Golf is Awesome: YouTube’s Peter Finch Advances Through Regional Qualifying for The Open

I’ve always been a sucker for people achieving their goals. Seeing an athlete, an artist, hell, an accountant, finally realize a dream that’s kept them going for years is the #GoodStuff. I can’t tell you how many times my eyes have swelled up while watching The Rookie—a top-three baseball movie of all-time, by the way, shoutout Dennis Quaid.

If you’re like me, I’ve got your next watch locked and loaded.

Peter Finch is one of the OG YouTube golfers. He and Rick Shiels have been doing the damn thing since Grant Horvat and the Good Good boys were in middle school math. And for as long as I can remember, Finch has been trying to qualify for The Open.

Peter Finch of England tees off from the 1st hole during Regional Qualifying for the 149th Open at The West Lancashire Golf Club on June 27, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Every year, he goes to Regional Qualifying with the hope of eventually teeing it up in the most historic golf tournament in the world. An opportunity to play for the Claret Jug. As an American, the Masters is No. 1 for me, but The Open isn’t too far behind. For all four tournament days I’m up at 3 a.m., cup of coffee (or three) in hand, and watching the best players in the world take on the masterpiece that is links golf.

I can only imagine how much that tournament means for folks born on the other side of the pond.

But last year’s run was a low point for Pete. After failing to make it through, the Englishman wondered if that was going to be his last try. He wondered if all that work, all that time was worth the effort when all it returned was disappointment.

“I can honestly say, over those first 14 holes, I didn’t have a clue where that ball was going,” Pete said on a podcast at the time. “Not a clue. I just didn’t—I couldn’t feel anything. God, so annoying.”

It’s a good thing he stuck it out.

On Tuesday, Pete shot 1-under during Regional Qualifying at Caldy in high winds to tie for first and advance to Final Qualifying at Dundonald on July 1. He’s one step closer to earning a spot in The Open.

If that isn’t freaking awesome, I don’t know what is.

And as an added bonus, his production crew was on site and documented his whole round. The emotion that Pete shows while watching it back is so, so good. The clapping, the fist pumps, all of it. This meant something to him, and like I said, I’m a sucker for achieving goals.

Do yourself a favor and take 41 minutes and six seconds of your day to watch this video—go get ‘em at Dundonald, Pete!