Welcome to The Bay State Golf Podcast. I'm Sean Melia. I've got Paul Burke on the other line to talk about Glory's Second Shot.
The PGA Championship is getting underway this week, and, uh, we've got, we've got some golf to talk about. Burkey, how you doing? I'm doing great. It's always good to have a major week.
Glory's Second Shot, not Glory's Last Shot. No, that's the Open Championship. Glory's Last Shot. Yeah. Um, I love Aronimink.
I think it's a great golf course, and we've got meaningful golf, which feels like the first time since Augusta.
Like, these no-cut team events, which have been rampant since April, are gone, and we've got a cut tournament, we've got a major championship. Gotta be pumped about that. Yeah, I'm trying to get pumped for it, Burkey.
Me too. That's- Like, I'm trying, man. That was a g- that was a good, that was a good try. Good work on your part. But so, so, you know, peek behind the curtains.
You know, I, I, I do run a very small pool that's called the Cutline Challenge, and we've basically been off- Thank you. I-... for a month... I have not done that yet. Yeah. We've been off because- Yeah, I know...
we had Harbour Town. Zurich. No cut. Zurich, not gonna do a team event that, you know, that no one cares about. Then we've got The Truist, and then we've got the Wells Fargo. So four events.
Wasn't gonna bring in Myrtle Beach. I love that you called it the [chuckles] Wells Fargo. What's it called? The Truist. I called it The Truist and the Wells Fargo. What was last week?
No, but what was the week before that? Was it... I thought it was Truist, then Wells Fargo. No. What was the week before? The Cadillac. Wasn't that the one at Doral? The Cadillac. Oh, the Trump thing.
Yeah, the Trump thing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Um, so whatever. Just a bunch of no-cut baloney. Yeah, you're making your own point. You're getting sponsors-- You're using sponsors from 2021.
I mean, it's just a mess of a set of golf tournaments. Yeah. I mean, I, I would still call half the tournaments by their sponsors when we were in high school. Yeah. The Ca- or, I guess, Cadillac and- The Buick...
all these. The B- the Buick. Unbelievable. Yeah. The Nissan Open at, uh, Riviera. Yep. Classics. But so i- it's, uh, the lead up to this has been absolutely horrendous. I think Aronimink is a tremendous golf course.
I've been there, played it. I went to, ugh, I don't even remember what it was called, but I went to the tournament there. BMW? Not the BMW. Uh, when, when I went in 2010. Oh. When it was the Wells Fargo.
Was it the Wells Fargo? Jeez. No, [chuckles] I don't think so. Could've been. Just kidding. It could've been. Yeah.
I, I followed- So you went, you went f- you went 15, 16 years ago, you went to a tournament at Aronimink? Yeah. Yep. I went there because, uh, my wife is from that area. I was down there visiting her. Yeah.
And we weren't, we were not married at the time. And I was like, "Well, oh my G- like, I can't believe I'm down here. They're playing this tournament in 2010." And, like, she just dropped me off there.
I tried to stick my cellphone in my shoe, ended up cracking it and breaking it to get into the clubhouse. Could you not bring your phone in? No, [chuckles] you couldn't bring your phone in. What? You could not bring...
It's a, it's like a fu- We actually still talk about it occasionally to this day. I tried to stick, like, a, I don't even remember what type of phone it was, into my shoe, and I was, like, walking in, like I was limping.
And then I got in there, and the whole thing was just cracked and destroyed. Like, I was trying to cheat the system. Oh. And it, and it got, cost you some money. 2010, it was the AT&T National. AT&T National. Yeah.
And so it was one of my favorite events that I've ever been to because I went on a Thursday.
And I've, I've probably preached this to people before, but, like, there's no better golf-watching experience than going on a Thursday or Friday and following a group that just nobody cares about.
And who ended up being in the group that nobody cared about? Jason Day back in 2010. Yeah. I walked 18 hole. Uh, it was, like, me and him and his wife. I actually don't even think he was married at the time.
I walked with Ellie. Maybe there was a reason why I stayed with that group. Um, and then the other guy in that group, who was actually better than J. Day at that time, was Jared Lyle. You remember Jared Lyle? Yeah.
The big Australian. Um- Yeah... they, they were fascinating to watch. And so I just walked with them for, I don't, I don't know if it was 18 holes, but it was, you know, the better part of three hours.
And yeah, that was when I, I fell in love with Aronimink, and then I got to play it a few years later, uh, at my buddy's wedding. And the place is just really cool. So Justin Rose won that 2010 AT&T, which is also...
This is, like, a really good example of how, like, his longevity. He beat- Totally... Ryan, he beat Ryan Moore by a shot. Jeff Overton was third. Charlie Wi was fourth. J.B. Holmes was fifth.
We got Little Baby- This is also a fascinating leaderboard... Stack and, and Taylor. The first, the first six guys are all different scores. It goes 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five. Peterson finished fifth.
Marc Leishman finished T-7. Nick Watney, Vijay Singh, Jason Day had a top 10. Sean O'Hair finished T-11. Like, it's crazy.
But so it's, it's funny because I actually went back and looked at this today, that everyone's talking about Justin Rose's playoff loss to Keegan in 2018. But no one mentions that he actually won on the golf course.
Yeah. I didn't. I, I gotta be honest, I didn't know this tournament even happened. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was, it was really, uh...
And, and the, the cool thing about Aronimink, and I hope the broadcast, like, sort of can highlight this, but it really is in a bowl. Like, you go out there, and the whole course is, it looks like it could be a,
uh, one of those, like, like, a glacier used to be there that just sunk the whole earth in. Um- Yeah... and it does, like, play up and down into the bowl. Very, very cool golf course.
I hope, after watching the pros play golf there, I do think it is kind of the prototypical golf course where if mere mortals, even, like, decent players like you and I play there, you're like, "This is an awesome, great test."
Yeah. And it feels like they've just sort of annihilated it a little bit. Yeah.
Now, I haven't been there since Gil Hanse did his renovation, but I just rememberAfter playing it and then watching the tournament, I was like, this, watching this on TV does not feel at all like it was playing it. Yeah.
Well, I mean, Rose won a 10 under, but then in 2018, I think 20 under won in a playoff. It'd be interesting to see what the scores are this year. Are there any... So you've played there a few times, I believe, right?
Just been there a couple times. You played there- Only played there once. You played there once. Okay. I thought you had played there more.
Is there any hole or anything that just for you, like, has, that this many years later sticks in your head you think will be, like, a good hole for, for people to just keep an eye on during the tournament?
So- Or is it too far in the past? It's, it's definitely not too far in the past. And it's also undergone, like, a renovation. It's also undergone a renovation. Yeah. So this is all with- Yeah... k- that caveat.
But the start of the back nine is very cool. I mean- Yeah... like, you start from up top by the clubhouse and then just go down with, like, there's a, a pond on the left.
And again, like, these guys probably play it very differently than we would. Even though, you know, the...
I've, I've seen some things this week that people say it's just like hit your driver and, and find it, which could be true. But I, I think 10, 11 are very cool holes.
17 is a beast of a par three, 'cause I've read that they're putting it way back, which is very difficult. Um, 18, I think they're playing it at 490. It's kind of an awkward hole. It's not the easiest driving hole.
And I'll, I'll be in- i- if, if you have to make par on 18, that is not an easy par. Okay. That's good to know. So if you, if you wanna win, you might... A par is gonna be...
You want, you might want the extra- You can go par, par. Like- This is-... 17, 17, 18's tough. Like, 17- Are tough... 18 is tough. All right, so no Mito, no Mito Pereira one shot, one sh- Mito Pereira.
I just saw him on, like, a dirt bike earlier today or something. Like, he's gone. He's out of golf. He's gone. He's gone.
There might be more guys like that in a couple months who just decide to walk away with $30 million in their pocket and go do something else. Um, all right, well let, let's get into it.
Let's, we, I think, I think we gotta be honest with, with, uh, everyone listening right now. You are, like, in the middle of, of not necessarily moving, but you've got some life stuff going on.
I spent my entire day in Western Mass. I caddied in the US Open. This is, this is for the people. If you're listening right now and you, you're this interested in the PGA Championship, I've got boxes behind me.
You caddied this morning and drove across from basically Albany. But you know what? Like, we pick, we pick some winners, so you, you gotta, you gotta keep- We got, you gotta keep, yeah. We gotta keep the streak alive...
gotta give the people what they want. I don't think there's been, I don't think we've missed one of these in a long time. Yeah, I got home, like, an hour and a half ago, and, um, literally I just came up with...
I'm gonna s- I'm gonna throw you some storylines. And what I did was I sat in my car in silence for, like, 30 minutes and talked into my phone and just kinda, like...
And then plopped it into, uh, Claude and said, like, "Can you just organize..." I, I gave it storylines. I said, "Can you organize this a little bit?" That's how we got the agenda to- tonight.
Little AI help from, uh- I haven't even looked at the agenda, to be honest with you, so. That's perfect. I'm gonna throw these at you. They're pretty high level. Nothing, nothing too crazy or too deep.
The first thing, these are the things that matter, that I think for me are on my mind. I'm interested to see... We're gonna talk about Rory first.
Just the Rory experience last year after winning the Masters was super weird. He seems like he's in a better place this year, and I'm just... This week will be an opportunity for him to win.
Let's be honest, like, let's, can he compete in a major that's not the Masters after winning the Masters last year and this past month or last month?
I am personally just looking forward to seeing how he responds this time around, 'cause it was not good last time. Um, so that's something I am watching, something I'm interested in.
Do you have any thoughts about Rory and just the future of his guy? Like, he's been very clear. He wants to get to a s- he wants to win majors. If he wants to get to 10 majors, he can't just win four more Masters.
He's going to have to- Yeah... figure out how to win some other- Not with, not only got Scotty and- Win some o-... these other people. Yeah. [chuckles] Right.
So I, I think that Rory got one of the biggest free passes after the Masters last year than anyone has ever gotten. Like, you would expect him to want to talk to people, want to be happy, and he was a miserable SOB
after the Masters, presume, like, kind of all year. Um, which was just shocking. Yeah. Skipped media the entire PGA Championship week last year at a place he loves and has played well. Correct. It was crazy.
I, I, I still think that, you know, Jeff Shackleford will write another book about Rory and, and talk to him about what happened.
Something must have happened in his life after that for him to be miserable, and I think golf kind of followed. I don't know. I'm, I'm not convinced that Rory's a contender this week.
It's not a golf course that he knows very well. I guess he did a scouting trip. However, and, and I am, um, probably one of Rory's biggest fans. Um- [laughs]... it, even I would say if, if he wins this week,
he might be entering into a different echelon. Like, if he can find something to win this week, we could be- Most specifically this week. Most specifically this week.
Like, we could be looking at it like a, like an unlock scenario where he's figured out how to do the majors, win elsewhere, and, like, get into a mental state that we have not seen him in. Yeah.
This also feels like one of those courses that Rory of that first iteration when he was 21, 22 would, like, lick his chops playing, and maybe less so now.
Like, I think he's prided himself on winning or at least competing and trying to win. He's, like, came close at Pinehurst. He, I think he's excited for Shinnecock. Like, those types of tests he gets up for.
This will be interesting to see if he can, like-I don't know, get, get up for it, get excited for it, motivate himself. He wants to win majors. So maybe you're right.
Like, this is a, this is a good test for him this week. I will say, and I've been waiting for this moment to say this, I do owe you an apology. I'm glad we recorded tonight. What, what do you, what do you gotta say?
[chuckles] You know, for those that don't... Like, Sean and I are basically texting every day about something golf related. And in the wake of the Masters, I was just pissed that Rory, Rory won.
And you, you kept saying, like, he didn't have his A game. And I was like, "How the F do you win without your A game?" Like, go, like, go pound sand. Like, I was basically giving you the business about
saying that, that somebody won a major without their A game. He didn't have his A game. Not even close. And I didn't want to admit it to you, especially of all people.
So, like, if, if he can f- Which I think one of his knocks is he's never been able to win without his A game. Like, I actually think last year when he won the Masters, he had his A game.
He just made, like, typical Rory mistakes, but he had his A game. Yeah. Yeah. And so if he can unlock the w- Like, which, I mean, Tiger famously said multiple times, like, "I had my C game and won."
I think we've watched Scotty win without his A game. If Rory can unlock winning without his A game, he might have three or four more majors in him. Yeah, I think so too.
And that's, that's, uh- Which again, I'm his biggest fan- That's insane... so I'm rooting for that, so. Yeah, you just love the guy so much. Yeah, it'll be, it'll be an interesting week for... It's gonna be...
And I, like, let's be honest, he's gonna be a conversation for the next five years, like, until he's in his, into his 40s at this point, if he continues to just be around and, and play, play golf, um, at this level.
Next, next thing on my mind, you got the LIV boys. The, the stuff swirling around them, I haven't seen any transcripts or s- I, I don't know if they're, any of them did any official media.
But I-- The whole, like, Bryson and Rahm thing, it's still... You kinda shrugged, but, like, I'm watching these guys. I'm watching how they're reacting to stuff and who they're gonna talk to.
They've been a little bit unmuzzled with regards to just they're suddenly talking to the press a little bit more freely. Are they gonna play better?
Like, Rahm especially is just, like, just a fascinating character at this point. And so I'm watching those guys. I'm not like... That's just a storyline for me. How are they gonna play?
It's always for me, I like checking on those, on those guys and gauging how they're gonna play. But- Don't forget Hadden. Hadden played the best in the Masters. Yeah.
But I think, like, Bryson and Rahm for me are the lightning rods because they are... Like, what... Hadden doesn't talk. Hadden is vociferous on the golf course. But h- have you ever...
I've never seen him talk about LIV or the situation or anything like that.
But, you know, Rahm and Bryson are in the thick of dealing with, I, what I think is their rest of their career and trying to figure out that stuff.
And Bryson talks about, like- I, I think Bryson's in a better spot than Rahm is with his contract and everything. Yes. But Bryson's also talked about just playing YouTube golf and playing in the majors, and, like,
that means you have to play well enough to play in the majors. You have to play well in the majors- I just don't-... to justify even, like, saying those things out loud.
[chuckles] I, I think that Bryson can derive happiness from more places than Rahm can. And Rahm took, like, the payday. But Rahm, I think, deeply cares about his place in golf history, and
that means winning majors and winning PGA Tour tournaments. Whereas Bryson is a two-time U.S.
Open winner, has millions of follower, or, like, whatever his follower number on YouTube is, and, like, he t- he, like, he has that already. Like, when he's won LIV tournaments, just look at his reaction.
It's basically the same as it was when he won the U.S. Open. He's so performative, though. Like, I don't buy that nonsense.
But I actually do buy it in a way that is so preposterous that he actually does believe that that's... You know, he's winning whatever millions of dollars, not that he needs it. But I think it cuts Rahm to the core.
And so, like, for me, I think Bryson knows he's got these exemptions. He'll be back on the PGA Tour in two years easy. But Rahm has given up a lot. You know, he's probably gonna have his fourth kid.
That's, like, not a... Like you said, four kids in five years. That's a lot. Yeah. I, I don't know.
Like, I, I actually think that mentally Bryson's probably in a better space than Rahm is 'cause he doesn't care as much about- Because he's an actor. Y- yeah, sure. Whatever it is. 'Cause he's just pretending.
I just think it's all pretend. And he's like- I'm not sure it's pretend, but- I think, I think a lot of it is pretend and performative, and that's just the way he... I, that's just what I think he is.
I think all the stuff about, like, being himself, I don't really think he's- But what is himself? I think it seems- Like, I, I honestly don't know what that is. I mean, he, obviously he bitches about things constantly.
We should know. Uh, yeah, that, I mean, that's- We should know 'cause he says he's acting like himself... YouTube golf is, like, supposed to bring that out. I do think that...
This isn't changing the subject, but I do think Tyrrell Hatton has been the guy that's gone to LIV that has maintained the same reputation more than anyone. Like, I don't think any- Yeah...
I don't think anyone thinks worse of him. Like, he's also, like, played a lot of really good golf since he's been on there, but he hasn't, like, won a major or anything. Like, he's, he's maintained more than anyone.
Like, Cam Smith, you think about him, like plummet. Ugh, I know. Like, just what a terrible- Yeah, that's a good thing... plummet that was... like, his st- his stock is the same. [chuckles] It's the same.
It's- His stock price is the same. Like, people still wanna go watch him play. They wanna, like, see his antics. He still, like- Yeah... pops up in majors, like Oakmont and then the Masters. Yeah. Like, he's there.
Yeah.Nobody would be surprised if he won a major. He hasn't said anything like totally blasphemous like a Graham McDowell saying he wants to grow the game and then, you know, whatever. Yep.
I, I think he's-- I can't think of another player that has just maintained their reputation more than he has. Yeah. I like that. That's a good... That's a-- Next thing.
I think Xander Schauffele is, is at this point of his, like, little major window. I, I'm not putting pressure on him. I don't think he has pressure that he's putting on himself.
But, like, we've talked about this, and I've looked at this a lot. Winning majors, it comes for most guys in chunks, and now he's kind of in his...
You know, he won his two two years ago, and people thought, like- He's following a Morikawa pattern, like, so similarly. Like, different ages. Like, how it happened seems very similar.
People watched, people watched Xander in person win his majors, though. There were people there. [chuckles] There were people there. That's true. Yeah. Ma-Matthew Wolff was contending in Morikawa's majors. Yep, yep.
Uh, that's true. Holy cow. But he's just, he's won two. You know, if people think he's gonna get... I mean, people were saying he could get three or four majors. Like, this is the time, this is the window now.
But two different majors is, he's essentially already given himself a Hall of Fame career. Oh, yeah. I'm, I'm not saying any of that, but I just, the gap between the second and the third major can't be huge
because it's just historically not the case. Guys who win three or four majors, they typically come in a pretty compact timeframe. He won two in a year in 2024. Now it's 2026, he's been hurt.
People feel like he's rounding into form. He's always around in the majors.
Like, I think he had a top 10 at the Masters, and I might've seen him on TV like four times just- I think a top 10 at the Masters is a little- To backdoor. I agree. I agree. I agree.
I think, I think we need to relitigate top 10s in the majors in general, and, like, we need to start valuing. Maybe it's top six and not top 10.
I definitely think top 10 at Masters need t- needs to be relitigated because, like, Rahm could've had a good last round. There's so few guys. And, like, there's so few. It, it's- Yeah.
Anyways, that's, that's neither here nor there I mean, the banking patterns haven't changed, but. No, no. Just the wiki, the wiki. I don't know. I'm not, I'm, like, nonplussed at, at Xander.
I, I think that, like, he shouldn't, he shouldn't even be on the President's Cup team, like, at this point. 'Cause of w- just for his performance. Like, you wouldn't pick him as a captain if you're Snedeker right now.
No. Why? Yeah. No, I, I, I know. I know. I know. I'm just ask- I'm just clarifying. So he's... We've just got a lot of these guys with two majors between JT and Xander and, um, Morikawa.
I mean, Xander's in a way better shape from a major standpoint than JT is. JT having two PGAs is- Oh, yeah. We've talked about that... [chuckles] that- He's barely got a major, and he got handed.
He got-- Well, he didn't get handed one, but we talked about Mito already. Um, but so, like, Xander kinda comes in a clump with those, with those guys who've just... They've got two.
Is anyone gonna g- Is anyone in that pack gonna get to three? I mean, do you put Rahm in that clump? And I would put Rahm in that clump too.
Rahm's, Rahm should be a, not be in that clump, but I'm putting him in that clump because he's made the choice. Do you put DJ in that clump? Even though he won- No... his majors, like, pretty far apart. Yeah, like 13.
Or got, like, super close. Like, it wasn't a... Yeah. No, it was '16 and then '20. But he hasn't won a third one, right? He hasn't won a third one.
Like, it's the sa- it's just that I would put DJ above them 'cause of his PGA Tour, just, like, his record. I would agree. Longevity. He's the, he is the number one player in the world.
So that brings me to my next storyline, which is this group of guys that don't have a major and, you know, like, can one of these guys get their first one? We got Cam Young.
We've got, we've got- You're gonna, you're gonna hit on one of my picks. I know you are, but. We got Viktor Hovland. We've got Ludvig. We've got Fleetwood. No, no.
No, I'm not s- I'm just, these are the guys with no majors who have, like,
performed and played in enough majors that they're, you know, on that watch of every one that ticks by starts to gather a little bit more pressure and more questions.
And I mean, you can h- We're back to the point where you could have a conversation like who's the best player without a major because of this little crop.
And I, I did mention someone you got on your draft list, on your board. Not yet. Not yet. Okay. Did I-- So there's another- I'm not gonna tell... non-major winner. I don't-- That's fine. That's fine.
So now this is gonna... I just think that these guys are worth watching, and they make majors interesting when, especially when you have, like, Rory and Scotty. But, but so you, you mentioned Freddie Young.
Like, what about the older guys? Like, what about Rickie Fowler? Like, and that's not my board. But, you know, he's playing well. Does he have a chance to win?
I mean, Justin Rose feels like he hasn't won a major in forever but is down the doorstep and- Yeah... um. I don't think Rose is gonna compete this week, but that's- You know, vroom, vroom McLaren.
There, there's a lot of guys like Robert McIntyre. Like, he's- Yeah... a guy that has popped out a, a couple times. Yep. That's another good one. Yeah. Top 10 player in the world.
So I think, but these guys make the majors. When you have... I mean, let's be honest here. Can you na- You probably can, but even if you're listening out there and you've made it this far,
can you name the player not named Rory or Scotty who has won a major since, uh, in the last five majors? Who is, who is the-- So Rory and Scotty have won four of the last five majors. Who is the other major winner?
JJ Spaun. Yeah. I mean, so, like, when you have two guys dominating like that and then Spaun's the fifth guy, that makes this group interesting because they can kinda crack through and
kinda build a career and start to win some majors. But then you can look at someone like JJ Spaun or Brian Harman. Like, are these guys just...
Like, you always still get these one-Yeah, there might be a guy high on that list who could win. That Aaron Immel could, could be that case. I do think, yeah. Maybe Michael Thor Bjornsson wins this week. Maybe.
I knew you were gonna bring him up at some point. It's just crazy that he was, like, an alternate two weeks ago, and he's in a major. I know.
Yeah, well, he was an alternate two weeks ago 'cause Fifth- Alex Fitzpatrick bumped him, and then he got back in 'cause Cantlay withdrew. I mean, how do you not talk about Alex Fitzpatrick as a zero-time major winner?
He could win. He could. He, uh, he, he has shoved it right in my face after complaining about his- I would, I assume it would be. It, it is...
For everything that's going on and, like, the amount of attention that golf gets, the fact that we've got two sets of European brothers, one of them being twins, that are, like, legit
players on tour right now, it, it's, like, a ridiculous thing. It, it's- Yeah, it's cool... very cool. Aren't there... There's another set of twins. Are they Paul? Yannick Paul? Yeah. Are they twins or- Right.
I think they might be twins too, or at least brothers. Uh, like, there's another set of brothers. Yeah, it's, it is cool. So that's another thing worth...
I just, I think there's a bunch of guys lined up right now that could get their... We could have... I mean, two years ago
when we used to do these, or three years ago, and you try to start to talk about, like, best player without a major, there really didn't feel like there were a lot of guys on that list.
A lot of them felt they had kind of won- I mean, it was probably Rahm and Xander. Like, Xander. Yeah, X- Xander would've been the guy. Hovland a little bit. Two years ago, Cantlay was on that list for sure. And Cantlay.
Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Maybe he's your pick. Be silly. Oh, God. So what would be- And then- What would be, like, your best story other than Michael Block winning? Oh, yeah, yeah, of course. That's, that's 1A, 1B, and 1C.
I mean, I think it would be, it would be fascinating if Jordan Spieth wins the Career Grand Slam, and then you go into Scottie Scheffler having a chance- I know... at the US Open. And, like,
possibly within 14 months you have three Career Grand Slams is- It's... I was trying to think of another angle there-... would be crazy... 'cause, uh, if you didn't say that, that's what I was gonna say. It would be...
I don't, I don't think Spieth's gonna do it, but I do think- I don't know either... obviously Scottie could very well do it- Yeah, yeah, yeah... next month. So that for me is- I do think Spieth is the best story. Yeah.
Because he's just pure entertainment too. I mean, Brooks winning- Just doesn't feel like he's-... would be pretty cool. I mean, I think, I think Brooks winning three... Would it be his third PGA, right? He won,
he won it- Wouldn't it be his fourth? Would it be his fourth and then two, uh, Opens? It'd be his fourth. Yeah, it'd be his fourth. Yeah. 'Cause he won at Bellerive. That's right. He's got, yeah, he's got, yeah.
He won at Bellerive. That's the other one. He's got five. Yeah. I think, I think if he wins a fourth PGA- It would be, it would be-...
and has six majors, we need to relitigate the entire, his entire six major situation if he's got four PGAs. [chuckles] That would be an unbelievable six. But I mean, like [chuckles]
but, like- And back to, like, defending US Open. He's like a mix of- I mean- I don't even- No one, no one has ever...
Like, he is, for all of his faults and whatever, he has played this comeback to the PGA Tour perfectly. Perfectly.
Like, going to Myrtle and playing, and, like, everything that he's saying about, like, "I'm having a great time playing golf again." Yeah. And you get an extra $100 million in the bank, like, probably pretty easy to say.
Just g- like, you're, you're slumming it in Myrtle Beach, which by the way, you actually can slum it in Myrtle Beach, but. Yeah. You know, I, I... He does seem like his trajectory is on a good path. Yeah.
Just as far as his Q rating. His game. No, or- Like, his personality stuff and his- No, his game. Like, his- Yeah... his game seems to be trending. Yeah. See, he's one... None of that feels performative to me.
It actually... I think he's genuinely, like, really enjoying the grind because he's always liked that side of things. He's... I think, I think he likes being the underdog guy who's gotta work his way up.
Like, he did it in Europe when no one knew who he was. Yes. He went, like, graduated Florida State- He took a different path... went out there. Which now people are taking. Took a different path. Yeah.
And now he's, he's almost, like, back doing that again, and I do think he just genuinely likes that, and it feels- I do too. I think that's a good point... just, like, very genuine. Which is, which I...
If you had told me that this is, this is the way he's going to act, I think I would've been a little bit suspicious of him. But it just all feels... 'Cause he's always been, like, the hardo. Yeah.
Not answering questions. But, like, the whole Bryson stuff was so bad. Right. That felt forced for, like, advertising. Like, he was gonna give people Miller Lites or Bud Lights or whatever it was.
Mc- Michelob Mach Ultra. [chuckles] God, did I just ruin a Mic- He was gonna give them Wells Fargo bank accounts. [chuckles] I mean, I'm, I'm sorry if I ruined a Michelob Ultra sponsorship for you.
Um- Yeah, I'm not worried about that. Yeah, we're gonna insert the YouTube, uh, advertisements now. Yeah, no, I don't know if he's ever gonna get back to, like, lit. But the guy just won majors at a clip that- I know...
you just... It was crazy 'cause he wasn't contending, and maybe he does this again. [chuckles] Maybe he just turns it on. He's a, he's a character.
He's definitely additive to the, uh, PGA Tour, as Bryson, as Rahm would be. N- God, I, I go back and forth on this. Like, how additive are these guys from a, like, a, a monetary perspective? I know. We've...
Yeah, we've texted about this. I don't- I just don't know. I don't know. I don't know either. I think it makes things- Bryson I think probably is 'cause of his YouTube. I'm not sure how much Rahm is.
As far as just bringing people to the golf course or bringing eyeballs to the television- Both... on the weekends? Like, I, I, I don't think you can argue that Bryson wouldn't bring eyeballs.
He probably, he probably would. I mean- But I think Rahm might not. It just- Like, is he bringing a new audience? No, but the thing that I don't understand, and maybe this is just accessibility, is at this point, like,
why aren't people watching Bryson on live if all of these people watch him on YouTube?Or why aren't people showing up to some of these events? It's a great point. Why aren't people showing...
I don't get the sense that there is, like, a Bryson army who were out at, like, Virginia this week. Maybe it's because he's so active on YouTube. Yeah. I, I don't know. It's just a, it's a, it's an odd dynamic.
I'm not, I'm not on the, uh, Brandel Chamblee train of, like, that he's buying, [chuckles] he's buying views or it's shady. Like, I have no... You know? I don't think he's, he's purchased millions of views and followers.
No, I, I do think- But I, I like-... he is popular, but- Yeah. I just don't, I don't know how much- I, I see what you're saying... I don't know how much that...
It's just, I think it's a fascinating piece of just society right now. It's like I think a lot of people would rather just watch him play YouTube at 10:30 at night,
you know, before going to bed or, like, just in their own free time than getting off the couch and going to, uh, the Doral or the Trump course in Virginia and watching him play. Like,
you never see any big group of Bryson fans at these things. I don't know. I don't think you see many big fans, but... That's, that's true, too. That's true, too. All right. Last thing on my mind, and this is k- this...
I don't know how to kinda package this. We've talked about it a little bit. But just, we've got Rory, we've got Scottie. People are like, like, feel like they're itching. They want a big three.
People just, they want a big three, and it feels forced. It feels like Cam Young and maybe Matt Fitzpatrick right now are, like, the two guys- Get out of here... who push into the big three.
It's, it's Rory and Scottie, and that's it. Like, I, I'm not- And that's it, right?... I'm not even going to entertain another conversation.
If Cam- If Matt Fitzpatrick wins by five shots, you're not gonna, you're not gonna put him, and then Alex is the big four and we're off and running? But... [chuckles] Alex is the big four.
I mean, that's, that's like a Xander-type situation. Like, he's getting hot, and he's a tr- tremendous player. I mean, the guy, like... And, you know,
at the end of the day, people will also mention his US Am win, which totally matters in the context of, like, your golf stratosphere. Yeah.
Like, you can argue he's a borderline Hall of Famer right now with the US Am and a US Open win.
It would do massive amounts for his legacy, but he's just gone through these troughs where he had to beg his way onto the Ryder Cup team last year. Yeah. Not even in the top 50 at certain times.
Like, consistency matters. And to be top of the top, I mean, you just can't dethrone Scottie and Rory right now up at the t- Like, there's, there's no one. No.
I'm not s- It just doesn't- I'm just, I was seeing if there was someone who was gonna join them. Is there someone who in the next year- You need to, you need to roll a lot. I...
No, I mean- I mean, Cam Young wins this week. He's got a Players, he's got a PGA Championship. Great year. He had a ma- Like, he was... I don't know what he finished in the Masters.
He was in the final group at the Masters. Like, that stuff starts to add up, and it feels like- It doesn't add up in terms of the grand scheme of people get hot. And do I think that he can sustain it?
Probably, but maybe not. Like, nobody thought that, um... I mean, two years ago, three years ago, people were talking about Wyndham Clark like he was gonna be- I know... like, the next big rage. Yeah. He's like... Yeah.
And now he can't even get into these tournaments. Yeah. Yeah. So no, it is a conver- If you wanna have the conversation of hottest golfer, then yes, Cam Young and Matt Fitzpatrick are in that conversation.
Best golfer in the world, not even close. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I, I don't think I was trying to get at best golfer. I just think people like, I think people like the idea, and they've always forced that,
the big, the, the big three. As you were talking, I also...
I remember after the Masters, the two things I texted you were is that Scottie and Rory have won four of the last five majors, and they've also won four of the last five Masters.
And they've also won three of the last four Players. I, I th- Which is probably the more impressive stat, honestly. Yeah. And then Cam Young won this year. But l- you know, that's...
I think we're like, maybe we're gonna look back in five years and realize like, "Holy, those two guys were way better than, than we...
I don't know if we gave them credit for," but, like, that was a crazy window of time that doesn't really happen all that often. Two guys holding fi- four of the five majors. Like, that's a- Well, I mean-...
little fascinating- Nobody ever won-... little run... four of the five Players before Scottie. Yeah. Yeah. So just, just another, like- No, I think we're, we're in it... those guys are dominating the biggest tournaments.
And if Scottie wins this week or Rory, like, and then it goes- Yeah... like, it, it's, you're getting into- [chuckles] Oh.
I, I actually think, like, Cam Young gets thrown, tossed aside, and you're looking at one of the greatest... Like, it, like kind of an Arnie Jack situation. I know. Yeah.
Which is, like, that's a crazy thing to think about. Which would be... It, it's a crazy thing. You know, obviously the TaylorMade sponsorship, like, they're pretty close. Like, they played all these events together.
Nike. The, the silly, the silly season stuff. Yeah. I think they're very good friends. Um, but it would be... And I think they're pr- I'd have... This is... My guess is they're, like, kind of similar of an age gap.
I mean, they're what? Like 15 years apart. Like 28 to four... What's Rory? 40, 41, for- Rory? 39. 38. Rory's 36, 37. So are they 10 years apart? He's 37. Uh, eight.
I think J- This is Scottie's last major as a 29-year-old. He turns 30 before the US Open. So they're, like, seven years apart. My concept of people's ages is so far gone.
Well, [chuckles] I mean, Scottie Scheffler looks like he could be a f- you know, 42-year-old accountant. They're eight years apart. I know.
And R- Rory's been, Rory's been out there so long, and Scottie, like, did the whole college thing. Yeah. So, like, their tenure in the PGA Tour is- Yes... wider than their actual age gap. Yeah. So. Yeah. Yeah.
I mean, R- Rory was winning majors in 2011, and I don't think Scottie was even at Texas yet. Yeah, so. But those two, I, yeah, I just... I think we're gonna...
We might be missing something here just in theGolf is so deep. Golf, there's so much talent.
And then we're-- people are gonna look back and like, "No, it was just like Scottie and Rory were awesome for like four years ev- after COVID, guys."
Like, they were the best, and everyone else was just kind of was there, and guys like J.J. Spaun were winning majors, and maybe Cam Young. But also, y- you see those things, and if you remember, everyone als-
uh, take the majors aside, but whenever anyone won a tournament that Tiger was in, they held it to a higher standard. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Like, "Hey, Tiger was in this tournament. I beat Tiger."
And so, like, this random dude, Christopher Rytin, Rytan, like beat... He's gonna tell people he beat Rory in a tournament. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and, and anyone that wins a tournament that
either of those guys are in- That they're both in... it's a big deal. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Any just general thoughts about the PGA and just, like, the identity of this tournament right now?
We were talking at the beginning about just how it feels a little bit juiceless. It sneaks up on you. It's, it's like a little bit of a dead season.
You know, we're podcasting on Tuesday night before it starts, and, like, I don't have a bunch of energy for this tournament in a lot of ways. Like, I'm excited for it. I'm looking forward to it. But it doesn't...
It just feels like it's just plopped in here in a place that it shouldn't be. I don't know. I, I feel weird about trying to talk about something that I don't have a solution for. Like, I mean, is August the solution?
Maybe. Maybe. Is October the solution? I mean, we've tossed these things out before. I know. Like- Yeah. I don't think international is a legitimate solution because it's- I know. It's just a fun one...
but, uh, like, it's a fun one for sure. It's the PGA of America. But, like, I do think October is probably the better option than- May or October or August... than August. So I, I don't know. I mean, like, it's,
it sort of bastardized, like, the, the rest of the tournaments around it too. Yeah. Yeah. It's pulled away a lot of that. So I, I, like... O- October would be sweet. You could go so many places.
You know, you're probably eliminating the Northeast. Yeah. Day's too short probably. But you're just, but you're just like- As well. But then you're going right up against football.
They do have this- They don't wanna do... fe- which is just, like, so preposterous to me. Like, I just don't get that notion. I, I don't think that that overlap is as significant as people think it is.
And if you can roll into things, like if you're just watching sports all day long- Yes... like, I, I kinda think that that's what they're missing. Whereas if it's beautiful weather out and you're playing whatever.
Again, I don't know. Like, I'd rather be outside. Like, you got kids. Like, if they're doing all these things. I, I don't know. Yep. Yeah. Yeah, I...
The cap- You have a c- you literally have a captive audience on a couch- Yes... in a bar- On a couch... during football season. I mean, imagine if Roll-Up was like- You'll put a TV on. Like, you'll put a TV on- Yeah...
that has the PGA. And if you have a compelling enough product... And by the way, like, Thursday, Friday afternoon, you're not playing football. Like, Thursday night you're playing football. I know. Fine.
But, like, you're not playing football. You can get people into it, and then people will watch if it's a compelling product. So I, I just don't... I'm not a buyer of the being fe- Like, it's golf. Freaking golf.
Imagine we... Remember when we were in high school, Mills? Can you imagine people talking about, like, golf going up against football? Yeah. Right. Yeah, I know. Like, it's just different. It's just not...
Like, the fact that we even think that people that enjoy watching football will watch golf is a win. Right. That's a good point. That's a good point. Just never...
I mean, imagine Roll-Up now has, like, at least connections to the NFL. What if, what if the PGA Tour asked the NFL, like, "Hey, can we have... Could you give us, like, 35 seconds every hour on Red Zone?"
Just, like, 35 seconds. Just show four shots from the tournament that's going on right now. And- That seems excessive. You know? But, uh, yeah. I don't, I don't...
Uh, there, there- But there's like, we're doing- There's something there. Hey, man. I'm watching basketball on Amazon Prime. I know. I know. Like, there's all sorts of things that could happen.
I, I, I, I think that they're... Especially it's the freaking PGA. Like, just experiment with it. Yeah. That's, I think that's the... There's just no identity to it right now.
I w- the guy I caddied for today, Dan, was like, "They should just make it... Like, if they want, just go play public golf courses only."
Just make it something that, like, when someone asks, "What is the PGA Championship?" You have, like, an answer that's a little bit more interesting than, "It's a major."
'Cause, you know, here the Open Championship is like, "Oh, it's the, it's the major that's in England and Scotland, and, like, they play it on links." Like, that's the whole thing.
The Open Ch- Open, US Open is like, has this thing. The Masters has this thing. The PGA doesn't have anything, like, grounding it in any sort of, like,
grab a, grab someone and be like, "You should watch this because it's this." People would watch if it's like- I'm like-... it's at a public golf course.
I'm coming more around, I'm coming more around to, like, the October finish now that I'm talking, like, thinking about it. Public golf course, not totally bought into that.
But, um, 'cause you could technically call Pebble Beach a public golf course, and that's very different. Um, but yeah. I, I agree with you. Like, it needs something. Yeah. Whatever it is. 'Cause this is not it.
Match, make it match play. That's never gonna work. I, I know. I'm just... But they gotta do something. Um, all right. Let's get to our- I know. I'm trying to think in, like, practicality terms. Yeah, I know.
Practical terms. October's still tough, but they gotta do something. Picks. Let's get to our picks. Okay. I think I get to go first this time. You do. 'Cause I picked the Masters champion. I know. Second.
No, last I think it is. Was it last? I think, 'cause I remember I picked first, and then you picked Scottie second, and you were like, "If I get Scottie second, I'm gonna take him."Yep.
And I typically, I picked Rory as my, as my third pick, 'cause I know you're not gonna pick him ever, so I can just, I can just sit on him. Oh, that's not true. I actually have picked him before. Yeah, I know.
It's just hard for you to do it. Well, sometimes I like to troll. And if you do it, it brings, it brings me joy. [laughs] Um, well, my first pick is, I mean, there's no way.
I'm just gonna pick, I'm gonna pick S- Scottie Scheffler. Yeah. And I know he's not playing great right now, but, like, the guy is just an automatic.
At least he's gonna be around on the weekend with a, with a chance to win, I would most likely imagine. Nothing else to say about, about Scottie.
No, no- And if he doesn't, if he doesn't, we get, like, the best version of Scottie Scheffler, which is the pouty, whiny guy that everyone can't believe he's like that. No, he's just genuine.
Oh, he's just- He's just genuine. He's a competitor. Oh, this... Yeah, okay. He's a competitor. I think it's, I think it's genuine.
I just, I think it sometimes flies in the contrast of what people want us to think about Scottie Scheffler sometimes. But that's- I think Scottie is a flawed human being. I enjoy watching him play. Yeah.
I was gonna pick him as well, but my winner this week, and, you know, I, like, I, I don't wanna game the audience or anything, 'cause I think this guy's gonna win. I think Chris Godropp is gonna win the PGA. Oh, right.
I had him on my list. And I think that this, like, this guy's just a legit dude. I don't know how else to say it. [laughs] Like, and I think he's probably been...
Augusta's tough because there's so much institutional knowledge that happens there. Agree. Like, it very, very, it's very rare that you just, like, pop out and win at Augusta.
This course kind of neutralizes all of that, and I think he's been building. Like, his, his run last year was amazing. This starts off this year good. Like, I'm very, very high on Godropp. Don't want him... Like, if you,
if you don't think he's gonna win, which is, like, very possible, I, I think, like, a, a top five or top 10 bet on him is, like, a very, very good one. I, can I offer a, a fun storyline that as he's a New Jersey guy.
Is he a Knicks fan? I have no idea. I would... I, I don't know much about him either. I'm just thinking about, like, the whole Knicks invading Philly last week. Okay.
And then, [laughs] and then we got another New Yorker winning, winning in Philly. Oh, I just can't de- I can't, I can't deal with, I can't deal with it right now. Uh, just a, a little s- a little side game.
I just can't make fun of Philly, like, 'cause I was making fun of them so much for We Want Boston. It's like I just can't do it. Yeah. Like, I need to abstain. Yeah. You... I'm, I'm not even gloating.
It's just it would be kind of funny if the, you know, a, a Jersey guy... And maybe he's a Philly fan. Maybe he's got, like... I don't know where in Jersey he's exactly from. Could be. Jersey, who knows?
But he could be a, a Philly Jersey guy. I don't know. But that's a good pick. He was, he was on my shortlist, so good, good grab. And it's your pick again.
Yeah, my pick again, I'm gonna go, and this actually has everything to do with what Rory said today. Um, I'm gonna go Bryson. He said it's, it's, it's just not creative off the tee.
You just hit it as far as you can and go from there. And I feel like when that has been the case, Bryson has excelled. Are the... Y- you mentioned the golf course being like a bowl. I watched the flyover.
But they took down so many trees. So, like, when I first went there, it was so d- I mean, there was... Looked like, I mean, the course that I play, Indian Ridge. Like, there was just trees everywhere.
Yeah, just trees everywhere. And now there's just no trees there. It's open. You know, I, I actually... So I'm a huge fan of, like, the fried egg stuff and Andy Johnson and everything, and they always argue that...
Or, or I wouldn't say argue.
Like, they debate, they advocate, um, the fact that they can create difficulty based on angles and, like, pitches of fairways and, like, trees are less of a, like, a competitive way to test these guys.
And Rory said today, he's like, by the way, he's a fried egg- Guy... y- he's, he's a fried egg guy. Yeah. He said, "Yeah, without trees, you just bomb it.
Like, you j- you just can bomb it anywhere, and you just suffer the consequences when they're bad. But, like, you just have the ability to... Like, you don't shape it. Like, there's no way to...
Like, you're not forcing a shape," which I thought was really interesting. Yeah.
I just, I was, I was asking also just about, like, Bryson has a lot of trouble with uneven lies, uphill, like, shots going uphill, downhill. I don't... And I, I was, I wasn't sure.
It seems like there's a little bit of that, especially you were saying there's a bowl.
He was great at Wingfoot 'cause he could hit it everywhere, and he had openings in front of every green that he could roll the ball onto. Yeah. It's not quite as glass as Wingfoot. Yeah. Yeah. So.
It's, it's a good, it's a good point. It's a good point. Thanks. You wanna undo your pick, or you sticking with him? No, I'm sticking with him. I still think he, like, he's in relatively good form, I think.
But who really knows? Yeah. Yeah, who, uh, it's, is, uh, he can be trick or treat. All right, my last. I get two picks here. I mentioned him earlier. No majors. It feels like maybe we're either gonna learn...
We're gonna learn a lot about Ludvig Åberg this week. We're gonna learn a lot about him because I think he's gonna be in contention again.
And if he doesn't win or has another kind of funny set of shots [laughs] down the stretch, like, the real conversations will be had about, like, what is going on with him down the stretch. I think he's gonna...
He's been playing... He hasn't, obviously, like everyone, it's hard to gauge people's, um, form when they've played, like-No golf in the last month since the Masters. But he finished T4 at the Heritage.
He finished T8 last week at the Well- Top 10 last week... at the Wells Fargo. [chuckles] Yeah. He finished T21 at the Masters, which was his worst finish at the Masters. He's got T3, T5, T5, T21, T4, T8.
He's playing good. He's playing good golf right now. So he is my second pick. Interested to see how he does this week, but that is, uh, that is number two. Any other thoughts on Ludvig? You kinda, you got...
You either, you reacted like I took your pick or you're so disgusted with the pick. I just, I'm, I'm not... I really want... I'm, like, I'm a huge Ludvig fan. I just don't, I don't feel like my opinion has been cemented.
Like, I just don't know who he is. Like, he, he doesn't win. I, I know. That's, I think that's what this week is gonna be about for him again, is, and, and it'll be- Like, I don't think he wins a tight tournament.
I think he, if he wins, he wins by, like, six. I mean, who's to say he wins a, in a blow- Like, he could, he could have a six-shot lead up with 15 holes left to play. We don't, we don't know.
I was looking up at, looking up at the players. Like, he was- That's what I'm saying... way in front, and then- Yeah. Imploded... underratedly. Like, he imploded for two straight days, by the way.
Like, he got lucky on Saturday that day, um, to even keep that lead. So- Yeah. Left- Yeah... left Miss Ludvig, like, just those big old poles with that golf swing. I'm just like, obviously he looks the part.
Now, for the female audience, like, I mean, I, I, I can, I can admit, like, you look at the guy like, man, that guy looks like he should be, like, in a, a Hollywood actor. Yeah. Yeah. He's a handsome fellow.
Handsome dude. [chuckles] I'd shake his hand. So I just don't, I just don't know that he has it in him, if he's going up against the elite of the elite- We're gonna find out... to sack up and do it. Yeah. We could.
I think we're gonna find out one way or the other this week. It's a good course for him, for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Um, all right, my next pick. All right, last one. Okay. I'm gonna say Cam Young. Stop it.
Are you really not picking Rory? No. I'm not. I'm not. Oh, God. Unbelievable. I was actually ready to pick Cam Young 'cause I was like, there's no way he's not picking Rory. [chuckles] Yeah. I just don't, I don't-
I know you can't leave him off the table... he hasn't, he hasn't really been fl- he hasn't really been flashing. He's my [chuckles] he's, Rory's my dark horse pick. [chuckles] Um, yeah. Well observed.
I'm, I'm taking Cam Young. He has played a lot of golf, and this could be, like, there's a chance that he, like, doesn't play well at all this week because he's just- I mean, did you see his putting stats last week?
[chuckles]... kind of wide. Were really bad. Like, he lost f- He lost like five... yeah, really bad. Yeah, five shots on the green on Sunday. Yeah, on a, [chuckles] in a day. Yeah, in a day. Not the whole week. Yeah.
In a day. No, it was, like, on Sunday. But again, it's just, I think there's something to be said for the guys who are around the lead a lot. You have to be there to win.
There's something to be said for guys who, like- He's ready to win a major. Yes. And he, I think he kinda...
There's just, there's, it seems like we've had g- there's always guys in history, if you look back, who win their first one, who, like, got very close very...
Even Rory at the Masters, then going to the US Open and, like, blowing the doors off everyone at the US Open after he, you know, broke a window in the, in the cabins up on the left side of 10.
[chuckles] Like, I just, I think this could be that kind of week where people look back and say, like, "Oh, he was in the final group at the Masters. He won the Players."
Just it was all building to him finally winning a major. It happened kind of quickly, but it's also been, he's been around forever. Feels like a good golf course for him.
I mean, anyone who hits it far feels like it's a good golf course for them this week because it's, like you said, it's just wide open and gonna be a bomber's paradise. Yeah. I could've picked Thor, too.
Yeah, you could've. Well, hey, you, you still have a dark horse. Um- I do... so I am going with somebody that I've already mentioned, and it's more of, like, a if this happens. I'm going with Brooks.
Brooks is my third pick. His odds, and I know Brooks is popular, and his odds are way lower than they should be, or better than they should be. I'm, and I never know whether it's higher or lower. Yeah.
He's 39 to 1 in DraftKings right now. Yeah, and he's, like, the 10th highest player. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. No, I think even better, which is preposterous. Like, the guy, the guy has not really contended for a tournament.
That just tells you how popular he is. But yeah, no, I, he could just do a Brooks thing and come out there- Win another one... and do it. Yeah.
So yeah, Brooks, we, we already talked about him, so I don't really have much else to say other than I think he's- Yeah, he- Although my first, my first pick is way lower o- I'm just looking at the odds now. Geez.
Godorov. Godorov, yeah, is down there. It's at 6,100. Morikawa. Morikawa's 40 to 1. Like, he's another one. No chance. No chance. What a- He's too hot. What a... Yeah. It's crazy. Tyrrell Hatton, 62 to 1. Like, that's
... Wow. I know. I know. It's, uh, it's crazy. Well, let's, let's do our dark horses. Um, which we agreed was, what? 100 to 1 or so. 100 to 1. Pee Reed gets out of it. Well, that's 10,000. 'Cause he was on mine.
He's 80 to 1, yeah. 80 to 1. I mean, Matsuyama's 82 to 1. He just has not done anything. Playing great, I know. Well, I've got my dark horse. This guy actually could win. Okay. I'll let you go first. Harry English. Okay.
Just, just because of his flusher mentality? He's just a, he's just a world-class player. Like, he could just- Yeah... dud his way to a, a PGA. What a, what a great one-time major winner that would be.
[chuckles] I mean, is he... Right. Is he not, like, the classic PGA champion? [chuckles] Just perfect. Harry's, he's just like- Everyone loves him. People would be happy for him.
He's, and he, like, by all accounts, like, a really good guy. Yeah. Just an awesome... He, like-He's in the, he's in the, um, Russell Henley, Russell Henley, Henley Hall of Fame.
I think he might be better than Russell Henley. Is it-- So do we have to rename it the Harris English Hall of Fame?
For those, for those who are listening, Burke has this whole thing about, like, the ab- the ability of Russell Henley to just- I actually-... live a, live a normal life as a, like, multimillionaire. Oh, that.
Oh, I thought- And walk through the airport... 'cause I actually, I was looking at Russell Henley as a dark horse pick too, but he was too, he had too good of odds, but he hasn't played that well this year.
Yeah, no, Russell Henley, uh, so- Guy should've won the Masters. Originally, like way back when, it was the Stewart Cink Hall of Fame. Like, that was my guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But, but he changed that when he won a major.
But yeah, my, my, like the, like who is who you would switch lives with and just be able to live your nor- 'Cause like I don't really want the whole Tiger, Rory, like- Yeah... fame. Terrible. Yeah.
It just does not seem like- Too old for that. I'm too old for that stuff. [chuckles] No. Nor do you, like, want to be l- living under that microscope. But somebody- I mean, as a 23-year-old, I probably did.
If you asked me when I was 23, like, "Would you wanna live Tiger's life?" I'd be like, "Absolutely. That sounds great." Yeah. I don't know. I mean, may- maybe, maybe some people, maybe you would've.
I always, like, looked at just being able to go to a movie and having nobody know who you are but make millions of dollars. Yeah. But also just play golf. Like- Yeah... so Russell Henley is, like, my number one guy.
'Cause I ran into Russell Henley once. I was just working in consulting, and he was actually playing the US Am out in Milwaukee. Um, it was Aaron Hills, and the, the other course was really close to where I was working.
And we were literally, like, shoulder to shoulder at the checkout counter. I was like, I barely knew who he was, [chuckles] and I was like bowling ball. He's like my height, and I'm like, "Dude, this is Russell Henley."
Yeah, he's an unassuming dude. Yeah. Love it. Harris English is right up that alley. He's just, just a perfect PGA champion. Dude, what a great life. What a great life. Yeah. Yeah.
And now they're making, they're playing for $20 million purses. It's like, it's amazing. Yeah. So yeah. So I- Uh, who's your dark? I'm taking Thor. Screw it. Jesus Christ. I'm taking Thor. It was either him or Keegan.
God. Keegan. But see, my argument for Keegan would be nothing golf related. It would be all vibes. I just think going back to a place- The guy's not been in a good, good spot... he is...
And I think, I think being back at a place he's won is like maybe a little bit of a reset. But also the fact the PGA in America is putting this on. He's won a PGA, he's won at Aronimink.
Like, he's- He's- I, like I honestly would be surprised... a terrible captain. He's [laughs] I, I'd ri- That's, that would be funny if after just being a horrendous Ryder Cup captain, he wins the next PGA too.
That would be- Wait, is, is Jim Furyk playing in this tournament? Like, shouldn't he get an exemption in as Ryder Cup captain? I have no idea if Jim Furyk is in this. Is he in the odds? He shouldn't.
He's not, well, he's not listed in the odds, and they try to, they usually try to have everyone in there. But Keegan was the, obviously two Massachusetts guys.
But I think, like, Thor has not been playing great, and I've documented his just propensity for making doubles and triples [chuckles] like he's a 12 handicap sometimes.
But dude, he drives the ball so well that if he can ha- if he can drive it well, like he consistently does, and just take advantage of his length and maybe make some putts, I would not be surprised if he is at least around,
'cause this is the most PGA Tour-ish, E major. That'd be a great bet for a first round leader. Yes. 'Cause he, he could shoot one, he could go low one day. I, I don't know.
I just, I've been saying, like, I've had this tournament for him circled just because it just felt like- Mills, you have every tournament for him circled. Well, that's not true.
I mean, if he was playing in the Masters, I wouldn't pick him to be a dark horse in the Masters. I just don't. Like, it's, he's not there in that, in that respect. This feels like a tournament for him that he could win.
I think he's gonna win on tour this year. I agree. I agree. So it'd be cool if he won a major. He hasn't been playing great recently. I don't know, know what's going on with him, but.
Well, I think he has some scar tissue from losing some tournaments that he- I know... probably could've won with some very pedestrian play- Yeah... in the last round. Yeah. Yeah.
In the last few holes, like, he just needed to make two pars on 17, 18 at Waste Management. So... All right. So you've got Godderp, Bryson, and Brooks. What a team that is. Just burly boys- Big boys...
just, [chuckles] shotgun start. Big boys. I've got Scottie- Yeah, I, I'm like pretty-... Love Big and Young. And my, my best bet is, and just so, you know, I can make some people some money, Chris Godderp is-
It's gotta be like 10 to 1 for a top 10 or something... plus 440 for a top 10. Okay. Which is pretty good. So four- Plus- Four and a half to one... plus, four and a half to one, plus 910 for a top five.
I'll probably ladder all that, but. Gambling. Um, awesome. Any last thoughts? I hope the coverage just can show you the golf course. Yeah.
It's not just about, you know, these guys going out there and making birdies and everything. Like, I hope that we can see the golf course because it is very cool, and I would encourage people to pay attention to that.
Yeah. Yeah. But- Hopefully it's just not-... I'm not necessarily confident that it's gonna happen. Yeah. Yeah, we'll see.
I'm gonna go watch some live from right now, get caught up on everything I've missed the last two days while I was out in Western Mass. I honestly don't think you've missed very much. Doesn't feel like it.
But it's, it's, it's a major week. It's really cool. I mean, we only get four of them. [chuckles] We only get four of them. I know. I mean, five of them- Yeah...
if you wanna count Ryder Cup when it comes around, and I don't really count the President's Cup, but. Thought you were gonna count the players, but. No, I don't count the players. Yeah.
I love the players, but I also watch golf every single week, so. It's not at the same level. Yeah. All right. All right. That was fun, Berky. Enjoy. Enjoy the week. Good luck to your crew. Yep. See ya.