Ep154: Ian Baker-Finch retires, Cam Young's Killer Final Day for his First PGA Tour Win, and a Royal Melbourne 'Open Update'

Fun pod today. Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen kick it off by discussing our reworked set - still at Titleist and FootJoy HQ but in a different space.....a change is as good as a holiday. Speaking of holidays, tickets are selling well for our Talk Birdie To Me Golf Day at Links Golf and Wellbeing on the Gold Coast on October 8th, after being on sale for about 5-days, nearly a third of the tickets are sold, so the day will sell out - we'd love to see you there, tickets available here.

We discuss the domination of the Asia Pacific region in womens golf at the moment, with a new number one in the world in Jeeno Thitikul, and Nick and Mark discuss why they are dominating. Work ethic is a clear standout reason according to the boys. Nick suggests getting Jan Stephenson on the pod as a guest. Steph Kyriacou played well in tough conditions at the weekend, and one particular shot involving her was extraordinary, we discuss.

And the retirement of a legend. Ian Baker-FInch, what a career, Nick and Mark love what he has done and how good he is. Although missing the discussion about IBF due to the international feed being delivered into Australia was very disappointing - Mark has had enough and says 'we are missing so much' by being given the international feed. Nick says Jim Nance is the best in the business, and he's one that he wants to hear, rather than the international feed team.

In the chat about IBF we also find out that Mark is a tight-arse. And we discuss who might replace IBF, Frank Nobilo the consensus choice from Nick and Mark.

Cam Young, a great win at the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina, and a fantastic final round (after a tough first hole) to win his first ever PGA tournament. We discuss that final round. Nick is reminded of playing this tournament and described it as the greatest cut he ever made, and tells the story of why.

Update on Royal Melbourne's preparation for the Australian Open. It's good news, and Mark is pleased to have heard it and to pass it on.

Last week we had a voicemail from wolfpacker Tom in Arizona, and Mark decided to give Tom some homework - this is what the podcast has become, we're giving homework to wolfpackers, we really are quite disgraceful. Nonetheless, Tom delivers in spades with a ripping Top 5 desert courses in Arizona, with rationale for each. During the turn, Mark has been on google looking at Tom's number 1 course, and he decides that he needs to visit Arizona to play it. We'd like to be in the room when Mark asks his wife for permission to fly to Arizona to play a round of golf. Onto the Top 5, Mark lists the 5 things that The Australian Open needs to have implemented to make it as good as it can be, and as good as it used to be.

Breaking news - next week we'll have a bonus pod chatting to Steve Williams, former caddy of Tiger, about his new book - and he will personally sign a copy to one wolfpacker. How do you win? Well we want your questions to ask Steve, what would you like us to ask on your behalf? We'll choose three and put all three to Steve, and Nick will vote on the best question to win the signed book. Let us know on socials, or message us through the Talk Birdie website here. Our bonus pod with Steve will be later next week.

Nick runs through the PING globals from the weekend, and we have plenty of feedback to run through. Amongst other things we talk ball fitting, equipment evolution, blades vs hollow clubs, and a couple of suggestions for other players who didn't live up to their potential.

And a reminder that later this week we'll do our review pod on Happy Gilmore 2!

We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:

• Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;
• FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store.
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• And watchMynumbers: download from the App Store or Google Play, and Southern Golf Club: with their brand new Simulator Room.

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