How a tipsy Golf Galaxy worker simply certified for a PGA Tour occasion

Nick Bienz was unusually nervous, and so he did what many unusually nervous folks do. He ordered a drink.

After which a second.

After which a 3rd.

After which, solely after the third beer was in his system, he discovered that he had cause to be much more nervous. Which is how Bienz, a Golf Galaxy employee with a grand whole of zero main professional begins, wound up striding out to a playoff for a spot on this week’s Rocket Mortgage Basic a bit … tipsy.

Bienz’s luck begins with considered one of professional golf’s most ruthless traditions, the Monday qualifier. Most weeks in the course of the Tour season, these one-day, win-and-in occasions are a lifeline for these on the fringes of the professional recreation. Present up, play 18 holes, and in case you rating properly sufficient, you can also end up taking part in in an actual PGA Tour discipline with an actual probability at a payday — however do be sure you carry your recreation, as a result of on many weeks even a rating within the mid-60s isn’t sufficient to earn your method into the sphere.

Bienz, who’s a registered professional golfer however has by no means competed greater than the state-open stage, discovered himself within the Rocket Mortgage Monday qualifier discipline in a lot the identical headspace. His day job at Golf Galaxy afforded him the liberty to compete within the Monday qualifier, however that will most likely be on a regular basis off he wanted.

However then play started and issues went haywire: Bienz fired a shocking 65, and out of the blue discovered himself with the clubhouse lead. He returned contained in the clubhouse at The Orchards Golf Membership in Washington, Mich., and commenced the lengthy anticipate the remainder of the sphere to clear, which is when he met up with Monday Q Info’s Ryan French and commenced to sip on a beer.

After which a second beer. After which a 3rd.

By the point he reached the underside of the glass, it turned clear {that a} 65 wouldn’t be sufficient to get Bienz into the Rocket Mortgage Basic. A five-for-four playoff ensued, and Bienz trudged again onto the course a bit wobbly.

“Keep in mind how I stated three beers can be an ideal quantity?” He instructed French. “Nicely, I’m good.”

Ultimately, after greater than eight holes of Monday Insanity, the qualifier got here to an finish with Bienz as one of many winners. The Golf Galaxy worker is considered one of 156 gamers within the discipline at this week’s PGA Tour occasion — and competing for a chunk of greater than $9 million (!) on the Rocket Mortgage Basic.

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a information and options editor at GOLF, writing tales for the web site and journal. He manages the Scorching Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and makes use of his on-camera expertise throughout the model’s platforms. Previous to becoming a member of GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse College, throughout which era he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Lengthy Island, the place he’s from. He may be reached at [email protected].