An essential newsletter

While this year’s Halloween will be unusual, we always appreciate a chance to binge-eat candy. Just make sure to get in your fun before the end of daylight savings hits. *Spooky theremin music*

Fall-ing in line

Somewhere out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Peter Malnati is sitting pretty. The 33-year-old notched nine birdies on Thursday en route to a first-round 63 and the solo lead at the Bermuda Championship. Leaderboard

Over his past eight PGA Tour rounds, Malnati is 43 under par and has a scoring average of 66.0 (via Justin Ray). He has shot 63 or better in each of his past three events and has finished T-2 and solo fifth in the past two. In short, he’s on fire. Malnati has never had a season with three top fives, let alone three in a row. He has a long way to go, but 2020-21 is shaping up to be the best season of Peter Malnati’s career.

The lost boys

They didn’t have as good a day as Malnati, but Doug Ghim (64) and Doc Redman (65) are both inside the top five in Bermuda. Finalists at the 2017 U.S. Amateur and members of that year’s Walker Cup team, Ghim and Redman have gotten lost in the shuffle of young talent on the PGA Tour. Redman has been the more successful of the two, finishing 71st in the FedEx Cup standings last season, but Ghim has shown flashes of excellence himself, with a clutch performance at last year’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship and eight top 25s in his PGA Tour career.

The reason Ghim and Redman haven’t attracted more attention? There are simply a lot of hype-worthy youngsters—Morikawa, Wolff, Hovland, Im, Niemann, Scheffler, etc.—who have burst onto the scene lately. The elite ranks of the PGA Tour are getting younger, and that means that some exciting prospects will fly under the radar. For the Ghims and Redmans of the world, events like the Bermuda Championship are big-time opportunities.

Quick Hooks

Kamaiu Johnson, winner of the Advocates Pro Golf Association Tour Championship, has received a sponsor exemption into the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open. “The APGA Tour is doing incredible work to expand the game of golf,” said Farmers CEO Jeff Dailey. “We are thrilled to be able to provide Kamaiu the chance to play in his first-ever PGA Tour tournament.”

Mitch Waite and Johannes Veerman dodged yawning canyons and culinary equipment at Aphrodite Hills Golf Club to fire 64s in the first round of the European Tour’s Cyprus Open. The pair lead by one shot heading into Friday. Leaderboard

Playing on sponsor exemptions, Ollie Schniederjans (66) got the best of younger brother Luke (72) on Thursday at the Bermuda Championship. Meanwhile, Taylor Funk (73) trails his father Fred Funk (69).

Defending Bermuda champion Brendon Todd, who opened with an even-par 71 yesterday, has been playing on a fractured toe. What a beast. Full Story from Golf Digest

In a somewhat surprising move, Callaway and Topgolf announced a merger on Wednesday. The Carlsbad-based equipment manufacturer originally invested in Topgolf in 2006, taking 14% of the company. After the merger, Callaway will have a controlling 51.5% stake in the $2-billion company. Press Release

Bubba Watson spoke with Steve DiMeglio about his battles with anxiety over the years. It’s a thoughtful piece that shines a light on mental health issues in professional sports. Full Story from Golfweek

Vintage Woosie is a delight.

The Latest from The Fried Egg

The Fried Egg, Episode 194: Luke Reese – One for the Memory Banks

Author Luke Reese joins the podcast to talk about his new book One for the Memory Banks. Luke reflects on his experiences learning the game late in life as an American in Scotland and the friendships he made along the way. One for the Memory Banks can be purchased using this link and will include a $10 donation to the National Links Trust.

Shotgun Start: 2020 Halloween golf costume ideas and Friday with Gellerman

Do you think Andy Sullivan is terrified of the murder hornet? With the golf action limited this week, this Friday episode meanders about from some quick thoughts on Bermuda, Cyprus, and Halloween. Brendan and Andy discuss the grotesque injury suffered by Brendon Todd, they marvel at some of the longshots that went low in Bermuda, and ponder the fairway kiln. Then they get to their annual golf-related Halloween costumes segment, brainstorming up some options for the Shotgunners out there. Bryson, CT machines, the Solicitor General, the Ponte Vedra posse, Spieth, and many others are bandied about as potential costume concepts. Then come edify yourself in the waters of Michael Gellerman research, which is also a reason for a U.S. Pub Links tangent. Masters Fact of the Day is a doozy from @Bamabearcat on the original Mackenzie plan for a par-73 course with a little quiz and subsequent discussion on the par-5 that never was. Also, green B. Draddy SGS quarter zips for the final men’s major of 2020 will be 20 percent off through the weekend with promo code FLIMPER—shoutout Sandy Lyle. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Pro Shop

We’re two weeks from everyone’s favorite Augusta, Georgia-based event. Get ready by sporting the Shotgun Start green collection! The new SGS major championship hat is in the pro shop, and through Sunday, save 20% off the green SGS quarter zip with code FLIMPER at checkout.