A Magical Week

Ryan French was texting me furiously the Sunday before last, as Spencer “The GOAT” Levin charged up the leaderboard. Levin lived up to his nickname, closed the tournament spectacularly, and hoisted the Veritex Bank Championship trophy for his first world-ranked win. Not wanting to impose on one of his favorite players, French patiently waited for Levin's response to an invitation to the Any Given Monday podcast. Yesterday, Levin appeared, unshaven, and looking down on the camera from a hero's perspective. You can practically hear the fanboy in French's voice. 

Two weeks ago, Spencer Levin didn’t really have a job. Well, he had a job in the way a NASCAR contender turned Uber driver has a job. The man with 341 combined starts between the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours, and 147 made cuts on the PGA Tour, didn’t have a regular place to compete. Once known as a PGA Tour bad boy - seen burning cigarettes, punting his hat, or tossing clubs - Levin, now 38, has matured. Playing professional golf long enough will have that effect.    

Levin finished t-45 at Korn Ferry Tour Q-school at the end of last season, one shot shy of earning eight guaranteed starts in the 2023 season. His Q-school finish gained him starts in just three of the first six events, where he missed two cuts and tied for 50th place in his only weekend appearance. But there were signs of life. 

Levin arrived in Dallas for the Veritex Bank Championship Monday qualifier high on his game and low on expectations. If you want to find a formula for golf success, look no further. It was the Korn Ferry Tour's seventh tournament of the season, and the second to last before the Tour reshuffled player eligibility for the next month. This was potentially Levin’s last chance to improve his ranking before the reshuffle. 

“I just kind of went there to do a Monday and have an excuse to hang out with a buddy,” Levin says in the Any Given Monday podcast with Ryan French. “I was hitting it good at home and that was positive. So I figured I’d give it a shot.” 

Players know unless they can get to six under par or better in a Monday qualifier they don't have a chance. Even when a Tour player is playing well, shooting a score that low at the perfect time is incredibly fortunate. 

“It was just one of those days where I went out there and played well on the front and I got on a little run,” Levin says. He discovered the elusive feeling golfers capture a few times a year. Levin knew if he could just get in the tournament he would excel.  “Once I got to five or six under I just really hoped I was going to make it.”

As expected, once Levin earned a spot in the event, he thrived. With rounds of 66, 68 and 67, he entered the final round six shots behind Australian, Brett Drewitt. 

“I woke up that day and I wasn’t even thinking about winning,” says Levin.

It happened fast on Sunday - eight birdies, no bogeys, and the clubhouse lead. Levin barely had time to feel nervous. He stood atop a putting green perch, overlooking the par 5 finishing hole where Brett Drewitt needed an eagle to force a playoff. 

“A lot of my buddies were saying you won, you won, and I was like, not yet. I was trying to get in that mindset where if he makes eagle - don’t feel defeated.” Drewitt left himself a straightforward chip and a must-make situation. As the chip rolled toward the cup, the stillness of the crowd turned to a murmur and the ball had a chance. The second and a half where the ball tracked toward the hole appeared in slow motion to Levin. The ball ricocheted off the pin, the crowd roared, and Levin won.  

Levin breathed a sigh of relief and his phone flooded with messages. “I had over 300 text messages,” he says. “All my boys on Tour texted me…My phone started acting weird. A lot of the big name guys on Tour texted me.” Levin retreated with his friends back to their house where he quietly celebrated. It’s been over 10 years since he’s had a cigarette, and two since he’s had a drink. 

“I’m like the soberist guy you know these days,” Levin says. “I drank some ‘non-alchs’ and they drank for me. It was just a fun night. Telling old stories…it was a fun night.”

Levin says everything aligned in a mystical way he’d only heard other players talk about. “It was a magical week, man. It really was. I saw an old friend I hadn’t seen in a long time who followed me around the last three rounds. A bunch of little things. Everything was going my way. It went by so quick. It was crazy.”

Levin currently has 147 made cuts on the PGA Tour and needs 150 to gain veteran status. That would mean a substantial increase in his future retirement pension and status on tour for years to come. He’d like to continue his stellar play and earn his PGA Tour card, which would give him better status than the veteran category. But he’s not thinking much about that now. 

“Two weeks ago, I didn't have a place to play. Regardless of the pressure, I’m just glad I have golf tournaments to play in. I’m just excited to have a schedule. I’m excited to get back on the road. I’m excited to be lonely in hotels. I’m excited to go play golf for a living.”

In the Any Given Monday podcast, Levin talks about his daughters, his sobriety, the state of play on tour, his hopes of winning again, and the extraordinary week that led to this moment. 

“Not being able to play every week, like I used to in the past few years, I realized how much I love playing golf,” says Levin. “Now that I’ve got my livelihood back, I’m just at ease.” 

Listen to Levin on Any Given Monday on Apple here and on Spotify here.