March 10, 2020 • 39 mins
The first half of the Florida Swing is behind us...but now it's time for one of the best tournaments of the year...THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP! We discuss the absence of Tiger Woods, the so called "slump" that Brooks is in, Rory's recent Sunday struggles, Patrick Reed, and so much more! Is there a chance we'll see the PGA Championship played at TPC Sawgrass this year because of the coronavirus outbreak? What does the new TV/streaming deal mean for us the fans?? We cover it all!!! We are PLAYING THROUGH!!!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Uh, do you mind, We're uh, we're playing Through Air's
Froggy and Lacker. Thank you for listening to another edition
of the Playing Through podcast. That's Froggy from Elsturran in
the morning show. You can get us on social media
anytime at playing Through Podcast on Instagram, at play through
Golf on Twitter, by him on both at Craggy Radio,
(00:22):
and you can reach my co host from Golf Digested,
Brian Whacker. He is at Brian Whacker one. We have
had a very very busy couple of weeks in the
golf world and of course we've got a big week
going on this week. So Whacker, where do you want
to start? Why don't we start with your back yard now?
Crepc Sawgrass Yeah, home in the Players Championship this week.
(00:43):
I know you're super super pumped about out. It is
a big week, but you're right, there's so much going
on right now. You got Tiger Woods not here this week,
of course, questions about his back. We have Rory McElroy
defending champion this week, coming off their top five finish,
but at disappointing one obviously at the Hill and what
(01:05):
happened there in the final round. Brooks kept but we
don't know sort of the state of his golf game
right now. It granted it's a small sample size, but
he obviously hasn't exactly been on point of late coronavirus.
Even that's a topic of conversation. We've seen it impacting
other sports potentially um in other events. Um. We talked
(01:27):
about this last night at dinner. Foggy Coachella now getting
pushed back. They've canceled Ultra Music festival in south By, Southwest,
So we've seen, uh. As you mentioned, there's a lot
going on here, both on the golf course and off it.
But the first real big event of the year this week. Yes,
so here we go. Some people like to refer to
(01:48):
it as the fifth Major, but what's really missing this
We can listen. It's gonna be a it's gonna be
a great event, huge field. Weather is going to be
absolutely part effect. Hopefully the wind won't blow as hard
as it blew at the Honda and is it blew
at the Arnold Palmer sponsored by MasterCard, because it really
really reeked havoc on the players. So hopefully we'll get
(02:10):
some good play this week. But the big story coming
out of TPC saw Grass this week is no Tiger Woods.
And I think we all thought after the Genesis when
he didn't play Mexico, he was just, you know, kind
of gearing up. He had said he wanted to have
the same ramp up this year that he had last
year and then it worked well. And last year he
skipped the Arnold Palmer, he skipped Mexico, but he did
(02:31):
play the players. This year, we're not getting the players.
What do you make of this? Is there more than
what we're getting, because as you know, we only get
what they want us to know. Yeah, we really don't know.
I mean, look, his agent says, um that really the
back's just not quite ready for this week. But who
knows because in the past, as we've seen, we've heard
(02:51):
comments like that and then Tiger goes off and have surgeries.
So um, you know, you really hope that that's not
the case with the Masters just a month away. But look,
I think we do have to take a step back,
right because if you go back to last year, Tiger
talked about if you said, look, I'm going to play
less going forward, um, and we only saw him, Um,
(03:13):
I don't know fourteen starts. Last year. I think something
like that, so, um, you know this is the new normal,
are I am? Yeah, sir, I am alarmed. From the
standpoint of I am a little surprised he did not
play this event because look, it's a big, big tournament.
He's won here twice um and and one of those recents,
(03:35):
so the weather should be good. Not a problem there.
You figured his back wouldn't tighten up here, but who knows.
We we just don't know what's going on. So I look,
if he doesn't play until the Masters, I mean, yeah,
that that's a little bit of a concern. But that
point the next question to you. So my next question
is what are the chances if you were to lay odds,
(03:58):
is there a fifty fifty chance we see him? Meant
the valves Bar, because that's the only stroke play event
he would really play. I know that we've got after
the Players, we've got the valves Bar in Tampa, then
we've got match play, then he've got Valero and the Masters.
He does not. He has not and throughout his career
does not normally play the week before because he wants
to use that to get ready. So we'll strike out Valero.
(04:19):
So the only stroke play event left would be the
valves bar, which yes, he did playeen he did finish second,
so you do have that going for you. Or the
match play could mean a lot of golf in a
short amount of time. So do you see him playing
either one of those? Boy? I just don't know. I mean,
(04:39):
I would think he would play at least one between
now and Augusta because but not both. But no, sir,
I would be shocked if it was both, because look,
that would be back to back weeks. Um, I don't
think we see that. I think we see him play
either Tampa, which still seems unlikely to me. I think
(05:00):
that was a one off situation, you know, match play.
Sure it could be a lot of golf, or it
could just be three rounds of golf and that's it
if he doesn't advance. So um, I'll be very curious
to see how it goes. Look, the bottom line is,
at the end of the day, at this point in
his career, all that matter are major championships, and really
Augusta National and the Masters is really all that matters
(05:23):
because that's the golf course. As we've seen throughout his career,
he knows extremely well can win there. Um, winning there
of course, last year, his first win there since two
thousand and five. So look, he spent a incredible amount
of time last year preparing for the Masters. That was
the focus. Everything he did leading up to the Masters
(05:47):
was to prepare for the Masters. So clearly I think
that's the case here. That said, we still don't know
the state of his back, and when you're forty four
years old and have a fews back, uh, they're no guarantees.
So who knows what's going on with him medically. Being
a Tiger Woods fan has really become a roller coaster ride.
(06:08):
I mean, I remember the we didn't know if he
was gonna play. Then last year we got all hyped
up when he won the Masters, and then the rest
of the year was what was very slow when we
found out later on that he had had a knee
procedure that we never even really knew about. And then
the Zozo comes and he lights it up at the
Zozo and then goes to the President's Cup and plays
really well, but has that one day he sits out
(06:29):
and I mean, was the best player arguably at the
President's Cup. And then this year you're so ready for
the year and he shows up at the Genesis and
after nine holes he's tied for second, and he's on
a run, and then he ends up finishing last of
those who made the cut, and then now here we are.
It's it's almost like you can't ever get the train
out of the station and going full steam ahead because
(06:52):
you don't know what's coming. So I'm not really sure
what to expect. I still do have high hopes for AUGUSTA. Um,
I'm not. I'm not What is that like like for
you as a fan? Because I come at it from
a little bit different perspective. Look, we're all fans of
Tiger Woods, were all fans of greatness, but I come
at it from a little bit different perspective. What is
(07:12):
that like when you? Because I don't know. I'm not sure.
I know a bigger Tiger fan the new Frog, So
what is is it? Frustrating? Is it? Do you just
get amped up every time he does play? Do you worry? What? What?
What's your viewpoint from the couch? I don't know what
to expect. And that's the things like, for example, he
comes out of the Gate of Genesis and after nine
(07:35):
holes he's t too, He's tied for a second. I'm like, oh,
we're on, like, we're gonna we're gonna got another run
here at at at a at a place at Revere,
our country club, where he has not generally played well.
I'm like, up here we go. He's figured this out,
he's striking well, and then all of a sudden, I mean,
it became weird. He was four putting from like twelve feet,
(07:55):
I mean it was And to me, four putting from
twelve feet is not a guy who's injured. That's the
guy that just seems like he almost just didn't care.
It seemed very laxa daisical um. The ball striking was
not terrible, it was just almost like non care. I
don't really know what to expect, however, I will say
(08:17):
I do think it sounds cliche. If there's something about
driving down Magnolia Lane, then that just does something for him,
and so I do hope that the masters will see it.
I would like to see him play at least once,
to use a Tiger term. I would like him to
get some reps between now and Augusta. But nobody knows
Tiger's body better than he does. And like we said
(08:40):
earlier when we started talking about this, I don't even
know that we really know everything that's going on. I
know that we know what we've been told and what
they want us to know. Well, let's talk about who
is here. Because Rory McElroy comes in on this unbelievable
run of top five speaking of Tiger Woods, we haven't
seen a run of of top five finishes like this
(09:01):
since the prime of his career. Really, and what do
you make Well, that's yeah, so it's of course he's
on this unbelievable run. But to your point, he's not
winning titles, he's not closing out those opportunities, which of course,
look it's unfair to compare him to Tiger, which I
think we all sort of do, uh knowingly here or
(09:24):
even subconsciously. Um, anytime, any really, any time any of
these guys is leading a tournament, any of these top players,
be it Rory, be it Justin Thomas. Um. But you know,
I actually just talked Justin Thomas a little while ago
about this came up. And look, it's it's hard to
close it out. I mean, even when you're in that position,
(09:46):
you know, most guys are lucky if they close it
out ten percent of the time. Um, you know, and
that and that's kind of where we're at with Rory.
But what do you what's your expectation for him this week?
You know, I think it is tough to defend end
to number one. I think it's always hard to defend
when you won last year. I think you start, I
mean you, you know, as if you play golf regularly,
(10:07):
and let's say you go to the golf course one
day and you start out your birdie the first hole,
you're part of the second hole, your birdie, the third hole,
You're like, oh, I'm two under two three, and then
the next day you go play again. The next time
you play, you're comparing yourself to last time, And so
I think it's a little difficult to defend number one.
But number two, UM, last week, if if you watched
any of that golf tournament last week, the Arnold Palmer,
(10:29):
that golf course ate up everybody. He didn't just eat
at Roy McIlroy and everybody else is playing great. As
many quote blow up holes as he had are the
two stretches that he had on Saturday and Sunday, He's
still finished top five. UM. I know with the Honda
that he had a chance to close it out and
did not close it out there either, But either way, UM,
I think Roy is gonna be in the mix this week.
(10:50):
I just think this golf course is hard. I've played it.
I've lived in Jacksonville now a year, and I've played
the golf course I think six times in a year.
And I'm not comparing myself to right not Ory. Trust me,
I'm not doing that. But what I'm saying is I
know how hard this golf course is, and I know
if you're out of position that it can really bite
(11:11):
you in the ass. And so um it'll be difficult
to defend. But I do think Rory will have a
good week. I just I'm not exactly sure that he'll
be able to pull off a second win. But with
that being said, this golf course cannot be overpowered. I
know he hits it a long ways. You know, Brooks
hits it a long ways. DJ hits a long ways.
Go back and look at the guys that win this
(11:32):
golf course. It's not generally your bombers. It's guys who
are very good ball strikers. Rory is a good ball striker,
which gives him a chance, but I think it gives
other guys a chance as well, is it disappointing if
he finishes let's say top ten even is that a
disappointment or is that just go? Because here's the thing,
(11:52):
I think we we again, we get wrapped up in this.
As soon as a guy gets in contention, I rory,
We're like, here we go. You know, hes right, he's
supposed to win, he's supposed to close it out. So
let's just say he's in the in contention again on
Sunday but ends up finishing fifth test. You know it? Um? Yes,
(12:15):
you know? Is that is that disappointing? Yes? Because you
use the words in contention on Sunday. So if he
if he's not in contention and he finishes, you know,
top ten, that's fine. But if he's got you know,
let's be honest. At the at the Arnold Palmer, Uh,
I think it was on the fourth hole he tied
the lead. Um. If he's in contention on Sunday and
(12:35):
then goes backwards, say on that closing stretch sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,
the doesen't birdie sixteen or or you know, hits one
in the water on seventeen, or doesn't play eight team? Well, yeah,
I think it is a disappointment if he's if he's
in contention and doesn't close the deal. I don't. I
don't think it makes him a choker or makes somebody
who can't close the deal. But I think it is
a little bit of a disappointment, and I think Roy
(12:57):
would just would agree and that he wants to win
this golf tournament. Nobody has, uh, I don't. I don't
know what, ever, but nobody since it's been here at
TPC has repeats. Has there been a back to back
repeat champion, right, we We've rarely seen that here, um
in the history of the event period. So um, but
it is fascinating to me. You go back to some
(13:19):
of that you mentioned Bay Hill, Uh, Mexico had a
chance to win there as well. So it's fascinating to
me when these guys are in position and I think
we just this is the we're I think we're just
all victims of tiger Woods here. Really, this is like
tiger Wood syndrome to where these guys be at Rory
gonna be at Justin, Thomas, John rom whoever. It is
(13:42):
among those the sort of operarestional of player books kept. Um.
You know, when they when they don't do it. It's
like they're choking or they're now look, I do think
there's Rory does have a little bit of a history
when you're continuously in those positions going into the last
day and you don't get it done in the final day.
(14:03):
Now looks some days you mentioned by Hill, I mean
I was playing extremely difficult. Nobody played well. Rory didn't
play horrendously, but didn't play well enough obviously to win. Um.
There are other times in a year where he's simply
make mental mistakes or a player will make a mistake. Um.
You know, then there are times when he gets out played.
(14:23):
So it's it's interesting to me that when a guy
like Rory is in contention but doesn't get it done,
you know what effect does that have on them? Do
they feel like does that start to great on them
or wear on them? Um? You know, justin Thomas, we've
seen him kind of get upset with himself a few times.
(14:44):
He's had a really wild year of sort of one
of course right out of the out of the box
in uh Maui that misses the cut. Itsony and tough,
windy conditions, kind of really out of character conditions. Um.
For what we saw there and then you know, we've
seen him content sense and then we see him miss
the cut. So it's it's just fascinating to me. This
(15:05):
is this is why one of the things that makes
golf so interesting. It's you know, you watch Lebron or
the Lakers and they get a lead and you and
they close it out right Where golf, it's really rare
when guys close it out, Yeah, it is. And that's
the thing is that I think a lot of times
today's players are compared to we watched you know, Tiger
and his closing stretch where right, and so we they're
(15:30):
being compared to that, and that's what we expect, and
so that's probably not a fair comparison. Now, it brings
me to the next name that we brought up two
or three times now and Brooks kept at is Brooks.
I think Brooks, by his own admission, is somewhat struggling
a little bit. I've seen him on the range after rounds.
I just see his quote. Did you see his quote
(15:50):
after on Sunday? Yeah, I know he said he basically
doesn't give a ship, but I mean, I mean, I
just don't know. He said he played like ship right,
and and he and he did so. I've seen him
on the range after rounds and working with his coach
and trying to get it straightened out. What do you
make of this is this is this rust off the
knee procedure and lack of playing or because let's be honest,
(16:12):
Brooks kept for the greater portion of two years, made
golf look ridiculously easy. I mean ridiculous, I mean almost
aloof like he didn't care, like he wasn't trying, and
he would show up at a regular event and not
play well, and you think, all, well, maybe it's a
you know, a little bit of a slump. And then
(16:32):
he'd show up at a major and just blow the
doors off the place. And he made golf look ridiculously easy,
and and and he had the whole it's fashion, bro,
it's just golf, bro. Like, I mean, none of it
really mattered. But it appears there appears to be a
little bit of a struggle going on. Now what do
you make of this? Well, yeah, clearly he's not happy
(16:53):
with where his game is out at the moment um.
You know, sometimes it's been there's been a day where
it's been putting. There's been days where it's been the
ball striking. Um, you know it wouldn't shock me. Um,
you know if if we heard that he was working
on some things with this game. And we'll get a
chance to talk to him this week, but um to
(17:15):
find out exactly what he's working on. But I do
love the sort of matter of fact bluntness, uh that
he he takes. And you know Hunt Sunday at bay
Hill basically it was you know, I'm playing like Ship
and um, you know they said, look, I don't think
(17:36):
you can say that on the podium you find me. Yeah,
that's great, right, Like I just love that, just don't
give a ship sort of nonchalance, um, bluntness with which
he approaches it. But also I do think there's something
to look this is does he care if he wins
the Honda Classic? Short? He wants to win the event
he's playing, And of course I think he takes that
(17:58):
to every tournament he plays. But is he is he
gonna lose sleepover? Probably not. Um, it's all about major championships.
We've seen him peek, We've heard his coach talk about this,
him peeking for the majors, those who really matter at
the end of the day to him, and then everything
else is secondary. So um, I don't think Brooks is
concerned about it at the moment. Now, look, if he
(18:20):
comes out this week and doesn't play well, I think, yeah,
that would be something to keep an eye on. But again,
this goes back to the Tiger syndrome. This goes back
to expecting these guys, the top players, to play well
every time they see it up or every win every
time your contention, and that just doesn't happen in golf.
It's just there are you know, Tiger is a rare
(18:43):
breed in that and he would win, say you know,
Clip at the prime of his career during the season,
and we just don't see that from other guys. Even
if a guy does do it in a particular year,
even if Brooke or we start with Jordan's speith, or
we've seen with thry mc or you've seen it Jason Day,
(19:05):
you know that's just not sustainable. You just don't see guys.
I mean, think how far off Jordan's speech is right
now from where he was five years ago. I know
it breaks your heart, by the way, but yeah, I
know you're crushed over that, which I can't figure out
why you have all this Jordan's speet. But but look
he he is. He is almost lost right now with
(19:28):
his game. Um, So to me, it's it's fascinating and
that I think we just get wrapped up in Scots
should win, the scott should win, the Scotty should win.
You know what's wrong with Brooks when he's only had
a handful of rounds. I think this is just golf.
Um the fascinating to me. The thing to me is
to see when it changes, how it changes. And and look,
(19:50):
I think Brooks will be just fine, but um, it
will be curious to see how I will be curious
to see how he plays this week because in this
place he should play well at. And of course the
Master's a month away, that's another place that he should
play well at. Yeah, I mean, I'm not willing to
say it's a slump yet until um, until he does
(20:10):
go to a major championship, and at that major championship
he struggles, and then at that point I'm willing to go, Okay,
we've got a problem. Right now. I'm not sure if
it's it just Brooks just doesn't care and he's not
really he's or or is he just prepping for Augusta
and that's why we are where we are now. Anyways, Yeah,
and I think that's fair. I mean I think you
(20:31):
look at Jordan Spieth again, that would be considered a slump.
We've had this prolonged stretch where he hasn't played well.
He hasn't one. Um, he's had some really down stretches
during that time. He's playing a little bit better these
days than he was, say, year ago, but um, again
that would be considered a slump. Again, not really fair
to compare everything he does because again, that was a
(20:55):
historical season and that's just not sustainable. So um, it's
fascinating to watch and then and a sort of circles
back to Rory. I mean, look, this is a guy
who has said he'd rather finish, you know, top five
every week, uh, and being positioned to win and maybe
not win, then win and miss a bunch of cuts
(21:17):
because obviously, if you missed the cuts, you can't you
have no chance of winning. So I get it from
that perspective. But at the same time, it's this weird
balance because to me, it's it's all about winning, so um,
you know, but circling back and bringing back to Rory
and the fact that he's putting himself in these positions
every week is remarkable. Um, and then you've got a
(21:39):
guy like Brooks who clearly is off his game at
the moment. But would anyone really be surprised if you
turned up in one this week? No? No, no, no,
no no. And then this thing and the thing is, uh,
the noise of people saying what's wrong with Brooks? I
think it drives Brooks. I don't think he worries about
what people think, which brings me to another guy who
(21:59):
I don't really think he gives your ship what people thinks,
and I think he thrives off of it. Is is
Patrick read? And amazing, isn't it? And I mean, for example,
we'll go back to say he wins in Mexico. During
that same week, Brooks makes the harsh comments about sand
castles and he knew what he was doing and and
and um, Peter Costas says he quote witnessed him cheat,
(22:22):
that he had a lie that was terrible, and he
patted it down at least on two different occasions. He
gave very good explanations of it. I mean, and here's
the guy now, and Patrick reed, and this is a
pretty amazing stat when you think about this. Patrick Reed
has eight wins on the PGA Tour. Do you know
that that is currently one more than brooks Kepto, two
(22:43):
more than Webb Simpson, three more wins than Ricky Fowler,
four more wins than Gary Woodland, five more than Paul Casey,
six more than Lee Westwood, and seven more wins than
Tony fen. Now, Patrick, and the guy is not care
He performs every week no matter what noise is going
(23:04):
on around him. And to your point, I think there
is something in him that relishes all that controversy, that
relishes sort of being the guy in the black hat,
being the bad guy. And look, he'll tell you, um
that he doesn't view himself that way, but I think,
(23:26):
deep down, you know, I think there is part of
him that has this chip on his shoulder and it's
been there for a long time because of everything that's
been said about him dating back to his college days. Um,
you know that he's this enigmatic figure that thrives in controversy.
(23:47):
And it's remarkable to me from that standpoint that no
matter what happens, no matter who says what I mean,
we saw a Mexico. To your point, I was. It
was like he was living in some alternate universe. No,
if you remember, he didn't, he didn't back into that
win in Mexico. He went out and made a ton
of birdies on the closing nine holes to take that
(24:09):
victory away. And none of the noise bothers him. He
just plays through it as if it doesn't happen, and
then when it's brought up, he blows it off like
it's no big deal. So it's really incredible. And here's
a fun titbit by the way for our listeners. Uh
Patrick will be in the interview room this week at
TPC Sagres on Wednesday, I believe two pm. And immediately
(24:34):
following him, the next guy on the line of card
is drummer Hole Brooks CAPC. Yes, So that that could
be that could be a fun little moment, as one
accid it's in the other answer, because I think that
could be a very that could be an entertaining moment.
Of course we'll probably get nothing out of it, but
(24:55):
it will be fascinating to see how that plays out. Because,
as you mentioned, Patrick was well aware that I was
there in Mexico a few weeks ago. He was well
aware of what Brookes said, UM didn't seem to care much.
Um hasn't really distracted him a whole lot. I mean
he admitted sort of at the noise. You know, there
(25:15):
is a lot of noise and he's aware of it
and it maybe does get to him a little bit.
But if anything, it doesn't seem too It seems to
push his golf even, um even further. So UM, it'll
be fascinating to see how that plays out on Wednesday
afternoon here at PC. Yes So, speaking of this week's
tournament at TPC Sawgrass, yesterday on Twitter, there was a
(25:36):
rumor that I'm not exactly sure how much validity there is.
I know that there is some investigation going on into
this year's p G A Championship is scheduled to be
held in Harding Park, San Francisco, and yesterday there was
a tweet that went out that said that they were
investigating the possibility because of all the cancelations. Like you
(25:59):
had said earlier, out by Southwest and Austin was canceled,
Ultra Music Fest in Miami, Kyoko in Miami, uh Towartuga
Music Festival in for latter day. They have not made
a decision yet on that Coachella has moved to October.
There's lots of things being moved, and so they're saying
that if San Francisco and California come to the tour
and say hey, or to the PGA of America and
(26:20):
say hey, you can't hold your event here because we
don't want a mass amount of crowd, or if you
do hold it here, you can't have fans. There is
some talk of moving the p G A Championship too
TPC Sawgrass here in Ponto, Asia. Have you heard anymore
on that? Do you think this is a big possibility?
Where do you think it's headed? Well? I did reach
out to a source when that came out, somebody who
(26:42):
would be proving to those conversations, and yes, and in
fact is being discussed the potential of moving PGA Championship
to TPC sa Grass, which uh is uh. The funny
little side note to that would be then finally a
major would be held. That would end the fifth Major
(27:02):
debate because a major would finally be held at CPC Sawgrass.
But yes, I do think this is a possibility, uh,
that they would move it from Harding Park in San
Francisco to TPC saw Grass one of the reasons being
that if they did need to move the event, uh,
they would be able to do so because the infrastructure
(27:23):
uh is in place here at Sawgrass to hold it.
It obviously is can hold a major championship. Um. You know,
it's it has all the infrastructure in place to be
able to handle crowds, et cetera. Um. And there's a
bit of a partnership between the PGA Tour and PGA
of America. How would they teams the golf course, So
they would obviously have to make it I'm guessing harder
(27:45):
than what it's going Yeah, I mean, and that's the
other end of it, right this this tournament, the Players Championship,
has been held in May before, so they would know
how to go about setting up the golf course to
be able to do that. So I think you would
see very similar to what we've saw for ten years
when this event was played in May, and that was
(28:06):
a sort of burnt out, hard fast golf course. UM.
So it'd be it would be fascinating. Now, look, I
think we're still a little ways from that decision being made.
Another potential could be Valhalla, which is owned by the
PGA of America. Held Ryder Cups for and so forth.
It's got the infrastructure there where they could put that
(28:26):
together quickly enough, uh, to be able to move it
there in Kentucky. Um. But again I think we're a
little ways away from getting to that point. But again
it's got to come talking May, you're talking May fourteen.
I mean it would be a very quick turnaround, you.
I mean they would be playing on this golf course
in a matter of two and twice in two months. Yeah,
(28:48):
So I mean I think those decisions will be made
in the coming weeks obviously, because again to your point,
where two months away, So I would have to think
they would need Um, I would expect logically probably about
a month um at minimum to be able to make
that decision and get this place turned around to be
(29:08):
able to hold the PGA Championship. Another potential. Um. You know,
one thing that's been talked about, and we've seen this
in other leagues is no fans, right, But I again
I don't I don't know that that would be a
realistic option for a lot of reasons, um, holding a
major championship without any fans there, because you're still going
to have a fair number of people on the ground
(29:31):
at the golf course, be a media, players, officials, etcetera, etcetera. Um,
not nearly as many as you would if there were
no fans, but it would also be an odd look.
I think that would the preference would probably be, I
would have to think would be to move it rather
than do that. So um, but it will be interesting. Well,
I'll talk to the commissioner, jayme Onahan later this morning
(29:53):
and we may have an update by the time by
the time this podcast drops. Yeah. So yeah, the the
and the the of viruses is having um, you know,
repercussions all over the world. People are making changes and
doing things and changing the way. I know this week
at the Players, there's going to be multiple hand washing stations.
They've added a bunch and they are allowing people usually
(30:16):
you can't bring any liquid into the facility, they're allowing
you to bring in your own hand sanitizer and doing
all they can to help people stay clean. It is
an outdoor event, which obviously is a lot of fresh
air involved, but still people from all over the world
coming in together and having contact and doing whatnot. A
lot of people not shaking hands. They're giving players the
option to not sign autographs this week they've told them
(30:38):
they can stay away. I mean, we have to do
what's smart, but at the same time continue on and
have the events while we can. And in other countries
like Italy, they've shut the entire country down. Yeah, it's
it's quite amazing, um to see in obviously in a
in a very sort of concerning way, to see the
(30:59):
impact that this is having across the world. UM. And
then you look at the US and it hasn't had
We haven't obviously had quite the repercussions that other places have.
But um, it is something obviously that the tour is
looking at. It's something that PJ of America is looking at. UM.
I think certain tournaments. Um, it sounds like the match
(31:19):
Play Championship in Austin, where of course south By Southwest
is held every year that that match play will go
on as of right now, I don't think that will change, um.
But yeah, it's it's certainly a bizarre, bizarre time we
live in at the moment. Is there any chance at
all that you've heard of the Masters being affected? You know?
(31:41):
I I think uh no. I think the short answer
there is no. I can't imagine it would be Um.
We have not heard of of a lot of cases
breaking out there in Georgia. Also, I just I just
have not heard anything in terms of them. Um, I
don't think the members of Augusta National will let coronavirus
(32:02):
on the sites. I think we're good. Yeah, it's almost like,
you know, I'm sure they have a protective bubble over
the place. I mean, if you can't find if squirrels, look,
I've still I've covered I think a dozen of those
things and I've never seen a squirrel on the property.
So if if squirrels can't get in, then you know,
we're probably okay, right, you know, speaking of the tour
(32:23):
and and and everything going on, yesterday a major announcement
was made about the new TV deal and so how
exactly you are much more well versed on this as
a fan. How does the new TV deal affect me
as a fan? Does it give me more access? Does
it give me, uh the ability to watch more golf?
Because this week, for example, um, maybe we've been uh
(32:46):
remiss and mentioning this week will be the very first
time that a PGA Tour event you will be able
to watch every single shot hit from the opening t
shot on Thursday morning until the final put drops on
Sunday afternoon. There will not be one shot hit that
won't be on camera. You'll be able to see it
streaming if you have PGA Tour Live. It's the first
(33:07):
time they've done this, and I know they're trying to
do this more and more. So how does the new
TV deal affect me as the fan? And are they
trying to give us more access? Yes? In short as
the answer, because what you'll see, for example this week,
as you mentioned, uh, every shot live, so you'll have
the ability to see literally every shot live as it
happens on the NBC Sports Gold app. But ultimately, this
(33:32):
new TV deal one of the sort of side notes
too is the fact that the tour will take over
production of these events. So what that ultimately means is, um,
it will give them the ability to show more in
various capacities, various forms, various feeds, various highlight packages. Um,
there's really endless possibilities when you think about it, because
(33:55):
they will literally own as they do and control all
of the content and material. Um that said, they will
also control the message. So I'm curious to see how
this plays out for the viewer In other words, they
are going to present the product UM as they would
like it presented. So it's effectively like state television. So
(34:16):
what will that ultimately mean when controversial situations arise? Be
it a rule situation? You could take Patrick Red for example,
UM as an extreme example, and what happened in the
Bahamas UM, you could take there's some of the post
round commentary as another example. UM. There are all sorts
of things rule situations, So I'm very curious to see
(34:38):
how it plays out. UM. A side effect, of course,
is that I think you'll uh, you know this is
sort of inside baseball if you will, or inside golf?
Is that UM? Obviously it'll mean a loss of jobs.
We've seen the announcement that Golf Channel, for example, will
be moving to Connecticut from Orlando, where it will be
absorbed effectively by MB see sports. UM. All of this
(35:02):
said from a viewer experience, how will it affect the product?
I think, as we mentioned one, it will provide more
content too. It'll it will be more controlled content from
the tourist perspective, meaning the tour will control the storyline
and the message. UM. And it will be interesting to
see how that plays out in terms of what direction
(35:26):
they take that and just how much their fingerprints are
on that. Now, well, we still get the Golf TV
stuff that we've been getting because Golf TV has a
deal as well, so we still get that. We still
have the deal with Tiger where we're getting on interviews
and more so, well that continue as well. Yes, that's
obviously separate deal that will continue. Um. And of course
for folks outside the United States, that's a way for
(35:49):
them to get their golf coverage because NBC Sports of
course only available in the US. So um, but I
think this is this is interesting times only from a
media perspective in terms of the direction of golf coverage
and where it goes from here and ultimately the tour
having more control over that. So here we are this week,
(36:10):
we get the Players Championship. Next week we move on
to the Valves Bar in Tampa and then we uh
maybe Macy Tiger there if not, and maybe the match
play and then the Valero and then we will get
our first major of the year, the Master. So in closing, Whacker, uh,
I'll go first, since I'm gonna ask you here we go.
I know where you're going. Prediction week. I'm gonna go
(36:32):
I'm gonna give you two. I'm gonna give you one sentimental,
and I'm gonna give you one who I think could
be there at the end. My sentimental is I would
love to see Billy Horssel win a home game. I
would love to see my fellow Gator and friend, Billy
Horsel get a home game. He lives right down the
street from TBC Sagress. I'd love to see him get
a win. But I do think Tommy Fleetwood is going
(36:53):
to be in position to play very well this week,
and I think Tommy Fleetwood might close the deal on
UH that we weren't able to get closed earlier in
the year. So my pick is Tommy Fleetwood. Well, then
we then we can everyone can can stop talking about
Tommy having never won on the PGA Tour, and that
will end that debate. Carol did last weekend. It should
(37:15):
have happened at the Honda and we just he just listen,
we all had bad golf shots. It happens. He hit
a bad guy shot, but I respect the fact that
he went for it. So I have no problem with
with with Tommy Fleetwood's ending, and I love one on
that p A tour. Right, Yes, who's your pick. I'm
gonna go very traditional here. I'm gonna say, uh, you
(37:41):
know what, I'm gonna give you two as well. I'm
gonna go Xander Shotley. Who is Look, this guy's a
big game player. I talked to a number of caddies
for an anonymous caddy survey kind of coming up and
in terms of fearlessness, that guy's game came up time
(38:01):
and time and time again. And as one of the
most underrated players in the game. Um, big events, he
plays well, I'm gonna go Xander, and the other pick,
I'm gonna go Brooks. Yeah, they say rights, the ship
turns it around. I expected to play well, Well, we'll
find out early. And I mean, listen this, this golf
(38:23):
course can bite back really quickly. The second shot on
the fourth hole is is no gimme shot. Um, I
mean there really is some There's some some hard holes
on on the front nine. Obviously at back nine is
extremely well documented in sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen. But it'll
be interesting to see. Should be a fun week. I
love watching this golf tournament television. I will be there
(38:45):
and watching a lot of it in person. And we
will be back next week with a post players recap
with the champion, and who knows, maybe we'll be talking
about watching Tiger Woods in the first tournament of the
year at the Voss Bar or maybe. And then we'll
have a uh event to the match play in Austin.
So thanks to your time, Whacker, I'll be out at
the golf course. We have. We have a concert tonight
(39:06):
by the way, the the Chain Smokers live on seventeen. Yeah,
big gut for the players getting the Chain Smokers and
a non country act for Chaine. So looking forward to that.
That should be fun. Yeah, so bring your glow sticks
and your fist pumping will be on the seventeenth Grane
tonight with the Chain Smokers. It is time for the
Players Championship. This is the Playing Through Podcast.
Uh, do you mind, We're uh, we're playing Through Air's
Froggy and Lacker. Thank you for listening to another edition
of the Playing Through podcast. That's Froggy from Elsturran in
the morning show. You can get us on social media
anytime at playing Through Podcast on Instagram, at play through
Golf on Twitter, by him on both at Craggy Radio,
(00:22):
and you can reach my co host from Golf Digested,
Brian Whacker. He is at Brian Whacker one. We have
had a very very busy couple of weeks in the
golf world and of course we've got a big week
going on this week. So Whacker, where do you want
to start? Why don't we start with your back yard now?
Crepc Sawgrass Yeah, home in the Players Championship this week.
(00:43):
I know you're super super pumped about out. It is
a big week, but you're right, there's so much going
on right now. You got Tiger Woods not here this week,
of course, questions about his back. We have Rory McElroy
defending champion this week, coming off their top five finish,
but at disappointing one obviously at the Hill and what
(01:05):
happened there in the final round. Brooks kept but we
don't know sort of the state of his golf game
right now. It granted it's a small sample size, but
he obviously hasn't exactly been on point of late coronavirus.
Even that's a topic of conversation. We've seen it impacting
other sports potentially um in other events. Um. We talked
(01:27):
about this last night at dinner. Foggy Coachella now getting
pushed back. They've canceled Ultra Music festival in south By, Southwest,
So we've seen, uh. As you mentioned, there's a lot
going on here, both on the golf course and off it.
But the first real big event of the year this week. Yes,
so here we go. Some people like to refer to
(01:48):
it as the fifth Major, but what's really missing this
We can listen. It's gonna be a it's gonna be
a great event, huge field. Weather is going to be
absolutely part effect. Hopefully the wind won't blow as hard
as it blew at the Honda and is it blew
at the Arnold Palmer sponsored by MasterCard, because it really
really reeked havoc on the players. So hopefully we'll get
(02:10):
some good play this week. But the big story coming
out of TPC saw Grass this week is no Tiger Woods.
And I think we all thought after the Genesis when
he didn't play Mexico, he was just, you know, kind
of gearing up. He had said he wanted to have
the same ramp up this year that he had last
year and then it worked well. And last year he
skipped the Arnold Palmer, he skipped Mexico, but he did
(02:31):
play the players. This year, we're not getting the players.
What do you make of this? Is there more than
what we're getting, because as you know, we only get
what they want us to know. Yeah, we really don't know.
I mean, look, his agent says, um that really the
back's just not quite ready for this week. But who
knows because in the past, as we've seen, we've heard
(02:51):
comments like that and then Tiger goes off and have surgeries.
So um, you know, you really hope that that's not
the case with the Masters just a month away. But look,
I think we do have to take a step back,
right because if you go back to last year, Tiger
talked about if you said, look, I'm going to play
less going forward, um, and we only saw him, Um,
(03:13):
I don't know fourteen starts. Last year. I think something
like that, so, um, you know this is the new normal,
are I am? Yeah, sir, I am alarmed. From the
standpoint of I am a little surprised he did not
play this event because look, it's a big, big tournament.
He's won here twice um and and one of those recents,
(03:35):
so the weather should be good. Not a problem there.
You figured his back wouldn't tighten up here, but who knows.
We we just don't know what's going on. So I look,
if he doesn't play until the Masters, I mean, yeah,
that that's a little bit of a concern. But that
point the next question to you. So my next question
is what are the chances if you were to lay odds,
(03:58):
is there a fifty fifty chance we see him? Meant
the valves Bar, because that's the only stroke play event
he would really play. I know that we've got after
the Players, we've got the valves Bar in Tampa, then
we've got match play, then he've got Valero and the Masters.
He does not. He has not and throughout his career
does not normally play the week before because he wants
to use that to get ready. So we'll strike out Valero.
(04:19):
So the only stroke play event left would be the
valves bar, which yes, he did playeen he did finish second,
so you do have that going for you. Or the
match play could mean a lot of golf in a
short amount of time. So do you see him playing
either one of those? Boy? I just don't know. I mean,
(04:39):
I would think he would play at least one between
now and Augusta because but not both. But no, sir,
I would be shocked if it was both, because look,
that would be back to back weeks. Um, I don't
think we see that. I think we see him play
either Tampa, which still seems unlikely to me. I think
(05:00):
that was a one off situation, you know, match play.
Sure it could be a lot of golf, or it
could just be three rounds of golf and that's it
if he doesn't advance. So um, I'll be very curious
to see how it goes. Look, the bottom line is,
at the end of the day, at this point in
his career, all that matter are major championships, and really
Augusta National and the Masters is really all that matters
(05:23):
because that's the golf course. As we've seen throughout his career,
he knows extremely well can win there. Um, winning there
of course, last year, his first win there since two
thousand and five. So look, he spent a incredible amount
of time last year preparing for the Masters. That was
the focus. Everything he did leading up to the Masters
(05:47):
was to prepare for the Masters. So clearly I think
that's the case here. That said, we still don't know
the state of his back, and when you're forty four
years old and have a fews back, uh, they're no guarantees.
So who knows what's going on with him medically. Being
a Tiger Woods fan has really become a roller coaster ride.
(06:08):
I mean, I remember the we didn't know if he
was gonna play. Then last year we got all hyped
up when he won the Masters, and then the rest
of the year was what was very slow when we
found out later on that he had had a knee
procedure that we never even really knew about. And then
the Zozo comes and he lights it up at the
Zozo and then goes to the President's Cup and plays
really well, but has that one day he sits out
(06:29):
and I mean, was the best player arguably at the
President's Cup. And then this year you're so ready for
the year and he shows up at the Genesis and
after nine holes he's tied for second, and he's on
a run, and then he ends up finishing last of
those who made the cut, and then now here we are.
It's it's almost like you can't ever get the train
out of the station and going full steam ahead because
(06:52):
you don't know what's coming. So I'm not really sure
what to expect. I still do have high hopes for AUGUSTA. Um,
I'm not. I'm not What is that like like for
you as a fan? Because I come at it from
a little bit different perspective. Look, we're all fans of
Tiger Woods, were all fans of greatness, but I come
at it from a little bit different perspective. What is
(07:12):
that like when you? Because I don't know. I'm not sure.
I know a bigger Tiger fan the new Frog, So
what is is it? Frustrating? Is it? Do you just
get amped up every time he does play? Do you worry? What? What?
What's your viewpoint from the couch? I don't know what
to expect. And that's the things like, for example, he
comes out of the Gate of Genesis and after nine
(07:35):
holes he's t too, He's tied for a second. I'm like, oh,
we're on, like, we're gonna we're gonna got another run
here at at at a at a place at Revere,
our country club, where he has not generally played well.
I'm like, up here we go. He's figured this out,
he's striking well, and then all of a sudden, I mean,
it became weird. He was four putting from like twelve feet,
(07:55):
I mean it was And to me, four putting from
twelve feet is not a guy who's injured. That's the
guy that just seems like he almost just didn't care.
It seemed very laxa daisical um. The ball striking was
not terrible, it was just almost like non care. I
don't really know what to expect, however, I will say
(08:17):
I do think it sounds cliche. If there's something about
driving down Magnolia Lane, then that just does something for him,
and so I do hope that the masters will see it.
I would like to see him play at least once,
to use a Tiger term. I would like him to
get some reps between now and Augusta. But nobody knows
Tiger's body better than he does. And like we said
(08:40):
earlier when we started talking about this, I don't even
know that we really know everything that's going on. I
know that we know what we've been told and what
they want us to know. Well, let's talk about who
is here. Because Rory McElroy comes in on this unbelievable
run of top five speaking of Tiger Woods, we haven't
seen a run of of top five finishes like this
(09:01):
since the prime of his career. Really, and what do
you make Well, that's yeah, so it's of course he's
on this unbelievable run. But to your point, he's not
winning titles, he's not closing out those opportunities, which of course,
look it's unfair to compare him to Tiger, which I
think we all sort of do, uh knowingly here or
(09:24):
even subconsciously. Um, anytime, any really, any time any of
these guys is leading a tournament, any of these top players,
be it Rory, be it Justin Thomas. Um. But you know,
I actually just talked Justin Thomas a little while ago
about this came up. And look, it's it's hard to
close it out. I mean, even when you're in that position,
(09:46):
you know, most guys are lucky if they close it
out ten percent of the time. Um, you know, and
that and that's kind of where we're at with Rory.
But what do you what's your expectation for him this week?
You know, I think it is tough to defend end
to number one. I think it's always hard to defend
when you won last year. I think you start, I
mean you, you know, as if you play golf regularly,
(10:07):
and let's say you go to the golf course one
day and you start out your birdie the first hole,
you're part of the second hole, your birdie, the third hole,
You're like, oh, I'm two under two three, and then
the next day you go play again. The next time
you play, you're comparing yourself to last time, And so
I think it's a little difficult to defend number one.
But number two, UM, last week, if if you watched
any of that golf tournament last week, the Arnold Palmer,
(10:29):
that golf course ate up everybody. He didn't just eat
at Roy McIlroy and everybody else is playing great. As
many quote blow up holes as he had are the
two stretches that he had on Saturday and Sunday, He's
still finished top five. UM. I know with the Honda
that he had a chance to close it out and
did not close it out there either, But either way, UM,
I think Roy is gonna be in the mix this week.
(10:50):
I just think this golf course is hard. I've played it.
I've lived in Jacksonville now a year, and I've played
the golf course I think six times in a year.
And I'm not comparing myself to right not Ory. Trust me,
I'm not doing that. But what I'm saying is I
know how hard this golf course is, and I know
if you're out of position that it can really bite
(11:11):
you in the ass. And so um it'll be difficult
to defend. But I do think Rory will have a
good week. I just I'm not exactly sure that he'll
be able to pull off a second win. But with
that being said, this golf course cannot be overpowered. I
know he hits it a long ways. You know, Brooks
hits it a long ways. DJ hits a long ways.
Go back and look at the guys that win this
(11:32):
golf course. It's not generally your bombers. It's guys who
are very good ball strikers. Rory is a good ball striker,
which gives him a chance, but I think it gives
other guys a chance as well, is it disappointing if
he finishes let's say top ten even is that a
disappointment or is that just go? Because here's the thing,
(11:52):
I think we we again, we get wrapped up in this.
As soon as a guy gets in contention, I rory,
We're like, here we go. You know, hes right, he's
supposed to win, he's supposed to close it out. So
let's just say he's in the in contention again on
Sunday but ends up finishing fifth test. You know it? Um? Yes,
(12:15):
you know? Is that is that disappointing? Yes? Because you
use the words in contention on Sunday. So if he
if he's not in contention and he finishes, you know,
top ten, that's fine. But if he's got you know,
let's be honest. At the at the Arnold Palmer, Uh,
I think it was on the fourth hole he tied
the lead. Um. If he's in contention on Sunday and
(12:35):
then goes backwards, say on that closing stretch sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,
the doesen't birdie sixteen or or you know, hits one
in the water on seventeen, or doesn't play eight team? Well, yeah,
I think it is a disappointment if he's if he's
in contention and doesn't close the deal. I don't. I
don't think it makes him a choker or makes somebody
who can't close the deal. But I think it is
a little bit of a disappointment, and I think Roy
(12:57):
would just would agree and that he wants to win
this golf tournament. Nobody has, uh, I don't. I don't
know what, ever, but nobody since it's been here at
TPC has repeats. Has there been a back to back
repeat champion, right, we We've rarely seen that here, um
in the history of the event period. So um, but
it is fascinating to me. You go back to some
(13:19):
of that you mentioned Bay Hill, Uh, Mexico had a
chance to win there as well. So it's fascinating to
me when these guys are in position and I think
we just this is the we're I think we're just
all victims of tiger Woods here. Really, this is like
tiger Wood syndrome to where these guys be at Rory
gonna be at Justin, Thomas, John rom whoever. It is
(13:42):
among those the sort of operarestional of player books kept. Um.
You know, when they when they don't do it. It's
like they're choking or they're now look, I do think
there's Rory does have a little bit of a history
when you're continuously in those positions going into the last
day and you don't get it done in the final day.
(14:03):
Now looks some days you mentioned by Hill, I mean
I was playing extremely difficult. Nobody played well. Rory didn't
play horrendously, but didn't play well enough obviously to win. Um.
There are other times in a year where he's simply
make mental mistakes or a player will make a mistake. Um.
You know, then there are times when he gets out played.
(14:23):
So it's it's interesting to me that when a guy
like Rory is in contention but doesn't get it done,
you know what effect does that have on them? Do
they feel like does that start to great on them
or wear on them? Um? You know, justin Thomas, we've
seen him kind of get upset with himself a few times.
(14:44):
He's had a really wild year of sort of one
of course right out of the out of the box
in uh Maui that misses the cut. Itsony and tough,
windy conditions, kind of really out of character conditions. Um.
For what we saw there and then you know, we've
seen him content sense and then we see him miss
the cut. So it's it's just fascinating to me. This
(15:05):
is this is why one of the things that makes
golf so interesting. It's you know, you watch Lebron or
the Lakers and they get a lead and you and
they close it out right Where golf, it's really rare
when guys close it out, Yeah, it is. And that's
the thing is that I think a lot of times
today's players are compared to we watched you know, Tiger
and his closing stretch where right, and so we they're
(15:30):
being compared to that, and that's what we expect, and
so that's probably not a fair comparison. Now, it brings
me to the next name that we brought up two
or three times now and Brooks kept at is Brooks.
I think Brooks, by his own admission, is somewhat struggling
a little bit. I've seen him on the range after rounds.
I just see his quote. Did you see his quote
(15:50):
after on Sunday? Yeah, I know he said he basically
doesn't give a ship, but I mean, I mean, I
just don't know. He said he played like ship right,
and and he and he did so. I've seen him
on the range after rounds and working with his coach
and trying to get it straightened out. What do you
make of this is this is this rust off the
knee procedure and lack of playing or because let's be honest,
(16:12):
Brooks kept for the greater portion of two years, made
golf look ridiculously easy. I mean ridiculous, I mean almost
aloof like he didn't care, like he wasn't trying, and
he would show up at a regular event and not
play well, and you think, all, well, maybe it's a
you know, a little bit of a slump. And then
(16:32):
he'd show up at a major and just blow the
doors off the place. And he made golf look ridiculously easy,
and and and he had the whole it's fashion, bro,
it's just golf, bro. Like, I mean, none of it
really mattered. But it appears there appears to be a
little bit of a struggle going on. Now what do
you make of this? Well, yeah, clearly he's not happy
(16:53):
with where his game is out at the moment um.
You know, sometimes it's been there's been a day where
it's been putting. There's been days where it's been the
ball striking. Um, you know it wouldn't shock me. Um,
you know if if we heard that he was working
on some things with this game. And we'll get a
chance to talk to him this week, but um to
(17:15):
find out exactly what he's working on. But I do
love the sort of matter of fact bluntness, uh that
he he takes. And you know Hunt Sunday at bay
Hill basically it was you know, I'm playing like Ship
and um, you know they said, look, I don't think
(17:36):
you can say that on the podium you find me. Yeah,
that's great, right, Like I just love that, just don't
give a ship sort of nonchalance, um, bluntness with which
he approaches it. But also I do think there's something
to look this is does he care if he wins
the Honda Classic? Short? He wants to win the event
he's playing, And of course I think he takes that
(17:58):
to every tournament he plays. But is he is he
gonna lose sleepover? Probably not. Um, it's all about major championships.
We've seen him peek, We've heard his coach talk about this,
him peeking for the majors, those who really matter at
the end of the day to him, and then everything
else is secondary. So um, I don't think Brooks is
concerned about it at the moment. Now, look, if he
(18:20):
comes out this week and doesn't play well, I think, yeah,
that would be something to keep an eye on. But again,
this goes back to the Tiger syndrome. This goes back
to expecting these guys, the top players, to play well
every time they see it up or every win every
time your contention, and that just doesn't happen in golf.
It's just there are you know, Tiger is a rare
(18:43):
breed in that and he would win, say you know,
Clip at the prime of his career during the season,
and we just don't see that from other guys. Even
if a guy does do it in a particular year,
even if Brooke or we start with Jordan's speith, or
we've seen with thry mc or you've seen it Jason Day,
(19:05):
you know that's just not sustainable. You just don't see guys.
I mean, think how far off Jordan's speech is right
now from where he was five years ago. I know
it breaks your heart, by the way, but yeah, I
know you're crushed over that, which I can't figure out
why you have all this Jordan's speet. But but look
he he is. He is almost lost right now with
(19:28):
his game. Um, So to me, it's it's fascinating and
that I think we just get wrapped up in Scots
should win, the scott should win, the Scotty should win.
You know what's wrong with Brooks when he's only had
a handful of rounds. I think this is just golf.
Um the fascinating to me. The thing to me is
to see when it changes, how it changes. And and look,
(19:50):
I think Brooks will be just fine, but um, it
will be curious to see how I will be curious
to see how he plays this week because in this
place he should play well at. And of course the
Master's a month away, that's another place that he should
play well at. Yeah, I mean, I'm not willing to
say it's a slump yet until um, until he does
(20:10):
go to a major championship, and at that major championship
he struggles, and then at that point I'm willing to go, Okay,
we've got a problem. Right now. I'm not sure if
it's it just Brooks just doesn't care and he's not
really he's or or is he just prepping for Augusta
and that's why we are where we are now. Anyways, Yeah,
and I think that's fair. I mean I think you
(20:31):
look at Jordan Spieth again, that would be considered a slump.
We've had this prolonged stretch where he hasn't played well.
He hasn't one. Um, he's had some really down stretches
during that time. He's playing a little bit better these
days than he was, say, year ago, but um, again
that would be considered a slump. Again, not really fair
to compare everything he does because again, that was a
(20:55):
historical season and that's just not sustainable. So um, it's
fascinating to watch and then and a sort of circles
back to Rory. I mean, look, this is a guy
who has said he'd rather finish, you know, top five
every week, uh, and being positioned to win and maybe
not win, then win and miss a bunch of cuts
(21:17):
because obviously, if you missed the cuts, you can't you
have no chance of winning. So I get it from
that perspective. But at the same time, it's this weird
balance because to me, it's it's all about winning, so um,
you know, but circling back and bringing back to Rory
and the fact that he's putting himself in these positions
every week is remarkable. Um, and then you've got a
(21:39):
guy like Brooks who clearly is off his game at
the moment. But would anyone really be surprised if you
turned up in one this week? No? No, no, no,
no no. And then this thing and the thing is, uh,
the noise of people saying what's wrong with Brooks? I
think it drives Brooks. I don't think he worries about
what people think, which brings me to another guy who
(21:59):
I don't really think he gives your ship what people thinks,
and I think he thrives off of it. Is is
Patrick read? And amazing, isn't it? And I mean, for example,
we'll go back to say he wins in Mexico. During
that same week, Brooks makes the harsh comments about sand
castles and he knew what he was doing and and
and um, Peter Costas says he quote witnessed him cheat,
(22:22):
that he had a lie that was terrible, and he
patted it down at least on two different occasions. He
gave very good explanations of it. I mean, and here's
the guy now, and Patrick reed, and this is a
pretty amazing stat when you think about this. Patrick Reed
has eight wins on the PGA Tour. Do you know
that that is currently one more than brooks Kepto, two
(22:43):
more than Webb Simpson, three more wins than Ricky Fowler,
four more wins than Gary Woodland, five more than Paul Casey,
six more than Lee Westwood, and seven more wins than
Tony fen. Now, Patrick, and the guy is not care
He performs every week no matter what noise is going
(23:04):
on around him. And to your point, I think there
is something in him that relishes all that controversy, that
relishes sort of being the guy in the black hat,
being the bad guy. And look, he'll tell you, um
that he doesn't view himself that way, but I think,
(23:26):
deep down, you know, I think there is part of
him that has this chip on his shoulder and it's
been there for a long time because of everything that's
been said about him dating back to his college days. Um,
you know that he's this enigmatic figure that thrives in controversy.
(23:47):
And it's remarkable to me from that standpoint that no
matter what happens, no matter who says what I mean,
we saw a Mexico. To your point, I was. It
was like he was living in some alternate universe. No,
if you remember, he didn't, he didn't back into that
win in Mexico. He went out and made a ton
of birdies on the closing nine holes to take that
(24:09):
victory away. And none of the noise bothers him. He
just plays through it as if it doesn't happen, and
then when it's brought up, he blows it off like
it's no big deal. So it's really incredible. And here's
a fun titbit by the way for our listeners. Uh
Patrick will be in the interview room this week at
TPC Sagres on Wednesday, I believe two pm. And immediately
(24:34):
following him, the next guy on the line of card
is drummer Hole Brooks CAPC. Yes, So that that could
be that could be a fun little moment, as one
accid it's in the other answer, because I think that
could be a very that could be an entertaining moment.
Of course we'll probably get nothing out of it, but
(24:55):
it will be fascinating to see how that plays out. Because,
as you mentioned, Patrick was well aware that I was
there in Mexico a few weeks ago. He was well
aware of what Brookes said, UM didn't seem to care much.
Um hasn't really distracted him a whole lot. I mean
he admitted sort of at the noise. You know, there
(25:15):
is a lot of noise and he's aware of it
and it maybe does get to him a little bit.
But if anything, it doesn't seem too It seems to
push his golf even, um even further. So UM, it'll
be fascinating to see how that plays out on Wednesday
afternoon here at PC. Yes So, speaking of this week's
tournament at TPC Sawgrass, yesterday on Twitter, there was a
(25:36):
rumor that I'm not exactly sure how much validity there is.
I know that there is some investigation going on into
this year's p G A Championship is scheduled to be
held in Harding Park, San Francisco, and yesterday there was
a tweet that went out that said that they were
investigating the possibility because of all the cancelations. Like you
(25:59):
had said earlier, out by Southwest and Austin was canceled,
Ultra Music Fest in Miami, Kyoko in Miami, uh Towartuga
Music Festival in for latter day. They have not made
a decision yet on that Coachella has moved to October.
There's lots of things being moved, and so they're saying
that if San Francisco and California come to the tour
and say hey, or to the PGA of America and
(26:20):
say hey, you can't hold your event here because we
don't want a mass amount of crowd, or if you
do hold it here, you can't have fans. There is
some talk of moving the p G A Championship too
TPC Sawgrass here in Ponto, Asia. Have you heard anymore
on that? Do you think this is a big possibility?
Where do you think it's headed? Well? I did reach
out to a source when that came out, somebody who
(26:42):
would be proving to those conversations, and yes, and in
fact is being discussed the potential of moving PGA Championship
to TPC sa Grass, which uh is uh. The funny
little side note to that would be then finally a
major would be held. That would end the fifth Major
(27:02):
debate because a major would finally be held at CPC Sawgrass.
But yes, I do think this is a possibility, uh,
that they would move it from Harding Park in San
Francisco to TPC saw Grass one of the reasons being
that if they did need to move the event, uh,
they would be able to do so because the infrastructure
(27:23):
uh is in place here at Sawgrass to hold it.
It obviously is can hold a major championship. Um. You know,
it's it has all the infrastructure in place to be
able to handle crowds, et cetera. Um. And there's a
bit of a partnership between the PGA Tour and PGA
of America. How would they teams the golf course, So
they would obviously have to make it I'm guessing harder
(27:45):
than what it's going Yeah, I mean, and that's the
other end of it, right this this tournament, the Players Championship,
has been held in May before, so they would know
how to go about setting up the golf course to
be able to do that. So I think you would
see very similar to what we've saw for ten years
when this event was played in May, and that was
(28:06):
a sort of burnt out, hard fast golf course. UM.
So it'd be it would be fascinating. Now, look, I
think we're still a little ways from that decision being made.
Another potential could be Valhalla, which is owned by the
PGA of America. Held Ryder Cups for and so forth.
It's got the infrastructure there where they could put that
(28:26):
together quickly enough, uh, to be able to move it
there in Kentucky. Um. But again I think we're a
little ways away from getting to that point. But again
it's got to come talking May, you're talking May fourteen.
I mean it would be a very quick turnaround, you.
I mean they would be playing on this golf course
in a matter of two and twice in two months. Yeah,
(28:48):
So I mean I think those decisions will be made
in the coming weeks obviously, because again to your point,
where two months away, So I would have to think
they would need Um, I would expect logically probably about
a month um at minimum to be able to make
that decision and get this place turned around to be
(29:08):
able to hold the PGA Championship. Another potential. Um. You know,
one thing that's been talked about, and we've seen this
in other leagues is no fans, right, But I again
I don't I don't know that that would be a
realistic option for a lot of reasons, um, holding a
major championship without any fans there, because you're still going
to have a fair number of people on the ground
(29:31):
at the golf course, be a media, players, officials, etcetera, etcetera. Um,
not nearly as many as you would if there were
no fans, but it would also be an odd look.
I think that would the preference would probably be, I
would have to think would be to move it rather
than do that. So um, but it will be interesting. Well,
I'll talk to the commissioner, jayme Onahan later this morning
(29:53):
and we may have an update by the time by
the time this podcast drops. Yeah. So yeah, the the
and the the of viruses is having um, you know,
repercussions all over the world. People are making changes and
doing things and changing the way. I know this week
at the Players, there's going to be multiple hand washing stations.
They've added a bunch and they are allowing people usually
(30:16):
you can't bring any liquid into the facility, they're allowing
you to bring in your own hand sanitizer and doing
all they can to help people stay clean. It is
an outdoor event, which obviously is a lot of fresh
air involved, but still people from all over the world
coming in together and having contact and doing whatnot. A
lot of people not shaking hands. They're giving players the
option to not sign autographs this week they've told them
(30:38):
they can stay away. I mean, we have to do
what's smart, but at the same time continue on and
have the events while we can. And in other countries
like Italy, they've shut the entire country down. Yeah, it's
it's quite amazing, um to see in obviously in a
in a very sort of concerning way, to see the
(30:59):
impact that this is having across the world. UM. And
then you look at the US and it hasn't had
We haven't obviously had quite the repercussions that other places have.
But um, it is something obviously that the tour is
looking at. It's something that PJ of America is looking at. UM.
I think certain tournaments. Um, it sounds like the match
(31:19):
Play Championship in Austin, where of course south By Southwest
is held every year that that match play will go
on as of right now, I don't think that will change, um.
But yeah, it's it's certainly a bizarre, bizarre time we
live in at the moment. Is there any chance at
all that you've heard of the Masters being affected? You know?
(31:41):
I I think uh no. I think the short answer
there is no. I can't imagine it would be Um.
We have not heard of of a lot of cases
breaking out there in Georgia. Also, I just I just
have not heard anything in terms of them. Um, I
don't think the members of Augusta National will let coronavirus
(32:02):
on the sites. I think we're good. Yeah, it's almost like,
you know, I'm sure they have a protective bubble over
the place. I mean, if you can't find if squirrels, look,
I've still I've covered I think a dozen of those
things and I've never seen a squirrel on the property.
So if if squirrels can't get in, then you know,
we're probably okay, right, you know, speaking of the tour
(32:23):
and and and everything going on, yesterday a major announcement
was made about the new TV deal and so how
exactly you are much more well versed on this as
a fan. How does the new TV deal affect me
as a fan? Does it give me more access? Does
it give me, uh the ability to watch more golf?
Because this week, for example, um, maybe we've been uh
(32:46):
remiss and mentioning this week will be the very first
time that a PGA Tour event you will be able
to watch every single shot hit from the opening t
shot on Thursday morning until the final put drops on
Sunday afternoon. There will not be one shot hit that
won't be on camera. You'll be able to see it
streaming if you have PGA Tour Live. It's the first
(33:07):
time they've done this, and I know they're trying to
do this more and more. So how does the new
TV deal affect me as the fan? And are they
trying to give us more access? Yes? In short as
the answer, because what you'll see, for example this week,
as you mentioned, uh, every shot live, so you'll have
the ability to see literally every shot live as it
happens on the NBC Sports Gold app. But ultimately, this
(33:32):
new TV deal one of the sort of side notes
too is the fact that the tour will take over
production of these events. So what that ultimately means is, um,
it will give them the ability to show more in
various capacities, various forms, various feeds, various highlight packages. Um,
there's really endless possibilities when you think about it, because
(33:55):
they will literally own as they do and control all
of the content and material. Um that said, they will
also control the message. So I'm curious to see how
this plays out for the viewer In other words, they
are going to present the product UM as they would
like it presented. So it's effectively like state television. So
(34:16):
what will that ultimately mean when controversial situations arise? Be
it a rule situation? You could take Patrick Red for example,
UM as an extreme example, and what happened in the
Bahamas UM, you could take there's some of the post
round commentary as another example. UM. There are all sorts
of things rule situations, So I'm very curious to see
(34:38):
how it plays out. UM. A side effect, of course,
is that I think you'll uh, you know this is
sort of inside baseball if you will, or inside golf?
Is that UM? Obviously it'll mean a loss of jobs.
We've seen the announcement that Golf Channel, for example, will
be moving to Connecticut from Orlando, where it will be
absorbed effectively by MB see sports. UM. All of this
(35:02):
said from a viewer experience, how will it affect the product?
I think, as we mentioned one, it will provide more
content too. It'll it will be more controlled content from
the tourist perspective, meaning the tour will control the storyline
and the message. UM. And it will be interesting to
see how that plays out in terms of what direction
(35:26):
they take that and just how much their fingerprints are
on that. Now, well, we still get the Golf TV
stuff that we've been getting because Golf TV has a
deal as well, so we still get that. We still
have the deal with Tiger where we're getting on interviews
and more so, well that continue as well. Yes, that's
obviously separate deal that will continue. Um. And of course
for folks outside the United States, that's a way for
(35:49):
them to get their golf coverage because NBC Sports of
course only available in the US. So um, but I
think this is this is interesting times only from a
media perspective in terms of the direction of golf coverage
and where it goes from here and ultimately the tour
having more control over that. So here we are this week,
(36:10):
we get the Players Championship. Next week we move on
to the Valves Bar in Tampa and then we uh
maybe Macy Tiger there if not, and maybe the match
play and then the Valero and then we will get
our first major of the year, the Master. So in closing, Whacker, uh,
I'll go first, since I'm gonna ask you here we go.
I know where you're going. Prediction week. I'm gonna go
(36:32):
I'm gonna give you two. I'm gonna give you one sentimental,
and I'm gonna give you one who I think could
be there at the end. My sentimental is I would
love to see Billy Horssel win a home game. I
would love to see my fellow Gator and friend, Billy
Horsel get a home game. He lives right down the
street from TBC Sagress. I'd love to see him get
a win. But I do think Tommy Fleetwood is going
(36:53):
to be in position to play very well this week,
and I think Tommy Fleetwood might close the deal on
UH that we weren't able to get closed earlier in
the year. So my pick is Tommy Fleetwood. Well, then
we then we can everyone can can stop talking about
Tommy having never won on the PGA Tour, and that
will end that debate. Carol did last weekend. It should
(37:15):
have happened at the Honda and we just he just listen,
we all had bad golf shots. It happens. He hit
a bad guy shot, but I respect the fact that
he went for it. So I have no problem with
with with Tommy Fleetwood's ending, and I love one on
that p A tour. Right, Yes, who's your pick. I'm
gonna go very traditional here. I'm gonna say, uh, you
(37:41):
know what, I'm gonna give you two as well. I'm
gonna go Xander Shotley. Who is Look, this guy's a
big game player. I talked to a number of caddies
for an anonymous caddy survey kind of coming up and
in terms of fearlessness, that guy's game came up time
(38:01):
and time and time again. And as one of the
most underrated players in the game. Um, big events, he
plays well, I'm gonna go Xander, and the other pick,
I'm gonna go Brooks. Yeah, they say rights, the ship
turns it around. I expected to play well, Well, we'll
find out early. And I mean, listen this, this golf
(38:23):
course can bite back really quickly. The second shot on
the fourth hole is is no gimme shot. Um, I
mean there really is some There's some some hard holes
on on the front nine. Obviously at back nine is
extremely well documented in sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen. But it'll
be interesting to see. Should be a fun week. I
love watching this golf tournament television. I will be there
(38:45):
and watching a lot of it in person. And we
will be back next week with a post players recap
with the champion, and who knows, maybe we'll be talking
about watching Tiger Woods in the first tournament of the
year at the Voss Bar or maybe. And then we'll
have a uh event to the match play in Austin.
So thanks to your time, Whacker, I'll be out at
the golf course. We have. We have a concert tonight
(39:06):
by the way, the the Chain Smokers live on seventeen. Yeah,
big gut for the players getting the Chain Smokers and
a non country act for Chaine. So looking forward to that.
That should be fun. Yeah, so bring your glow sticks
and your fist pumping will be on the seventeenth Grane
tonight with the Chain Smokers. It is time for the
Players Championship. This is the Playing Through Podcast.
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