Against the Grain: May 15, 2026

🧊 Rory McIlroy Describes His Round in Four Letters

Rory shot 74 and summed up his day with “SHIT.” Tied for 105th at a major championship. The man who’s supposed to be chasing Scottie just threw in the towel with one word that perfectly captures where his game is right now.

Look, we’ve all been there. Sometimes golf beats you so thoroughly that eloquence goes out the window and you’re left with the purest human response possible. Props to Rory for the honesty, but maybe save the four-letter summaries for after you’ve actually tried to make the cut?? (source)

💰 Someone Really Tested a $1,000 Putter Against 28 Others

MyGolfSpy actually went and tested a THOUSAND DOLLAR mallet putter to see if it’s worth more than your car payment. They compared it to 28 other putters because apparently this is what passes for journalism now.

Here’s the thing about expensive putters: they work exactly as well as your confidence in them. You could putt lights-out with a Wilson from 1987 if you truly believed it was magic. But sure, let’s convince weekend warriors that the difference between breaking 80 and not is definitely that extra $800 in their flatstick. The equipment industrial complex is truly undefeated – just look at how LAB Golf revolutionized putting technology or how companies keep pushing the boundaries of what golfers will pay. (source)

🎯 Russell Henley’s Using a $200 Used Driver and It’s the Most Accurate on Tour

While everyone’s dropping four figures on the latest titanium miracle, Russell Henley is out here being the most accurate driver on Tour with something you can buy used for UNDER $200. (source)

🌋 Jon Rahm’s Divot Tantrum Hits a Volunteer

Jon Rahm got so mad about a shot that he YEETED a divot in anger and it hit a volunteer. He apologized afterward, which is nice, but maybe keep your grass missiles away from the paying customers who are just trying to watch some golf?

This is exactly the kind of unhinged behavior that the new “Major Player Code of Conduct” was probably designed to prevent. Speaking of which, they’ve introduced new rules about player behavior at majors, and honestly it’s about time. Golf’s gentleman’s game reputation has been taking some hits lately when pros are launching turf at spectators. Remember when Jon Rahm was dealing with his $3 million fine situation? Maybe it’s time for some anger management along with those financial penalties. (source)

⏰ Garrick Higgo Shows Up Late, Gets Penalized 2 Strokes

Imagine being late to your office job and your boss docks you two days’ pay. That’s basically what happened to Garrick Higgo at the PGA Championship. Only time will tell how much those 2 strokes cost him (and his caddy) financially (source)

🎬 YouTube Golfer Makes Birdie at PGA Championship

Some YouTube golfer got to try making birdie at the PGA Championship and actually pulled it off. Reddit is calling it a “great gesture by the PGA” which is a weird way to describe what’s essentially a publicity stunt.

Look, content creation is the new reality of golf. The lines between semi-professional players and YouTube personalities are completely blurred now, and honestly that’s not necessarily bad. These creators are bringing new eyeballs to the game. But let’s not pretend this was some charitable moment — it was marketing, and it worked perfectly. Everyone’s talking about it. (source)

👟 Tour Pros Still Trust Spikes While You Buy Spikeless

Here’s a fun stat: 65% of golf shoe sales at retail are spikeless, but Tour pros still overwhelmingly play with spikes. You’re buying comfort, they’re buying performance. Makes sense when your paycheck depends on not slipping during your swing, but it’s hilarious that amateurs are choosing fashion over function while complaining about their scores. As we’ve covered before, spiked golf shoes are making a comeback among serious players who prioritize grip over style. (source)

💊 Scottie’s $10 “Secret” Is Just a Molded Grip

A PGA pro shot 8-under and qualified for the British PGA Championship thanks to Scottie Scheffler’s “$10 open secret” — which turns out to be a basic molded grip. Not exactly the revolutionary equipment breakthrough the headline promised, but sure, let’s act like Scottie’s success comes from his grip choice and not from being supernaturally good at golf. (source)

🥩 Martin Kaymer Got Roasted at the Champions Dinner

Someone at the PGA Championship Champions Dinner had the audacity to ask Martin Kaymer if he was even playing this week. His response?? “I’m not flying from Europe to have a New York strip with you guys… Of course I’m playing.”

Imagine flying across an ocean for dinner and having someone basically ask if you’re retired. That’s brutal even by golf standards, but Kaymer’s comeback was perfect. Sometimes the disrespect is so obvious it writes your motivation speech for you. (source)

That’s the week that was — divots flying at volunteers, $1,000 putters getting lab-tested, and Champions Dinner trash talk. At least Scottie’s still winning tournaments because some things never change.