May 12, 2025 • 37 mins
Ashley Ryan and our golf expert, Alex Mroz revisit Rory's emotional Masters win and discuss the ramifications of getting that pressure off his back. Will it free him up for more success and back-to-back Majors wins?
Scottie gets his first win on tour this year and he does it in dominating fashion. Will that translate to this week at Quail Hollow?
Which LIV golfer will shine and now that JT has gotten back to winning ways on the tour, is it time for Spieth to follow?
Favorites and dark horses at golf's 2nd Major, who takes it all in Charlotte?
Scottie gets his first win on tour this year and he does it in dominating fashion. Will that translate to this week at Quail Hollow?
Which LIV golfer will shine and now that JT has gotten back to winning ways on the tour, is it time for Spieth to follow?
Favorites and dark horses at golf's 2nd Major, who takes it all in Charlotte?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the nineteenth Hohle Podcast PGA Championship Edition sponsored
by Tito's Handmade Vodka. What's better than sinking a hole
in one? Sinking a hole in one with your favorite
Tito's cocktail in hand? A day on the back nine
calls for a beverage serve up some Tito's for a postgame,
mid game, pregame cocktail. Or two must be twenty one
to enjoy. Distilled and bottled by Fifth Generation, Inc. Austin, Texas,
(00:21):
forty percent alcohol by volume saver responsibly. Okay, Alex, welcome back.
I got to give a little behind the curtain here
to everybody. This is Alex Is in my second version
of the PGA Championship edition of the nineteenth Hole Podcast.
We recorded one and I used that in quotes because
only half of the recording came through and it was
(00:41):
just my half, so it sounded like I was talking
to myself. So I have no idea what happened. Technical
difficulties and all that. We're going to go back for
round two. That one was just practice. Clearly, this is
going to be better.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Round round two. Here we go. We're halfway through the
major season too as well. Actually, no, I think about it.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Oh there you go, perfect, perfect. Well, we will start
where we started with our first edition of this podcast,
and that is that Rory finally won the Masters. I
mean I felt relieved and it wasn't even me How
what did that mean for Rory to finally win the
Masters and complete the career Grand Slam?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, I mean I think it meant everything to him.
It was just absolutely historic when you know, you could see,
like when he was on the ground there at eighteen
on his knees, just the weight of the world lifted
off his shoulders there. It meant everything to Rory, you know,
like we said in round one, it was he he
(01:41):
loves that play so much Augusta National Golf Club. He
could play there every day if it was the only
course that he had to play for the rest of
his life. And being able to be the sixth, I think,
sixth career Grand Slam champion, not only to just do
you know, the career Grand Slam, but I think what
(02:03):
eleven eleven years since his last major championship. You could
see that that weight absolutely lifted from him and everybody, yeah,
was watching that day.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
It was I think everyone exhaled together. It was like, oh,
he did it. He did it like it felt you,
I guess subconsciously, like as we were all sitting there
because Alex and I watched it together with a group
of friends. As we were all sitting there, you could
feel like the tension in the room like he's going
to do this right. He's going to do this right.
And I will say, coming into it the way he
(02:35):
started that Sunday, I was like, oh, no, he is
not going to do this. I mean, he had a
great Saturday. He comes in Sunday and I got nervous
to start things off. How did you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, I mean it was you know, I think I
think in a way, you know, that double bogie kind
of settled him into the round. I think he talked
about that a little bit and his Master's press, you know,
his post round press conference where you know he he
he came in with this mindset of like, hey, let's
(03:06):
you know, not worry about what other people are doing,
like what can I control? And you know it's it's
one thing to say that, but then to actually do
it is is huge. So yeah, I was here we
go again. I mean, this is twenty eighteen, twenty eleven
all over again, and then he he just responded so
(03:27):
beautifully with you know that the shot on seven was
amazing and obviously I think Bryson kind of stumbling there
a little bit played into his hand as well. But yeah,
I mean, just an absolute, absolute roller coaster of a
Sunday afternoon, Ashley. That was insane, absolutely insane.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
It was. It was so fun. And I will say
I think just in the years past, yeah, watching him,
had I think had he started off that Sunday, any
Sunday the way he did start that one off, I
don't know that he would have been able to correct
it like he was able to this year. And that
just shows kind of his growth, not just in the
(04:06):
actual game of golf, but mentally, like he to be
able to overcome that that start and not let it
fluster you, and golf is such a game of mental strength.
I was very impressed by him, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yeah, certainly. I mean he talked to too about how
his attitude has shifted, and I know he said that
in the past. But like you actually you know you
you watch. I mean, I'm a big nerd in the
sense I watch all like the press, you know, the
press conferences, and there was something like different in the
in the air, in that in that room, or at
(04:40):
least you know, through the TV screen about him. He
talked a lot about like, you know, being more stoic
and stoicism and really like being grounded. And his game
is he is so complete, you know, obviously went on
that huge run from twenty eleven to twenty fourteen, but
he is a much more complete player than he's ever been,
(05:03):
you know, throughout the bag. Yeah, it's it was It
was crazy. I mean, it's just absolutely nuts to to
see where, you know, where he's been, all the ups
and downs, and now he's he kind of he finally
feels like, you know, he's back on top of that mountain.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Well and of course, yeah, so it relieves a lot
of the pressure. That's what everybody's been saying. Okay, now
all of that pressure that was on him, it's now gone.
So does that free him up to continue now to
win majors? So poor Rory doesn't really get a break, right,
he wins the one that's been eluding him forever, and
now it's like, so, win's the next one, and fortunately
probably for him, the next one is PGA championship at
Quail Hollow, and he has been really good here. So
(05:47):
I don't know, does it set up for him to
win to majors in a row?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yeah, it definitely does. He obviously he's got an amazing
track record here one four times he plays this golf
course in credit. Well, you know, got to be a great,
a good driver of the golf ball, A long driver
of the golf ball. Seventy six hundred yards is the
length of this golf course and that sets up into
Rory's game. Also, the golf course favors a draw. That's
(06:13):
what rory Stock shot is. I know he's been fading
in a little bit more off the tee recently, but
he still has that shot on command. And so from that,
from that standpoint, I think, yeah, he can absolutely do it.
I think the question is, you know, is there a
little bit of a master's hangover? Is you know, where
where is his mind right now? How sharp does he feel?
(06:35):
I know he's hitting the ball extremely well, but I
you know, I got to think, you know, the betting
odds are in his favor right now. It's definitely it's
definitely like you said, it's it's his happy place.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Yeah, you know, Yeah, it is a.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Great place for Rory McElroy and I think you've got
to love him this week.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, and he is, I think, well, him and Scotty.
I haven't seen it go back and forth. Basically plus
four fifty plus four eight for them I think right now,
but by the time this is posted in an hour,
it'll probably be a little different. So definitely the favorite,
I think equal favorite with Scotty. Which is going to
bring me to the conversation about Scotti Scheffler, because as
(07:14):
much as this seems to set up so well for Rory,
there is you know, it is going to be a
lot of conversation, a lot of talk on Rory, but
it is also going to be there is gonna be
a lot of conversation about Scotty. First of all, this
is the this is the tournament, not the location, but
the tournament that Scotty had the big arrest last year
that kind of rocked the golf world, shook the golf
world and kind of stopped his super hot streak in
(07:38):
the in its tracks. As we thought that he was
going to be the PGA Championship winner last year and
maybe go back to back and now he you know.
Then he has his Christmas injury that we still don't
really know, and just finally wins his first tournament on
the PGA Tour this year, which I love that I say,
just finally, like it's like it feels like it's been forever.
I mean a lot of people don't win one of them,
(08:00):
but we've just all been staring at Scott. He's saying,
Win's it gonna happen? When's it going to happen? It
finally happens, and clearly the odds are showing that he
they think he's going to do really well this week.
How are you feeling about him?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yeah, I mean he he is rolling right now. I mean,
his his stats are just you know, ridiculous as always.
His putter is really warming up. He he is rolling
the rock really well right now. I think this golf
course sets up terrific for him. Again, pretty long driver
the golf ball, great driver of the golf ball, brief
(08:34):
long iron player. If the weather forecast holds like it
it's supposed to, which I think calls for rain. I
want to say, like Thursday, and definitely in the practice
around Wednesday and then and then Sunday as well, Okay,
he'll he'll be able to, you know, hit those nice precise,
tight iron shots relatively close. If you know the games
(08:59):
there would I think it definitely is as we saw
a couple of weeks ago at the Byron Nelson, I mean,
an absolute insane performance there. So I love I love
Scotty Scheffler this week as well. I mean he I
gotta think he's the front runner at this point.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Yeah, and okay, so let's talk about that for a second,
about the c J Cup Byron Nelson, because that was
I mean, is there anything more Scottie Scheffler than to
have been kept everyone waiting for your first win of
the PGA Tour season and then when you do decide
to actually win, just to totally dominate everybody. I mean
it wasn't even close.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
No, it was, It wasn't it wasn't even close. I
mean he he, you know, he just needed needed some reps, right,
he had that whatever injury that was, yeah, Getty injury.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Saghetty wine Glass.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
We don't know, yes exactly, and he yeah, he's yeah.
I mean rounds were sixty one, sixty three, sixty six,
sixty three. I mean, it's insane that is insane. Yeah,
he he is in a great position right now to
win this golf tournament this week. I got to think
(10:13):
he's feeling really good about his game. Yes, he has
not he has not played Quail Hollow often. I mean
I think twenty twenty two, right.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, twenty twenty two President's Cup and it was not good.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, it was his only time there. Yes, it wasn't good.
They're obviously showing favoritism to his home state of Texas
playing in those events. Calendars never lined up that well
for him. But I think, you know, Ted Scott, his
caddie has had a lot of experience. They're counting for
Bubba Watson, and Bubba's had some success there. But I
think he'll He'll be ready from you know, a mental
(10:50):
prep perspective, and I'm sure they've they know what club's already,
they're going to be hitting off teas and and their
game plan is is probably solidified for the week. So
I gotta think he's feeling really good about about what's
going to happen atquil Hollow.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
So are you saying he'll be well prepared.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Yes, definitely, I think Scotty. Scotty is always prepared ye.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Yes, for sure and then some for sure. Okay. So
in our first recording of this lovely podcast, you did
mention that you thought that there were three big favorites,
and obviously we just talked about two of them. So
tell us all about the third big favorite.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Yeah, Bryson Deshambeau. I think is the third of the
big three. I mean, he's had some really strong finishes
in majors in the last year. Obviously won the US Open,
and then he was right up there at Augusta on Sunday,
and then he finished second in this event last year. Okay,
(11:52):
and I think I think he won in I mean,
I should have been more prepared in this sense, but
I'm pretty sure he won that ship uh Mexico event
at Boltspeck.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
So okay, I know he won one live event already
just recently.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yeah. No, yes, I believe that's that's what that was. Yeah, okay,
So yeah, his game's inform I mean, and again back
to the concept of being a long driver that can
that can draw the golf ball. Bryson plays a draw.
We know that he's long. His iron game has been
cleaned up. He obviously was griping about that. Uh, at Augusta.
(12:30):
In his press conference after the after the round little
except with Amanda Bellionis he kept complaining about his irons. Uh,
so we we know, we know that he he works
extremely hard and that he's going to be primed and
ready for this event. And I think again, like, if
(12:51):
there's a major championship outside of the US Open for
Bryson to win, I think it's the PGA. I think
it plays really well into his skill. Okay, I love
him this week. I mean he's third in the Data
Golf World rankings. It's kind of hard to argue, especially
with his former major championships over the last couple of years,
(13:11):
against Bryson.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Well, and you get in fantasy golf, you get that
benefit of playing the live player, so you get to
save the other big names for things like the FedEx
Cup and you know all that fun stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
So certainly, and if you're not gonna if you're not
gonna use Bryson this week and you're in a one
and done, I mean he's a great pick at Oakmont
next week. Yeah, yeah, the US Open.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
So it would be fun too to see how hard
they make that course.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, yeah, five inch rough and fifteen on the stimp
meter and yeah, they wanted to play over par. That'll
be a fun podcast.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Yeah, that will be gosh, that's gonna be crazy. Okay,
So real quick, you didn't mention the weather. You mentioned
some rain on Thursday, potentially rain on Sunday. Who, like,
who is I guess more? Who does the weather favor more?
Is there anybody that you think plays better in that
kind of condition in some rain others?
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah? Guy to look at that's playing really well right now.
That is a great mutter as you say, it would
be Shane Lowry.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
I mean I don't love Shane Lowry.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, he finished second last week at the Truest and
he's been playing some amazing golf this year. It'd be
really nice to see him up there. I think he
is what top ten in the data Golf rankings or
eleven thirteen excuse me. He's trending in the right direction.
I mean got like three or four top yeah, wow,
(14:36):
like five top five's already this year between the European
Tour and PGA Tour. So he's playing some great golf.
I think the length it plays against him a little bit,
but great wet weather player. Obviously when he won his
major championship, his only major championship in twenty nineteen at
royal Port Rush. For they're going to be going back
to this year for the Open. It was just it
(14:58):
was raining sideways.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
That's fun. Yes, that's when I don't play golf in
sideways rain. I will say this though, just on a
side note of if Shane Lowry would win the PGA Championship,
how cute would it be that the best friends of
Rory and Shane go back to back in majors, Like
nobody would be cheering harder for Shane than Rory.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
That would be something that would kind of be like
Rory and Graham McDowell back in the day when they
went back to back at US Open champions twenty ten
and then Rory in twenty eleven. So I know, yeah,
that would be huge for huge for the Irish. Irish
fan base for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
We used to call Graham McDowell Gream because he spelled
it so weird. It was like, that's that name is
not Graham, It's gream g R A E M E. Right,
is weird?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
It is weird. I have a funny story about that.
Not to Tangent Yeah, Tangent Away he So, I have
a couple members at the club that I work at
went and played Royal Port Rush where he grew up,
where he grew up at. And I think this was
like in the mid two thousand and maybe early two thousands,
and Graham mcdal caddied for him and then they went
(16:05):
and they saw his name in crazy and won the
US Open in twenty ten. They're like that caddy for US.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Oh that's cool.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Yeah yeah. So so no long way.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Note to people out there, just take note of your
caddy's names. He could be in the on PGA tour
one day, absolutely, all right. So one person whose name
I'm kind of seeing fade. I think he's still pretty
high in the odds, but I don't think there's a
lot of high expectations for him. Xander Shaffley. He had
a rib injury. He just kind of seems to be
all over the place though since coming back. Do you
(16:38):
have any faith that he's gonna be, you know, putting
in a solid performance this week?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Yeah, I mean, it's just we don't know where he's at.
It's hard. It's hard to get a pulse on Xander
right now. I know, you know, still top ten at
the at the Masters, finished tied for eighth, and then
he was eleventh last week. It seems to be kind
of trending in the right direction. But again, like he's
(17:03):
had some swing stuff too, where he was driving the
ball really poorly and then the driver got a little
bit better and then the iron Scott were So he's
he's kind of kind of kind of a question mark
on Xander's game right now. Obviously this sets up well
for him. He's I mean, he he won here, I
(17:27):
want to say a few years ago.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Oh did he?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah? Just in the what was the Wells Fargo and
the truest. Yeah, but yeah, I as far as I wouldn't.
I mean, maybe if you're doing like a DFS league
or you know, a DraftKings where he got a bunch
of picks, he might be a good pick there. But
I wouldn't use him in a one and done league,
(17:52):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Yeah, And honestly, in one of those other leagues where
you've got the tiers, I think he'd probably be too
high priced for what you're getting, unless they have moved
him down, would be my guess.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Yeah, absolutely, you.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Can get you can get some better golfers at a
similar price and just make a little adjustments on the
lower end. That would be my recommendation. Okay, again, in
round one of our recording today, you brought up the
great Justin Thomas JT. He got his first win on
the PGA Tour since twenty twenty two. I said when
(18:29):
I said, when I said twenty twenty two and like
spelled it all out like that, that sounded weird. Instead
of just twenty twenty two, it had almost been three
years since he'd had a win. His last win before
that was the PGA Championship in twenty twenty two. I
don't know, I feel like things are kind of coming
together for him.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
What do you think, Yeah, Justin Thomas is back. I
think he's putting. He's finally putting well again, which has
been his achilles heel the last few years. He's always
been a really solid approach player, especially with short irons.
You know, this golf course might be on the little
bit longer side for him, but that doesn't mean that
(19:09):
he can't you know, he can't feast here if he
gets that putter rolling. Because I think again, Quail Hollow
is a golf course that you got to drive it well.
But it ends up becoming kind of a putting contest
at the end of the day, and if that putter
gets hot, I would I would look out. Obviously, two
time PG Championship, PG Champion one here in twenty seventeen.
The event was in August. We know it was really
(19:31):
fiery and fast. It's going to be a little wetter
this week, and then one in twenty twenty two. But yeah,
I mean the last couple finishes t second last week,
won the RBC Heritage, you know, thirty six at the Masters,
second at the Vallas Bar, couple of top tens at
the Genesis, and then Phoenix Open, and then second at
the American Express. He's playing awesome golf. Yeah, JT is
(19:53):
balling right now. He is a great pick this week
if you want to go into that like second tier
of players underneath Scottie, Rory and Bryson. I think JT
is an awesome.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Pick well, and I think I really love the similarity.
I guess it's not necessarily similarity, but the just it
was not talked about as much, the pressure that was
on Justin Thomas to win again on the tour, like
everybody was focused on Rory, and especially when it came
to the Masters and especially you know, getting that career
Grand Slam. I completely understand that. But the pressure has
(20:24):
been on Justin Thomas for almost three years just to
win a PGA Tour event. And I'm excited to see
if he kind of similar to what people have talked
about with Rory, if that kind of releases something and
now he can just play golf the way he likes
to play golf and the way he's really good at
playing golf.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah, certainly, I mean he he should be freed up
from that standpoint. I couldn't agree more with you. I
love JT this week. Everything again trending wonderfully for him,
and he's just a he's just a good person in
golf to have playing well. You know, he's he is.
(21:04):
He is a he's a great a great storyline always,
and he's fun to watch. He's got the energy, He's
got really good energy. Absolutely, yeah, no it.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
I love him this week well, and his buddy, who's
also would be really good to have win again. We
talked about him a little bit earlier that nobody heard,
but they're going to hear now. Jordan's speed right, Like
there's somebody similar situation to justin he he just can't
get another win on the PGA Tour, But it doesn't
seem like it's you know, that there's no shot for
(21:37):
Jordan to come back and actually figure things out. Do
you think he's It seems like maybe he's back on
the rise again.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yeah, definitely, I think, you know, again another storyline that
like isn't really being talked about Career Grand Slam for
Jordan this week. Yeah, if he was to get it done.
I don't know if it's the best golf course for
him as far as you know, driving accuracy and distance
off the tee, but it seems you know, obviously scrambling
has always been a strong suit of his. I think
(22:05):
he's putting it decent right now. We'll see where the
approach play is. But yeah, he's had three top tens
on the season, you know, two top fives. Definitely, things
are trending in the right direction over the last six seven,
eight weeks. I think he's only missed one cut this year,
so that's huge for Jordan Speith. Definitely someone we love
(22:28):
to root for in the game of golf. Fun to
watch the way he plays and scrambles, But yeah, it it.
It'll be I'll be curious to see if he can
kind of get out of the gates good here and
you know, be around on hang around on the weekend.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Yeah, I would love to see that. It would be great.
I just keep watching him, thinking like, come on, I
know you have it in you. Just get back to winning, please.
I really, I really enjoy Jordan's beef. Okay, so let's
get to it with are dark horses. We've gone over
the favorites, We've gone over some kind of middle of
the pat guys, and now I would love to hear
who your dark horses are.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yeah, as far as dark horses, I do. I like
Akshay Batilla. I think he's a good pick. I don't
know how much of a dark horse he is, being
like top thirty in the world, but you know, I
think for somebody that is, you know, on the younger side,
he's he shows a lot of charisma and he's he's
got ball speed, so he can kind of move it
(23:31):
out there. As far as the length of Quail Hollow goes,
he is a lefty and plays a cut. So again
this this golf course sets up well for a draw
for right handed players. So a fade for a left.
He works perfectly. And I think he's a North Carolina,
North Caroline Indian North Carolina, so you know, it's kind
of a home it's kind of a home match for him,
(23:53):
or a home game for him. So I like, I
like Aha. I like Keith Mitchell, sneaky long off the tea.
He's been playing really well lately. He was right up
there last week at the Truest. If the putter can
cooperate for Keith, I I think he could find some success.
(24:13):
I mean it's a pretty big stage to win your
you know, your first major championship. Yeah, but at the
same time, you know, he if he can put things together,
I like him as a dark horse, yeah. I mean
he's had a through top tens on the season. He's
had tied for second at the Punta Kana. He's been
(24:36):
playing well. Actually, he's been trending trending really well. So
Keith Mitchell would be my other dark horse pick.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Okay, And then you mentioned Bud Cawley when we were
recording the first one. How are you feeling about Bud cally?
Because I was I was saying, like I have I
think I heard his name maybe once or twice over
the last five years until this year, and now I
feel like I'm hearing his name a lot more.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Yeah, No, Bud, Bud Cauley played exceptional this year. I mean,
I had that great performance, great storyline at the at
the Players Championship. It was a home match for him,
being Jacksonville native. I think he's got two or excuse me,
three top fives on the or top tens on the year.
(25:19):
He's been playing extremely well. Uh you know, good iron player,
you know, butts it really really well and actually for
a shorter guy in stature, moves it out there really
pretty good for his size. So yeah, but Bud, not
a lot of people have heard of him, kind of
(25:41):
podcast one like we were talking or previously recorded. Yeah
he he me. Being a competitive junior golfer, Bud Caley
was number one in his recruitment class, was an All
American at Alabama, an absolute stud, and then I think
he had a serious car injury that kind of derailed
his career there for a while while. And it's great
to see him climbing back up and getting back into form.
(26:04):
I think that would be somebody that you could that
you could lean on in those dark horse picks.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Yeah, you could, and then it also would be really
fun to cheer for him knowing that he has come
back from such a terrible injury in the past. Okay,
So I'm trying. I'm making sure that we don't forget
I will. I will tell our audience by the way,
you guys, we did a really good job the first
time we recorded this podcast. So I'm trying to make
sure that we get through all of the talking points
that we did on the first recording, because I don't
want you to miss anything, and then we'll have you'll
(26:33):
have fomo over like, oh my gosh, I wonder what
else they talked about that they didn't remember to talk about. Now,
you brought up John Ram. I was I asked before
we were going, just kind of if you had anybody
else we hadn't really talked about, and you brought up
John Rahm. And I would love to get the audience
to hear your thoughts on John Ram because we briefly
mentioned him going into the Masters, and I liked what
(26:57):
you said the way you said it going in when
we recorded previously. You were like, his face is on
a milk carton right now.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yeah, Yeah, John Rahm is interesting. I mean he you know,
ever since the switch to live, he has been on
the milk carton in the major championships. Obviously two time
major championship winner, twenty twenty one US Open, twenty twenty
three Masters, but twenty twenty four, you know, t forty
(27:27):
five at the Masters, hut in the in at Vahalla,
last year in the PGA, didn't play in the US
Open because of the toe injury or something of that nature.
Top ten at the Open Championship and then actually fourteenth
at the Masters this past year. So it seems like
for him, you know, he is kind of starting to
round into form a little bit. But it would be
(27:49):
really nice to see him be there on the weekend
contending at Quail holl Again. I think that's a good
golf course for him. Long, great driver of the golf ball,
good iron player. It's just going to be a matter
of if that, you know, if his putting kind of cooperates,
and if he can kind of sustain or good rounds
(28:12):
of golf, given that he typically used to playing only
three rounds of golf. Where he's at right.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Now, weird ass to live golf. Yeah, that's interesting too,
that you bring up that when you said t fourteen
of the Masters this year, that surprised me, which I
don't know why because but I guess I just didn't
expect that he finished that high. I understand like that
he did, but he he does it in a way
that like they're not even showing him on TV, you
know what I mean. It's almost like he's sneaking into
(28:39):
these finishes because it's not like he's contending and falling off.
He's just kind of somewhere hanging out in the back.
And then it's like, oh, yeah, okay, John Rahm had
a couple good puts on Sunday and he moved up
to fourteenth.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Yeah exactly, I think. I mean he had like I
think he shot three under the final round of the Masters,
and that played, you know, it played really difficult that
day and then it was like second, second or third
lowest round of the day. Yeah, he's just you know,
I don't know if he's distracted. You know, he's got
(29:11):
he's got all that money. Now, he's got a you know,
I think he's got a couple more kids, and he
maybe he hasn't been grinding as much, but you know,
his finishes in live are great. I mean he's like, yeah,
he's t second, sixth place, sixth place, fifth place, ninth place,
fourteenth at the Master's fourth in Mexico City, and then
(29:34):
seventh in Korea last week. So he's playing well in
these live events. Just be interesting to see what, you know,
We just don't get to see a big sample size
from him anymore unfortunately.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Yeah, he just kind of disappears. Yeah, I wonder if
he does, Yeah for sure. Okay, and then again, just
going down my list here of things that we talked
about that I don't want to miss out on because
I thought this was a very interesting conversation that we had.
So going into the Masters, a lot of people talking
about Walking Neman, Walking Neman, like they expected that he
was going to be the highest finishing live golfer basically
(30:08):
just off what they've seen of him this year, which
again we haven't really seen because it's been on the
live tour and I am not going to waste my
time watching that. But how are you feeling about him
this week?
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Yeah? You know, if there's a golf course that sets
up well for Walkeen, it's it's it's this one, you know,
drives it again. Drives it pretty far for his stature,
great approach player, good great iron player. Putting is kind
of something that tends to be a little bit of
(30:41):
an achilles heel for him. So if he's rolling the rock, well,
I think again he can contend he won it. He
won at Mexico City. Excuse me, not Bryson. Oh, I
think Bryson won in Korea is what I meant. Will
check this. We've got to fact check. Yeah, Korea, Okay, I'm.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Like, I don't follow a lot of the results. I
know that Bryson won once.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yes, Bryson won in Korea last week. Yeah, No, But
Woking won in Mexico City's rounds of sixty eight, sixty four,
sixty five, three shot win over Deshambo. Actually funny enough.
So yeah, he's I mean, he's interesting. He's playing extremely
well on the Lift Tour. He's I think ninth in
(31:22):
the world and Data Golf's rankings again composite ranking with
all the live players. But wasn't finished better than tied
for sixteenth in a major championship, and that was at
Augusta in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
It's interesting people were so high on him though heading
into the Masters.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
That was Yeah, Phil Mickelson narrative, he's in the world. Yeah,
that's right, it was Phil.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
I forgot that's right when we talked about him. It
was because Phil loves him so much. Phil was trying
to tell us all, oh Phil, yes, you big medio.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
It's not a lie if you believe it, right, that's
the truth.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
That's the truth. All right. Before we wrap up, I
just need to get our final picks. So who are
you selecting? If you had to make your fantasy golf
pick right now? Who are you picking going into the
PGA Championship.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Yeah, it's a it's a toss up. But I think
I think with his form in the last couple of weeks,
and I guess it's you can argue either side of
the coin. For me, it's Scotty Scheffler. I know that
he doesn't have a track record or really a history
on this golf course, but what he did at the
Byron Nelson and how well he is putting currently, Scotty,
(32:31):
everything is kind of pointing my you know, needle towards
Scotty Scheffler. He he is in solid form and he's
a great, great tee to green player. And if he
has any semblance of the game that he had a
couple of weeks ago. I think, look out, I really
(32:51):
like Scotty Scheffler. But again, I could see it going
both ways, where it's like, you can make a really
good case for Rory McElroy Y's having our believe the
best season of his entire career. I mean, it's funny
Rory won the Players and the at and T Pebble Beach,
Like I forgot about that. I was like, yeah, Rory
won the Players, you know, yeah, But yeah, No, I
(33:13):
love Scotty this week. I really do. I think he
is a tremendous pick for Quaile Hollow for the PGA.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
I think here's my problem is that I so I've
used Rory already and no, I wasn't in the tournament
he won, but I haven't used Scotty. So I have
Scotty available, but he's like one of He's the biggest
name probably that I still have available in our one
and done league, And I'm like, do I want to
use it to use him and run the risk that
he doesn't win and that Rory wins again, because so
(33:41):
much of me is like, oh, it really is setting
up perfectly for Rory to win it this week. You know,
this is a great course for him and this is
his happy place. But what you what you've talked about
with Scotty and how how much he dominated at the
Byron Nelson. It is hard to go. It's hard to
go against either of them. I think, I'm I'm gonna
end up being a toss up and I'll just I
can't pick Rory anyway. But it in fantasy golf. But
(34:02):
here I I was thinking about it this morning and
I was like, oh, I think it's gonna be Rory.
It sets up perfectly for Rorri. It's probably gonna be Scotty.
Like the second I like thought of all the things,
I'm like, no, it's probably gonna be Scotty. It's not
gonna be as perfect as it seems. And you you
mentioned it earlier, the potential Masters hangover and just you know,
just because the pressure to win the Masters is off
(34:23):
of him now it's a new pressure. Now it's can
he go back to back? And then if he did
win this, it's gonna be can he win the US Open.
I mean, it's never going to end for him.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
No, No, it never does. With the golf media and
just us as fans. Right, it's like, yeah, you know,
you give him mouse a cookie and it's gonna want
a glass of milk, right, Like we always want more,
we always expect more, Yeah we do, or or Rory,
but yeah, I you can't go. It's it's it's really
hard to argue, you know, either either way. I don't
(34:54):
think I think both those guys are going to finish
in the top ten regardless of who you pick.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
Yeah, and I hope that it's a really fun Sunday
between the two of them. That would be awesome to watch.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
That would be. Yeah, I don't think we've had that
in some time between those two guys. Maybe maybe it
was the FedEx Cup we had that Is that what
it was, Yeah, something like that, But yeah, it would be.
It would be a terrific storyline, especially for for Rory.
And I mean again, like with Scotty, it's like, Okay,
his major championships have come at at Augusta, right, Yeah, Like,
(35:26):
can can he win outside of just Augusta National?
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Yeah? Well we're about to find out.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Okay, Before we go real quick, I want you to
be able to tell everybody where you work because we
didn't talk about it in the first episode. And you know, I,
yes you are my neighbor, and yes you love golf,
but that's not why I picked you to be on
the podcast. So why don't you tell everyone what you do?
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Yes? So I am I. I am the director of
Instruction at Inglewood Golf Club in ken Moore, Washington. And
Inglewood is really old club, found in nineteen nineteen. It
hosted numerous, you know, numerous senior Tour events, used to
(36:09):
host the GTE back in the nineties and eighties, and
then it hosted the Greater Seattle Open on the PGA
Tour in the sixties and Fred Pupples is at his
charity event out there. It's a great club, a lot
of history and I serve as the head teaching professional,
overseeing all aspects of golf instruction, so personalized lessons, group clinics,
(36:31):
anything to do with getting better at golf. I help
and facilitate in that and extremely grateful and proud to
be at that club in that role as a true
golf nerd and SICKO is perfect job for me.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Well, we appreciate you joining us on the podcast this
year because it is great to have your knowledge, but
also just your love of the game. You know, you
bring it all together and I appreciate it so well.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
Thank you, Ashley, thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Thanks and let's have a great week at the PGA Championship.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Yes cheers. Sequail Hollow, thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
For listening to the nineteenth Whole Podcast sponsored by Tito's
Handmade Vodka. What's better than sinking a hole in one?
Sinking a hole in one with your favorite Tito's cocktail
in hand. A day on the Back nine calls for
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pregame cocktail or two must be twenty one to enjoy.
Distilled in bottled by Fifth Generation, Inc. Austin, Texas, forty
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Welcome to the nineteenth Hohle Podcast PGA Championship Edition sponsored
by Tito's Handmade Vodka. What's better than sinking a hole
in one? Sinking a hole in one with your favorite
Tito's cocktail in hand? A day on the back nine
calls for a beverage serve up some Tito's for a postgame,
mid game, pregame cocktail. Or two must be twenty one
to enjoy. Distilled and bottled by Fifth Generation, Inc. Austin, Texas,
(00:21):
forty percent alcohol by volume saver responsibly. Okay, Alex, welcome back.
I got to give a little behind the curtain here
to everybody. This is Alex Is in my second version
of the PGA Championship edition of the nineteenth Hole Podcast.
We recorded one and I used that in quotes because
only half of the recording came through and it was
(00:41):
just my half, so it sounded like I was talking
to myself. So I have no idea what happened. Technical
difficulties and all that. We're going to go back for
round two. That one was just practice. Clearly, this is
going to be better.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Round round two. Here we go. We're halfway through the
major season too as well. Actually, no, I think about it.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Oh there you go, perfect, perfect. Well, we will start
where we started with our first edition of this podcast,
and that is that Rory finally won the Masters. I
mean I felt relieved and it wasn't even me How
what did that mean for Rory to finally win the
Masters and complete the career Grand Slam?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, I mean I think it meant everything to him.
It was just absolutely historic when you know, you could see,
like when he was on the ground there at eighteen
on his knees, just the weight of the world lifted
off his shoulders there. It meant everything to Rory, you know,
like we said in round one, it was he he
(01:41):
loves that play so much Augusta National Golf Club. He
could play there every day if it was the only
course that he had to play for the rest of
his life. And being able to be the sixth, I think,
sixth career Grand Slam champion, not only to just do
you know, the career Grand Slam, but I think what
(02:03):
eleven eleven years since his last major championship. You could
see that that weight absolutely lifted from him and everybody, yeah,
was watching that day.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
It was I think everyone exhaled together. It was like, oh,
he did it. He did it like it felt you,
I guess subconsciously, like as we were all sitting there
because Alex and I watched it together with a group
of friends. As we were all sitting there, you could
feel like the tension in the room like he's going
to do this right. He's going to do this right.
And I will say, coming into it the way he
(02:35):
started that Sunday, I was like, oh, no, he is
not going to do this. I mean, he had a
great Saturday. He comes in Sunday and I got nervous
to start things off. How did you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, I mean it was you know, I think I
think in a way, you know, that double bogie kind
of settled him into the round. I think he talked
about that a little bit and his Master's press, you know,
his post round press conference where you know he he
he came in with this mindset of like, hey, let's
(03:06):
you know, not worry about what other people are doing,
like what can I control? And you know it's it's
one thing to say that, but then to actually do
it is is huge. So yeah, I was here we
go again. I mean, this is twenty eighteen, twenty eleven
all over again, and then he he just responded so
(03:27):
beautifully with you know that the shot on seven was
amazing and obviously I think Bryson kind of stumbling there
a little bit played into his hand as well. But yeah,
I mean, just an absolute, absolute roller coaster of a
Sunday afternoon, Ashley. That was insane, absolutely insane.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
It was. It was so fun. And I will say
I think just in the years past, yeah, watching him,
had I think had he started off that Sunday, any
Sunday the way he did start that one off, I
don't know that he would have been able to correct
it like he was able to this year. And that
just shows kind of his growth, not just in the
(04:06):
actual game of golf, but mentally, like he to be
able to overcome that that start and not let it
fluster you, and golf is such a game of mental strength.
I was very impressed by him, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yeah, certainly. I mean he talked to too about how
his attitude has shifted, and I know he said that
in the past. But like you actually you know you
you watch. I mean, I'm a big nerd in the
sense I watch all like the press, you know, the
press conferences, and there was something like different in the
in the air, in that in that room, or at
(04:40):
least you know, through the TV screen about him. He
talked a lot about like, you know, being more stoic
and stoicism and really like being grounded. And his game
is he is so complete, you know, obviously went on
that huge run from twenty eleven to twenty fourteen, but
he is a much more complete player than he's ever been,
(05:03):
you know, throughout the bag. Yeah, it's it was It
was crazy. I mean, it's just absolutely nuts to to
see where, you know, where he's been, all the ups
and downs, and now he's he kind of he finally
feels like, you know, he's back on top of that mountain.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Well and of course, yeah, so it relieves a lot
of the pressure. That's what everybody's been saying. Okay, now
all of that pressure that was on him, it's now gone.
So does that free him up to continue now to
win majors? So poor Rory doesn't really get a break, right,
he wins the one that's been eluding him forever, and
now it's like, so, win's the next one, and fortunately
probably for him, the next one is PGA championship at
Quail Hollow, and he has been really good here. So
(05:47):
I don't know, does it set up for him to
win to majors in a row?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yeah, it definitely does. He obviously he's got an amazing
track record here one four times he plays this golf
course in credit. Well, you know, got to be a great,
a good driver of the golf ball, A long driver
of the golf ball. Seventy six hundred yards is the
length of this golf course and that sets up into
Rory's game. Also, the golf course favors a draw. That's
(06:13):
what rory Stock shot is. I know he's been fading
in a little bit more off the tee recently, but
he still has that shot on command. And so from that,
from that standpoint, I think, yeah, he can absolutely do it.
I think the question is, you know, is there a
little bit of a master's hangover? Is you know, where
where is his mind right now? How sharp does he feel?
(06:35):
I know he's hitting the ball extremely well, but I
you know, I got to think, you know, the betting
odds are in his favor right now. It's definitely it's
definitely like you said, it's it's his happy place.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Yeah, you know, Yeah, it is a.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Great place for Rory McElroy and I think you've got
to love him this week.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, and he is, I think, well, him and Scotty.
I haven't seen it go back and forth. Basically plus
four fifty plus four eight for them I think right now,
but by the time this is posted in an hour,
it'll probably be a little different. So definitely the favorite,
I think equal favorite with Scotty. Which is going to
bring me to the conversation about Scotti Scheffler, because as
(07:14):
much as this seems to set up so well for Rory,
there is you know, it is going to be a
lot of conversation, a lot of talk on Rory, but
it is also going to be there is gonna be
a lot of conversation about Scotty. First of all, this
is the this is the tournament, not the location, but
the tournament that Scotty had the big arrest last year
that kind of rocked the golf world, shook the golf
world and kind of stopped his super hot streak in
(07:38):
the in its tracks. As we thought that he was
going to be the PGA Championship winner last year and
maybe go back to back and now he you know.
Then he has his Christmas injury that we still don't
really know, and just finally wins his first tournament on
the PGA Tour this year, which I love that I say,
just finally, like it's like it feels like it's been forever.
I mean a lot of people don't win one of them,
(08:00):
but we've just all been staring at Scott. He's saying,
Win's it gonna happen? When's it going to happen? It
finally happens, and clearly the odds are showing that he
they think he's going to do really well this week.
How are you feeling about him?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yeah, I mean he he is rolling right now. I mean,
his his stats are just you know, ridiculous as always.
His putter is really warming up. He he is rolling
the rock really well right now. I think this golf
course sets up terrific for him. Again, pretty long driver
the golf ball, great driver of the golf ball, brief
(08:34):
long iron player. If the weather forecast holds like it
it's supposed to, which I think calls for rain. I
want to say, like Thursday, and definitely in the practice
around Wednesday and then and then Sunday as well, Okay,
he'll he'll be able to, you know, hit those nice precise,
tight iron shots relatively close. If you know the games
(08:59):
there would I think it definitely is as we saw
a couple of weeks ago at the Byron Nelson, I mean,
an absolute insane performance there. So I love I love
Scotty Scheffler this week as well. I mean he I
gotta think he's the front runner at this point.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Yeah, and okay, so let's talk about that for a second,
about the c J Cup Byron Nelson, because that was
I mean, is there anything more Scottie Scheffler than to
have been kept everyone waiting for your first win of
the PGA Tour season and then when you do decide
to actually win, just to totally dominate everybody. I mean
it wasn't even close.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
No, it was, It wasn't it wasn't even close. I
mean he he, you know, he just needed needed some reps, right,
he had that whatever injury that was, yeah, Getty injury.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Saghetty wine Glass.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
We don't know, yes exactly, and he yeah, he's yeah.
I mean rounds were sixty one, sixty three, sixty six,
sixty three. I mean, it's insane that is insane. Yeah,
he he is in a great position right now to
win this golf tournament this week. I got to think
(10:13):
he's feeling really good about his game. Yes, he has
not he has not played Quail Hollow often. I mean
I think twenty twenty two, right.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, twenty twenty two President's Cup and it was not good.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yeah, it was his only time there. Yes, it wasn't good.
They're obviously showing favoritism to his home state of Texas
playing in those events. Calendars never lined up that well
for him. But I think, you know, Ted Scott, his
caddie has had a lot of experience. They're counting for
Bubba Watson, and Bubba's had some success there. But I
think he'll He'll be ready from you know, a mental
(10:50):
prep perspective, and I'm sure they've they know what club's already,
they're going to be hitting off teas and and their
game plan is is probably solidified for the week. So
I gotta think he's feeling really good about about what's
going to happen atquil Hollow.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
So are you saying he'll be well prepared.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Yes, definitely, I think Scotty. Scotty is always prepared ye.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Yes, for sure and then some for sure. Okay. So
in our first recording of this lovely podcast, you did
mention that you thought that there were three big favorites,
and obviously we just talked about two of them. So
tell us all about the third big favorite.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Yeah, Bryson Deshambeau. I think is the third of the
big three. I mean, he's had some really strong finishes
in majors in the last year. Obviously won the US Open,
and then he was right up there at Augusta on Sunday,
and then he finished second in this event last year. Okay,
(11:52):
and I think I think he won in I mean,
I should have been more prepared in this sense, but
I'm pretty sure he won that ship uh Mexico event
at Boltspeck.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
So okay, I know he won one live event already
just recently.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yeah. No, yes, I believe that's that's what that was. Yeah, okay,
So yeah, his game's inform I mean, and again back
to the concept of being a long driver that can
that can draw the golf ball. Bryson plays a draw.
We know that he's long. His iron game has been
cleaned up. He obviously was griping about that. Uh, at Augusta.
(12:30):
In his press conference after the after the round little
except with Amanda Bellionis he kept complaining about his irons. Uh,
so we we know, we know that he he works
extremely hard and that he's going to be primed and
ready for this event. And I think again, like, if
(12:51):
there's a major championship outside of the US Open for
Bryson to win, I think it's the PGA. I think
it plays really well into his skill. Okay, I love
him this week. I mean he's third in the Data
Golf World rankings. It's kind of hard to argue, especially
with his former major championships over the last couple of years,
(13:11):
against Bryson.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Well, and you get in fantasy golf, you get that
benefit of playing the live player, so you get to
save the other big names for things like the FedEx
Cup and you know all that fun stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
So certainly, and if you're not gonna if you're not
gonna use Bryson this week and you're in a one
and done, I mean he's a great pick at Oakmont
next week. Yeah, yeah, the US Open.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
So it would be fun too to see how hard
they make that course.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, yeah, five inch rough and fifteen on the stimp
meter and yeah, they wanted to play over par. That'll
be a fun podcast.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Yeah, that will be gosh, that's gonna be crazy. Okay,
So real quick, you didn't mention the weather. You mentioned
some rain on Thursday, potentially rain on Sunday. Who, like,
who is I guess more? Who does the weather favor more?
Is there anybody that you think plays better in that
kind of condition in some rain others?
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah? Guy to look at that's playing really well right now.
That is a great mutter as you say, it would
be Shane Lowry.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
I mean I don't love Shane Lowry.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, he finished second last week at the Truest and
he's been playing some amazing golf this year. It'd be
really nice to see him up there. I think he
is what top ten in the data Golf rankings or
eleven thirteen excuse me. He's trending in the right direction.
I mean got like three or four top yeah, wow,
(14:36):
like five top five's already this year between the European
Tour and PGA Tour. So he's playing some great golf.
I think the length it plays against him a little bit,
but great wet weather player. Obviously when he won his
major championship, his only major championship in twenty nineteen at
royal Port Rush. For they're going to be going back
to this year for the Open. It was just it
(14:58):
was raining sideways.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
That's fun. Yes, that's when I don't play golf in
sideways rain. I will say this though, just on a
side note of if Shane Lowry would win the PGA Championship,
how cute would it be that the best friends of
Rory and Shane go back to back in majors, Like
nobody would be cheering harder for Shane than Rory.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
That would be something that would kind of be like
Rory and Graham McDowell back in the day when they
went back to back at US Open champions twenty ten
and then Rory in twenty eleven. So I know, yeah,
that would be huge for huge for the Irish. Irish
fan base for sure.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
We used to call Graham McDowell Gream because he spelled
it so weird. It was like, that's that name is
not Graham, It's gream g R A E M E. Right,
is weird?
Speaker 2 (15:43):
It is weird. I have a funny story about that.
Not to Tangent Yeah, Tangent Away he So, I have
a couple members at the club that I work at
went and played Royal Port Rush where he grew up,
where he grew up at. And I think this was
like in the mid two thousand and maybe early two thousands,
and Graham mcdal caddied for him and then they went
(16:05):
and they saw his name in crazy and won the
US Open in twenty ten. They're like that caddy for US.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Oh that's cool.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Yeah yeah. So so no long way.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Note to people out there, just take note of your
caddy's names. He could be in the on PGA tour
one day, absolutely, all right. So one person whose name
I'm kind of seeing fade. I think he's still pretty
high in the odds, but I don't think there's a
lot of high expectations for him. Xander Shaffley. He had
a rib injury. He just kind of seems to be
all over the place though since coming back. Do you
(16:38):
have any faith that he's gonna be, you know, putting
in a solid performance this week?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Yeah, I mean, it's just we don't know where he's at.
It's hard. It's hard to get a pulse on Xander
right now. I know, you know, still top ten at
the at the Masters, finished tied for eighth, and then
he was eleventh last week. It seems to be kind
of trending in the right direction. But again, like he's
(17:03):
had some swing stuff too, where he was driving the
ball really poorly and then the driver got a little
bit better and then the iron Scott were So he's
he's kind of kind of kind of a question mark
on Xander's game right now. Obviously this sets up well
for him. He's I mean, he he won here, I
(17:27):
want to say a few years ago.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Oh did he?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah? Just in the what was the Wells Fargo and
the truest. Yeah, but yeah, I as far as I wouldn't.
I mean, maybe if you're doing like a DFS league
or you know, a DraftKings where he got a bunch
of picks, he might be a good pick there. But
I wouldn't use him in a one and done league,
(17:52):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Yeah, And honestly, in one of those other leagues where
you've got the tiers, I think he'd probably be too
high priced for what you're getting, unless they have moved
him down, would be my guess.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Yeah, absolutely, you.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Can get you can get some better golfers at a
similar price and just make a little adjustments on the
lower end. That would be my recommendation. Okay, again, in
round one of our recording today, you brought up the
great Justin Thomas JT. He got his first win on
the PGA Tour since twenty twenty two. I said when
(18:29):
I said, when I said twenty twenty two and like
spelled it all out like that, that sounded weird. Instead
of just twenty twenty two, it had almost been three
years since he'd had a win. His last win before
that was the PGA Championship in twenty twenty two. I
don't know, I feel like things are kind of coming
together for him.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
What do you think, Yeah, Justin Thomas is back. I
think he's putting. He's finally putting well again, which has
been his achilles heel the last few years. He's always
been a really solid approach player, especially with short irons.
You know, this golf course might be on the little
bit longer side for him, but that doesn't mean that
(19:09):
he can't you know, he can't feast here if he
gets that putter rolling. Because I think again, Quail Hollow
is a golf course that you got to drive it well.
But it ends up becoming kind of a putting contest
at the end of the day, and if that putter
gets hot, I would I would look out. Obviously, two
time PG Championship, PG Champion one here in twenty seventeen.
The event was in August. We know it was really
(19:31):
fiery and fast. It's going to be a little wetter
this week, and then one in twenty twenty two. But yeah,
I mean the last couple finishes t second last week,
won the RBC Heritage, you know, thirty six at the Masters,
second at the Vallas Bar, couple of top tens at
the Genesis, and then Phoenix Open, and then second at
the American Express. He's playing awesome golf. Yeah, JT is
(19:53):
balling right now. He is a great pick this week
if you want to go into that like second tier
of players underneath Scottie, Rory and Bryson. I think JT
is an awesome.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Pick well, and I think I really love the similarity.
I guess it's not necessarily similarity, but the just it
was not talked about as much, the pressure that was
on Justin Thomas to win again on the tour, like
everybody was focused on Rory, and especially when it came
to the Masters and especially you know, getting that career
Grand Slam. I completely understand that. But the pressure has
(20:24):
been on Justin Thomas for almost three years just to
win a PGA Tour event. And I'm excited to see
if he kind of similar to what people have talked
about with Rory, if that kind of releases something and
now he can just play golf the way he likes
to play golf and the way he's really good at
playing golf.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah, certainly, I mean he he should be freed up
from that standpoint. I couldn't agree more with you. I
love JT this week. Everything again trending wonderfully for him,
and he's just a he's just a good person in
golf to have playing well. You know, he's he is.
(21:04):
He is a he's a great a great storyline always,
and he's fun to watch. He's got the energy, He's
got really good energy. Absolutely, yeah, no it.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
I love him this week well, and his buddy, who's
also would be really good to have win again. We
talked about him a little bit earlier that nobody heard,
but they're going to hear now. Jordan's speed right, Like
there's somebody similar situation to justin he he just can't
get another win on the PGA Tour, But it doesn't
seem like it's you know, that there's no shot for
(21:37):
Jordan to come back and actually figure things out. Do
you think he's It seems like maybe he's back on
the rise again.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yeah, definitely, I think, you know, again another storyline that
like isn't really being talked about Career Grand Slam for
Jordan this week. Yeah, if he was to get it done.
I don't know if it's the best golf course for
him as far as you know, driving accuracy and distance
off the tee, but it seems you know, obviously scrambling
has always been a strong suit of his. I think
(22:05):
he's putting it decent right now. We'll see where the
approach play is. But yeah, he's had three top tens
on the season, you know, two top fives. Definitely, things
are trending in the right direction over the last six seven,
eight weeks. I think he's only missed one cut this year,
so that's huge for Jordan Speith. Definitely someone we love
(22:28):
to root for in the game of golf. Fun to
watch the way he plays and scrambles, But yeah, it it.
It'll be I'll be curious to see if he can
kind of get out of the gates good here and
you know, be around on hang around on the weekend.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Yeah, I would love to see that. It would be great.
I just keep watching him, thinking like, come on, I
know you have it in you. Just get back to winning, please.
I really, I really enjoy Jordan's beef. Okay, so let's
get to it with are dark horses. We've gone over
the favorites, We've gone over some kind of middle of
the pat guys, and now I would love to hear
who your dark horses are.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yeah, as far as dark horses, I do. I like
Akshay Batilla. I think he's a good pick. I don't
know how much of a dark horse he is, being
like top thirty in the world, but you know, I
think for somebody that is, you know, on the younger side,
he's he shows a lot of charisma and he's he's
got ball speed, so he can kind of move it
(23:31):
out there. As far as the length of Quail Hollow goes,
he is a lefty and plays a cut. So again
this this golf course sets up well for a draw
for right handed players. So a fade for a left.
He works perfectly. And I think he's a North Carolina,
North Caroline Indian North Carolina, so you know, it's kind
of a home it's kind of a home match for him,
(23:53):
or a home game for him. So I like, I
like Aha. I like Keith Mitchell, sneaky long off the tea.
He's been playing really well lately. He was right up
there last week at the Truest. If the putter can
cooperate for Keith, I I think he could find some success.
(24:13):
I mean it's a pretty big stage to win your
you know, your first major championship. Yeah, but at the
same time, you know, he if he can put things together,
I like him as a dark horse, yeah. I mean
he's had a through top tens on the season. He's
had tied for second at the Punta Kana. He's been
(24:36):
playing well. Actually, he's been trending trending really well. So
Keith Mitchell would be my other dark horse pick.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Okay, And then you mentioned Bud Cawley when we were
recording the first one. How are you feeling about Bud cally?
Because I was I was saying, like I have I
think I heard his name maybe once or twice over
the last five years until this year, and now I
feel like I'm hearing his name a lot more.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Yeah, No, Bud, Bud Cauley played exceptional this year. I mean,
I had that great performance, great storyline at the at
the Players Championship. It was a home match for him,
being Jacksonville native. I think he's got two or excuse me,
three top fives on the or top tens on the year.
(25:19):
He's been playing extremely well. Uh you know, good iron player,
you know, butts it really really well and actually for
a shorter guy in stature, moves it out there really
pretty good for his size. So yeah, but Bud, not
a lot of people have heard of him, kind of
(25:41):
podcast one like we were talking or previously recorded. Yeah
he he me. Being a competitive junior golfer, Bud Caley
was number one in his recruitment class, was an All
American at Alabama, an absolute stud, and then I think
he had a serious car injury that kind of derailed
his career there for a while while. And it's great
to see him climbing back up and getting back into form.
(26:04):
I think that would be somebody that you could that
you could lean on in those dark horse picks.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Yeah, you could, and then it also would be really
fun to cheer for him knowing that he has come
back from such a terrible injury in the past. Okay,
So I'm trying. I'm making sure that we don't forget
I will. I will tell our audience by the way,
you guys, we did a really good job the first
time we recorded this podcast. So I'm trying to make
sure that we get through all of the talking points
that we did on the first recording, because I don't
want you to miss anything, and then we'll have you'll
(26:33):
have fomo over like, oh my gosh, I wonder what
else they talked about that they didn't remember to talk about. Now,
you brought up John Ram. I was I asked before
we were going, just kind of if you had anybody
else we hadn't really talked about, and you brought up
John Rahm. And I would love to get the audience
to hear your thoughts on John Ram because we briefly
mentioned him going into the Masters, and I liked what
(26:57):
you said the way you said it going in when
we recorded previously. You were like, his face is on
a milk carton right now.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yeah, Yeah, John Rahm is interesting. I mean he you know,
ever since the switch to live, he has been on
the milk carton in the major championships. Obviously two time
major championship winner, twenty twenty one US Open, twenty twenty
three Masters, but twenty twenty four, you know, t forty
(27:27):
five at the Masters, hut in the in at Vahalla,
last year in the PGA, didn't play in the US
Open because of the toe injury or something of that nature.
Top ten at the Open Championship and then actually fourteenth
at the Masters this past year. So it seems like
for him, you know, he is kind of starting to
round into form a little bit. But it would be
(27:49):
really nice to see him be there on the weekend
contending at Quail holl Again. I think that's a good
golf course for him. Long, great driver of the golf ball,
good iron player. It's just going to be a matter
of if that, you know, if his putting kind of cooperates,
and if he can kind of sustain or good rounds
(28:12):
of golf, given that he typically used to playing only
three rounds of golf. Where he's at right.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Now, weird ass to live golf. Yeah, that's interesting too,
that you bring up that when you said t fourteen
of the Masters this year, that surprised me, which I
don't know why because but I guess I just didn't
expect that he finished that high. I understand like that
he did, but he he does it in a way
that like they're not even showing him on TV, you
know what I mean. It's almost like he's sneaking into
(28:39):
these finishes because it's not like he's contending and falling off.
He's just kind of somewhere hanging out in the back.
And then it's like, oh, yeah, okay, John Rahm had
a couple good puts on Sunday and he moved up
to fourteenth.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Yeah exactly, I think. I mean he had like I
think he shot three under the final round of the Masters,
and that played, you know, it played really difficult that
day and then it was like second, second or third
lowest round of the day. Yeah, he's just you know,
I don't know if he's distracted. You know, he's got
(29:11):
he's got all that money. Now, he's got a you know,
I think he's got a couple more kids, and he
maybe he hasn't been grinding as much, but you know,
his finishes in live are great. I mean he's like, yeah,
he's t second, sixth place, sixth place, fifth place, ninth place,
fourteenth at the Master's fourth in Mexico City, and then
(29:34):
seventh in Korea last week. So he's playing well in
these live events. Just be interesting to see what, you know,
We just don't get to see a big sample size
from him anymore unfortunately.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Yeah, he just kind of disappears. Yeah, I wonder if
he does, Yeah for sure. Okay, and then again, just
going down my list here of things that we talked
about that I don't want to miss out on because
I thought this was a very interesting conversation that we had.
So going into the Masters, a lot of people talking
about Walking Neman, Walking Neman, like they expected that he
was going to be the highest finishing live golfer basically
(30:08):
just off what they've seen of him this year, which
again we haven't really seen because it's been on the
live tour and I am not going to waste my
time watching that. But how are you feeling about him
this week?
Speaker 2 (30:19):
Yeah? You know, if there's a golf course that sets
up well for Walkeen, it's it's it's this one, you know,
drives it again. Drives it pretty far for his stature,
great approach player, good great iron player. Putting is kind
of something that tends to be a little bit of
(30:41):
an achilles heel for him. So if he's rolling the rock, well,
I think again he can contend he won it. He
won at Mexico City. Excuse me, not Bryson. Oh, I
think Bryson won in Korea is what I meant. Will
check this. We've got to fact check. Yeah, Korea, Okay, I'm.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Like, I don't follow a lot of the results. I
know that Bryson won once.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yes, Bryson won in Korea last week. Yeah, No, But
Woking won in Mexico City's rounds of sixty eight, sixty four,
sixty five, three shot win over Deshambo. Actually funny enough.
So yeah, he's I mean, he's interesting. He's playing extremely
well on the Lift Tour. He's I think ninth in
(31:22):
the world and Data Golf's rankings again composite ranking with
all the live players. But wasn't finished better than tied
for sixteenth in a major championship, and that was at
Augusta in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
It's interesting people were so high on him though heading
into the Masters.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
That was Yeah, Phil Mickelson narrative, he's in the world. Yeah,
that's right, it was Phil.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
I forgot that's right when we talked about him. It
was because Phil loves him so much. Phil was trying
to tell us all, oh Phil, yes, you big medio.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
It's not a lie if you believe it, right, that's
the truth.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
That's the truth. All right. Before we wrap up, I
just need to get our final picks. So who are
you selecting? If you had to make your fantasy golf
pick right now? Who are you picking going into the
PGA Championship.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Yeah, it's a it's a toss up. But I think
I think with his form in the last couple of weeks,
and I guess it's you can argue either side of
the coin. For me, it's Scotty Scheffler. I know that
he doesn't have a track record or really a history
on this golf course, but what he did at the
Byron Nelson and how well he is putting currently, Scotty,
(32:31):
everything is kind of pointing my you know, needle towards
Scotty Scheffler. He he is in solid form and he's
a great, great tee to green player. And if he
has any semblance of the game that he had a
couple of weeks ago. I think, look out, I really
(32:51):
like Scotty Scheffler. But again, I could see it going
both ways, where it's like, you can make a really
good case for Rory McElroy Y's having our believe the
best season of his entire career. I mean, it's funny
Rory won the Players and the at and T Pebble Beach,
Like I forgot about that. I was like, yeah, Rory
won the Players, you know, yeah, But yeah, No, I
(33:13):
love Scotty this week. I really do. I think he
is a tremendous pick for Quaile Hollow for the PGA.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
I think here's my problem is that I so I've
used Rory already and no, I wasn't in the tournament
he won, but I haven't used Scotty. So I have
Scotty available, but he's like one of He's the biggest
name probably that I still have available in our one
and done league, And I'm like, do I want to
use it to use him and run the risk that
he doesn't win and that Rory wins again, because so
(33:41):
much of me is like, oh, it really is setting
up perfectly for Rory to win it this week. You know,
this is a great course for him and this is
his happy place. But what you what you've talked about
with Scotty and how how much he dominated at the
Byron Nelson. It is hard to go. It's hard to
go against either of them. I think, I'm I'm gonna
end up being a toss up and I'll just I
can't pick Rory anyway. But it in fantasy golf. But
(34:02):
here I I was thinking about it this morning and
I was like, oh, I think it's gonna be Rory.
It sets up perfectly for Rorri. It's probably gonna be Scotty.
Like the second I like thought of all the things,
I'm like, no, it's probably gonna be Scotty. It's not
gonna be as perfect as it seems. And you you
mentioned it earlier, the potential Masters hangover and just you know,
just because the pressure to win the Masters is off
(34:23):
of him now it's a new pressure. Now it's can
he go back to back? And then if he did
win this, it's gonna be can he win the US Open.
I mean, it's never going to end for him.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
No, No, it never does. With the golf media and
just us as fans. Right, it's like, yeah, you know,
you give him mouse a cookie and it's gonna want
a glass of milk, right, Like we always want more,
we always expect more, Yeah we do, or or Rory,
but yeah, I you can't go. It's it's it's really
hard to argue, you know, either either way. I don't
(34:54):
think I think both those guys are going to finish
in the top ten regardless of who you pick.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
Yeah, and I hope that it's a really fun Sunday
between the two of them. That would be awesome to watch.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
That would be. Yeah, I don't think we've had that
in some time between those two guys. Maybe maybe it
was the FedEx Cup we had that Is that what
it was, Yeah, something like that, But yeah, it would be.
It would be a terrific storyline, especially for for Rory.
And I mean again, like with Scotty, it's like, Okay,
his major championships have come at at Augusta, right, Yeah, Like,
(35:26):
can can he win outside of just Augusta National?
Speaker 1 (35:31):
Yeah? Well we're about to find out.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Okay, Before we go real quick, I want you to
be able to tell everybody where you work because we
didn't talk about it in the first episode. And you know, I,
yes you are my neighbor, and yes you love golf,
but that's not why I picked you to be on
the podcast. So why don't you tell everyone what you do?
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Yes? So I am I. I am the director of
Instruction at Inglewood Golf Club in ken Moore, Washington. And
Inglewood is really old club, found in nineteen nineteen. It
hosted numerous, you know, numerous senior Tour events, used to
(36:09):
host the GTE back in the nineties and eighties, and
then it hosted the Greater Seattle Open on the PGA
Tour in the sixties and Fred Pupples is at his
charity event out there. It's a great club, a lot
of history and I serve as the head teaching professional,
overseeing all aspects of golf instruction, so personalized lessons, group clinics,
(36:31):
anything to do with getting better at golf. I help
and facilitate in that and extremely grateful and proud to
be at that club in that role as a true
golf nerd and SICKO is perfect job for me.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Well, we appreciate you joining us on the podcast this
year because it is great to have your knowledge, but
also just your love of the game. You know, you
bring it all together and I appreciate it so well.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
Thank you, Ashley, thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
Thanks and let's have a great week at the PGA Championship.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Yes cheers. Sequail Hollow, thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
For listening to the nineteenth Whole Podcast sponsored by Tito's
Handmade Vodka. What's better than sinking a hole in one?
Sinking a hole in one with your favorite Tito's cocktail
in hand. A day on the Back nine calls for
a beverage, so serve up some Tito's for a postgame, midgame,
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Distilled in bottled by Fifth Generation, Inc. Austin, Texas, forty
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