113,068
T20 Neal Shipley -11 $113,068
T25 Nate Lashley -10 $74,980
T25 Matt Kuchar -10 $74,980
T25 Patrick Fishburn -10 $74,980
T25 Justin Lower -10 $74,980
T25 Jhonattan Vegas -10 $74,980
T25 Joel Dahmen -10 $74,980
T31 Nicholas Lindheim -9 $49,603
T31 Ben Griffin -9 $49,603
T31 Kevin Yu -9 $49,603
T31 Ryan McCormick -9 $49,603
T31 Jacob Bridgeman -9 $49,603
T31 Ryo Hisatsune -9 $49,603
T31 Harry Hall -9 $49,603
T31 Max Greyserman -9 $49,603
T31 Roger Sloan -9 $49,603
T31 Beau Hossler -9 $49,603
T31 Rickie Fowler -9 $49,603
T31 Jake Knapp -9 $49,603
T31 Patrick Rodgers -9 $49,603
T44 Maverick McNealy -8 $29,164
T44 Blaine Hale, Jr. -8 $29,164
T44 Taylor Montgomery -8 $29,164
T44 Brandon Wu -8 $29,164
T44 Ryan Moore -8 $29,164
T44 Ben James (a) -8 $0
T44 Chris Kirk -8 $29,164
T44 Hayden Buckley -8 $29,164
T52 Matti Schmid -7 $22,650
T52 Mark Hubbard -7 $22,650
T52 Nick Hardy -7 $22,650
T52 Bud Cauley -7 $22,650
T52 Michael Kim -7 $22,650
T57 Davis Riley -6 $21,160
T57 Callum Tarren -6 $21,160
T57 Kevin Streelman -6 $21,160
T57 Vince Whaley -6 $21,160
T57 Robby Shelton -6 $21,160
T57 Joe Highsmith -6 $21,160
T63 Zach Johnson -5 $20,332
T63 Pierceson Coody -5 $20,332
T63 Nico Echavarria -5 $20,332
66 Nicolai Hojgaard -4 $19,964
T67 Ryan Fox -3 $19,412
T67 Luke List -3 $19,412
T67 Chandler Phillips -3 $19,412
T67 Chris Gotterup -3 $19,412
T67 Wesley Bryan -3 $19,412
T72 Taylor Pendrith -2 $18,768
T72 Aaron Baddeley -2 $18,768
74 Peter Malnati -1 $18,492

 

Rocket Mortgage Classic 2024 Sunday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

The purse at the Rocket Mortgage Classic is $9.2 million with $1.65 million going to the winner.

The two 36-hole leaders, Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai, are still tied atop the leaderboard after the third round of the PGA Tour’s 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club. Bhatia and Rai shot matching 4-under 68s and hold a one-shot lead over Cam Davis and Cameron Young.

Young, the 23rd-ranked player in the world, is still looking for his first Tour win. In 16 previous starts this season, Young has finished inside the top 10 five times.

Sam Stevens and Erik van Rooyen are tied for fifth at 15 under, two back.

ROCKET MORTGAGE: Leaderboard | Photos

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the final round of the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic. All times listed are ET.

Sunday tee times

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. You can also watch the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Golf Channel free on Fubo. All times ET.

Sunday, June 30

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3 p.m

CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 7 a.m.-1 p.m

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Will Zalatoris withdraws from 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic due to back injury

Bad news for Zalatoris.

Will Zalatoris withdrew from the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic during the third round due to his back. Zalatoris shot an opening-round 6-under 66 on Thursday before a 1-under effort on Friday. He was 3 over through eight holes on Moving Day before withdrawing from the tournament.

In April 2023, after withdrawing from the Masters, Zalatoris had back surgery that kept him out for the rest of the season. He made his return at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in December 2023. His initial back injury occurred at the 2022 BMW Championship.

In 15 starts prior to this week in Detroit, Zalatoris tallied three top-10 finishes: T-2 at the Genesis Invitational, T-4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T-9 at the Masters. He hasn’t finished inside the top 40 since Augusta National.

Rocket Mortgage: Leaderboard

Rocket Mortgage Classic 2024 Saturday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

The purse at the Rocket Mortgage Classic is $9.2 million with $1.65 million going to the winner.

The first two days of the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club are in the books and two names are tied atop the leaderboard. Akshay Bhatia, who won the Valero Texas Open earlier this season, and Englishman Aaron Rai, looking for his first PGA Tour win, each sit at 13 under, two shots ahead of a pack at 11 under.

Some of the big names in the mix include Cameron Young (11 under, two back), Cam Davis (10 under, three back), Joel Dahmen (10 under, three back) and Jake Knapp (9 under, four back).

However, several notables missed the cut including last week’s runner-up Tom Kim.

Rocket Mortgage: Photos

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the third round of the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic. All times listed are ET.

Saturday tee times

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. You can also watch the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Golf Channel free on Fubo. All times ET.

Saturday, June 29

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3 p.m

CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 7 a.m.-6 p.m

Sunday, June 30

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3 p.m

CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 7 a.m.-1 p.m

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Nick Dunlap, very much in Rocket Mortgage contention, admits PGA Tour life is ‘a little lonely’

Despite a great showing in Detroit, the change has been difficult, Dunlap said.

Nick Dunlap is now in his 15th event as a professional golfer since shocking the world by winning The American Express in La Quinta as an amateur last January. And while he’s more comfortable now with the professional life, Dunlap admits the pro game can be frustrating.

“Honestly, the most frustrating thing is that I’ve had to realize that I can’t attack pins with sand wedges sometimes,” Dunlap said. “I think (recent tournaments were) pretty eye-opening for me in realizing that sometimes you’re not going to hit the green, even if you are on the fairway.

“It’s taken me a little while to realize how to play some of these golf courses,” Dunlap added. “Even par is a great score. Most of the time on the weekends it gets even harder.”

Dunlap, still just 20, has faced plenty of questions since deciding to turn pro after winning The American Express in La Quinta, making him the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years. Should he have stayed at the University of Alabama? Was his game ready for the PGA Tour, even though he had just beaten a field that included world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele?

The questions have grown louder as Dunlap’s year has continued. While he’s surpassed $1 million in earnings in his 14 starts — he won no money at The American Express — he has missed five cuts and has been in the top 15 in an event just twice. He missed the cut in all three major championships he’s played this year, and he was 66th in the most recent event he played, the Travelers Championship. He was a strong 12th the week before the U.S. Open at The Memorial.

This week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, however, Dunlap is in contention at the midway point, building off an opening-round 67. He’s 8 under through 36 holes, just five strokes behind leader Akshay Bhatia.

For Dunlap, it is all part of a learning process.

“I always kind of thought coming out here that I had a lot to learn,” Dunlap said. “I thought that my game was good enough. But these guys are so good consistently week in and week out. I knew I needed to do a couple things to be able to maintain my game, compete week in and week out. I’m three, four months into it. Kind of starting to get a grasp on it.”

One reason for Dunlap to turn pro was that his The American Express win makes him exemption for PGA Tour events through 2026, so he doesn’t have to worry about piecing together a schedule like a regular rookie. In addition, Dunlap was exempt in 2024 for all eight of the PGA Tour’s signature events, most of which do not have a cut and therefore provide a guaranteed paycheck for a player.

Lots of learning

2024 U.S. Open
Nick Dunlap reacts after putting on the first green during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

But the change has been difficult, Dunlap said, with thoughts of his University of Alabama teammates during college golf season.

Despite being comfortable with the decision to turn pro after The American Express win, a one-shot victory over Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Dunlap said he still kept an eye on his Alabama teammates and their trip through the NCAA championships, a trip that ended well short of an NCAA title.

“I still in a way feel bad. I feel like I left them hanging,” Dunlap said. “I would have loved to be with them at regionals, NCAAs the week after.”

What Dunlap has found, though, is new supporters on the PGA Tour.

“Honestly, a lot of the guys out here have been very, very nice to me, always offering up support and help in anything they do,” Dunlap said. “It was a little bit of an odd situation, but I’m 20, and there’s not a whole lot of my peers out here currently.

“It can be a little lonely at times. Feel like you’re on an island a little bit,” he added. “A lot of the guys have been very gracious and reaching out, making sure that I don’t feel that way.”

Dunlap also recently had plenty of television time, not for his current play but for The American Express win. American Express is a major partner of the United States Golf Association and used some of its commercial time during the recent U.S. Open to replay highlights of Dunlap’s win in La Quinta.

For now, Dunlap is 93rd on the FedEx Cup playoffs points list, well short of the 70th-place finish he’ll need at the end of the regular season to make the FedEx St. Jude Classic, the first of the three playoff tournaments. That means Dunlap has just five events left on the regular schedule to reach the playoffs, starting with this week’s Rocket Mortgage.

How did 15-year-old Miles Russell fare at the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic?

Russell shot 74-70 at Detroit Golf Club in his PGA Tour debut.

Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, became the ninth-youngest player to tee it up in a PGA Tour event on Thursday when he shot 2-over 74 in the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club.

If he had anxiety it didn’t show much when he got his 5-7, 120-pound frame into a 305-yard drive down the left side of the 10th fairway on his first hole.

“I was a little nervous,” Russell said during his post-round news conference, assigning his stress level to about a 7 on a scale of 10. “That [was] probably my best drive of the day.”

Russell, who is 15 years, 7 months and 27 days old, missed the green with his second shot from 119 yards out, into the left bunker. His sand shot went 18 feet past the hole and he missed the par attempt, tapping in for a bogey-5.

Rocket Mortgage: Photos | Leaderboard

He had an up-and-down round through the narrow, winding holes of the Donald Ross-designed course. Russell followed his opening bogey with 10 pars in a row, made his first career PGA Tour birdie on a putt of 1 feet, 8 inches at the par-4 third hole, then rebounded from a double-bogey 6 at the par-4 sixth hole to birdie the par-5 seventh on a putt of nearly 4 feet.

Russell missed a birdie attempt of 10 feet at No. 8 and finished with a bogey, three-putting the par-3 ninth from 31 feet, 7 inches. He missed a par attempt of 3 feet, 3 inches.

Amateur Miles Russell plays an approach shot on the 14th hole during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club on June 27, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

Russell praised his playing partners

However, Russell said the score didn’t reflect how overjoyed he was about playing in his first PGA Tour event.

“Today was a great day,” he said. “For it to be the first [Tour round] … definitely wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, but we live, we learn, we move on. So looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully tomorrow’s going to be better.”

Russell started his second round on Friday at 8:57 a.m., starting at the first tee. He was 3 under through his front nine and near the projected cutline. He added a birdie on No. 11 that moved him to 2 under for the tournament, exactly at the projected cutline as of 11:30 a.m. A bogey on the next hole put him back to 1 under. A second bogey on the 16th hole sealed his fate, dropping him to even par for the week. He would par the last two holes for a 70 but he walked off the course tied for 104th as the cutline moved to 3 under.

Still, it was an impressive two-day total of 74-70–144 for the teenager.

Russell said playing partners Pierceson Coody and Rico Hoey, both in their first PGA Tour season, were more than helpful.

“They were great,” Russell said Thursday. “Walking off the first tee, they helped keep me loose and I think it was a cool experience for kind of all of us, but really cool one for me. I don’t know if I could ask for a better grouping.”

According to the PGA Tour research, the youngest player in a Tour event is Michelle Wie West in the 2004 Sony Open, at the age of 14 years, 3 months and 4 days.

Guan Tianling of China played in the 2013 Masters at 14 years, 5 months and 17 days. He also is the youngest player to make the cut in a major or a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.

Russell became the youngest player to make the cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event in April at the Lecom Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. He tied for 20th and qualified for the next event at the Veritex Bank Championship near Dallas, where he missed the cut.

Russell has acquitted himself well in three attempts at professional golf prior to this week. He shot 67 in a Monday qualifier in March for the Puerto Rico Open, and lost in a playoff for the fourth and final spot. His scoring average in seven rounds in pro events is 68.14 and he’s yet to shoot a round over par.

He will have at least one other pro start this season, at the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship in November.

Who are the youngest players to compete on the PGA Tour?

Here are the players 15 years or younger to have played in a PGA Tour event, according to the PGA Tour and the four major championships:

  • Michelle Wie West: 2004 Sony Open, 14 years, three months, four days.
  • Guan Tianling: 2013 Masters, 14 years, five months, 18 days.
  • Andy Zhang: 2012 U.S. Open, 14 years, six months.
  • Lorens Chan: 2009 Sony Open, 14 years, seven months, 24 days.
  • Oliver Betschart: 2023 Butterfield Bermuda Championship, 15 years, three months, eight days.
  • Evan Pena: 2024 Puerto Rico Open, 15 years, three months, 28 days.
  • Tadd Fujikawa: 2006 U.S. Open, 15 years, five months, seven days.
  • John Oda: 2012 Sony Open, 15 years, seventh months, 22 days.
  • Miles Russell: 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic, 15 years, seven months, 26 days.
  • Bob Panasik: 1957 Canadian Open, 15 years, eight months, 20 days.
  • Cole Hammer: 2015 U.S. Open, 15 years nine months, 21 days.
  • Kenny Leseur: 2019 Butterfield Bermuda Championship, 15 years, nine months, 22 days.

Rocket Mortgage Classic 2024 Friday tee times, PGA Tour pairings and how to watch

The purse at the Rocket Mortgage Classic is $9.2 million with $1.65 million going to the winner.

A familiar face is on top of the leaderboard after the opening round at Detroit Golf Club.

Akshay Bhatia, who last week played in the final group alongside Tom Kim and Scottie Scheffler, is the solo leader at 8-under 64 at the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic. Bhatia, aided by a 17th hole eagle, leads by one over Taylor Montgomery and Michael Kim.

Rickie Fowler, the event’s defending champion, is T-4 at 6 under alongside Will Zalatoris, Aaron Rai, Eric Cole and Matti Schmid.

Rocket Mortgage: Photos

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic. All times listed are ET.

Friday tee times

How to watch, listen

ESPN+ is the exclusive home of PGA Tour Live. You can also watch the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Golf Channel free on Fubo. All times ET.

Friday, June 28

Golf Channel/Peacock: 3-6 p.m

Sirius XM: 12-6 p.m

ESPN+: 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m

Saturday, June 29

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3 p.m

CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 7 a.m.-6 p.m

Sunday, June 30

Golf Channel/Peacock: 1-3 p.m

CBS: 3-6 p.m.

Sirius XM: 1-6 p.m

ESPN+: 7 a.m.-1 p.m

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Akshay Bhatia, Rickie Fowler, Will Zalatoris break down Sauce Gardner’s golf swing at the Rocket Mortgage Classic

Follow Bhatia’s advice, and his pitch shots should have a little Tour sauce.

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Akshay Bhatia didn’t know who Sauce Gardner was, but that didn’t stop him from providing some free instruction for the New York Jets cornerback.

Bhatia, who shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 to grab the first-round lead at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, was asked if he knew who the shut-down corner out of Cincinnati was during his post-round press conference.

“Sorry, who?” Bhatia said.

 “Sauce Gardner,” the interviewer repeated.

“I don’t,” he said.

Gardner, 23, recently took up golf and has been posting videos on social media. Bryson DeChambeau replied to one of them and offered to give him a lesson on his YouTube channel. But Gardner, who also got some help from the PGA of America, got some free analysis from Bhatia when the interviewer asked him to look at one of Gardner’s videos – presumably on his phone.

“On his short game, he’s using a lot of lower body, which you don’t really want to do, so that was first off,” Bhatia said. “Other than that, it looks pretty good. He’ll just get used to kind of releasing the golf club. Looks like he kind of holds on a little bit. He’s got some work to do, but off to a good start.”

Rickie Fowler echoed that sentiment.

“I like the possibilities. There’s a lot of good athletic moves and speed in there. A little work, watch out,” Fowler said.

Asked for a tip, Fowler said, “Keep swinging hard and then a big thing is work on short game and putting. For a lot of people, I feel like high handicappers, I feel like that’s kind of the easiest way to start taking strokes off. Then you can worry about the long game later.”

Will Zalatoris also had nothing but encouraging words for Gardner.

“I mean, he’s got some speed, for one,” Zalatoris said. “The dude’s an athlete, we know that, but that’s pretty impressive. Clean up a little bit of the short game there and he’s going to be pretty good pretty quick. All those football guys are freak athletes. I played with Calvin Johnson and Aidan Hutchinson on the 313 on Tuesday and those guys were silly good around the greens. That’s pretty impressive.”

There you have it. Follow the advice of the firm of Fowler, Bhatia & Zalatoris and Gardner’s pitch shots should have a little Tour sauce.

‘Do you know that you’re famous?’: Inside a wild 48 hours for the beer-drinking, Golf Galaxy-working Rocket Mortgage Monday qualifier

Bienz had 920 text messages and noted, “I don’t even know that many people.”

Nick Bienz is supposed to report to work on Thursday morning at 7:30. But the 27-year-old part-time Golf Galaxy employee – he works at one of the equipment and apparel chain’s stores on the northeast side of Indianapolis – won’t be clocking in because he has a 2:22 p.m. ET tee time at the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit after securing his place in the field via an eight-hole playoff in a Monday qualifier.

Someone please alert his boss.

“I still haven’t made that call,” Bienz said on Wednesday during a phone interview. “I think he knows already. The store’s group chat has been blowing up. They’ve been very supportive but I never technically made that call.”

Who can blame him? At its peak, Bienz said he had 920 text messages to respond to and noted, “I don’t even know that many people. It’s amazing how my life has turned upside down.”

Bienz shot 65 on Monday at The Orchards Golf Club in Washington, Michigan, and was relaxing in the grill room under the impression that his score would be good enough to earn one of four spots into the field – a life-changing moment for someone who had never played in any PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament let alone the big leagues. He said he has played in Monday qualifiers before with no luck but this was his first attempt this year. With multiple groups still finishing their rounds, Bienz enjoyed a celebratory beer or two.

ROCKET MORTGAGE: Leaderboard | Photos

“I need every ounce of alcohol right now to calm the nervous system and not try to vomit on myself,” Bienz told Ryan French of Monday Q in a video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. “That’s where we’re at right now.”

He downed the third beer after realizing he had celebrated prematurely and he still had to compete in a playoff. Eight holes later, his dream of playing on the PGA Tour became a reality. How many beers did he throw back afterwards?

“Just one,” he said. “I sat in the same chair at the golf course for 2 ½ hours in shock trying to respond to as many texts as I could and all the logistics for the tournament.”

First, he FaceTimed his fiancée on the cart ride back to the clubhouse. She was sobbing. “Do you know that you’re famous?” she asked.

Bienz, who played his college golf at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), had no idea that he had gone viral. Ever since, fans have been sending him money via Venmo to help with his expenses, a friend at apparel maker TravisMathew sent him a care package of outfits for the week but he said he hasn’t landed a sponsor yet despite several inquiries including a beer company.

“I’m such a rookie at this I don’t even know the logistics of how I’d get a logo on a shirt in less than 24 hours,” said Bienz, who also received a new bag with the logo of his employer Golf Galaxy.

But he already has met Kevin Kisner, who posted on social media that the Tour should pair them together in the tournament.

“He came up to me and said, ‘Are you my beer drinking buddy?’ ” Bienz recalled. “Then he said, ‘The Tour screwed us, bro. I thought they were going to pair us together.’ ”

Bienz said on four occasions he’s flunked out of Korn Ferry Tour Q-School and also tried the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and Mackenzie Tour twice. His game has been in good form. On June 10, he shot 69 at the Northern Open, an Indiana section event, and won the one-day tournament. He has given himself to his wedding next May to determine whether he is going to continue chasing his dream or call it quits and settle down in a real job. Depending on how he plays in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, where the purse this week is $9.2 million, working in golf retail could be in a galaxy far, far away for him.

“Fortunately for me this week has thrown a massive wrench and I really have no idea what’s going to happen from here,” he said.