Drop Zone - GOLF Podcast: Recent Episodes
GOLF.com
Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier break down the world of golf every single week, from the wins and losses on the top tours to the granular rules decisions and the wacky social media posts from the game's best players. We help analyze everything in the game for the fan at home.
10 questions on the golf world with Sean Zak, Dylan Dethier and Claire Rogers, from in-person TGL impressions to Keegan and Sergio making complex Ryder Cup bids to the Players Championship’s spot in the pro golf world and much more. It’s officially the start of the golf season — or is it? The Drop Zone tackles it all.
Hosts: Claire Rogers, Dylan Dethier, Sean Zak
Producers: Darren Riehl, John Sodaro
The Drop Zone Crew is BACK to talk about all things awards season. Who's winning best picture? What award is Netflix's Full Swing Season 3 receiving? And what's going on with the Arnold Palmer's Star-free exemptions? Sean and James answer all those questions ... and talk about Sean's stunning Netflix debut.
Michael Bamberger joins Dylan Dethier for a rundown that includes plenty of unplanned detours but begins with the Mexico Open’s unlikely conclusion and tackles the Tour-PIF White House visit, favorites pros to interview, what it’s like being on Netflix’s Full Swing, best Florida golf courses and much more. Thanks for listening — enjoy!
Hosts: Michael Bamberger, Dylan Dethier
Producers: Darren Riehl, John Sodaro
What people missed from Ludvig Aberg's win at Torrey Pines, what golf fans really want, whether Tiger Woods is right, what kind of win LIV Adelaide was for LIV, what's next for professional golf, whether LIV's $5 billion spend was a bargain, where we'd cut "inefficiencies" from professional golf and much more on this week's episode of the Drop Zone.
Enjoy!
HOSTS: James Colgan, Dylan Dethier, Sean Zak
PRODUCERS: John Sodaro, Darren Riehl
Dylan Dethier and Michael Bamberger bridge the gap between the WM Phoenix Open and the Genesis with a wide-ranging chat on 30-somethings in golf, iPhones, Tiger, Trump, Spieth, the LPGA commissioner, cut lines and where the PGA Tour should be careful. Enjoy!
Hosts: Dylan Dethier, Michael Bamberger
Producer: Darren Riehl
Our James Colgan and Dylan Dethier were on the ground at Pebble Beach, where they officially declare golf season OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY. They bring back some stories, tackle a couple tough Rory-related questions, take you inside a PGA Tour meeting, dive into CBS broadcast changes, explain a strange email calling out the Tour's most popular player and much more.
Enjoy the listen — and if you want to make our day, leave a five-star rating. See you next week!
Hosts: Dylan Dethier, James Colgan, Sean Zak
Producers: Darren Riehl, John Sodaro
Michael Bamberger joins Dylan Dethier to tackle the state of golf, from the pro game all the way down. What to make of Justin Thomas' letter? Is TGL real? What would they ask Phil Mickelson? Has Michael dabbled in YouTube Golf? How can they fix slow play? What's the best spot at Pebble Beach? What to make of Tiger Woods? And what person — and event — has them excited about the golf season?
Hosts: Dylan Dethier, Michael Bamberger, Sean Zak
Producers: Darren Riehl, John Sodaro
The Drop Zone crew deep-dives the beginning of the golf season, solves slow play (sorta), breaks down LIV's game-changing TV deal (or is it?), tackles the TGL's successes and challenges and much more. From FS1 to the American Express to the Minnesota Muskies, this has a little something for everyone. Dive in!
Hosts: Sean Zak, Claire Rogers, Dylan Dethier, James Colgan
Producers: Darren Riehl, John Sodaro
The Drop Zone had boots on the ground at TGL's launch. They talk pleasant surprises, mandatory changes, room for improvement and more. They dissect TV ratings and lessons from the PGA Tour's Hawaiian Swing, break down an ex-LIV player's gripes and finish with some NFL-Tour pro comps. Dive in!
Hosts: Sean Zak, Claire Rogers, Dylan Dethier, James Colgan
Producers: Darren Riehl, John Sodaro
Xander Schauffele sits down with Dylan Dethier to explore an epic two-major 2024 and talk process, lifestyle, happiness, goals and what's next. In the new Drop Zone's first interview. Take a trip inside the head of the World No. 2 — we think you'll like what you find. Enjoy!
You can watch Schauffele's Warming Up interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pXPcDb8u1k&t=435s.
Dylan welcomes your feedback at dylan_dethier@golf.com.
It's the start of the 2025 golf season, and the Drop Zone gang discusses the beginning of the PGA Tour season, latest news on a potentially massive shift to the PGA Tour playoffs (27:59), their (forced) optimism for the TGL (41:40), and the PIP Program's legacy of mega Tiger Woods paydays. (14:09)
Email Us! sean.zak@golf.com
Hosts: Sean Zak, Claire Rogers, Dylan Dethier, James Colgan
Producers: Darren Riehl, John Sodaro
Golf is facing a pivotal 2025, and as the New Year arrives the GOLF.com crew drops their biggest predictions for the year ahead on the PGA Tour, LIV and LPGA — even if they probably won't come true. From the major championships (a new grand-slam winner at the U.S. Open?) to the boardroom (a surprising PGA Tour CEO hire), to the latest from Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, the gang gives their boldest takes for the year ahead.
Enjoy! Subscribe and throw us a rating! And [groans] we'll see you next year!
Hosts: James Colgan, Dylan Dethier, Claire Rogers and Sean Zak
Producer: Darren Riehl
Editor: John Sodaro
What are we gifting to pro golfers this Christmas season? What's next for Tiger? What does the TGL setup look like? What do we make of the Showdown? Claire checks in from her month in Florida, where she's seen it all firsthand. James chimes in with intel on LIV's Fox deal. Ring in the holidays with a little Drop Zone. Dive in!
The Drop Zone crew presents "The Zonies," a chaotic awards show celebrating the most memorable moments of 2024 — plus some you'd forgotten. From Tiger Woods shaking hands with a tree to Scottie Scheffler's Louisville arrest to Bryson's viral ensemble and even LIV's brush with food poisoning, zip through the best of the season.
Want more? Rate, review and subscribe — we appreciate you guys.
Is Scottie Scheffler worth Juan Soto-level money? The Drop Zone rundown starts there and zips through Scheffler's latest win (and latest change!), lessons from Tiger Woods, the Hero's existence, Kevin Kisner's hiring, the arrival of the Creator Council and more. Dylan runs you through the year's random major championship contenders, the crew gives you some half-baked bets and we leave it there.
If you're happy the Drop Zone is back, we'd love you to subscribe, rate, review — we deeply appreciate it!
The Drop Zone Rundown is here! What's LIV scheming as Hot Stove season begins? What will Tiger Woods say as he reappears? What's Phil Mickelson's beef with NFTs — and how does it involve this podcast? Plus: what to make of Bryson's ace, what the LPGA needs to do next, whether Dylan needs to open his eyes, a TGL story to watch and more.
Welcome back to The Drop Zone. We introduce our new crew and let you know how and when we are going to be dropping the all new Drop Zone.
Dylan Dethier and Sean Zak recap the weekend by finally — properly! — rating Collin Morikawa (2:00). Then they work through the news with 5 Questions (21:00) to recap LIV's first full season and predict the future before drafting teams from the LIV Leftovers (58:10). Enjoy! (And respond to our prompt on Spotify)
Dylan Dethier and Sean Zak take a dive into golf's current events by deciphering seven quotes about the PGA Tour, the PGL, LIV, the Ryder Cup and more. Take a tour of golf's tours, their murky futures and their uncertain partnerships with the Drop Zone crew. Enjoy!
Europe’s beatdown of the U.S. Ryder Cup team deserves a full breakdown. Dylan and Sean grade the players, the captains, the golf course and share stories and insight from a week in Rome. Enjoy!!
The Drop Zone brings you behind the scenes at the Ryder Cup from on the ground in Italy — and cruise through some hypotheticals. How would USA's B Team look? Which players would the other side trade for? What favors Team USA? What favors Team Europe? How do the teams stack up — and what will make the difference? And...who wins? Enjoy!
Justin Thomas is BACK. Buy or Sell? Team Europe should be favored. Buy or Sell? The Ryder Cup shouldn't be in Rome. Buy or Sell? Sean and Dylan break down the Solheim and Ryder Cups as they tackle questions about best players, best teams, best venues and more. Enjoy!
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Tiger Woods did what this year? Ohhh, right. Dylan and Sean draft their 5 moments each that you might have forgotten from the 2023 PGA Tour season, from Tiger to Rory McIlroy to Patrick Reed to Augusta National and more. Plus they deep-dive Team Europe completing its Ryder Cup roster. Who were the last guys in — and the biggest snubs? Enjoy!
The U.S. Ryder Cup team is complete! Zach Johnson’s six captain’s picks are in. Dylan and Sean break down who should feel grateful, who should feel snubbed and what the selections show about the philosophy behind this year’s team. Plus Justin Thomas takes and a Keegan Bradley homage. Enjoy!
Viktor Hovland shot...61?! Sean was at the BMW Championship, Dylan's at the Tour Championship and they're here to break down what's happening in the final weeks of the PGA Tour season, from Hovland's closing stretch to the Tour Championship's stakes to the implications for the U.S. Ryder Cup team going forward. Enjoy!
Brandel Chamblee joins Dylan Dethier for Part 2 of their interview — and it's a scorcher. Chamblee explains how he found out about the PGA Tour's agreement with the PIF, goes deep on his original objections to LIV and to Saudi influence in golf, shares unfiltered thoughts on Phil Mickelson and more. Enjoy the listen!
Brandel Chamblee joins Dylan Dethier in Part 1 of our two-part interview, and they start at the VERY beginning. How did Chamblee’s childhood predict his future? How did he find golf? What would he have changed about his future? And how does he make such compelling golf television? Hear answers to all of the above — in Chamblee’s own words. Enjoy! And subscribe to get Part 2 when it drops…
As the Wyndham Championship brought a close to the PGA Tour season, Sean and Dylan got together for a wide-ranging session encompassing the race for the final playoff spot, Lucas Glover's win-in-progress, Bryson DeChambeau's 58, Justin Thomas' Ryder Cup hopes and much more. Enjoy!
Dylan steps into Zach Johnson's shoes while Sean slides into Luke Donald's and the two dive deep on the U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams — and who would make up their 12-man squads if today was selection day.
Brian Harman? Ryder Cup drama? Scottie Scheffler? Matthew Jordan? Rory McIlroy? It's late Sunday night in Hoylake which means it's time for the Drop Zone to break down this week's Open from Royal Liverpool. Brian Harman blew away the field but he was hardly the only winner. A rousing edition of Winners and Losers rounds out our men's major championship season.
Enjoy!!
It's Open Championship week and Dylan and Sean are on the ground in Hoylake, England. They buzz through the 10 best potential endings for this week's Open, from Brooks Koepka to Rory McIlroy to an Englishman to a first-time winner and much more. Then they dish on a few of their own selections. Enjoy!
The world’s best women at Pebble Beach? A return to LIV London? Dramatic PGA/DP World finishes and Ryder Cup drama in the process? Dylan and Sean cover the globe’s golf, each answering 5 burning questions and diving into golf’s biggest events in the process.
Link to Dylan’s book, 18 in America: Here!
Rickie Fowler is back in the winner's circle and there's plenty to break down from his Sunday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Plus Sean checks in from England — his first overseas podcast of the summer — as the Drop Zone goes bicontinental. Most of the golf news you need plus a bit you didn't. Enjoy!
The one and only Viktor Hovland sits down with our Dylan Dethier to dish on life on the road, his Norwegian roots and tells us why poker is like golf - sometimes. Dylan also runs through Keegan Bradley's win at the Travelers Championship, Ruoning Yin's triumph at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, and answers some quick questions on Rose Zhang, Rory McIlroy, Zac Blair, and more.
Enjoy!
24 hours after the dramatic conclusion to this year’s US Open, Dylan and Sean break down the contenders, the course, the future and more. They talk Wyndham, Rory, Rickie, Scottie. They bring some on-the-ground observations. And they tell you how this year’s US Open was won — and lost. Enjoy!
Sean and Dylan check in from Los Angeles Country Club, where they shed light on further details from the PGA Tour/PIF arrangement and then get down to a proper US Preview. What did we learn from players on Tuesday, who makes sense as a sleeper and who are our picks to win?
Oh, Canada! What a finish at the Canadian Open. By far the craziest Sunday of 2023. Sean and Dylan break down the Adam Hadwin tackle, Nick Taylor's epic eagle, and bedlam north of the border before diving into the week that was in PGA Tour-Saudi business, with updates and tales from the ground in Toronto.
Sean Zak and James Colgan break down the biggest news in the history of pro golf as the PGA Tour has agreed in principle to merge with LIV Golf and the DP World Tour with sizable investment from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
It was a jam-packed week in the golf world, with Rose Zhang trumping everything with her debut victory on the LPGA Tour. Viktor Hovland finally broke through again at the Memorial and Phil Mickelson keeps tweeting through it. That and more in this week's Drop Zone.
We touch 'em all this week, from Emiliano Grillo's bizarre PGA Tour win to the LPGA to LIV to the DP World Tour to the Challenge Tour and on as we recap the week that was, take stock of pro golf's status, project forward for LIV and for the Ryder Cup, talk about coverage, make a horrible Celtics prediction and more. Enjoy!
Brooks Koepka has done it. Major number 5! Sean and Dylan discuss what it means that Koepka has ascended to the mountaintop once again. We also break down Viktor Hovland’s pursuit, Rory’s intriguing week, Bryson DeChambeau’s return, and much more.
From high stakes to best bets, here’s the PGA Championship preview you need! On the eve of another major week, Sean and Dylan run through who has the most to gain — and to lose — at Oak Hill, from Phil Mickelson to Rory McIlroy to the PGA Tour and LIV. Then they give you some leans on players they expect to contend. Enjoy!
Dylan and Sean break down the Wells Fargo Championship, discuss who's in and who's out of the all-important FedEx Cup Top 50, discuss the latest pecking order ahead of the PGA Championship, dive into what LIV needs from its Tulsa event and then get honest about their respective golf games, with Sean laying out his goal for the season and Dylan reliving his U.S. Open qualifier. Enjoy!
QUALIFIER ARTICLE: https://golf.com/travel/us-open-qualifying-dethier-wine-valley/
This week we break down Tony Finau’s win in Mexico in the weirdest way possible — by NOT talking to each other. Sean and Dylan recorded their answers to five individualized questions and answered them on their own. No help from their co-host.
There was playoff drama at the all-new Chevron Championship and Zephyr Melton — who was on the ground in Houston all week — joins the show to discuss Lilia Vu's win, Angel Yin's near-miss, Nelly Korda's finish and Lydia Ko's changes. Sean and Dylan also talk through Tiger Woods' surgery and what we know about his future, muse on a path to the U.S. Open and chat through LIV's Adelaide event. Enjoy!
Dylan and Sean break down the post-Masters action from Hilton Head, headlined by Matthew Fitzpatrick’s RBC Heritage playoff triumph over Jordan Spieth. What does Fitz’s win mean? Where do we rank Spieth? The week also featured a notable performance from Patrick Cantlay and a notable absence from Rory McIlroy. Enjoy!
Still buzzing from a final-round showdown, Sean and Dylan break down all the Masters Week action. Who had a Good Week — and who had a Bad Week? From Jon Rahm to Brooks Koepka to Phil Mickelson to LIV Golf to the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Augusta National and more.
It's OFFICIALLY Masters Week, folks! Get excited. Dylan and Sean preview the first major championship of the year by tossing a bunch of bets your way and breaking down the top five storylines we'll see at Augusta National this week.
The WGC-Match Play's final Austin edition made for a terrific finale. What's the future of Match Play on the PGA Tour? What do we make of Sam Burns' victory? How 'bout Rory McIlroy's viral tee shot? How are top pros shaping up for Augusta National? Sean and Dylan tackle a round of Buy or Sell, reflect on the action in Austin and much more. Enjoy!
Sean reports in from the Valspar Championship, where the PGA Tour wraps its Florida Swing and eyes the future. Phil Mickelson spoke out from LIV's Tucson event, where he took a new tack in pro golf's culture wars. And we're here to try to boil down the golf ball rules debate to the essentials — and offer a few suggestions in the process. Enjoy!
Scottie Scheffler blew away the field at TPC Sawgrass, PGA Tour players made their opinions known, Jay Monahan spoke, Rory McIlroy struggled and Tyrrell Hatton showed up like we've never seen him before. Dylan and Sean recap all things Players Championship and even toss in a bonus Strategic Alliance proposal, free of charge.
Enjoy!
At this week's Players, Dylan sits down with fellow New Englander Keegan Bradley for an in-depth sitdown. Bradley keeps it real, explaining why golf is so hard for him, how he channels his anxious energy, what it meant not to be invited to the Delaware meeting, how often he thinks about the Ryder Cup and what would have happened if they'd never banned the belly putter — and that's all BEFORE you get into his nightmarish round at Vermont's High School State Championship. We think you'll really dig this one. Enjoy!
Let’s dive into the wildest PGA Tour Sunday of the year! How did Kurt Kitayama win? How did Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and others come up short? Dylan and Sean dive into the results from Bay Hill, run through an Up and Down segment and tackle the latest PGA Tour changes including James Hahn’s gripes with the PGA Tour — and whether they’re legit. Enjoy!
Geno Bonnalie is Joel Dahmen's longtime caddie. He's also among the stars of Netflix's new show, 'Full Swing.' He joins the podcast from a hilarious location to talk through becoming a TV star plus what life is actually like on the bag for Joel. He tells an epic story of a player-caddie confrontation and reveals what he wishes Netflix hadn't cut. He also goes deep in comparing notes with Sean, who caddied for Joel one week while Geno was home. You'll learn something new in this episode — that's a Drop Zone guarantee!
Enjoy! (and folks, please, consider leaving a 5-star rating, if you wouldn't mind...)
Recorded from the balcony of the Riviera clubhouse, Sean and Dylan break down a week in Los Angeles. What makes Jon Rahm so good? What made Max Homa break down post-round? How promising was Tiger Woods' week, and what can we reasonably expect? Who was up this week — and who was down?
All that and more in this week's podcast. Enjoy!
How did Tiger Woods look in person at the Genesis Invitational? What did he say? Plus Sean and Dylan break down life at Riviera Country Club — and then take a dive into the Netflix show (21:04), Full Swing, including Dylan's appearance, Winners, Losers, dreams for a second season and more. Enjoy!
Phil Mickelson is back on the golf course, back at the microphone and back on Twitter. Pebble Beach feels diminished — but is that actually a problem? Dylan Dethier and Sean Zak unpack the week's hot topics, run through a session of Up and Down, dish on the Swilcan Bridge addition and provide a sneak peek of Netflix's new PGA Tour show. Enjoy!
Who’s No. 1? In a time of uncertainty for the OWGR, the Drop Zone introduces a world ranking of its own — a collaborative, chaotic back and forth that explores how the best male golfers on Earth stack up against each other. From Rory McIlroy vs. Jon Rahm to questions about LIV vs. the PGA Tour, this episode is a fun way to evaluate where the golf world currently stands. Enjoy!
And if you like the episode — consider leaving a generous rating and review! We’ll officially owe you one.
Torrey? TeeGate? TreeGate? What a week in professional golf. Torrey Pines produced another exciting winner in Max Homa. Meanwhile Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed were embroiled in either the dumbest or most fascinating golf story of the year. Dylan and Sean break down Homa's new normal, run through the biggest winners from Torrey Pines and expand on LIV's best and worst case scenarios. Then they finish with Up and Down and Rec League. Enjoy!
Money is changing everything in professional golf. Pros are making it differently. Sponsors are spending it differently. Big names are on the move, from Nelly Korda and Kevin Kisner to No Laying Up, Barstool and Good Good. For gear guru Jonathan Wall, January is the most exciting part of the golfing year, and the game’s best-connected equipment storyteller joins the Drop Zone to explain how and why the foundations of pro golf are shifting in real time. Then J Wall, Sean and Dylan run through a session of Up and Down (37:07) and finish with a debut segment called Rec League (51:30). Enjoy!
Sean and Dylan are joined by James Colgan to share their boldest predictions for 2023 with thoughts on the Masters, LIV, major winners, Tiger and more.
Then James gives us a run-down of all the changes coming to golf broadcasts this year.
When Patrick Cantlay speaks, it's worth paying attention. This week's Drop Zone — live from Kapalua! — features a wide-ranging discussion with Cantlay that covers the state of the professional game, LIV rumors, his perception among the general public, what constitutes success, how he's thinking about the future of pro golf and how he makes decisions. Enjoy!
LINK
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Kyle Porter joins the show to analyze the past six months in pro golf, from Rory McIlroy's run at St. Andrews to what professional golf actually looks like to the Delaware Compromise to LIV's successes to what the heck happens now. Plus he tackles one tough question: Who does the PGA Tour miss the most?
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Shane Bacon joins the show for a plunge into the 2022 golf season, from LIV's intrusion to the PGA Tour's product to the moments you may have missed from the first half of the year. From World Ranking upheaval to drama at the Genesis to a wild Players through a PGA Championship story worth telling, Bacon brings it. (Plus some bonus Santa Claus analysis.)
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Fresh off a week at the Hero World Challenge, the Drop Zone breaks down sights and sounds from on the ground in the Bahamas. From Tiger Woods sightings — and Sam Bankman-Fried sightings! — to Elevated Events, blackjack tables, Jon Rahm, Greg Norman and more. Plus we debut a new segment, Up and Down, that dives into who won the week and who's down bad. Enjoy!
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Big-time figures in the golf world are mad. Mad about the OWGR, mad about the new schedule, mad about the players, mad about the leadership, mad about their sponsorships. From Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy to Greg Norman to tour sponsors, is their madness petty? Justified? Misplaced? On the mark? More complex? The Drop Zone breaks it all down; golf is staring down its offseason but there are plenty of loose ends left untied.
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GAMBLE SANDS VIDEO: https://youtu.be/oOP-x-ItoVg
This episode is all about Tiger Woods. Where is Tiger in his golf career right now — and what can we expect for the future? Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier break down why Woods is playing a bunch in December and what that means for the PGA Tour and Tiger's future.
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After a wild week at LIV Miami, LIV's first season is in the books — and our Sean Zak was there all week to bear witness. What did we learn? What should we make of LIV's successes and failures? What's next in terms of players, business plans, TV deals and more? Dylan Dethier returns from vacation to help break it all down.
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We thought golf's offseason would feel a whole lot more offseason-y than this! Dylan and Sean break down golf's biggest burning questions, from Phil Mickelson's tiff with Alan Shipnuck to LIV's tiff with the OWGR to Keegan Bradley's bid for the U.S. Ryder Cup team to what comes next.
Enjoy (and subscribe, and review, and rate and tell your pals)!
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Recent winner Mackenzie Hughes joins the Drop Zone for a deep-dive breakdown of his entire year. From getting caught in a wacky rules issue (twice!) to barely missing the Presidents Cup to nabbing that second career victory just two weeks ago. Enjoy!
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Three Open Championship sites in three countries — in three days? Even for golf writers, these sorts of trips don't come along every day. But Dylan and Sean trekked to Royal Portrush, Royal Liverpool and Royal Troon to walk in the footsteps of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Arnold Palmer and so many more. They break down each leg of the trip, dish on the highs and lows, make recommendations and try to talk you into your own. Listen closely for some Manchester fun facts. Check out the YouTube video below:
WATCH DESTINATION GOLF — ROYAL PORTRUSH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMxS2AAYtgE
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Michelle Wie joins the Drop Zone! She's here to introduce her brand-new LPGA event as well as to reflect on her career up to this point. Wie opens up on her heroes, her entry into golf, her career highs and lows, playing with the men, how she sees her career, her favorite trash bags in the world and much more. Enjoy!
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What a week in Charlotte! We break down everything you saw and didn’t see from the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. Dylan provides grades for various players (Jordan Spieth gets an A+) and also for inanimate objects (USA uniforms get a C+).
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It's Presidents Cup Week, and International Team captain Trevor Immelman joins the Drop Zone! He breaks down his team's chances, their role as the underdog, dealing with LIV defections and why the Presidents Cup matters. Then Sean and Dylan run through rosters for the event and make a few predictions. See you in Charlotte!
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Xander Schauffele joins the Drop Zone for a deep-dive breakdown of a wild PGA Tour season that changed the Tour and changed his career, too. From playing the Ryder Cup to a career-changing stretch of wins to LIV negotiations to Phil Mickelson, Schauffele offers endless insight into life on Tour. Enjoy!
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This week, the drama of the pro golf world is at Wentworth in London, where the everyone is speaking their mind. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Ian Poulter, Shane Lowry — you name it — everyone is chiming in from the biggest event on the DP World Tour. The man who has been there talking to players, getting the inside scoop from the players meeting and keeping taps on it all is Jamie Weir from Sky Sports. He gives us the lowdown on everything happening across the pond this week and what it means for golf moving forward.
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A week after Rory McIlroy struck gold on the PGA Tour, LIV Boston seemed to mark a win for the breakaway tour. Claire Rogers joins Sean and Dylan from on the ground in Boston, where she shares her impressions of attending the LIV event while the team tries to make sense of it all.
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INSIDEGOLF: To Learn More visit golf.com/InsideDropZone
The PGA Tour hit back at LIV with some big-time changes — and did so while Sean was out on vacation. What did he miss? A Patrick Reed lawsuit, a Rory McIlroy comeback, more LIV signings, more PGA Tour meetings and a whole bunch more. The Tour season is winding down but the questions continue into the fall break. Enjoy!
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Tiger Woods headlined a secret meeting of PGA Tour players as they prepare for battle with LIV. What did they discuss and what does it mean for pro golf’s future? Dylan Dethier and Luke Kerr-Dineen dive into Patrick Cantlay’s win, Tiger Woods’ role in the game, the FedEx Cup Playoffs and how the Tour should move forward. Plus LKD offers a universal tip for golfers to gain distance. Enjoy!
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The Drop Zone was inside the courtroom with lawyers from LIV and the PGA Tour! Well, our first guest was, at least. Writer Josh Sens joins the pod to reveal what he learned from on site and then Sean and Dylan talk all things LIV, PGA Tour, break down Cameron Smith’s no-comments and dive into Sean’s trip to Muirfield for the Women’ British Open (and then to sneak in a round himself).
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This week’s Drop Zone: Why Tony Finau’s Detroit win is such a game-changer, what happens when LIV gets political and what it’s like when a DP World Tour winner celebrates down the street from Sean! The fellas break down this week’s action, talk about what’s next and try to sort through the professional golf landscape — again — while we ready ourselves for the final major of the year.
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Eddie Pepperell can be tough to put in a box, which makes him one of golf’s most intriguing voices. The British pro joins the Drop Zone to break down the future of golf, why he wouldn’t join LIV, his search for his own form, why he has stopped playing practice rounds — and the general state of the world. Enjoy!
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What an Open that was! Sean and Dylan were there for every second of it in St. Andrews as Rory McIlroy and Cam Smith battled down the stretch. We discuss everything we saw this week, including an emotional final scene for the McIlroys at the Old Course.
The boys are in St. Andrews this week, reunited at last! They breakdown everything you need to know about The Open, the Old Course, Sean's week caddying in the Scottish Open and more.
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Coming off a few days at LIV's U.S. debut in Portland, Dylan and Sean break down what they witnessed and what it all means for the future of LIV's tour. What happens next and what does it mean for the professional game? Plus Sean has the biggest caddie assignment of his life this week, looping for Joel Dahmen in the Scottish Open. He explains how that came to be and what he expects from the week ahead.
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LIV rolls on and Brooks Koepka has left the PGA Tour — but now the PGA Tour has punched back. What does it all mean?!? Sean Zak chimes back in with proper perspective from St. Andrews, the fellas break down US Open takeaways and evaluate Jay Monahan’s response and the future for the PGA Tour. Plus we get a morale check from Sean, who has been exploring the pubs of small-town Scotland.
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From a parking lot outside The Country Club, Dylan Dethier and Luke Kerr-Dineen break down all things U.S. Open, from the winner (Matthew Fitzpatrick!) to the contenders to what this week meant for the entire sport of golf. From Keegan Bradley’s reception to Rory McIlroy’s rollercoaster to the details of Joel Dahmen’s week, have a listen. Enjoy!
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Reporting live from The Country Club, the Drop Zone brings you the inside scoop on this week’s U.S. Open. From LIV drama to Brookline storylines to 10 burning questions about this week’s events, Dylan Dethier, Claire Rogers and Luke Kerr-Dineen bring you their picks and predictions for all things U.S. Open.
Sean Zak was at the first-ever LIV Invitational. What was it like? He breaks down the action from inside the ropes and inside the draft party, explains why LIV’s launch was a complex success and dives into what happens next. Then he and Dylan Dethier discuss Rory McIlroy’s statement win at the RBC Canadian Open, shots fired at Greg Norman and why the PGA Tour’s nightmare week had a dream ending.
Senior Writer Kevin Clark of The Ringer joins the Drop Zone to break down the latest LIV revelations, discuss the PGA Tour's future, dish on his unsuccessful gambling formula, explain what golf can learn from Formula 1 and then make a slew of F1 driver - professional golfer crossover comparisons. Fun chat — enjoy!
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USGA CEO Mike Whan joins this week's Drop Zone to break down the state of golf, from the U.S. Women's Open to LIV's effect on the PGA Tour to the actual purpose of the USGA. He also explains how selling toothpaste helps him in his current role. Plus a brief breakdown of this week's U.S. Women's Open and Memorial Tournaments in the context of a looming LIV event. Enjoy!
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With the LIV Golf list finally released, Sean and Dylan break down what's next for the PGA Tour, what the perfect response would look like, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and more. Rachel Heck joins the show to talk national championships at Stanford, playing in front of the cameras, NIL opportunities and choosing her major. Then Sean explains — from his new flat in St. Andrews — why he's moving to Scotland for the summer.
How the hell did Justin Thomas end up winning the PGA Championship? Dylan and Sean break down what JT's charge felt like from on the ground at Southern Hills. Then they tackle Mito Pereira's gutting finish, Will Zalatoris' major championship chances, Rory McIlroy's false start, Tiger Woods' future and how Southern Hills presented as a major championship test. Enjoy!
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The Drop Zone is in Tulsa and reporting on all things PGA Championship, bringing you the scoop from on the ground at Southern Hills. How will the course play? What type of player does it favor? Who are the smartest picks to win? Dylan and Sean fill you in on Tiger Woods' form, expectations for Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth and give you their picks for the week.
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World No. 1 and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler joins the Drop Zone (!!) to review his red-hot start to 2022, break down each of his wins and reveal how he celebrated his Masters victory. Plus Dylan and Sean break down the action from the Byron Nelson and look ahead to the PGA Championship. Which golfers are coming in hottest?! They even toss in a little bachelor party advice for good measure.
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Legendary sportswriter Rick Reilly joins the Drop Zone (2:05) to tell a series of terrific golf stories, dish on Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, break down what the internet has done to sportswriting and tell us about his new book, So Help Me Golf.
Then Luke Kerr-Dineen and James Colgan join Dylan and Sean to break down the best (and riskiest) investments for Q3 of the PGA Tour Stock Exchange, including one giant investment in a big name...
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Max Homa edged out Keegan Bradley at the Wells Fargo Championship. What did we learn about Homa? What did we learn about Bradley? How about Rory McIlroy? Sean and Dylan break down the action from TPC Potomac, look ahead to who should be favored at the PGA Championship and break down the difference between the LIV league and the Premier Golf League. Check it out!
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Jon Rahm’s victory at the Mexico Open begs the question: With apologies to Scottie Scheffler, is he the best golfer in the world? Marina Alex caps off a dramatic week at Palos Verdes with a win of her own. Tiger Woods’ Southern Hills practice round made waves and revealed plenty about his upcoming schedule. And Phil Mickelson remains a mystery for some interesting reasons. That and more on this week’s Drop Zone.
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We break down golf’s royal wedding with intrepid reporter Claire Rogers, and then dive into what we should make of the Zurich Classic and the win from Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
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Jordan Spieth turned what should have been a sleepy week on the PGA Tour into a Sunday nail-biter. But what should you make of his victory? Plus Sean and Dylan break down Patrick Cantlay’s near-miss and do a Vibe Check on some of the game’s biggest names including Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
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Sean and Dylan break down the Masters from on the ground at Augusta National. How did Scottie Scheffler sneak up on us? What did Rory McIlroy’s 64 mean? What do we make of Tiger Woods’ return to competition? The fellas tack on some strikes and gutters for good measure.
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The Drop Zone is on the ground in Augusta, Ga. and bringing you thoughts on every favorite in the Masters field. From Tiger Woods impressions to Jordan Spieth insights to a Brooks Koepka wake-up call to some sleepers, Sean and Dylan get you ready for the Masters from the Savannah River Brewing Co.
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A big golf week calls for a big golf guest! Peyton Manning joins the Drop Zone to preview the Masters, break down Augusta, tell Tiger Woods stories, give golf advice and introduce his new bourbon, Sweetens Cove Kennessee. Then Sean Zak, Dylan Dethier and Luke Kerr-Dineen break down the Masters — specifically Tiger Woods' appearance — from on the ground in Augusta, Ga. This is a good one. Enjoy!
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If you have an idea for Sweetens Cove's Give A Little program, DM them on Instagram (@sweetenscovespirits) with a suggestion or nomination.
Colt Knost is the popular host of GOLF’s Subpar podcast as well as a regular on PGA Tour Radio and CBS broadcasts. He joins the show to discuss his dramatic ascent in the golf media space. Knost breaks down his transition from professional golfer to professional talker, the biggest challenges of being on the ground at events, offers thoughts on Tiger Woods’ potential Masters return, dishes on gambling with Michael Jordan, offers a Masters prediction and more.
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Scottie Scheffler took down the WGC-Match Play and took over the title of World No. 1 in the process. What does that mean? What else did we learn at Austin Country Club? Sean and Dylan break down Kevin Kisner's peskiness, Keegan Bradley's public perception, who else belongs in the conversation and more. Plus they talk Tiger Woods' potential Masters appearance and posit an unlikely Phil Mickelson-related theory. All that and more on this week's Drop Zone.
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This week on the Drop Zone we break down the latest announcement from Greg Norman and the folks at LIV Golf. Then we dive fully into 10 players who have been off their games — from Rickie Fowler to Tommy Fleetwood to Martin Kaymer and more — and decide whether we’re BUYING or SELLING their stock. That and more on this week’s Drop Zone.
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The Drop Zone wraps up the Players Championship, breaking down Cameron Smith’s brilliance and the back-nine drama. That means an ode to Anirban Lahiri, shouts to Keegan Bradley and a forensic breakdown of the drop drama at No. 16. Plus Dylan fills us in on his trip to Tiger Woods’ Hall of Fame induction and the scene at TPC Sawgrass.
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PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan held his annual state of the union address and was more fiery than ever. We break down everything he had to say, what it means for Phil Mickelson and then provide an update to our PGA Tour Stock Exchange game. Enjoy!!
A bunch of PGA Tour players showed up to Bay Hill on the weekend — and a U.S. Open broke out. In a lively episode Sean and Dylan break down Scottie Scheffler’s win, Rory McIlroy’s comments and how hard is too hard. Plus they tackle Jin Young Ko’s ridiculous run and the state of the PGA Tour heading into the Players. Enjoy!!
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Phil Mickelson's latest remarks have meant the end of high-profile sponsorship deals. Why is that happening? Is it fair? Plus Sean and Dylan offer a quick recap of the Honda Classic, pore over Greg Norman's letter and dream up their ideal golf feeds — think Tiger Woods on a links course — for future viewing. Enjoy!
After Phil Mickelson's latest round of bombshell quotes, top PGA Tour pros are bailing on the Saudi league. Is its demise exaggerated? Sean Zak, Dylan Dethier and Claire Rogers chime in from Riviera, where they wrap up the Genesis Invitational in person. They break down the action from the Tour's favorite golf course plus share thoughts on Tiger Woods' progress. Then Evin Priest joins the show to talk about his brand-new podcast 'Chasing Majors' which he co-hosts alongside Tiger's longtime caddie Steve Williams; he explains the podcast's origins and what it's like to interview golf's most famous caddie.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open was a massive success for the PGA Tour. Does it need tweaking? Plus: One pro’s viral rant struck a nerve and uncovered some truths about golf fans. Sean and Dylan break down all of the above plus say several Nice Things, provide limited Super Bowl analysis and look ahead on this week’s episode of the Drop Zone.
Jordan Spieth captured the hearts and minds of the golfing world — but then Tom Hoge chased him down! This week’s Drop Zone dissects the action from Pebble Beach, the Spieth rollercoaster, what Phil Mickelson is really saying when he talks about the PGA Tour’s “obnoxious greed” and why Leona Maguire is such an exciting LPGA Tour winner. Plus, Sean provides an injury update.
Xander Schauffele joins the show to dole out some golf advice (40:03) plus Sean fights through injury to join Dylan in breaking down Viktor Hovland's win, Rory McIlroy's splashy near-miss, the entire Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines, Lydia Ko's victory and much more on this week's episode of the Drop Zone.
Jon Rahm was feeling spicy this weekend when he called out the setup in California. Tyrrell Hatton laid into the design of Yas Links in Abu Dhabi. This week, we explain exactly why these pros are acting this way, and why they're both right and wrong at the same time. We also take the time to serve an annual (obvious) reminder: scratch golfers would get worked by LPGA pros.
The PGA Tour is coming to Netflix — and our Dylan Dethier has been on the story from the start. He and Sean Zak break down the show's genesis, its stars and what they're most excited to see. Then LPGA insider Zephyr Melton joins the show (22:11) to offer bold predictions and tackle 10 burning questions for the upcoming season, from Lydia Ko's future to the state of American golf to who will finish the season at World No. 1.
The PGA Tour is officially back! And better than ever — the scores, at least. NBC/Golf Channel's Mark Rolfing joins the show (28:08) to break down the Hawaii Swing. And Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier talk Tournament of Champions and its implications. Is Cameron Smith the best player on the Presidents Cup team? Does Jon Rahm have a winning problem? Is that a ridiculously dumb question? All that and more on this week's Drop Zone.
1:03 - USGA Women's Open Announcement
10:07 - Tournament of Champions talk
16:28 - Overreaction, underreaction, proper reaction
28:08 - Mark Rolfing Interview
56:06 - Pro Golf Stock Exchange Update!
Thanks for listening — we'd love for you to leave a rating, a review and subscribe so you can join us next week, too.
First Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier are joined by two special guests to unveil their bold (and borderline absurd) predictions for the 2022 PGA Tour season. Then it's time to dive into the all-new PGA Tour Stock Exchange, in which the fellas buy shares in their most undervalued golfers, hoping for some big-time returns as tournament season kicks back into gear. Come to hear who's winning the career Grand Slam this year, stay to dive into the details of the PIPDAQ! It's the Drop Zone with Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier, ft. Luke Kerr-Dineen and James Colgan.
What did Tiger Woods' return (and Charlie Woods' star moment) look like in person? Dylan Dethier was at the PNC and Sean Zak interrogates him on all things Tiger. Then Kira K. Dixon joins the show (23:40) to explain her path from Miss America to Golf Channel, the scariest parts of live television and her best, worst and proudest interview moments from her first year on the job.
Tiger Woods is back at this week's PNC Championship and Dylan Dethier explains what that means for him and for golf. Muni golf is on the rise nationwide and Sean Zak tackles how golf should handle that good news. Plus Kyle Porter joins the podcast to discuss his new book, A Normal Sport, and break down the strangest moments of the 2021 golf season.
You can snag Kyle’s book at http://anormalsport.com and use code DROPZONE to save you a couple bucks!
Tiger Woods overshadowed his own tournament but the Hero World Challenge had a heck of a finish, too. Dropping some intel from on the ground in the Bahamas, Sean Zak peppers Dylan Dethier with 10 questions on Tiger, Rory, Hovland, Morikawa, the world's best golfer and what the point of this tournament is, anyway.
Tiger Woods made his first public appearance in nine months on Tuesday at the Bahamas and Dylan Dethier was in the room. He and Sean Zak break down Woods' recovery, his future prospects, questions about his accident, what he revealed and what he left unsaid.
This week's Drop Zone kicks off with a swinging Tiger Woods and how our own Claire Rogers once celebrated his "progress" by sending a gift to his surgeon. Then we "Pivot to Video" for an interview with DJ Piehowski from No Laying Up (11:22) on the evolution of Tourist Sauce and Strapped before ending with our favorite segment in a long time: PGA Tour comps for character's in HBO's Succession (44:13). Who is the PGA Tour's Logan Roy? It's actually quite obvious.
What makes a golf course "good" anyway? We celebrate the release of GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the World with Lukas Michel, an elite amateur golfer who doubles as a course rater and aspiring course architect. We talk Augusta National, the best hole in the world and exciting new projects in golf course architecture's immediate future.
Martin Trainer joins the Drop Zone fresh off contending at the Houston Open to talk about riding pro golf's emotional rollercoaster, plus Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier break down Nelly Korda's win, Lexi Thompson's near-miss, Jason Kokrak's latest PGA Tour victory and the fine line between winning and losing.
On this week's Drop Zone — from on the ground in our Pinehurst AirBnB! — we break down Viktor Hovland's win at Mayakoba, the generational shift happening on the PGA Tour, the seismic shift looming in professional golf and this week's biggest winners and losers.
Sean Zak holds tightly to the mic this week as Dylan Dethier enjoys his honeymoon (and his birthday). Sean offers up four stories, ideas and takes he's been thinking about lately. Those topics are:
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A Beatles-themed golf course
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A course devoted to female players
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Rory McIlroy's mindset
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Mr. Runner Up
It's that time of year folks — when golf course ranking lists get compiled! So we decided to dive in on the ranking fun. Sean and Dylan rank their 10 favorite golf courses. NOT the 10 best courses they've played. Their 10 FAVORITE tracks in the world. Chambers Bay? Yes. Pine Valley? Perhaps. A quiet plot of land in the French countryside? Definitely.
This week we break down the news that our own host, Dylan Dethier broke: Brooks vs. Bryson is happening, and it's very real. Dylan and Sean Zak dive into the details of what we know about The Match V, how Phil Mickelson won again on the Champions tour, how Sungjae Im makes golf look impossibly easy and the absurd stretch of golf Jin Young Ko has piled up lately.
This week on the Drop Zone we are visited by James Colgan, who spent most of the week with Bryson DeChambeau as he competed at the World Long Drive Championship in Nevada. We break down everything you missed from behind the scenes as Bryson advanced further than any of us could have imagined out in the desert.
Why was this Ryder Cup different? Sean Zak, Dylan Dethier and Luke Kerr-Dineen were inside the ropes at Whistling Straits to witness the wild scenes from Team USA's blowout victory. From Bryson DeChambeau's week in the spotlight to Rory McIlroy's emotional reaction to Dustin Johnson, press conference king, they share favorite moments from on site, break down the strategies from each team and try to answer the Ryder Cup's toughest question: Now what?
We break down the entire Ryder Cup field on our road trip to Whistling Straits, and we do it alongside resident Englishman Luke Kerr-Dineen. Is Collin Morikawa more valuable than Jon Rahm? How about Dustin Johnson vs. Tommy Fleetwood? We lay out the rosters and predict how the Ryder Cup will play out.
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This episode is sponsored by Arnold Palmer Spiked Lemonade! Support our show by heading to arnoldpalmerspiked.com/dropzone
Without a PGA Tour event to discuss, Sean and Dylan share their best PGA Tour comps for NFL starting quarterbacks. Or their best quarterback comps for PGA Tour stars. Who is the Brooks Koepka of the NFL? Tune in to find out.
Captain Steve Stricker added six players to his American Ryder Cup team this morning, which means we've got six happy players, at least a dozen unhappy players, all kinds of potential pairings and two very happy podcast hosts breaking it all down.
Sunday's golf may have been the most exciting finish of a non-major in years. Patrick Cantlay is your champion, but does it change how we think of him? Bryson DeChambeau is your runner-up, but has he turned a corner? What does it all mean for Whistling Straits. We discuss it all.
After countless second-place finishes, Tony Finau has won again. It was a Monday finish on the PGA Tour so we bring you a Tuesday morning podcast that dives into Finau's win, Rahm's peak, Cam Smith's horrible tee shot, and finally an appreciation for Anna Nordqvist's impressive career.
We're here to tell you that Kevin Kisner, despite his win, is NOT a lock for the Ryder Cup. And that Adam Scott's missed playoff putt ... wasn't that surprising. And that the Women's British Open at Carnoustie will be the best golf you'll watch this week. Enjoy!
Xander Schauffele is your gold medalist at the men's Olympic golf competition, and the Drop Zone was all over it. We've spent plenty of time with Xander over the years, as well as his legendary father Stefan. This week, Sean was right there next to Stefan as his son won gold. We detail everything that went down last week at the Olympics.
Jon Rahm is out. Bryson DeChambeau is out. But co-host Sean Zak is IN Tokyo for the Olympics. We discuss everything you need to know about the course, about the event and what to expect from the men's competition this week. We also delve into what Dylan is watching from home, and how he'd like to fix Archery ... and the golf competition as well.
From Morikawa to McIlroy, with Mickelson and a bunch of others in between, we discuss the Open Championship and the gauntlet of seven majors in 11 months. We hand out letter grades for the 20 most relevant pros from Tyrrell Hatton's F to Collin Morikawa's A+. Also, Sean makes public two of his spiciest takes that he's been keeping private for months.
It's a BIG week in golf with the final men's major of the year. Sean and Dylan get you ready for the British Open, Open Championship, The Open, etc. Dylan also shares his stories from the ground at the American Century Celebrity Championship where he cozied up next to Charles Barkley, Patrick Mahomes and a bunch of others in Tahoe.
This was a weird week in golf. There's no other way to put it, really. Sean and Dylan recap that weirdness by diving into Phil Mickelson's oddball week in Detroit. We also look forward to who needs to be on Bryson DeChambeau's bag and what the British Open might feel like this year.
Sean and Dylan dive into two-horse race that was the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, the ridiculous playoff on the PGA Tour, Harris English's Ryder Cup chances and a special trip to Northern Michigan.
Sean and Dylan break down every storyline from Jon Rahm’s epic win at Torrey Pines, including reactions from on-site and the odds that Torrey could host the Open again in the future. We also play Good Week/Bad Week with everyone on the leaderboard.
Sean and Dylan get deep into what we should expect from Brooks Koepka, Mr. Major, and his foil, Bryson DeChambeau. We explain why Torrey Pines is good, but what we'd change about it to make it great. We also buy, sell and hold the stocks of the biggest names this week, and tell you which penny-stock players you should get your money involved with.
It was a wild weekend, from Lexi Thompson's blown five-shot lead to Yuka Saso, star on the rise to the peculiar case of Jon Rahm's Covid-19 WD. What did it all mean? Dylan Dethier and Sean Zak break down the best and worst from the week in golf.
What an epic week at the PGA Championship. Dylan Dethier was on the grounds for the Drop Zone and fills you in on what it was like during the mob scene on the 18th hole. We break down everything the was significant about Mickelson’s win, what it means for golf history and what it means moving forward for everyone involved.
What should you expect at the PGA Championship this week? How will Kiawah play? The Drop Zone breaks it all down, from the ideal winning score to Rory McIlroy's chances to the PGA's place on the calendar to our own (questionable!) picks to win.
How big a deal was Rory McIlroy’s win? What do we make of golf's proposed ‘super leagues’? What was the best part of the Walker Cup at Seminole? And who should be the favorite heading the the PGA Championship? Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier break it all down on this week's episode of the Drop Zone.
What exactly is going on with Phil Mickelson? Should we congratulate Pine Valley for finally entering the modern world? What should we expect from Sam Burns moving forward? This week's Drop Zone dives into all of that, and reminds Tour players to stop reading their mentions. Never read the mentions.
Did the Zurich Classic teach us anything about the Ryder Cup? Did Brook Henderson's win teach us anything about the LPGA Tour's future? What did Tiger Woods reveal in his latest Instagram post? This week's Drop Zone breaks down the PGA Tour's controversial Player Impact Program plus the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic, the LPGA Tour's L.A. Open and everything in between.
This week's Drop Zone features an extended discussion on the runaway victories we saw on Tour last week. Lydia Ko by seven and Stewart Cink by 4. Big deal? HUGE deal. For both, really. But also, there's Billy Horschel and his anti-arm-lock take. Should it be banned? Should Si Woo Kim's putt have counted? We disagree a lot this week. Join us.
Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier recap Hideki Matsuyama’s breakthrough victory at the Masters, Will Zalatoris’ ascent and how Spieth's game has come full circle. The Drop Zone wraps up the Masters from Augusta.
We've made it to Augusta! Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier recap Jordan Spieth's win at the Texas Open and discuss what it means for this coming week at the Masters. Spoiler: it means a lot. We discuss the favorites, tease some bits of an exclusive interview with Bryson DeChambeau and break down everything we can expect to happen this week at Augusta National.
Youthful guest James Colgan joins to discuss his first impressions of the club before the group puts a bow on the ANWA and ANA Inspiration.
We got more golf than we deserved this weekend, but we'll take it! Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier explain why DJ and Kevin Na were both sort of in the wrong, why the match play format shouldn't be changed, why Joel Dahmen's win felt so good and what to watch for in the women's game this week.
Who's golf's MVP? Rookie of the Year? Most Improved? Biggest Question Mark? Believe it or not, we're halfway through the PGA Tour season, and we're here to hand out some half-season awards. You'll be surprised what you've already forgotten from this season...
What did we learn about Justin Thomas on Sunday at the Players Championship? What does his win mean as we look towards the Masters? Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier break down everything from the week at TPC Sawgrass and dive into the current states of Lee Westwood, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and more.
All it took was a win from Bryson DeChambeau to bring the Drop Zone back onto your podcast airwaves. We discuss the event at Bay Hill, what hanging out with Bryson is really like, what he means for golf moving forward, etc. Also, it's Players Week! The biggest event thus far in 2021 kicks off Thursday, so we look back at the last 12 months of golf in the world of Covid-19. Dylan shares a reminder of what it was like on the ground at the 2020 Players and what to expect this week at TPC Sawgrass.
We research plenty of stories — but we don't get a chance to tell all of them. What did it feel like at the final tournament before the pandemic? Who changed golf's conversation the most in 2020? And what was this year like for the PGA Tour's most accurate player? On this week's episode of the Drop Zone, we dig into our notebooks to revisit several key moments from the 2020 golf season and share the details behind the stories we never got to.
Cameron Champ has plenty of power on the course. So much that when asked about the race for distance, he said "I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut."
He also has plenty of power OFF the course. After discussing his wacky and impressive 2020 season we talked with Cameron about his recent decision to fund two scholarships at an HBCU, Prairie View A&M, in the name of his Grandpa Mack. That alone impressed us at the Drop Zone, and so did the rest of his season, so we got into a lot of it in this week's episode.
Who were the biggest winners of the strange, unprecedented 2020 golf season? Can Bryson DeChambeau crack the list? How 'bout Patrick Reed? Adidas? There's still a month's worth of rounds to be played, but let's beat the year-end rush with a celebration of those who made the most of it. This week's Drop Zone shouts out 10 big-time winners who grabbed an unusual year by the horns.
What a week it was at Augusta National. Dustin Johnson is your Masters Champion after a record-setting performance. We break down the entire week by sharing what we learned about DJ, Tiger, Bryson, Rory, Augusta National, Augusta the town, distance in golf, and much more.
To break down this week's Masters, we interviewed six different experts to hone in on every aspect of golf's biggest tournament. From Bryson DeChambeau's game plan to Tiger Woods' title defense to the CBS broadcast to the best gambling picks to a potential equipment revolution, here's what to expect at Augusta National. Featuring Luke Kerr-Dineen, Jonathan Wall, James Colgan, Michael Bamberger, Alan Shipnuck and Josh Sens. Enjoy!
Jack Nicklaus, 6-time Masters Champion, for nearly an hour. Need we say more?
Golf's greatest champion joins us for a long conversation about all things: the Masters, Augusta National, Bryson DeChambeau, changes to the golf course, Tiger and Phil. We hit on just about everything with Jack from the comforts of his compound down in southern Florida. Come for his memories of a Jack-proofed setup and stay for his first lesson at the hallowed grounds, courtesy of Arnold Palmer.
While many of the best golfers in the world gravitate to southern Florida, Daniel Berger was raised in the middle of it. Raised on a golf course, picking the range and taking money off pros. It's all he's ever known, and it's a big part of the reason why he's so damn good. Berger sat down with us to talk about the iron-sharpens-iron aspect of Jupiter, Florida, his resurgence in 2020 and why he'd never dream of leaving the Sunshine State.
Bandon Dunes began as a pie-in-the-sky brainchild of a wannabe golf course developer and a wannabe Scottish golf course architect. Together, David McLay-Kidd and Mike Keiser built a golf course — but they had no idea they were spawning a revolution in the process. Bandon expanded and Cabot Links and Sand Valley followed in its footsteps; some dozen golf courses later, Bandon's lasting legacy is as an idea: That North America can have true links golf and that reimagine the idea of a remote golf course as a bucket-list destination. New locales have followed in Bandon's footsteps, like Cabot Links in Nova Scotia and Sand Valley in Wisconsin. Dream Golf has become a movement. But it sure didn't start that way. On this week's Drop Zone, here's how one course in nowhere, Oregon turned into an entire movement — all by accident.
There's nobody quite like Collin Morikawa — even on the PGA Tour, where it feels like a new 'golden child' gets crowned every few weeks. Morikawa joins the Drop Zone to fill us in on his origin story, dive into the differences between 'good' and 'great,' tell us where he's been and where he's going.
Whether or not he remembers it, Xander Schauffele was one of the first guests we ever had on the Drop Zone. That was years ago, and we've all come a long way since then. This week, he joined us again to dish on a bunch of stuff, including:
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Watching Tiger Woods win at Torrey Pines in 2008
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Growing up in San Diego
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Money games with Phil Mickelson
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His rise to becoming a top 10 player
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How he competes with the likes of Bryson, DJ, Rory and longer players
The U.S. Open champ is back for part 2 of our discussion. This time, we talk all about his victory at Winged Foot, why his game was so good that week and what it means for courses this fall ... like Augusta National.
DeChambeau also responds to the claims that he might be "breaking" golf, and offers a retort for how his changing the game is actually great for golf.
Golf's most recent major champion joins the Drop Zone for a lengthy discussion on all things Bryson: His upbringing, his transformation, some mind-blowing practice facts, how his game is perceived and what it was like demolishing Winged Foot. This is part 1 of 2 — the second half of the Bryson DeChambeau convo will go live Wednesday morning. Subscribe to make sure it lands in your podcast library!
Our very own Dylan Dethier was on site at Winged Foot, and ALSO at the after party with Bryson DeChambeau as his team as they celebrated their biggest accomplishment ... yet.
We recap the U.S. Open with behind-the-scenes detail you're not going to get anywhere else.
Nobody knows more about winning at Winged Foot than the iconic club's very best players, so we assembled a roundtable of club champions to help preview this week's U.S. Open. What are the keys to winning a brutal test at Winged Foot? What will the best golfers in the world shoot? What kind of U.S. Open should we expect? All that — and more! — on this week's Drop Zone.
Sometimes, 18 holes is too much! For anyone who has ever thought that, GOLF Magazine is in your corner this week, launching a new ranking of the best 9-hole courses in the world, a list of the top par-3 courses and the best courses under 6,000 yards. Non-traditional golf at its very best. We talk with Ran Morrissett, the man behind the ranking, right here on the Drop Zone.
We’ve heard plenty of players describe the unforgettable sensation of playing golf alongside Tiger Woods for the first time. But what’s it like to caddie alongside him? For one man, it was the opportunity of a lifetime — and then it got a bit complicated. On this week's Drop Zone, we take a look at the fuller story behind Tiger Woods, world-famous caddie.
Basketball is the no. 1 sport being played in the NBA Bubble, but sport no. 2? It's golf.
Players, coaches and staff members from every team have teed it up down in Orlando, and for some of them, golf is way more than a fun hobby. It's become a way of life down in Florida.
We talked to a bunch of players about just how important golf is to them within the Disney bubble.
Our Alan Shipnuck was on site Sunday for the rollicking conclusion to the PGA Championship, and we dive in on how one golfer separated from the pack. What did Collin Morikawa's victory feel like at TPC Harding Park? What did we learn about Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and more? What was it like covering the first COVID-era major championship? Shipnuck answers those questions and more on this week's Drop Zone.
When two Canadian brothers in their 20s launched DataGolf, they didn't realize just how many questions they'd be asking — and answering in the process. What are the biggest myths among golf fans? How do you pick a winner in a sport as random as golf? Even better, how do you create a model so powerful it can give you predictions and update in real time? Here's how DataGolf became one of the smartest voices in the game. Plus, some PGA Championship picks!
These days, it's tough for anyone to get inside the gates at a PGA Tour event — never mind inside the ropes. But our Sean Zak made his PGA Tour caddying debut at this week's 3M Open. How'd he do? What blew his mind? What did he screw up? Here's what we know about the life of a Tour caddie, from Zak's first tournament on the bag.
After four months away from the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods is back this week at the Memorial. Will he live up to expectations? Well, let's set those expectations appropriately. We spend this episode recounting everything Woods has done since he won the 2019 Masters, and why you should be both bullish and bearish on Woods' 2020 season.
Is it Bryson DeChambeau? Is it Rory McIlroy? Is it ... Webb Simpson? During one of the most interesting times in golf, we figure out who is No. 1 and apologize to those who don't make the cut. Sorry, DJ.
It's about time we admit it ... Bryson DeChambeau is changing golf. He changed his body, changed his swing and his results right now might just change the PGA Tour as we know it. We explore everything that Bryson was, is and might become on this week's episode of the Drop Zone.
Rory McIlroy has had the same coach since the age of 8, but you likely know very little about him. Michael Bannon, the man behind the curtain, joins the Drop Zone to dig deep on how a talented young golfer ascended to world No. 1. What was Rory like as a child? What lessons did Bannon learn from coaching him? And what would he tell parents with talented juniors just getting started?
Phil Mickelson is 50 years old. Fifty! In honor of the man known simply as Lefty, we are breaking down the 7 best things to love about Phil, from his legendary amateur career to his hunger for a little action during money games ... to his lack of hunger while fasting. Here's to you, PM. And to 50 more!
Golf is back. The PGA Tour is back. We're back talking about live golf! It's been about three months since we saw play stop at the Players Championship, which is one hell of an offseason. The truth is, you've forgotten countless things about where we left off, like how Tiger wasn't playing well, or playing at all. Or how Patrick Reed was winning his way through the haters, and how it was a two-man battle for Player of the Year. We catch you up on everything you forgot about this Tour season and preview what the rest of the year might hold in store.
When live pro golf made its return at Seminole and Medalist a couple weeks ago, there were no outside media members allowed on the grounds — but our Michael Bamberger has a way of showing up places. He joins the Drop Zone to share what it was like to experience golf’s strange new Florida Swing in person.
In recent weeks, some 98% of U.S. golf courses have opened for play. But it’s hardly business as usual. There are contradictions and unknowns that leads to the industry’s one big question: How are golf courses going to change? How is YOUR golf course going to change? We explore that topic and find some answers in this week's Drop Zone.
Go ahead and name a golf memorabilia item. Chances are, Golden Age Auctions has sold it. Green jackets? Check. Masters trophies? Check. Tiger Woods' golf clubs he used during the Tiger Slam? Check! This week, we dive into the world of golf auctions — one is live right now! — and learn everything there is to know about buying and selling golf history. Eventually, co-founder Ryan Carey entertains us with his top 3 fantasy golf auction items, which might be the next great golf debate.
Malcolm Gladwell hates golf — he's made that clear for years. Most recently, Gladwell called for the "liberation" of courses and republished an anti-golf Revisionist History episode devoted to his issues with the game. We listened back (with open minds!) and found that Gladwell cut a few corners. We're here to set the record straight, breaking down what Gladwell missed about golf while acknowledging there were some things he got right, too.
Behind every Tiger Woods win are the clubs he used and behind Tiger Woods' clubs is a wizard. A wizard club-maker from Texas who has a "gift." His name is Mike Taylor and we tell you all about his magic here on the Drop Zone.
Equipment editor Jonathan Wall has the story, straight from the club shop in Fort Worth.
What would YOU do if Tiger Woods appeared out of nowhere during your round of golf — and wanted to play you for a Buick? For Beverly Rettinger, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. For the rest of us, it became the greatest Tiger Woods YouTube video ever.
Tiger Woods is the most famous golfer in the world, but after him? Probably the last two presidents. Next on the list is not Rory McIlroy or Brooks Koepka, but Michael Jordan.
The basketball star picked up golf in the 80s, demanded to play in the 90s (and at the Olympics) and is now building the most epic golf playground he can imagine. He's absolutely addicted, and we explore every story of Jordan golf lore on this episode. Enjoy!
Holes in one are funny. They don't discriminate ... or do they? We all know a great player who has never made one, just like we all know that hack who has made multiple. We're going to introduce you to the man who has made more aces than anyone else. His name is Mancil Davis, and he's the luckiest golfer of all-time.
This week’s Drop Zone is an unlikely story of life and near-death at Augusta National. Seeing Amen Corner in person is at the top of most golf fans’ bucket lists. For Johnny Pruitt, it was where his life came to a hard stop — and then began again.
The Drop Zone is back! We’ve been reimagining the show with a new focus: Taking you deeper inside stories from the world of golf.
For decades, the chapters of Tiger Woods’ life have played out in front of us. Mostly, they’ve been inspirational. But not always. This week, Michael Bamberger joins the show to break down how Woods has changed — and what we can learn from watching him. Bamberger's new book "The Second Life of Tiger Woods" is out in stores this week and let us add to its industry-wide praise: it is THE golf book to buy this year.
Click here for more on the book: https://fave.co/3dJk1pv
We're back! While the Drop Zone went on a slight hiatus, soon we'll be in your feed on a weekly basis once again. Only now, we'll be actually telling you stories.
Storytelling and reporting are two things that GOLF.com and GOLF Magazine do better than anyone, so look for Dylan and Sean to host the the absolute best of that right here on this feed, every single week beginning very soon with an episode about Tiger Woods.
See you soon ...
Robert Trent Jones Jr. — the man behind Chambers Bay, Poppy Hills, Spanish Bay and others — joins us this week to discuss his career as a designer. We talk through his various projects, reclaiming a course from flooding, creating courses for the U.S. Open and how course architecture is an art form. Enjoy!
Alan Shipnuck sits down with Michael Murphy the famous author of Golf in the Kingdom to discuss his everlasting novels, what golf means to him these days, what it was like watching Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach, and what he intends to do with his Kingdom characters in the future.
How good is Patrick Reed? Does Bryson deserve to be among golf’s most controversial figures? And what are we looking forward to in the Florida Swing? The Drop Zone breaks down a wild finish in Mexico.
Joel Dahmen joined us at the Genesis Invitational to break down all aspects of life on the PGA Tour, from the cliques to the traveling circus. Dahmen even set a prediction for himself at the Genesis...and then blew past it! Thanks to Joel for joining and showing why he’s one of the best hangs on Tour.
After a wild final round at the Genesis Invitational, we break down Adam Scott surviving Riviera, what it’s like to cover the event in person, what Rory McIlroy’s final round means, the state of Tiger Woods’ game and much more.
One player in this week’s Genesis Invitational field is especially grateful to be back — for the first time in nearly a decade. Joseph Bramlett and Genesis COO Erwin Raphael join the Drop Zone to explain exactly what the Genesis means.
No one knows Riviera Country Club like Geoff Shackelford—he literally wrote the history book on this place. Geoff shares wild L.A. golf stories, dives into the distance debate and tells us what to expect at the Genesis. Hint: No. 83 from Tiger?
HOT OFF THE PRESSES is the USGA's Distance Report. We break down everything it means for pros, amateurs and the future of the game (13:30). We also discuss if Tony Finau choked away the Phoenix Open (or did Webb Simpson win it?) and if the event is the biggest non-major, non-Players tournament to the world at-large.
Lucas Wald is one of the fastest rising names in golf instruction, and he joined us down at the PGA Show to discuss his theories on creating speed, using aspects of the greatest players, how to dial back a long-drive champion, and much more. We dive into what you can learn from the best players of all-time, and how to apply it to your game.
This week's episode dives into the weird world of fasting with Phil Mickelson. Sean Zak completed a 6-day fast with Mickelson as his coach, following the footsteps of a fast Mickelson did this summer, putting his body through a "hard reset." We break down the highs and lows of the fast and answer a number of questions readers had for recreating the fast on their own.
Is it okay to talk about Charlie Woods' golf swing? Is it okay to forecast a golf career for him? We discuss that, recap ANOTHER playoff on the PGA Tour, offer some advice to avoid controversy with grandstands and play Overrated, Underrated, Properly Rated with Pete Dye, Patrick Reed, Jon Taffer and others.
Our year-end episode of the Drop Zone features some brazenly bold predictions for 2020. We've dialed up takes on Tiger Woods, the Olympics, Sergio Garcia, The U.S. Open and ... PGA Tour melee?? You'll just have to listen in to find out. We'll see you again in the new year.
Alan Shipnuck joins the Drop Zone to break down his Presidents Cup report card and Michael Bamberger hops on to break down the leadership of playing captain Tiger Woods plus the ramifications of Patrick Reed's actions on the rest of the golf world.
Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger are back to preview the Presidents Cup in only the way they know how. It will be a special week down in Australia, and they discuss... -How Captain Tiger will play (and sit) -How much of a chance the International team has -What this week will mean for future Cups -and much more. Enjoy!
GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher Chris Como joins Dylan and Sean this week. We dive into Como's work with Tiger Woods (and what it was like watching him work through the chipping yips), what keeps Bryson DeChambeau grinding on the range, developing his show on Golf Channel and much more.
The Drop Zone is sponsored by WHOOP, the fitness tracker changing the way people track their fitness, sleep and recovery to optimize performance. Enter code 'dropzone' on WHOOP.com for 15% off a new membership.
Perhaps the greatest analyst in golf joins the Drop Zone this week. Brandel Chamblee sits down with Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier to discuss his work with the Golf Channel, his fascination with the golf swing, who the best players in the world are, and much more. We get real nerdy about how the greatest players in the world become the greatest players in the world.
The Drop Zone is sponsored by WHOOP, the fitness tracker changing the way people track their fitness, sleep and recovery to optimize performance. Enter code 'dropzone' on WHOOP.com for 15% off a new membership.
One of the hottest teachers in golf joins the Drop Zone to talk about his teaching methods, his work with Matthew Wolff, why he refuses to listen to the haters and how social media has influenced his career.
The Drop Zone is sponsored by WHOOP, the fitness tracker changing the way people track their fitness, sleep and recovery to optimize performance. Enter code 'dropzone' on WHOOP.com for 15% off a new membership.
The first female President of the PGA of America, Suzy Whaley, joins us this week to talk about all the ways this game can move forward, from new scorecards to a set of par-3 tees on every hole, on every course. Whaley's a progressive thinker and a blast to talk to. She's an even better player on top of that. Enjoy!
Who was the best player of the 2010s? Is it Brooks Koepka or Rory McIlroy? This week, we rank the 10 best players from the 2010s and discuss how their accomplishments outweigh their faults ... and address what could have been for some who should be ranked higher.
Tiger Woods is a PGA Tour winner — again! Michael Bamberger brings insight from 25+ years of covering Woods to break down how he's changed over the years and what his future might hold.
Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier stayed awake all night watching the Japan Skins Challenge, and break it down for you who were in bed sleeping on the action. Tiger Woods came out REALLY cold before rallying. Rory McIlroy made things interesting with his thoughts on Brooks Koepka's rivalry comments and the match came down to one final putt on the 18th hole. Spoiler alert: it was better than The Match.
This week's Drop Zone breaks down the new Scandinavian Mixed event before a sit-down interview between Stephen Curry and Alan Shipnuck (13:30). Curry and Shipnuck talk about:
-Steph's reviving the Howard University golf program -His pro golf aspirations -Playing with Obama and Spieth -The role golf played in the Warriors' success
Afterward Shipnuck joins the show to talk about what it's like to play and hang out with Curry, and what kind of high-reaching prospects are in his golf future.
This week's Drop Zone dives into wild news of Bio Kim's suspension, Kevin Na's win, and ask the tough questions in Would You Rather, like...
Would you rather have the Driver Yips or the Putter Yips?
'Neither' is not an option.
That and many more Would You Rathers from the golf world. Enjoy!
We overreact to the few things we know about the PGA Tour three weeks in, and Sean calls into question the handicap of Tom Brady. Then PGA Tour rules official Slugger White joins (19:10) to talk all things rules, and even share his opinion on what matters with pace of play. Also, his real name isn't Slugger. He shares...
-His epic golf family -His first ruling (with some player named Jack Nicklaus) -Why you shouldn't swim to the 17th green at Sawgrass and much more...
She hasn't slept much since winning the Solheim Cup, but Bronte Law called in to break it all down for us, from the early week "trash talk" to the epic finish and the many celebratory drinks that followed. One thing is certain — she's still buzzing from the victory.
What happened Sunday was one of the most riveting finishes in golf history. We break it all down, from the pre-tournament press conferences to the epic walk-off putt. Then, senior writer Alan Shipnuck (30:15) joins the show for an audio version of his #AskAlan column. We ask:
- Juli Inskter for Ryder Cup captain?
- Is Viktor Hovland the best player without a win?
- Are too many superstars a good thing?
Oh, and much more.
The PGA Tour is back! First there are other things in golf you need to pay attention to. Like the Solheim Cup. Watch it! We played San Diego's best, Torrey Pines, last week, and were joined by Danielle Kang (17:45) to talk about ...
- When she almost bought a tiger
- What it's like working with Butch Harmon
- Crushing souls at the Solheim Cup
- How the LPGA Tour can gain popularity and much more!
Endorse one of our fantasy teams on Twitter or Instagram for a chance to win a brand new driver. It's as simple as that!
On this week's show, we offer up season-end awards for the PGA Tour and compare NFL QBs to their golf equivalents (28:35). Think Kirk Cousins-Rickie Fowler. You like that! In between, we talk with Tad King of Sweetens Cove fame (15:05) on the next course he's building, and chat with Presidents Cupper Abraham Ancer on his ascendent 2019 and what it was like to play with Tiger Woods in his home country of Mexico (36:20).
Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier (re)introduce the Drop Zone, otherwise known as the Internet's favorite golf show from 2018. They discuss Rory McIlroy's wild season, what was good/bad from the Tour Championship and ask the question: is Jay Monahan overrated or underrated? Steve Sands calls in (22:20) and shares... - What life is like without the whiteboard - His relationship with Tiger - Interviewing a vulnerable Rory McIlroy - Olympic Speed Skating - Why Washington D.C. needs a Tour event
Justin Thomas torched Medinah and everyone thinks the Tour doesn't set up courses hard enough. Are they right? Probably. Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier debate that and more before Shane Bacon joins the show (25:45) to talk about all things: - FOX Broadcasts - Pinehurst - His hoop dreams - Never making an ace - His summer as a caddie at St. Andrews
PGA Tour players are suddenly calling out slow play left and right, leaving Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau at opposite ends of the debate. Will this lead to meaningful change? Is player confrontation and off-course drama good for the Tour? Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier break all that down, plus Dylan Frittelli joins us from the sauna at Liberty National (23:05) to detail his long, hard road to the PGA Tour, including: 1. Being Jordan Spieth’s college teammate 2. Brooks Koepka Challenge Tour stories 3. That breakthrough Tour win feeling
The PGA Tour regular season is complete, which means it's PLAYOFFS season. What does that mean for Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods? Two very different things. We discuss that before Puerto Rico Open champ Martin Trainer joins us (17:10) in studio to dish on all that he learned in his rookie season: 1. There are really two PGA Tours. 2. Your card doesn't swipe everywhere 3. Si Woo Kim is a character. And much more.
Notah Begay joins the pod (32:50) to talk about the similarities between Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods, and he reveals whether or not Tiger can hoop. Meanwhile, Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier wrestle with the biggest golf questions of the week, including Rory McIlroy's beguiling game, fan heckling, the newly released PGA Tour schedule, Sergio Garcia having a normal one, and whether or not we are officially in the Brooks Era.
Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger recap everything about the wild Open at Royal Portrush, including the significance of Shane Lowry's win to the island of Ireland, where Portrush ranks on the Open rota, Brooks Koepka's unbelievable major run and how this year's Open lived up to its considerable hype.
Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger are back to help prep you for the week in Northern Ireland. They explain why this Open is particularly important, the history behind it, how an Open in Northern Ireland came to be and how Graeme McDowell is the man to keep an eye on this week. Enjoy!
2-time major champion Cristie Kerr joins us for a hearty discussion on spirits, her lengthy career, the difference between the men's and women's games, and explains why golf is so behind the times in paying female golfers what they are worth.
Let us know what you think of the podcast on Twitter at @sean_zak or @golf_com!
Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger recap the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. GOLF Magazine's senior writers tackle Gary Woodland's impressive victory, Brooks Koepka's dominant run, the state of Tiger's game and mindset, and the ideal U.S. Open rota.
The final day of the 2019 U.S. Open is upon us and Gary Woodland is on the verge of his first major victory at 11-under par. Sean Zak and Michael Bamberger discuss the top players nipping at his heels to hoist the U.S. Open trophy.
Sean Zak and Alan Shipnuck breakdown the major so far: Gary Woodland shot 6-under and stands atop the leaderboard at 9-under. But round one's leader, Justin Rose, is only 2 shots back while 29 players remain under par. Plus, Tiger and Lefty are still very much in the mix.
Dylan Dethier and Luke Kerr-Dineen react to all of Thursday's action which included an impressive leaderboard, underwhelming course conditions, Jordan Spieth calling out his caddy, and Tiger's 1-under performance.
Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier discuss Brooks Koepka's outspoken press conference from Tuesday at Pebble Beach. The four-time major was the talk of the media center and we hear his best bites from his time at the Podium.
GOLF.com Managing Editor of Equipment, Jonathan Wall, spoke with Callaway’s Gerritt Pon about how he became a club builder, how he gets late night calls from Lefty and what makes his clubs so unique.
Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and why players' criticisms regarding the USGA seem excessive. They also dive into the idea of narrowing the host list to have a more frequent rotation of the classic five or six U.S. Open courses.
During this instruction episode, GOLF.com Instruction Editor Luke Kerr-Dineen dives into one thing: distance off the tee! Joining him is writer Josh Sens who recently took a long drive lesson and hit the ball over 300+ yards, gaining 50+ yards on his average drives. So can everyone benefit from a long drive experience?
Monty stops by the studio to discuss Scotland's best exports, whiskey and golf! Sean Zak hosts as the former Ryder Cup captain discusses Team Europe's win in 2010 and his singles record in the event. He also offers his opinion on a wide range of topics including the increased focus on fitness, why he doesn't think Jon Daly should be allowed to use a cart, and the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
The PGA Championship at Bethpage Black showcased the fan frenzy that comes with hosting a major golf tournament in New York. But was it an indication that crowds are becoming too mean spirited? Instruction Editor, and Team Europe super fan, Luke Kerr-Dineen wrote an article claiming the event has him "terrified." Host Dylan Dethier asks important questions regarding who's to blame, how it can be fixed, and why it matters.
What was it like to watch the PGA Championship alongside Brooks Koepka’s girlfriend Jena Sims? Jessica Marksbury got that opportunity this weekend. She joins Dylan Dethier to give some behind-the-scenes insight into Team Koepka and how they took in the action at Bethpage Black.
Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger host their PGA Championship recap - during the final few holes of the major! The senior writers discuss Brooks Koepka's career and the statement he's made by winning his fourth major in his last eight tries, where he goes from here, and his relationship with long-time friend Dustin Johnson.
Writer Paul Rogers first played Bethpage Black in college, and he's returned nearly a dozen times since. In this episode, host Dylan Dethier asks Rogers the pain and pleasure of the Black: what magic makes it so special, why it's become a legendary major venue, and what we can expect when the pros tee it up this week for the 2019 PGA Championship.
The PGA Championship is upon us, much earlier than usual. Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss the tournaments move to May along with Tiger Woods after his Masters victory and Brooks Koepka's game.
The PGA Championship heads to one of the toughest courses in America and home to one of the most iconic signs in the sport: Bethpage Black's 'Warning' sign. While the messaging is clear, its origin is not. Josh Berhow hosts this investigative podcast as he tries to uncover the truth of who put up the sign and when. But as you'll find out, memories can be fleeting.
Paul Stringer discusses the art and process of golf course designs as well as it's future and global expansion in the sport. Dylan Dethier hosts and has a conversation with the Executive Vice President of the Nicklaus Companies. GOLF.com and Nicklaus Companies are both affiliates of 8AM Golf.
Rory McIlroy turned 30 Saturday. What does that number mean for him? To understand who Rory is today, we look back on who he was as a 19-year-old reaching the PGA Tour for the first time. Michael Bamberger joins Sean Zak to break down McIlroy's career and where he might go from here.
In this travel episode, Ashley Mayo discusses the full experience of playing and staying at one of the most renowned resorts. Sean Zak asks fan questions and Ashley fields them based on her visits to Pinehurst.
The latest Anthony Kim sighting reminded the golf world of the sport’s most mysterious star. Alan Shipnuck breaks down Kim's career and disappearance — plus what it’s like tracking him down for a story.
GOLF Magazine senior writer Alan Shipnuck talks with two-time Masters champ Ben Crenshaw about the Champions Dinner, which he has moderated since taking over from Byron Nelson in 2006.
It's Masters week! Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger talk all things Augusta. Who is the man to beat? How will Tiger fare? What does the month of March tell us about how April will play out? All that and more.
In this travel episode, Ashley Mayo discusses the full experience of playing and staying at the premiere golfing destination. Sean Zak asks fan questions and Ashley fields them based on her seven visits to the rugged Pacific coast of southern Oregon.
In this episode, equipment editor Jon Wall sits down with wedges legend Bob Vokey to discuss how he became a preeminent figure in the short game. Vokey's career is a long and fun one, and obviously no one can tell it quite like him.
ALSO: We tease ANOTHER podcast that you will want to subscribe to: A Podcast Unlike Any Other. Enjoy!
Luke Kerr-Dineen and Debbie Doniger are joined by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott, two women at the forefront of golf psychology. The quartet break down various ways you can get an edge mentally toward playing your best golf, starting with choosing the correct coach.
Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth recently sat down with Jon Wall to break down the launch of the Spieth 3 shoe he'll be wearing in 2019. Spieth was intimately involved with the design of the Under Armour shoe, and he details the conversations he had with the UA team to create a shoe he would benefit from in the course of play. He also swapped texts with Steph Curry along the way. Such is life when you've graduated to having your own shoe line.
Equipment editor Jon Wall sits down with Sergio Garcia to talk about his career, his transition to Callaway clubs, his depth of wedge-grinding knowledge and much more. Wall also shares his thoughts on what's new around the equipment world, like what is Justin Rose doing with Honma? And how about Rickie Fowler's golf ball change? Enjoy!
GOLF Magazine is new, improved, bigger and better than it has ever been. The February issue marks a new era for one of the standards in golf media, so go check it out for yourself. Until you can get it in your hands, listen as editor in chief David Denunzio and creative director David Curcurito explain everything that is different and better about the new mag, from the size and the font to the images and stories within.
Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger preview the new season in only the way they can. They kick off the podcast detailing Shipnuck's most recent feature story and break down how they expect the season to go, changes to Augusta National, and how the major season will be remembered.
25 minutes of predictions for how the 2019 golf year will play out, from Tiger Woods to Brooks Koepka and — gasp! — the Americans LOSING the Presidents Cup. Enjoy!
You all saw it. On Twitter or ESPN or CNN or elsewhere. Phil Mickelson dancing and dodging golf balls in a Mizzen and Main dress shirt. How did that come together to become the campaign of the year? How did it inspire Mizzen and Main to keep spending commercial dollars? There is a pretty clear path for this story, but some of it will surprise you. Mizzen and Main CEO Kevin Lavelle joins us to break down the brilliant spot and how they convinced Mickelson to do it.
We sat down with all three cover stars on the January issue of GOLF Magazine to delve into their rise to the elite ranks of the golf world. For Champ, that means what he learned throughout his win at the Sanderson Farms this fall (31:43). For Burns, it was quite the moment playing with Tiger at the Honda Classic (20:20). For Niemann, well, the kid just turned 20. Him being a Tour card holder is incredible in itself. Enjoy the podcast and check out the story in the newest issue of GOLF Magazine.
2017 Mid-am champ Matt Parziale joins us from the Goslings Invitational to recap his year and the event he and Dylan Dethier played in. We kick off the show with a discussion on the courses we played in Bermuda before getting Parziale involved (13:20) to break down his wild 2018 season, getting some crystal at the Masters and finishing as low-am at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock.
It's Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson week and whether or not you're crazy about the event, we're here to preview it. We break down the good and the bad in the run up to it, talk about dream scenarios, discuss the prop bets and make a case why each player will win. Happy Thanksgiving!
In a move he likened to "MJ joining the Wiz," longtime PGA Tour equipment guru Jonathan Wall is bringing his equipment scoops to GOLF.com. So, on the first day of his new gig, Wall also joined the podcast to talk about his new gig, why he nerds out over equipment, the appetite for equipment content and why you're annoying him by sliding into those DMs.
We spent a week in Jupiter, Fla. the "international golf capital of the world," according to Dylan. We did all things golf, from hanging at the Bear's Club with a certain Player of the Year to dining (not just once but twice) at The Woods Jupiter. We lived that Jup Life and we're here to break it all down for you.
It's an important question to ask, now that plenty of news has been shared about a not-so-happy American team room. Apologies to the fans of the Shipnuck-Bamberger podcast. Zak and Dethier have been substituted this week to break down the Patrick Reed fire, the DJ-Brooks alleged fight and discuss how the captainship should be decided moving forward.
Looking out over the French countryside, Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier preview all things Ryder Cup. Will Tiger Woods be the best player in Paris? Will Phil Mickelson be the worst? How likely is an American blowout? They also break down their round at the "Augusta of France."
3-time Tour winner Brendan Steele joins Alan Shipnuck to talk about all things, beginning with how Google stock propelled his golf career. Other topics include Steele overcoming the belly-putter ban, the failings of the USGA, his money matches against Phil Mickelson and how he owns the Safeway Open.
Stew Cink sits down with Alan Shipnuck to discuss his career both past and present. Yes, that includes the traumatizing 2001 U.S. Open at Southern Hills as well as his triumph over Tom Watson at the 2009 Open at Turnberry. Cink delves into his family life, his mental game battles and how he sees himself on the PGA Tour today.
Sergio Garcia sits down with Alan Shipnuck to talk about all things, starting with the Ryder Cup. Will he make the team? Would he accept a duty as assistant captain? Will it bring out the best in his game? The conversation spans many other topics, including his new life as a Texan, how golf has changed, the resurgence of Tiger Woods and Sergio's future endeavors.
Audio from Drop Zone Ep. 3 is included, and the two hosts sit down with Dustin Johnson to talk about his mentality on many things: his press conferences, his look, his place in the world of athletes and more. DJ joins us at the 17:40 mark.
GOLF's senior writers recap the PGA Championship from Mama's on the Hill in St. Louis. That means a lengthy discussion on the fire within Brooks Koepka, the firepower of Tiger Woods and if Shipnuck will run into some friendly fire at the Ryder Cup in Paris.
Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier are back on the road to another major. After driving to the Masters from New York, they drive to the PGA Championship from Chicago. It's much shorter, but the conversation is hopefully just as good: Tiger, POY, Bellerive, conditions, a random course in Illinois and much more.
Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger recap the British Open from the Rufflets Country House in St. Andrews. Of course, that means some talk of Francesco Molinari, but it also means a break down of Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, how Carnoustie held up, past ventures to the Open, and playing St. Andrews at midnight.
Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier preview the year's third major by breaking down what the course has to offer, what the vibe is like at a British Open, the favorites and sleepers, and much more. Bear with us, the audio quality isn't as great as it normally is for us. We're outfitting our new studio at the moment and hopefully will have it up and running perfectly in the coming weeks.
Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger weigh in for the final time on all things U.S. Open. That means Phil Mickelson's memorable Saturday, the USGA's forgetful Saturday, Tiger Woods's forgetful performance, DJ v. Brooks v. Fleetwood and the rest. Enjoy!
The Shark joins the podcast this week to talk about the upcoming debut of his radio show on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. Greg Norman will host a monthly show that delves into not just golf but many other topics with the biggest names from Norman's rolodex. Fireside chats are the vibe he's going for with names from all industries — politics, sports, business or otherwise. We discuss that, the latter stages of his career, his friendship with Seve Ballesteros and much more.
This week's podcast dives into the June issue of GOLF Magazine, and in particular three feature stories. We've got the battle of Tiger v. Rocco from 2008, what it's like to hang out (and workout) with Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, and what it takes to win a U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Those, of course, are just the topics. Tune in for many, many more details.
Michael Bamberger on Tiger v. Rocco — 0:45 Alan Shipnuck on DJ/Brooks/Joey D — 14:45 Jeff Ritter on Winning at Shinny — 31:30
Emma Talley will be — or at least she should be — one of the fan favorites at this month's Women's U.S. Open at Shoal Creek. The 24-year-old is a member at the private club and will have more course knowledge than the rest of the field combined.
Talley is a rookie on the LPGA Tour and a former U.S. Amateur and NCAA champion. She's also a Christina Aguilera fanatic. Enjoy this quick convo with her about all those things and more.
This week we dive into three stories from GOLF Magazine with the three writers, Alan Shipnuck, Michael Bamberger and Ryan Asselta. We learn about the eccentric Tour coach Tony Ruggiero, how a golf club in Erie, PA handled a brutal winter, and the many layers behind that classic Matt Kuchar smile. Shipnuck takes us to the range with a struggling Smylie Kaufman, Bamberger takes us through a blizzard in Pennsylvania and Asselta takes us to life lessons with the father of two, Kuchar.
Everyone’s favorite golf movie was shot in 1979, released in 1980 and riddled with behind-the-scenes cocaine usage. Yep, that was the making of Caddyshack.
Author Chris Nashawaty joins the podcast to discuss his new book 'Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story.' As Chris knows well, there was all kinds of hilarity involved in making a golf comedy, and not just heavy drug use. There was a young guy named Bill Murray in one of his first breakout roles, there was the actual casting of a gopher, and then there was Rodney Dangerfield perpetually pissing off Ted Knight. All that and more is included in Chris's book, which comes out next week. Until then, enjoy this conversation.
Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger recap the Masters from a Waffle House on Washington Road. In some ways, it's the perfect setting to recount everything from the Masters week that was. Bamberger and Shipnuck dive into the stories they wrote throughout the week, Patrick Reed's Masters moment, the charges of Spieth and Fowler, the disappointment from Tiger and Rory, and much more.
Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger preview the first major of the year like only they know how to. That means story after story, like almost running over Tiger Woods, working out with Rory McIlroy (and Wozniacki), sneaking into Butler Cabin and much, much more.
We did it. Instead of an easier and quicker form of travel — flying — we drove from New York City to Augusta, GA. Along the way, we stormed the borders of Pine Valley, crushed Monster drinks and talked Tiger with Brendan Porath of SB Nation, fooled around on The Cradle at Pinehurst and then played an unassuming course in rural South Carolina for just $9 (with a cart, no less). It was quite the trip, and we documented it all, previewing the Masters as we went. Enjoy!
As we inch closer and closer to the first major of the year, who better to have on the podcast than the voice of the Masters himself, Jim Nantz. The longtime broadcaster caught up with Alan Shipnuck this week just before heading to San Antonio for the Final Four.
Nantz has covered the Masters for CBS for more than 30 years now. Is this the most hyped Masters in his tenure? It just might be. But ask him who'd he'd like to see win and the answer might surprise you. He and Shipnuck cover all things broadcasting, Butler Cabin, his prep and those precious few words he says to accompany golf's most historic moments.
Haven't you heard? Final round broadcasts of the last 50 Masters tournaments are now available on YouTube. In an ode to the Rewatchables Podcast from The Ringer, GOLF.com set out to explain the details that have been lost in time...until now. Sean Zak, Jeff Ritter, Alan Bastable and Dylan Dethier break down one of the most unintentionally riveting moments in Masters TV history: when Bob Goalby won the 1968 Masters...because Roberto De Vincenzo signed an incorrect scorecard.
Roger Maltbie is in his 27th year as a reporter and analyst for NBC Sports. 27 years of analyzing putts, chips, approaches and drives. He joins the podcast this week to talk about his run as a broadcaster, his favorite moments covering the action and what it means to have Tiger Woods back playing again. Come for that, stay for some stories about the 1987 Masters, where Maltbie began the back nine as the leader, only to miss out on a playoff by a single stroke.
Christina Kim has long been the LPGA's biggest personality. Known for her Kangols and brassy pronouncements, Kim has another side, too. She is an old-school purist when it comes to the game, and more philosophical and pensive that her saucy tweets might suggest. A free-spirited California girl with traditional Korean parents, she has spent nearly half of her 34 years on the LPGA, in a constant state of reinvention. Kim recently sat down with Alan Shipnuck to reflect on the state of the game and her place in the universe, among many other topics.
The Korda sisters have always been in a hurry. Jessica, now 25, made the cut at the 2008 U.S. Women's Open at the age of 15 and was a full-time pro on the LPGA three years later. Nelly, 19, won her very first pro event on the Symetra tour in 2016, and spent last year as an LPGA rookie, making 19 of 23 cuts. And so far in 2018, they've been the talk of the town. After off-season jaw surgery and a brutal recovery, Jessica won her first start back. The very next week, Nelly battled Michelle Wie down to the final hole before losing by one. Afterward, she dissolved into her sister's arms, in a moment that revealed the depth of their bond. They talked about all of this and much more when Alan Shipnuck sat down with the Korda sisters at the Founders Cup in Phoenix for what they said was their first-ever joint interview.
Tony Finau is a big man with soft hands and a gentle voice, but his courtly manner belies the violence he visits upon his golf ball. Finau, a lanky 6'4", leads the PGA Tour in driving distance at 323.7 yards a pop, what will be a record if he can maintain it for a full season. But this 28 year-old is more than just a slugger, as a polished all-around game has him 7th on Tour in stroke average and having already enjoyed four top-6 finishes this season. The journey to stardom has been long and circuitous for a man of color who grew up hand-to-mouth in Salt Lake City. Finau sat down with Alan Shipnuck last week in Mexico City to discuss how far he's come and where he's headed.
This week, Dylan Dethier and Sean Zak break down all the relevant topics in the golf world. Was JT right to have a fan ejected? No. Why would the USGA choose a 2-hole playoff? It's a brilliant idea. Is Tiger really that impressive thus far? All that and much more.
In this episode, we play a game with Tiger Woods. Three GOLF.com staffers come together for a State of the Union on the most popular golfer in the world. With five topics and one point per topic, they present arguments for, against and in relation to Woods's current state. Come for the points, stay for the mute button.
The story of Vokey wedges begins with its namesake, Bob Vokey, a now 78-year-old man who isn't even close to retirement.
Vokey's name or initials have been stamped on the back of every Titleist wedge of the past 15 years. His name competes against industry behemoths like Callaway and TaylorMade, which is ironic because Vokey could have easily — impossibly easily — become a TaylorMade brand. Tune in for details on that, and how a Montreal kid with no college degree slowly made his way up the golf equipment ladder.
Former Masters champion Fred Couples joins to talk sports, sports and more sports. It'll be something he needs to get used to as Couples is embarking on a radio venture with SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio in 2018. Couples will host The Fred Couples Show on a monthly basis beginning this week. He details his plans for the show here in addition to the topics below:
1:35 - The Fred Couples Show 7:30 - Tiger Woods's return to Torrey Pines 10:45 - What it's like trying to play competitive golf amid back injuries 13:30 - The Senior British Open at St. Andrews 18:30 - His prospects as a Ryder Cup captain 23:30 - The Ryder Cup experience
Kevin Na is 34 years old, which means he still has plenty of golf ahead of him. It also means that he's been a professional golfer for half his life. Na turned pro as a junior in high school, "because I wanted to make some money," he said, jokingly, to Alan Shipnuck. The two dive deep on a number of topics that Na has faced in his career, like slow play, his struggles with the yips, his lone career victory, and much more.
Some guys just have it, that hard-to-define but unmistakable cool factor that draws people to them. Arnold Palmer had it. Fred Couples has it. And so, too, does John Ashworth. At 58, Ashworth is ruggedly handsome and projects an appealing surfer-dude mellowness, sprinkled with the karmic wisdom of a yogi. In fact, the surf culture has had a deep impact on this Southern California native, and it shows in the relaxed vibe of his new passion project, Linksoul.
Alan Shipnuck sat down with Ashworth to talk all things golf fashion, golf passion projects, his playing days, professional caddying days, and much more.
2018 is almost here, so GOLF.com assembled a group of five fortune tellers to predict how 2018 will shake out. Five fortune tellers making predictions at the same time. Hopefully that isn't too much for your earbuds. We make predictions for Rory's world ranking, Jordan Spieth's legend, Phil Mickelson's wardrobe, Tiger Woods' schedule and Team Europe's Ryder Cup chances. Agree with us? Disagree? Let us hear about it.
Nearly one year ago, Wayne Westner — the best golfer you've never heard of — wrote a farewell note to his family and pointed a 9mm handgun to his head. His death was international news for the golf world, sensationalized in his homeland of South Africa, but left to just a paragraph or two elsewhere.
Alan Shipnuck set out to find the story of Westner, once one of the most promising athletes in South Africa. What he found was a deeply philosophical, deeply troubled man who spent much of his life searching for perfection in the golf swing. Did he ever find it? Listen to Shipnuck's take on the podcast and find out for yourself by reading the story on GOLF.com.
For so many golfers, the city- or county-owned course, better known as a “muni,” is a sacred part of the game. But nowadays, new stories pop up every day of cities considering shuttering their courses for other, more profitable opportunities...things like commercial real estate, public housing, or even just an open public park that a greater percentage of the population could take advantage of.
It’s natural that cities across the country are eager to balance their budgets, but munis occupy valuable places in their communities, too. They’re beloved by those who play them, they open the game of golf to the general public, and they preserve open green space.
So how do you choose a side in this debate? How do you weigh the meaningful experiences of muni golfers against the economic priorities of an entire city? In short: what’s a Muni worth? We explore that question through the lens of Lakeshore Golf Course in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Tiger Woods is back and feels better than he has in years, but what does it all mean? We're here to tell you. Four GOLF.com staffers offer their takes on what this latest Tiger comeback will amount to. We predict victories, Ryder Cup matches, even a distant major championship...and we also predict failure. These are the Tiger Takes.
Maverick McNealy is the most intriguing young golfer to come along in quite some time. Yes, the kid can play: He spent much of 2016 and '17 as the top-ranked amateur in the country while earning a degree in engineering and management science. But what makes McNealy so unusual is his backstory, as his father Scott is a Silicon Valley legend, having co-founded Sun Microsystems, which was sold to Oracle in 2010 for $7.4 billion. Maverick grew up in gilded circumstances — for years the family kept a mansion on the 16th fairway at Pebble Beach - but he is remarkably self-possessed and down-to-earth.
Maverick sat down with Alan Shipnuck in Las Vegas, where he played on a sponsor's exemption and missed the cut. It was the second of seven he is allowed to take as a non-member of the PGA Tour. If he earns 269 FedEx Cup points during these seven starts — equal to the 150th place on the 2017 list — he will become a "special temporary member" of the Tour and be able to accept unlimited sponsor's exemptions for the remainder of the season. Maverick discussed that uncertain grind and much more during the chat.
The 2016 Ryder Cup played out over three days last fall in chilly Minnesota, but John Feinstein began researching the story of that event 12 months prior. You see, he's wanted to write a Ryder Cup book ever since he attended the event in 1993 at The Belfry.
Now, just 13 months after the Americans won at Hazeltine, Feinstein's newest book "The First Major" details the inside story of that memorable event, with all the background and team room details a golf nut desires. Feinstein joined the podcast this week to discuss the process of writing that book, what that particular event meant in the golf world, and even more specifically, what it meant to Tiger Woods.
Olin Browne is one of golf’s great late-bloomers. The Occidental College grad didn’t break through on the PGA Tour until he was 39, when he won the Greater Hartford Open. Two more victories followed, including the Deutsche Bank Championship at the ripe age of 46. Six years later he took the U.S. Senior Open, torching Inverness. At 58, he continues to dig the secrets out of the dirt on the Champions tour.
Olin sat down with Alan Shipnuck recently to talk about all things growing old in the game. Oh yeah, he's not going anywhere any time soon...unless his pro golfer son keeps beating him.
If you watched Steve Flesch over the years on the Golf Channel, or during his recent gigs on Fox, you might've noticed a twinkle in his eye. The guy is bursting with opinions, many of which he has had to censor on-air over the years. They occasionally leak out on Twitter, thankfully.
Well, Flesch went deep with Alan Shipnuck on a number of topics, including his sneaky-good career, which included four victories in the span of four years on the PGA Tour, sending him to a career-best 24th in the World Ranking. Flesch turned 50 this May and is easing into life on the Champions tour. What does that mean for him, his career as a broadcaster, and his way of life? Listen to find out.
Conrad Ray runs one of the most successful college golf programs in the nation in Palo Alto. As glamorous as that may seem, he'll be the first to tell you it isn't easy.
Ray caught up with Josh Berhow recently to discuss the many aspects of his job, what it was like watching his players in the recent Walker Cup and how he helps those players move on to their professional careers.
Ray, who was a sophomore on the Stanford Men's team when a budding Tiger Woods arrived in the early 90s, also discusses what it was like having Woods as a teammate and what the 14-time major winner means to the program today.
Scott McCarron is doing his best to dethrone the machine that is Bernhard Langer. Who knows if that is even possible, but if this podcast is any indication, McCarron is up to the task.
The 52-year-old joined Alan Shipnuck recently to talk about California golf, his weird ascension into professional golf, how the long putter changed his life and why Langer might be the greatest "old" athlete on the planet. McCarron also sets the record straight on the controversy that is anchored putting.
On Sunday, 641st ranked golfer in the world Peter Malnati stepped out of the shadows a bit with some public commentary in regards to the controversy involving President Trump and the NFL.
Known for his writing on his blog (petermalnatigolf.wordpress.com), Malnati shared quite the powerful statement, especially when you consider the silence of just about every other male player in the game.
The 30-year-old pro spoke with Alan Shipnuck Monday night as he was still processing the reaction to his comments.
Paul Goydos enjoyed two victories on the PGA Tour but he's better known to fans for performances at two tournaments he did not win: losing a playoff to Sergio Garcia at the 2008 Players and shooting 59 at the 2010 John Deere. Those close to the game know Goydos as one of golf's keenest minds. He has an opinion on practically everything, including politics, which he follows closely.
Goydos sat down with Alan Shipnuck last week at Pebble Beach for a lively, wide-ranging conversation that included his thoughts on President Trump, with whom he was paired with at the 1993 Crosby Clambake. Two days after the chat, Trump began his war of words with NFL players and NBA icons, adding a freighted backdrop to Goydos's musings.
After receiving all kinds of messages on email and social media in response to his column about Dean Wilson in the October issue of GOLF, Alan Shipnuck figured it made perfect sense to have Dean join him as a podcast guest, so here we are.
Dean is as laid back as they get, and Shipnuck had the pleasure of witnessing that on a recent trip to Bandon Dunes. Years removed from a professional career, what's most important to Dean Wilson now? The hang.
Less than one week after terrorist attacks shocked the world 16 years ago, Sports Illustrated writer John Garrity did something almost no one would have considered: he boarded a plane for Europe. The Ryder Cup was cancelled and the PGA Tour put on hold as people everywhere braced for what seemed to some as the start of a third world war.
Garrity left his home and family in Kansas City and flew to England. His assignment: tell us how the golf world would react. What he found was very telling, but more than anything, if only for a few fleeting days, Garrity saw golf heal the minds of many people who were left confused and unsure how to move on.
GOLF has unveiled its ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the World. Travel editor Joe Passov joins the podcast to discuss the ranking, how it's created, who gets a say, the best new courses and much more.
Alan Shipnuck caught up with Jhonattan Vegas last week at the Northern Trust on Long Island. Shipnuck profiled Vegas back in 2012, detailing his upbringing and humble beginnings in Venezuela. The two have remained chummy ever since, and sure enough, just days after they met in New York, Vegas finished tied for third behind Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson.
Topics include: 1. Vegas' family 2. His humble beginnings in the game 3. His tricky path to the Tour 4. Playing against Tiger early in his career 5. How winning for a second time is different than the first 6. Why he's had so much success in Canada
Back again, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger recap the final major of the year from the PGA Championship. They talk Justin Thomas, Quail Hollow, Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner and share how it unfolded from a writer’s perspective.
Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss Donald Trump's many ties to the golf world, his complicated relationship with it as president, and the recent Sports Illustrated story the explains what golf means to Trump. The discussion includes: How Trump called the White House a "dump" -- 3:10 Why he needs golf as a validation -- 9:00 What it's like playing golf with Trump -- 16:50 Trump's desire to control a Sports Illustrated story -- 21:30 Possible ties between Trump's courses and foreign financing -- 28:15 The role golf will play in post-presidency Trump -- 34:40 Trump's place in professional golf -- 38:52 If you could ask him one question... -- 44:40
Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger sit down in advance of the British Open to discuss their undying affection for links golf. Both writers have covered decades of Opens and probably spent just as much time traipsing linksland chasing their own golf balls.
Topics discussed: 1:23 -- Why links golf is better 4:35 -- Playing jet-lag golf 7:37 -- The 1985 Open 10:55 -- Playing the Old Course alone, and in reverse 13:40 -- Walking St. Andrews with Tom Watson 17:20 -- The best courses in the rota 19:00 -- Jack Nicklaus and hotels 23:15 -- Tom Watson and the 2009 Open
The story of Seamus Golf, a golf headcover and handmade products company, begins with a beer bong of all things.
A beer bong in Corvallis, Oregon on gameday between Oregon State and the University of Oregon. Megan Kenton convinced Akbar Chisti to do a beer bong, and though they barely knew each other at the time, they had a future in business together, as well as marriage.
Both Megan and Akbar talked with Sean Zak recently about how they created a giant in the headcover business, and got the attention of every governing body in golf. This is a story of a startup company, but also a story of living freely with your present and your future, and stepping out on a limb with business decisions.
Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger are back to recap the U.S. Open and their careers covering the event. If you’re looking exclusively for a breakdown of the most recent major, well, you’ll be getting that and a whole lot more, including stories of U.S. Opens and Sports Illustrated from the 2010s, 2000s, 90s and 80s.
Topics include: Why Erin Hills became the story of the event — 1:10 What should the U.S. Open be? — 9:00 How Bamberger caddied at his first Open — 17:30 Shipnuck’s first Open — 23:55 Bamberger 1999 flight alongside Fred Couples — 36:30 Senior writers being on TV — 42:15 How the Masters eclipsed the U.S. Open —47:18 Reporting the 2001 U.S. Open — 53:15 Reporting the 2010 British Open — 56:40 Reporting failure at the 2011 Masters — 58:35
The 1992 U.S. Open ended with Tom Kite winning his first and only major, but it began strangely with Andy Dillard setting a U.S. Open record that will almost certainly never be broken. As we came to find out in his fateful story, he needed that record more than anything else in his life.
The Dave Pelz you see in 2017 isn’t all that different from the Dave Pelz you would have seen in 1957.
The golf fanatic was then playing on scholarship at Indiana University, and competing against Jack Nicklaus, no less, so to see where he is today—as a world renowned short game instructor—comes without surprise. The astonishing part is how he got there, because shortly after enrolling at Indiana, and losing to Nicklaus on a number of occasions, he realized he wasn’t Tour ready.
His ascension to the top of the short game world—which includes advising Phil Mickelson, one of the greatest short game players of all-time—begins at NASA, and has to do mainly with physics, his major at IU. As you can tell by listening, he’s pretty good at telling the story.
Topics include: 2:25 — Playing junior/college golf against Jack Nicklaus 7:30 — How a college golfer ended up working at NASA 11:10 — His introduction of the 60-degree wedge on Tour 21:45 — Phil Mickelson’s greatest short game shot 25:20 — His annual work with Mickelson 31:50 — His new green-reading project
Keegan Bradley took a circuitous route to the PGA Tour: down the ski slopes of the toughest mountains in the Northeast. With stops at St. John's and developmental tours, he splashed onto the scene in 2011 with a PGA Championship victory.
Over the last couple of season Bradley has been battling to get back to that rarified air, playing through swing changes and the USGA’s anchoring ban. Alan Shipnuck caught up with him at the Players to talk about his unlikely journey, and where he goes from here.
Topics: Playing with Phil Mickelson -- 1:10 PGA Tour money games -- 4:25 His relationship with Michael Jordan -- 5:45 The importance of golf shoes -- 9:10 The grind he's been on over the last few seasons -- 15:15 PGA Tour weddings -- 23:30 His first love (skiing) -- 28:00 The PGA Tour cliques in Florida -- 32:15 His dust up with Miguel Angel Jimenez -- 34:15 What he envies most about Dustin Johnson -- 37:02 His relationship with Jason Dufner -- 43:15
Tour caddie Kip Henley wasn't always a caddie. He was once an aspiring pro, until (in his words) he saw Jack Grout, Jack Nicklaus' famed coach. That's when his career as a golfer took the fateful turn. Since, Henley has made quite the career carrying bags and reading putts for a number of players on the PGA Tour, most recently Vijay Singh, whom he broke ties with just days after the recording of this podcast. You'll hear his thoughts on Vijay and much, much more.
Topics: His failed Tour career -- 4:20 Why he began caddying -- 12:25 Caddying for Brian Gay -- 16:45 Are Tour caddies overpaid? -- 20:50 What works between player and caddie -- 26:33 The pettiness of certain caddies -- 31:00 The prevalence of cheating on Tour -- 34:07 How difficult it is to leave a player -- 38:20 Vijay's late-career abilities -- 41:43 His caddie dreams -- 45:10 How caddies make mistakes -- 48:06
Sean Foley is only 42 but he’s seen a heckuva lot in his career as a swing guru. His pupils have won a U.S. Open (Justin Rose) and now a Players (Si Woo Kim), but it is the man he took to number one (Tiger Woods) who made Foley famous. As you'll hear in this podcast with Alan Shipnuck, Foley is a philosophical thinker in his approach to teaching anyone around him. He's also a huge hip hop fanatic. Don't think so? Just ask him for his top 5.
Here are just a few of the topics included: Hip hop music -- 1:42 His college experience -- 7:53 The roots of his teaching career -- 19:23 His time with Tiger Woods -- 27:10 How he works with young players -- 32:03 Why he can't watch live golf -- 38:32 Watching Justin Rose at the 2017 Masters -- 39:35 Why golfers practice incorrectly -- 56:40
Paul Casey might have the most infectious laugh on the PGA Tour, and just a few moments into this discussion with Alan Shipnuck, he shows it off. Casey and Shipnuck sat down at the Players Championship this week to discuss cars, cycling, his Ryder Cup status, how he views his career and much more.
Topics: The Tour's FedEx sponsorship extension -- 2:10 Cars -- 4:15 Cycling -- 7:13 Stipulations of his Nike contract -- 12:10 Golfer injuries -- 13:30 His relationship with Peter Kostis -- 16:00 How he perceives his career -- 19:25 The Ryder Cup -- 26:35 The European Tour -- 31:50 His best Walker Cup memory -- 39:05
Danielle Kang lives a lavish life, and she'd even admit it, but she'll also be the first to tell you it takes a lot of hard work. Kang recently sat down with Alan Shipnuck to discuss every corner of her career and approach to competing on the LPGA Tour.
The discussion goes as follows: Living in Las Vegas -- 4:00 Getting through struggles -- 6:40 Why golf is the family game -- 14:08 Her successful amateur career -- 24:40 Her relationship with Michelle Wie -- 33:45 Why she has a love-hate relationship with golf -- 35:47
The story of Arccos, a golf performance tracking company, begins in Pakistan of all places.
That’s where Sal Syed, CEO and co-founder of the company, grew up. It’s where he first studied advanced mathematics and fell in love with golf. There are a number of steps between advanced mathematics in Pakistan and launching a golf app on iTunes in the United States with coworkers and plenty of champagne.
Syed recently sat down with Sean Zak to tell the story of all those steps, how his company came together, how he brainstormed with buddies at Bandon Dunes. Syed also explained where his company is headed, and just how it plans to bring all kinds of golfers along with it.
This is the story of Arccos and, more generally, a story about why you need to look into tracking your own golf performance like you never have before.
The 10-year LPGA vet joins Alan Shipnuck to discuss why he thinks she is the most versatile professional golfer in the world. Not versatile in the sense that she can do everything the game asks of her, but rather versatile in hobbies and skills. Yes, she has a budding music career, and is one of the most introspective golfers you'll meet, thanks to a commitment to meditation. Those are just two of the many examples they discuss.
Sports Illustrated Senior Writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss the most recent Masters, how Shipnuck covered it for the print magazine version, and how they both view various aspects of writing.
The discussion includes: 1:20 -- Watching Sergio finally win 5:50 -- The art of reporting at a major championship 11:30 -- Chasing offbeat stories 13:00 -- Covering Tom Watson 21:40 -- Writing for a magazine 31:15 -- The lineage of SI golf writers 41:05 -- Tiger Woods' relationship with media
Sean Zak and Jeff Ritter take you through the story of the 2017 Masters, from Monday's rainout to Sunday's final putt. You'll hear from numerous players along the way, including their many thoughts from each day, as they chased the green jacket.
Our apologies if you've listened to all the Masters preview podcasts out there this week, but here's another one. Jeff Ritter joins Sean Zak to discuss every storyline ahead of the 2017 Masters. That means DJ, Spieth, McIlroy, Mickelson and others.
LPGA veteran Jane Park jumped onto the scene 13 years ago winning the 2004 U.S. Amateur. She is unequivocally one of the most beloved players on the LPGA Tour. Ask players, media, fans, etc. She loves life as a professional. She also loves butts. It's a long story, so you'll just have to listen to get her explanation. Park recently sat down with Alan Shipnuck and discussed the following topics: 7:25 -- When a player dates a caddie 14:15 -- Life after golf 32:00 -- Her sushi obsession 39:35 -- Weird interactions with fans 48:35 -- Why she likes butts 58:25 -- Tiger Woods' new book 1:01:35 -- The best butts on the PGA Tour
It's that special time of year where the takes are the hottest. Here on the GOLF.com Podcast, we've assembled some of the hottest takes in the sport, from some of the most provocative voices in golf's online arena. This is the second annual Hot Take Podcast.
Included are the voices of Chris Solomon and Tron Carter from NoLayingUp, Brendan Porath from SB Nation and Coleman McDowell from GOLF.com. Kyle Porter from CBS had a nuclear take that we'll have to share sometime in the future. The timing just wasn't right today. The fiery takes are outlined below:
1:03 -- Jordan Spieth will win the Masters by four, and another three green jackets in the future 10:22 -- Sergio Garcia's happiness is leading him to a backdoor major victory 16:55 -- Pro golfers shouldn't wear hats 18:30 -- Patrick Reed is bad for golf 25:10 -- Tiger Woods must rescind his 2000 PGA Championship victory 33:05 -- Dustin Johnson will be the GOAT
Note: Don't take these takes TOO seriously. That being said, if Spieth or Garcia misses the cut at Augusta, please feel free to unleash the hate.
One of the most varied men in golf, Peter Jacobsen, joins the podcast for the second time to share some of his greatest memories of Arnold Palmer, the Ryder Cup and Tiger Woods.
Jacobsen and Alan Shipnuck roll through all topics listed below. 1:50 -- When he played with 13-year-old Sam Saunders 5:45 -- When he first met Palmer 9:50 -- Why players should have shown up for the API 12:25 -- His Golden Tee venture 16:55 -- The 1985 Ryder Cup 26:55 -- Is he satisfied with his pro career? 29:40 -- Mike 'Fluff' Cowan 33:30 -- Tiger Woods
One of the most polarizing figures in golf, Ian Poulter, joins Alan Shipnuck from the Arnold Palmer Invitational to discuss everything from his Ryder Cup dominance to his social media squabbles, and even details on why he was forced to fold his apparel company.
The 75-minute conversation includes the following topics and much, much more: 2:25 — The 2008 British Open 7:20 — His current form 9:45 — His new take on social media 12:30 — How verbal abuse affected his game last year 23:00 — His humble beginnings in golf 29:24 — The 2008 Ryder Cup 38:10 — Why he’s been burned by the media 43:05 — Opportunities he sees in business 45:20 — The 2012 Ryder Cup 51:00 — How he took over at Medinah 1:01:30 — The 2013 British Open 1:04:22 — Why he hits shanks more than most players 1:07:38 — One of his most embarrassing stories 1:11:10 — How Shotlink once screwed with his head 1:13:10 — When he accidentally tossed a ball into a hazard
Golf course management company KemperSports claims some of the most impressive courses in the world. We're talking Bandon Dunes, Streamsong, Sand Valley, etc. KemperSports president Josh Lesnik joins Coleman McDowell this week to discuss why he thinks now is the best time to be in golf course development.
The conversation includes: 5:15 -- The creation of Bandon Dunes 9:35 -- Symmetry between Bandon and Sand Valley 15:15 -- What makes Sand Valley special 22:00 -- How to build a golf resort 27:40 -- Why now is the best time to build 31:30 -- The most powerful people in golf
Lydia Ko, the top-ranked female player in the world, joined Marika Washchyshyn this week to catch up with all the changes she has made in and around her game the last few months.
The discussion includes: 10:45 -- How her game feels right now 12:35 -- Why she thinks Ariya Jutanugarn is her best competition 13:35 -- Why she made so much change in her offseason 14:30 -- The difficulties with changing coachs 18:00 -- What's different about her new swing 23:15 -- Why she'd be honored to play with President Trump 24:35 -- Last year's rally to earning a silver medal 26:45 -- Why being an Olympic medalist is special 30:10 -- Her decade-long goals as she turns 20 years old
The USGA and R&A have proposed a revamping of the Rules of Golf. More than 100 rules changes have been proposed, more than 30 of them being major rules changes.
The staff at GOLF.com hosted a roundtable Wednesday morning to discuss what is great, what is lacking and what we're still unsure about with the proposal. The topics included are: 2:02 -- Dropping a ball 5:45 -- Pace of play changes 12:00 -- Accidentally moving your ball 14:30 -- Leaving the flagstick in the hole 17:30 -- The Dustin Johnson Rule 19:50 -- Fixing spike marks 23:20 -- Bunker rules 26:15 -- Equipment rules 29:25 -- Empowering the player
One of the top coaches in the game, Cam McCormick, joins the podcast this week to talk a number of things about teaching, the Masters and his top client, Jordan Spieth.
McCormick and Sean Zak discuss the following topics: 0:55 -- His beginning in golf 2:45 -- Why he chose teaching 7:15 -- His relationship with Jordan Spieth 10:45 -- How he challenges Spieth 13:05 -- What he and Spieth worked on most this offseason 23:15 -- The keys to spotting potential 27:05 -- How coaches can improve pace of play 29:55 -- How Spieth should approach the Masters this year 32:50 -- What his Masters tune-up session with Spieth includes
Danny Willett joins Alan Shipnuck (in Dubai) to discuss his world away from golf. That includes his wife and newborn baby, his brothers and an easy-going life in Yorkshire. Shipnuck and Willett go in depth on the following topics: 2:45 -- Life in Yorkshire 3:50 -- The Yorkshire dialect 8:10 -- The Yorkshire bread debate 11:30 -- Why he hasn't dry cleaned his Masters green jacket 13:00 -- The details of his perfect day 16:00 -- His brother Pete's writing 19:40 -- How 2016 wore him out 21:45 -- His plans for the Masters Champions dinner
One of the best golf resorts in America is situated equidistant from Tampa and Orlando down in central Florida. It's called Streamsong. You may have heard of it. We had the pleasure of visiting the resort again and touring the highly anticipated Black Course, designed by Gil Hanse. We tell you all about that, the Blue Course, the Red Course and the rest of the Streamsong experience here.
5:00 -- Black Course 10:20 -- Blue Course 23:00 -- Red Course 33:50 -- 6-Hole Loops // The Roundabout
Zac Blair joins Alan Shipnuck to share the story of The Buck Club, a golf club he is creating in Utah.
Over the course of 28 minutes, Blair touches on the following: What the Buck Club is (1:30) His architecture influence (4:46) Why signing a big name architect would be "a waste" (7:33) His epic long island golf birthday (11:49) When we'll see The Buck Club completed (16:00) His biggest gripe with courses (17:25) The most unusual request he's received (20:50) How the course got its name (26:40)
Phil Mickelson joins Alan Shipnuck on the GOLF.com Podcast to share stories from his career, lessons he has learned and even advice for approaching women. Seriously.
Over the course of an hour, Shipnuck and Mickelson dive deep into a number of juicy topics, including: Why Phil needed offseason surgery (4:01) How Bones likes to use his yearly veto (17:05) The dumbest shot he ever played (18:18) His Tuesday money games (25:10) Why settling up bets quickly is vital (29:20) American Ryder Cup strategies (34:00) His relationship with Tiger Woods (39:32) Why golf is his therapeutic release (41:15) AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.
The Shark joins the podcast to discuss how he turned his golfing career into a successful life as an entrepreneur. We start with how he recognized he would become a brand (2:35) and ended with why he wants to invest in your sports business ideas.
Everything else in between is located below. 6:30 -- When he knew his brand would become international. 7:25 -- Why he thinks his logo is sexy. 8:25 -- How the 2008 market collapse changed his company forever. 10:50 -- His favorite test for finding employees he would hire. 13:15 -- Why he wants to be 'a mile wide and an inch deep.' 18:35 -- How he's prepping his brand for 200 years from now. 20:00 -- Why golf course design is still his favorite business. 21:30 -- Why he feels ready to disrupt the golf industry.
Smylie Kaufman's coach and recently awarded Top 100 Golf Teacher Tony Ruggiero joins the podcast to discuss his work with the 25-year-old Tour winner. The conversation begins with a flash back to the 2016 Masters, where Kaufman played his way into the final pairing on Sunday, but faltered in his final 18 holes. Ruggiero believes that all great players need an experience "by fire" like Kaufman had that day. He shares stories about that Masters and more.
Chris Fallica, better known as 'The Bear' on College Gameday, joins us to talk about gambling on golf. The conversation includes a breakdown of Tiger Woods vs. the Field (12:08), why you need to bet on the longshots (17:55), and what you should look for in gambling on the Masters (22:06). Stay for Fallica's admission that while Tom Watson lost the 2009 British Open, he was holding a winning ticket (29:15).
Playing off the low-handicap is an antiquated (and most popular) form of match play. Spoiler alert: it may be unfair.
Martin Puterman joins us to explain why playing match play that way puts the weaker player at a disadvantage. He also offers a multi-layered solution to make match play uniformly fair. For a summary of his findings, check out GOLF.com.
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki is the greatest Japanese golfer of all-time. He's also likely the most mysterious golfer of all-time, at least in America. We travel back to 1998 with writer John Garrity to try and understand the golfer who: 1. Played professional baseball 2. Was often accused of cheating 3. Was allegedly linked to the Japanese mafia 4. Still competes today, at age 69.
As Tiger Woods returns to professional golf this week, we return to his 1996 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award. Woods won the award as a 20-year-old and legendary writer Gary Smith profiled Woods for SI.
This week, we talk with Smith and Jeff Ritter about that article from 20 years ago, the influence of Woods' parents, and what it means for the Tiger Woods we'll see now and in the future.
World renowned golf course designer and architect Gil Hanse explains everything you didn't know about golf course design...at least as much as he could in 30 minutes. Hanse talks about the process of building a golf course from start to finish, the differences between restoring and renovating and how courses need to be designed with a player in mind. We also revisit the Olympic Golf Course in Brazil and how that project received incredible reviews from the Olympians themselves.
Recent Tour winner Pat Perez sounds off on his comeback from surgery, the absurdly long PGA Tour season, playing against Tiger Woods as an amateur, his beloved San Diego Chargers and much more.
Recent PGA Tour winner Cody Gribble discusses his win at the Sanderson Farms, exchanging texts with Peyton Manning, what it's like being constantly associated with Jordan Spieth and whether he'd prefer Dak Prescott or Tony Romo to start at quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
Padraig Harrington joins the podcast fresh off his win at the Portugal Masters last weekend. Harrington explains why his attitude and posture were keys to his victory (2:15), why he switched to a new set of irons (11:07), why Tiger Woods is struggling like Seve Ballesteros once did (8:05), and why he isn't ready to be a Ryder Cup captain (22:10).
Sean Zak offers commentary on Tiger Woods's recent withdrawal from the Safeway Open and asks the question: When was the last positive AND accurate report on Tiger Woods the golfer?
It has been a while, yet our optimism reigns. Why is that?
Chris Solomon from NoLayingUp joins Sean Zak to discuss what the Ryder Cup is like on site, inside the ropes and, at least for him, directly next to Rory McIlroy.
Solomon explains why American fans were too harsh toward Danny Willett (17:20), his many interactions with McIlroy (26:07) and why the American celebration was all kinds of weird (46:30). Solomon and Zak also share a few stories about walking inside the ropes alongside Tiger Woods (35:53).
The Ryder Cup is finally here. We preview the event with Curtis Strange, former captain and 5-time Ryder Cup player. Strange offers old Ryder Cup stories and thoughts on this year's event, which include: His strategies as captain. Why playing Seve Ballesteros was frustrating. He wants 12 Patrick Reeds on his team. Why the Task Force could be a problem. Why Tiger Woods might be a distraction.
Arnold Palmer, golf legend and iconic sportsman, has passed away at age 87. Jeff Ritter and Michael Bamberger cycle through their favorite memories of The King, from Palmer the person, the player, the pilot and the fan favorite.
Everyone has a great Arnie story. You don't want to miss these.
NBC's Mike Tirico cannot contain his excitement for the Ryder Cup. He joins the podcast to talk about prepping for the event, his move to NBC, learning match play strategies from Tiger Woods and why some of his success is due to a cartoon rabbit. Yes, you read that correctly.
No Laying Up's Tron Carter brings his opinions to the GOLF.com podcast, venting on the worst stereotypes on the golf course. Any golf course. With an assist from sports radio host Jim Rome, we break down the worst things you can do on a golf course and offer solutions for fixing yourself. Here's a start: DON'T BE THAT GUY.
The answer will probably surprise you. Author and journalist Richard Gillis recently wrote a book on the topic, titled "The Captain Myth: How the Ryder Cup is Won."
Gillis dissected what Ryder Cp captain's actually do, and how their actions are perceived by the public. He found that being an underdog is important, momentum isn't and it's possibly that luck matters more than anything else. Also: Paul Azinger should not captain another U.S. team.
Tiger Woods has announced his plans to return to the PGA Tour at the Safeway Open in mid-October. What does that mean? Jeff Ritter and Sean Zak tell you exactly how to handle Woods's return to competitive golf, discussing all the appropriate topics: will he contend, can he contend, why now, why the Safeway Open, what are the chances he wins again, and much more.
We break down every possible Ryder Cup captain's pick, from Rickie Fowler to...Fred Couples? Exactly. We'll settle on a group of players that NEED to make the team and figure Bubba Watson's campaign is in a state of emergency.
Olympic Gold medalist Inbee Park calls in to discuss what winning the Olympic golf competition meant to her and her home country, South Korea. She talks about the nerves of Olympic golf, why she has no plans for retirement and discusses why she is the "Silent Assassin."
Zac Blair plays more golf than you. Way more golf than you. He leads the PGA Tour in events played so far this year, and isn't stopping any time soon. When he's not pegging it on Tour he's out scouting other courses around the world, because he's not only a Tour pro, but also a golf course designer in the making. Blair joins the podcast to talk about what makes a good golf course, why he plays so much, and shares plans for his own course, The Buck Club.
Alan Shipnuck is onsite at the Olympic Golf Course down in Brazil, and weighs in on everything golf at the Olympics. Shipnuck details the course design by Gil Hanse, the reception of golfers in the Olympic Village and just how much fun the players seem to be having down at the Games.
ESPN and ABC's Tom Rinaldi joins the podcast to discuss his approach to golf journalism, his relationship with Tiger Woods and what it was like interviewing Woods after his scandal.
Jimmy Walker won the 98th PGA Championship, but where do we go from here? Jeff Ritter joins the podcast to discuss Walker's great week in New Jersey, what it means for the Ryder Cup and how the Player of the Year race is shaping up.
GOLF.com editors Jeff Ritter and Sean Zak discuss Henrik Stenson's incredible victory and epic match with Phil Mickelson. The 2016 British Open will forever be remembered for those two men. Now that Stenson has the major monkey off his back, who is the greatest player without a major? We debate.
Newly minted pro golfer Jordan Niebrugge helps break down what it takes to join the PGA Tour the Jordan Spieth way. It's what Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm are both trying to do right now. Niebrugge talks about his first tournament as a pro at the Quicken Loans as well as his return to the British Open, where he was low amateur and finished T6 in 2015.
Dustin Johnson is your 2016 U.S. Open Champion. Jeff Ritter and Sean Zak discuss what this means for Johnson, the rest of the PGA Tour and how poorly the USGA screwed up their ruling during the madness that was Sunday at Oakmont.
Oakmont pro Bob Ford helps us preview the 116th U.S. Open by breaking down the beast of a course that Oakmont Country Club is. His prediction? 4-over par will win this week. Ford details just how difficult the greens are, and how long the rough has been grown out for the event.
16-year LPGA veteran Natalie Gulbis joins Jeff Ritter to discuss her relationship with Donald Trump and what he has done for her and the game of golf. Gulbis reflects on where golf has taken her in her career and how she wants to host a tournament of her own, just like Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods.
Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer joins Alan Bastable to discuss his excitement for the Olympics, why the No. 1 ranking isn't a goal anymore and how he is grinding to make the European Ryder Cup team.
13-time PGA Tour winner Mark Calcavecchia talks with Alan Bastable about John Daly joining the Champions Tour, Tiger Woods' career and shares some great stories about each of them. You're going to want to hear both of them, as well as a great story about him gambling on golf.
Dr. T.J. Tomasi debunks the five biggest myths in the world of golf. Those myths are:
- All good players are the same at impact (2:35)
- The ball flight tells you everything (8:20)
- Practice makes perfect (18:40)
- Perfect golf comes from an unconscious swing (26:53)
- Hitting the ball well during a lesson means you're moving in the right direction (34:11)
Sports and performance psychologist Dr. Bhrett McCabe joins the GOLF.com podcast to discuss every mental aspect of the game. McCabe delves into how every golfer should mentally approach each round or warm-up session (5:26), why he loves treating the yips (18:19) cc: Ernie Els, and how Jordan Spieth should approach the 12th hole at Augusta National next year (27:20).
GOLF Live Host Ryan Asselta and GOLF.com's Josh Berhow share their stories of winning the media lottery and playing Augusta National one day after The Masters. Yes, that includes taking a memorable drive down Magnolia Lane, hitting into the same pins and trying to not splash their tee shot on the 12th hole.
GOLF's Sean Zak and Jeff Ritter recap the craziness that ensued at Augusta National Sunday afternoon and evening, including Jordan Spieth's collapse on the 12th hole and Danny Willett's clutch finish. They break down where Spieth's loss ranks among similar collapses in golf history. The answer may surprise you.
GOLF's Sean Zak and Alan Bastable break down Saturday's finishes from the Masters at Augusta National, including the showdown between Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy and the surprising names to enter the discussion late Saturday afternoon.
Sean Zak sits down with SI GOLF Senior Writer Cam Morfit to discuss the impending Spieth v. McIlroy showdown Saturday at Augusta National. The two discuss that and the group of guys ready to strike from just a few strokes back.
GOLF's Sean Zak breaks down Day 1 at the 2016 Masters with Josh Berhow and Sports Illustrated's Alan Shipnuck. They discuss the ceremonial opening tee shot as well as Jordan's Spieth spectacular start.
Golf writers Kyle Porter, Shane Ryan, Luke Kerr-Dineen, Trent Ryan and Chris Solomon joined the GOLF.com Podcast to share their hottest take from the golf world. With takes on Bubba Watson (1:53), Tiger Woods (20:00), Rory McIlroy (24:41), the Olympics (13:08)and the Ryder Cup (6:50), there is a hot take and prediction for everyone.
Famed caddie Steve Williams joins the GOLF.com podcast to discuss life as Tiger Woods' caddie, how that compares to Adam Scott and much more.
Williams breaks down what separates Tiger Woods from the rest of professional golf, discusses his on-course marshaling efforts to keep crowds at bay, the rivalry that stewed between Woods and Phil Mickelson as well as his future caddying plans.
USGA Mid-Am champion Sammy Schmitz earned an invite to the 2016 Masters and is knee-deep in his prep for the event five weeks from now. Schmitz discusses how he earned the invite in incredible fashion(3:53), how he's prepping for the Masters (15:00), what it's like to play Augusta National (17:00)and why he wants to play with Jordan Spieth (23:15).
NBC Golf Analyst and Champions Tour player Peter Jacobsen took a break from his busy broadcast schedule to talk all things PGA Tour. Jacobsen talks Phil Mickelson (3:19), the next best players after the Big Four (8:21), the "horse race" for No. 1 (17:54), why parity is good for golf (21:45), becoming the voice of Golden Tee (26:43), his music career (31:20) and when Arnold Palmer changed his perspective on fame (35:30).
Longtime golf teacher Hank Haney joined the GOLF.com podcast to discuss his surprise at Greg Norman's departure from the broadcast booth at FOX.
Before long, we had Haney talking about his favorite memories coaching Tiger Woods and why certain comparisons to his greatness will always fall short.
PGA Tour rookie Harold Varner III joins the GOLF.com podcast this week to discuss a number of topics, some of them serious (competing with the veterans of the Tour) and others not so much (dabbing, the persona of his head cover and what LeBron James needs to do for the Cleveland Cavaliers).
Alan Bastable sits down with golf commentator Mark Rolfing to discuss Rolfing’s recent diagnosis and recovery from Stage 4 cancer of the salivary gland, the support he’s received from top players such as Jordan Spieth, why the Ryder Cup is on everyone’s mind and why Bubba Watson seems to be on no one’s radar.
Editors Jeff Ritter, Coleman McDowell, Alan Bastable and Brendan Mohler share anecdotes from their time on-site at the most memorable moments of the year, from Jordan Spieth’s magical Masters to Jason Day’s dominance at the PGA Championship.
The four editors discuss their year chasing the best players on Tour before breaking down what we can expect from Tiger, Rory, Spieth, Mickelson, Day and others as 2016 gets underway.
It takes extreme commitment to play the top 100 courses in the world, and after 15 years, golf author and blogger John Sabino has done it.
Sabino knows just as well as anyone the keys and tricks to getting a tee time at some of the most exclusive courses in the world, even Augusta National and Pine Valley. You might be surprised how easy it can be.
This week's GOLF.com Podcast features a discussion with former PGA Tour winner and current Champions Tour player Paul Goydos. Goydos is one of the few professional golfers to ever card a score of 59 during a Tour round. He delves on that magical day, what it's like competing on the Champions Tour and shares an interesting theory on how Team USA can compete better in the Ryder Cup.
Alan Bastable talks with Lorne Rubenstein, the writer on the other end of the Tiger Woods TIME interview. The two discuss Rubenstein's chase of the interview and go over what was left on the cutting room floor.
On this week’s episode of the Golf.com podcast host Alan Bastable talks with SI senior writer Alan Shipnuck about Tiger Woods’ exclusive interview with https://Time.com, the future for the future of golf, Jordan Spieth, and much more.
Columbia Business professor and golf statistics savant Mark Broadie joins the GOLF.com podcast, where we discuss the game as analytically as possible. Mark goes in depth on his career chasing golf statistics, Jordan Spieth's great 2015 and a Tiger Woods record that will likely never be broken.
On this week’s episode of the Golf.com podcast host with former commercial photographer Dan McLaughlin who, in April 2010, quit his day job to become a professional golfer and possibly qualify for the PGA Tour. The Dan Plan was inspired by the 10,000 Hours Rule — the theory that any skill can be mastered with 10,000 hours of practice. Having never played 18 holes of golf in his life, Dan started his journey with just a putter. Now, more than 6,000 hours into his quest, Dan discusses his motivation to become a golfer, how injuries have affected his performance and when he expects to complete his 10,000 hours.
Alan Bastable sits down with former LPGA champion and current television broadcaster Dottie Pepper, who was recently hired by CBS to replace David Feherty as an on-course reporter for the 2015-16 PGA Tour season. Alan and Dottie discuss her new job, what it's like to be a woman covering the PGA Tour, the one broadcast she would like to take back and who out of the PGA’s “Big Three” impresses her the most.
Alan Bastable sits down with former PGA Tour player and current Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee http://twitter.com/chambleebrande to discuss everything from Chamblee’s golf game, his defeat of the late Payne Stewart in his lone PGA Tour win at the Greater Vancouver Open in 1998 and how he really feels about Tiger Woods (You might be surprised!)
This week's edition of the Golf.com podcast brings you an interview from SI senior writer Alan Shipnuck with golf course developer Mike Keiser, owner of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon. The two discuss Keiser's golf game, which courses he rates the highest, how Bandon Dunes came about and his plans to expand the resort with a sixth course, Bandon Muni. At the time of this podcast's recording, Keiser was still in negotiations with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to build the new 27-hole course. However, plans to build Bandon Muni ended in late September due to what Keiser calls, "unworkable terms" with officials. We are releasing this interview to give context to Keiser's side of the story. Read more on the controversy at http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/09/new_requirements_complicate_go.html
Tweet our hosts at http://twitter.com/alan_bastable & http://twitter.com/alanshipnuck, and you can read them and the rest of SI’s golf coverage at Golf.com. Find more podcasts at si.com/podcasts. SI is part of the Panoply network. Find more great podcasts at panoply.fm. —
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Music by Steven O’Brien {@stevenobrien}
Sports Illustrated senior writer and golf expert Alan Shipnuck sits down with veteran caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay, who has carried the bags for Phil Mickelson for over 20 years, to discuss the new Jordan Spieth era and what it means for golf, and what it's really like to be side-by-side with Lefty on the green.