The Golf Insiders

07/11/12The Golf Insiders

Host Holly G and Rich B are in the studio back from vacation and are talking to Bob Harig, ESPN.com, start off talking about the unlikeliness of Ted Potter Jr and Troy Kelly ending up in a playoff at the Greenbrier Classic.  The duo also talks about Tiger and Phil both missing the cut at The Greenbrier, which has never happened before, where the two have missed the cut at the same tournament since turning pro. Bob also talks to Holly about the upcoming Open Championship and how the course is set up with 3 Par 3s on the front 9 and finishing with 4 straight Par 4s on the back 9 at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club about 30 miles south of London, England.  Holly asks Bob about the Big 3, or the Top 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood. Brian Hewitt, Global Golf Post Editor, calls in to talk to Rich and Holly about all things around the world of golf. Bob talks about the weather at the British Open and how it is supposed to be cold and wet.  The last 15 majors have all be won by 15 different players. Brian also researched that the World #1 has fared at the Open Championship. Since 1986 106 majors, the #1 player going into those championships has only won 14 times, and 11 of the 14 was Tiger. #1 Luke Donald has already been over practicing on his long game at Royal Lytham. Holly asks Brian if he thinks Tiger will surpass Jack for the most major titles. Brian doesn't feel that Tiger is dominant any longer, but he is dangerous. Jeff Shain, Orlando Sentinel, calls in to talk to Holly and Rich about covering the Open Championship and how close it is to the third major of the season. Jeff discusses the Champions Tour and the U.S. Women's Open. Na Yeon Choi shot a 65 on Saturday when the Field's average was 77 en route to her first Major win. Holly talks to Jeff about the upcoming Greenbrier Classic. Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, calls in to talk to the duo about the British Open. Todd feels that this is the most unpredictable of all majors due to the weather.Todd feels that Tom Watson may be in the mix on the weekend. If there is a setup that favors Luke Donald, this is the Major for him.

06/20/12 The Golf Insiders

Host Holly G and Rich B are in the studio talking all things golf. Webb Simpson wins the U.S. Open at Olympic. Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, calls in from the Travelers Championship to talk to the duo about the U.S. Open. Todd shares about his experience playing Olympic the Monday after the U.S. Open by winning a media lottery. Webb Simpson really did well on Saturday to set himself up for his win on Sunday. When Todd spoke with Webb Saturday before his round, Webb's goal was to go out and shoot a 68 after being +5 after the first two days. Webb did just that on Saturday and posted the same score of 68 on Sunday for the eventual win. Webb's victories have been graduating up from his first win on the PGA Tour and then won in a playoff before winning the U.S. Open. Todd talked to Jim Furyk after his final round at the U.S. Open and his trouble on 16 on Sunday after the USGA had moved the pin up 100 yards.  The same thing has happened to legends in the game to include Phil Mickelson. Jim said that it will take him a few days to get over it.  Todd also talks to Holly about Lee Westwood's chances of winning the Open Championship for his first major. Also talk about Tiger's unraveling on Sunday. The duo talks about Tiger and how his life has changed over the past 1 and 1/2 years and how it has affected his mental game. Bruce Berlet, who has covered golf in Connecticut for more than 40 years, calls in to talk to Holly and Rich about the US Open and the upcoming Travelers Championship. The Travelers has always had a great draw of Tour players following the U.S. Open and they have done that by offering extra special services and travel arrangements for the players, their families and their caddies. Bruce talks about how fan friendly the tournament is maybe second to only Phoenix. Bruce also talks about the storied history of the now Travelers Championship there at the TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut. Jeff Shain, Orlando Sentinel, calls in to wrap up the Show. Jeff talks about the U.S. Open and how it unfolded at the end. Graeme McDowell's chances as well as Jim Furyk. Simpson never grabbed the lead until after he was in the clubhouse.

06/13/12 The Golf Insiders

Host Holly G and Rich B are in the studio talking everything U.S. Open preview and the wrap up of the FedEx St Jude Classic.  Dustin Johnson won Listen to sound bytes from Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods', Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson on their preparations for the U.S. Open. Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk to the team about the U.S. Open and all the story lines around it. Bob feels that Olympic doesn't usually bode well for the star players or the favorite. He wouldn't be surprised if that didn't continue with someone off the radar winning the year's second major. Players will start on Hole 1 and Hole 9 because it is closer to the clubhouse. Holly and Rich talk about Tuck and O'Neil's upcoming Monday after the Majors event at Shingle Creek Open. www.espnflorida.com Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, calls in from Olympic and talks about the beauty of the area surrounding Olympic. Also about the 14-year-old boy from China, Andy Zhang, who qualified as an alternate for the U.S. Open. Then he got the call Tuesday from the USGA and accepted the invitation to play in the tournament.  Also, Dennis Miller from Youngstown, Ohio finally made the cut for the U.S. Open after 12 tries. He made it in a playoff after his ball hung on the lip of the cup and finally fell in.  Todd also talks about Casey Martin being able to play and ride a cart due to his circulatory problem in his leg. Also, a lot of other stories at Olympic. Jeff Babineau, Editor Golfweek, calls in to talk to Holly and Rich from the U.S. Open.  Jeff talks about some of the "other" notable golfers and their chances at the Open. Jeff feels that players need a lot of heart to play the course because of its difficulties. If they miss a shot or two, not to let it get them down. The trio talks about Phil Mickelson's chances and the fact that he is a U.S. Open five-time runner up there needs to win one to complete his resume'. Jeff Shain, Orlando Sentinel, calls in to wrap up the show from Olympic and talks about the inland fog coming in from the ocean and the moisture in the area even though there won't be any rain to speak of, according to the forecast. Jeff talks about Graham McDowell and his chances after missing a few cuts of late. Also Ricky Fowler's chances and how well he has been playing of late with the exception of shooting in the 80s.

05/16/2012 The Golf Insiders

Holly G and Rich Bianco are in the studio and open the show talking about The Players Championship and the gallery. Kevin Na was being heckled by the gallery for not being able to pull the trigger. Rich B feels that the gallery needs to be more understanding. Matt Kuchar, a native of Winter Park, Fla. Bob Harig, ESPN.com, calls in to talk to the team about Matt Kuchar's victory and press conference. Bob talks about Matt Kuchar being the runner up and finishing in the top 10 for the past couple of years, but this win gives him a "major" like title since this tourney is often thought of as a 5th major. Bob and Holly talk about Rory McIlroy's missing the cut and his thoughts on that as well as Tiger's play. Rich talks about Hunter's Creek and their Get Golf Ready for May and the event Hunter's Creek is holding May 19th at 9 a.m. Golf 2.0 bringing people back to the game. Holly mentions Kuchar complimenting his mother for adding on golf at the country club even though both his parents were tennis players. Dr Bob Winters, sports psychologist at the David Leadbetter Academy, calls in to talk to Holly and Rich about the pain that was going on in Kevin Na's head. Dr Bob has played golf at all levels. He talks about Na "freezing" before his shots ... the body and mind looking for a trigger to let you release the club. Dr. Bob said that he knows that Na has many idiosyncrasies. Dr Bob said that Na is experiencing performance anxiety.  ASD- Acute Stress Dysfunction ... a disruption and dysfunction going on. Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, phones in and offers his thoughts on Matt Kuchar's win at The Players. Todd brings up the family surrounding Matt that helps him. This week is the Byron Nelson Classic and the defending champ is Keegan Bradley. Todd talks about Keegan's adjustment after winning big on the PGA Tour.  Todd also talks to Holly and Rich about Tiger and the last three tourneys have been the worst in his career. Jeff Shain, Orlando Sentinel, calls in to wrap up the Show. Jeff talks about "local boy done good" Matt Kuchar's big win.  Jeff feels that maybe this is the start of something for Matt.