The Golf Insiders

The Golf Insiders April 6, 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 and guest;Dr. Bob Winters, Sports Psychologist from David Leadbetter Academy, Mental Conditioning Coach and renowned author, and Kevin Sternett, assistant pro at Golden Bear Club at Keene's Point, Will Perry, EVVUS, are in the studio for the Masters preview show sponsored by SwingClick. 

Holly asks Dr. Bob about all the amazing story lines surrounding this years Masters. Such as: Newcomer Kevin Kisner, Jordan Spieth going for back-to-back Masters titles, Rory McIlroy trying to complete the major grand slam, Jason Day going for back to back majors or three consecutive PGA Tour wins. Then their is fan favorite Phil Mickelson's continued quest to get the green jacket once again.

Dr. Bob explains that players are fighting not only the battle in their own mind, but they and others expectations. The mental and emotional jousting along with a lot of great golf. The duo talk about the Masters' Par 3 contest had 9 hole-in-ones including back-to-back aces on the same hole by Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler. Gary Player had an ace on the first hole at 80-years-young. 

Garry Smits, Florida Times Union in Jacksonville, calls in from the press room at Augusta National. Garry said that there has been a lot of discussion about whether some of the players have over prepared or under prepared.

The Masters has the best practice area in the world. Jason Day had mentioned that you can be out there all day and leave your game on the range. Dr Bob asks Garry about that premise. Garry feels that the way that you beat this course is to play it over and over, instead of spending hours on the practice greens and driving ranges.

Holly talks to Garry about the weather at Augusta for the week of the Masters.  Smits mentions that the greens are firm and fast. He thinks the wind might be the issue more than the rain. The wind players and the Europeans and someone like Rickie Fowler have the advantage typically with these conditions.

Holly asks about Jim Herman's win at the Shell Houston Open last week that earned him the final spot for this year's Masters tournament. There were some really good golfers in the field that Herman beat. Gary said that Herman has played a lot of golf and is 38 years old. Gary said that his pick is Bubba Watson to win his third Green Jacket this week.

SwingClick PLUS, one of the #1 training devices on Amazon.com. Master your timing, temp and rhythm with SwingClick. Mike Weir, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson are three left handed golfers who have won The Masters. 

Holly asks Kevin Sternett, who has been to Augusta six times, about his experience at Augusta many years ago. Dr Bob talks about the undulations and the slope of the greens at Augusta and how they are different than other courses.

Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, calls in from Augusta after spending time at the ANA Inspiration the week before won by Lydia Ko. Her second major championship at the age of 18. Steve talks about that Ko isn't the most powerful golfer on the LPGA, but she is one of the most consistent players on the tour. Dr Bob talks to Steve about the demeanor of Lydia and that is what separates her from the field. Steve said that he feels that Jason Day or Bubba Watson to win the Masters this week.

Kip Ingle calls in from The Golf Auction to wrap up the show and talks about some vintage golf collectibles and memorabilia. The actual ball that Cary Middlecoff used to win the 1955 Masters. Arnold Palmer's 1958 ball he used to win the Masters. A first edition of Down The Fairway that is autographed are just some of the items you can bid on. Also you can consign your items with The Golf Auction or call 866-842-0268. The Golf Auction has a few auctions that run during the course of the year.

The Golf Insiders March 30, 2016

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game (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. 

"WE'RE BACK!" ... After a few months hibernation, The Golf Insiders is back kicking off Season 8 with show host Holly "G" Geoghegan and special guest Jay Golden, Winter Pines Golf Course in Winter Park, Fla., and PGA Instructor. 

Holly and Jay recap the week in golf that saw Jason Day win the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship and Tony Finau capture the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach. This week is the Shell Houston Open followed by the season's first major championship, The Masters. This week is the first of 5 majors on the LPGA, it's the ANA Inspiration. 

Will Perry, Founder and Creative Director of EVVUS is also in the studio this week. Will is going to be "ramping" up the social media platforms at The Golf Insiders.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, is the season's first guest. Holly asks Bob about Jason Day's back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour. Bob said it was a little strange that a couple weeks ago Day was asked about his slow start on the Tour this season. Next thing you know, he wins back to back events and everything is changed.

Now it's six wins in his last 13 starts. Even though he almost withdrew from the WGC due to back issues, he gutted it out and won.  Bob said that it sets up for a great Masters next week. Holly talked about Jordan Spieth and the naysayers comparing this year to last year and Jordan's response was that I already won this season and didn't last year. Last season Spieth lost in a playoff the week before the Masters and he went on to win it. 

Jay asks Bob about Spieth's putting this year so far as compared to last year, especially from 20-30 feet. Strokes gained tee to green last year was near or in the top 5 on the PGA Tour, so putting wasn't the only key last year. Bob feels that Jordan isn't striking the ball as well so far this year consistently as he did last year.

Holly asks Bob about this format at the WGC compared to last year. Bob doesn't like the fact there are so many matches on Friday that really didn't matter. He thinks it might be better if there were more double elimination matches in the first couple of days. Once you get to Saturday, if good players have survived match play, then it's good TV.

Holly asks Bob who he thinks really would benefit from going into the Masters and do well for the rest of the season.  Bob said Spieth, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed. But Bob feels the Rory McIlroy really needed to play this week to get in form for the first major.

Jay asks Bob if there is any updates on Tiger Woods?  Bob said no and he doesn't realistically think Tiger will not play in the Masters this year even though he has not shut the door and said No, he won't play.

Holly tells the listeners about The Golf Auction hosting its annual global online auction that runs through April 10, 2016. Numerous memorabilia and collectibles will be auctioned off during this 10-day auction. This year’s online auction will feature a number of finds of great historical significance.  They include championship-used golf balls from Arnold Palmer’s 1958 Masters win and Cary Middlecoff’s 1955 Masters win, along with Ben Hogan’s 1951 U.S. Open win and Ed Furgol’s 1954 U.S. Open triumph.  In addition, the Middlecoff and Furgol balls are autographed, and Middlecoff’s also bears an inscription to Ralph Hutchison, the legendary golf pro who from 1947-1971 was the 18th green announcer at Augusta. 

Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, calls in from Rancho Mirage, California, the site of the ANA Inspiration, formerly the Dinah Shore. Holly and Steve talk about Lydia Ko and the success she's had so far this season. Steve said that Lydia said that she doesn't remember hitting the ball better than she is now. She used to "over cook" some of her drives and now she doesn't. 

Holly said that there is only one American in the top 10 on the money list so far this season, Stacy Lewis. Holly G asks Steve about Lewis and how she seems now since she recently go engaged. Steve thinks that inside the ropes he thinks she will do fine this year.  Steve and Holly also talk about Michelle Wie who turned pro 10 years ago.

Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, calls in from the Shell Houston Open. Todd says that this is a big week for Jordan Spieth, who recently lost his #1 ranking to Jason Day. He says that Spieth has been playing well, but not great like he was before when he had his number one ranking. 

Holly talks with Todd about who might win the Masters. Jason Day, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth will be talked about a lot this week prior to the Masters and Todd thinks that is a good thing for McIlroy who needs the green jacket to complete his career grand slam. Todd also feels that Phil has a really good shot at winning the Masters this year. 

The Golf Insiders 12-16-15

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game (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 is in the studio with special guest hosts Mike Jamison, The Examiner.com and Jamison Golf Group and Brendan Sweeney, Director of Golf Media and Player Relations at French Lick Resort, Ind. are in the studio for the Ultimate Holiday Show for the last show of this year. 

Mike was at the Golf Fore Kids at Mesquite Nevada, more than 500 players brought about 800 toys for needy children. Mike wrote an article about the event for the Examiner that can be read here. 

Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel,  calls in to talk to the gang about the last couple of weeks in the world of golf. Todd was in the Bahamas for the Hero World Challenge, an event that Tiger hosts but could not play because of the recent back surgeries. Todd was also surprised that the greatest player of his generation may never be great again.  

Todd is interested to when Tiger will come back and if he can compete with the big three in golf: Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day. He believes Tiger would get in the Top 15 or 20 but maybe not the Top 10 again.

Todd says that there are going to be some equipment changes and some very prominent players in the start of January 2016. Doing that will take some adjustments for all the players so it will take some time.

Patrick Rodgers, All American at Stanford, may be a star in the making after earning a Tour exemption through playing and winning under sponsors exemptions. 

Holly asks about Sergio Garcia's chances of making a comeback but Todd feels that maturity and momentum will be major factors for Sergio. 

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to the show and talks with the trio. Bob was at the Hero World Challenge and talks about Tiger's press conference. Tiger is not sure when he is going to be able to do anything for the next couple of months. If he doesn't do anything on the golf course, he'd be okay with that given all his accomplishments. Tiger has not being able to practice. So much remains to be seen. Tiger can't rush back this time and he knows it ... he has to be completely healed. Bob recently wrote an article It's not time to write off Tiger Woods. Holly asks Bob about Tiger's recent interview with Tiger Woods in Time magazine. 

Bob and Holly talk about Bubba Watson's statement that if he reaches number one in the world he will retire from golf. Bob thinks there is plenty of more golf years with Bubba. Brendan asks Bob about Bubba Watson being missed if he walked away from golf would he be missed?

Jordan Spieth made the putt on the 16th hole at St Andrews to tie and to know that he could have gone on to win the grand slam. Unfortunately he bogeyed the next hole and didn't win the third major, but the fact that he came that close to winning a grand slam is one of the top moments of this golf year. 

Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, calls in to wrap up the show. Steve feels that Rory will be determined to win the Masters.  Lydia Ko is the Jordan Spieth of ladies golf. The person to watch is Sei Young Kim, this year's rookie of the year on the LPGA Tour. Steve also talks about the upcoming Olympics in 2016.

The Golf Insiders will return around the end of January 2016 around the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

The Golf Insiders 12-02-2015

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game (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 is in the studio with special guest host Brendan Sweeney, Director of Golf Media and Player Relations at French Lick Resort, Ind., recapping the last couple weeks of golf. 

Kevin Kisner won the RSM Championship for his first PGA Tour victory.

Holly and Brendan talk about Tiger's announcement that he is not close to being rehabilitated to start another comeback.

Lydia Ko won the  Race to CME Globe for the second year in a row and the final event of the season, the CME Group Tour Championship was won by Christie Kerr.

Todd Lewis, Golf Channels, calls in to talk to the duo from the Bahamas about the Hero World Challenge as well as Tiger Woods' announcement about his health. Tiger's career is not over, but he has a different attitude about if his career ended today would he be satisfied. 

Todd said that Tiger has been hinting at the fact that his career is in a valley right now but is hanging on to hope that they can get his body and his game back to where he wants to be, competing for a tournament win.

Holly talks about the fact that Tiger can't even play soccer or pick up his kids and so far all Tiger can do is walk and take one step at a time. Todd mentions that there have been plenty of back surgeries and have come back. Look at Davis Love III, at the age of 51, with a fused neck Love won a PGA Tour event. Todd says that Tiger may take time off and is dejected but it is going to take some time, but Tiger can come back. He's only 39.

Holly and Todd talk about Jordan Spieth and how his year has gone winning two majors and coming close to two others as well as the FedEx Cup championship. Rory McIlroy closes the year out winning the European Tour's Race to Dubai Championship. 

With Tiger's back surgery at the top of the news, Holly welcomes Dr Mitchell Suppler from the NeuroSpine Institute here in the Orlando area to the show and talks with him about Tiger's condition, the surgery he had and what his outlook may be. 

Dr Suppler talks with Holly about the importance of stretching.  If they are strong and flexible you will be able to maximize what you can do with your spine. Can't be one and not the other. Even someone as fit as Tiger can have these injuries. 

Brendan asks Dr Suppler about the long term effects of having three surgeries in a row. Dr. Suppler said there is a psychological impact when you have been through the surgery and have rehabbed and expect to get back to your normal life and then boom it happens again.

Tiger's issue is not such an issue that he would be paralyzed but it could become a degenerative disc injure. If he had another injury in the same spot the doctors would probably recommend a fusion of he two vertebrae. Dr Mitchell thinks that Tiger can come back and be competitive. But he feels that Tiger needs to modify his work habit, just like a typical non professional golfer would have to do. 

Tiger has to dial back his powerful swing and be in more control to be successful. Dr Suppler said he doesn't see Tiger being the player he was, but it will take some time.

Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, calls in to talk to Holly about the incredible Lydia Ko and her second Race to the CME Globe title. Steve talks about how mature Lydia is.

Steve also talks about the catalyst of the Hero World Challenge win in 2014 that catapulted his success on the PGA Tour all season long in 2015.

Holly also Steve about the recent USGA Rules of Golf changes, especially the one about not being able to post your own score if you play alone and be able to maintain a handicap.

Some other new rules, that PGA Tour players must add new events they've never played before in 2016-2017 season.