The Golf Insiders

The Golf Insiders July 27, 2016

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game or listen in the Orlando area on FM 96.9 Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. to hear The Golf Insiders live. Add The Golf Insiders podcast to your iPhone as an app. Click here and go to the bottom of the device's screen to create the "Quick Launch" icon for the Golf Insiders. Once you've done this it will add The Golf Insiders podcast as an App to your home screen. 

Holly G along with co host Kevin Sternett, assistant pro at Golden Bear Club at Keene's Point, and Will Perry, creative director at EVVUS and social media ace for The Golf Insiders, are in the studio on the eve of the PGA Championship. 

Holly mentions The Golf United Charity Scramble for Pulse Orlando event Aug 26, 2016, Visit the web site golfunited.org to find out how you can help or participate.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in from Baltusrol to talk to listeners about the 4th major that this year ends in July. Bob said it has been since 1968 that the majors have ended this early. Hasn't been a long time between Stenson's win at the Open Championship until now. 

Bob talks about the tough course and the hot weather that is ahead for the players on a short notice.

Holly said she thinks it favors Phil Mickelson and his game. Bob said that Phil hasn't had a lot of time to mull over the second place in Scotland after playing so well.

Holly and Bob talk about Rory McIlroy and other top golfer's chances to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy. Bob picks McIlroy to win.

Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News, is the next guest who calls in from Baltusrol to talk about the PGA Championship. Dustin Johnson, Rory, Jason Day, and Phil are all playing well and could win.  But it's an old time course and has seen a lot of action over the years. Had some big names win there.

Holly asks Mike about the Par 4s. Mike said he doesn't believe that any of the Par 4s are "driveable". 

Mike feels that DJ will be in the mix, Rory, but would love to see Sergio Garcia win a major sometime.

Jeff Babineau, Golfweek, calls in to talk about the 4th major of the season already. Jeff talks about Jason Day's press conference and other press conferences. Day is not feeling well. Some of the golfers seem inpatient.

Some PGA Club professionals are also competing this week such as Matt Dobyns, Rod Perry right alongside the PGA Tour pros.

Holly talks with Jeff about Jhonattan Vegas' win at the RBC Championship and qualifying for the PGA Championship. Also Henrik Stenson's win at the British Open and being able to go back to his native Sweden for a short time to enjoy it. Listeners can visit Golfweek.com and can check out all the coverage of the PGA Championship as well as the Women's Open Championship across the pond.

Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, joins the show from Baltusrol and talks about Phil Mickelson and the world class field at a very challenging course. Mentally they have to come ready to go. 

Kevin asks about Henrik Stenson and how he is doing after his first major win. Todd feels that his win there will open the floodgates for Henrik. When he plays well, wins come in bunches. He won in June on the European Tour and follows that win up with the Open Championship win.

Todd says that experience and having control of your emotions is key for players to be successful on the Tours.

Holly asks Todd about Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia being two of the best players without a major championship. You get double Ryder Cup points at this event and Lee can get a big boost there.  You have to look at guys who are playing well right now. Todd feels the top 3 at this time are DJ, Henrik and Sergio.

Long time sports writer and bestselling author Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, calls in to wrap up the show talking about USA's win at the UL International and the Women's British Open Championship. 

Steve feels that Gerina Piller has a good chance to win this week's major even though she hasn't won. He said that Gerina has figured out her putting stroke and that was what was holding her back.

Holly asks Steve about the PGA Championship. He feels that oddly enough that Phil Mickelson might be the favorite to win. 

The Golf Insiders July 20, 2016

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game or listen in the Orlando area on FM 96.9 Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. to hear The Golf Insiders live. Add The Golf Insiders podcast to your iPhone as an app. Click here and go to the bottom of the device's screen to create the "Quick Launch" icon for the Golf Insiders. Once you've done this it will add The Golf Insiders podcast as an App to your home screen. 

Holly G along with co host Kevin Sternett, assistant pro at Golden Bear Club at Keene's Point are in the studio for a complete wrap up of Henrik Stenson's win at the 145th Open Championship as well as other golf stories from the past week as well as a look ahead to next week's action across the Tours.

Sunday's final round with Stenson pitted against Phil Mickelson was one for the ages. Stenson carded an 8-under 63 to tie Johnnie Miller's lowest final round score by a major champion. His 20-under 264 was the lowest 72-hole score ever in a major championship. Phil shot a final round 65 and finished with a 267.

Mike Kern, Philadelphia Daily News, calls in to talk with Holly G and Kevin about the Open Championship. Mike said that it was the second time in four years that someone shot 20-under-par in a major. Mike mentions that Phil started the championship just missing out on a record 62 after his ball lipped out on the 18th hole and then shoots a bogey-free round Sunday but still loses by two strokes.

Holly talks about the slump Stenson was in for a couple of years and how he has come back. Mike mentions that Tiger went through two different slumps during his career and was able to come back and play at a high level. Jordan Spieth is in a little bit of a slump and so is McIlroy. Mike said that's what makes Tiger's feat of a 10-year stretch playing at such an unbelievable level so phenomenal. 

Long time sports writer and bestselling author Steve Eubanks, currently with Global Golf Post, calls in from the UL International Crown in Chicago to share his thoughts about the Open Championship.  Steve talks with Holly about LPGA Tour and Lydia Ko's fourth win of the season at the Marathon Classic in Ohio.

Kevin, Steve and Holly talk about the team competitions on the LPGA Tour. The teams in the UL Crown is based on the World Rankings of the four team members. Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson are the #1 and #2 players in the world will not be competing in the competition with not many other players for their country ranked high enough to qualify a team for the country.

Holly talks with Steve about the quick turnaround in the PGA Tour schedule and playing the PGA Championship a month early because of the Olympics. 

In the final segment of the show, Holly welcomes Steve Trattner, one of the partners at Knuth Golf, to the show to talk about the company's award-winning High Heat Driver, 3-wood and hybrid have taken the golf industry by storm, with their lower and deeper center of gravity, perfectly situated for the amateur golf swing. Central Floridians can get a chance to check out the High Heat July 26, 28-29  from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at The Villages and also at the Timacuan Country Club in Lake Mary on July 27 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. 

The Golf United Charity Scramble for Pulse Orlando web site is live. Visit golfunited.org to find out how you can help.

The Golf Insiders July 13, 2016

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game or listen in the Orlando area on FM 96.9 Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. to hear The Golf Insiders live. Add The Golf Insiders podcast to your iPhone as an app. Click here and go to the bottom of the device's screen to create the "Quick Launch" icon for the Golf Insiders. Once you've done this it will add The Golf Insiders podcast as an App to your home screen. 

Holly G along with co host Kevin Sternett, assistant pro at Golden Bear Club at Keene's Point and Will Perry, creative director at EVVUS and social media ace for The Golf Insiders, are in the studio on the eve of the 145th Open Championship in Royal Troon, Scotland.

The Golf United Charity Scramble for Pulse Orlando web site is live. Visit golfunited.org to find out how you can help.

Holly talks with the guys about the U.S. Women's Open Championship that ended once again in a rules infraction. With Anna Nordqvist being penalized for unknowingly moving a grain of sand in the bunker on the second hole of a 3-hole aggregate playoff.

Holly G talks with Kevin and Will about the 20 professional golfers who have opted out of playing golf in the 2016 Rio Olympics with the latest American being Jordan Spieth. The sport is only slated to play in this Olympics and the 2020 Olympics after not being part of the games for more than 100 years.

Another headline was that Rory McIlroy speaking out about drug testing for golfers in the Olympics being basically a joke. 

Holly welcomes Jeff Babineau, Golfweek, from Scotland to the show to talk about the Open Championship and Rory's comments. Justin Rose is that golf is skipping Rio and not the Olympics. Jeff said that you really can't blame any of the participants since you can't guarantee someone's health in Rio you can't blame them for not participating. Jeff stressed that it's not just the Zika virus, but the Tour schedule as well as security concerns that have all factored into the player's decisions.  Plus for Tour players this might only be the 5th or 6th most important event this season with the Major Championships. Those don't exist in other sports so golfers don't grow up dreaming of playing in the Olympics as they might in the other sports where no major trophy or goal exists.

Jeff had a chance to walk the course with Matt Kuchar today who now is the fourth member of the U.S. Olympic team. Matt, a 38-year-old is excited about the Olympics and a possibility of a gold medal.

Holly talks with Jeff about the course at Royal Troon and how it sets up for the golfers competing in the Open Championship that starts tomorrow. The wind and the weather will be factors as it is always at Royal Troon as well as the creativity coming from the pot bunkers.

Jeff feels the course that solid ball strikers should be favored on this course and golfers who like to fight and hang in there for 4 days. Luck and the player's draw also factor into who will win. Adam Scott is Jeff's pick.

Todd Lewis, the Golf Channel, the course is green and looks good. Probably low scores on Thursday but maybe not Friday with the poor weather that's on the forecast. Holly talks with Todd about the course's pot bunkers and the creativity that may come from the players as they try to escape with an up and down over the next four days, especially at the postage stamp 8th hole. Todd says that it's a wedge shot of about 120-130 yards. Todd says there may be some train wrecks on the hole and will be a fun hole to watch.

Holly asks Todd about Rory's comments about the Olympics ... Todd agrees with Brandel Chamblee's comments that Rory could have said it a little more eloquently instead of how he said it which seemed like a slap in the face to those who worked tirelessly to get golf back into the Olympics. Also Rory's comments about it not being his responsibility to grow the game of golf.  It seemed odd since Rory is totally the opposite when it comes to helping children get into golf and his charities that help others. Todd thinks that it might be a difficult for Rory with all this extra stuff in the media.

Todd says that it's just the ninth time that Royal Troon has hosted the Open Championship and the last time was 2004 so a lot of the players aren't familiar with it. Guys who have good form now and those who like links golf courses. Like Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson, Scott Piercy or even Patrick Reed who finished second at the Scottish Open last week. Another player who may do well this week is Danny Lee who was a former European Tour member. This is the Golf Channel's first time covering a major. Jason Day is Todd's pick to win.

Steve Eubanks, The Global Golf Post, calls in the final segment of the show to talk about the U.S. Women's Open Championship and the USGA's handling of the ruling on Anna Nordqvist. He said it clearly was a penalty but it's how they handled the penalty. As far as the Open Championship, Steve's pick is Jordan Spieth. Kevin picks Justin Rose and Gary Woodland, Will takes DJ and Holly takes Sergio and Jason Day. Holly's dark horse is Danny Willett.

The Golf Insiders July 7, 2016

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game or listen in the Orlando area on FM 96.9 Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. to hear The Golf Insiders live. Add The Golf Insiders podcast to your iPhone as an app. Click here and go to the bottom of the device's screen to create the "Quick Launch" icon for the Golf Insiders. Once you've done this it will add The Golf Insiders podcast as an App to your home screen. 

Holly G along with co host Kevin Sternett, assistant pro at Golden Bear Club at Keene's Point and Will Perry, creative director at EVVUS and social media guru for The Golf Insiders, briefly cover Dustin Johnson's comeback win at the WGC-Bridgestone and Brooke Henderson's back-to-back wins on the LPGA Tour. This week is the U.S. Women's Open conducted by the USGA. 

Holly G makes a special announcement about the GolfUnited Pulse Orlando Scramble scheduled for Friday, Aug 26, 2016 at the Grand Cypress Golf Club. The scramble benefits the OneOrlando and Pulse of Orlando Funds and starts at 8 a.m. There will also be an After Party and Silent Auction. The goal is to raise $100,000.

Robert Scott, Grand Cypress Golf Club's Tournament Director, calls in to talk with The Golf Insiders about the upcoming tournament. The GolfUnited Fundraising Scramble will be played on the New Course at Grand Cypress, which is Jack Nicklaus’ tribute and homage to the famed Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. 100% of the proceeds from the Scramble and the Silent Auction that follows the event will go to OneOrlando and Pulse of Orlando Funds. One way to contribute is to donate $49 and "buy" a sign along the fairway. Volunteers are needed to help out with this major event. You don't have to be a golfer to participate or contribute. Participants need to RSVP to reserve their spot by contacting Holly G at 321-303-9684 or Will Perry at 727-364-6384.

In the second segment of the show, Holly welcomes Jeff Shain, former Orlando Sentinel golf writer and now with the Sports Editor at the Island Packet in South Carolina. Holly and Jeff talk about the recent success of Dustin Johnson. The final leader board from the WGC showed good showings for Spieth, Kevin Chappell, Scott Piercy and Matt Kuchar. Jeff points out that Chappell has placed second a number of times this season on the Tour and is waiting for him to break through with a win.

With the British Open only two weeks ago Holly G talks about the recent play from Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace. Holly asks Jeff about Jason Day's final four holes at the WGC Bridgestone when he handed the tournament over to whoever was trailing him.

Kevin talks with Jeff about Dustin Johnson's potential of becoming #1 in the OWGR. Jeff didn't think that DJ would overcome Spieth. It'll take one big victory and another victory before Day can finish well which will allow DJ to catch Day.

Holly asks Jeff who he's keeping his eye on as potential winners of the Open Championship: Jeff says McIlroy and Stenson.

In the third segment Holly G talks with Kevin and Will about the LPGA's U.S. Women's Open this week and the stars like Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, Gernia Piller and Ariya Jutanugarn's performances this season making the LPGA even more exciting than usual. 

Jon Claffey, National Director/Sales and Marketing at Volvik USA INC., calls in to wrap up the show and talk to Holly G, Will and Kevin about the success of Volvik Golf Balls and the Inaugural LPGA event the Volvik Championship in Michigan with more than 30,000 people come event. Volvik is base in Orlando and is the fastest growing golf ball company in North America. Jon talks about the 12 different staff players and the success of the colored balls three wins in three years.