Ep. 126 - Masters preview with Scott Van Pelt

Five and oh seven and eighty six. And I had a threat a week and a half ago on Twitter about their best stories of times people visited Augusta National for the first time, and I had hundreds of responses, people just pouring in story after story. If you're going out this week, my goodness, enjoy it. Soak up every moment, have every sandwich, enjoy the drinks, sit down, just breathe it in. Because you know, if you're lucky to go a couple of times, if you're really lucky, you might

go more than that. And uh and if you can go once, that's all you really need. And I am I'm pumped to be out there. I had that way on Monday. So by the time you're listening to this, I will be gone. We have Scott Van Pelt on the podcast. This has become a little bit of our own tradition unlike any other. We have s v p right before the Masters. Of course, he's a big part of the ESPN coverage early in the week at Augusta National for the Part three and Thursday and Friday. He

does an unbelievable job. You know, Scott Van Pelt is a guy that started in golf. I mean he talks about it a little bit in our conversation, but you know, he was at Golf Channel before Golf Channel was what it is now and he was talking golf and golf only and now he has you know, he has carved out what I think is one of the more important positions and all of journalism, what he does at night on Sports Center, and his ability to weave in stories that we need to see, in stories that we should see,

in stories we didn't know we needed to see. I think s VP does just an unbelievable job. One of the better guys you will ever meet knowledge journalism and uh and a guy I'm lucky to call a buddy now. And we chatted about the current landscape of the PGA tour and favorites and players to win. We got some of your questions that you sent in. They were great. He loved them, and he even gave a pick at

the end of the podcast. I'm gonna give my pick on Wednesday on Twitter, as I do always, uh not like, I don't think you really care who I pick, but I'm gonna crunch the numbers and see exactly who I think is is the betting favorite. I'm gonna give you a little hint though, I think it's going to be an international player. That's at least who I'm leaning towards. Now. We will see on Wednesday. Of course, this Clubhouse Podcasts

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I love it. I was a little nervous early on that maybe the Vokey wedge wouldn't go as far as the wedge that you get with your traditional set of irons. That's not the case, and I'll tell you, I feel like it's forced me to hit softer wedge shots that that makes sense, not always to go full bore with three wedges. I mean, you can play with three edges, of course, but personally I went to four edges. I love him. The Vokes are great. He's a great guy.

Make sure you check all the grinds out. Just like I said, go to vokey dot com or go to a wedge fitting. It is absolutely worth it. I feel like wedges are the clubs. We don't change enough. We should change more a friend of mine, one of my best friends, texting me over the weekend said he's had his wedges for three years and he plays a lot of golf. I was like, dude, go get some fokes. You'll be a lot happier. Those shot you hit in

the green will check a little bit quicker. Plus around the greens you can hit little different shots that maybe you can't with wedges that have been beat to death after three years of golf. So check fokey dot com out and all the great stuff at title list. As you can hear, I'm excited. I will be out at Augusta National. I'll be walking around the grounds. I'll be out and about during the evening time. If you see me, I promise you this, I will have a couple of

clubhouse couzies in my back pocket. If you see me, come up and introduce yourself. I'd love to meet you first of all. And if you want a couzy to walk around at the club with or just to have in your golf bag, asked me for it. And if I don't have one on it, you know what I'll do. I will take your address down and I will send you one when I am back home. That's a guarantee. That's a clubhouse podcast guarantee. How much better can it get?

All right? Masters? We our tradition here on the podcast is Scott Van Pelt and he has coming up right now and we welcome back into the clubhouse, something we try to do every year around Master's time. Scott Van Pelt joins, is of course will be a big part of the coverage early in the week for ESPN And uh, Scott, I know it's one of your favorite weeks of the year. We're recording this the weekend before, so if Jordan's speech goes out and does something silly in San Antonio, we

won't know it. But you know what I mean. As you prep and get closer to as you call it your favorite week of the year, you have in the show, you have to do week nights, and you've got to cover NFL playoffs in college football, and then you get into the basketball season, March madness, all this stuff. When does your focus start turning towards golfer? Do you always kind of keep a side eye on the PGA tour

knowing what's going on. It's it's always there, just because it's always been my professional sort of job to keep an eye on it, you know. I mean obviously, starting with the Golf Channel, that was all I did. And and because of the relationships with people, either it's the players or the caddies or the club folks. I mean, you know, you know the game, you're part of it. You have you have people that you're always pulling for. Might be a caddy, right might it might be Um,

might be a player or whatever. But the stories are always interesting because these are people that you know. So it's always something I keep tabs on, even if it's not something that is a an a block story on my show nightly. Um, I'm always watching always, you know, always have the Golf channel on at home during the afternoon when I'm getting ready to go in any week. And then there's certain weeks like the players obviously, like that's what that's a great event to keep caps on

for a million reasons. And that was one that I probably watched more of start to finish than any um. But you know, it's it's always there on my radar. When you get to Augusta, you'll get there, you know, next early next week, and you'll get preparing for the week as you do every single year. You know, we've heard Jim nance will walk down to him in corner. Right when he gets there is he kind of starts

to get preps and starts to get the feeling. Do you have traditions you do or there are things that you make yourself do every year when you get to August to Nashville for the first time, just to remind yourself, Holy crap, I'm doing this and this is part of my job. Yep, yep, and I do. I think we might have talked about this. If we haven't, I've shared this with people who have asked me about things I do or you know, habits, traditions and whatever you wanna

call it. There's there's a T on the par three course that is the eighth T. And um, what if you walk from the television compound over to the course through the back um uh past nine on the part three Uh of course that the eighth T is right there. And I go over and I stand, and I just stand and I just look about and it's you want to call it prayer, you want to call it meditation, you want to just call it a moment of silent spot, It's that and I do it at some point every

single day. It's not like a reintroduction on the Sunday or on Monday. Rather, and that's it. It's an everyday thing because it's it's this place in the world we're I'm thankful to be and it's a it's a it's a really good spot to to take a moment to just because it's quiet and it's beautiful and it's one

of my favorite places. So I do that every year. Uh. And then I walk over the course behind the you know, behind the clubhouse there on the oak tree and say hello to you know the people I see in many cases shange just that just under that tree, just this week, all of whom are looking over my shoulder to see if somebody more important walking by so they can say hello too. And that's fine because they're all most of the people are. And I'm probably guilty of doing the

same thing. Um. It's an incredible people watching places. It's an incredible um, you know, just just a landmark to tell people how I meet you the oak tree. And you know, if even if you're late, there's a good chance that the person you're supposed to be still they're visiting with somebody or etching up. So that's all of those things are part of pretty much the daily risual

of being there. You you bring up a great point, I'll meet you at the Oak Tree, and you're gonna hear media people talk about it all week long, and they'll talk about this being really kind of the mecca of the golf world. There's agents and players and celebrities and basically every walk of life that it isn't around the game of golf will be under there at some point. And one of the unique things about the Masters, and I know people know this and maybe some don't, is

the fact that you can't have your cell phone. I mean, I think you may be able to because you know, if you have somebody textion go, we need you back in studio in four minutes. And that's probably an important thing to be told. But when you say I'll be there at three o'clock, you've got to be there at three o'clock. And I got to bring my sister out to the Masters a couple of years ago, and she drove down from Charleston, and the timing and the meeting,

it reminds it brings you back. I mean, it takes you back to a time where you couldn't just text and say I'm stuck in traffic when you weren't stuck in traffic. And it's, uh, it's it's one of the unique parts of the Masters that I feel like people don't discuss a lot. No, and it does remind, it does reacquaint us with the idea that three o'clock meant three o'clock and how we ever did anything without the ability to have the cell phone in our in our

back pocket? Is is? You know, try to explain that too. I started to say, your kids, I try to remember it myself and it's hard to remember, but it is. It is, and but honestly, it's so much of life is missed because our noses are in screens and we're absent mindedly thumbing from one screen to another as we walk and we bump into people or you look over and you see someone next to you driving doing that and you just want to just hunt your horn and go,

what in the hell are you doing? And it's nice that when you're there, your eyes are up and you're taking inventory of the place, because if there's a place not to be missed, it that so it's it's it's good that people are, they're saved from themselves else as they're not kind of tethered to the technology for that week. Yeah, this is an off master's topic to ask you. But you're you're connected in the world because you have to be.

I mean, you have to be on social media, paying attention to sports, because you're prepping for the night show. You have to be around this all the time. I get that same anxiety a lot because I feel like there's times where I just don't want to be around the phone. Do you have protocol you follow daily, weekly, where you go, I'm not going to use the phone on said day, said moment, and you just take a moment to get away from it. No, I don't have that.

I don't have that kind of discipline. Um I wish I did. And I was waiting for something really amazing but from you, and then there you go, well, man, I'm just I just don't mean I'm guilty of it. And even as I I recognize these behaviors and other people that I find detestable, and then I realized, hey, I'm looking in the mirror. But I mean, there's a fascinating story I want if it was in the New York Times. It was about like breaking up with your

cell phone. It was this whole deal, all these layered explanations of things to do, and if you recognize these behaviors, it's sort of indicative of of a toxic relationship with it. And I'm thinking every one of them was me, Um, so long answer to a short question. No, but but when I'm there, I mean when i'm there, I I need to be where I need to be, and I make sure i'm there when I need to be there. And you know, short of that, I'm pretty busy. So it's it's not like I'm um, I'm sort of flipping

through Twitter or whatever else. I mean, what, Matt, as long as I know my kids, my wife are good at home and I check in with them, you know, Other than that, I basically just need to know who's leading and what times our first hit, you know what I mean, absolutely, I mean it's and and that's and that's where you are at that time. That's the time when you're not looking at the phone, when you gotta be on camp. Last year, I was listening to our podcast last year, and of course it was a completely

different approach to the Masters. We had this Uh, we had this defined character that was undefined Tiger Woods. I mean, he was a guy coming in that had played some golf and we've seen some good stuff from him. We didn't exactly know what to expect that a major championship at Augusta Nashville. That's completely different this year. He's coming in playing good. I wouldn't say he's playing great. I

wouldn't say he's playing bad. He's been solid. I've been looking back over the career of Tiger at Augusta and he you know, it's crazy to think the last win was in two thousand and five. Does this golf course still fit Tiger Woods? Do you feel like in its iteration today ads and forcing guys to continue to beat driver around this golf course? Um? Maybe? And And the reason I don't have a yes or no is because I don't know. And it's to say no, what feels

dumb to me? Because he's still figured it out four times? Right? And and was it the same then? Obviously not. But the things that that the question that you ask really would apply to any golf course that that he's on, and that's can you drive it well enough to to compete? Because it's the second shot golf course, which means your first shot needs to be somewhere where you have a

reasonable second shot. So you know, you look at someone who and I'm sure we'll get to the topic of Rory, you look at a guy like that who pulls the pulls the driver out and has absolute confidence in it for good reason, and he's gonna hammer it all day long. And with Tiger, you know, like if there's a prop bet to hit the fairway in the first I'm betting everything I have that he doesn't, right, because you never never what he won. He never did what he won.

But but but but to say shame like that, it doesn't that it doesn't fit him because it's been so long, I think would be it just feels ridiculous because of who we're talking about. But it also if there were anyone else, fourteen years after the fact, it would feel ridiculous that we would say it's ridiculous Or did you know what I'm saying? Like I last year to me and you're right, you know, you're go. We didn't know this, even though I had been told by those that had played,

you know, rounding him. Look, he can do it. He's gonna win and it was like wow, really, and then as it turned out, you know, he he did, and he had a lead on the back nine of the the open um and he was right there. And in St. Louis at bell Reeve, I mean, you're talking about back to back majors where he was in the mix and very solidly in the mix. So that was more than I would have believed. And to think that he couldn't be very solidly in the mix of Augusta, I'm not.

I wouldn't say that. It's just been a long time since he's won there, and so it's hard to remind yourself of what it feels like when he's in the lead. There were in contention there because bell Reeve, Carnousti, cool, Augusta totally different things, absolutely, and and it brings up, you know, to me, the Ernie Els quotes this year about the Masters and how he kind of just poured everything out about the golf or so, and this is

a guy that nearly won multiple Masters. I do wonder if this golf course, I wonder if more than any golf course in the world, it's right out in front of you. There's not out of bounds, really anywhere on the property there's water, you see it. There's not a lot of tricks. I wonder if the longer you go here to these types of players, Tiger of course being in a different category, but an Ernie Els who thinks, how can I not dominate this place? How do I

not win? I wonder if a little bit of that bleeds in the Tigers when he thinks back, I was looking in two thousand five, I was a junior in college. I mean, that's a long time ago, Scott. You know, like that's crazy to think of how long ago it was when he won at the Masters. Yet when we get here wherever, you you think, well, he knows this golf course, he knows every bump on on the grounds. He does. But see, that's the thing about this that

I love. The reason, one of the many reasons let me let me start that again that I love this event is because there's so many people who show up with It's like your Gusta National is the most beautiful woman in the world because everyone is in love with her. Everyone's in love and everyone thinks they know her best. Right. Phil Michelson feels the exact same way, the exact same way he has the same level of love, the same passion, the same understanding, the same knowledge, and with good reason.

He's figured it out two on on on three different occasions. Tiger has done it one more. But you know, you think Justin Rose doesn't feel the same way. You know you think Rory McElroy doesn't feel the same way. You think. I mean, I could keep going. There's so many players who Rory's got five straight top tens. You know, Justin's only finishes in the top ten, or so it feels last year he was just on the outside, but he's

been running up twice. So the list of players who show up believing that they know how to, that they know it, that they love it, and that some part of him isn't owed it, but it's almost like their cosmic fate to do it. And Ernie's the perfect example. He's on the list with Greg Morman and Tom wise Cough And we could keep going, David Duval of players who when they were in their prime, who were absolutely

certain would win the Masters, and they never did. So it's that's what to me, is that how many how long the list is of people who if they did, you'd think it's entirely appropriate. And yet if they don't when their chances there, maybe a guy like Danny Willis who only gets one chance grabs it, or Charles Schwitzel, who gets one chance grabs it. That's what makes the masters. To me um that that element is just so intoxicating,

is that every great player thinks he can. Most of them have a reason to to to validate that feeling, and yet it doesn't always happen. And why, well, I don't know, man. Sometimes maybe a guy makes a putt, or maybe you miss one, or you fan one or whatever it's it's and yet you come back next year. Every bit is in love that you know, you don't ever feel scorned like Ernie's just his heart was broken. They're broken, but he never fell out of love, you

know what I mean? Absolutely. I mean I was rewatching. This is a dorky admission. I'm just gonna let you know this. I was rewatching two thousand sixteen a couple of nights ago. And you know, we all remember the speed shot at twelve. I'd completely forgot that Danny will It hit a t shot on twelve that could have easily taken a bounce right and gone in the water. I mean, I I I vaguely remember the birdies that Danny will It made that round. I know he had

a great shot on sixteen. I know he had that great crazy birdie at one, but that shot was afoot, was six inches from kicking straight right and going in the water. Famously, Fred Couples did the same thing. It It does seem like the golf course picks and choose as it's champion year to year, and it says this is yours to have or this isn't and and that's a great analogy you had with It's it's this, it's this Adonis where you think, how how can I not win this? If I'm at the top of my game?

And I feel there are more guys flying under the radar this year than ever before because of what Rory's done, because of obviously Tiger Rolling. Phils already got a winder

and under his belt this year. I mean, when you look at the list of Justin Thomas and John Rohm and even d J and Justin Rose, who you already mentioned, you know, these guys all have to show up believing this is gonna be the year I win the Masters, and I don't really feel like there's been much buzz about those guys because there's been other storylines, and I think it's basically been Rory and everyone else because of

the way Rory's played all season long. Yep. And and and you were just guilty of something that we will probably be guilty of on Wednesday, went Andy and I and forget billions, No, no, just you hear me out. When we do our preview show, will we mention Brooks Captnfriences. All they've done has won the last three. All they've done when the last three majors and Molinari's won in

the last month. You know that's that's happened. Will we mentioned Paul Casey's name, he won again at vaus Bar and he's only got five top ten's here and and tried to shoot sixty nothing last year. I mean, that's what I'm saying, Jane, That's what I'm saying in that that that this place with you mentioned name, that will certainly mention. And then there are all of these other guys and for one reason or another, whether it's at Augusta or this year, Uh, everyone's gonna show up with

the same level. Like you know how it goes and when you guys cover the US Open, you show up at at a certain course, maybe you show up a shinnecock last year. There's certain guys you go, man, you just so you just player aid doesn't drive it well enough, this guy doesn't can't not clever enough around the greens that you just count a certain percentage. In some case

there's a pretty significant percentage. And Augusta like, you're not really discounting anybody, um because everyone slows up with with uh and that's enthusiasm and hope that and maybe a little bit of foor here or maybe a little perform this year or maybe both that the list at the top is so freaking crowded. It's like it's like the line.

It's like you go to that exclusive club and they're like there's the regular line, and then there's the v I P. But then there's a zillion people that are superstars at the b I P line, Like not everybody gets to get in, man, hold on, like you're gonna have to wait and then everyone's kissed off, but sorry, like you know, we gotta make room for dj Y

and here's crew. How many have got three? You've got three? Well, you're you're one friend's got on sneakers, so he can't come in and say like it gets proud of over there at at that entrance to the Gusta because everybody's in line, uh, and everybody's got a reason to think that they're supposed to get in. Yeah, it's it's it's like zone three on American airlines. So just everybody stands up. Nobody's zone three. Nobody has ever been Zone three ever,

but they all stand up trying to get in. I will say the one thing we can bank on is I think Charlie Hoffman will probably open with sixty five. I can't remember the last time he hasn't got out and shot like six under on Thursday. I feel like it happens every single year. I've only been in the Butler cabin twice, so this will be my third year.

They are both years Charlie was in on the on the on the first or second day because you went, well, I believe no. I I think two years in a row it was Charlie was in there in the first round, which you know, and that's the other thing, as we know, even though it's smallest feel like eighties six. I think it is right now or something like that, which I wish it were bigger. I wish they were like a hundred.

You know, you could you go a little deeper in the world golf rankings and not worry about who's being you know, allowed in. Yes, certainly, but it's still it's it's it's intimate, it's small. A name it probably isn't said on the Golf channel's air or on our our air um leading up to the event, has a great chance of being someone that goes out and shoot sixty

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get back to SPP. So we talked a little about Rory and and I and I and I feel like this year his approach and and it's not just been us guessing this. He has done this. His approach has

been different. He changes schedule it up. You know, he's talked a lot about the way he thinks about golf now compared to how he used to think I thought you did a great job interviewing him after the Players when he jumped on on your show, And I just I love the conversation and I just love listening to Rory mc where we talk about golf and talk about life. He's one of the most introspective players we've ever had

in the game at just twenty nine years old. And I and this is one of those those lines that it's going to be settled out. I feel like Master's Week and we're gonna say it, is this his best chance? And I say that because how can you come in in better form? And is that a good thing or a bad thing for Rory mcwrey, considering how much pressure he already puts on himself at the Masters? Well, yes to it certainly feels like it's as good at a

chance as he's likely to have. Um and I enjoyed the conversation we have with him, And then that the night that night I went home after doing Sports Center and Live fromaz On which I'd like to say here when I always tell my friends that I love that. So I think Rich and Randal and David and Frank such a good job. They've got such a great dynamic and different personalities, and they had Ruryal and they must have had him for twenty minutes. And Rory is just

doing what Rory does. He's telling you, I don't want to say bearing his soul because that makes it sound so much more serious than it is. He's just talking like a human being about about golf and where what it represents in his world and what it doesn't and the comfort that he has with who he is, and the fact that, honestly, yes, it was important for him to play that Sunday the way he did on that

course against that field. So every year he'll arrive having to answer questions about this for the Slam, which is a real heavy weight because as we've already established, everybody else is just as geeked up to be there as you are. But he comes in his confidence. He can be with his driver, which puts him in great position theoretically off the tea to attack it this second South course. His life is good, he's sordid, he's in order um And having said all those things, it doesn't mean he can.

It doesn't mean that that that this is his year. I think it just means that all of the other possible obstacles or reasons to discount him are null and void. It'll be just a matter of does he play well enough, does he make the right pot at the right time, does he does he know what I'm saying? Does he take on a shot? Is it a green lightning? And

he takes it and he makes it work? Um? And if he does all those things, could he win and and and could he get could he have on those weeks where he gets spooky and he goes low and goes crazy like congressional Sure, because when he gets that, when he gets it going, you know, him and djare the two guys that I feel I can run away from people more than anyone else. Um. So yes to the question, is it his best chance? Yes? Is his

life in order? Yes? Yes? Yes. Does it mean someday he's in there with you know, Jim and the chairman? Not necessarily man, There's there's just so many, as we know, there's just so many variables that have to that have to be you know, sorted. Um. But he's he's he's clearly, clearly, clearly in a great place. And um, just watching him dissect the golf course, um, at the players was was fun.

When he wobbled, but then he when he got his feet back beneath him, because that Sunday was obviously gonna be difficult, but he Um, when he had to have it, he had it. And UM, I think it's crazy to think about, but like you look at a guy like speech, like when you lose that, when you lose that edge and you lose that confidence, I mean that's real. And and he I don't know if he lost his confidence, but I think it he needed to be reminded of what it felt like to to finish it off on Sunday,

and he did well. I ask people on Twitter to send their best s v P questions and I got some good ones Twitter. You know it comes through with times, you know that, Um, Dylan and some guys asking about waffles. I don't want to eat waffles. I don't like waffles. I like, I like, I mean, you know about pancakes rather, I'm out of team Waffle. This guy wanted me to eat pancakes, and what's coming. I don't want your pancakes. Okay, I like waffles. Some care what states for him? I

don't care who. I don't care if your grandmama's your grandma was making a full and I'll eat it. Somebody asked me why you won't go hang out with them at their golf course. I'm like, well, I mean, you're a random human being and he's a busy guy. So the answer is that's why. That's why he's not going to be my friend. My friends would like me to do that and so and I'd like to do bring up with my friend around the time to do that. So I appreciate the invite, but I'm afraid that's not

gonna happen. So here's your first question. Uh, this is this is this segways right into it. Bruce Rogers said, favorite course in Connecticut slash New England. I don't get around a lot to play many. There's a course my my home course is called Wampanog and it's a It's a Donald Ross, uh course, which is funny. I was talking one ton of Peter Costous and I think I think I called it an old Donald Ross. If you stopped me, because are there any new Donald Ross? Said?

You know you know what, No, there aren't, so noted. It's just that Donald Ross. But it's it's really playable, it's got really good greens, it's not the kind of course it's gonna eat you alive. It isn't. It isn't overly low. Um. But this is the sad, sad truth. Last year, UM, I have three young children, got married late, three young kids. We went to the pool a bunch.

I had a whole lot of golf balls in advance at my annual summer Part three tournament, and I played zero holes of golf at the course where I paid my monthly dues. So I paid a lot of money to hit range balls, uh, to get ready for a Part three tournament. So this is a long answer to a short question. I just don't play enough to have any real great knowledge of of the of the local golf courses. My wapan us of really fun plays. I just wish i'd played it. It's expensive pool fees, that's

what you're telling me. That's that's really got good fries, and the kids like it. I've got. I've got my first kid on the way in a month and a half, and and I'm already getting the feeling that the golf clubs are are gonna get hit the most. You know what I'm okay with. I'm thirty five, I've played a lot of golf. I'll play them later. Um, here's here's a question for you. Why did you not done the Pebble Beach pro am. You're famous enough. Uh, they've been.

There have been like test balloons floated by from some of the folks that were involved there, which has I greatly appreciate. Um, and we haven't had my schedule hasn't hasn't worked yet. And then the one year I just I hadn't played and I was I want you to imagine this. I want you, I want you to imagine not playing golf for an extended period of time and then having to put it on display at Pebble. Well,

let's say it isn't one of those beautiful days. Let's say it's some one of those forty five degree caramel days and you're on television and you're just you might as well be but ass naked, um, because you're so exposed. And the fear of that is something that has also kind of gotten in the way. But it's been talked about maybe some day would happen, and if it did, I would grind my butt off to try to make sure I had something something of a swing. It just

hasn't happened. Yet you need to show up like an in the office where you have both the gloves on with the lotion I hit yesterday. That's me. I'm I'm I'm preppy late, but I'm gonna be ready, all right. I'm excited for I'm excited for the s v P day day we'll we'll have I'll have to get like a live PGA tour live came or something. UM Andrew asked, I'd love to hear your greatest golf memory and to understand how golf has influenced him off the course, both

professionally and personally. That's a pretty deep question. If you want to give us your greatest golf memory, that'll work. Wow. I mean I got to playing Augusta National with UM with the late great Jim Hubert. Um when I won the lottery is certainly very high on the list. Because Um, I want to say nine. Maybe maybe I'm getting the years wrong. It was around that time. It was around the time of like a really heavy pleaded khaki and a really not breathable cotton shirt button to the top. Yeah,

it was. It was in there. And it was also pre cell phone, so it was like I had a Kodak Instematic, and I was a tourist man. I took pictures of every moment that I was out there. But I'll I'll say this, like, look, I'll joke around plenty about golf, and I'll roll my eyes a little bit about when people talk a little too reverentially about it.

I'll say this. You walk across that bridge on twelve and stand on that green, and you know that everybody that's ever mattered in the game, and lots of people outside the game have stood there, and very few sort of mortals have and I count myself among the mortals because I am I just mean that that that piece

of land is is really something special. And when you stand there and I had absolutely nuked an eight iron, that laid it up on the hill and it somehow rolled down into the pine straw, so I was actually able to make a pretty miraculous three. No one cares about your score, but people always well what you hit, um, But just standing there and looking around that whole day is um. It's the kind of thing that that it's seared on your brain. And I'll tell you one more

thing from that that round. It was Davis's love had just hit here's your context. Davis loved that week had hit the famous up and down shot that Tiger Woods did after Love Davis loved it it first the first guy I ever saw do it, and so I had a horrible two shot in sixteen. I was over on the right and the Caddy Winds stood on the top of the hill and he said, but your bone needs to stop here, And I gave him a look and

I said, what have I done today? It would lead you to believe I'm capable of stopping it there, and you know the file to me for a second, Well, I hit that little pinch and it takes two hops and it's stopped dead words speetwere and I just put my hands up and started walking because it trickles down and it's, you know, a kick in for a three um. But that that is my greatest memory is is just that day of being allowed to uh, to be around there and the and to play there and like, how

does it kind of impact your life or whatever? I mean, it's it gave me my life. You know. I went to the Golf Channel as a guy that had never been on television as a production assistant. That I got on TV because I met a and then I met a guy named Tiger Woods, and he and I had a great professional relationship. So I mean, how does the game influenced my life? It gave me my life. My entire existence is because I got to be at a fledgling network that became what it's become and and get

to do what I did. So and I don't say that lightly, like I mean every bit of that. It's the game gave me my life. It's pretty good. That's great. I love that. I also love one of my favorite golf things from golf people, and it's everybody we all have this is you can remember shots from the ninety My mom used to make fun of my dad and I when we would drive home from a golf tournament. We would be talking about every shot from every day of the tournament, and she'd always go, how do y'all

remember that? And it's just they're serious. They can't get out of there. Of course. I mean there's more. I'm I hit a five wood from the pine straw or fifteen. I mean, like the good shots that I hit were they were they were spectacular. Mostly they were horrible, um, but the good ones like the one on sixteen and uh, you know, I mean it was a long time ago. But you know, Jim Hebrew was one of the kindest generalists, most talented souls in our business who unfortunately we lost,

but he was. He was part of the group that day, and he didn't he didn't make fun of people much, but he made fun of me just because I couldn't stop taking pictures of what, you know, I just I didn't want to forget it, you know what I mean. I just didn't want to let the day get away

from me. And of course, you know, they're they're they're in my mind, like I can close my eyes as I'm talking to you right now and I can see, you know, the shots and the moments, and it was it was, you know, as good as you think it would be. It's it's better than that. Better. In Booth Snack, Dylan asks the biscuits at the open or he says, pimento. You know you're not a pimento person. I'll just say any of the sandwiches at Augusta National Chicken Sandwiches and

august are pretty good. But the did did gestive UM, which for those that are unfamiliar, um the best way to just to describe a digestive, what it is is a cookie kind of like a Biscoff cookie on an airplane. It's got that same consistency, in that same sort of sweetness. And when you do like fourteen consecutive hours of the Open Championship, you can wreck asleeve of the gestice, like by accident. You know, you don't fit out to eat

that many. But then like you've watched the morning wave and the afternoon wave and you realize, oh crap, I've eaten an entire thing of digestives down. I'm ready for more. Uh. It seems like you're leading to it seems like that's you're that's what you're leaning towards. Possibly, I we have to get your shifts some for the for open viewing this year. Digestives, that's the answer, that's what you all right? Dan said, Um, you raved about his guy, Taco Fall,

the tall dude from UCF. He said, who's a golfer that he thinks is as good of a story as the big man in the master's field this year. Now, that is has got to be an impossible answer. Well, so, so for the backstory on Taco Fall was he was a young man who he's seven six. I mean, well, now people probably are familiar with the story because he was the guy that almost helped U c F beat Duke and then they were a roll away of from

from winning it. And and he's from from Africa, and he's a brilliant kid who had like a four oh in high school. But his his acceptance into college was being held up because he had gone to so many different schools that were like kind of basketball factory, so they almost they like red flag his graves. He actually was majoring in engineering, speaks like five languages. He's a brilliant kid and a wonderful kid. And so I took up his cause because I'm like, hey, end to double a.

It's just you got the wrong dude. Let him in school. Thankfully, this was four years ago. He got in and it almost ended with an incredible story of beating Duke. But I think still there. The story of he and his team became well known because of how close they came. So who's the same as that in the master's field beats the hell out of me, man, Like I'm give me, give me somebody off the radar that you can root for,

or somebody who's overcome something. I guess. I mean I I don't know that there are I there there aren't enough. It's like the U S Opens where you could find those stories, right, or your Open championships. So some qualifier that the guys like a blacksmith and he played with someone his granddad's Mashi Niblick or something like. That's where you're going to find a Taco Falls story. Those there aren't. There aren't as many of those to find in a

very small and elite field at Augusta. Yeah, half a barn Rat's obsession with Air Force one isn't exactly going to land on the list. I don't think. I don't think that's what it's gonna be. What's the funniest thing, Paul said, what's the funniest thing you've seen or experienced at the Master's Um? This is so inside the belt way, But I'll tell you, UM, when we when we we used to be over at the Augusta Country Club, UM,

taping our segments at night. UM, and the god this is funny because it was so long ago from a technology standpoint that like now things are like they're done on computers and the utes done and it's over like you don't have to tape and read like it's just the process is so so streamlined. It used to be

much a much more kind of laborious task. It would take forever, and we'd be over at the Augusta Country Club and Andy North and I would be um waiting to do stuff, and we'd get punchy because we've been at it all day. And there were these books on the set, and the books are actual books, and they were like, I don't know what they are. They're like eighteenth century literature, and it's kind of pretentious, sort of

English prose about who knows what. And for whatever reason, one of the nights I took down the book and began reading in this very affected, sort of pompous British accent, which turned into like these nightly readings, and I would do them when I got the sense that the crew

was at we were all collectively done. And I don't know that this would sound funny to you or to anyone who's listening, but trust me when I tell you, a bunch of punch drunk TV people at the end of a sixteen hour day listening to me, and I pick up the book and I they start playing like symphony music, and I'd say, you are reading from the book of such and such, and we would just read these nonsensical things and North would get to the point where he was weeping. And Andy is such a gem

of a human. Anything you can do that knocks him off off his balance and gets him to the point where he's crying tears from laughing, like you just gotta do it. So again, that's a real inside the belt Way story, but that's what we would used to do over the Augusta Country Club late late, late at night, UM when we were taping our segments and just hoping that they would make their slot on Sports Center listens.

As a person that that it gets to be about the seven hour on Saturday at the US Open and your duct taping your eyeballs open, I totally appreciate it because it's there's always a little thing that all those all those people are going. What. So last year at the US Open, we have the Curtis Cup up until Sunday, five hours no commercials Monday off and on Tuesday we had a new event that we put out and it was all the champions of the U s g A events were brought out to play this little four whole

exhibition and I was I was tired on Tuesday. I mean, you know, we we've done a couple of weeks back to back and I just come off fifteen hours straight with no commercials. I decided to have a red bull before the broadcast, and I mean, I don't drink. I'm telling you, I was nervous for myself to just speak words. And I'm like, this is the first day of the

US Open. What am I thinking? So I'm pounding waters during break just like thinking that's it's almost like it's an alcohol, you know, I'm like trying to bleed it through my system. It was an awful, awful idea that will not be my move this week this year during the US Open at Pebble, no red bulls around me. A couple of more questions and let you go, this one's pretty good. Two years ago, DJ falls down the stairs.

Last year, Fenale blows out his ankle. What should be the best prop bed for contender most likely to suffer a stabilitating fluke injury during the Masters week? Man, can I just can I can I punt on the question and tell you? I like I'm picking female. I like out a win. How about that I don't have how about how about this prop bet? I don't know. I can't predict the future of someone of random injury, but

I will predict Feenale. Take a flyer on Fetale. I'm serious, he a he's if he makes a hole in one on Wednesday, he's not jumping. I promise you he will not leave the he will not leave the ground. But he's got the goods and I think he played. He played excellent last year's Sunday and played his way into the top ten. That was his first time he'd ever been there, and on a basically broken foot, he shot in the sixties on Thursday. I love his game. And uh,

your prop bed is Fenale to win? Or play him like whatever it is to bet him for a top ten or for a top five. I think he can. I think he can make noise. That was gonna be my question. You picked j T last year. I thought it was a great pick. I think I'm leaning towards Justin Thomas this year because of how great his wedge play has been. But Phenee is a great pick. You know people are gonna go, well, he hadn't won. That doesn't matter. He's played great, has played great for the

last year year and a half on tour. Uh And I also just want to say, if you can get into a couple of people's years, especially the big players during the Part three, let's just get the guys to finish out this year. Let's let's let's break the curse. I want the curse to disappear, no more Part three curse. After there are guys, there are some guys out there who aren't afraid to win it and will try to. I'm will be there. I like that. And the reason I picked fen now is just because I don't want

to say the same name everyone else says. And and yes, the just the if people want to make the dismiss it because he hasn't won, that that's fine. I mean, it's there's there have been a lengthy list of major winners who hadn't won prior to I just I have to believe that the name comes them inside a top

top what twenty. I mean, it just doesn't feel like given how many players there are of the caliber we've got right now, who have who have all had recent or past his recent history this year or past history Augusta. I just can't fathom that it would be a name that come Monday morning, everyone's going Huh. I didn't think we'd see that. The Phenademy is just enough off the main stage where I feel like maybe no one else

will say it. Um, but it's I just feel like Shane is gonna be I mean, I've said it every time I've talked to you about this week. It's my favorite week. I I just know comes Sunday something great will happen and uh, you know, we get to be there and and talk about it. What could be better than that. I just don't drink any red Bull. That's no, no, no, no more, never again. I appreciate it. S v P. I Uh, I always enjoy having you on. People love it. It's gonna be a great week. As you said, it

seems to be trending toward a great Masters. I feel like all the last few major championships have been awesome. And uh, you know, if if if Speed gets in the hunt again, and be surprised if Rory wins this, it'll be great. If we see anything with from Tiger and Phil, the storylines continuing to continue. Uh, have a great week, enjoy it, and we will catch up with you soon. I look forward to it, man, And you keep doing your thing. I've told you this, you know

on air. Offer just you're so good at this and I just enjoy how you do what you do, so never change, just keep being you and that's enough. So I I appreciate you having me on and I hope we do it again. Thanks, buddy, I appreciate it. You got it. It looks like I'm act. It's a big thanks again to Scott Van Pelt, who is just always a treat tab on the podcast, one of my favorite

of the year. I love chatting with him, I love talking masters and uh he is, like I said to start the show, one of the great guys in the business across all platforms, and I think there are plenty of people that would agree with me. A big thanks to zip Recruiter make sure you check out that exclusive web address zip recruiter dot com slash clubhouse. And a big thanks to Title of Course and the new Vokey wedges. Do me a favor, get some new edges. If it's

your birthday coming up, asked for new edges. We got Father's Day coming up fast approaching new edges. Hey, I need a new lab which I'm gonna get a new vokey. I'm gonna go check out all the grinds. I'm gonna improve my golf game. All of those things sound great. If you're out of Augusta, come say hi if you see me. If you're around the town, don't hesitate to say what's up. I might even buy you a drink if you're being massively nice. It's an exciting week for everybody.

It's an exciting week in sports. All the focus turns to golf and that is really really what we want. And major championship season is upon us. We just had the first major of the season in the A and A on the female side, and now we get the first one on the male side. It's gonna be a great week. I'm excited. We will check back with you Sunday night. We'll have a reaction podcast Sunday night with our good friend Joel Class, so make sure you look

for that after all the action wraps up. Have a great week, soak it in, enjoy it, and we'll be back with you on Sunday.