The Golf Insiders

03/20/2013 The Golf Insiders

Holly G and Rich Bianco are in the studio talking Florida Swing.  This show is sponsored by Barberpolegolf.com, manufacturers of world-class solid brass putters. The duo take time out to salute Arnold and Winnie Palmer and all the events surrounding this week's tournament. The win gets him into the Masters and many other great tournaments. Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in from the Bay Hill press center to start of the show talking about Kevin Streelman's first PGA Tour win at the Tampa Bay Championship.  Boo Weekley playing Aldila's latest RIP iron shafts posted his best finish of the season in second place. Both Justin Leonard and Sergio Garcia both played well this tournament too. A lot of focus this week at Bay Hill is on Tiger Woods who is playing well of late and has won there 7 times. He went from 58 to number 2 in the world golf ranking last year in a seven months. Bob feels that it is remarkable that Tiger is on the cusp of becoming #1 again after everything that he has been through including 4 different swing coaches. After the Bridgestone in 2010 where he played so poorly, he got with Sean Foley and began his trek back to the top. The only other player to win as many tournaments as Tiger in the past year, 5, is Rory McIlroy. Bob spoke to Tiger about The Masters and not winning at the Masters since 2005. Tiger wants to win all the majors and Bob feels that maybe last year Tiger wanted it too much. Darren Decarlo, the Perfect Golf Club owner, and PGA Professional and teaching professional, calls in to talk about marshaling at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Pro-Am.   Darren feels that Tiger is the odds on favorite to win at Bay Hill.  Holly and Darren discuss Tiger's swing change since he has been with Sean. Darren bases his picks off the Pro-Am and these players played well at the Pro-Am Wednesday, like Brandt Snedeker, Tiger, Ernie Els. Gary Smits, Florida Times Union, calls in from Bay Hill to speak with Rich and Holly G. Breaking News reports that Yani Tseng missed her Pro-Am time Wednesday and got kicked out of the tournament this week. The two also talk about Tom Watson giving back one of the 4 Captain's picks for the 2014 Ryder Cup.  Watson feels that it is a great thing that there is one more spot that could earn the spot now. 3 of the last 4 major winners are in the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week, minus McIlroy. Palmer said that he was disappointed that Rory did not come to his tournament. Holly G and Rich B gave away two tickets to the caller who can identify how many times Tiger has won at Bay Hill. Jeff Shain, PGA Tour.com, calls in to wrap up the show and talks about the injury to Brandt Snedeker muscle pull.  Brandt did well at the Pro Am Wednesday at Bay Hill, second place which is not bad for coming off the "injured reserve."  Jeff talks about the shape of the golf course and how the rain has helped it.  Jeff is anxious to see how Boo Weekley will fair this week.  The last two tournaments he finished 8th and then 2nd.

03/13/13 The Golf Insiders

Holly G and Rich B are in the studio talking the Florida Swing, sponsored by Barber Pole Golf.  Holly and Rich get right into Tiger's win at the WGC Cadillac at Doral. Jeff Shain, PGA Tour.com, calls in to talk about the upcoming tournament in Tampa at the Copperhead Course. Jeff talks about the Copperhead's snake pit being the 4th toughest holes to close on last year. The trio talk about Luke Donald's finish at Doral. Donald was last year's winner at Innisbrook for the Tampa Bay Championship. Jeff talks about the LPGA Tour and the upcoming RR Donnelly Founder's Cup. Natalie Gulbis has been sidelined with Malaria after the LPGA swing through Asia.  Paula Creamer was a part of a 5-car accident there but is getting better. Tavistock Cup teams were named Tuesday. Rosters are similar to last year, but with Isleworth lost a few members including Tiger Woods who now is on Team Albany. Two more teams are joining the Cup for a total of 6.  Oak Tree and Primland. Charles Howell III is anchoring the Oak Tree National team along with Rickie Fowler, Bob Tway and Scott Verplank. Team Primland is represented by Fred Couples, Bill Haas, Jay Haas and Webb Simpson. Florida Golf Central is celebrating its 14th anniversary of Florida Golf Central, the Florida swing, the rebirth of Errol Estate Golf & Country Club, and the launch of the Lee Westwood Golf School in Orlando with drinks and appetizers. Tuesday, March 19 from 5-8 p.m. at Errol Estate Golf and CC 355 Errol Parkway, Apopka. Todd Lewis, the Golf Channel, calls in and talks with Holly and Rich about Tiger's win. Todd feels that Tiger is playing the best golf he's played in the past five years. Todd also talks about Sean Foley, Tiger's swing coach, and how well Tiger is doing now after all the criticism they both took after leaving Hank Haney. Tiger has 76 PGA Tour wins with four different swings.  Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose also work with Foley. Rich B's tip: If you want to start a new golfer out in the game start at the hole and work backward to the driver. Start with a short putt and then chipping and so on. Sean Foley endorses PSP Golf's The Little One. "I never look at it for a win for me because I don't hit any shots, or put in the practice rounds, I look at my self as coach," Sean Foley. He feels that Tiger is the Greatest Player of All times at the age of 37. Foley feels that his key to helping his "students" succeed is giving them access to their abilities. Sean feels that in 2013 we can measure now what we use to guess about with the technology that is out there. i.e. 3D analyzers, launch monitors and radar tracking devices, etc.

03/03/13 The Golf Insiders

Holly G and Rich Bianco are in the studio for this abbreviated version of The Golf Insiders brought to you by Barber Pole Golf. Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in from the press center at Doral to talk about the upcoming WGC-Cadillac Championship.  Bob and Holly discuss Rory McIlroy walking off the course before the end of his round. Rory apologized to the media this morning and said that he was wrong to have quit no matter what the reason. Bob talks in his article about Rory being able to release a valve of pressure that has built up with being number one. Michael Thompson wins the Honda Classic after only being a pro since 2011. This is by far his best finish of the year and had missed 3 of 4 cuts this year and the other tourney finished at the bottom. Bob said that Michael shows that he likes to play tough courses, Olympic and now at the Honda Classic. Geoff Olgivie had a great showing at the Honda Classic enough to get him into the WGC event this week. He finished 51st in the world in 2012 that kept him out of the WGC events. Jeff Babineau, Golfweek Editor, calls in to talk to the Golf Insiders from Doral. Golfweek's Brad Klein did a feature with Donald Trump about all the renovations that will be going on at Doral (6-month makeover) after this week's WGC-Cadillac Championship. Jeff also comments on Rory's press conference and feels that McIlroy did the right thing. The duo talk about how Rory's equipment change has affected his  game along with the huge contract he signed with Nike.

The Golf Insiders 02/27/13

Holly G and Rich B are back in the studio to kick off the Florida Swing.  After a brief hiatus, The Golf Insiders now comes to listeners live Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. on Clear Channel Radio AM 740 The Game. The duo talk the WGC Accenture Match play event and the quick exit from both Tiger and Rory McIlroy. Rich B talks about Rory changing equipment which is very hard for players. Holly and Rich also cover the eventual winner Matt Kuchar and the final pairings. The Golf Insiders welcomes back Bob Harig, ESPN.com. Bob talks about the busy first two months of golf and the first 8 wins were by Americans, similar to last year. Bob and Holly discuss the putter anchor ban which is the hottest story in golf.  Bob states that a lot of people including the PGA Tour are against the ban. Whether the PGA would institute its own rule and go against the USGA Rules of Golf? Several of the last Major tournament winners anchored their putter. Jeff Shain, PGATour.com, calls in and talks to the team about what has been going on in the world of golf.  Covering the WEB.COM Tour as well as certain aspects about the game as well as coverage for the Back9 Network. Jeff and Holly talk about the Honda Classic which is growing into one of the biggest turnouts on Tour after the Majors and the WGC events. The Honda is sandwiched in between two WGC events with the top players in the world competing in them. Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, wraps up the hour quickly covering the upcoming Honda Classic and the buzz on what is happening in the golf world on The Golf Channel and around the country. McIlroy has yet to play the weekend in 2013 or break 80 as well as the anchoring ban.