Ryan Blaum didn’t want to just sit around and play video games. He had just graduated from Duke and was in the process of getting his golf career off the ground. He had some down time, though, and he was looking for something worthwhile to do. “Duke is one of the rare universities where you get out of college and you have more time on your hands because of how much school and golf took up,â€� he explains. “So, I was trying to pick up some hobby that was productive. I didn’t want to play Halo on my Xbox.â€� A friend of his who was in a band suggested Blaum learn to play the drums. But not just any drum. He helped Blaum buy a djembe, which is a rope-tuned, skin-covered goblet drum from West Africa. Blaum was still living in Durham, North Carolina at the time. He volunteered with the Athletes in Action at Duke and as it turns out, he could incorporate the djembe into that campus ministry. And it’s hard to imagine an instrument better suited to worship leading. The name djembe comes from the Bambara saying “Anke Dje, ank beâ€� – which means: everyone gather together in peace. “I had no idea what I was doing,â€� admits Blaum, who was part of a trio with the other two playing the guitar. “Usually the percussion player kind of sets the beat and leads. Well, when you’re a rookie like I was I kind of just following the veteran doing my own thing.â€� The djembe, which stands about 30 inches tall, is a versatile drum. A skilled player like Blaum can produce at least three distinct sounds – bass, tone and slap – depending on how and where the drum is struck. “You basically kind of put it between your legs and play like that,â€� Blaum says. “So it’s like tilted out and then you can play and there’s different kind of noises and stuff you can make based off where you hit on the drum. “Like the middle of it would be more like the bass kind of sound and (when you) hit the outskirts (it’s) kind of like hitting wood like where to tap a guitar.â€� Blaum says he can’t sing “worth a lickâ€� but he’s always enjoyed the instrumental side, an interest he got from his grandfather, who played the trumpet. In fact, Blaum played the saxophone in high school– he was first chair in the band at Westminster Christian in Miami that won the state title. He still has the saxophone, too. “Christmas time I tend to bring it out and just do a private show for my wife, just play some Christmas songs — even like ‘Amazing Grace’ is probably my favorite thing to play,â€� Blaum says. The second-year PGA TOUR pro’s current hobby is far removed from music, though. He bought a surfboard last summer and “that’s kind of what happens when I have time on my hands,â€� Blaum says. An estimated “20 handicap at surfing,â€� Blaum nonetheless was able to get up on a board the first time he tried it. He also did some skimboarding when he was growing up in Miami. “The getting up aspect and balance aspect is actually great for golf and kind of translates,â€� he says. “You go, you can be out there alone in nature kind of like when we practice on our own. “There’s a lot of things that are parallel. It’s cool.â€� The Jacksonville Beach area in Florida near where Blaum lives has good waves – “probably top three of the East Coast,â€� he says. Right now, though, he’s most comfortable on the sand beaches of his home state. “Lot of places that I want to go are surf underneath breaking over a reef,â€� Blaum says. “I’m not experienced enough for that yet. I need to be smart about it.â€� Not that he’s ready for one or anything but Blaum has a working knowledge of surfing competitions, too. In an interview when he played in the Wyndham Championship, he mentioned an event being held the same week on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. “I kind of watch that,â€� Blaum says. “I envy those guys. But I take them to play golf and they envy me.â€�
Ryan Blaum on music, surfing and life beyond golf
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Mitsubishi Electric Classic | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Stewart Cink | +450 |
Steven Alker | +500 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | +1200 |
Stephen Ames | +1200 |
Alex Cejka | +1400 |
David Toms | +1400 |
Y E Yang | +1800 |
Brian Gay | +2500 |
Kevin Sutherland | +2500 |
Paul Broadhurst | +2500 |
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2nd Round 2-Balls – Merritt-Streb / Sloan-Teater | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Roger Sloan / Josh Teater | +110 |
Troy Merritt / Robert Streb | +100 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – S.H. Kim-Bae / Smalley-Schmid | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Smalley / Matti Schmid | -130 |
S.H. Kim / Sangmoon Bae | +140 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Tarren-Skinns / Rai-Lipsky | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai / David Lipsky | -130 |
Callum Tarren / David Skinns | +140 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Hall-Piercy / Hossler-Ryder | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Beau Hossler / Sam Ryder | -130 |
Harry Hall / Scott Piercy | +140 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Pereda-Cook / Tosti-Potter | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Alejandro Tosti / Ted Potter Jr | -135 |
Raul Pereda / Austin Cook | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Eckroat-Gotterup / Mitchell-Dahmen | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat / Chris Gotterup | +110 |
Keith Mitchell / Joel Dahmen | +100 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Molinari-Donald / Wallace-Olesen | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Francesco Molinari / Luke Donald | +130 |
Matt Wallace / Thorbjorn Olesen | -120 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Morikawa-Kitayama – McIIroy-Lowry | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama | +135 |
Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry | -125 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Johnson-Palmer / Cole-Cochran | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Eric Cole / Russ Cochran | +200 |
Zach Johnson / Ryan Palmer | -180 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Horschel-Alexander / Taylor-Hadwin | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Billy Horschel / Tyson Alexander | +135 |
Nick Taylor / Adam Hadwin | -125 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Malnati-Knox / Lee-M. Kim | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
K.H. Lee / Michael Kim | -110 |
Peter Malnati / Russell Knox | +125 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Fitzpatrick-Fitzpatrick / Hojgaard-Hojgaard | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick | +110 |
Nicolai Hojgaard / Rasmus Hojgaard | +100 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Lashley-Campos / Young-Martin | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Carson Young / Ben Martin | +115 |
Nate Lashley / Rafael Campos | -105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Woodland-Hodges / Reavie-Snedeker | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Chez Reavie / Brandt Snedeker | +130 |
Gary Woodland / Lee Hodges | -120 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Gutschewski-Byrd / D. Wu-Lower | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Dylan Wu / Justin Lower | -160 |
Scott Gutschewski / Jonathan Byrd | +175 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Streelman-Laird / B. Taylor-O’Hair | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Taylor / Sean O’Hair | +105 |
Kevin Streelman / Martin Laird | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Shelton-Furr / Crowe-Higgs | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Robby Shelton / Wilson Furr | +105 |
Trace Crowe / Harry Higgs | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Norrman-Campillo / Sigg-Hadley | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Greyson Sigg / Chesson Hadley | +105 |
Vincent Norrman / Jorge Campillo | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Xiong-McCormick / Springer-Whitney | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Hayden Springer / Tom Whitney | +105 |
Norman Xiong / Ryan McCormick | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Pi. Coody-Pa. Coody / Silverman-Dougherty | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Silverman / Kevin Dougherty | +105 |
Parker Coody / Pierceson Coody | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Chappell-Dufner / Thompson-Novak | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Davis Thompson / Andrew Novak | -170 |
Kevin Chappell / Jason Dufner | +185 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Whaley-Long / Kraft-Tway | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Kelly Kraft / Kevin Tway | +105 |
Vince Whaley / Adam Long | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Higgo-Fox / Yu-Pan | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Garrick Higgo / Ryan Fox | +105 |
Kevin Yu / C.T. Pan | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Vegas-Burgoon / Stevens-Barjon | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Jhonattan Vegas / Bronson Burgoon | +105 |
Sam Stevens / Paul Barjon | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Montgomery-Griffin / Detry-McIntyre | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Montgomery / Ben Griffin | +120 |
Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre | -110 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Yuan-Dou / Ghim-C. Kim | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Carl Yuan / Zecheng Dou | +155 |
Doug Ghim / Chan Kim | -145 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Theegala-Zalatoris / Cantlay-Schauffele | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay / Xander Schauffele | -115 |
Sahith Theegala / Will Zalatoris | +125 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Ramey-Trainer / Brehm-Hubbard | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Chad Ramey / Martin Trainer | +105 |
Ryan Brehm / Mark Hubbard | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Hardy-Riley / Garnett-Straka | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Brice Garnett / Sepp Straka | +100 |
Nick Hardy / Davis Riley | +110 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Spaun-Buckley / T. Moore-NeSmith | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
J.J. Spaun / Hayden Buckley | +135 |
Taylor Moore / Matt NeSmith | -125 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Kisner-Brown / Hoge-McNealy | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Kevin Kisner / Scott Brown | +260 |
Tom Hoge / Maverick McNealy | -230 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Echavarria-Greyserman / Champ-Daffue | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Champ / MJ Daffue | +105 |
Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Kuchar-Stricker / Conners-Pendrith | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Corey Conners / Taylor Pendrith | -150 |
Matt Kuchar / Steve Stricker | +160 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – List-Norlander – Hoffman-Watney | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Charley Hoffman / Nick Watney | +145 |
Luke List / Henrik Norlander | -130 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Berger-Perez / Putnam-Highsmith | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Putnam / Joe Highsmith | +105 |
Daniel Berger / Victor Perez | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Kohles-Kizzire / Blair-Fishburn | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Kohles / Patton Kizzire | -110 |
Zac Blair / Patrick Fishburn | +120 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Phillips-Bridgeman / Barnes-Endycott | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Chandler Phillips / Jacob Bridgeman | -120 |
Erik Barnes / Harrison Endycott | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – B. Wu-Nicholas / Suh-Hoey | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Brandon Wu / James Nicholas | +130 |
Justin Suh / Rico Hoey | -120 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Stanger-Dumont de Chassart / Lawrence-Potgieter | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Jimmy Stanger / Adrien Dumont de Chassart | +105 |
Thriston Lawrence / Aldrich Potgieter | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
2nd Round 2-Balls – Meissner-Smotherman / Hale-Haley | |
Type: Including Tie – Status: OPEN | |
Blaine Hale Jr / Paul Haley II | +175 |
Mac Meissner / Austin Smotherman | -160 |
Tie | +750 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
Win Any Remaining Signature Event | -200 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | +115 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +135 |
All Remaining Signature Events – Top 10 Finish | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +210 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +240 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +280 |
Win 2 Remaining Signature Events | +450 |
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PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Max Homa | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
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US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +200 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |