The Golf Insiders

The Golf Insiders 06-24-2015

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game 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 Jeff Shain, PGATour.com and Prime Sports Network.com   are in the studio tonight talking about Jordan Spieth's win at the Open Championship his second consecutive Major Championship this year. The youngest winner of the U.S. Open Championship since Bobby Jones in 1922 and the first since Gene Sarazen to win two majors before turning 22.

Kudos to Mike Davis for creating the excitement that was created on the 18th by making it a Par 5 instead of a Par 4.

There was a lot of consternation about the shape of the greens during the week.

Holly and Jeff talk about Dustin Johnson's heartbreak by missing the putt on the final hole. Jeff mentioned that Dustin's putting seems like it was off for the last 3 days at Chambers Bay.

Afterwards, Dustin said he thought the 4 footer would stop before it did and then he just couldn't make the shot after.

Jeff said he counted at least 6 opportunities on the back 9 DJ could have birdied or saved par. 

Holly liked Fox's technology showing the gradation of the greens really helped viewers see just how tough the greens were for the U.S. Open. The greens were dry and fast. Dustin may have hurried his second putt on the 18th.

Even without Jordan Spieth's "A" game, he stayed patient and was able to learn. He can be competitive on any type of course and not shoot himself out of a tournament very often.

Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, calls in to talk to Holly and Jeff about Chambers Bay and the 2015 U.S. Open Championship.  Todd said that more than anything what viewers saw on the 72nd hole is that Jordan knows how to finish a major championship and even though he double bogeyed earlier, he was able to collect himself and hold on for the win.  Todd feels that Jordan Spieth is one of the best clutch putter on the Tour.

Todd flew back with Jason Day's caddy and was able to talk about the 18th hole and what unfolded at Chambers Bay. The fact that Day's putt before Johnson's gave DJ some sort of a read that he could use, but in the end didn't seem to help.

This is the 4th time he had a chance to win a major on a Sunday for Dustin Johnson and he wasn't able to do it. Todd thought that DJ would two putt at worst and force a Monday playoff. DJ didn't stay for the ceremony and get the silver medal was an indication how badly it stung for Dustin Justin. 

Todd talked with Jason Day on Sunday night about his vertigo. Jason seemed optimistic. It's manageable but treatable. Need to find out what triggers it to help treat it. Holly suffers from a similar vertigo and there are exercises that you can do to help yourself. Holly said that it's like "the whole world is spinning" when it happens. 

Mike Purkey, Global Golf Post, calls in to talk with Holly and Jeff about the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. The players deserve better. Mike Davis' plan was to play the Open on nothing but fescue.

Mike was talking about fescue that when the temperature rises it turns brown fescue turns brown and lays down after a while. Late in the day a 10-12 footer you have to put enough speed to make it but if you miss it rolls 4-5 feet past the hole.

Michael Grellar is from the Seattle area and is Jordan Spieth's caddy. Grellar  got married at Chambers Bay and knows the course really well.

Jeff Babineau, Golfweek, calls in to wrap up another hour of intelligent golf talk. Babineau walked along with Jason Day and Dustin Johnson the final 18. 

Babineau wrote an article for Golfweek talking about the issues to address fro Chambers Bay: better greens, keep par 5s, address the fan experience.

Holly asked Jeff about Phil Mickelson who had trouble with the putter once again and with the greens being inconsistent from the first day. Babineau feels that Phil was very frustrated (obviously) and the window is definitely closing for Phil at the U.S. Open. Holly asked Babineau about Spieth. Jeff pointed out that what's really amazing is that Jordan was able to shoot a couple rounds where he didn't have his best stuff and still hung around. Tiger used to do that always in the past but he hasn't been able to take his success from the practice green to the course. "It's mental and Tiger used to be the toughest golfer in that department for years. Tiger playing more should help.

The Golf Insiders 06-17-15

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game 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 Jeff Shain, PGATour.com and Prime Sports Network.com are in the studio tonight on the eve of the second Major of the season, the U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay, Wash. On the PGA Tour at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, Fabian Gomez won his first PGA Tour title. 

Todd Lewis from the Golf Channel says that there are a lot of things that you need to win at the U.S. Open this year and one is being fit, be a great shot maker and have good ball control among other things. 

Holly asks Todd about what some of the players are saying about the course. Todd says that he has not heard any negative comments about Chambers Bay. They may not love it but don't hate it. But Todd says you have to have a positive frame of mind.

Rory said that this is a pure links golf course and Todd feels that the European golfers have an advantage with their knowledge of keeping the ball low. 

Phil Mickelson has a really good shot to win in Todd's mind, because the course is such an unknown and you have to be creative player and that fits Phil's game. Phil loves a thinking man golf's course.

Jeff asks Todd about PGA Executive Director of USGA Mike Davis' request to have players familiarize themselves with the course prior to the tournament. This is a unique course and you have to learn the nuances of the course. The practice rounds have been taking a long time. A lot of information gathering. 

Todd says that it is hard to predict a favorite or winner here. Rory hasn't played well lately but he has taken some time off and reboot and Todd likes his chances as well as Jordan Spieth's.

The winner of the FedEx St. Jude Classic was Fabian Gomez his first on the PGA Tour.

Jeff has a story on PGA Tour.com with a first look at the U.S. Open and Holly mentions that if you want to see some great Flyovers of the front 9 holes at Chambers Bay.

Mike Purkey, Global Golf Post, calls in from Chambers Bay, and talks about the weather and the course. Says the players don't have any idea of what to do or expect because they don't know how Mike Davis will set up the course that has only been in existence for about 7 years. The only time the course will look green is first thing in the morning then it will turn tan and yellow. Mike says that it already looks like the green has been rubbed off the practice green.

Holly asks Mike about Tiger's chances given his play of late. "Anybody's guess how he will do?" Mike likes Rory's chances and also thinks Rickie Fowler will do well at Chambers Bay. But he says that it may be one of the weakest U.S. Open field that Mike Purkey has seen in many, many years.

Liesel Niehaus and Mike Quinn call in from South Africa to talk with Holly about their product, Swingclick, which is the perfect timing and tempo swing trainer that you can actually wear on the course. The Swingclick gives audible clicks on your swing at the three key points of your swing. Their product was one of the top products at the 25th Anniversary ING Spring Conference held at Mission Inn at Howie-in-the-Hills, Fla. Gary Gilchrist who has his academy there had a chance to test the Swingclick along with some of his other teachers. Gilchrist thinks that the Swingclick is one of the best training aids he has ever used.

Holly and Jeff talk wrap up another hour of intelligent golf talk discussing the other professional tours. The KPMG Women's PGA Championship won by Inbee Park. It's a three-peat at the KPMG for Park, but the first win as the newly created "PGA" Women's Championship.

Champions Tour Bernhard Langer won the Constellation Sr Players Championship by six strokes after taking an 8-shot lead into the final round. Colin Montgomerie had to be checked out for chest pains on Saturday night and everything checked out at the hospital. He was able to play Sunday and finished third.

Fox Sports debuts its golf coverage with the U.S. Open. Fox is using drones for overhead coverage and will be in prime time since it is on the west coast. Jeff Shain picks two to win at U.S. Open, Jordan Spieth or Phil Mickelson and Holly picks Phil too.

The Golf Insiders 06-10-2015

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

Jeff Shain, PGATour.com and Prime Sports Network.com is in the studio tonight filling in for an ailing Holly G.  On the PGA Tour, David Lingmerth won the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk about the U.S. Open in Chambers Bay, Wash., talks about Tiger and his play of late. Bob said that Tiger's results were maybe a wake up call for Tiger and some of us with the way he played at The Masters. Bob and Jeff talk about the swing changes and how they take time. Tiger went through that before. Can't be talking and acting as if everything is okay when he shot his highest round of 85. 

Bob and Jeff talk about Tiger and coming back too soon after his injuries and how much he may have set himself back doing that. Now he has a new swing coach.

Jeff said he's been asking a question about how long can he put up with this and the second is he ready to retire. Bob says that he feels that there's  too much out there for him to retire and he feels like there's another run in him. Really nobody retires, they play on majors on both tours.

Jeff asks about others like Phil Mickelson headed into the U.S. Open and what can we take away from some of their play of late and how that affects their outlook for the next Major. Bob said the golf course is so different. A good attitude is paramount and doing your homework. Bob said not to put too much stock in Rory's last two European events and his poor performance. 

The Golf Insiders welcomes back Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, after being off for heart surgery. Steve calls in from the Women's PGA Championship in Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y. in the first time with the PGA moniker. The talk about the new venue is outstanding. Last week Suzann Pettersen won the Manuflife LPGA Classic. Suzann lives in the Dr. Phillips area here in Central Florida. Jeff and Steve talk about Lydia Ko's chances as well as others.

Mike Jamison, Executive Director of International Network of Golf, calls in to talk about the recent 25th Annual Spring Conference that was held at Mission Inn at Howie-in-the-Hills, Fla. About 160 people attended the conference including business and industry leaders in the golf world as well as many members of the golf media. Great products at this year's conference including Swingclick, the High Heat Driver by Knuth Golf, who developed the slope system or the PGA. Putting training aid out of Tampa Laser Training aid for putting. Dennis Walters put on a demonstration. The Dennis Walters Golf Show is a one hour combination of "Golf Lessons and Life Lessons". It is great golf, great fun, along with an inspiring message. The show is also about reaching for dreams and Dennis is not talking about a dream you have at night. 

Flinggolf is a natural sport for Lacrosse, Baseball, Hockey, and Tennis Players fit right into the adaptive theme of the ING conference 

Lance Ringler, Golfweek talks about LSU winning the 2015 Men's Div 1 NCCA Golf Championship. Lance believes that the women's tournament overshadowed the men's this year for the first time in a while and both were played at The Concession Golf Club. It was a great two weeks of golf in Bradenton, Fla. The number one men's seed has never won the tournament and Lance feels that it is due to the match play format. Jeff and Lance talk about the collegiate players who then turn pro and how they have been successful whether they stay for four years or not.

The Golf Insiders 05-27-2015

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game 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 Jeff Shain, PGATour.com and Prime Sports Network, are in the studio for another hour of intelligent golf talk. Holly and Jeff talk about Chris Kirk's win at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Makes his 4th Tour win. Jeff said that Kirk was the last man standing and birdied the 18th hole, which his competitors who were chasing him could not do. 

Holly and Jeff talk about Jordan Spieth who finished second has had several this year. There were at least 11 people who withdrew from the AT&T Byron Nelson. Torrential rains have been falling and the course is sloppy and wet and probably a lot of rain delays.

Jeff and Holly also discuss Ian Poulter and Ricky Fowler being rated as the most overrated players on the Tour in a recent survey. The survey was before Fowler's recent win. 

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk to Holly and Jeff about the Texas event with 12 players withdrawn. Bob said that the Byron Nelson had their best field in 8 or 9 years until the rain came and players started bailing out of the tournament. 

It's a long year and there are a lot of tournaments to play. Bob said that the players are not obligated to play. Day had dizziness issues before and Poulter said he tweaked his body earlier in the day and had to withdraw. 

Holly asks Bob about how these 12 players pulling out might help some of the remaining players who stayed who have been playing well. Bob said that if you are putting well those players have an advantage now with the weather. Holly asks Bob about Byeong-hun An's win at the BMW Championship. An is another example of how deep the tour really is right now.

Bob, Holly and Jeff also discuss how much golf Rory has been playing many tournaments and didn't fare that well at the BMW.  Bob said that maybe Rory missing the cut might help him down the road or at least in the near future with all of his travels.

Holly and Jeff give away a stay at the Cinnamon Inn in Mt Dora. Homemade breakfast and the great cinnamon rolls.

Colin Montgomerie has won 3 events on the Champions Tour in the past 370 days and they have all been Major championships. 

Baylor and Stanford are playing for the NCAA Championship at The Concession in Bradenton, Fla., while the Golf Insiders is being aired live. The men's NCAA Championship starts this week coming up.

Mike Jamison, Executive Director of the International Network of Golf, calls in to talk about The 25th Anniversary of the International Network of Golf that starts Sunday evening at Mission Inn at Howie-in-the-Hills, Fla. ING is the industry's only media-based networking organization.  The conference will feature a full schedule of networking and educational events. This year's theme will be growing the game of golf and will feature some of the nontraditional perspectives of the game including Sling Golf, more like a hybrid between Jai-alai and golf. Also other attendees will be the Freedom Golf Association, non-profit organization dedicated to bringing joy and a sense of freedom to the special needs community through their inclusion in the game of golf. Golf phenom 3-year-old Tommy Morrisey will be there, also Dennis Walters will do a trick shot exhibition from his specialized golf cart. Many other companies including TaylorMade, Nike, Razor, Bridgestone, Tour Edge. People coming from as far off as South Africa and Australia.

Lance Ringler, Golfweek, calls in from The Concession Golf Club to talk about the NCAA Division 1 Women's Championship with Baylor vs Stanford. Lance said that The Concession an outstanding Match Play course since it is tough and can be set up so many ways. It's been a second shot golf course this week for the women. Probably won't be the same for the men since they have more distance off the tee next week when the Men's NCAA Div 1 Championship tees off at The Concession.