Fire Drill 007: Masters Recap

that bumping it up that stope. It's really steep turn to make that, and walking off the third groin, it didn't feel like he could lose it, you know, like, in about a two minute stretch, it went from like this is really sad for Scotty to like, wow, he's just gonna it. Just felt the energy and the whole thing to me changed completely. Another log on the fire, Nobody here is give the time. All right, Here we are the final fire drill of the Masters, and what

a week it has been. Obviously, Alan, you wrote yesterday that if Scotty Cheffer went out and shot seventy two and one, a star would be born. You shoot seventy one, even with a four point on eighteen, and thus you know, wins the Masters, his fourth fourth win in six starts. Truly, it seems to be obvious that a star is born. Yeah, what an incredible performance. You know, all week long kind

of followed the speed Temple of two thousand fifteen. I mean, just played it lights out for thirty six holes, built a big lead, fought like hell on Saturday was really tough day, and then just you know, met the moment on Sunday. I mean, so many incredible up and downs. Obviously the one on three will will join the the pantheon of Master's highlights forever. But I mean he was incredible with his wedge. I actually called Ben Crenshaw in the middle of the round and he was just raving

about do you see all these shots? He's hitting high ones, low one, spinning ones. You know, he was. He was really into it, and but of course you knew he also he drove it really well when he had to, and I got a little tense there. You when Rory hold out on eighteen, there was just a sense like, oh boy, let's let's see how how Scott. You know, he'd already slayed camp Smith, and then it's like, how

is he going to react to this one? And then you know, I almost knocked the Flaxi down fourteen and really bold second shot on the fifteen, and those birdies just kind of iced it. So you know, he's a player with no weaknesses, like that's what makes him so dangerous. And that was really on display of just a great all around performance and you know it pretty I don't know if you guys watched the press conference, he killed

in there. He's just such a likable, humble, kind of sweet kids so I think, Yeah, I think the golfing public is cana fall in love with him. Jeff, what are your what are your thoughts on what you saw this week? Yeah? I mean, no one really was. He was number one in the world, he's the most hot flyer and golf oh year. Really and no one really picked him today. Everyone was picking every somebody else. No

one really believed he could keep doing it. But when you watch what we saw the last four days, it's kind of why I didn't wait. How obvious was it really? I mean, the two form plans the year Cam and Scott in the last group, it seems to happen a lot.

We always ignore the form, but it's always it pops up. Um. Yeah, and he looked really ropey those last three holes yesterday, it looked with the last three holes Saturday, and then the first two or three, the way it was going through, walking up the third t, I didn't think Scotty could

win the Masters. It just didn't feel like that. It just like felt like Cam was on it and Um, Cam menaport tea shot, but it looked like he could get away over it down there, and then Scotty, I've never seen anyone down there on the third and then Um makes it the chips and he flubs it really and then makes an unbelievable shot. It's a really brave

shot that bumping it up that stope. It's really steep to to make that, and walking off the third grain and didn't feel like he could lose it, you know, like in about a two minute stretch, it went from like this is really sad for Scotty, like wow, he's just gonna it. Just felt the energy and the whole thing to me changed completely Um. And then after that it was just he just put on a clinic. If had to close out of time, it really didn't he like if he missed a shot. He had a good

enough pitch and made a good Um. He had a really good put on eleven. I thought was an incredible part on top of Camp's Bertie Um and then twelve sort of bit cam like it does. It's been a lot of people before and he finished stuff. Well. Rory was fun to watch. I mean it's become a bit of a pattern and that it's sort of plays them tough out of it and then comes home fast. And he's always the best player in the field at the end of the tournament, Rory, but he just does too

much damage at the start. But that was fun to watch, fund to watch him play a team there. That was kind of like if you if Rory finishing second of the Master is never gonna make him happy unless he finishes it like that. You know, he's walking out pretty boy, that's a pretty fun way to finish second, you know. So um that might sort of, I don't know, get him coming back next year a bit low, sort of happier just because of the way it also have ended.

You know, he's gonna have some pretty good memories of this. So it's not over for Rory yet there Colin Colin can't help but finished top five in Majors um incredible player. Yeah, great week, fantastic. I mean it's sort of for a for a Masters that generally they're usually clothe us, but for one that finishes with a where they could he had a full part and he could still have had three more parts of still one. Um, it was an incredibly it was an interesting master to watch when it

was a great Sunday, even though it wasn't really ever close. Yeah, Ryan, what what what's your sense of Scottie Scheffler? Yeah, I mean obviously going to be a star. Uh. You know, I think, uh they talked a little bit about it on the broadcast, but I mean Ted Scott has obviously brought the guys on. They seemed very very comfortable together. Um. I mean the guys alleged did a lot with Bubba obviously, and I just I mean I was watching their interactions.

It seems like very loose and obviously they haven't been together that long. So and obviously the results uh speak for themselves. And to bring it back to Monday qualifiers, which I always tried my best to do. Uh two thousand eighteen, uh Utah Championship Corn Furry UM Champion Corn Furry Tour. Uh wells Ela Torus and Scottie Scheffler bullshot sixty six US by two, and uh you know I couldn't get it done. The next week, Scotty Monday qualified and then missed the cut at the corn Furry event.

But they've done pretty well since then. Two of the UH two or whatever will finished like fifth or something like that. So I always watch out for Monday. Is always the best players are at Monday's event at some point in their career. I should I should mention that. Obviously, imagine Ella this, Alan Schipnuk let us off. Jeff Ogilvie was second Ryan French of Monday q Info and host of the Grind podcast is with Us as well, and now Las Versias, host of Grassroots with Legettro Jenkins also

joins us. Last, what's your sense of what you saw this week from Scotty Scheffler. I think back to Scotty's dad when he became number one in the world, and he hugged Scotty and said, as great as a golf for you are, you're a better person. And the reason I think about that is because I think every at he watching, you know, he was like the best friend that that you want to hang out with when you go back home from college. He's just kind of that guy.

A friend of mine worked at Olympia Fields in just outside of Chicago in when they had the Junior Ryder Cup, and the first thing he told me about it was the Scottie Scheffler kid is the nicest person on the planet and he's one heck of a player. Keep an eye out for him. So as a person, you gotta love that. It was interesting to see that he was always he answered the bell quite a bit, he put the ball in some awkward positions off the first he

today was left. He had a really courageous punch and that was a heck of an up and down and you know, Cam goes Birdie Birdie Adam right out of the gate. So I was impressed with his ability to stay in the moment and and to have that composure. And when you look back at people that when the masters, very rarely do people make a double bogey, and when the masters you it's a generous course in a lot

of ways that you've got to control your ball. And you didn't see Scotty make one until the four part on eighteen, So an amazing job of composure of just kind of being yourself and being prepared to see him on the range so late after each round, hitting balls deep into the night. Um, you know, as I questioned it, like, you know, you know my body couldn't handle that. But clearly,

you know he has a game plan. It's kind of steeped and remaining positive being in the moment, and and it delivered, and it's been delivering for one heck of a hot month here, So real grateful to have him in the game. Yeah, And in fairness, I mean he did get the better end of the draw playing in the last group on Friday after the wind laid down for that for a big portion of that late afternoon,

which had to help. So he was he was putting out last the last three days of the Masters, which also led to late night you know, late evening rain sessions.

But Alan, what's what's your sense of Cam and and his performance coming off a player's championship and and and what he could till as his point, Scotty to be one under through four or five holes there today, he could have easily been four over, And I think that's really ended up being the way he wanted, was salvaging something early on and getting that chip in and turning.

But Cam kept coming at him and until twelve there was still there was still very much a tournament going on for sure, although I'm not sure Camp never totally recover from the third hole. I mean it looked like, you know, cam Smith has maybe the best short game in Gulf, and he's thinking, all right, well, I'm gonna get up and down. He's not. We're gonna be We're gonna be tired, and instead he walked off, you know, three behind. It was. It was such a gut punch

and he could never close the gap. He never got closer than three strokes, and uh, you know it was hard to watch because he out at twelve. He kind of lost the plot a little bit. It was just you know, tossing the club and his body language and he just looked so be And that's what this course does. I mean, you know, Jeff was talking about the energy and the excitement of the finish and that's what the Masters are known for. But there's a dark side of that.

There's a lot of broken hearts and a lot of broken spirits, and that's part of what makes it so poignant. You know that you think about you know, Phil Phil Mikinson's spot to win, but that that image of Ernie's sitting there, you know, eating the apple. He never really recovered from that, it felt like, at least not at this particular venue. And um, camp Smith is so talented. He obviously he's played, he has. This is his fourth top ten the last five Masters. I mean, it seems

Taylor made for him. But you know that something like would happen to him at twelve leaves the bruise. I mean, think about about speech and he hasn't be able to get it done here since since he cracked up in two thousand and sixteen. And it's just that was hard to watch and I felt for him. I mean, I think we all love camp Smith. He's a he's a likable bloke and he's just fun to watch and all that. But um, he you know, he's just the latest have

his heartbroken by a gust a national. What do you think, Jeff, what do you what are your thoughts on Cam in his future? Massive future? I mean, he's such a dedicated guy, and he's sort of as serious as he looks in those last feear out of those Majors, as good as he looks, and is determined and sort of calm. He's pretty loose and relaxed. Off the course. You know, he doesn't take it all too seriously once he gets off the course. He's a sort of guy who'll get over

this a little bit more than I think others. Um, I mean, twelve gets if you play the Masters long enough, twelve is going to get you. I mean, it doesn't happen to thankfully, it doesn't happen to everyone on a Sunday, but it's going to get you at some point. I think you will learn from He's a sort of guy who'll sort of shake that off and he'll be leaving with He'll be leaving feeling like he can win the Masters, almost more than he would have been any other one,

you know what I mean. He doubled the first on Thursday, double the last on Thursday. He had a lot of stuff go wrong. I mean, to Allen's point, the third was just a massive It was the biggest momentum shift I think I've ever seen in a seven year old tournament. I've never seen anything like it ever. Um. It was a match play, like you know, because it really kind

of was those two unless someone else did something crazy. Um, and he he had an unbelievbal shot at four that just missed by a couple of yards, you know, Um, and did well and twelve got him and he did look pretty rattled the next couple of holes. But I mean, I haven't been in exactly that situation, but I think anyone who's played long enough knows what he felt like. And he wanted to be anywhere but the golf course WoT down thirteen. I mean, all the air comes out

of your balloon. I mean he's been thinking about this tournament for twelve months. Realistically, he's been grinding for it since probably after the British Open last year. Every practice session he's had for the last two or three months has been about this, and so there there's a lot of air in your balloon when you get here, and when it all gets taken out in one hole, Um, it's pretty hard to sort of keep very equilibrium for

a couple of holes. But but he fifteen sixty was pretty like he could have just drifted off and finished in an ambulance. But yeah, a strong, good guy. He walked off with a smile in his face, I think a raw smile. But I think he'll be back. I mean, we saw that about a lot of guys. I mean, why would have thought Rory hasn't won one yet, but um, Cam looks as good as anyone. I mean, he's going to be in the discnversation that every year when we

come to this stuff anement. Well, let let me just say something real quick about the seventh hole too, because you know, as you know Jeff, that's that green's kind of blind from the fairway. So both him and Scotty hit great shots. The crowd went crazy and camp sing, right, maybe I'll pick one up here, and you get up to the green and Scotty's inside of him. He's like, what do I have to do to shake this guy?

You know? That was that was a big moment um and also for step player to play the first seven and to wonder he knocked out almost everybody else who had dreams of you know, maybe he'll come back and so I'll go low like that start by Shuffler really created so much daylight between him and the rest of the field, so that that seventh hole I think, um, it's a little overshadow about happened number three, But I thought seven was was big too, because again Cam gave

him as best shot, and you know, Scotty's got a tough chin. He just took it and gave it right back. Ryan, what are your thoughts on Cam? Yeah, I'll take it a little bit from a different angle. I think golf

needs characters and there's not enough of them. I mean, Scotty's obviously super talented, but you know, he's very buttoned down quiet, and Cam has like the mullet and the mustache and you know, like it's very like open and uh says what he wants an interview is kind of rory like, and uh, I think I think, I mean, he's obviously talented to get to be there forever and it seems like, like Jeff and Allen said, it's only a matter of time until he wins one. But I

just love the character side of him. I think golf needs needs more. Uh. Jim Smith's for sure, and Uh, I mean I just really like him, huge fan that it's impossible not to like him, impossible. I think, you know, he's I talked to Peter Bessie about this right like. There was an image that came up on the screen, a little graphic that said Cam Smith would be the second Australian to win the Masters. In a lot of ways,

he would kind of be the first. And I say that because there's kind of this tall poppy syndrome that we we kind of equate with Australian culture and where someone like Norman that wants to be celebrated, that wants to have, you know, all the adoration not necessarily well received in Australia. And I'm sure Jeff's familiar with the tall poppy syndrome I talk about. But two, think about cam start. He had bookend double bogies the first round

and squeezed eight berties on the remaining sixteen holes. It's amazing. And then today he comes out Bertie Birdie, just out of the gate, just a fighter. And I really would love to know the line that he went with on number twelve. I think he hit nine iron and I'd be stunned if he was more than ten feet left of the flag in his mind when he when he took the club back. But I love watching him play. He's now tied for third and tied for second in

the Masters. His ball flight fits well there, his attitude fits well there. His sense of drama and showing up in these moments obviously works for him there. So I think he's a guy that you know, we're gonna get a lot of in the future and hopefully you know, a green jacket Augusta Jeff, give you a chance to respond to whatever poppy syndrome is or whatever Las is talking about the figure we should probably go to the

Australian for the Australian inside. Wow. I mean it is kind of true we bring out complete legends down a little bit because we don't want to be get ahead of themselves. Right, It's a natural thing and it's kind of a bit unfortunate when it comes to like golf stars and stuff, but I would agree. I mean, Scotty was the first AZZI obviously and it was really amazing. But Cam is the most Australian Australian golfer. You know. He is all aussy. Every Australian can relate to whim.

We've all got friends like him. He's like the guy you're meeting the pub, you know, and have a good Emma beer and a good chat with. So um. Absolutely, he's the most Australian and Australian to be out there for sure. He's like Shane Lowry of Australians, right, yeah, yeah, yeah, the Irish of Irish. I have to ask Jeff something because one of the things I do on Sundays I'll go catch the early finishers and just get some thoughts about the leaders, so I have more material. I'm looking

for anecdotes and quotes and stuff. And so I caught Adam Scott by the clubhouse and we were talking about Cam and he was great, and he said, he's, um, a bogan Is that that right? Is that the right term? Yeah? Bog? And yeah, bit of a bug and yeah, And I was and I suppose that He's like, oh, you're gonna have to look it up me. And after Cam drifted away, I never googled that. Can you explain to us what

a bogan is? Because apparently it's like a big thing with Really it's kind of it's a lovable sort of term for red nicky, what trashy kind of you know, like just really it's just but it's lovable, you know, it's like in that really good spirit, you know, just like loud cut, loud cut a crazy crazy haircuts. But if you know a bugging, you know a bug And I guess, yeah, okay, that's awesome. I'm gonna use that

another time. That's he's Camp. It's Cam, the cable guy is basically what, yeah, a little bit, a little bittally totally Um, all right, let's let's just quick whip around on on Rory before we get to Tiger. But I mean again, uh, seventy three, seventy one, boom sixty four, back door second place Masters leaving with the smiless face. Jeff, you've already kind of touched upon it. But Alan, what are your thoughts on Rory? I mean Rory, he's well,

he's got the most frustrating golfer in history. Like he's on an absolute heater. He can do no wrong. He is destroying gust the national and all of a sudden he creeps up enough where he might actually have a chance. You know, everyone's doing the math. Okay, if you can, if you can get three more coming in and kind of course, you know, fifteen, which is not an easy hole, but it's definitely an opportunity. One of the greatest drivers of the golf ball ever yanked dead left, makes a

disappointing part. Go to sixteen, which we all know is attackable, and it's kind of in a different shot. And that was and then then at that moment, you know that. That's when when Scotty kind of regrouped in sky Scheffler and and step you know, Stephan Aboy's neck. But there was a little brief moment where Rory had a chance to make it really interesting and he knew it and those are like his first bad swings of the day.

You know, he just kind of you know, he's free wheeling and just chasing and having fun and almost I was like, holy shit, have a chance, like I have a chance to win the Masters. And then started at the ball side was was and so it was it was vexing as always. I mean, the highlight in eighteen, of course was was fabulous and uh CBS replayed it like twenty times because they were just trying to fill air time and it'll it'll live on and it was. It was a great moment for sure, and a great shot.

But at that point, you know, uh, he just he like he'd squandered some really important chances on the back nine and probably wasn't have mattered. But you know, let's let's say Rory makes makes a three or four on fifteen and stuff on sixteen, Shefflers are going to hear those roars and you don't know what's gonna happen behind them. Um, but it just wasn't meant to be. Now, obviously we're

asking to play a perect round of golf. But when you start out seventy three, seventy three and you're Roy girl, you gotta played for a round of golf and you just didn't quite do it. It's so funny because it just seems like, well, Scheffler, you know, plays well here, and then Headeki plays well here, and Jordan's Peith plays well here, and cam Smith is definitely gonna win here next year, and but Rory looks like it's inevitable for him to win. Dj is always going to be a contender,

Brooks plays well at the Major. The amount of people you can make a case for coming out of this week, and just sort of golf in general is always seems to be why we have these incredible masters on a regular basis. It's just it's the venue, and it's it's the star power and the and the drama of that of that. Certainly that second nine, Ryan, what are your thoughts on Rory and just sort of where do we

go from here? Yeah? I mean Ellen, Ellen, Nil is like you feel like Rory just cannot get over that hump. I mean, obviously sixty four on Sunday at the Masters by itself is unreal boot you know, a relatively easy uh you know wedge on fifteen. You know he thought he got a bad break but misses that button then you know all and said it on sixteen. He doesn't doesn't get It's just like he just creeps us to the edge of like he's gonna win the Masters, and

then you know, crushes our souls. So I don't think there's anyone talked on Twitter who's had such an amazing career but more disappointingly than on than Rory McIlroy. I mean, the guy just gets hammered on Twitter. I'm a huge Rory fan, but he's always like just cheases us endlessly and uh another another year last is he is? He? Do you hammer him on Twitter like you hammer everybody else on Twitter? Yeah, but I'm back in on Rory

at this point. Um. I you know, if you would have asked me as Rory ever going to win another major, I would have said no. Now I think he he will, and I'll tell you why. I think you know we've

he did. He comes out of the gate with the birdie, and yes he's playing from the middle of the pack, so like we can say all that, right, but you know, on two he's got within, he's within one sixty on the par five makes a par unfortunately, but when he gets to the back, he showed me something with his wedges, the pitch and the vision and the line that he took on fourteen was amazing. He played it kind of high and left and let the contour bring the ball

back to the hole. Obviously he holds out on eighteen. I'm gonna give him credit for that shot on fifteen because that's a really difficult shot with the ball below your feet and he he's a foot from that, kind of nestling back and taking the taking the hill back to be you know, three or four ft or so. He showed me a lot. Yeah, it would have been nice to if it had a better shot on sixteen.

But I think I think he's found something in his heart and it's going to come out with the hunger, and I look forward to seeing more of that rory, uh than than the rory that you know he gets hammered for no the web the wedge on fifteen was solid. It is just to drive. I mean he had missed a drive all day. He led the field and driving just into three yards. I mean he was hitting his driver beautifully. And fifteen is like the do or die swinging of that round for him. You know, he's done

the hard work to get himself a position. He just has to finish it. And you know that's just that Rory in a nutshell, Like he's there, he's on the precipice. If he if he can, if he can attack fifteen, like who knows what's going to happen? And nobody eagles fifteen this year, Alan, nobody right fifth day is completely giant to stay. It's a completely differ the hole now, like nobody went for the grain. Um, he had to try it along one day. Like I think you've been

a little bit hard on the guy. I mean sixty four in the last round of the Master's um. The shot on sixteen, if it had landed two yards further, it was going to go stiff like it was. We've seen a lot of balls land where his ball landed, and they were next to the whole. I mean he got soft bounce, He landed a bit short. Um, he sprayed on seventeen and missed the eighth Graham. But I mean, I don't know, Like he finished off that round pretty well if asked me, I mean, I don't know. I

don't know. It's they're not easy shots. I mean, I don't know. I always I've just left nothing but impress and just he knows he didn't lose the tournament today. He didn't lose it on fifteen, and he didn't lose it anywhere we're talking about. He lost on Thursday and Friday. So um, he's proven that when he's in front, he's good. He just has to find out how to get in front, you know, Like he's just going to get through Thursday and Friday and I think he's he'll have that place

worked out. But um, you can't start ten back or where he started and realistically ever think you're gonna win the tournament. And if he had made two more birdies and got made it a bit more interesting, it would have been the most historic round of all time ever, Like he's two shots away from total history. So um, I don't know. People can get on Rory. It's really hard to do what he does, and everybody loves watching him play so as long as he keeps playing, I'm

gonna keep watching and I'll always be a fan. So I love him. But when one I think he deserves a career Grand Slam as good as he is, Um, he's a as good as he is, he deserves it, I think. Well, I mean that that's a needed perspective. Thank you for bringing some sanity this conversation, Jeff. But and I did like what you said, like the way he left the course feeling triumphant. I think the Masters has felt a little oppressive to him, or a lot oppressive.

And maybe this, this changes it. You know, that that lightness that he had and the joy, he hasn't felt that around here very much. So I mean, maybe we'll look back on this Sunday and this will be like a real important turning point. So who knows. Uh, let's all hope because it would be awesome to see it. It's like if you get to if he gets one green jacket, he might get for you know, like he just has to get the first one, so we'll see what happens. Let's uh, let's let's quickly touch on Tiger

one last time. You know, started getting hard to watch there, you know, through the throws of the weekend, just with the hobbling and wobbling and uh some of the shots. But you gotta, i mean granted yet another comeback that you know that was caused by his own doing obviously with with you know, wrecking a car um for whatever

reason and and for however it happened. But at the end of the day, you gotta tip your cap to this guy who who who who not only came back but made the cut and played all four rounds and continue to grind all the way through For me, I you know, I just I think, just when you think you've seen everything from this guy, he does yet another sort of unthinkable thing on the golf course and he did it again this week. Alan. Yeah, just another legendary

performance in its own way. Um. You know, the get easier st Andrews, which he committed to playing in his in his post round comments is a much easier walking augusta National, a lot more time to prepare. He played just enough throwback shots to remind you that it's still there, like he's still going to find a way to do it, um and play efficiently. Um, certainly he was, you know, the rust and his putting showed on Saturday. I mean, that's probably the worst putting around we've ever seen from

Tiger Woods at Augusta Nationals. He has been putting at home, but you can't replicate these slopes and these lines and these speeds, and you just have to play in tournaments on the PGA Tour to even have a chance. And so, um, the takeaway is that his will and his his grit, his determination is just never been equaled except for me by Ben Hogan. And um, he's still got he's still got, you know, some pretty magical hands and he'll he'll just find a way to manufacture a swing. So he's always

gonna be dangerous on the right courses. And I think he proved that to himself. He can get through saving two holes. Now walking him a limp away from the clubhouse after he signed a scorecard, I mean, I think when the cameras are on him, he was trying to minimize it because of his pride, Like he was really really dragon and hurting when it was over and the adrenaline left his body and so but he did it.

I mean, that was a milestone from he got through seving two holes and that that's the first test and he passed it and reminded the world and you know what Tiger Woods is, and it was it was a thrill to to get a taste of it. Especially that first round was just incredible. So it's gonna be exciting.

What is Tiger Woods like? The energy this week? Those are one of the biggest crowds ever Augusta National and because usually they're spread out and across different holes, everybody on the course was falling Tiger and he's just he's a phenomenon. Jeff, I'm I'm sure you noticed watching throughout the week and weekend. I mean, there's just a noticeable humility to him that I've certainly never seen, acknowledging crowd thanking his team around him make it more about appreciating

the appreciation more so than every ever before. Is that is that what you picked up on as well? Yeah, finally, And I mean there was obviously an incredible effort to do what he did, and like, I think we didn't really know how he felt, really, I mean we're guessing and we could go on what he says, but he

don't really know. But like seeing him walk that off the eighth grade every single day, really it didn't look looked fun And yeah, like Allen said, when he finished, it's like he went through some pretty tough stuff to finish that. So that's just amazing and how good he is. But yeah, it's Finnily. He actually looks like he had more fun playing like that than he did when he was playing great. You know, like he actually looked like

he really appreciated being there. Um as you said, acknowledged the Gallery's gave great interviews at the end of and he there was a few years in the middle where he wouldn't give you very much. I'm sure Allen you were on the end of some of those quick little answers. But I mean he was great at the end of him want to stay and answer more questions, and just he just seemed so happy to be playing golf, you know.

I mean, I guess when you sort of you sit on the edge of the abyss, and when you get back and you're actually at the Masters and you're playing golf, it must feel pretty nice. So great to see him back. I mean, who knows six months down, well, not six months, what are he three? Three months down the road to the old course. I mean, it's it's the course out of every course in the world, that would probably engage him even more than Augusta would. Um, he'll be incredibly

motivated to play well there. I mean that's arguably his favorite place. Um, as Alan says, a much easier walk he's got, he'll have a few more months of fitness and rehab under his belt. I mean, he sort of. He would have learned a lot this week, I'm sure about how his game responds to how his body is, and he wouldn't really known that. Augustus as challenging as it gets for your body because you hit enough side slopes and down slopes and tired all the time because

you're walking. And there couldn't be a harder place to do what he just did than that. And the old course is gonna be a little bit easier than that, and they'll have a couple more months, and um, you wouldn't put it past him to win around a place like that because of his sense of history and place in the game. So just go to see him back, As Allen says him, I guess we we have to watch every time he applies now because we don't have many more times. We're gonna get a chance. Yeah, Yeah,

Ryan equally impressed by the performance you put out. Yeah, I mean, I uh, and I just speak personally, I don't. I mean, I would love to see him contend or whatever. I don't care because every time I he tease it up. I just appreciate that we all grew up and was able to watch his dominance. You know. It's just kind of reminds you that we're super lucky to all see the best of the best, like um, you know, Kyle Porter tweeted it before it's like he has no chance,

and I agreed with Kyle. I just would to put it out on Twitter. And I wouldn't ever question Tiger because you never know. So do I think he's gonna win again? I don't think so. But I would never never like say it's crazy or uh, he has no chance. But I just appreciate watching him because all of us got to grow up and watch you know, in my opinion, the greatest golfer of all time, the most dominant for sure.

Did you enjoy it last I loved it. I to see him still have the you know, kind of the soft skills right like his his wedges look sharp and sharp enough right to kind of make the cot and hang around. But when he said, you know, I wake up every day with a new challenge, and I fight the fight, and and to get that message to all of us, not just as children, but but all of us to kind of see what he's been through and continue to answer the bell every day was really inspiring.

You know, I will say I for a moment, I was so worried for him that I was like, you know, buddy, like if if you've done enough right, Like not that I was cheering for him to miss the cup, but he was putting his body through so much we'll never know, right, like the pain he went through. But it was so inspiring to see him gut it out and finish it, and it looked very laborous that the end. For sure. I was left wondering, like, at at what point in this process did he start to think, you know what,

I'm gonna put it together again. I'm gonna play in the Masters? You know. If somebody might have reported on that or asked that and I missed it. But so inspiring in and out of golf, I don't I can't think of an athlete that's meant more in my lifetime than Tiger. I think he eclipses Jordan's everyone he is he is singular. I mean that that goes into the crowds right to have it felt like the actual Masters

was back. I know we've had two since COVID and they did a hell of a job getting tournaments together and being able to put something forward. But there was nothing like being able to see those those shots, those shots that caused those reactions that they could then play that we could hear at different parts of the course while someone else was plutting or chipping, to be able to hear those role or it was like the first time it felt like the Masters was back. Alan, What

was it like being out there? Yeah, you know the obviously the November Masters, there was no fans last year with the decie was limited. Those were runaways for the most part, and so there there has been a dearth of roars and you know John Ram touched on this. I think they let in more fans this year. It's kind of a way to make it up to folks who have missed out the last two years. Like I have never seen crowds like like Tiger had. This is

my twenty six Masters. They were the biggest ever because even when he's winning tournaments on on Sundays, you know, people would go and stake out their spots and some people are in a man corner and some are waiting around eighteen, but everybody followed Tiger. It was just this this sense of like this this might be my last chance. You never know, like this is living history and people just want to reach out and touch them and metaphorically and just feel like they're part of it. So it

was electric. And to the point you guys are making that there was it was you know, Tiger used to inspire awe or uh, you know, emotions like that. This was different. This was more like gratitude. People were just so so happy to see him out there, and Tiger exuded that, you know, he was it's almost giddy after his rounds, Like Jeff mentioned the interviews, like he was loose and funny and he had a huge smile plaster on his face and we know he was hurting. But

I think that's really the word going forward. It's just he has tremendous gratitude to be back between the ropes and all of us feel that, you know, we're getting this last act. We don't know what it's gonna look like how long it's gonna last? And so these are precious and it was just there was a different feeling in the air from Tiger and everyone around him, and it was really special. Jeff, the the you know, in addition to crowd noise, and we touched about a little bit.

But and you said earlier in the week, they always seemed to get it right. I myself really loved the dial back on eleven and yet keeping a couple of trees there the way the eleventh played, the way the way the tenth eleventh played, and then twelve being other than fifteen with the added yardage like there's no eagles and and created a lot of drama there. Have they gotten it right? Yet? Again? Uh? They got I think they got eleven mostly right because the eleven played like

eleven supposed to play right. Um, yeah, there'd be brave and in a great shot like Cam did. If you didn't, you head out to the right and you had a tough up and down. That's kind of what eleven is all about. You know, It's never really been about hit the fair. It's about hit and unbelievably quality long iron shot. If you don't, you gotta tough up and down and that kind of works. Um. I think fifteen, To be honest,

I think they got it a little bit wrong. Um. I think maybe they got unlucky that it played into the window week and it was really soft. I mean, that was a lot of rain Tuesday Wednesday, and that was an unbelievable my rain. I wouldn't be surprised if there's five on the front of that tea next year on just a little bit closer to the grain, maybe a little bit higher in the air. I don't know, maybe they want to give it a bit more time.

They usually always get it right. I mean when they sort of two thousand and six when it got really long and different, it seemed really tough there for a couple of years, but it hav alted it like it perfect again. They were ahead of the curve, you know, in two thousands and six, even though it's sort of still kept evolving since then. So they've got a lucky with the whether they might give it another year on fifteen.

Dustin hit I and then after all, and he's kind of a benchmark for what people are going to be hitting it like in the future. You know, a more average guys probably um, distance wise, So maybe they got it right, and maybe if it was a bit firmer, there would have been a few more some of the three inns and two ones into the grain, which is really what I want to say you. So, I thought fifteen really had a profound effect on the tournament, um

in a different way than it normally does. But as you say, they always get it right, So I'm sure that I'm sure it'll it'll turn back in though we see three out of four guys go for the green on Sunday like we always have before, I'm sure it'll be there pretty soon. Let me say something about eleven, Jeff, because you and I were talking about the trees that poke out into the into the middle of the fairway. Now, Um, I don't know if you saw Dustin's triple Bogian eleven today,

but he drove it right. He's trying to thread it through the trees and he joinked one. It went further right, and it was kind of what you call they would create some fun recovery challenges, and um, you know it's still aesthetically I have to get used to it, but I think you're correct here analysis that it's content guys to play shots and it's sometimes it's gonna bite them,

and that's kind of what you want. So I thought that was kind of a fun little PostScript to how Elevin Couder would play was watching dust and make a seven? There Ryan, any thoughts on on the course or the crowd. Alright, I've been waiting for this moment from the beginning of this spot. Okay, so for the people listening, but that this is I'm gonna give you behind the scenes. Okay, Matt comes on and he tells us, Hey, we don't want to talk over each other. Here's the order, and

we'll go through the order. And then he goes and then here's the subjects we want to cover, and he's like Tiger Brooks and then he goes changes the fifteen and I'm following Jeff fucking Ogilvie. Okay, the fucking redesigning with Dina. What the funk am I gonna say right now? Why do you want me to say, Jeff Ogilvie, who's played in The Masters and has one of the best design companies in the world, you'd like me to comment

after Jeff Ogilvie about what the changes look like? At Augusta Nash Hey, uh yeah, I got nothing to fucking say. Jeff Ogilvie just said everything. How about the crowd, how about you can come out of the traffic. I mean, this is what people must have felt like following Eddie Murphy stand up, like, oh yeah, Ryan, what about right? What does he think about the changes that Jeff, That's what I think. I'll defer to Jeff Ogilvin. He lies Ryan French, he agrees with Jeff. Yeah this is gonna

shocking map. But I'll counter Jeff. I think I think, um, I think it's okay to have a par five that that you're not necessarily going to have a six iron into with today's ball and club. I think the fact that when you do lay up to you know, say

nine hundred yards, it's a tough yard shot. I think when the two people who were really playing for the title ultimately got to fifteen, they both went for it into and obviously Cam Smith at the green and and and uh, you know, Scotty was just over and hit a very underrated shot to to play to the hole there. But um, I liked the whole lot. I enjoyed watching it. It was very curious to see Scotty actually go for it from where he was. He pumped a really good drive.

I think he had like to forty left and maybe as adrenaline, but man, what a what an aggressive play there instead of laying up to to say, you know, ninety yards there. But um, for me, like, I'm still loving the fact that you know, they're showing so much of I think the cameras are better, right, Like you see the Venice cam kind of bring out colors and contours and I never really appreciated like the mounding around

two and how that whole plays until this year. I think, um, the wind was was really a factor early on and how the holes played. But it I enjoyed it. And you know, some people, you know, like you two, some people don't write like it's just it's all it's all art. It's just kind of opinions. But I enjoyed watching it. Well, Mattley just jump in here, because Scotty talked about fifteen. He said he specifically did not want that wedge shot. He was like, yeah, he was like avoiding the wedge shot.

That's why he went for the green. And it kind of makes sense because if you go for the green and you're hitting the water, you can still make five. But if you lay up and you're hitting the water, now you're in real trouble because you're not gonna make five and you after that wedg shot again from where you just you just rinsed it. So, um, I think

that's any interesting calculus like we have. That's maybe the hardest wind shot in golf, along with four team at Pebble Beach, and people are gonna actually just trying to avoid the layoup if they can. So it's a whole other calculus. Now to final comments Jeff as the degree of difficulty that third shot into fifteen might be the hardest WED shot in the world. Um. A little easier to today's pin on the right hand side, but the

ones on the left. Scottie. I was always like, Scottie, if I could get it there over the water into, I'd get it over the water into. You do not. That's the start. It's an incredibly difficult WED shot down slope ball above the feet. You've got about two or three to landed in or bounced over the back of spins off the front. M So yeah, look at little of all perfect fifteen. It's a great hole. Um yeah, it look great, but it's always good enot the master's fun,

um crazy weather. It always seems to finish in the sunshine on Someday afternoon. Done at the right time, somehow, it just finishes. Drama came out of a tournament in the tourroom where really the leader wouldn't have much drama, but we still had a lot of dry learn a lot of noise, and Colin and Rory got everyone e started on the last and um tag applied, which, as Alan said, I'd never say an atmosphere. And when he walked out onto that tell you on Monday for the

practice round, I've never felt anything like that. That was just outrageous um energy for a Monday, non holl practice round. Um the Gulf world is just a better place when he's plying, you know, so um fantastic, enjoyed it can't wait for next year, all right, Jeff, thanks again for joining us this week. Appreciate all the commentary and insight and perspective and look forward to two more from you

down the road here at the fire Pick Collective. So thanks again, all right, sun Yeah, Ryan, final thoughts, Thank you. I promise I will never it was awesome. Masters was wonderful. The fact that I'm on a podcast with Jeff Ogilvie and Elliship in last of course, it's crazy. The fact that you came to me about the design question after Jeff Ogilvy is gonna really keep me up tonight. So thanks for having me. Last final thought, I loved it.

It was a great week and really enjoyed the fire drills that were coming in from the team that was out there. Those are so fun to listen to. And um, you know, I don't think I've ever been more excited for an Open Championship as I am for what's what's hopefully going to be coming for us at St. Andrew's, which is more Tiger. Yeah, and look forward to more grassroots podcast from you and the Jet Throw in the next few weeks. Looking forward to that and congratulations on

the launch of that Ryan. More from you from the grind Alan final thoughts, Well, it was It's an important victory, you know, like Scottish Effler got the number one so fast. There was there was people questioning his bona fides, but he um, he's really taken control of the Gulf. World's hard to believe. He was a twelfth man on the Ryder Cup team just in September, and um, now he's the man. It's incredible performance. I can't wait to see where he goes from here. You know, he has a

real star quality in its game. And yeah, the Master just always delivers no matter what, uh, I mean, that's why we anticipated so much. It just it just always brings it. And there was another memorable one and now it's on the Southern Hills, which is not his epic of venue, but it is gonna be fascinating its own way. And Tiger is still in play for that one. He's a maybe we have to wait to what happens with Phil.

I mean, There's Master was great and now now the now the drune beat to Southern Hills begins, and that's gonna be Uh, that's gonna be a really intriguing me your championship. Appreciate you guys, Appreciate your time, Appreciate the listeners, thanks for tuning in, and we'll talk against him. Another log on the Fire Nobody Heat