As he waited for the ultimate scores to publish at Monday’s open qualifier for the Rocket Mortgage Traditional, Nick Bienz was engaged on his second beer.
Bienz had simply fired a 7-under 65, tied with two others for the clubhouse lead. With only a few teams left to show of their scorecards, Bienz, who’s from Indianapolis and works at Golf Galaxy to assist fund his pro-golf profession, was trying like he’d keep away from a playoff and earn his first profession PGA Tour begin later this week at Detroit Golf Membership.
“I want each ounce of alcohol to calm the nervous system and never vomit throughout myself,” Bienz advised Monday Q Data’s Ryan French, who was on the qualifier. “That’s the place we’re at proper now.”
If this 4 minutes doesn’t make you like Mondays I can’t provide help to.
Nick Bienz works at Golf Galaxy, has by no means performed any pga tour sanctioned occasion, he’s so nervous he’s pounding beers. Simply shot 65.
Please take the time to observe this. pic.twitter.com/BeXgsjiWFv— Monday Q Data (@acaseofthegolf1) June 24, 2024
However then two extra 65s got here in, and Bienz discovered himself in a 5-for-4 playoff with Beau Breault, Danny Guise, Brandon Berry and Angelo Giantsopolous.
In regulation, Bienz was bogey-free and 4 beneath by way of 14 holed when he caught his second shot to three ft at No. 15 and made eagle. He capped his spherical by rolling in a 12-footer for birdie.
“I blacked out,” Bienz mentioned of that final putt.
He then downed three beers in whole. French reported that as Bienz walked to the primary tee for the playoff, he mentioned to him, “Keep in mind how I mentioned three beers can be an ideal quantity? Properly, I’m excellent.”
I’ve by no means rooted for somebody so onerous within the playoff. Nick Bienz glided by me right here and mentioned.
“Keep in mind how I mentioned 3 beers can be an ideal quantity? Properly I’m excellent”.
I can’t let you know how a lot I like this. pic.twitter.com/nV9ERc8rbe
— Monday Q Data (@acaseofthegolf1) June 24, 2024
Berry birdied the primary playoff gap, leaving the opposite 4 gamers, together with Bienz, to battle for 3 spots. On the sixth playoff gap, Giantsopoulos canned a 40-footer for birdie to earn a spot for himself.
After which, lastly, on the eighth gap of sudden demise, Bienz holed a 4-footer for birdie to get by way of. Guise additionally birdied the outlet to advance.
Nick Bienz has by no means performed a pga tour sanctioned occasion. He has by no means performed an occasion greater than a state open. He pounded 3 beers earlier than the playoff.
He simply certified for the Rocket Mortgage. pic.twitter.com/UM5aP37oyz
— Monday Q Data (@acaseofthegolf1) June 24, 2024
Bienz performed faculty golf at Indiana College-Indianapolis (previously IUPUI), graduating in 2019. He gained the Indiana Open final yr. He normally works about three days per week at Golf Galaxy through the summer time, getting in apply time earlier than or after work on certainly one of his retailer’s 9 TrackMan bays when he can’t sneak away to the golf course. He had deliberate to work the following three days earlier than leaving for the John Deere Traditional pre-qualifier.
His plans, in fact, have modified. He’ll now head to Detroit Golf Membership to register and begin his prep earlier than teeing off in Thursday’s first spherical, the primary PGA Tour-sanctioned spherical of his profession. He’s additionally exempt from pre-qualifiers for the remainder of the season.
“I didn’t even pack garments for this week,” Bienz mentioned. “Each time I’d go to a Monday for a Korn Ferry Occasion, I used to pack like eight days’ price of garments; by no means made it by way of, so now I’ve gone to the technique of pack simply sufficient for the Monday and we’ll determine it out if we have to.”
Time to determine it out.
