God Bless Golf: God bless golf. Welcome back listeners. My name is Chip Brooke. Over to my left today, my partner, Richie Stapleton, aka Richie Spice. How we doing, bud? ⁓ doing great, Panda. How are doing this week? Doing fantastic Richie just like I was remote from the beach last week Ricky Richie is remote up in Charleston, South Carolina, so Second attempt at this show today first one had a little technical error Hopefully will be a little better on this one anyway, but hey, let's First off. Thank you to those that are listening or have listened ⁓ Don't forget to add any comments about our show at any time. We really appreciate the support so far Still don't know what we're doing, but hey each week. We're trying to get a little better So let's jump right into it a little recap of last week cognizant classic Nico each of area 67 on Sunday that never hurts and That was combined with just I don't know how else you say it, but just a collapse Not a clue. Good old Palm Beach. Little mental breakdown from Shane Lowry, but great week down in Palm Beach. I know it's a great start to the Florida swing as a Floridian. I'm always a big fan of that. ⁓ But yeah, Lowry entered the day was 13 under and just seemed to ⁓ have everything kind of going right. And then at the very end he just lost complete control. Relatable to anybody that's ever played golf and. you You know, certainly a guy that's done plenty under pressure, so I don't think it's a it's a pressure issue. Just happens and it happened to him and the whole world got to see it. But ⁓ you know, tough break for him. Great job, Nico. Shout out Arkansas Razorback Golf. Just a bunch of studs come out of that place and he's an example of one of them. But yeah, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what we saw last week, Reggie. That's right. ⁓ you know, mean, you know, I think we all have a soft spot in our heart for Shane Lowry for some reason. We've watched him since he was 17 in the Irish Open and certainly a hometown event for him. Wanted to, you know, kind of mentioned it was a family tug for him. Wanted to win his friend, his little girl. And so, you know, who knows what was in his head coming down the stretch. hard to finish at the bear trap, right? So I've never personally been there, seen it or played it. So can't really comment on the difficulty, but I'm sure it is incredibly hard to to finish that golf tournament Even no matter how many shots ahead you are right coming down the stretch Sure, Shane is certainly a world-class player and you want to so he's certainly one to be watching out for shout out to Nico right at your very yeah clears the field by two, right? So, you the old in and out double-double for Shane is unfortunate, but at the same time, you know, there's a reason that they, ⁓ you know, there's a reason you post a number. Now that's what I take away from this weekend for all those guys out there playing, man. You you play till the 18th hole and, ⁓ you know, you see what you can put up and you go from there. Brittle. Yeah, you were saying that. Yeah, that's a great point and that's what he did. He posted a number and I mean anybody's ever been in a tournament where maybe you're a few shots out of the league but you're ahead of the group. You're always thinking in your head, if can just get a number in that's leading, you never know. And first time he's ever made back to back double bogeys on tour, terrible time for that. And it was in his hands and he threw it away and those were his exact comments. Props to him for. Hahaha You know, taking the microphone and just, ⁓ you know, just saying what he said. ⁓ I know he wanted to win for his daughter, but the truth is I guarantee you three minutes after he left that tournament, his daughter was wondering what was for dinner, what movie they were going to watch, what book they're going to read, what jammies, you know, what, whatever they were going to do, all the great things about being a dad. Yeah, it's, mean, it sucks to lose. It sucks to lose like that. I know. And the British Open trophy didn't disappear either. By the time we're recording this show and you're gonna listen to it. He's over it ⁓ You know guys that good he has a lot to look back on because literally 70 of the 72 holes he played awesome I know he did and and I want to hear what you have to say about this. He had that shot on I think it was the fifth or sixth hole where I remember when I was watching it when I first saw it it looked I was like, was that his ball? Because it kind of looked like he shanked it and it ended up ⁓ being up. And then, you know, he hits it like a three wood or five wood over the green and then he chips it to like 20 feet and he makes it and he walks away with par and in his head he's probably like, OK, that's I got one back there. I'm wondering if whatever he did on that swing, we're not wondering it clearly he was thinking about. Right. That shot on the tee shot 16 that tee shot that he sprayed. mean, we've all hit, you know, we've all played part threes with water right and you know you don't want to double cross and cook it left and you just you know whatever that shots a little bit more. Normal for a tour pro, but for Shane to sit up there with I think was it two iron in his hand or a three iron and I mean I mean I don't know if he shamed it but. On 16 he. Yeah, So two iron plays. Okay, perfect. Gotcha. You know, so he hits that tee ball early in the round. I'm not sure you know what he was feeling there, but something I mean that's for for a player that calibrated shot that bad. He he probably felt something so then I'm wondering. Was he still feeling that and he gets to 16? And he's like, I'm gonna take an iron off the T. Right. And I mean, who knows? We've all been there. Like I said, know, your brain wanders a little and maybe there's just something that he felt even though he was playing. I mean, God, he was playing flawlessly almost or at least his scorecard was flawless. Getting away with stuff. Yeah, I mean, and so who knows? Maybe just the thought something in his head was like, man, don't hook this and just, you know. To that point, 30 plus holes without a bogey. Yep. I mean, I know you just lean into the open face and just right in the water and then your head spinning. And then now it's, you know, all of a sudden you make double and you're coming to the one hole, which is the real pressure cooker on a Sunday when you got, you know, whatever it was playing 170 ish 180 ish yards, wind, water, right. That giant bunker left. You just hit a shot. right because you were worried about left. So it's not like that just disappeared from your mind. And I mean, no matter who you are, right? Like that just happened. And he's a world class player, but it just goes to show you these guys are human. ⁓ Obviously, when they do unhuman stuff most of the time, because just the answer to all those questions about these guys is just they're that effing good and they are. And I think it's more when we see guys do that. It's like, man, know, Exactly what caliber a golfer That's just so rare. Yes, they all hit bad shots, but to kind of have it like that and happen, ⁓ you know, I don't know if I want to compare this to, you know, some sort of famous collapse. It's a cognizant classic, a fine tournament at a nice place. But, you know, when you're talking about utter collapses, I'm not looking for a tournament like this. ⁓ And to your point, ⁓ Right. No, I think he's over it. think by now he's over it and he's getting ready to move on. ⁓ Still gets a nice check, not that he's overly worried about that. He obviously wants to win. He knows what it takes to win. And I'm thinking if it's me, I'm telling myself I'm playing good enough to win. probably, I don't want to use the word should have, but I could have won that tournament last week. I didn't. So let's just, you know, delete that from our memory and work on whatever that is. ⁓ Yeah. Hopefully hit it out, enough divots in the next couple days to get those shots ⁓ out of you. But ⁓ other than that, any final thoughts on the tournament one and the Florida Swing, Richie, before we move on to ⁓ one of our favorite events, Bay Hill? Yep. Yeah, you I think it's great. It's a good prep for Bay Hill. know, I mean, the takeaway is you go off your ball till the end and know, Shane Lowry had four bad holes in the last 54 holes and that's it. So, you know, we've all done it. You move on and because you got a huge one this week, And so next step, And here we go, Right into Bay Hill. I mean, does it get any better in Arnie's place? ⁓ You know, not for me buddy. I there's just Arnold Palmer is just the coolest guy of all time in my book and just an absolute and absolute hero of mine from a golfing standpoint and just everything he did ⁓ outside of golf. But ⁓ yeah, signature event coming to my hometown here. Bay Hill just down the road from me this you know 75 basically 7500 yard golf course, which is just unbelievable when. To the King! just how hard this place can be and is interesting weather day today. Cool and windy, so I'm sure that will be add some moisture to the course. So I don't know if we're going to see the super crispy extra crispy, but I know that the rough will be up and the Greens will be fast no matter what. And you know, just a huge event. $20 million no cut so. Okay. What would you do if you could play golf for four days straight without a cut for 20 million? Relax. mean, yeah, mean, these guys, yeah, mean, they're, you know, I think that depends on who you are. I think if you're that 25 guy ranked in the world, that's a pretty good spot. Obviously the top guys in this tournament that are favored to win or expected to win. And then you got some guys that are, you know, happy, I shouldn't say happy to be here, that just kind of got in. ⁓ At the very end, I know they added like there was like 10 guys added and then like five extra guys. I don't know exactly what that's how that works, but I know guys like Keith Mitchell get in. So for guys like that, this is an unbelievable opportunity. I would be thinking. About that without trying to put too much pressure on myself. I mean, knowing there isn't a cut is one thing, but then it's like, you know. Joel Dahman. Yeah. This is a great chance to play four good days. think I'd be saying I have 72 holes and I wouldn't let a couple early bad ones deter me like they might in a win like an old school tournament where there was a cut after 36. Sure. Yep. Yeah, and how many times after a 36 hole event you've played, I mean, obviously plenty of them on both sides of the pro and amateur game, but do you see the guy who has the best weekend win, right? And that may not be the guy who is on the number necessarily. If it's an event like Bay Hill with difficulty, that number at the halfway mark might be 10 versus the 15 or 18 sometimes we see. But if you're two under and you're 10, and you have a 15 under weekend, then all of sudden you might be right there. And so I think that's Bay Hill is certainly a fair golf course if the wind dies down and the conditions kind of get to you. So I think it's, you know, it can make for some interesting golf. So keeping your head right for 72 holes is a must this week. You know, I think that's, that's without question, the most important thing is enough. Ahem. Yeah, you're 100 % right and it is. It's totally fair. I mean, there's some really hard holes, but there's also, depending on which way the winds blowing some really gettable holes. You know, obviously six is famous for when Bryson drove it over the lake, which is ridiculous if you've never been there. But being there and seeing it is just it's it doesn't even look like it's a real thing. You know that hole is. You know, yes, don't know. There's a bug in here, sorry. I mean, that's just stupid. Yeah. That that hole even like. I've played that hole where I've hit really good drives and then like the second shot you're like. Where is this supposed to go like it's you know so this obviously the lines these guys take and the commitment they have to those numbers obviously make holes like that a little easier, but I think it holds like 7 the uphill part 38 is one of my favorite holes at Bay Hill. Right? Yeah! Mm-hmm. Yep. I love eight. ⁓ And then nine, I don't think I've ever parted in my life. That hole is so hard to me. I can't hit the fairway. I mean, I just. I'll tell you what, that's the most benign hole in golf. Is it not? It just sits there. It's like it barely moves off the center of touch left and then the green kind of kicks right. just yeah. Right. Big ol' oaks on the right. Yep. Yep. just moves just enough, just enough. Well, and you got OB left and all those trees and then you got all the tents. Well, the tents are over there, but yeah, and then if you're over there, that angle to the green is just a brutal. That's like, you know, that's a that's kind of a cool thing about Bay Hill is like it gives you because you can play, you know, obviously the number two is pretty hard, but like 4567. F. 8 you know if you hit a good tee shot on 8 I mean you have a 9 iron in your hand or some of these guys even a pitching wedge depending on the angle they want to take and then 9 and then you get to 10 and you know it's just the way the course plays it really creates go go ahead. Hey, let me ask you a question about that because the last couple of years on 10, everybody's been bombarded over the corner up there by the front of the green. Yeah. mean, what do you I mean, is that is is that a, you know, that doesn't that green go right to left and a little away from you? ⁓ yeah, drive the green. Yeah. Well, the greens a little elevated. ⁓ I think Rory drove the green last year. I don't know. mean, they the tease they play like I've played it. I mean, I think I've played it all the way back. I mean, you're literally going over a house like you're aiming at a roof and saying it's right over this with a draw. And yeah, if you get if you're on that hole and it's a hard right to left like coming over your shoulder at like 5 o'clock. Right, okay, okay, yeah. I'm thinking the same one. He did. What kind of a moonshot is that? Right! Yeah, I got you. especially for Rory, I mean, he carries it 40 past me. So I don't even like, I think the one, I think I did one time I hit a driver and it got really close, maybe like 20 yards from the green when I carried the corner and it was playing maybe 370-ish. It's probably over 400 now, but. 330. I know what that stratosphere looks like. Mm-hmm. Well just for those of you who never been there, the other play is like 4 iron between the bunkers to like 150. Is it not? It's nothing big right? It's nothing over like 2 iron for sure. It's... Well, no... No... Well, not for these guys. mean, they could probably pipe three wood down the middle or hybrid. All these guys have their you know this week they'll they'll you'll see some clubs in the bag this week for guys, especially the guys that hit it further that maybe don't get in their bag every week because there are a few holes out here where you want that 270 shot, which for some of these guys, a hybrid seven whatever you know that's a hole. Now when that holds, you know. Yeah, right. Yeah, seven wood. Yeah. left or right in the wind and you are hitting driver. mean, there is some rooms left to miss it too, but strategically based on the win, normally this time of year that hole is gonna be playing downwind. And then just sets up the great theater for the back nine and 17, one of my favorite part threes and then 18. I mean, how many iconic putts have we seen on that hole? Yeah. Oh man, mean, you're the half moon from Tiger Woods, got Gomez on the hole out, that hole is just produced memory after memory for the PGA Tour and it's why they keep coming back, it's why it's a signature event because not only is it for the king, but special things happen there. 16, 17, 18 can provide some serious drama. Eagle birdie pars. is attainable if you're in the fairway on 16. So I always love watching it. having a chance to play it special and knowing the course. think anytime you know a course you've played and then see it on TV, that's fun to watch. And Bay Hill is accessible. And so that's what makes great Bay Hill as well. You can go and stay and play. So that's cool too. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah, well that's you know, and that kind of goes back to the Arnie point. mean, there's a lot of guys listening to this show and then we know that have gone to Bay Hill on like a boys trip or whatever, taking the wives to Orlando, yada yada. And you hear numerous times people were there just to play on a little vacay and they're in there having lunch and there's Arnold Palmer and he comes over and asks how their food is and asks how the stay is. Next thing you know, they're in his office and they're just, know, BSing with the king. And that's just how he was, man. was. Yeah, I mean, just, you know, he talks about all the things that he talks about, and I think it's kind of cool, too, that his grandson Sam, who, everybody there is calling calls him Mr. Saunders. I mean, he's the man now. I mean, he's like I think of Sam as a little guy because not little like, but I mean, coming out of college. I remember when he first turned pro and. While he regrips a club. That's awesome. Yeah, good player in his own right as well. Yeah, great player and I mean, you know, I mean when you're on a Palmer's grandson, I think you want to be a great golfer, but there's a lot of opportunities and maybe just bigger, bigger purposes. ⁓ I can't even imagine the amount of ⁓ information that has just dripped off of him. On to to Sam. I mean I I'd a lot. You know I had a great relationship with my grandfather, but by the time I was 1516 he was unfortunately. Good point there. Yep, good point there. You kind of on his way out as far as like, you know, the mental capacity. He didn't play golf or anything. But the time I spent with him when I was eight, nine, 10, 11 years old, that stuff that I'll never forget. So think about Sam Saunders, his granddad, Arnold Palmer, and he's a golfer. I mean, so that guy has been, you know, just losing all the all the things that Arnold Palmer, all the things that make him great. It's probably and I've never I haven't talked or. really even met Sam in 20 years plus, probably since the last time I saw him. But just the impression I get and how he's trying to carry that on because Arnold loved Bay Hill and he loved this tournament. And I think it's really cool that maybe years ago this was one of those tournaments that maybe was gonna get somehow lost in the shuffle. I'm glad for one that didn't happen. I'm glad for one that didn't happen and really, really excited. Right. Very good point there. for this week for for a multitude of reasons. And obviously we are nice places being one of Absolutely. Yeah, and kudos to the PGA Tour for putting a jacket on it, cardigan, donning the cardigan and making it a special material. It's something that, you know, I think players love trophies, but they love little pieces like that even better. Right? So did you win the cardigan or not? You know, win a piece of Arnie's sweater? Cardigan season. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and quick shout out. I know one of one of the guys that we're always pulling for is is Kurt Kidiama winner a few years ago with an iconic putt it on 18 didn't go in, but it was about 65 feet and I think it went closer than that. ⁓ Like one more revolution. ⁓ Great win for him. Really springboard to his career and and our good friend and old former band in Dunes caddies Daniel Kidiama's older brother is on the bag. Right. And they've been having a lot of success. So we here at God Bless Golf are 100 % pulling for these guys. That's our favorite as far as our homer pick. We'll get to the picks later. But before we move off of Bay Hill, the favorites are as you would expect. Scotty Scheffler at around plus 300, 3 to 1 for those that do not gamble a bunch. Rory Mc McElroy at plus 600. Fleetwood at. plus 1900 basically 19 to one ⁓ and for those that forgot Russell Henley won this last year. He's around 20 to one got got him in the. Yeah, yeah, we're big. Well, I got a Georgia boy to the left of me and I just always have love of love for Georgia and then you got some long shots out there. ⁓ Correct, Georgia boy. A lot of Georgia action on the cast early this year. You know, a lot of Georgia boys coming out. Appreciate that. that could have a ⁓ chance to win guys like Matt Fitzpatrick who this course is kind of perfect for because you know got to be you got to be ⁓ you got to be committed off the tee and you got to be a grinder. ⁓ You know the conditions are going to be tough and the guys that can ⁓ can just kind of suck it up are going to obviously have a great shot. ⁓ Yep. I got one looking at right now. I'm shocked to see him up this high though. He's plus 3300, which obviously is a far stretch, but old Jake Knapp, I guess, you know, is he trending right now? haven't really, mean Pebble, he did finish high at Pebble. We'll give him that. What's that? Yeah, I mean he's good, man, he's so good. Yeah, he's playing great. mean, it's just this is tough. I mean, yes, anything is possible. Now he just has that like syrup swing that is just so pure. He probably does hit a high too, all these guys bomb it. But ⁓ yeah, I Naps kind of always around. He's hitting good, he's trending, and I mean, clearly capable of winning. Mr. Tempo. Doesn't he hit that moon ball? I mean, he's a little high five for Florida golf, isn't he? I Yeah. But it'll be interesting to see if Scotty can get his putter heating up and obviously more to come. We will be out there on Thursday on property. So for those that are out there that are listening to this show, make sure you hit us up. Comment in our Instagram. We'll be doing a few posts before we get out there as well. And before we finish up with current golf talk, we got a few. topics to get into, I have to bring up something that I know Richie is gonna have a lot to say about and probably knows a little bit more about this than me, and that is Patrick Reed. Slowly but surely, this guy who is, ⁓ yeah, another Georgia guy. ⁓ ⁓ Let's talk about my Georgia boys. ⁓ You know, he's just dominating the DP World Tour, just, I mean, just showing up, kicking ass. And, ⁓ I'm to let Richie follow up with the info on this because I don't know a ton of info, but I am hearing that he is going to be eligible to return for 2027 to the PGA tour, which, you know, once again confirms what I've always said. If you're really good at golf. The tour will welcome you back when it's time to come back. So after winning some early events, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain, thank God he won when he was there and he's not there anymore. But when you think about his impact on tour, the guy won nine times, he won the Masters, his nickname is Captain America. He basically just kicked Rory's ass when Rory was, I mean, he's not afraid of anybody. That's right. Right. He's an unbelievable putter, reminds me of a good friend of ours the way he pots. ⁓ just having a ton of success. And ⁓ yeah, fill us in on what's going on with P. Reid and anything else you may have about that. Nope. You know, I think, I think P Reed and a couple others here just feeling the lack of competitive, high level competition golf that they get to compete in every now and then. And, uh, he, he wins everywhere he goes. I mean, when's the last time you didn't hear of that man winning a golf tournament in three years, NCAAs, a couple wins on tour, masters and I think 18, I'm, me, if I'm wrong on the reference there, but I believe he donned the jacket on Mr. Yep. And then, you know, Yeah, 18. 18. Liv goes to Liv after COVID, whatever, and then bang, bang, right? Back in the DP World Tour, which by the way, there's plenty of good players out there who can golf their mole. Okay, so let's not act like the DP World Tour is watered down by any stretch of the imagination. It's certainly not the PGA Tour, it's certainly not Liv, but it's, you you get, thank you, right. Yeah, exactly. And so I think he's looking at this opportunity to prove he can win. No. No. Those guys are really good though. Yeah. Yeah. He's not, he's not beating us. ⁓ And this is the biggest thing that I think happens in 27. It's the Ryder Cup, man. We need this guy. We need this guy bad. PGA of America needs to make sure this guy figures out a way get on the Ryder Cup because he beat Rory shooting 75 if you really want to look up the stats. ⁓ And it's about the moment. ⁓ you know, can you get it done? Right. so that's why we need Reed back in America. do. Yeah. Yep. Yeah, I love that Patrick Reed and Paul Aizinger should be a part of the Ryder Cup until we lose in my opinion. ⁓ And that's for another... And if Tiger doesn't accept the captaincy, we'll talk about that later, but come on. Yeah, mean, y'all signs are pointing to 2027 and Tiger being the captain of it. I really don't want to talk about the Ryder Cup ⁓ because for a lot of reasons, not having anything to do with last year. Shout out, Euro. Y'all, y'all, y'all were dominant. ⁓ But, you know, Patrick Reed, the one thing that I've always loved about him and I think most guys and golfers that even If you don't like the guy, there's one thing that he does, which is just absolutely to me is very rare and and that's his putting ⁓ the way he the way he rolls in putts. And obviously there's a lot of great putters out there and there's been a lot of talk about putting and ⁓ you know, a I don't know. I don't want to. I don't know the source where this information came out, but ⁓ Ugh. from data, maybe it was a company called Golf Dad, I'm not sure. If you know who did it, it came out, Rich, you can tell me, but I'm gonna read this stat and it was just, I was kinda shocked when I read it, but then when you really think about it, it does make a ton of sense. From 2005 to 2025, the make percentages on the tour have actually declined across distances. Four to eight feet have dropped 1.3%. And then 10 to 15 feet has dropped almost 1%. Let's call it like 0.8%. So if you're doing the math over, I mean, thousands and thousands of putt, that's a lot more missed than makes. ⁓ Yep. Shout out Charlie Walker. He's the one who came up with all this data, by the way, and posted about a week ago. Yep. Yep. Thank you, Charlie. OK, thank you. Thank you Charlie. I appreciate that. Yeah, so. Let's let's you know there's been a lot of there's a lot of been questions. You know why is this happening or not? Why is this happening? But what's what's the reasoning right? Because all we talk about is you know golfs, you know, and I've said it golfs easier now than it's ever been. As far as hitting the ball, but the whole is still the same size and despite all the advantages and technology, better. the hudders made so to speak training age. Pros are worse at holding out. Is it the Tiger effect that ⁓ he just made everything that the expectations of just making? Became this much higher because if we remove Tiger, I guarantee those percentages go way down. ⁓ Great point. Yep. Great point. I'd like to see those stats for sure. That's a great point. Remove tiger and remove the only tiger, really. And how much does the four to eight go down? Yeah. Well, here's what I've always said like Jordan Spieth basically didn't miss a putt for like, I mean, he still makes everything, but there was a stretch of about five or six years where it seemed like he made every single putty looked at. ⁓ There are guys obviously out there that are, you know, it's like they say in the NBA, it's a make or miss league. I mean, the PGA tour when it comes to putting it's, it's, you know, it's a make or miss guys either make putts or they don't. And they're really Mm-hmm. Aren't a lot of guys that used to never make anything. That you know. All of a sudden just are used to miss a bunch and all of a sudden they make a bunch. I mean guys yes have improved their technique and they hit it better and the percentages are up and they're hitting more greens and they're making less bogeys and so obviously they don't need as much, but as far as great putters go. You know, there just aren't as many. There's very few and ⁓ I think that I agree. You think that has anything to do with the quality of which the greens, I think the greens are almost too good now, right? Back then, you think you don't hammer it harder? Okay. No, no. No, think the greens are. mean, anybody that says because the greens are faster and the pins are tougher, that's the dumb. I'm not gonna say it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. If you're four feet, it doesn't matter where the pin is. The big pin could be one step off the French. If I have a four footer, it doesn't matter where the pin position is. And if the greens are rolling 13. Right, it's a four footer. Yeah, no, you're right. You know a five footer needs to roll one mile an hour. I mean how hard do you have to hit a ball to make it go one mile an hour? You're making a ball go end over end with a piece of metal. ⁓ You know you hear a lot of guys talk about speed. You hear a of guys talk about line. You hear guys. I mean I know Scott Fossett Decade Golf. It's I mean it's obviously amazing. It's worked wonders for a lot of people, but. We talk about that all the time. Yep. And I don't know if it was him, so I don't want to misquote him. But basically, I heard this conversation. These guys were talking about leaving these putts shorts and like, don't be mad if you leave it short. And I get it. It's we're all going to leave putts short every now and then. Putts are going to be short or in pressure moments. And you'll see it every Sunday on the PGA Tour early on. Guys, they hit it close and they leave those putts short. That's that's nerves. And that's OK. That happens to everybody. But when I'm. Can't do that. Right. I mean, Nico did it on Sunday. Left about two and a half foot or three footer to go ahead and seal the deal. Yeah, mean, and Bridgman did it too. it's, you know, I don't care how good you are. I'm sure Tiger will say the same thing. When you're in those kinds of moments, you don't, you can't feel your arms. You can't feel your hands. You were just trying to have your brain hopefully and maybe praying, please Lord make this, make my brain remind my body what to do. Cause I've done it a gazillion times, but I mean all the, yeah. I mean, all of those guys are feeling it. So if the putting numbers haven't changed, Yep. Yeah. Give me a great central nervous signal. And I guarantee it. Anybody that goes to Bay Hill tomorrow, which is on a Wednesday practice round, excuse me. They really haven't. You'll go out and you will see the player, the caddy, probably the putting coach. I'm sure the physio guy will be over there somewhere as well. And the guy will be hitting six foot putts and just, you know, they'll be talking, they'll be teasing the ground. And I know there's a lot of guys that are out there that are great instructors. You ⁓ man. and no putting. But I think you said it earlier today when we were talking, know, Brad Faxon, it has to drive him crazy watching Rory putt because Brad Faxon is like the purest putter you've ever seen. And he's he's like, how can Rory who can do all of this stuff? How come he doesn't understand exactly what I'm trying to teach? Right. ⁓ You know. gone. ⁓ man, it's a gross determination of what Faxon tries to do and Rory's still kidding only just up swing it for me, which what anyway, don't get me started on that. Right. And if Brad Faxon could have hit a fairway in his career, I mean, with the way he putted, you know what I mean? And maybe that's why he was such a great putter, because he didn't have a lot of opportunities. like the point being is like you're out there, you're teaching all this stuff. And I'm not saying I have the, know what the right answer is, but I can sit there on a, you know, what do you call it? Inside down the line or I have a putting mat in my garage and hey, when I'm practicing on my putting mat for tournaments, there's a lot of things that it does help me do releasing the ball this that and the other. But ⁓ yeah, so okay, so that's funny you say that. Tell me please, because I'd love to know. If you only knew what really made your putting work, my goodness. ⁓ I mean, it's it's you know, this is for all the caddies out there right now this is where you get a real dangerous relationship with your favorite player because Unleashing these little things that they do on the putting green that you notice over a decade of doing it for somebody is idiosyncrasy But there's something that that this man does ⁓ You know with every single putt he almost makes and his wear mark is even inside there and it is a heel hook and it is somehow or another it is And when he heel hooks a putt and he gets the spider with a toe up and over across the line, I know that thing's going in every time. It could be three feet, six feet, 64 feet. But when he hits a heel hook, that ball goes in. And what happens is he truly chips the ball like Bobby Locke asks with this heel push and he gets it to knuckle. And then the green takes over and the ball rolls just like every great puttering instructor wants to happen. Now, how you get to that point, irrelevant. Even Charlie Woods made fun of his dad and he goes, you have my dad hooks every putt. Well, there's two of you now. You know, mean, it's the fucking it's a heel hook, excuse me. I want in my head I want it to be I want to be like toe hook drawing every putt in like flowing back flowing through but I can't it's almost like you said I take it outside a little bit and then loop it with a little hook now if I went and tried to do that there's no way I could do it and what's funny ⁓ god that's so bad like I'm glad I'm not watching chance. I told you I didn't want to tell you. No, it's okay. It's hey, I mean, you've seen me make some putts more than I normally look. But ⁓ into Rich's point and that's and thank you for that. Like I don't have enough confidence issues with my putter. But actually, I'm kind of glad if you saw how big my putter was, you'd even you'd laugh even harder than I'm heel hooking everything. But ⁓ maybe that little tip, I'm going to start making a bunch of putts to look out everybody that I mean. Just quite a few. Hey, watch out. ⁓ But it's a great point of what you're saying about putting is it doesn't really matter and You know my good friend and one of the best caddies in the world of all time in my opinion Tim Tucker You know, I've heard him get in conversations with people as it speed is in line and you know his answer is so good and this is I want you guys to listen this when it comes to putting because Nobody can put stuff like this into perspective No. At least nobody I know liked him when you you know you want to get a PhD in golf. know you spend an hour talking to that guy about golf. I it's it's unbelievable. He's the things he's done in my personal life like from a golf standpoint just by listening to him is incredible. But he flat out says is the line determines the speed so. ⁓ my gosh. Me and you both, man. I don't know how you can teach. Now yes, everybody needs to have speed control. Everybody needs to have an idea of how big of a stroke makes the ball go 20 feet. I'm all for that. And I'm a big speed drill guy. Being able to look at a spot and if you can roll to it over and over, you're probably going to feel good and putt well. But the reason that you need to have that that feel is because you are obviously reading these putts. If a putt breaks, you know, three feet, you're going to have to hit it softer than if it breaks a foot. And so, you know, the these all these guys that are teaching speed and speed only as if the line doesn't really matter because it's more about your second putt to me goes against everything that I believe as far as a golfer, really in an athlete. If I'm already thinking about my second putt. And totally. and I haven't even hit my first putt, like how, I mean, I still, obviously I make more. Right, it's like my, mean, I think Michael Jordan had the greatest line. He's like, why would I worry about missing a shot I haven't even taken yet? And I'm telling you, if you putt like that, you might three putt, but you'll make some putts. And so it's kind of like the old adage, would you rather have, you know, It's like shooting a three pointer and going, where's my offensive rebound gonna go? I mean, are kidding me right now? You know, if you're a guy that breaks, let's say can shoot in the 70s and maybe you make one birdie every two rounds, would you rather, would you like to have a round where you make three birdies but maybe you three put three times? Because you're probably normally going to three put three times anyway, but if you make three birdies, no. Okay, give me some stats. Okay, I'm doubling down right there on what you just said with some statistics. All right, and it because you're getting it to the hole. out of every three putts from 30 feet, if two of them don't get to the hole, then you have literally eliminated 67 % of your chance to make. If it gets to the hole, that data has to increase because you got it there. So like, if I'm gonna have three or four feet coming back anyway, that's a hard enough putt. Like you said, I'll three putt twice and choose to make one, right? Well, nobody wants to three putt and no one has ever. But I mean, obviously we're gonna hit, we're all gonna do dumb shit and make, you know, three putt and make bogeys and doubles and this, that and the other. if you're worried about three putting, you're gonna three putt. I mean, that's just, don't, I don't, I don't ever. Well, right. Well, you do what you think, right? You do what you think. That's a fact. If you say don't hit it left, what are you gonna do? ⁓ That's a fact. The ball knows what you're thinking. The ball tells the truth all the time and I just think from a. You know there's a lot of stats that are out there for a lot of stuff and you hear Nick Saban say OK, well there's a stat for going for an on 4th and one. But what's the stat when you don't get it? He's like that's the stat I'm I'm wondering about that one, right? So yes, there is a bunch of stats in there. You can do all kinds of data and you can do this and maybe wills ala Torres is that's where Scott Fawcett is really focused on because. You know that guy obviously. been well documented has some some putting struggles when he's you healthy enough to play and all the best to him because he seems like just a super kid and but like there yeah it seems like they're trying to just teach him like I just get it near the hole get it near the hole and I think a lot of this is to this these guys are these guys are afraid to tell these pros what they really think because these guys are so sensitive and and these guys that are these I don't want to call him hanger honors but these these these players have these and stripe it. of people with him and I think you need some guys I don't think you need all of them all the time I don't think you need six guys taking notes while you're four yard chip shots you know Did you see Keegan Bradley's little tweet the other day about what it really cost to be a high level travel guy? Whoa! You don't want to know what those budget numbers look like, you know? Yeah. Well, I mean, why do think they're all hanging around them? mean, let's be honest. mean, hey, you need, hey, I make good I make good burritos. I'll be your burrito guy. You know what I mean? Like there's opportunities out there for these guys. These guys are making a ton of money. But I think that the ones that are. It's almost like I don't know if they're just so good and they're bored or someone's like, you need this guy, you need that guy. I think putting is kind of of all the things that you can teach. You ⁓ the mic, Vic. Yeah. teaching somebody to make a ball roll over and over is probably pretty easy. ⁓ The field part and maybe it's like part sports psychologist part, know, putting coach but like are you really coaching them? Are you teaching them anything? Are you just talking to them about what they're already doing? And maybe that's what they need. Maybe that's what they all need for every club in their bag. They want someone to make them, you know, feel better. ⁓ You know, Feel good about it, yep. What I do when I feel bad about how I putt, I just go putt with something else and then they realize that that doesn't work either. Yeah, and then I end up back with, it's like I'm back with my putt. I don't have a putting coach. I have a putter that I basically hook draw in the hole and I can't live without it. Just go straight to the garage and find number 45. And then if that doesn't work you go to the PJ superstore and figure out what you can't miss with and you still don't buy it Yeah, but you know again, I think this and obviously we've talked about it because it is a fun topic to talk about. It's kind of like that statistical noise issue. Like is this really a thing or here's some stats. Let's debate it. And in reality we're talking about a 1 % drop. But when you do think about how everybody says all these guys bigger, stronger, faster, these guys are better, yada yada yada. I mean, maybe they're not. Maybe they're not. And I'm I'm a big. Right. I proponent of I don't think they are. I think they are bigger and they certainly are stronger and I guess I don't know what being fast has to do with being a golfer, but they probably are faster. Not quite sure they're better golfers, but that can be ⁓ led for ⁓ topic for discussion. ⁓ Love to hear your comments on this topic because it is one that is fun to talk about and it doesn't. Yeah. hurting anybody's feelings when we talk about it. But I tell you what punning does lead to. Yes, there's a lot of glory in putz made, but in the reality, missing putz is probably the closest thing in sports that can turn a normal human into like a, like the Hulk or like a serial killer or like rage. ⁓ We've all been there. The Hulk. ⁓ God. It's it's just there's nothing more mind-numbing than playing a hole that's five hundred and forty yards and in two shots you hit it five hundred and thirty six yards and Then you three putt from 12 feet make part ⁓ You know like how is that even possible? Exactly. Hey great drive chip ⁓ You know and right is it Nice par David Heard that out your mouth way too many times in my life. I mean, it's just like it's almost like it gets in your head too. And it's hard to imagine that like something that easy, but there's nothing more. There's no there's no the ultimate finality in every hole is getting that ball in the hole. And that's why it puts that pressure on. And we were talking about the pressure earlier and whether you're trying to win your club championship or you're playing scotch wolf or you're trying to break 90 for the first time, usually it's going to come down to that. you know, some sort of four foot pot. And, you know, it just comes down to you kind of have to lie to yourself and just just pump yourself up as much as possible and try to, you know, your best. Right. And and I'd love to say it works out all the time. You know, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. But that is one way to get through it. But from the rage part, this goes right into a new segment we're introducing this week. And it's the segment's called Don't Be That Guy. And Believe. We thought first week out for Don't Be That Guy is Rage Guy. And we've all played golf and we've all had our moments, right? And no one's saying that every time you need to go out, you're not allowed to have a little rage. But when you're rage, when you become, I'm gonna be so mad that I'm gonna ruin everybody else's time in my group, that's the guy that we need to get rid of. Yes, yes. on a Saturday morning away from the kids. Absolutely. You know, we've all been there, but like when you take that rage to another level where you're throwing clubs, slamming clubs, probably telling me how good you normally are, or, I don't know how this happened, happened, you know, you're throwing clubs, you're breaking your driver, you're doing all this shit as if... Yeah, as if that's gonna make me be like, ⁓ yeah, I can see you're a really great player. Now look. I never hit it left. We've all been there. We've all played bad. And sometimes, yeah, you play bad, you don't want to be social, and maybe you don't laugh at every joke. But if anything, just be miserable alone. Don't let it affect the other groups, the other guys in the group. Because that kind of stuff, the next thing you know, I'm sitting there and I'm thinking, I'm more focused on this guy who just threw his club in the woods. And then we're on nine fairway and I'm thinking, please say this is your last hole. If you are that guy, if you do become that guy. Please quit. Right. And if you're having that day, then you do need to quit and save ourselves. Yeah, you gotta leave the golf course. You gotta leave the golf course because it just ruins it and it's not fun. it gets into this thing which I've termed toddler zone. And when I see golfers, adult males get in the toddler zone, it makes me wanna punch them, honestly. And I don't because I don't feel like getting arrested, but it's like, you have a job, you have a life, I'm not so... You haven't spent your whole life trying to perfect this. see people that are do it for their living hit garbage shots and you are just becoming this ultimate toddler, slamming everything, could care less about what anybody has to say. And the minute anybody tries to talk to you about anything, you're just, I don't give a fuck, blah. Watch this, I'm gonna throw this ball and throw the, know, do this. I'm gonna scream and cuss, I'm gonna rip my bag off and, you know. Ugh. Meanwhile you put in 60 hours of the law firm down the street and expect to 71 on Saturday. Like, get real. I mean it's like what like the fact and and what's crazy too is usually that that that guy that we're talking about the toddler zone a Lot of times you see this on like the first fairway and I'm thinking I got a ride I'm gonna play 18 holes with this like you just missed your first shot of the you know, and you're already you need dog cussing yourself and you should There's a groundhog hole in the fairway. Yeah, it's just it's just it's we gotta do something about it. Yeah, there's just too many guys out there like that and I see it more and more and Yes, it can be entertaining for a while But there's a way to do it if you want to be you know Like I said if you want to be that miserable guy all day just you know Don't don't don't try to bring everybody down if you're gonna do it for amusement and we're off We're all having a good laugh like the day Range Session go that bad, partner, huh? I beat Mark Dole so bad, he threw all of his clubs in the water. But he did it gracefully. Yes, the one, exactly, a month after he almost went to the Masters. And I remember the last hole, it was one of my finer moments when I just absolutely thumped him. And I think he had a putt for like bogey, and he missed it on 18. He's like, well, it's only club I got left. But it wasn't a violin, it was just a soft, like he's throwing a little baby. The ones that almost got him to the Masters? was theater. It was theater. Ooooo No. It simple. It was elegant. It was elegant. Yes, it was elegant. It was classfully done. in the pool. Yes, yes. And if you could write, yes, and he did not ruin anybody's day. And he was the most, yeah, he just was, he was tired of those clubs. So there is a way to do that. Not a thing. Kept to himself. Gentlemanly. Absolutely. Right. And with all due respect, if I had to look down at those again after where we were at, coming home, losing to a W, I'd throw him in the pond too. So Marcus, well done while being that, while not being that guy. Exactly. Yeah, I mean those things probably needed to be done but He wasn't that guy ⁓ so yeah for all you out there Don't be that guy and ⁓ as far as listener he's going ⁓ each week. We're gonna have a new Don't be that guy segment. So any ideas you may have feel free to drop the comments or ideas in the comment box dms text us whatever because It's a fun topic and like I said, Toddler Zone, nobody wants to be around that guy and if you are that guy, check yourself. ⁓ As far as ⁓ before we get into rapid fire again, want to thank everybody that's tuned in, everybody that's been reaching out, giving us support to this show. ⁓ Smash that subscribe button, give us a rating, share your thoughts via email, Instagram, Twitter. You know, like I said, we're going to be at Bay Hill on ⁓ Thursday. So just hit us up, reach out. We appreciate any feedback, good or bad. We can take it. Thank you all. Hit us up. And clearly, whoa, what was that? Clearly there's a lot to improve on. I don't know what just happened there, Richie, but I think we're back online, so good. ⁓ We're still here. I didn't notice a change. Okay, good. What do you got? Lead us. So we got a little rapid fire coming home here. We're just going to ask you a couple of quick ones here. We got a lot of good topics today. So starting off over under Scotty Scheffler, 12 and a half under par. 12 and a half. I even though like I said, we really want Kurt to win. I think this is Scottie's week. I'm going to go over. think he shoots 14 under and wins by three. Okay. Oof. Oof. Okay. Let's go with 2027. A little forecasting here. P Reid makes a great return. We've got a couple victories. We're trending toward the Ryder Cup, whatever. Is he the hero or is he the villain in his return? Okay. Yes. You know, I think there's gonna be a group of guys, whether they're, you know, just fans, podcasters that don't like this guy. But truthfully, he's gonna come off more as a hero because the fact is that the PGA tour needs needs Patrick Reed. He's one of the best players in the world. This is the best tour on the world tour in the world. So having him back, I think. ⁓ I don't think he'll be the villain. think he embraces who he is. I don't think he shies away from that. I don't know him at all. So is he misunderstood? Is he who everybody says he is? I don't know. But as far as his role in the 2027 P.J. Tour, he's going to be a hero behind the scenes because the Tour needs this guy. You need more players like this. You know, we didn't really talk about it at the beginning, like, you know, the Brooks Koepka era where he was kind of had this persona of kind of this, you know, tougher than nails. I just roll out of bed and win majors and I don't like to practice and private clubs are stupid and all that stuff that he was saying in those days. you know, he's winning majors like they're giving him away. Right. Yep. And then now you know they welcome him back to the PGA Tour. I don't think he moves the needle. I think we're glad that he's back, but I don't think he moves the needle as far as like ⁓ interest other than. You know, maybe as a as a five time major winner. Obviously it adds a lot of strength to the tour, but ⁓ you know he's he's definitely showing a softer side. I know there you know he's giving that cake out to to Hadeki You know first birthday and. Happy birthday, yup yup. You know, made the cut, you know, made a good run at the cut. I don't think he was ever a threat to win. I mean, obviously his game is trending. He's got some putting issues, but you know, his comeback, I just think Patrick Reed's comeback is going to move the needle more than Brooks. Even though Brooks is, even though Brooks is resume is better. And you know, Patrick's reads got four majors to play in this year. Wouldn't shock me if he wins one of them the way he's playing, to be honest. Spider Spider Spider especially with the recent winds. yeah, shout out Shane Bacon. He's calling for P Reed to win the Masters year, which is, I think is a phenomenal pick. You know, I mean, like that guy a lot, know, lefty from, from California, I believe. ⁓ And, but, ⁓ I think Shane's from Arizona, ⁓ but he is a lefty. Well, he probably lives in California. lives in California. ⁓ Let's wrap it up with two quick ones here. We talked a lot about putting today. So what is the best putting tip pregame that ever worked on the spot day of? Go. Okay, the best pre day or it was really the night before putting tip was a I was listening to a podcast about Zen golf and basically the tip was you can't make anything. All you can do is hit the ball and then whether the ball goes in is really out of your control. You don't get to just take the ball and just put it in the hole. You don't get to make it. All you got to do is hit the ball and Basically the philosophy, the tip was pick a spot and inch in front of your ball. And if you hit that spot, you've done your job. And you know what, it's kind of funny because the next day I shot 62 and pretty much made everything I looked at. Didn't really make anything the rest of the day. Yeah, didn't make anything the next two days. But it's funny is one of those tips kind of stuck me in with me and I was kind of in the zone. Oof, the one inch putt. The one inch putt. Great visor there. I guess focusing on that that day and ⁓ by far the best tip I've ever heard as far as like a quick one. And last but not least, we've all done it. We've either stopped by the mall, the golf Smith when it was around, the PGA superstore. What's the best putter you've putted with on an Astro turf surface that you never bought? That is a great question. Because no one spends, first of all, a little info on the panda here, no one spends more time at the turkey lake. Putting facility than Mr. Brooke. Okay, so I'm lucky enough that I have two PGA Superstores in my area of where I live. The Turkey Lake Superstore, by far their greens are Augusta-like. So if you're ever going to play somewhere, man, they're rolled at about a 13. I'm telling you, you go in there and if you're not used to it, will putt it, it'll end up in the simulator. You'll be walking off the putting ring going after your ball. That's how fast they are. ⁓ You need a local report. Superstore that's really close to my house. They roll about 10, nine and half, 10. And so it's probably more, probably more normal than to the conditions at my home club. But if there is a putter that I've used and I continue, if I'm in there, I'll use it. I'll hit a couple of putts with it. And I can't, I don't know what it's called, but it's the ping that has the little hole in the back. It's not the crazy. It's like called like the piper or something. ⁓ The one that you can put like the whole ball on? No way! That thing fits inside a whole cup too. I think you can just smash it in the hole and pull it out, right? Yeah, you can like pick the ball up with. Hell yeah. That thing in indoors. Yeah, you know that that's true. I never did that because I'm always I always leave the pins and but at the superstore but yeah that putter I've probably hit in my life over a thousand putts with that putter never even dreamed about buying it ever the superstore. ⁓ I mean for a man who putts with the ugliest thing on earth, I can't believe you never game that. ⁓ ⁓ God. I, you know, it's crazy. I, don't know. There were times where I was like, is this really, or is this one of those indoor things? And of course it's an indoor thing. But yeah, that's a, that's a classic, especially for, you know, for those that have been, ⁓ there's nothing better. And I tell, I say I'm in there all day and you just hear me just making everything. ⁓ You know it. Yeah, it's different game. not quite the ⁓ I probably dominate TGL man and ignore putting ⁓ my jam but ⁓ yes. Bye. You know, if they get their simulator right, that'd be right. Yeah, absolutely. Well, ⁓ that'll about do it for episode number five. We are five in the books. I can't believe we made it to five. And this is just the beginning of, like I said, we're like a marching band of nowhere right now. We have no idea where this is going or what we're doing. We're having a lot of fun. like I said, I appreciate everyone that is tuning in. ⁓ Again, subscribe, like. Man, no kidding. By the grace of God. All of the things that you're supposed to do with the podcast do all of those things. Let us know what you like, what you don't like. Again, Richie and I will be around Bay Hill on Thursday. Hit us up and ⁓ we'll be back next week to ⁓ obviously recap, hopefully an exciting Bay Hill and then preview the TPC, AKA the players, Ponte Vedra Beach, one of the greatest venues to watch golf in the world. Looking forward to that. you Richie, you got anything before we say goodbye for this show? ⁓ know, hit us up. Let us know if you're going to be out of Bay Hill. Track us down. We'll have some probably have some cool things for you if you you find us and everybody have a great weekend and God bless golf. That's right, God bless golf. Have a good night, everybody. See you, Richie. See you later.