1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:00,840 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 2: A true peak experience that at the moment of life 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 2: when you want everything to come together, everything came together 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 2: for this guy. 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 3: I got thoughts in my head, I can't get him 6 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 3: join and not the thing well I'm thinking about, can't 7 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 3: get him out join, not the thing well I'm thinking about. 8 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome back to another Fire Drill podcast. You 9 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: right again, Michael Bamberger, Alan Chipnuk here and it was. 10 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: It was quite a week at oak Hill at the 11 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: PGA Championship. Brooks Koepka he rides again as well. Fifth 12 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: major championship. One hell of a performance. Michael, talk to me, 13 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,319 Speaker 1: what did you think about this week? What stands out 14 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: from the one hundred and fifth PGA Championship. 15 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 2: I mean, I loved it. We've been here before for 16 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: different things. It's really you know, people get confused between 17 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 2: Oakmand and Oakland Hills and oak Hill. There's actually three 18 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: very different courses and three very different cities. I would 19 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 2: actually say this is my favorite of the three. Actually 20 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 2: maybe by a lot. 21 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: That's a big statement. 22 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: How about for a course that you would want to 23 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 2: play from the appropriate tea Definitely Rochester, great town, wonderful people, 24 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 2: and it was you know they of course they did 25 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 2: get a little lucky with the weather, unlucky with Saturday. 26 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: That can always happen. It was fantastic that they were 27 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 2: able to get it in and just an absolutely compelling 28 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 2: week of pure golf. Really, don't you think, Oh. 29 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, pure is a good word. This golf course is pure. 30 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: It was an old school test. I mean the thick rough, 31 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: the the extreme greens. I thought it was great. And 32 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: actually you think the weather on Saturday was unlucky, I 33 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: thought it was fantastic. Like my dream week at a 34 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: major is three sunny, nice days and one day of hell. 35 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: That just pushes the players to the breaking point. You 36 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: had guys out there flinging drivers, flipping off the cup. 37 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: Jordan Speith of all people like Eddie Haskell dropped an 38 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: f bomb. You know, that's what you want in your 39 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: major championships, is you want to put extreme stress on 40 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: the players, and that that certainly happened with the foul 41 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: weather on Saturday. 42 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 2: Thirty mile an hour wind is more fun than half 43 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: an inch of rain or an inch of rain. 44 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,959 Speaker 1: It was, Yeah it did, and yeah, I mean the 45 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: reborn o kill. You know, they took it back to 46 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: the future. I thought it looked so cool that the 47 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 1: square greens were really neat because they could put the 48 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: pins in the corners. They were ultra tucked and some 49 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: fun little fingers like the eighth hole today. And I 50 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: love the sort of the berms, the raised up berms 51 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 1: behind the greens that just framed them so beautifully when 52 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: you're looking down the fairway or even on TV and 53 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 1: it was I mean, you look at Brooks, Koepka, He's 54 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: now conquered Oak Hill, Beth Page, Shinnacock. I mean, that's 55 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: really macho. Those are three of the hardest courses in 56 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: championship golf. You just what a resume, and of course 57 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: five majors now he's These are the geniuses who have 58 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: won five major championships Seth A Reno, by Astero's Lord, 59 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: Byron Nelson and Peter Thompson, I mean all timers. I 60 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: mean those are generational talents. Those are icons. And Brooks 61 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: is right there and is not done. I mean he's motivated, 62 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: he's healthy, he's fired up, and it's just so impressive 63 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: to watch him because he keeps it very simple. You know, 64 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: It's like every putt has the perfect speed, every every 65 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: approach shot is pinned high, it's a bad drive. He 66 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 1: just gets back in play like he really, he's he's 67 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: he's reduced the game, the championship level, to the most 68 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: basic parts. I mean, it's impressive. It's it's it's a 69 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: reputable formula. 70 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, his swing now looks exactly like it 71 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 2: did when when he was at his prime. It doesn't 72 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 2: look any different. Ale, it's a big strong man's golf 73 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: swing like they all are today. You know. He takes 74 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: it back and then he lets it go and he 75 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 2: kind of holds on and it's nothing but fade shots. 76 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 2: It's high and it's in play, and if it fades 77 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 2: too much, you know, or if he pushes it, it's 78 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: in the right rough. But otherwise it's in the in 79 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 2: the faraway and in play. So he does make it 80 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 2: very simple. It's sort of low, low stress golf the 81 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 2: way the way he goes about it. 82 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, he does. He does play a cut off the 83 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: tee almost exclusively. But I think it was interesting because 84 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: I was right behind the fourteenth tee. That's that incredible 85 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: drivel Part four that just looks so you stand in 86 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: the t box and it's such a panorama, and I 87 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: love that tabletop green and I think it's just one 88 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: of my favorite holes Championship golf all of a sudden, 89 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: but he played a big high draw. He needed a 90 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: extra carry and he just let that club go and 91 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: uh to having you know, hit nothing but fades and 92 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 1: then you come to a doer die hole and it 93 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: leads down to one and to pull that shot off 94 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: and put it up there on the green. I mean 95 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: that that was macho. That that is real lot. 96 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: Then where where did that shot pitch? 97 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: I mean landed right at the center of the green. 98 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: It just trickled about one step off, but nice flat, easy, 99 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: easy tuput and I mean it was yeah, yeah, it was. 100 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: It was one of those things it's hard to tell 101 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: on TV sometimes of ball fight. It's one of the 102 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: great things about being inside the ropes. And I was 103 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: sitting right on the t box and just majestic and uh, 104 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: you know, credit to Victor Hovlind. I mean he uh 105 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: he played lights out for fifteen holes, like he didn't 106 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: give in at all, and he even you know, Brooks 107 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: came out. I tweeted it was like it reminded me 108 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: of Secretary to the Belmont. You know, he is performing 109 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: like an incredible machine like Birdie Birdie. Birdie opened up 110 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: a three shot lead and looked like he might shoot 111 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: fifty five and win this thing by one hundred and 112 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: but Hoblin he never backed down and he just kept 113 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: coming and he you know, he had he had got 114 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: within one stroke and then had some bad luck in 115 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: the fairway bunker. But even that was was cool. You know, 116 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: Hobblin's making a mess in the sixteenth hole and kept 117 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: had to wait out there for a long time in 118 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: the faraway and then when it was his turn to hit, 119 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: he's knocked the flag stick over and that was like 120 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: it was a real exclamation point on the wind that 121 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: gave him a four stroke lead. And it was a 122 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: neat moment. I mean, it was sort of the signature 123 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: shot and it just speaks to his kind of ruthlessness, 124 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: like you you know, and Hoblin said, he's tough because 125 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: he doesn't give you anything. He just doesn't give you anything. 126 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: And it was a very it was a very relentless 127 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: performance by Kepka. 128 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: And it was made all the more impressive because of 129 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 2: course he could have won at Augusta this year and 130 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 2: he didn't have this Sunday that he wanted, wants you 131 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 2: to have and really, had he gone the first two 132 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 2: Sundays of the year, you know, not, it would have 133 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: been Greg Norman like to be the you know, right 134 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: there through fifty four whole and then sort of cough 135 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: it up on Sunday. And you don't want your name 136 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 2: associated with Greg Norman's name in that. In that sense, 137 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 2: I think your insight about the t shot on fourteen 138 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: is great. I feel like I've never seen him hit 139 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 2: a draw shout of my life, so I'm really interested 140 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 2: to hear this. And of course it brings to mind 141 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 2: Nicholas in his prime, because you know, everyone you stuck 142 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 2: by Nicholas's prime at Nicholas's distance in his prime, and 143 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 2: it was he was way longer probably than you know, 144 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 2: most everybody else. You know, a couple of weird odd exceptions. 145 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: But what people don't know is Nicholas fade fade, fade, 146 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 2: fade fade, and then when he had to turn it over, 147 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 2: you know, thirteen and at August National in his day, 148 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 2: for sure he did. And I actually did not know 149 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: that Kopka could do that under that kind of pressure. 150 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 2: But what you're describing is that you're and swing ten yards. 151 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 2: In other words, the draw shot has a chance of 152 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 2: carrying and the fade shot doesn't. And it's ballsy because 153 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 2: if you hit into that bank, you don't know what's 154 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 2: going to happen. Uh, you know, it could be a bogey. 155 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: So it's impressive what. 156 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: You're saying. Well, And and then another crucial moment was 157 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: the hole before that, you know, really long par five. 158 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: Nobody could reach it today Hovelin did with the birdie 159 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: Kepkaz hit a couple less than precise shots. He's got 160 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: this terrifying six or seven foot straight down the hill 161 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: to save par to only lose one stroke. If he 162 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: misses that putt, they're tied. This was to stay out 163 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: in front and a putt like that, man, it has 164 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: nothing to do with the technical proficiency, is just you 165 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: just have to will it into the hole. It's just 166 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: it's an x ray of the soul. And I mean, 167 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: he just he just gutted that putt and and he 168 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: kind of he swaggered of in this really neat empathy 169 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: to there at thirteen. I mean, it was a super 170 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: cool setting and the place went crazy when he made it. 171 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: And the way you know, we Brooks the physicality, just 172 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: the way he carries himself, the way he moves. You know, 173 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: he has a presence which is really rare. And there 174 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: was a little extra swager coming off with that green 175 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 1: and it was like, okay, this is getting real. And 176 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: then he went to the t and he hit that rope, 177 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: and if you're hobbling, you're like, man, what do I 178 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: have to do? Like I thought I had him, but 179 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: I don't. 180 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:30,959 Speaker 2: He doesn't. He doesn't, you know, over seventy two holes, 181 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 2: it's not enough. Fifty four holes. Yeah, albind can play 182 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: with there. Habn's terrific and he's a great kid, and 183 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 2: he's got a great attitude. But just for pure talent, 184 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 2: you can just see it. If you watch it, you 185 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 2: can see it. 186 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: He's at it. 187 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: He is at another level. I don't think we should 188 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 2: go crazy just to one quick thought here. You know, 189 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 2: you say pure will, I would say, it's right out 190 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 2: of the Tiger school. It's actual technical perfection. But once 191 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,319 Speaker 2: the technical perfection is all organized your mind what you're 192 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: actually going to do, then that just that hyper drive, 193 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 2: like Jimie was talking about with us earlier today, the 194 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 2: hyper drive of the elite athlete of like I deserve this. 195 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,959 Speaker 2: That does I think that does kick in and we've 196 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 2: seen it, and that's one of the glories of golf. 197 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 2: I've seen with seven, we've seen it, Tiger definitely, so 198 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 2: with Nicholas Arnold and his day, this guy and that 199 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 2: he kind of can't imagine Victor Hoblin, who's a really 200 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 2: nice player and we'll have his chances and might win 201 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: a major maybe someday, but you can't see that part 202 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 2: in his game now. Justin Leonard weirdly had it, but 203 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 2: he didn't have it for the rest of the game. 204 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: You know, very few get everything, but the guys we're 205 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 2: talking about, John Rom, Rory and Brooks Skopka. I would say, really, 206 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 2: John Rom, you know, I mean for sure really do 207 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 2: have it. Seems pretty much everything plus drive, I mean 208 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 2: drive is that's really really it? 209 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, And you know, it's funny you mentioned Rory because 210 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: he was he was obviously a big focus of this week. 211 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: It's his in laws live in Rochester and he's a 212 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: member at Oak Hill and it's just the perennial, you know, 213 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: psychodrama of being a Rory maclroy fan. He just can't 214 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: like he was there, but he wasn't quite there. I 215 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: mean just a classic tie for seventh, kind of back 216 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: door performance by Rory. And you know him and Brooks 217 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: were tied with four majors for the last few years. 218 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: And imagine when when Rory won at Valhalla, you know, 219 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: he had four majors and Brooks had zero, and you 220 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: could have gotten pretty long odds about who is going 221 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: to get to five first, and Brooks did it. And 222 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: it's like, if you it's it's it's not set in stone, 223 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: it's not definitive. But when you talk about the best 224 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: player of sort of the post Tiger era, I mean 225 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: it's Rory, it's Brooks, it's Speed, and it's maybe Dustin 226 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: or the four guys in the conversation. Rom could play 227 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: his way in maybe Scheffler, But right now, when you 228 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: look at the resumes and you got to give it 229 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: to Brooks, I mean that the five majors is monumental. 230 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: It's really it really separates him. And so he's, you know, 231 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: you get to six, you're talking Trevino and Faldo. I mean, 232 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: he's he's scaling, he's heading towards the Mount Rushmore of 233 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: modern golfers here. If he can, he's basically of his 234 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: last twenty two major championship. He's won five of them, 235 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: you know, basically that's basically one a year, and so 236 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: if he can. 237 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,160 Speaker 2: And two he sort of semi gave in, two semi 238 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 2: gave away. 239 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no, he's I mean, no one wins them 240 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,079 Speaker 1: all except for Tiger. But you know, Brooks is now 241 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: four for five converting fifty four hole leads at the majors. 242 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: You know, he's he's a closer, and it's gonna be 243 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: fun to see where he goes from here because he's 244 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: clearly motivated and fired up. And you know, swing coach 245 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: Claude Harmon said to me, you know, this is Koepka 246 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: two point zero, and it's like he had all his injuries, 247 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: he's kind of re found himself. He's he's made the 248 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: jump to live. His wife's pregnant, he's married, Like he's 249 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: really in a different place as a golfer, as a 250 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:10,599 Speaker 1: human and completely settled and healthy and hungry. So this 251 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: is a big this is a big one. 252 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 2: Let's go back to something here because I haven't heard 253 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 2: you on this. We haven't had a chance to really 254 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 2: talk since since it all wrapped up. What's your emotional 255 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:26,679 Speaker 2: response as someone who loves golf and writes about golf 256 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 2: and is writing a book about live you you've you've 257 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 2: write about this guy a long time. You know, you're 258 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: probably when he was before what his first major? Maybe 259 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 2: you know you went deep with this guy. What is 260 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 2: your emotional response to him winning? And I and I 261 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 2: could add the part that you know that I'm thinking of, 262 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 2: which is his handling of that situation at Augusta National 263 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 2: on the on the fifteenth pole when the caddy clearly, clearly, 264 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 2: clearly said that to Carrie Woodland's caddy that his managers hit. 265 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: Five or yeah, that was a missed opportunity for Brooks 266 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,479 Speaker 1: to do something really special. He could have elevated himself 267 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: into the Bobby Jones category of sportsmanship if he had 268 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: called that penalty on himself. And I think you know, 269 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: for him, he's he obviously refers back to team sports 270 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: as his frame of reference. And I think he took 271 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: that like, hey, man, you know, no one in Major 272 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: League Baseball or then be, no one calls a penalty 273 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: on themselves. They don't, they don't tip off the ref 274 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: they stepped out of bounds. And I think he felt 275 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: like his little ticky tack he wasn't totally involved, whether 276 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: he believe the glove hand or not. And but it 277 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: was a missed opportunity. I mean, Bobby Jones, you know, 278 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: called penalties on himself and back to back us opens 279 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: in the twenties and we're the nineteen twenties, we're still 280 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: talking about it, you know, his I think it would 281 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: have been amazing if Brooks had done it. But setting that aside, 282 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: and we'll come I want to hear your thoughts on that. 283 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: We'll come back to that for you. But I think 284 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: I think this was this was a really impactful victory. 285 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: The larger landscape, you know, is this this ongoing battle 286 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: between the tour and Live Golf. This is meaningful. I 287 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: mean that Live Golf now has has two of the 288 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: reigning major championship winners with Brooks and and Cam Smith. 289 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: It looks like Brooks is gonna is gonna be the 290 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: alpha of the sport here for a while, and so 291 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: it definitely recalibrates things. And he could also be the 292 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: bridge because he's gonna play his way onto the Ryder 293 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: Cup team just through points. They're not gonna be able 294 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: to keep him off of it, and uh, that opens 295 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: the door to maybe pick Dustin as you know who 296 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: he could play his way on through points as well, 297 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: but he's not. He has been doing it in the 298 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: majors and that that would that would sort of tear 299 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,479 Speaker 1: down the wall a little bit. And you know, Brooks 300 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: has not talked any trash in this, in this battle 301 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: between the tours. He's kept a low profile and he 302 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: was not a party to the lawsuits. You know, he 303 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: has not stirred it up. He's not been like a 304 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: Poulter or a Westwood or a Garcia. He just kind 305 00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: of kept his head down. He made a decision for 306 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: him that he thought was best, but he hasn't been 307 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: trying to stick it to the man. And so I 308 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: think his credibility as as a human, but especially as 309 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: a player, you know, he could he could he could 310 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: be a bridge to help, you know, get in trying 311 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: to reunify the sport in some way. And so I 312 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: think it's a huge victory for him his place in 313 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: the pantheon, but also for the what's happening in this 314 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: in the sport. I was rooting for him because it's 315 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: obviously good for the book, but I also just think 316 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: Brooks is he's this cool I mean, there's just something 317 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: about him. He has a mystique, and I think there's 318 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: a there's there's something magnetic about him that that attracts 319 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: casual fans. Uh. And you know, he's his wife has 320 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: a very high profile on social media. She kind of 321 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: adds a little star dust to their whole their whole life. 322 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: And he's alviously, he's a good looking guy. He's got 323 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: the Nike deal. You know, they'll they'll they'll get a 324 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: lot of mileage out of this. So I think I 325 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: think it's really impactful. So let's talk about your thoughts, because. 326 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 2: Just before, let me ask this because everyone thinks they know, 327 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 2: but you might know more than others. To what degree 328 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 2: did he join live so that his brother could could 329 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,199 Speaker 2: make a living playing professional golf? And for those who 330 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 2: don't know Chase Keepka, it is what is Chase Keopka's 331 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 2: live status right now? Alan? 332 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: For those who don't know, Yeah, I mean he's they're 333 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: on he he's they're on the same team. He has 334 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: to finish. If you anyone who finished in the top 335 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: twenty four of their money list this year is guaranteed 336 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 1: a spot next year. But Brooks, being the captain of 337 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: the team can more or less pick anybody they want, 338 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: anybody he wants, and Chase is a really sweet kid. 339 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: Everyone loves him. Like I would say that Chase is 340 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:43,119 Speaker 1: going to be on Live as long as his brother 341 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 1: is on Live. And so that's for for a young 342 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 1: playerho's never been able to find his footing on any 343 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: major tour, it's a huge deal. And you know Brooks 344 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 1: loves his brother, and that that was I equate it to. 345 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: You see this in college basketball where there's an incredible 346 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: prospect and a score hires the kid's dad as an 347 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: assistant coach so they can get That's kind of what 348 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: Lived did with with Chase. They signed up Chase first. 349 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 1: That was an inducement to make sure Brooks came over. 350 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: And you know, there's something sweet about it. I mean, 351 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: I think that was definitely a factor in Brooks's decision. 352 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: Like he's kind of like, I'm gonna be fine either way, 353 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: but I can set my brother up for life as 354 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: a golfer. And you know, they they won one in 355 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: uh in Jedda last year. They won as a team, 356 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: and Brooks had promised Chase, you would buy him a 357 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: new car if they if they won, the team element 358 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: happens to be a lime green Lamborghini because that's how 359 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: they roll in the Koepka family, and I live golf. 360 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: But you know that that was a big deal for them, 361 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: like he was. I think Brooks was more excited about 362 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 1: the team victory than his own individual one because they 363 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: had this whole little thing with his brother. So it's 364 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: kind of a. 365 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 2: Cute story that Chase Koepka looks like a Honda Civic 366 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 2: driver exactly. 367 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: I know it's so great, But Michael, you've written about this, 368 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 1: you've talked about it, But why why is it so 369 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: fundamental to you what happened in the in the fifteenth 370 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: fairway to Gusta National. 371 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 2: Well, it's just so basic. If you don't play golf 372 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,239 Speaker 2: by the rules, the whole thing follows apart. It's been 373 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 2: said a million times and it is a rule of golf. 374 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 2: People who I don't want to be critical, people who 375 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 2: think about the game differently than I am, not saying 376 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: I quote think about the game the right way. But 377 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 2: there's there's a reason why you're not allowed to share 378 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 2: what the robo claus advice, which is actually information about 379 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 2: the club that you just hit. There's a reason why 380 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 2: there's lots of reasons why. They all make sense if 381 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 2: you start to think about them. But if you're giving 382 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 2: information in your group and another group's not, it's not 383 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 2: a team sport, it's an individual sport. So if you're 384 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,920 Speaker 2: if information is being exchanged in your group, then it's 385 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 2: not being changed in another group. It puts you at 386 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 2: an unfair It puts you at a the other group 387 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 2: has an unfair disadvantage. The idea of the rules of 388 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 2: officer to create a level playing field. It was so 389 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 2: obvious to everybody that the caddy said to the other 390 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 2: caddy that Kepkaz caddy said to Woodland's caddy that he 391 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:20,640 Speaker 2: hit a fiburn the rule books. So some might say, oh, 392 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 2: but that's just the caddy, it wasn't the player, But 393 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 2: that's not what the rule book says. So if you're 394 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:28,400 Speaker 2: not going to simply go by what the rule book says, 395 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 2: you're kind of really just sort of kissing off something 396 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:37,399 Speaker 2: that's actually at the very core of the game. And 397 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 2: it would have been just so great for him to say, yeah, 398 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 2: I didn't know what the caddy was doing. He's a 399 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 2: great caddy, but he crossed the line. There other guys 400 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 2: do it, but the fact is nobody should do it. 401 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: That's really what should have been said, in my opinion, 402 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 2: I don't like to use the word should. But of 403 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 2: course that's not what happened. What very likely happen, and 404 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 2: I'm not saying I know what happened because I don't, 405 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 2: is that they went in, they watched the tape and 406 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 2: they said, yeah, what you think you saw isn't actually 407 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 2: what happened. But we know what happened because we saw it. 408 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 2: So I think he really hurt the game. I know 409 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 2: it a ghosta national there was no one who It's 410 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 2: hard to imagine someone was rooting for brooks Kopka to 411 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 2: win that Masters, So by extension, it was hard for me, 412 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: even though I think he's an impressive golfer. Of course 413 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 2: physically I find him to be an impressive person. I 414 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 2: like watching him on the range. I like the way 415 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 2: he carries himself. I like his no bullshit quality. But 416 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 2: real no bullshit quality is to stand up and say, yeah, 417 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 2: something went wrong there, to give me the two shots 418 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 2: I deserve him. That would have been just appropriate, not 419 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 2: even like great, just appropriate really, So when he didn't 420 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 2: do that, it just makes me think very differently about him. 421 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 2: And actually I can feel even in me this whole 422 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 2: notion of everybody loves the winner, because like the area 423 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 2: was interviewing, you know, the way I was in a 424 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 2: group interviewing the Ricky that his caddy afterwards and kept 425 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 2: as impressive in victory. People love a winner. But the 426 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 2: fact is he kind of hurt golf actually in a 427 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 2: significant in a significant way, because it's another it's another 428 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 2: pin in the value system of what makes golf golf 429 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 2: in the first place. 430 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, probably the best thing that ever happened 431 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: to Brooks Cupic was not winning that Masters, because when 432 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: Rom took the green jacket, that kind of faded away 433 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: and it became a one day story and something that 434 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: followed him for the rest of his life. But it's 435 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: and it's interesting that Augusta. I almost feel like they 436 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: could have imposed the penalty. They have the power to 437 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: do that, but it was almost like, we're gonna leave 438 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: this up to you. Do you want to be Bobby 439 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 1: Jones or not that it was almost like they just 440 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,719 Speaker 1: it was a test. But I love that you're so 441 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 1: passionate about this because everyone else has already moved on. 442 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 1: But It's part of what makes me who you are, 443 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: Michael is you care so deeply and these things stick 444 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: with you. So I think it's valid. It's worth discussing it. 445 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: It did reveal a certain value system for the people involved. 446 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: And you know, it's like, it's not like Brooks, It's 447 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,439 Speaker 1: not an issue of cheating. It was more it was 448 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: more of an issue of personal responsibility, right, Like, this 449 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: was a moment to do something really special and the 450 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 1: moment passed. 451 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 2: Cheating sort of implies a willful attempt to gain an advantage. 452 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 2: But in the end of the day, he did get 453 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 2: the advantage because he didn't get the two shots, and 454 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 2: of course he desperately needed those two shots. Believe me, 455 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 2: if I if the penalty had been well, this is 456 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 2: your warning, but next time you're going to get the 457 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 2: two shots. He said, Okay, accept the warning. 458 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: You're right. 459 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 2: So I don't know, I don't think people honestly care 460 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 2: what I think. I mean, not personally what I think. 461 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 2: But I think this whole thing about oh, you're so 462 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 2: into the rules. Anybody who was like, oh you're so 463 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 2: into the rules, they just see golf differently. They and 464 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 2: so it's kind of hard, you know, it's kind of 465 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,680 Speaker 2: like where the political divide is now in this country. 466 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 2: It's like it's so hard to talk to somebody who 467 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 2: has differing different politics than you do. Everyone's so hardened 468 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,959 Speaker 2: in their positions. But to me, this is what golf is. 469 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:31,360 Speaker 2: It is what makes golf special. And what you said, Alan, 470 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 2: I believe is correct. Like Augusta does have a tradition 471 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 2: of saying, let's see if you'll just do the right 472 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 2: thing on your own, we don't want to force you 473 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 2: into it. They do have Aerian tradition doing that. 474 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: Well. The interesting thing is so often the player doesn't 475 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: do the right thing. I mean, tigers drop in twenty 476 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: thirty and he could have decued himself, but he just 477 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: they kind of gave him an out, you know, Ernie 478 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,400 Speaker 1: with the stacked wood one hundred yards into the forest 479 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:00,359 Speaker 1: like you took that free drop and a heart beat. 480 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:08,000 Speaker 1: It's the players, you know that they're always pressing advantage, 481 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: the pressure of the masters, the desire to win. It 482 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: is run so deep, it's it is revealing in those moments. 483 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: But let's let's talk about what was undoubtedly a feel 484 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: good story this week, which is Michael Block, who You're 485 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: You're typing about for firepay Collective dot com this evening. 486 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:28,199 Speaker 1: I mean, the guy didn't make a birdie today, and 487 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: somehow we stole the show, Like, what was your read 488 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 1: on on this character? 489 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 2: He didn't make a birdie, but he made an eagle. 490 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, he made an I know it was pretty you 491 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:39,119 Speaker 1: could you hear it? 492 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:39,400 Speaker 2: Alan? 493 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 1: Oh yeah? Yeah yeah. Where where were you were you on? No, 494 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 1: it was he was more groups ahead. We were, I 495 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: think on twelve, so we were pretty geographically a little 496 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 1: far away, but it was like it was a It 497 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: was definitely it was. It was not a bird you roar. 498 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 1: It wasn't even really an It wasn't even even like 499 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 1: a lot. It was something unique and if any other 500 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: player in the field had made that, he said, it 501 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,360 Speaker 1: wouldn't have been as loud. But there was something cathartic 502 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:09,360 Speaker 1: about Block doing it. 503 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean you were a thousand yards away and 504 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,200 Speaker 2: you could hear oh yeah yeah. 505 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:16,400 Speaker 1: People are looking each other raising their eyebrows like wow, 506 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: something just happened. 507 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was loud. I talked to a guy who 508 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 2: was on the tea spectator, guy who's been to Augusta 509 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 2: a lot, who's heard ones at twelve and sixteen at Augusta, 510 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 2: and he said that this was as loud as anything 511 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 2: he's ever heard at Augusta. But anyway, on the chance 512 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 2: that anybody who is listening hasn't heard Michael Block, a 513 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 2: true club pro and a public course in southern California 514 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 2: was between he's been playing his bottom of first off. 515 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:48,400 Speaker 2: You know, for those who don't know, I think most 516 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 2: do Twenty club pros get to play in the PGA Championship. 517 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 2: It's put on by the association, the Professional Golfers Association America. 518 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 2: It used to be forty before that, it was way 519 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 2: more than that. Now it sounded twenty club pros what 520 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 2: the US what what amateur golf is to the masters, 521 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 2: and what sectional guys who play their way in in 522 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 2: the US is to the US Open. The club pro 523 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:12,920 Speaker 2: is to the PJA Championship, fundamental part of the game. 524 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 2: But there were many years when no clip pro he 525 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 2: makes the cut. Now you got a club pro who's 526 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 2: playing with Rory McElroy, you know, fighting for like a 527 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:23,199 Speaker 2: top fifteen position in the in the final round of 528 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 2: a really difficult golf course, and this guy hits it 529 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:31,919 Speaker 2: way shorter. This is not hyperbolic than Alan chipnook and 530 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 2: by the way, the guy's forty six. The guy's forty 531 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 2: six swings slow anyway. He was between a chipping a 532 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 2: six iron and as his guy he told me chipping 533 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 2: his six iron and a driving range seven iron. He 534 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 2: hit the driving seven ron on the fly into the 535 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 2: back of the cup. Now, often when you hit a 536 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 2: when you hit a driving range seven iron and towerything 537 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 2: into the back of the cup, it will not go 538 00:27:57,119 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 2: in the hall because a lot can go wrong. By 539 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 2: everything went right, because everything went right, because everything was 540 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,640 Speaker 2: going right. And he seems like an absolutely great guy, 541 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 2: is kat He seems like an absolute great guy. He's 542 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 2: playing next week in colonially, just got a special exemption 543 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,640 Speaker 2: sponsors exemption excuse me into the Colonial Tournament next week. 544 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 2: So it's absolutely fabulous for golf to see this happen, 545 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 2: because this is really what this particular championship is all about, 546 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 2: but really really what golf is all about, you know 547 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 2: part of it. By that, I mean the dream machine 548 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,440 Speaker 2: of golf that Tom Layman had, you know, in his thirties, 549 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 2: finally starting to playing Hogan in his thirties, finally starting 550 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 2: to play good golf. Just Jack Fleck against Hogan. I mean, 551 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 2: there's been many examples over the years of this guy having, 552 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 2: you know what, Michael Murphy Cold in Golf in the Kingdom, 553 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 2: a true peak experience that at the moment of life 554 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 2: when you want everything to come together, everything came together 555 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 2: for this guy. 556 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: And he also he radiated so much gratitude. He was 557 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 1: such a fun character and he let people in. You know, 558 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: a club plow, a club pro playing that well is 559 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: is a cool story. But it must have had nearly 560 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 1: the traction if he wasn't. He was kind of a ham. 561 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 1: He was loving the attention, he was playing to the crowd. 562 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: He was just spooning up the whole thing and it 563 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: was fun. It made it made it fun for everybody 564 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 1: because you could really feel what he was feeling. You know, 565 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: he kind of he's a very expressive, emotive personality and 566 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 1: and today you know he was there was so much 567 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: at stake, like he was never gonna win the tournament. 568 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 1: That was too big an ask. But if you could 569 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: finish top fifteen, he earns an automatic invitation back to 570 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: the PGA Championship next year. Top ten would have got 571 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: him into a PGA Torvet. Top four get to Itto 572 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 1: the Masters. And then there's the actual money. You know, 573 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: I don't know if the guy's salaries about one hundred 574 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 1: thousand dollars one hundred and twenty, you know, which doesn't 575 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 1: go very far in California. And you know, if you 576 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: fit his top ten, you're gonna make half a million here, 577 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:05,720 Speaker 1: like actual life changing money. That term gets thrown around 578 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: a lot, but in this case it really could be. 579 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 1: And and so he was struggling out there. He hadn't 580 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: made a birdie, and he was he was fighting so 581 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: hard and getting up and down, and then to make 582 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: that ace was so cathartic, and that's really what pushed 583 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: him into the top fifteen and punched his ticket to 584 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: the PGA next year. And so it was it was 585 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 1: a neat moment, and he you know, he really was 586 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: one of the stars. And it was cute to see 587 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: Rory who was and his caddie were both, you know, 588 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: so into it and the hugs and the tears, and 589 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:40,720 Speaker 1: it's it's the golf is funny because you know, I'm 590 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: a huge basketball fan, but I can I can watch 591 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 1: him big playoffs and know that I could never step 592 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 1: out on the court and hang with those guys, right 593 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 1: i'd be a joke. But for this guy to walk 594 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 1: out of the pro shop and to be inside the 595 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: ropes like it was, it was really everyone was living 596 00:30:56,280 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 1: vicariously through him, and it was it was special. Yeah. 597 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 2: And there have been there have been club pros who 598 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 2: play at a really high level, you know, almost like 599 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 2: a tour level, But this guy isn't really one of them, 600 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 2: you know, from what I could see. He pitches it 601 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 2: and chips it and puts beautifully, but he's so short, 602 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 2: you know, he's just I know, Rory's really long. But 603 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 2: Rory was literally forty fifty yards best this guy. You know, 604 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 2: at least twenty yards best this guy. 605 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 1: So I think like seventy I think Rory was seventy 606 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 1: yards in front of him. 607 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 2: But he was, Oh he happy with some of the drugs. 608 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no, But this is a good golf course 609 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: because hitting in the ferry was such a big advantage. 610 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: And he is this guy Block is really, i mean 611 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 1: really precise with his irons and his hybrids, and I 612 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 1: mean he's dangerous. At Colonial you went, you at Quail Hollow, 613 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 1: we'd have no chance, or one of these courses that 614 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 1: really if you can fly at three ten it's cool. 615 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 1: Colonial is cool. I mean, if he could ride this 616 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 1: way for another week, who knows. I mean, I'm sure 617 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 1: he's exhausted. But like of all the courses on tour, 618 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: you know, a Colonial or a pebble or like a 619 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:01,520 Speaker 1: you know, a whilea something like that, there's only a 620 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: handful that a guy that as short as him it 621 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 1: could even be in the conversation. So yeah, it was 622 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 1: talking about a star. I mean, he just he was. 623 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 2: It's amazing. I mean, to anyone who would be so 624 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 2: cheap as to say that there should be fewer than 625 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 2: twenty club pros and this thing, I mean, I can't 626 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 2: even begin to tell you how much I disagree with that. 627 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 2: I know, And forty probably was too many because you 628 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,239 Speaker 2: had even forty had you had years or you know, 629 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 2: maybe one or two or making the cut and they 630 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:36,000 Speaker 2: were finishing at the very bottom. But twenty is a 631 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 2: good number. 632 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 1: There's one hundred and thirty six tour players in here. 633 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 1: If you're not one of the one hundred and thirty 634 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 1: six best guys, we can do without you, no offense 635 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 1: to whoever was one hundred and thirty seventh, you know 636 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 1: what I mean, Like, yeah, but there's there's myriad ways 637 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 1: you can play your way into this, and if you haven't, 638 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:56,040 Speaker 1: I think you forfeit the right to complain about it. So, yeah, 639 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 1: it was. It was, and you know we should we 640 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 1: should acknowledge our calling. Matt Chanella. He just put out 641 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: this week a podcast about the club pro crisis, because 642 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:09,320 Speaker 1: it's really a job, that's how. It's very demanding, and 643 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: a lot of courses and clubs are having trouble attracting 644 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:16,680 Speaker 1: and retaining talent. And you know, Matt did a tremendous 645 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 1: job pulling a lot of different voices together, Sethwa who 646 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 1: runs a PG of America, butch Harmon, a bunch of 647 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 1: others and it's really interesting and insightful and obviously timely. 648 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:31,400 Speaker 1: Part two will come out next week on Tuesday, And 649 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: I would encourage anyone who was sort of charmed by 650 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 1: by Michael Block to listen to these podcasts because it 651 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 1: probably a lot of us think, oh man, the club 652 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: pro job would be so cool. All you do is 653 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:44,960 Speaker 1: hang out and drink beer with your members, and you 654 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:48,040 Speaker 1: go and play Skins games and you get to hit 655 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 1: balls for two hours on your lunch and happy that 656 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,480 Speaker 1: if it was ever like that, it's not like that anymore. 657 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 1: It's a tough it's a tough job. 658 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:59,040 Speaker 2: Most people know. It's nothing like that. It's get there, 659 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:02,560 Speaker 2: you know, it's rise and be there at sunset, and 660 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 2: if the kid doesn't show up, you're sweeping the cart 661 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,359 Speaker 2: burn because nobody else will do it. I think they're 662 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:12,239 Speaker 2: low wages, tough jobs. As Michael Block was saying, six 663 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 2: hundred bosses. The accountant thinks he's an agronomist, and the 664 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 2: lawyer thinks he's a chef. 665 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:18,719 Speaker 1: You know. 666 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:23,239 Speaker 2: At the very yeah, he was funny as hell, but 667 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 2: he really he really knows golf in ways that others don't. 668 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 2: So yeah, they bring. 669 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:32,359 Speaker 1: A lot to it. 670 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,120 Speaker 2: This is a weird kind of nod. I don't even 671 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:36,919 Speaker 2: know if it was wilful. But not to the PG 672 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 2: America And okay, well, first one quick, not to Carrie Haig, 673 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:44,240 Speaker 2: who sets up the courses for the PG of America. 674 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 2: It's been said many times, it really is true. This 675 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 2: is how you set up a golf course. It was perfect. 676 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,719 Speaker 2: The part fives are perfect, Part three is perfect. The 677 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 2: green speed was just right, the rough was just right, 678 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:01,319 Speaker 2: the fairly with was just right, the tea times, the 679 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 2: groupings or the pairings. Everything made sense. So you can 680 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:08,360 Speaker 2: say about the Page America every year, but this year especially, 681 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 2: but this was the thing, and Allan and I commented 682 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 2: a few times there was a co mingling of fan 683 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,360 Speaker 2: and player and caddy and reporters. They in the parking 684 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:23,799 Speaker 2: lot around the clubhouse out on the golf course. In 685 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 2: recent years, in part because of the security, which is an 686 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 2: underspendable thing, everyone's been sort of cordoned off in like 687 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:32,840 Speaker 2: some years literally if you want to get a you know, 688 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:34,640 Speaker 2: if a kid wants to get an autograph, there's like 689 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 2: a fence or something. And this wasn't like this. So 690 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:41,279 Speaker 2: it was much looser, kind of but not disorganized, but 691 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:44,239 Speaker 2: appropriately loose, and it was great. It was great for 692 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,319 Speaker 2: us as reporters, but beyond us, I think it was 693 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:49,319 Speaker 2: great for fans. They could be just leaving and there 694 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:53,399 Speaker 2: were the players walking to their cars and it's kind 695 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:56,239 Speaker 2: of like it just sort of makes the player in 696 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:59,320 Speaker 2: a regular human being, which of course he is, except 697 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:00,160 Speaker 2: for his skill. 698 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:02,920 Speaker 1: It was so refreshing coming out of a gust or 699 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 1: everything so up tight and regimented. It was a freewheeling 700 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,320 Speaker 1: element to this, and there was a couple of times today, 701 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:10,560 Speaker 1: following the last group where they just let the fans 702 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,839 Speaker 1: walk down the fairway behind the players, you know, and 703 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 1: it was it was orderly, it never got crazy, and 704 00:36:16,880 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 1: it was neat. I agree. And you look at Brooks 705 00:36:21,239 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 1: like he made he made seven birdies today like this 706 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:27,960 Speaker 1: course rewarded good shots, but he also made four bogies. 707 00:36:28,120 --> 00:36:29,799 Speaker 1: If you got out of position, you hit a bad shot, 708 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: then you were punished severely. And that's cool. I mean, 709 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: you don't want to you don't want to course so 710 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:38,880 Speaker 1: hard that the guys can't make birdies and it's flawed, 711 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:40,480 Speaker 1: but you don't want you don't want it to be 712 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:42,960 Speaker 1: a pushover, like it's a hard balance to strike. It 713 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:45,240 Speaker 1: really is. And as you said, they nailed it this week. 714 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:49,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, the ordinary thing can't be expected 715 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:53,920 Speaker 2: to know this sort of thing. But the stakes are 716 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:57,440 Speaker 2: so high now with everything in life, it seems so. 717 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,879 Speaker 2: The pat of America made a big decision. Their hand 718 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:03,560 Speaker 2: was forced to some degree by the PJ Tour to 719 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 2: move their championship from August to May, and in so 720 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:12,239 Speaker 2: doing they might algically said, well then we can't. Then 721 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 2: we already have a date for Rochester for okill but 722 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:17,680 Speaker 2: we're just going to have to change it because the 723 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:21,919 Speaker 2: weather is too unpredictable, which it is. But they rolled 724 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:27,680 Speaker 2: the dice and it worked out beautifully. But there's a 725 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 2: lot of that in golf. Has been said many times. 726 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:34,239 Speaker 2: It isn't after sport. It is unpredictable. But it makes 727 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:36,520 Speaker 2: you think that you could come back here. Maybe if 728 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:38,759 Speaker 2: you hadn't one week later and May it would be 729 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:42,720 Speaker 2: even even more maybe predictable, and it wouldn't be graduation 730 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:45,360 Speaker 2: season with such a stress on the on the hotels. 731 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:47,719 Speaker 2: But well, like I said, when it works since you 732 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:49,560 Speaker 2: get to Memorial Day. But the point being is that 733 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:53,239 Speaker 2: they rolled the dice. It takes balls to do it. 734 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:53,799 Speaker 3: Uh. 735 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:58,080 Speaker 2: Pipabaqua was the CEO of the PGF Americ at the time, 736 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:01,200 Speaker 2: and and and he he okay, the idea approved the 737 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:03,840 Speaker 2: idea of of of even when switching to me in 738 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:06,839 Speaker 2: the first place, I was dubious about it. I think 739 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:10,480 Speaker 2: it's working out well. And then sethwell, the current CEO, 740 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:14,000 Speaker 2: you know, kept it in place, and hats off to them. 741 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:18,279 Speaker 2: You know that I think this organization because it has 742 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:22,800 Speaker 2: a sort of fussy history. A lot of it dates 743 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:25,480 Speaker 2: back to you know, the Caucasian only clothes and other things. 744 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:28,319 Speaker 2: But they are really trying hard, and I'm sure Matt 745 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:31,439 Speaker 2: got into this sentence podcast. They are really trying hard 746 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 2: to modernize and just make the game accessible to really 747 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:40,640 Speaker 2: anybody who wants to play it. And that's a really 748 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:42,400 Speaker 2: really I mean, if you love golf like we do, 749 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:46,120 Speaker 2: that's a really important function. And I'm glad to see 750 00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:50,640 Speaker 2: the PGA of America, the organization and their championship, you know, 751 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:53,120 Speaker 2: really have a week to celebrate what they do, because 752 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 2: it was it was great. It was a great week 753 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:57,359 Speaker 2: of golf. Even if I'm in Biflin Belt the lead, 754 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:00,760 Speaker 2: the winner, it was terrific. 755 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:03,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, No, I root for the pg of America. There's 756 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:08,239 Speaker 1: some of the governing bodies, some of the some of 757 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:11,919 Speaker 1: the institutions I root against just instinctively, But the pH 758 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,480 Speaker 1: of America, like they try hard. You know, it's it's 759 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 1: it's not they have two of the five biggest events 760 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:23,080 Speaker 1: professional golf, including the Ryder Cup, but it's not what 761 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:26,040 Speaker 1: they do, you know, fifty one or fifty fifty weeks 762 00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:29,200 Speaker 1: a year, and so there's always a little free wheeling 763 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,919 Speaker 1: element to these things, and it's things are a little 764 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,640 Speaker 1: loose to goosey, but it makes it more fun and 765 00:39:34,880 --> 00:39:36,879 Speaker 1: I think it sets the tone for the whole week. 766 00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:40,080 Speaker 1: So I agree it was fantastic. But before we go, 767 00:39:40,239 --> 00:39:42,200 Speaker 1: just a couple of quick shoutouts on the leader board. 768 00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:45,480 Speaker 1: We should recognize Bryson Deshambo back from the dead. I 769 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:49,600 Speaker 1: mean he he had four solid rounds, finished tied for fourth, 770 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:54,080 Speaker 1: and we had some fun interactions. I know you you did. 771 00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:59,400 Speaker 1: You were impressed by Bryson's normalcy and humanity. 772 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:01,600 Speaker 2: I don't know what they did with him, I know, 773 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:04,720 Speaker 2: I even saying about that of you. Of late, Allan's 774 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:07,800 Speaker 2: had a thing here lately for the listener. Oh, Michael, 775 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:10,920 Speaker 2: you take the bed with you know the facility on 776 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 2: suite Michael, you choose the restaurant, like I talk to 777 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:18,000 Speaker 2: myfe Christine. I don't know what they've done with Alan shitnuck. 778 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:20,000 Speaker 1: Anyway, I'm trying to be accommodating. 779 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:23,440 Speaker 2: I don't know what they did with this Bryce and 780 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:27,239 Speaker 2: d Chambeau. But he went from nutjob. And I'm not 781 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:29,240 Speaker 2: saying that in a literal way, So please don't assume 782 00:40:29,239 --> 00:40:32,239 Speaker 2: me if you've got Patrick Reid's lure from nutjob to 783 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:36,040 Speaker 2: like totally saying human being. Like everything you said this 784 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:40,480 Speaker 2: week you could understand. There was no hieroglyphics or foreign 785 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:45,760 Speaker 2: language or you know, Archimedes principles. It was just golf 786 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:47,000 Speaker 2: and it was kind of neat. 787 00:40:48,280 --> 00:40:51,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. And Scottie Seffler, I mean it seems like 788 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:54,719 Speaker 1: he played terrible yesterday and you wound up finishing the 789 00:40:54,719 --> 00:40:57,600 Speaker 1: tide for second. Like I think this is thirteen straight 790 00:40:57,680 --> 00:41:02,680 Speaker 1: top tens for Skyty Scheffler, the second longest streak the 791 00:41:02,719 --> 00:41:05,799 Speaker 1: sight of Tiger Woods, and you know in the last 792 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:06,720 Speaker 1: whatever quarter century. 793 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:09,080 Speaker 2: Let me ask you this before we click off here, 794 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:16,319 Speaker 2: what this really is this week is a even like 795 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:18,440 Speaker 2: it feels like a feel good week, and it is 796 00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:22,520 Speaker 2: and it was. But in terms of the geopolitics of golf, 797 00:41:22,560 --> 00:41:24,360 Speaker 2: which I think people are bored of talking about, but 798 00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 2: it is a real thing. It complicates golf. You have 799 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:30,719 Speaker 2: to live golfer win a major, you can put to 800 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:32,840 Speaker 2: rest the argument, oh they can't. You know, there are 801 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:34,759 Speaker 2: fifty four hole golfers now, they're not going to win 802 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:39,120 Speaker 2: seventy two. It complicates Ryder Cup golf. It complicates the 803 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:43,040 Speaker 2: Deaton or not the daytape, the war really between the 804 00:41:43,040 --> 00:41:47,480 Speaker 2: PGA Tour nobody wants war for too long you get 805 00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:50,479 Speaker 2: tired of it. He kills people. What do you think 806 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:53,720 Speaker 2: this tournament means in the short long term? In other words, 807 00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:58,200 Speaker 2: this year, Ryder Cup, going into next year, lawsuits and 808 00:41:58,239 --> 00:42:01,960 Speaker 2: the rest, this particular their PJA Championship with this Live 809 00:42:02,080 --> 00:42:04,359 Speaker 2: Golf winner, what do you think it means for the 810 00:42:04,360 --> 00:42:07,399 Speaker 2: future of the of the fight between the PJ Tour 811 00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:07,960 Speaker 2: and Live. 812 00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:10,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, we have a lot have to see how it 813 00:42:10,960 --> 00:42:15,520 Speaker 1: plays out. I feel like the stronger the position that 814 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:18,279 Speaker 1: Live is in, the more likely the tour is to 815 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:23,440 Speaker 1: compromise and the tour. The tour is holding a hard line. 816 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:26,400 Speaker 1: You know, they have to because otherwise they'll lose more players. 817 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:28,640 Speaker 1: So they they've been hard asses all the way through, 818 00:42:29,239 --> 00:42:34,080 Speaker 1: and I understand why it makes business sense. But you know, 819 00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:36,600 Speaker 1: if Live is struggling, if if they're not, if they're 820 00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:39,000 Speaker 1: their players aren't playing well, if they're if they're not 821 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:41,600 Speaker 1: getting world ranking points, then then there's the tour can 822 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:43,600 Speaker 1: just keep going and feel like they can win this 823 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,000 Speaker 1: war of attrition and they can produce. They can pick 824 00:42:46,080 --> 00:42:47,719 Speaker 1: up the best players come out of college and this 825 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:50,080 Speaker 1: and that. But if Live is coming from a position 826 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:52,200 Speaker 1: to strength I think it makes a compromise more likely, 827 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:55,400 Speaker 1: and I think ultimately compromises what's going to what you 828 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:57,240 Speaker 1: want and what a lot of golf fans want where 829 00:42:57,440 --> 00:42:58,960 Speaker 1: we can just kind of move on from this. So 830 00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:02,640 Speaker 1: I think the more these guys play well the majors, 831 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:07,800 Speaker 1: the more that they assert themselves, I think that brings 832 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:12,320 Speaker 1: the PJ Tour to the table, not imminently, but just philosophically, 833 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:16,120 Speaker 1: Like this is you know, j J. Monha must have 834 00:43:16,160 --> 00:43:19,520 Speaker 1: heartburn tonight because I mean he went to Brooks Kepka's 835 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:23,920 Speaker 1: wedding last June, like they were clothed, and Brooks made 836 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:28,719 Speaker 1: a business decision and now he's return to the front 837 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:31,240 Speaker 1: rakes of the game. And it doesn't serve the pgs 838 00:43:31,320 --> 00:43:33,920 Speaker 1: or not to have access to Brooks Koepka, you know, 839 00:43:34,200 --> 00:43:37,359 Speaker 1: it really doesn't. It's a huge loss as they're trying 840 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 1: to attract sponsors and if you're sponsored an event and 841 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:43,799 Speaker 1: you're like my favorite guys, and I mean to me, 842 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:48,200 Speaker 1: the players I enjoy watching most in golf are Cam Smith, 843 00:43:48,280 --> 00:43:53,759 Speaker 1: Dustin Johnson, Phil Micholson, Jordan Spieth, Scotti Scheffler. But I 844 00:43:53,800 --> 00:43:55,360 Speaker 1: would say live as three of the five guys I 845 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:57,920 Speaker 1: think are the most fun to watch, and you know, 846 00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:00,520 Speaker 1: if you're a tournament director, you want those guys in field, 847 00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:05,440 Speaker 1: and now you have Brooks. It's just like, I think 848 00:44:05,480 --> 00:44:08,840 Speaker 1: that this is a setback for the tour, but that 849 00:44:08,920 --> 00:44:11,360 Speaker 1: makes it more helpful for the big picture. That's my feeling. 850 00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:15,120 Speaker 1: But you know there's ebbs and flows, but certainly you 851 00:44:15,120 --> 00:44:18,960 Speaker 1: know the live guys brought the heat at Augusta. You 852 00:44:19,000 --> 00:44:23,439 Speaker 1: know you have Brooks finishes fourth here, Bryson's fourth, Cam 853 00:44:23,520 --> 00:44:28,360 Speaker 1: Smith is ninth, Mido Pereira is eighteen. Patrick reiders on 854 00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:30,200 Speaker 1: the board for a long time. He just fell off. 855 00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:33,160 Speaker 1: But it's not like only one guy that's carrying the flag. 856 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:36,040 Speaker 1: I mean they've there. Brooks has been the keynote player, 857 00:44:36,080 --> 00:44:39,040 Speaker 1: but there's other guys who are who are making making 858 00:44:39,080 --> 00:44:43,279 Speaker 1: a run. So this this definitely, as you say, complicates things, 859 00:44:43,320 --> 00:44:45,719 Speaker 1: but it might also clarify. Like, Okay, if you're Jay 860 00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:49,920 Speaker 1: Wantaghan and you're and you're Rory and you're Tiger, you 861 00:44:49,960 --> 00:44:51,680 Speaker 1: know the guys were setting policy. Like it's like what 862 00:44:51,680 --> 00:44:55,480 Speaker 1: are we doing here? Like we've we we we've reshaped 863 00:44:55,520 --> 00:44:57,400 Speaker 1: the tour, We've made it more attractive where all the 864 00:44:57,400 --> 00:45:01,160 Speaker 1: top guys are getting paid, but we're missing out on 865 00:45:01,200 --> 00:45:05,000 Speaker 1: so many players that folks care about, and so I 866 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:08,480 Speaker 1: think this could hasten some sort of some sort of 867 00:45:08,800 --> 00:45:11,680 Speaker 1: larger conversation. But we're still a long way from an 868 00:45:11,719 --> 00:45:14,960 Speaker 1: actual compromise. But it's got to start with the desire 869 00:45:15,239 --> 00:45:18,720 Speaker 1: to make it so, and I think this helps achieve 870 00:45:18,760 --> 00:45:25,839 Speaker 1: that well. I think not only has this been an 871 00:45:25,880 --> 00:45:28,040 Speaker 1: excellent podcast, but I'm going to miss the last bus 872 00:45:28,040 --> 00:45:30,359 Speaker 1: out of here, so I got to go. People are 873 00:45:30,360 --> 00:45:33,360 Speaker 1: backing up. I'm getting the stink guy from the security guys. 874 00:45:33,960 --> 00:45:36,239 Speaker 1: But Michael, this is so fun. I missed podcasting with you, 875 00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:40,680 Speaker 1: and I enjoyed our week together. I can't wait to 876 00:45:40,719 --> 00:45:43,680 Speaker 1: read your story on mister Block. I'm writing about Brooks 877 00:45:43,800 --> 00:45:48,640 Speaker 1: and Hoveland and what it all means. So that'll be 878 00:45:48,719 --> 00:45:51,200 Speaker 1: all over Firepit Collective dot com. Hope you guys check 879 00:45:51,239 --> 00:45:54,120 Speaker 1: those stories out. Thanks for listening. We appreciate your fidelity. 880 00:45:55,239 --> 00:45:58,520 Speaker 1: Michaelot will be at the US Open and points in between. 881 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:03,080 Speaker 1: So for Michael Bamberger, this is Alan ship Nike. This 882 00:46:03,200 --> 00:46:05,400 Speaker 1: was a fire drill podcast and I appreciate you listening. 883 00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:06,319 Speaker 1: That's the end. 884 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:14,120 Speaker 3: I'm that big and I played the wind made a 885 00:46:14,239 --> 00:46:18,440 Speaker 3: fortune when my ship came. Now, I ran the table, 886 00:46:18,600 --> 00:46:20,600 Speaker 3: never thought I could fall down. 887 00:46:20,719 --> 00:46:23,960 Speaker 2: The winter time hit me like a cannon. The ball. 888 00:46:25,960 --> 00:46:31,160 Speaker 3: And now I can't shake this losing streak. Every road 889 00:46:31,239 --> 00:46:36,719 Speaker 3: I take is a dead end street. I got thoughts 890 00:46:36,719 --> 00:46:40,839 Speaker 3: in my head, can't get them out, trying not to 891 00:46:40,960 --> 00:46:45,040 Speaker 3: think what I'm thinking about. I've got thoughts in my head. 892 00:46:45,520 --> 00:46:49,120 Speaker 3: I can't get them out, trying not to think what 893 00:46:49,280 --> 00:46:50,520 Speaker 3: I'm thinking about.