Emiliano Grillo is a dashing figure in the world of golf, a 23-year-old Argentine phenom who can’t stay away from the leaderboard. Grillo won his very first start as a member of the PGA Tour — something neither Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus managed — winning the October Frys Open in a playoff over veteran Kevin Na. Grillo hits it a long, long way. He’s ranked in the Top 40 and looks like a lock for Rookie of the Year. He’s finished in the Top 15 in six of his last eight starts. And Grillo’s got fans like Jordan Spieth:
EMMMILIIIIIIII first of many wins! Cool seeing the 11s always playing great @GrilloEmiliano @JustinThomas34 @PRodgersGolf @DanielBerger59
— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) October 19, 2015
Grillo looked briefly like he’d contend for the title at the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol, before his putter disagreed. (He got into contention with 12 one-putts in the first two rounds; he got out by missing everything outside five feet on the weekend.) Grillo is adding a dash of international Latino flavor to the 2016 Barclays this weekend — his Argentine flag is the only interruption in a sea of American and Australian flags (Jason Day, Adam Scott) on the leaderboard, topped by American Rickie Fowler. And this weekend Grillo’s putter is in tune. With clubhead speed second to none, expect to see Grillo’s name on the front page on Sunday for the foreseeable future.
