In late June, Nick Bienz went viral. His story appeared on ESPN and Fox, and he was interviewed on the Pat McAfee show. To say the notoriety took the part-time pro and part-time Golf Galaxy employee by surprise would be an understatement. I caught up with Bienz eight weeks after his viral moment to discuss what that week was like, how his game is, and what is next for the Indiana native.
It all started when I sat down with Nick after he shot a 65 at the Rocket Mortgage Monday qualifier in late June. The former IUPUI grad had never qualified for a PGA Tour sanctioned event, not Korn Ferry Tour or Canada, and certainly not a PGA Tour event. Nick had a few beers as he waited for scores to come in to see if he would get in. Three, to be precise.
I interviewed him as he waited, and his story started to gain some traction. Then four other 65s came in, and Nick found himself in a playoff—five players for four spots, only one of whom was three beers deep. The story gained more traction. Throughout the eight-hole playoff, Bienz played flawlessly, making seven straight pars before birdieing the eighth hole to earn a spot in the Rocket Mortgage. The story continued to grow.
Later that night, I put Bienz's Venmo up, and donations poured in. He has appeared on almost every national sports show, including the popular McAfee show.
The first PGA Tour event for any player is daunting. Add in the media circus around Bienz that week, and it was no surprise that he missed the cut by nine.
"There were a lot of distractions that week, but I wouldn't ever trade that experience for anything, and there is no way to know I would have played well without all of that," Bienz told me.
After his round Friday, Bienz met up with friends who had made the trek to Detroit to watch him play, and the crew went out on the course to watch golf. People were buying Bienz beers and despite missing the cut, he said, "I had the time of my life."
The following Sunday, I was caddying for Mark Baldwin during a practice round for the John Deere Classic. On one of the holes, a pro in a cart was playing by himself – it was Nick. It summed up pro golf perfectly: three days prior, he was the most talked-about person on golf Twitter and here he was – alone playing a practice round for a Monday qualifier. "Life comes at you quick," he joked as I approached him that day.
He missed that Monday by four and went home to finally take a breath and make some decisions with his fiance, Sarah.
"Even though I missed the cut by a lot, it gave me confidence that I could compete out there. Going in, I honestly wasn't sure I was good enough." He went on to say that he knew that he still had a lot to work on and needed to improve, the week gave him confidence that he could compete.
Bienz received over $15,000 after I put his Venmo out, something he called "life-changing." He also signed a contract with Golf Galaxy, his employer, for the sponsorship of this bag the week of the Rocket Mortgage The money he earned that week has allowed him to cut his hours down significantly, although he still has to work some to keep his spot in the Indiana PGA section.
"For the first time, I will be able to fully prepare for Q-school," Bienz told me as we caught up. He will be playing the first stage of Q-school in his home state for the first time.
The money also allowed him to play some events he hadn’t been able to in the past. Bienz played in the Iowa Open this summer and shot a final round 66. The score of six-under was the best of the day, beating the field average by over seven strokes and allowing Bienz to move up 22 spots and finish in a tie for sixth.
Bienz also continued to play well in some events he was familiar with back in Indiana. A year after winning the Indiana Open, he finished fifth. A final round 69 at the Indiana Assistant Championship resulted in a runner-up finish, and he won a one-day section event for $2,000 in mid-August.
According to Bienz, his good play makes him feel like he belongs.
October will bring the only event that really matters: Q-school. Bienz knows he is just one of a thousand or so players looking to defy the odds and earn a PGA Tour or Korn Ferry card. For the first time, he believes he has a chance.
And yes, if he gets his Tour card, he will enjoy a few beers.
I interviewed him as he waited, and his story started to gain some traction. Then four other 65s came in, and Nick found himself in a playoff—five players for four spots, only one of whom was three beers deep. The story gained more traction. Throughout the eight-hole playoff, Bienz played flawlessly, making seven straight pars before birdieing the eighth hole to earn a spot in the Rocket Mortgage. The story continued to grow.
Later that night, I put Bienz's Venmo up, and donations poured in. He has appeared on almost every national sports show, including the popular McAfee show.
The first PGA Tour event for any player is daunting. Add in the media circus around Bienz that week, and it was no surprise that he missed the cut by nine.
"There were a lot of distractions that week, but I wouldn't ever trade that experience for anything, and there is no way to know I would have played well without all of that," Bienz told me.
After his round Friday, Bienz met up with friends who had made the trek to Detroit to watch him play, and the crew went out on the course to watch golf. People were buying Bienz beers and despite missing the cut, he said, "I had the time of my life."
The following Sunday, I was caddying for Mark Baldwin during a practice round for the John Deere Classic. On one of the holes, a pro in a cart was playing by himself – it was Nick. It summed up pro golf perfectly: three days prior, he was the most talked-about person on golf Twitter and here he was – alone playing a practice round for a Monday qualifier. "Life comes at you quick," he joked as I approached him that day.
He missed that Monday by four and went home to finally take a breath and make some decisions with his fiance, Sarah.
"Even though I missed the cut by a lot, it gave me confidence that I could compete out there. Going in, I honestly wasn't sure I was good enough." He went on to say that he knew that he still had a lot to work on and needed to improve, the week gave him confidence that he could compete.
Bienz received over $15,000 after I put his Venmo out, something he called "life-changing." He also signed a contract with Golf Galaxy, his employer, for the sponsorship of this bag the week of the Rocket Mortgage The money he earned that week has allowed him to cut his hours down significantly, although he still has to work some to keep his spot in the Indiana PGA section.
"For the first time, I will be able to fully prepare for Q-school," Bienz told me as we caught up. He will be playing the first stage of Q-school in his home state for the first time.
The money also allowed him to play some events he hadn’t been able to in the past. Bienz played in the Iowa Open this summer and shot a final round 66. The score of six-under was the best of the day, beating the field average by over seven strokes and allowing Bienz to move up 22 spots and finish in a tie for sixth.
Bienz also continued to play well in some events he was familiar with back in Indiana. A year after winning the Indiana Open, he finished fifth. A final round 69 at the Indiana Assistant Championship resulted in a runner-up finish, and he won a one-day section event for $2,000 in mid-August.
According to Bienz, his good play makes him feel like he belongs.
October will bring the only event that really matters: Q-school. Bienz knows he is just one of a thousand or so players looking to defy the odds and earn a PGA Tour or Korn Ferry card. For the first time, he believes he has a chance.
And yes, if he gets his Tour card, he will enjoy a few beers.
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