It seems like you don’t see much golf on TV;
Shots fly higher, stop faster, and curve in ways others can only dream of imitating. We may play by the same rules, but we are far from getting the same results.
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But every now and then, universes tear apart, parallel worlds collide, and the games being broadcast into our homes become almost…recognizable.
This weekend was one of those times.
Across the Atlantic, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler moved closer to mediocrity after failing to qualify for the first time in 78 starts at the Genesis Scottish Open. Meanwhile, at the Evian Championship in France, Nelly Korda posted mid-handicapper putting numbers, hitting 64 in two days to end a rare off weekend. Last but not least, on the shores of Lake Tahoe, Charles Barkley, the world’s best-improved bad golfer, reverted to his old ways, piling up bogeys and then punctuating a miserable hole with a club-swinging fit after a chunk of chips.
Talk about a kindred spirit.
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But the article that resonated most this week wasn’t from Scheffler, Korda, or Sir Charles.
It belonged to Aaron Wise.
It wasn’t because he played poorly. In fact, the opposite is true. Wise weathered that very well, going into Sunday’s final pairing with Lucas Glover at the ISCO Championship in Louisville, and fought to the end, missing out on the playoffs by one stroke.
However, it wasn’t the near miss that resonated. It was the generosity and introspection of a player who has faced challenges over the past few years that had nothing to do with his swing.
Asked late Saturday afternoon if he could get back into the winner’s circle for the first time in over eight years, what would that mean for him?
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“It feels like it’s a long way off, but it would mean the world,” Wise said. “That was a dream when I was going through what I’ve been through. That’s the end goal, that’s the dream. There were a lot of times where I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to play here again. So it’s great to have that opportunity.”
What a long and arduous journey!
After winning the NCAA individual title in 2016, Wise turned pro and wasted little time making good on his promise. He took on Byron Nelson in his 26th PGA Tour start in 2018, earning Rookie of the Year honors that season and rising to No. 33 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Then the trajectory changed.
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Days before the 2023 Masters, Wise announced that he would withdraw from Augusta National to focus on his mental health, acknowledging that the competition had taken an overwhelming mental toll. Over the next two seasons, he took time off from full-time competition to focus on his recovery, starting only a few games.
His return is progressing gradually.
This week marks his eighth start on the PGA Tour for the 2026 season and his second Most Valuable Player of the year. But the positive signs extended beyond the leaderboard.
Through his comeback, Wise spoke about a journey that took much longer than expected. He pointed out that there was a time when competing became “toxic” and he didn’t feel accepted or enjoy playing. Along with the help of the people he met while on vacation, the time off helped him develop healthier ways to deal with the pressures that come with playing for a living.
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The job, he said, helped him rediscover what he had been missing: the simple joy of gaming.
“I think whatever happens tomorrow morning, it’s just going to be a learning experience,” Wise said Saturday. “I’m just going to stick to my process, do what I’ve been doing and look at it tomorrow after the chips are down and try to learn from it for the future.”
On Sunday, Wise stood on the first tee at the HCC Championship Course with his wife, Regan, the same caddy he’s relied on for much of the season.
“It’s really just a consolation for me,” he said before the round. “He’s someone I can trust and enjoy spending time with.”
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Sunday unfolded as it often does in golf. There were mistakes, there were recoveries, and there were chances. Wise hung around all afternoon and ultimately needed a birdie to make the playoff, but in the end Stephen Fisk had one and beat Taylor Penrith on the third hole of extra time.
Wise exited tied for third place. Not a victory, but a different kind of victory.
In a week where golf’s biggest names left their best impressions on us with their wayward irons, three-putts, chunks of chips and, yes, club tosses, Wise seems even more familiar. On the course with his closest friends, he’s a golfer who struggles with normal human questions and tries to do his best, but who also understands that there’s more to the game than just the score.
The post “Why this week’s most relatable golfer wasn’t club-throwing Charles Barkley” appeared first on Golf.
