The Golf Insiders

The Golf Insiders 05/21/14

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. to hear the 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 Rich Bianco are in the studio today on National Golf Day, sponsored by WE ARE GOLF, a coalition of golf's leading organization.

Brendon Todd won the HP Byron Nelson Championship to become yet another first time winner on the PGA Tour.

Headed into the Senior PGA Championship, Kenny Perry won on the Champions Tour. 

Miguel Angel Jimenez won the Spanish Open on the European Tour for his 21 win on the tour and first time in 27 starts at the Open de Espana. 

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk about Tiger Woods' press conference earlier today. Tiger mentioned that there is no timetable to return to golf. Back surgeries are a serious and there is no fixed time for recovery. Tiger said he wants to play now but Bob believes even if Tiger was cleared he couldn't play because he is not ready.

Headed into the Crowne Plaza Invitational Adam Scott is the new #1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Scott added this tournament recently. Holly and Bob talk about defending champ Boo Weekley, Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson. Bob feels that Spieth ran out of gas after the Masters. Spieth is playing a lot of golf with only one week off headed into the U.S. Open. 

Golf Channel's Morning Drive Host Damon Hack, joins the show, and talks about Tiger's press conference. Damon agrees with Holly that Tiger seems different than in the past. At 38 years old, Tiger is more mature and has to approach his recovery and return to golf. He also feels that there is not going to be another player for maybe 25-30 years there may be someone like he or Jack Nicklaus. 

Damon and Holly talk about Big Break Florida winner, Jackie Stoelting, and the upcoming fall season where all the former winners are invited back to compete. Rich and Damon also talk about Lucy Li, 11-year-old who qualified for the upcoming U.S. Women's Open.

  

Texas Golfer Magazine's James McAfee calls in to talk about the Crowne Plaza at Colonial this week. James feels that golfers from Texas benefit from learning to play in the wind and Texas. James says that Colonial is a ball striking course and veterans seem to play better in this tournament. Hunter Mahan said that the greens there have little breaks here and there and told James that the players who play Colonial more learn to read the greens and their nuances. 

Golfweek's Lance Ringler calls in to wrap up the show talking about the 2014 Women's NCAA Championship. Duke who was the runner-up last year currently holds a lead over USC. Rich, Holly and Lance also discuss young golfers like Lucy Li playing golf well at a young age. 

The Golf Insiders 05/14/14

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. to hear the 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 Rich Bianco are in the studio this week with a wrap up of The Players Championship won by Martin Kaymer.  

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk about The Players and Kaymer's adventure on the 17th hole on the final day. The duo talk about Kaymer coming back to form after being the number one in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Holly and Bob talk about players who are winning but are changing their swings. Tiger Woods recently spoke about the changes to his swing...  paraphrasing ... when you play at this level and you are standing at the tee and you have to hit a draw, you have to be able to do it. If you can't, you are in trouble.

Holly talks to Bob about Jordan Spieth going bogey free for 54 holes and the day he had Sunday. This was the 2nd big tournament that he wasn't able to win after being in the final group. Bob remarks that Spieth only turned pro 18 months ago and he is only 20 years old. He has been successful but what should we expect? Bob thinks that Spieth's swing gets a little quick when he is under the gun and maybe he needs to work on that?  "Nobody else but Tiger has been this successful at such a young age. It's not fair to compare Tiger to anyone."

Holly asks about Rory McIlroy's play. Bob says that he will see a good test at Wentworth on the European Tour this weekend. Normally, like Ponte Vedra, Rory doesn't play well at Wentworth. If he plays well there it is a good indicator of where his game is.

With the U.S. Open coming up, Bob and Holly also take a look at Phil Mickelson's game of late and missing the cut at The Players. 

Michael Collins, ESPN's Sr. Writer and Video Talent, calls in to the show and gives some great insight about caddies on the Tour. Rich B asks Michael about Spieth's caddie and if he is shrink. Michael says that all caddies are pseudo psychologists among many other things for the Tour player. Every player is different and needs different things from their caddies. Michael mentions that professional caddies Mark Carens and Ted Scott have put together ProCaddyWorkout videos on YouTube demonstrating short videos on how caddies stay in shape for the Tours. 

Golfweek's Collegiate reporter Lance Ringler calls in to update listeners about the upcoming men's and women's NCAA playoffs. The women had 3 regionals last week and 24 teams advanced with no surprises except for Vanderbilt who won the East by about 14 strokes.  

Men's Collegiate golf gets underway May 15 and only the Top 5 teams advance. Lance shares that teams can't win a national championship if they are not at the championship. Lance says that there is currently a lot of parody in men's college golf. Individually Lance says that Patrick Rodgers, Stanford, is chasing Tiger Woods' individual wins title.  He has already declared that he will turn pro after the NCAA championships are over. 

Lance and Holly wrap up the show talking about the guys who are coming on the PGA Tour now have no fear.

The Golf Insiders 05/07/14

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. to hear the 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 Rich Bianco are in the studio talking about the upcoming Players Championship just up the road in Ponte Vedra, Fla. this week. Also the U.S. Open Qualifier was at Timacuan for the fourth time in five years.

Sean Gorgone, The Whole Game of Golf, calls in to talk about qualifying for the U.S. Open. He shot a 71 and finished in a playoff spot for an alternate spot.  

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in from the press center at The Players Championship. Bob says that the PGA is almost assured of getting a new #1 in OWGR this week at The Players. If Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson or Matt Kuchar play well enough this week they could take over the top spot from Tiger Woods who is currently rehabbing his back. 

Holly and Bob talk about JB Holmes win at the Wells Fargo last week and everything that he's been through over the past few years.  Brain surgery, injuring himself roller blading, elbow surgery etc. Bob's pick to win this week is Matt Kuchar.

Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, calls in and talks to Holly and Rich about The Players. Holly asks about Bubba Watson and other PGA starts like Jordan Spieth. Todd talks about Jordan's drive, emotion, etc. Todd and Holly discuss Adam Scott. He's never been #1 in the World both times, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Masters, he was in contention he didn't play well. It's been a conscious distraction. Holly asks about all the first timers at The Players this year and their chances as well as recent winner Lee Westwood. Todd finishes up talking about Phil Mickelson's adjustment to his putter grip with the help of Dave Stockton. 

Steve DiMeglio, USA Today, calls in for the first time on The Golf Insiders to talk to Holly about from The Players. For years at the Wednesday competition of The Players Championship, each player contributed to a prize fund, with some of the money going to charity and the rest going to the caddie who ended up closest to the pin.

"This year, the competition honors the late Bruce Edwards, who Jim 'Bones' Mackay said was "the Arnold Palmer of caddies." Edwards, the longtime friend and caddie for Tom Watson, passed away in 2004 from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). On the 10th anniversary of his death, the PGA Tour will match all donations on the 17th, with all the money going to the Bruce Edwards Foundation."

Steve feels that Matt Kuchar is hot coming into the tournament and also feels that Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia have a good chance at winning this event. Steve also stresses that all could miss the cut because the course has you on your toes every single round. "It's hard to get a rhythm for four days."

Garry Smits, Florida Times Union, calls in to give listeners the conditions of the course. The greens on 4, 9, 11, 12 and 13 were over chemically treated. Nos. 4, 11 and 12 the players were not allowed to practice on them prior to the Wed event. Some were re-sodded and plugged. Garry says the greens are really soft because they've been watering them a lot.

The Golf Insiders 04/30/14

PODCAST NOTE: Listeners can tune in to iHeart Radio 740 The Game Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. to hear the 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 Rich Bianco are in the studio for an hour of intelligent golf talk. 

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to discuss first time winners on the PGA Tour this season and how much parody there is this season. Bob feels that a lot of under-the-radar players who you might not think could win are winning on Tour. South Korea's Seung-Yul Noh won the Zurich Classic earning his first PGA TOUR victory and becoming the 7th first-time winner on this year's wrap around season.

Bob and Holly talk about Rory McIlroy's play of late and his falling out of the Top 10 for the first time in a while. McIlroy is feeling a bit better about his putting, which was non existent at the Masters.

Rich and Bob discuss Keegan Bradley's inability to close lately. It's been almost two years since his last win. Bob says that it shows where years like Bradley who regularly win have not won other than Bubba Watson. Holly talks to Bob about his article on Anthony Kim. It's been almost years since has played on the PGA Tour.

Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, talks to Holly about Noh talks about his excellent ball striking. He is well known in Asia. He is very old school in his ball striking. He works the ball around the golf course very well. 

Holly and Steve talk about Lydia Ko battling Stacey Lewis for the victory at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Steve feels that if you are not watching what's happening on the LPGA you are cheating yourself.  Such great play, drama and personalities. 

Jeff Shain, PGA Tour.com, calls in to the show to talk about Quail Hollow and the conditions of the course there. The course was changed from bent grass to Bermuda grass recently and that changes everything. With The Players next week, the field at Quail Hollow is full of interesting players prepping for The Players. Quail Hollow is shaping up much like the Shell Houston Open before the Masters. Jeff feels that The Players golf course doesn't favor anybody in the 144-man field.

Lance Ringler, Golfweek, calls in to wrap up an hour of intelligent golf talk with the scoop on the collegiate championships. On the women's side Southern California, UCLA, Duke, Stanford and Arkansas headline the top 5. For the Men's championship goes by Match Play (the 6th year) Alabama, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Stanford, Oklahoma State are the top 5.  Lance talks about local team UCF, who has been a big surprise this year, find themselves in contention for a title.