Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we felt particularly proud watching Jack Whaley win the U.S. Amateur on Sunday. Not because I’m a Florida State alum (although, my parents are) and not because I’m English (although, I have some British roots). But because I’m a fellow soda-at-the-turn guy. Well, I’m a soda-at-anytime guy, but in particular, at the turn. And, thanks to the crack reporting of our Christopher Powers, we know that’s what young Jack was on Sunday at Merion in between the morning and afternoon rounds of his championship match against Jay Leng Jr.:

I’m usually a Coke Zero guy, but I like to treat myself to the real deal on the course. Is it a coincidence that Jack won four of the first five holes in the afternoon on his way to a 4-and-3 victory? Probably. But I’d like to think that it was that liquid gold fueling him to victory in the face of health experts all across the country. I got to talk to Jack about this and his big win on this week’s episode of The Loop podcast, and now I promise to talk about everything else going on in the world of golf.

WE’RE BUYING

Scottie Scheffler: At long last! Scottie Scheffler is a PGA Tour winner once again! We kid, but it did kind of seem like an eternity since Scheffler won his first start of the season at the American Express way back in January. And it’s kind of crazy he could play the level of golf he’s played over 16 starts since without winning. But that losing streak was snapped in a big way with a dominant eight-shot victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The only thing hotter than the Memphis weather was Scheffler’s putter, which gained nearly nine shots alone, a career-best. Scheffler should move in front in the PGA Tour Player-of-the-Year race after that performance, and with his latest $3.6 million check he also passed Rory McIlroy for the No. 2 spot on the PGA Tour’s career earnings list despite the fact he was 13 when Rory won his first PGA Tour title. Pretty wild.

Jack Whaley: As much of a surprise as it was seeing this young man reach for a can of Coke midway through the biggest match of his life, it was an even bigger surprise that he was even in that position at all. Whaley needed to survive a 16-for-11 playoff just to get into the match-play portion of the event (after holing an eight-foot slider on his final hole of stroke play) and he needed 22 holes to advance in his first match. But after that, he played lights out, in particular in that final 18—or, rather, 15 as he dispatched of Leng on the 33rd hole to become just the third Englishman to win the Havemeyer Trophy and the first FSU player.

Making the win even more special was that he had his dad, Andy, on the bag. Plus, Jack’s timing couldn’t be better as he won the Tiger Woods medal in its first year and his invites to next year’s U.S. Open and British Open (in addition to his Masters invite) will be at Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. Jack may not have won any money on Sunday, but in terms of golf prizes, he’s already loaded. Although, if this win doesn’t land him an NIL deal with Coca-Cola, what are we even doing here?

Jeeno Thitikul: The World No. 2 in the women’s game won her third LPGA title in 2026 after shooting a closing 64 for a victory at the Portland Standard Classic. More impressively, the 23-year-old joined Nelly Korda as the only golfers with 10 LPGA victories over the past five seasons.

“I would say every win means a lot as it’s a lot of the sacrifice that we put in and the work we put in,” Thitikul said after. “I’ve had times that I have doubts and it’s like, ‘what is going on in my game?’ And then when you get it, you’re like, ‘wow, this is what you’re waiting for.’” Of course, she’s still waiting for a major championship, but in the meantime, it’s been a very impressive run otherwise.

“Chippy” drivers: Speaking of impressive, this shot from Romain Langasque captured the hearts of Golf Twitter—and for good reason. When the French pro really needs to hit a fairway, he takes something off his driver and is still able to produce 300-yard-plus tee shots. And it’s mesmerizing:

WE’RE SELLING

Jordan’s Spieth season: For a third consecutive year, the three-time major champ failed to finish in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup points list, but this was the first time he made it through an entire season without recording a single top-10 finish.

Hard to imagine for a former World No. 1 who, at 33, should be in the prime of his career. Yet, Spieth left Memphis feeling good. “I’m very, very confident in what’s coming,” he said on Sunday. And a lot of golf fans hope he’s right.

Cameron Young’s “uniform”: As in, this is actually being sold. I think. Unless it’s AI … getting tougher to tell these days!

Who in the world would buy that?!

People knocking sun umbrellas: Hand up, this was me as well until I tweeted about Matt Fitzpatrick using an umbrella to combat the Memphis heat and I received plenty of heat back, including from Lee Westwood.

Sorry, but I had never seen a PGA Tour pro do that. But now that I’ve been educated on the matter, I get it. And I’m even willing to put an umbrella in my bag the next time I play in the blazing sun.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs continue with the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club, AKA that place where Tiger Woods sweated through a record number of shirts during the 2018 PGA Championship. So expect more sun umbrellas out in St. Louis. Things will be a bit cooler up in Edmonton for the CPKC Women’s Open on the LPGA Tour. And there is also a LIV Indianapolis event, which will now serve as both the league’s individual and team championship following the official cancellation of the scheduled season finale, which was supposed to be played next week in Michigan. Keep in mind this could be the grand finale of the league as well with no more financial backing from Saudi Arabia. So, Lee Westwood may have even more time to tweet at me.

Random tournament fact: Scottie Scheffler is the defending champ, but Camilo Villegas won the only other BMW Championship played at Bellerive in 2018. That guy is in such great shape he probably didn’t even break a sweat.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Scottie Scheffler will win by eight shots again this week: 100-to-1-odds

—Scottie Scheffler will win this week: 3-to-1 odds

—Scottie Scheffler won’t go winless over his next 16 starts: LOCK

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Scottie Scheffler is so freaking good.

PHOTO(S) OF THE WEEK

It seems Bryson DeChambeau has a new, um, friend. Who likes to post photos from his home, in particular, his closet.

OK then. And thanks to Mikayla, we also know the two-time major champ has his own logo/silhouette on his exercise equipment:

Pretty boss move, although that could use an update since he wears baseball caps now!

PHOTO(S) OF THE WEEK (SAD DIVISION)

Minto Golf Club in Scotland said that nearly 100 years of trophies were stolen from its clubhouse during a Saturday break-in:

What kind of sick person/people would do that?! Hopefully, those trophies will be returned.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

A PSA for golfers everywhere: Don’t mess around with lightning!

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (SAD DIVISION)

This one, depressingly, hit home. Especially as I’ve been working extra hard this year on getting better at golf. And, sigh, not having much to show for it.

Sadly, he makes some good points. But that still doesn’t mean us weekend hacks shouldn’t take pride in trying to get better … right? And I still think playing with a low-handicapper is cool.

THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

It was great seeing Bennett Scheffler back on the 18th green following one of his dad’s wins:

He’s grown up so much over these last … (checks notes) six months!

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

LeBron James was at Bandon Dunes—and hitting darts!

OK, so nearly making an ace is a bit of a stretch, but King James is clearly improving. And he’s got some more good content for his new YouTube Golf channel.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“If he shaves it tomorrow, I’m going to be like, ‘Hey, what are we doing?!’” —Scottie Scheffler on caddie Ted Scott’s playoff mustache. I’m not a big superstition guy, but I agree with Scottie, that stache has to stay.

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Stewart Cink on another PGA Tour Champions win, this time in a playoff over Miguel Angel Jimenez.

That’s five wins on the season … and he still hits it really far … hmm … Presidents Cup? … Congrats to 38-year-old Jeff Winther on winning his second career DP World Tour title and his first in his home country of Denmark. That had to feel good. … The PGA Tour has announced a partnership with Omaha productions and a new unscripted comedy, “Alter Ego,” featuring Max Homa and Wyndham Clark going undercover:

I’ll reserve judgement until it comes out. … And, finally, this is my yearly time to praise Santa’s Village in Jefferson, N.H., and to share our annual family photo:

But this time I got to do it while saying “Knicks in five!”

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How many times have I said “Knicks in five” in the past two months?

How many Cokes have I had in my life?

Is Coca-Cola interested in sponsoring The Grind?