The Golf Insiders

The Golf Insiders 09/25/13

PODCAST NOTE: Users can add The Golf Insiders podcast to their iPhone as an app now. 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 and Rich Bianco calls in from Hammock Beach Resort, a Salamander Resort, where he is competing in the North Florida PGA Section Championship, the season's final major.

Holly and the gang talk about Henrik Stenson's wire-to-wire win at the PGA TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and with it he won the FedEx Cup for the second time in its short existence.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk to Holly about the wrap up of the 2013 PGA Tour season, the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Bob and Holly also talks about reviewing the FedEx Cup points structure. They also talk Player of the Year that will be announced Friday along with the Rookie of the Year who figures to be Jordan Spieth. Tiger is the favorite with 5 wins to pick up the player of the year award. Bob feels that Tiger is often judged on his past accomplishments. Without a major this year, there is room for discussion of other players contending for the title.

Holly and Bob talk about the upcoming President's Cup Oct. 1-6. Bob points out that both U.S. and International players have played at Muirfield Village Golf Club so there is no really home field advantage. 

Jeff Shain, PGA Tour.com, joins Holly live from Ponte Vedre Beach, Fla. at the Web.com Tour Championship. Jeff goes over some of the players who are in the hunt for the PGA Tour card. The duo also talk about Player of the Year. 

In honor of the FedEx Cup and the end of the season, The Golf Insiders gave away a $650 Stay and Play package for the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast to help celebrate the reopening of its Conservatory Course. Holly G announced that Sue Krizmanich of Orlando is the lucky winner. Congratulations Sue! Enjoy tour stay and playing golf.

Brad Hauer, Hammock Beach Resort Director of Golf, calls in to wrap up the show. There are two courses at Hammock Beach, the Ocean Course and the Conservatory Course. Brad says that Playing from the back tees on the Conservatory it has been rated as the longest and hardest course in Florida to play. Not a typical Florida style golf course with a lot of undulations and bunkers. 

09/18/13 The Golf Insiders

PODCAST NOTE: Users can add The Golf Insiders podcast to their iPhone as an app now. 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. 

In honor of the FedEx Cup and the end of the season, The Golf Insiders is giving away a Stay and Play Giveaway package to Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast to help celebrate the reopening of its Conservatory Course. To register go to the Events page on The Golf Insiders. The package is valued at $650. The winner will be announces live on the Sept. 25 Golf Insiders Show.

Holly G and Rich Bianco are in the studio on the eve of the the final round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The duo discuss Zach Johnson's win at the BMW Championship and his play all this year, especially the last couple of months. Also mention Jim Furyk's 59.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk to Holly and Rich B from East Lake. Holly mentions that Bob was an Evans Scholar winner which is given to caddies. 

The last tournament of the 2013 season. Bob mentions that the PGA Tour has finally drawn the line in the sand and said that the season end each year with the Tour Championship. 

Holly and Rich talk about the Rules infractions with Bob and the fact that people are calling them in while watching them on TV or via other avenues. Bob said that as it stands now people can call in infractions and they have to be investigated. What other sport can do that? None!

Holly talks to Bob about the movers on the FedEx Cup final 30 headed into the final event of the season. Winner of the Tour Championship have come from outside the top 5 heading into it. Almost every year of late that has happened. Bob says that he feels that Tiger really wants to win this final tournament to put to rest all the naysayers and solidify Player of The Year and make up for his not so stellar play at the BMW.

Mike Bender, swing coach of Zach Johnson, calls in to talk to Holly and Rich about Zach's win. Mike feels that Zach has been playing the most consistent golf of his PGA career. Zach actually took the first FedEx Cup event off to be in his brother's wedding. As it turns out he was able to get in a practice round at the site of the BMW Championship. Mike talks about how he and Zach reviewed Zach's swing earlier this season at The Mike Bender Golf Academy and compared it to the past. They identified how he had inadvertently got into a different set up which was affecting his game. After the correction, Zach got his confidence back and went on a roll. 

Mike and Holly talk about Tour players choosing the number of tournaments that they want to play and how that affects them. Mike said that Zach likes to pick the golf courses and tournaments that fit his game. 

Holly and Mike wrap up the segment talking about the Space Coast Pro Tour that Mike played on in the 70s and 80s making its return to Central Florida Oct. 21 at Reunion Golf Course. The Mike Bender Academy is the home practice and instructional facility for the upcoming Tour.

Todd Lewis, the Golf Channel, calls in from East Lake to talk to Holly and Rich. Holly talks to Todd about Suzann Pettersen's win at Evian and the play of Lydia Ko. 

Todd talks about the fact that Tiger will play the tournament at East Lake without playing a single hole on East Lake. Tiger has won at East Lake twice and finished second four times so he is pretty comfortable. The trio talk about Matt Kuchar's chances as well as some of the others.

09/11/13 The Golf Insiders (Stay & Play Giveaway...)

PODCAST NOTE: Users can add The Golf Insiders podcast to their iPhone as an app now. 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. 

In honor of the FedEx Cup and the end of the season, The Golf Insiders is giving away a Stay and Play Giveaway package to Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast to help celebrate the reopening of its Conservatory Course. To register go to the Events page on The Golf Insiders. The package is valued at $650. The winner will be announces live on the Sept. 25 Golf Insiders Show.

Holly G and Rich Bianco are in the studio on the eve of the the third leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. As the PGA Tour turns its attention to Conway Farms in the Chicago area for the BMW Championship.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in from the media center at the BMW to talk about the golf course and give listeners the lay of the land.  Bob talks about Luke Donald is a member at Conway Farms. Bob also talks about the predicted weather change. Seventy players are competing in the FedEx Cup playoffs and the Top 30 spots move on to the Tour Championship next week. The winner of the FedEx Cup playoffs wins an additional $10 million.

Bob said that Jim Furyk is the only one of the FedEx Cup winners who has not been in the Top 5 at the start of the final even and went on to win the Tour Championship.

Bob said that Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy have more of a sense of urgency and need to play well at the BMW in order to make the move into the top 30.

Holly talks to Jeff Bernstein, Business Development Director and Co-owner of The Space Coast Pro Tour (SCPT). The Space Coast Tour is a training ground for the Web.com Tour. The first of more than 35 two-day SCPT tournaments will be Oct. 21 and 22 at the Reunion Resort. The SCPT recently added a Women's Division to the Tour and all women who don't have a membership on the LPGA Tour can play on the Space Coast Pro Tour. The Mike Bender Golf Academy is the home base for the SCPT for practice, etc. The Space Coast Tour is affiliated with The Folds of Honor Foundation who will play a key role at the inaugural event at Reunion. Interested players can register now for one or many of the events. 

Todd Lewis, Golf Channel, talks to Holly and Rich about the BMW Championship. Todd talks about the week break after the first two events and how that helps most of the players. Todd and Holly also talk about the Evian Masters, the 5th Major Championship on the LPGA Tour.

Jeff Shain, PGATour.com, calls in to wrap up the show talking about the Web.com Tour finals. Jeff feels that there are about 9 players who have a legitimate shot at winning.

09/04/13 The Golf Insiders (Stay & Play Giveaway continues)

PODCAST NOTE: Users can add The Golf Insiders podcast to their iPhone as an app now. 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. 

In honor of the FedEx Cup and the end of the season, The Golf Insiders is giving away a Stay and Play Giveaway package to Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast to help celebrate the reopening of its Conservatory Course. To register go to the Events page on The Golf Insiders. The package is valued at $650. The winner will be announces live on the Sept. 25 Golf Insiders Show.

Holly G and Rich Bianco are in the studio talking about the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and Henrik Stenson's big win that catapulted him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings ahead of Tiger Woods. 

Ian Poulter climbed significantly in the FedEx Cup Standings after a great showing at the Deutsche Bank. Graham DeLaet moved into 5th place with steady performances.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk to Holly and Rich about Henrik Stenson's win and his great play all year. Holly and Bob also talk about Trevor Immelman's win on the Web.com Tour to regain his PGA Tour card. Immelman had been plagued by injuries almost ever since he won the Masters several years ago. Bob talks about the limited schedule of Steve Stricker and how he is spending more time with his family. Stricker finished second at the Deutsche Bank and played his way on to the President's Cup. 

The trio talks about Jordan Spieth and Webb Simpson being picked for the President's Cup by Captain Fred Couples. Bob feels that going forward with international and team competition that it's good to get a young player or two on the team to get them that experience. 

Michael Collins, Senior Golf Analyst from ESPN, calls in to talk to Holly and Rich B about Tiger, the President's Cup picks, and more. Michael and Rich talk about Michael's video on Lydia Ko's decision not to turn pro. Michael, Rich and Holly also talk about young players in general who are faced with the decision to take the money and go pro or not.

Jeff Shain, PGA Tour.com, calls in to talk to break down the Web.com Tour 4 tournament final. The Top 25 on the Money List already have the PGA Tour card for next year.  Now they move on and compete with the guys from the PGA Tour who finished 126-200 on the PGA Tour in FedEx Cup Tour as well as the Top 75 total on the Web.com battle it out for 25 spots on the PGA Tour in this 4 series event.