Iss. #293 | Corn Dogs, Long Drives & Cell Phones

"Once that Bad Haotong comes in, you just tell him to go away... I literally just tell that guy, @*&$ off, leave me alone. " - Haotong Li on exorcising some demons on-course. Simple, yet effective—for him. I however sit 0-1 on this approach. Told my rocket pull with the driver to @#&^ off and proceeded to slice my next one into someone's patio.

Quirks from early action at the U.S Open

CORN DOGS, LONG DRIVES & CELL PHONES

After a blustery first day of action at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, there's already been plenty of quirky moments worth shouting out.

The first being an iconic snack at the turn choice from Sungjae Im who saw your glizzy and raised you a corn dog. And might I take this time to not only call out that corn dogs are a criminally underrated food but also that they may actually be superior to the dog from a convenience and portability standpoint alone. 

PLUS, it reminds me of what was my all-time favorite breakfast growing up as an impressionable junior high kid in suburban Illinois... the breakfast corn dog. Purchased from Lord knows where... they were a breakfast sausage wrapped in a pancake. They were stored in the freezer. And I would put down a pair of those almost every day (while supplies lasted). Dipped in syrup, there was no better way to welcome a day.

A second moment from Thursday's action at the U.S. Open was this absolute missile from Bryson. He came into the week in absolute shambles mentally, sharing his exploits with Gemini to help fix his swing, and then putting a brand new TaylorMade Qi4D prototype driver in the bag—specifically designed for 200+mph ball speeds.

Welp, at least that seems to be working as he blasts his drive on 12 up to the road that cuts in at, what I can only assume the tournament organizers thought was a safe, 340-ish yards. The ball took a one hop off the road and then rolled out another almost 100 yards to record 427 yards and a flip wedge in. 

Cool.

Speaking of long drives, the final shout from early U.S. Open action was this moment caught during a practice round. As you see above, Gary outdrove Scottie and Sam Burns by 60-70 yards on 14.

But he didn't stop there as he pulled out a rangefinder to check the distance and then proceeded to call them up to share the update. An absolute all-time long drive move that I dream of pulling off one day. Not on another adult, per se, but I do foresee doing this to either Jack or Russ one day. That will be a nice moment for me—and a learning moment for them. Or potentially turn them off of the sport entirely.

Worth it.

The Will Ferrell Press Blitz Continues

NETFLIX KNOWS HOW TO HYPE

Whoever makes up the Netflix event marketing team, you all are cookin'—like constantly.

Their latest is to support the premiere of The Hawk; the new golf comedy starring Will Ferrell coming on July 16th. And it features a multi-stop bus tour that began at Pinehurst and fake Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Lonnie on-site. Will attempted Bryson's infamous bunker shot on 18 and created a frenzy with the fans—throwing out the iconic fluffy haired Hawk visors.

The tour then features a stop this weekend in the Hamptons alongside the U.S. Open, a stop at the Travelers Pro-Am next week, and then rounds it out with a stop at Netflix House in Pennsylvania.

What's Netflix House? Apparently, Netflix just set up an experiential, immersive museum type building in PA to honor, well, all things Netflix. Why choose King of Prussia, PA? It's a memorable town name—and I don't have a clue. But Lonnie will be there the week of the premiere so if maybe stop by?

Something new is afoot.

GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE—BAD BIRDIE & PAYNTR

The team went wild this week with the release of our first-ever golf shoe featuring an Americana vibe. Every detail was custom-designed with Payntr and while this drop sold out FAST—stay tuned because I'm pretty sure the team wasn't done yet.

Super clean and the devil is in the details—the red, white and blue eyelets were a personal favorite touch.