When a single golf shot goes viral, it’s usually just a quick laugh in the group chat.
But every now and then, a moment hits a nerve with golfers everywhere.
Frankie Borrelli’s now-famous chunked chip at the Internet Invitational is one of those shots. One tight-lie chip. A $1 million first prize on the line. A swing he’s struggled with before.
And then the nightmare outcome: a bladed shot into the water for the world to see.
Tough for Frankie. Incredibly useful for the rest of us.
In this breakdown, I’ll show you what really went on in that moment, how the mental game unravelled, and—most importantly—what you can steal from it for your own next pressure shot.
If you’ve ever felt like golf is “too hard” for how much you care, you’ll connect with this just like readers did with our deep dive on why golf feels impossible and how to enjoy it again.
What Actually Happened In Frankie’s $1 Million Moment
The Internet Invitational has grown into a full-on spectacle, with YouTube personalities and golf creators playing for serious money and even more serious pride.
It’s part of the same creator-driven golf world I wrote about in our piece on what Bob Does Sports can teach you about golf and having fun, and it mirrors the themes covered in the original Golf Digest breakdown of Borrelli’s viral “nightmare” that first brought this moment to the wider golf world.
Frankie Borrelli, from Barstool Sports, found himself at the center of it all.
A tight lie by the green. A shot he doesn’t love at the best of times. Cameras rolling. Teammates watching. Life-changing prize money hanging in the balance.
He knew the story already:
“This is the exact shot I’m afraid of.”
The contact sounded wrong instantly—that hollow clack of a blade rather than the crisp thump of turf. The ball didn’t float; it screamed across the green and plunged directly into the water.
The clip took off online. The instant label was simple and harsh: he choked.
But that’s only part of the story.
To even get to that moment under the lights, Frankie had played well. He’s a 6-handicap with real skill. And in the weeks after, he did something most golfers never do: he went back and studied what actually happened inside his head.
That’s where the real value is—for him, and for you.
Inside Frankie’s Head: When Nerves Become Physical
Frankie has worked with sports psychologist Dr. Bhrett McCabe to build a simple mental process—what they call the “McCabe process.” It’s a way to slow down, stick to a routine, and talk through the shot before pulling the trigger.
He even says some of his best swings in the event came right after his producer quietly reminded him: “McCabe process.”
But at the end? Under maximum pressure?
He did what most golfers do: he rushed.
Frankie usually takes about 12 seconds over the ball. In this moment, video analysis showed he hit it in under 6. Nerves speed up your internal clock.
The nerves didn’t just stay in his head. They turned into something physical. Frankie described looking down and seeing two golf balls. His vision felt off. His body didn’t feel like his own. The more he tried to “not be nervous,” the worse it got.
That’s a key lesson:
The moment you try to fight your nerves, they fight back harder.
Frankie’s big realization afterward was powerful:
The worst-case scenario he’d always feared had actually happened—and he was still OK.
He lost a match, not his identity.
If you’ve ever walked off the course after a blow-up hole wondering why you put yourself through this at all, you’ll find a lot of relief in our breakdown of mental golf game strategies for enjoying the sport again. We show you how to rebuild your relationship with the game instead of quitting on it.
Once you’ve lived through your nightmare shot, it loses some of its power over you.
The Practical Lessons You Can Use This Weekend
Let’s turn Frankie’s viral miss into a simple playbook you can actually use on the course.
1. Name The Pressure, Don’t Hide From It
Instead of saying “don’t be nervous” (which never works), try this:
Quietly tell yourself:
“Yes, I’m nervous. It means this shot matters. That’s normal.”Then shift to:
“What does a good version of this shot look like?”
By naming the pressure, you stop wasting energy pretending it’s not there.
If golf has ever felt overwhelming or “too hard,” you’ll get a ton out of reading why golf feels impossible and how to enjoy it again, where we break down exactly why your brain spins out—and how to get back to actually liking the game.
2. Use A Simple 3-Step Pressure Routine
Frankie’s best swings came when he stuck to his process. You can steal a version of that:
Your 3-step pressure routine:
Pick a very small target. Don’t just aim “at the green.” Aim at a leaf, a blade of grass, or the right edge of a bunker.
Take one deep breath while looking at the target. In through your nose for 4 seconds, out through your mouth for 4. Keep your eyes on the target while you breathe.
Make one rehearsal, then swing. One short practice motion that matches the shot you want. Step in. Go. No extra waggles. No extra looks. No “one more thought.”
Try this on one hole in your next round—ideally a shot where you normally feel tension. See how it changes your contact.
For more simple, on-course changes like this, many readers have started with our guide on simple golf tips to play better and have more fun, which is designed to give you quick wins you can test in your very next round.
3. Turn Your Worst Shot Into A 5-Minute Review
Frankie was forced to relive his miss because the Internet did it for him. You don’t need a viral clip—but you should review your own “nightmare” shots.
After your round, take five minutes and ask:
What was I thinking about during the shot?
Did I rush, or did I follow a routine?
Where did I want the ball to finish? Was I clear enough?
What can I do differently next time? (e.g., walk slower, breathe, pick a smaller target)
Write down one short note on your phone after each round. Over time, you’ll see patterns. That’s how you turn embarrassment into improvement.
If you’ve ever four-putted from nowhere and felt your brain melt, you’ll relate to our story-driven breakdown of what a four-putt bogey really teaches you about golf, which shows how to turn those disasters into real progress instead of shame.
Why This Moment Matters For The Golf Industry
Frankie’s shot was great content. But it also says a lot about where golf media and the golf industry are heading.
1. Golf Content Is Getting More Honest
We’re moving away from polished, highlight-only coverage. Viewers now want to see the misses, the cracks, the real emotion. That’s why this clip took off.
That’s good for the game. When golfers see a 6-handicap chunk a chip on a big stage, it makes the sport feel more human and more welcoming.
In why golf feels impossible and how to enjoy it again, we talk about how that honesty helps players stop chasing perfection and start chasing enjoyment instead—a shift that keeps people in the game.
2. Clubs And Brands Can Learn From These Moments
Clubs, academies, and brands that embrace the mental side of golf will connect more deeply with players.
If you run, work at, or market a golf facility, there’s a big opportunity here: build programs, clinics, and content that help players deal with pressure, not just swing mechanics.
That’s exactly the lens we use in our playbook on strategies to improve your golf club’s member experience, where we show how smarter experiences—not just better conditions—keep members loyal and engaged.
3. Golf Is Shifting From “Score” To “Experience”
The reaction to Frankie’s miss wasn’t just ridicule. A lot of the audience saw themselves in that swing.
That’s a healthy sign.
It means more golfers are starting to care less about impressing others and more about the experience: the drama, the story, the shared vulnerability.
That shift is exactly what keeps people in the game long-term.
If you want a full, practical framework for how to think your way around a round—from the first tee to the last putt—our complete guide to playing 18 holes of golf with better strategy, timing, and etiquette pairs perfectly with this article.
How Golfers And Fans Can Benefit From Moments Like This
For everyday golfers, here’s how to make this viral moment work in your favour:
Use it as a reminder that everyone feels pressure—no matter the handicap.
Copy the parts that help: a simple routine, the idea of accepting nerves, and the practice of reviewing your worst shot instead of avoiding it.
Let it free you up. If Frankie can blow a million-dollar shot on camera and keep playing, you can absolutely take a rip at that tough chip over the bunker on your local course.
If you’re curious about what else we cover, you can browse the full ParTalk archive of stories, guides, and breakdowns to see how we mix pro-level insight with real-world golf life.
And if you want this kind of breakdown in your inbox every week, plus deeper premium lessons you can’t get on social, that’s exactly what our paid members receive.
Final Thoughts & Invitation
Frankie Borrelli’s viral “nightmare” will live online for a long time. But the real takeaway isn’t that he choked.
It’s that:
Pressure is normal.
Nerves are manageable.
Routine beats chaos.
And the worst moment you can imagine might just be the start of you becoming a calmer, smarter golfer.
If you enjoy breaking down moments like this and turning them into real tools you can use on the course, that’s exactly what we do every week at ParTalk.
In every edition, we go deeper than the headline—whether it’s mental-game fixes, creator-driven golf drama, or the industry shifts that actually affect how you play.
You can learn more about the newsletter and our approach on the ParTalk about page, and if you’re ready to go beyond free previews, consider becoming a paid subscriber so you don’t miss the premium breakdowns, case studies, and practical tools we reserve for members.
See you in the next issue.
—Hakan | Founder, ParTalk.com, Your Weekly Golf Buddy