FORE the Good of the Game

In this second installment of our three-part conversation with 1985 U.S. Women’s Open champion Kathy Guadagnino (Baker), we journey deep into the most defining moment of her golf career—and the faith that carried her through it.

Kathy recounts the pivotal decision to pursue professional golf, guided by a strong spiritual calling and a leap of faith at LPGA Q-School. Listeners will be drawn into the tension and triumph of that qualif...

In this first episode of our three-part conversation with 1985 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Kathy Guadagnino (Baker), we tee off with a delightful surprise—singing happy birthday to Kathy on the very day of our interview. What follows is a heartfelt and revealing look at the early chapters of a champion’s life.

Born in Albany, New York, Kathy reflects on her childhood split between upstate New York and Florida, where her father’s love...

In the final chapter of our four-part conversation with two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, we explore the deeper reflections and enduring values that have shaped his remarkable life in and beyond golf. Lee shares candid insights into the transition from the PGA Tour to the Champions Tour, the physical and mental adjustments required, and the motivations that keep him competitive today.

We hear entertaining stories of his playof...

In Part 3 of our four-part conversation with two-time U.S. Open Champion Lee Janzen, we dive deep into the pivotal years of his remarkable career. Lee reflects on his memorable first Ryder Cup appearance at The Belfry in 1993, where he was the youngest member of a veteran-laden U.S. team. He shares candid memories of the intensity of international competition, including the unforgettable 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama under Seve Ball...

In Part 2 of our special four-part conversation with two-time U.S. Open Champion Lee Janzen, we pick up his inspiring journey as a young professional grinding his way toward PGA Tour success. Lee candidly shares the struggles he faced from 1986 to 1989, navigating mini-tours and Monday qualifiers with limited resources and an unwavering determination to make it to the big stage.

Hear firsthand how Lee’s perseverance paid off, culmin...

Join hosts Mike Gonzalez and Bruce Devlin for the first of a captivating four-part conversation with two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen on FORE the Good of the Game. In this episode, Lee reflects on his earliest memories growing up, from his birth in Austin, Minnesota, to childhood years in New Jersey, Maryland, and ultimately Florida, where he discovered his passion for golf. Lee shares vivid anecdotes of his introduction to s...

In the powerful conclusion to our eight-part conversation with World Golf Hall of Fame member Hale Irwin, we journey with one of golf’s greatest competitors as he reflects on the final chapter of his playing career and the enduring legacy he leaves behind.

Irwin shares memories of his seventh and final senior major victory at Valhalla, a week marked by rain delays, back pain, and a quiet moment of clarity found in the solitude of hi...

In the seventh installment of our exclusive eight-part series with World Golf Hall of Fame legend Hale Irwin, we fast forward to the next chapter of his remarkable career—his unforgettable run on the PGA TOUR Champions. Hale reflects on turning 50 in 1995 and stepping into senior golf with the same fire and precision that defined his prime. In his own voice, he recounts celebrating his milestone birthday at a Wendy’s after a rain-d...

In this sixth installment of our eight-part conversation with World Golf Hall of Fame member Hale Irwin, we dive deep into the heart of major championship golf and reflect on the enduring lessons of a remarkable career. Hale, always thoughtful and candid, revisits his storied experiences at Augusta National, sharing his personal connection to the Masters and what it meant to walk its hallowed grounds—both as a competitor and a stew...

Hale Irwin, 3-time winner of the U.S. Open, concludes his look back on his PGA TOUR days by recounting his final few individual and team wins. As a 45-year-old Hale prevailed at the 1990 U.S. Open at Medinah with a comeback for the ages. He has fond memories of the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah, not because of the result but because of the camaraderie and grittiness displayed by both sides. Hale derived much satisfaction from his final ...

5-time Ryder Cup player, Hale Irwin covers the middle years of his professional career beginning with a 3-win 1977 and his second Ryder Cup appearance. Hale's 1979 year was pretty special with a U.S. Open triumph at Inverness, a victory in the World Cup partnered with John Mahaffey and another Ryder Cup win in the first year of continental Europeans joining the team. He followed that up with a 2-win 1981 and a fourth Ryder Cup...

20-time winner on the PGA Tour, Hale Irwin takes us back to his early days on Tour and shares the lessons he learned from mentors like Bruce Devlin and Dale Douglas. Surviving the pressures of being a "Monday qualifier", Hale finally closed the deal in his fifth year on Tour, prevailing at the 1973 Sea Pines Heritage Classic. Confidence from that first victory propelled him to success the following year at the U.S. Open a...

World Golf Hall of Fame member Hale Irwin looks back on the importance of notching his first career win at Harbour Town in 1971, the first of three wins at the Heritage. He then relives each of his three U.S. Open victories beginning with 1974 at Winged Foot where he won with a score of +7 as the USGA did not want a repeat of the Johnny Miller final round of 63 at Oakmont the previous year. He prevailed at Inverness Club in 1979 by...

Hale Irwin, a 3-time U.S. Open winner and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, shares his memories of growing up as a baseball Cardinals fan in Kansas and Colorado and learning the game of golf on sand greens at the local muni. Hale was a star athlete in football and baseball but eventually gravitated towards golf after winning the 1967 NCAA Division I Individual Golf Championship. Listen in as he takes us through his thinking ...

In the heartfelt conclusion of our four-part conversation with 1993 U.S. Women’s Open champion Lauri Merten, we explore life beyond the ropes and the journey that followed her greatest triumph. With sincerity and introspection, Lauri opens up about the challenges of balancing fame, personal relationships, and the emotional toll of a life in competitive golf.

She reflects on the impact of her U.S. Open win—from newfound celebrity to ...

In this third installment of our four-part conversation with 1993 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Lauri Merten, we dive headfirst into the emotional and unforgettable week at Crooked Stick that changed her life forever. With raw honesty and captivating detail, Lauri takes us through the rollercoaster of self-doubt, resilience, and unlikely triumph that defined her historic victory.

Coming off a missed cut the week prior and wrestling wit...

In Part 2 of our four-part conversation with 1993 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Lauri Merten, we explore the winding and often challenging road that led her to the LPGA Tour—and her breakthrough victory.

Lauri shares her early experiences playing in professional events as a teenager, including a memorable LPGA event at Sun City with her father on the bag and her stunning 67 that made her an overnight leader. From those formative moment...

In this first installment of our four-part conversation with 1993 U.S. Women’s Open Champion Lauri Merten, we journey back to where it all began. A self-proclaimed “cheesehead” born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Lauri shares her early memories of snowy winters, fried cheese curds, and a childhood move to Arizona that would unknowingly set her on the path to major championship glory.

Lauri opens up about a childhood shaped not by early ath...

In the powerful conclusion to our four-part conversation with two-time major champion Jane Geddes, we explore the remarkable evolution of a player who redefined what life after golf can look like. From the fairways to the front office, Jane’s post-playing journey is as bold and fascinating as her competitive career.

Jane shares how she pivoted from the LPGA Tour to academia, earning a law degree and quickly transitioning into a lead...