Golf's major championships are when the stakes are highest, and how the best players in the game are measured. But the downside of putting so much emphasis on four weeks a year is it risks undermining the rest of the golf calendar. In this episode, Alex Myers examines how the men's major championships evolved to become the mega-events they are today, and the unexpected challenges that dynamic presents. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...
Jun 27, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 13
No tournament in golf appeals to the dreamer more than the U.S. Open, where a qualifying process puts journeymen, club pros and even schoolteachers just three rounds away from a spot in the field next to the game’s elite. On the eve of the U.S. Open at The Country Club outside Boston, Dan Rapaport examines the U.S. Open qualifying process, explains why it remains one of golf’s most intriguing opportunities, and dives into some of the incredible tales that arise out of it every year. Hosted by Si...
Jun 13, 2022•27 min•Season 4Ep. 12
When Title IX was enacted in 1972, it was hard to imagine its influence could still be felt in golf a half-century later. But the landmark legislation not only ushered in a new wave of women golfers, those golfers went on to raise golfers of their own. On the eve of the U.S. Women's Open, Keely Levins examines what the golf landscape was like for women before Title IX, and the myriad ways it's been reshaped in the decades since. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for i...
May 31, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Golf is technically an individual sport, but increasingly, top-level players rely on a broad assortment of supporting characters to achieve optimal performance. From caddies and coaches to trainers, chefs, mind coaches and data analysts, Dan Rapaport takes an inside look at the various figures in a tour pro’s orbit to understand what they do, how they help, and how they all coexist on the same team. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collectio...
May 16, 2022•38 min•Season 4Ep. 10
When Tiger Woods won the Masters by 12 shots in 1997, then decided to rebuild his swing, it paved the way for the most dominant stretch of golf in history. It was also evidence of what sports psychologists call a “mastery mindset,” when an individual is driven more by a goal of constant improvement than external rewards. As Sam Weinman explores, this way of thinking is on display with many of the game’s top players. In conversations with Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, two-time major winner ...
May 02, 2022•21 min•Season 4Ep. 9
The Big Money Classic marketed itself as a rare opportunity for struggling mini-tour players to cash in on a big payday. It instead left players waiting for their payouts and asking for refunds on entry fees. Keely Levins tells the story of a tournament that sold players on big things but instead left them angered, embarrassed and in search of answers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Apr 18, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 8
A Masters win brings with it many well-known traditions: an interview in Butler Cabin, the presentation of the coveted green jacket, the ascendance to the vaunted Champion’s Locker Room. But most fans don’t have a full appreciation for the whirlwind of activity that ensues once a golfer has secured a win at Augusta National. In this episode of Local Knowledge. Golf Digest’s Dan Rapaport goes behind the scenes with the men who’ve been there to understand what really happens in the minutes, hours,...
Apr 03, 2022•31 min•Season 4Ep. 7
When Phil Mickelson found himself immersed in controversy recently thanks to comments related to the new Saudi golf tour, it was yet another moment that elicited comparisons to Tiger Woods. Whether making headlines, winning majors, or courting sponsors, Mickelson and Woods haven’t been able to escape each other’s shadows over the last quarter-century. In this episode of Local Knowledge, Alex Myers provides a history of Tiger and Phil’s relationship, and speaks to the author of a new book on the ...
Mar 21, 2022•31 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Not until Netflix released “Drive to Survive”, its multi-season behind-the-scenes look at Formula One racing, did the sport really take hold in the U.S. It explains why top PGA Tour players have agreed to let Netflix cameras shadow them like never before in 2022. If golf enjoys a similar surge in popularity, the pie will get bigger for everyone. In this episode of Local Knowledge, Dan Rapaport talks to the show’s creators to understand what they hope to achieve with the new show, and how they ho...
Mar 07, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Driving distances at the elite level have been creeping up for decades, and not far behind have been cries for golf’s governing bodies to intervene. But not everyone believes distance is really a problem, and even among those who do, there remains the complicated matter of what to do about it. Do you roll back the ball? The driver? Should they consider different rules for pros than for amateurs? In this episode, Keely Levins tackles golf’s most complicated issue, explaining how we got here, and ...
Feb 21, 2022•30 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Morgan Hoffmann once fit the standard PGA Tour player mold. Now his life couldn’t be more different. When doctors diagnosed the former World No. 1 amateur with muscular dystrophy and told him to expect his condition to deteriorate, Hoffmann retreated to the Costa Rica rainforest in search of an alternative. In this gripping episode, Dan Rapaport travels to Costa Rica to chronicle just how far Hoffmann has traveled from the fairways of PGA Tour, and to understand why he still has his sights on ma...
Feb 08, 2022•43 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Not so long ago golf on TV was filled with a series of breathless infomercials that promised desperate golfers the cure for their ailing games. The products themselves didn’t always deliver on their promises, but the ads were at least effective in hooking consumers, sometimes in a big way. Alex Myers revisits the golden age of the golf infomercials, why they worked, and why they’ve generally disappeared. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our coll...
Jan 24, 2022•28 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Season 3 of Local Knowledge launches with a look at Greg Norman’s longtime vision of a competing golf circuit to the PGA Tour. Norman first championed the concept as a top-ranked player who wanted to start a “World Tour” in the 1990s, and it continues today as the frontman for an ambitious Saudi-funded effort. Dan Rapaport examines the common threads between Norman’s idea back then and what it looks like today, and why he has been so determined to make it happen. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz...
Jan 10, 2022•29 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In the final episode of a year-end series celebrating our favorite moments from the first two seasons of Local Knowledge, we're revisiting the various ways we've peeled back the curtain on life as a professional golfer. From what separates the good from the great, to what happens when you hit it big, Dan Rapaport takes a deeper look into the highs and lows when making you're living playing for a score. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...
Dec 13, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 26
In the third of a four-part series revisiting our favorite episodes from the first two seasons of Local Knowledge, we’re looking back at the various ways we’ve examined the mental game. From how we process difficult outcomes to how we work our way out of a slump, Sam Weinman highlights our sharpest insights into how golfers think, and the various ways we can improve our mindsets on the course. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and ...
Nov 29, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 25
In the second of a series revisiting the best of our first two seasons, Keely Levins looks at how Local Knowledge has explored the intersection of golf and money. From who makes too much to who doesn't make enough, to how aspiring pros even pay their way, the golf economy has remained a consistently fascinating storyline. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Nov 15, 2021•37 min•Season 3Ep. 24
In the first of a four-part series revisiting the inaugural two seasons of Local Knowledge, we look at some of the unique characters highlighted in our episodes. From Moe Norman to Babe Zaharias to long-drive champion Kyle Berkshire and others, Alex Myers tells the compelling story behind each, and explains the singular role they’ve played in the game. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Nov 01, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 23
As the discussion around emotional well-being gains momentum in other sports, golfers are beginning to open up about the severe toll the game can take on their psyches. In this episode, Dan Rapaport talks to golfers, coaches, and experts about the unique stresses presented by playing golf for a living, and the various ways many golfers are learning to cope. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Oct 18, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 22
There have been other golf movies that have resonated with audiences, but no golf movie was better at channeling the core of the game, both the good and the bad, than "Tin Cup". On the 25th anniversary of the movie's debut, Alex Myers speak with the film's star, Kevin Costner, writer and director Ron Shelton, and golf figures like Jim Nantz and Gary McCord about the real-life inspiration of Tin Cup, and the lengths the film went to ring true to golf-savvy viewers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...
Oct 04, 2021•44 min•Season 3Ep. 21
From wildcard picks to pairings to uniforms, a Ryder Cup captain’s responsibilities cover a broad spectrum. But the question remains, can a guy with a walkie-talkie really make much of a difference in a competition featuring 24 of the best golfers in the world? In this episode, Dan Rapaport speaks with a selection of former U.S. and European leaders to hear where they believe a captain’s influence can be felt most. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information abo...
Sep 19, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Golf has had an uneven history in welcoming women into the game, but the pandemic presents a potential turning point. With a record number of women participating in the game in 2020, the question remains how to make sure those new players keep coming back. In this episode, Keely Levins examines the barriers that kept many women from playing golf in the past, how they've been overcome of late, and what still needs to be done to make the game more inviting for female golfers. Hosted by Simplecast,...
Sep 06, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 19
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Tiger Woods turning professional, it's easy to cite the many ways Woods influenced golf, both at the professional level and beyond. But perhaps the most compelling way to appreciate the extent of Tiger's contributions is to consider what the game would look like if he never came around in the first place. In this episode, Alex Myers paints a picture of what this Tiger-less golf world would have looked like, from the money at stake, to the way the game is c...
Aug 23, 2021•32 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Making it to the PGA Tour is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for many golfers, yet those players quickly learn it's only the first step in a challenging learning process. In this episode of Local Knowledge, Dan Rapaport talks to a collection of tour pros about the difficult, sometimes comical education that accompanies an arrival at the game's highest level, and how their expectations differed from reality. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...
Aug 09, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Hideki Matsuyama's win in the Masters was not only his first major championship. It was the first major won by any Japanese man, providing what could be a shot of energy to a once-thriving Japanese golf economy. As Matsuyama takes center stage in this week's Olympic golf competition outside Tokyo, Alex Myers examines the many reverberations of Matsuyama's historic win, from the lucrative opportunities for the player, to the next Japanese golf boom it might inspire. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWi...
Jul 26, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 16
It wasn’t so long ago a sign hung at Royal St. George’s, host of this week’s Open Championship, banning “women or dogs” from the clubhouse. Only this month did Pine Valley, the No. 1 golf course in the U.S., invite its first women to be members. In this episode, Dan Rapaport looks at all-male golf clubs—the series of events that led some of golf’s most elite clubs to reverse their policies and allow women, and the reasons certain clubs are still holding firm in keeping women out. Hosted by Simpl...
Jul 12, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Every golfer breathes, of course. But experts in and out of golf say how you breathe can play a vital role in how you perform on the course—from the tempo of your swing to your ability to sink an important putt. In this episode, Sam Weinman examines the underrated difference proper breathing can make for golfers; how breath training has aided elite players like Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, and what average players can do to feel an immediate difference. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz ...
Jun 28, 2021•27 min•Season 3Ep. 14
There are 50 tournaments on the 2021-22 PGA Tour schedule, and truth is, top-level players have compelling reasons to skip most of them. So what do tournaments do to maintain relevance on a busy schedule? In this week’s episode of Local Knowledge, Alex Myers examines the growing pressure on regular tour stops to recruit players, as well the creative steps they take to ensure their event stands out. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection...
Jun 21, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Scott Fawcett isn’t a golf pro, and he doesn’t make golf clubs, yet in recent years he’s become a major influence in changing the way people play golf. By using data and satellite imagery, Fawcett has championed a strategic formula that is either a golf cheat code, or in the eyes of his critics, an oversimplification of a complex game. In this episode of Local Knowledge, Dan Rapaport examines Fawcett’s revolutionary approach to golf, how it might help players of all levels, and why it doesn’t si...
Jun 14, 2021•36 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Babe Didrikson Zaharias was the rarest of superstars who excelled in everything she did. When she eventually settled on golf, she became one of the game’s all-time great champions and helped to pioneer the modern LPGA. In this episode of Local Knowledge, Alex Myers tells the story of Zaharias’ incredible career, including the circumstances behind her win in the 1954 U.S. Women’s Open that nearly defies belief. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information ...
May 31, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 11
How does one sleep the night before he has a chance to win a major championship? What happens in the minutes and hours that follow such a landmark event? In this episode of Local Knowledge, Golf Digest Playing Editor Collin Morikawa sits down with Dan Rapaport to reflect on the whirlwind nine months since he captured his major title; how he knew he belonged the PGA Tour; and the parts of being a professional golfer he’s still getting used to. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...
May 17, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 10
