Nick Bienz is meant to report back to work on Thursday morning at 7:30. However the 27-year-old part-time Golf Galaxy worker – he works at one of many tools and attire chain’s shops on the northeast aspect of Indianapolis – received’t be clocking in as a result of he has a 2:22 p.m. ET tee time on the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Traditional in Detroit after securing his place within the subject through an eight-hole playoff in a Monday qualifier.
Somebody please alert his boss.
“I nonetheless haven’t made that decision,” Bienz stated on Wednesday throughout a telephone interview. “I feel he is aware of already. The shop’s group chat has been blowing up. They’ve been very supportive however I by no means technically made that decision.”
Who can blame him? At its peak, Bienz stated he had 920 textual content messages to answer and famous, “I don’t even know that many individuals. It’s superb how my life has turned the wrong way up.”
Bienz shot 65 on Monday at The Orchards Golf Membership in Washington, Michigan, and was enjoyable within the grill room underneath the impression that his rating could be ok to earn one in all 4 spots into the sphere – a life-changing second for somebody who had by no means performed in any PGA Tour-sanctioned event not to mention the large leagues. He stated he has performed in Monday qualifiers earlier than with no luck however this was his first try this 12 months. With a number of teams nonetheless ending their rounds, Bienz loved a celebratory beer or two.
“I would like each ounce of alcohol proper now to calm the nervous system and never attempt to vomit on myself,” Bienz informed Ryan French of Monday Q in a video shared on X, previously referred to as Twitter. “That’s the place we’re at proper now.”
He downed the third beer after realizing he had celebrated prematurely and he nonetheless needed to compete in a playoff. Eight holes later, his dream of enjoying on the PGA Tour turned a actuality. What number of beers did he throw again afterwards?
“Only one,” he stated. “I sat in the identical chair on the golf course for two ½ hours in shock attempting to answer as many texts as I may and all of the logistics for the event.”
First, he FaceTimed his fiancée on the cart journey again to the clubhouse. She was sobbing. “Are you aware that you simply’re well-known?” she requested.
Bienz, who performed his school golf on the Indiana College-Purdue College Indianapolis (IUPUI), had no concept that he had gone viral. Ever since, followers have been sending him cash through Venmo to assist along with his bills, a pal at attire maker TravisMathew despatched him a care bundle of outfits for the week however he stated he hasn’t landed a sponsor but regardless of a number of inquiries together with a beer firm.
“I’m such a rookie at this I don’t even know the logistics of how I’d get a emblem on a shirt in lower than 24 hours,” stated Bienz, who additionally acquired a brand new bag with the brand of his employer Golf Galaxy.
Effectively carried out @golfgalaxy, nicely carried out.
They wished to be the one sponsor for Nick, so that they stepped up and made positive they have been the one one.
The bag seems candy. pic.twitter.com/7u7VJezjeC
— Monday Q Data (@acaseofthegolf1) June 27, 2024
However he already has met Kevin Kisner, who posted on social media that the Tour ought to pair them collectively within the event.
“He got here as much as me and stated, ‘Are you my beer consuming buddy?’ ” Bienz recalled. “Then he stated, ‘The Tour screwed us, bro. I assumed they have been going to pair us collectively.’ ”
Bienz stated on 4 events he’s flunked out of Korn Ferry Tour Q-Faculty and in addition tried the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and Mackenzie Tour twice. His recreation has been in good type. On June 10, he shot 69 on the Northern Open, an Indiana part occasion, and received the one-day event. He has given himself to his wedding ceremony subsequent Could to find out whether or not he’s going to proceed chasing his dream or name it quits and quiet down in an actual job. Relying on how he performs within the Rocket Mortgage Traditional, the place the purse this week is $9.2 million, working in golf retail might be in a galaxy far, far-off for him.
“Thankfully for me this week has thrown an enormous wrench and I actually do not know what’s going to occur from right here,” he stated.
