Fairway Rollin' - Ep. 20: BMW Championship Recap, Tiger's Potential Return, and Ryder Cup Talk With Dan Hicks

Episode Date: September 12, 2016

Geoff Shackelford and Joe House discuss Dustin Johnson's performance at the BMW Championship, Ryder Cup strategy with NBC's Dan Hicks, and the impending return of Tiger Woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Shackhouse, we kick around the BMW Championship, the Rider Cup, Tigers Possible Return to Golf, and we talk with special guests Dan Hicks of NBC Sports. But as always, Shackhouse is presented by Calloway Golf, makers of the number one iron and golf. Calloway recently launched two new irons, the steelhead irons with that great signature shape and big distance, and the super-forgiving Big Bertha OS irons. Go to Callawaygolf.com now and check out the iron fitting tool to see which set is right for you. Let's go to the Shackhouse. All right, another great week on the PGA tour, and we are here in the Shack House and

House. I know you have playoff fever. You're recovering, frankly, from the exhaustion of it all, aren't you? I have a fever and I'm recovering. It may not have anything to do with playoff golf. There was some football on yesterday, but I am quite thrilled with what the golf is showing us as we round into form as we approach this Ryder Cup. moment two weeks away. Some captain's picks were announced today, so I'm excited to talk about that. All right, yeah, and we will. And I just, it's a tough one because you don't want to be rude. It was a BMW was a good event at Crooked Stick. They did a beautiful job. They had big crowds on the weekend. Dustin Johnson played beautifully. Paul Casey keeps reminding everybody of what a loss he'll be to

not have on the European squad, which I enjoy the, I can only imagine what's being said over in Europe about that, but that, you know, they should have handled things a little better with him, and plus he just, I don't think he's that into it anymore. But it is kind of unfortunate. This event, which used to be the Western Open and a great event for the Evans Scholars, and it's kind of moving around. And then in a year like this, it gets a little bit overshadowed by the Ryder Cup talk, but it just, it's really nothing against the event. It just speaks to what the Ryder Cup has become and what it means to people. And I think, really, house more than anything, what's so fascinating about the Ryder Cup continues to be the idea that

golf is an individual sport. And we're watching these loners, these, well, they're individuals. They're people who just want to do their own thing, having to come together every two years and pretend to be team players and team athletes that they, similar to those that they admire so much. And it really is just such a problematic thing for them because it's really not in their blood to, to be buddy-buddy with a bunch of guys for this one week every two years. Well, it's only been problematic for the U.S. team. The Euros don't seem to have any problem with figuring out some chemistry in a way to get along. But I will say this, snarkiness and jokes aside, every two years, the FedEx Cup machinery does produce a very helpful vehicle for identifying guys that are in form that might be on the bubble.

We have eight players that have made the Rider Cup cut, and there's another four that we need to appoint. And the FedEx Cup having the best players in the world altogether on great golf courses, especially this year, is a very helpful way of distinguishing fellas. And I think that's how we got to our boy, J.B. Holmes, announced this morning by D.L.3 as a member of the team. Well, I guess he solidified his place. but I think what's funny about this whole process and what you're saying is you're absolutely right, and the way they restructured it seems logical.

We just did three picks today after the BMW championship. And then we have this one last pick that can take into account somebody who maybe wins the tour championship or the FedEx Cup with a dramatic week. But then we learned yesterday from Phil Mickelson, ah, the whole thing's already decided. Tigers are already mapping out lineups and we're trying to figure out who's going out first. and you're like, wait a second, guys. You were telling us this whole process was devoted to finding the people who were playing the best right near the Ryder Cup. And then we're finding out from you, the whole thing's already kind of been locked in for a while now.

And I guess I just, I'm enjoying the inconsistency of the whole thing. And it's kind of pointing to another one of these American bizarreo performances where we probably overthought things or we overcooked things. but as you say, at least J.B. Holmes made the team, who should have made the team on the merits of his great play all year and his track record in cup matches prior to this, given that he's one of the few Americans who's really had great success in cup matches, right? That's exactly right. I mean, I don't, if J.B. Holmes had already made the team, if we're going to believe what Phil suggested yesterday, it had to have been on the merit of his performance,

years ago because this season he had two great major finishes and two very undistinguished major finishes, right? He has two more, two top fives. Well, that's two more distinguished major finishes than several other people in the, in the mix. Sure, but those guys have other things commending them. Yeah, they're great team room guys, right, right, yeah. Well, there's only one guy that fits that, and that's Fowler. And he got picked today. It's a mitzvah. And I think, you know, he deserved that pick, though. And of the guys on the bubble, Mark Brody a couple days ago on his Twitter feed, published a really interesting table that showed, you know,

based on the metric that he devised, the strokes gained metric, that Fowler has been atop that strokes gained metric of all the guys on the bubble for quite a while. So his level of play, notwithstanding the fact that we would like to see a W out of him, and he's had two chances this year, one early and one just very recent. He's still performing quite well, and I also have no problem with the idea that as an ambassador of the game, the role he played for the U.S. team down in Rio, I made this point on a pot a couple weeks ago. I really feel like he was a galvanizing force for the U.S. team and deserved to make the Ryder Cup for that because that matters. For whatever reason, chemistry does seem to matter.

I know that the task force has identified metrics and analytics as another way of another perspective. It's taking into account. But you also have to try and replicate what it seems the euros have in some way, shape or form, which is guys who get along for those three days. They may hate each other otherwise, but they get along for those three days. Well, I think you have to distinguish between those who can get along on the course playing for. fours or four ball and this whole great in the team room thing. I mean, Patrick Reed is not known as somebody who's going to sit and play table tennis all

night and tell jokes and be a team room guy. But he does have a passion for playing for his country. And on the golf course, he brings it. And he backed it up at the last Ryder Cup. And I think that's where they get a little. I'm getting concerned. I'm getting these sort of signals from Davis Love that and Phil Mickelson and all these guys on the task force,

that they are not quite, I don't know if they're quite making that, they're seeing that difference in the two things. I'm getting the sense that Ricky was a little bit of a lock because he was part of the task force and everybody loves him, and that's great, but is that going to harm somebody else's chances? Is Daniel Berger going to be left off because he comes from a tennis background and he's got a little bit of an iconoclastic attitude and the classic tennis brat kind of thing going.

And that's what makes him good. But is that going to, if it comes down to him and Justin Thomas, let's say, is that going to cost him because Justin Thomas recruited Davis' son to Alabama and stays with Davis when he plays in the Venet Sea Island? You know, that's what, I don't know, that worries me a little bit when we start getting into that cronyism. Well, that is interesting.

So if we are looking at the remaining candidates for that last slot, obviously Bubba Watson is one of them because he's long been regarded as a guy that folks, I think, we're ready to include in this top 12 and kind of expected his play to be the thing that would put him into the top 12. And then we have Ryan Moore, if we're going to look at a guy who's in recent form. who's won and also had a couple of top tens here over the last month. And then you mentioned Daniel Berger, who's also, he won the St. Jude, and he's also but for an injury that he seemed to have suffered shortly after winning St. Jude.

He had to take a little break. He's been rounding in a form with a series of at least top 20s. The one name that does not fit this trajectory here is Justin Thomas. So I really am curious in hearing what the case might be for him. Other than his mascara mustache. Yeah, the playoff mustache is hopefully going to go if he makes it to the Ryder Cup. I think the case is that Davis really is infatuated with him. For Davis, I think we kicked it around on the last show.

The idea that Davis is sort of ignoring the points list and it sounds like a list of his own that includes the points from last fall. that would get Justin Thomas much higher up the list because he was not even in the top 16 Rider Cup points earners. If Davis is looking at that list, then that tells me he's leaning in that direction. And I fear it's sort of that he's a team room guy. We like him. And Justin Thomas has been very blunt about the importance of the Ryder Cup and making it.

But he hasn't really performed down the stretch in a way that would get him the points to be there. And I worry again if this is going to be a little bit of that cronyism situation. I mean, there's some very tight bonds there between Thomas and the Love family. And I think that if Jim Furek's out of the equation and the Bubba fatigue seems to be there, that there is a desire to go a little bit younger. And he may be the pick. And I think it's going to be very, very controversial. It would be very controversial with me.

I'll tell you that much. I do support the idea of another rookie. I can get behind the line of thinking that leads us to, look, we want another guy in the mix here who is coming in without any of the old baggage, right? Doesn't have a record in Ryder Cup weighing him down. And there's also a guy that might could be up to the moment, attitude wise, because we've seen from the last. two or three classes of rookies on tour. These guys come in fearless. They're ready.

They're firing at pins. And the other thing that's interesting is maybe you want a guy to go ahead and get his feet wet now because he might be a 10-year guy or a 12-year guy or a 16-year guy. The problem I would have with Justin Thomas is you can't put him in ahead of Daniel Berger based on play over, say, the last 90 days. There's just no way you can make the case. No, you can't. And I find that very frightening when they start kind of projecting who they see as somebody

who's going to be a Rider Cup player for a long time. Golf is a very fleeting sport. And no disrespect. This is not picking on Justin Thomas or any other young player, Daniel Berger, who's had a lot of injuries. You just don't know. You don't know who's going to hang around for a while. And as much as they'd like to – I think there's a – I think what it really gets, gets to is my bigger point, which is we really don't know much of anything about golf, ultimately.

And the Ryder Cup still comes down to who makes the most putts. And all of the analytics, the who's good in the team room, I see this player as a Ryder Cup guy down the road. He's a future captain. He's this. He's that. We just don't know. If you start going back on some of those Ryder Cup rosters house, not that far back, you start seeing some people. And you go, wow, he played a Ryder Cup?

Wow, that's wild. I didn't know that. The Bahala event especially, that roster is incredible. Yeah, I mean, Anthony Kim right there. And next great legend of the game. And he doesn't even play anymore. So apparently hits balls occasionally. And he's good at growing hair, apparently.

It's sort of, it's long. But anyhow, I just think that's what's fascinating about all this. All these guys think they have the answers. And they certainly know better than you and I, because they're involved in all this, but I think that they need to keep that in mind that some of these things are just intangibles. You can't pinpoint.

But now, to your point, by the way, one last thing, as you were discussing all that, I couldn't help but think of Europe, where we keep learning that Darren Clark really was thinking about Luke Donald up to the last minute over two young guys who are playing incredible golf, Thomas Peters and Russell Knox. And that just is unfathomable to me

that he was thinking experience over these two guys, who yes, no, they've never played in a Ryder Cup, but they're playing incredible golf. They are as good as any players in the world right now. And to just ignore that is just bizarre, but that's what these guys do. That's what the captains believe, and it'll be a whole lot of fun to play out.

It's very telling, right? Darren Clark has been around for all of the European success of the past 20 years, and he's been there in the room to observe which character traits carry through which elements of the guy's makeup, their composition in that format, that type of man,

mono-e-mono battle, which characteristic is most important. And he's obviously seen something in Luke Donald that was compelling enough that he was willing to disregard some guys who have been playing with hot fire this past season. Because that's the Peters, Russell Knox especially.

Russell Knox is a guy that I have made some money on. I have allocated some capital to Russell Knox this year. And he's really validated that investment. He's been great all season long. R-O-I return on investment on Russell Knox. But look, he'll be home for the Ryder Cup. I wish he was playing for the U.S. Yeah, he'll be watching on TV, watching from Florida,

watching Dan Hicks do the coverage with Johnny Miller and all the great folks from NBC. Speaking of Dan Hicks' house, he's going to join us here in a moment. All right. Bridging the gap between action sports and golf, our friends at Callaway have collaborated with Red Bull Media House on a new three-part video series called Distance Lab. The series features renowned golf instructor Hank Haney teaching three athletes from non-traditional sports to hit a golf ball further than they ever imagined. All three of these guys enjoyed pretty serious distance games through new drivers, proper fitting, and a little instruction from Hank. So head over to Callawaygolf.com slash Red Bowl to check out the videos, watch the behind the scenes footage, and just check out the production values of these videos, too.

I think you'll really get a kick. For those of you who want to see some people trying to do some cutting edge stuff in golf video, they have definitely, Red Bull has brought it, and we thank Calloway for them, partnering up with them to, and of course with Hank Cady, to pull this off. At House, you have a word from one of my favorite sponsors, the great athletes collective. Yeah, our great friends at Athletes Collective, we have a new product that they have been kind enough to let us try out. The new short sleeve V-neck version of the performance wear, the performance shirt. I, my own self, at the gym last week, in the V-neck with a zipper up over top of it, because I like to get nice and sweaty when I'm pumping out that iron. When I'm pumping my iron, I like to work up a lather.

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but we might have layering weather coming. And let me tell you, the long sleeve is perfect for it. It's not too tight, but it's tight, if that makes sense. And it's great breathing material. I love it. And it's so inexpensive. That's right. 30 to 40% cheaper than the big brands.

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previously hosted by Vince Scully, Bryant Gumbull, and then Dick Enberg, all legends in their own rights. And he also handles NBC's coverage of Notre Dame football. and of course, swimming and skiing and speed skating at the Olympic Games. And I think he's just a tremendously versatile broadcaster and always enjoy his work. And we've managed to corral him and to wake him up from his deep, deep rest period following the thrilling, thrilling finish there at the BMW. You know, I'm sure it takes Dan multiple days to recover.

So here's our chat with Dan. Joining us now is Dan Hicks of NBC Sports. and in particular, of course, NBC Golf. Dan, thank you for joining us here in the Shackhouse. How are you? Well, my pleasure, Jeff. Looking forward to it. And, you know, we know it's tough to come on a show like this after an intense playoff round of golf like yesterday. You saw it, you know, crunching the algorithms and all that good stuff. But pretty impressive performance by Dustin Johnson there in Indianapolis or thereabouts. Yeah, just out something. You know, it's a good stuff.

as you know and upset. Well, before we get to the Ryder Cup, because that's really the reason we wanted to talk to you today. You've been covering it for a while. We would be remiss, though, since many millions more people watched the Olympic Games than we'll be watching the FedEx Cup to kind of go back to Rio and just hear a little bit about your experience there. A couple things. One, I'm curious if you watched any of the golf or if you're just so locked into covering the

swimming, if what you thought of the golf. And then also just tell us a little bit about covering the swimming versus golf. And I understand you had a little bit of an experience there with some fine Rio food poisoning or something like that. Okay. I was leaving from Atlanta to the airport on the way over. And after I took the Ambien, we're pulling a fun two hours upon arriving there, you know, the proper credentials. I'm standing and get my energy back. Swimming is wall to wall.

It's eight days, you know, and earlier in the coming together. but boy, to see these guys in this different environment. Hey, Dan, it's Joe House. I have a question for you about the Ryder Cup. You mentioned that the FedEx Cup event is the perfect forum for convening the best players in the world. And it sets up a wonderful way for the U.S. Rider Cup captain to see who's sort of coming into form, playing well. and D.L. the three today announced Matt Coocher, Ricky Fowler, and J.B. Holmes as his first three captain's picks. And you can see from each of those guys' performance in the FedEx Cup playoff so far,

compelling reasons for those three. Do you have any sense as to what Davis-Love-the-third might have up his sleeve for the pick next week? You know, it was a while back. I know there was the talk about Phil. It kind of gives them chance to have one final run. I think it depends on, well, if they are got, you know, a Daniel, and you've got guys outside of them. You know, guys, and there's so many good players. These guys are the best, you know.

We don't know how Dustin Johnson's going to perform at Hazleton. I mean, all of a sudden he could lose those with a new spider-putter and just kind of making his players. I just think. Yeah, well, we were kind of wondering if you and Johnny sit there and look at some of this, and especially the number of rider cups you've done now, if you feel like it's gone over the top. And I sense from your tone that you do think it's gone a little bit astray. And I don't even know if you saw the press conference today with Davis, but it sounds

like he's listening to just about anybody, including maybe the locker room attendant at Hazeltine. I mean, he's taking it all in. And it just sounds like a lot, doesn't it? Doesn't it really just come down to who makes the most puts? I agree, Jeff. I think you hit it on the head. I think it comes down to sports, first of all. You've got a collection. And yes, you can look at guys on paper's leading thing,

and you've got a three-day window here. You've got guys that may not be feeling great on Thursday, and then they start doubting themselves, and they'll never get off. You know, the combined three days. It's unpredictable that you, you know, when you try to take a, you try to pause the United States.

It's like when they named Tom Watson, two years ago to be the captain. Take care of business now because we've got the guy that, you know, not a good decision. I think simplification is what Johnny and I talk about, and you've just got to be able to have writing of the way. And I think that would. Yeah, it's – Oh, go ahead. I was just going to say, it's gotten to be such a big event. It's still in all the circles that Jeff and I walk around, and folks, notwithstanding

the arrival of football, are very excited about the Ryder Cup coming. And it's the only thing, you know, really since the last major that folks have focused on. They've thought about the FedEx Cup as a vehicle to get us to the Ryder Cup. One thing I'm interested in hearing in terms of those conversations in you and Johnny might be having and trying to find somebody who's not going to be overwhelmed by the pressure of the moment. Do you think that favors the possibility of a rookie taking that last slot as opposed to

a veteran player that's been there? Do you think it cuts one way or the other, Dan? I mean, the guy, I think, is the environment. I mean, kind of guy that, you know, I mean, he was that kind of, reads that kind of that. It's a gut feeling by a captain if you're going to, like a Daniel Berger. And speaking of him, I think he is one of those guys that's kind of wired for it. You guys know him probably a little bit. I think he's got that kind of mentality.

I don't think he's going to freeze up. And if you talk to him, he's like he's a 20-year season veteran, you know, and I think that's a bit. You know, I mean, there was a lot of talk about, you know, we don't know. need the same guys again and again. And I'm kind of for that. I mean, it has, nothing's worked so far. Let some young guys get in there and mix it up. Well, Dan, I think the interesting thing about Berger is that he is, I'm going to put this

as gently as I can, but he comes from the tennis world, and he's very much an individual, and I don't know if he's going to fit that dreaded team room guy description. But, of course, Patrick Reed doesn't fit that, and he went out and played beautifully in the Rider Cup. And so I think that's what's going to be an interesting situation here where I'm getting this vibe that the task force is a little old boys network, a little bit of a committee club thing, and they may be bothered by somebody who doesn't fit the mold that they're looking for. And I know that's worked for Europe in a lot of ways, but I don't know how well that'll do us much good there at Hazelty. I want to ask you something. You kind of

got me thinking about all this hype and all this buildup. From a television point of view, this event just drags on and on in this buildup. And then all of a sudden, it just goes by so quickly. I'm curious, would you be in favor or have you guys discussed the President's Cup format of the Ryder Cup going over four days instead of three? Because it almost feels like we waste this great drama and all this little bit of all the soap opera elements and the fun and the strategy. by having it just go so quickly. Yeah, you know, there's... But again, I think that

the PG of America, I guess I'm not opposed to it. I think it's... I don't think it's bad to have it. Have it be a Friday. I think it's fine with it. Kind of like who limit the hour favorite even more.

Hey, Dan, your broadcast team has been together for quite a while. You've had great guys like Jacobson, obviously, Johnny, over the years. And now newcomer. David Faradie, tell us something about working with Johnny that we might not know. Well, John, what I've learned is, and obviously I've given me your opinions, but possibly can with the audience, really got to Johnny, even though I can't take it to these, when Rogers is going to spend hundreds of shows.

Dan, how'd you get into golf? You know, a member of a hurt my knee playing basketball because it was easier, obviously, on the game, hooked on to admit it. So I hired at NBC, the knowledge of the gas lines. I mean, I was the new, I think it does. But it does require kind of a different tone and attitude and style delivery than, say, the tennis or even Notre Dame football, right? I mean, do you consciously think about that when you get to a golf tournament? No doubt.

And you didn't mention the swimming at the Olympics with Roddy Gaines, who can take any level of excitement to a whole other level. Believe me. And then you? Yeah. That's the same guy. They cannot believe the gears that I take it as Rowdy Gaines is such an infectious personality and passionate about it. So I get sucked into it.

So it just kind of happens now to find that comfort zone. But it never ends. You're constantly fine-tuning at every game's different. You could do better. I'll see you there. I'm here. I thought we were going to ask a little bit about Tim Finch. And we have a retiring commissioner here.

And, you know, the tour is in pretty interesting shape right now. now. What do you imagine that the next commissioner might take up as an important mantle, assuming the lead from Finchum? What do you mean? You're more free to do it now than ever. Now that he's a lame duck commissioner. I actually did it. It was years. It's the ultimate. I know that you guys have, and he's got all these. Obviously, he's been the next guy, Jay Monaghan.

So I think he'll move it along. I think he'll, I think he'll, that maybe, maybe, like, maybe another place a game, and all the, and all the years that left. Just one last thing, Dan, and then we'll let you go, because we know you need to rest up for that always thrilling Sunday interview with the commissioner at the Tour Championship. He just exudes enthusiasm. You're right. You're right. I need at least a couple weeks for that. You're right.

Is your call of Tiger's Put at the 2008 U.S. Open? And is that the one that you get the most maybe barked back at you at the airport or people ask about or that you feel like you're most associated with? Yeah, it's so much. And it's what we thought he was gut and instincts that happened. Yeah, well, it's an epic call and it was just perfectly timed, just one of those classics. And really, really, it was so great that Fox had somebody recreated, I think, whenever they showed the highlight there for a little while. I don't know if they finally dropped that. It didn't really quite capture your enthusiasm.

What was that? What was the deal with it? I heard about that. Somebody told me about that, but I never really saw it. They just said, hey, they had another guy do the line. I'm like, what? Yeah, they did a promo, you know, of great moments in U.S. Open history, and they showed the putt on the 18th and had somebody else use your call.

Maybe you need to trademark it or something. I don't know. But anyway, I think they – That's bizarre. Yeah, I think somebody mentioned that. That's almost like if suddenly by a miracle we acquired the rights to the masters that we would like throw in there. In your life, have you seen anything like that?

Yeah, start working on your Vern Lundquist now. I'll smoke a couple more packs of cigarettes to get in there. Yeah, I don't think anybody can capture, yes, sir. Or maybe, maybe, yes, sir. That's a good. Yeah, maybe we could go there. But I love Vern, and the voice gets lower every, I mean, it's. It's great. I love it.

Well, Dan, thank you so much. We really appreciate it. We look forward to listening to you on the Ryder Cup for three days. And, of course, the Tour Championship coming up here from East Lake. You forgot to say, present it like Coca-Cola. Sorry. Well, that's why I'm a podcaster, and that's why you're Dan Hicks. Thanks, guys.

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Makers of the new Big Bertha Fusion driver. It's Calloway's most forgiving driver ever. Seriously. Learn more at Callowaygolf.com. So, Shaq, we've had some recent news here about a very compelling figure in a game of golf. And in fact, this figure is so compelling that I believe the very first speed round we ever did on the shack house featured this guy exclusively. We're going to run it back. We're going to do old school speed round.

Tiger focused. It's going to be all Tiger all the time. Three questions about Tiger Woods. He's in the news for a variety of reasons, all good reasons, which is a wonderful thing. Let me begin. He announced his, it's tentative, of course, because we use corporate language when we talk about. you know, his appearance anywhere these days. He appears to be ready to play mid-October in an event out in Napa in Colorado.

Good choice, by the way. California. Napa, not Napa, Colorado, Napa, California. I hope he doesn't show up there. I'm an East Coast guy. I make these things stumble out of my mouth. Too easily. Oh, we know. We're used to it.

So Tiger's back. What do you think? I think he's going to play. I'm not 100% certain he's going to play at the Safeway Open, but I'm encouraged that he announced it the way he did for a couple of reasons. One, he threw in all those caveats about he helps to play, he plans to play. And that's a big change for him, House. That's a big admission that he knows he's committed to some things

and then not been able to perform. And then I also love that he did it because he put it out there to avoid having the question brought up at the Ryder Cup. And again, a rather unselfish act for him. He's not been known for thinking these kinds of things through, nor has his team. And so either he listened to some smart people or he just has had a lot of time to think about it. He threw it out there. And you know what? If he doesn't play, if he says after the Ryder Cup, you know, the back tightened up, sitting in the cart all day. And I didn't have, you know, heated seats in my cart. And I don't really feel quite ready. I think I'm going to show up in Turkey. Then I think most people go,

well, you know, he threw it out there and he warned us. It might not happen. So I think that was just great, really smart of him and a nice sign. Yeah, he picked it right before football got started, the date that he announced. And it really did not crash the internet the way that I expected, but it has to be the case that we're so accustomed now to Tiger caution speak that we all gave a mild hurrah and hazeah on the social media in the interwebs and said well let's just see when he shows up there out in Napa, California, how he looks. Speaking of how he looks, Jeff Shackleford, Tiger showed up at Career Day a couple few weeks ago, pictures in the social media of him what appeared to be jogging shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt maybe came right from a workout.

what'd you think about the look? Yeah, that was really not career day attire in my view. But I get, you know, would have been a little over the top if he showed up in the red shirt and black pants and black hat. You know, golf shoes on and the glove in the back. That's probably been a little bit of a hard sell. But come on, he looked like he just came from the gym showing up. It was all Nike. He's got the goatee going again, which.

He's on brand, on brand, of course. Still has never won a major wearing a goatee. So I don't know why he keeps trying to goatee. grow the goatee, but yeah, that was a beautiful bit of imagery that was shared by the teacher of his daughter's class. And then there was a scowl in a couple of the photos. So a few people wondered if, you know, what was being asked if it was like that scene. And well, you probably, I don't think you've seen it out because I think Bill actually asked you on the pod, the night of John Tuturo goes for Career Day to his daughter's class. And it's about the most

painfully awkward career day set of questions you've ever gotten. And, and, and actually, In fact, Sam Wyman at golf, I just wrote a great couple of possible questions that may have led to the scowl. So we're picking on him. It was probably a split-second look on his face, and the kids did not ask if you really are going to ever play again or something like that. I didn't mind the look. I thought it was kind of encouraging. I took it as a sign that he's ready. He's lean, mean, fighting machine.

He's ready to get going. and he showed up very casual, ready to show with the kids, you know, what he's all about. You know, it's part of a hard work mantra that goes into that's been part of his rehabilitation. Now, let me ask you this question. If you are there the same day as Tiger, a career day, what job do you tell the kids you do? Me personally or if I'm Tiger? Yeah, yeah, you're there. You have a kid and Tiger's kid is in your class.

It's career day. there's Tiger next to you. What are you telling these kids is your job? Me? I'm a blogger. Oh, good. Okay. You're not intimidated by standing next to, you know, the world's second-greatest golfer.

You're going to go ahead and come correct. You're going to be you. Yeah. I might show up in it with an astronaut helmet. I might tell him I'm a space traveler. You know, why do I have to sit here and then second fiddle to the Tigray? F that. I'm coming.

I'm rocking something strong like the astronaut. I think, you know, maybe if I had to think about it, I'd go to the full, get the fireman suit, bring a big hose with me, have the hat on, you know, the helmet on. You know, maybe it's just something to be a little bit, a little more, I don't know, workman-like. I don't think I could sell it, though. Well, speaking of out in space, Matt Coucher today, in response to some questions having to do with the remaining open slot for the Ryder Cup team, made some comments, observations, questions. I don't know how to characterize them. That I don't know if they were intended to be flattering.

I just, I'll have to listen to them another couple times. They really need to be deconstructed to try and make any sense out of them. He basically volunteered the idea that it would be super awesome if Tiger was the final pick for the Ryder Cup. What is going on there? I think that was him trying to demonstrate that wonderful dry Kucher Witt. The problem is that, of course, he's doing this house. You couldn't see it because you were probably actually, you have a life and a job, and you were not watching this, but the whole thing was so boring.

And I'm sure he was trying to liven it up. But he came on and he mentioned the World Wide Web, which nobody had heard that reference in a while because he had had a little trouble getting on Skype. And then, of course, he's sitting there doing the Skype thing, and he's looking off to the side, not looking at the camera. So it was like this bizarreo kidnapping video. And I think he was just kind of in his own little world, as he demonstrated he can be when he didn't know the Olympic format

a week out of the before the Olympics. I think he was just throwing it out there for fun, and he likes Tiger. And maybe he's not too enthralled with the other options. I don't know. But I think it was his attempted humor and nothing more because that would be definitely worse than the Justin Thomas pick. I can go on.

I'm very confident in that assessment. golf humor. That explains the whole thing. Yeah, you should not try humor in a press conference that's about the utterly serious topic of writer cup picks and do it on Skype and when you wear Skechers and all that kind of stuff. It's just, I love Skechers, by the way. I own Skechers.

That's not a knock on them. Yeah. But that did come up on social media a few times. Now I'm getting the synergy here. Well, look, that is all that we have. have here on the shack house. Come on. You can't be barking that out before I get in a few more plugs because

come on. The shack house is all about the Krobsoft house. You know that. It's a ball that brings fast speed and incredibly soft feel and a great price with 13 global victories on tour this year. Not that the guys on tour really know anything about the great price, but we know

the great price because we go in an actual golf shop and pay for things. It's a ball that's winning all over the world. It's a ball that our good friend. and future vice captain or current vice captain and future captain Jim Furrick used to shoot a PGA tour record 58 and got himself a 58 Patriots jersey which he'll probably never show to anybody again because he's a Steelers fan but it's the ball that changed the ball so try it a Chrome soft golf ball today made by our friends of Calloway sponsors of the Shack House. House anything else you want to plug anything exciting and new Friday

Roland, you guys have a new Callaway little pick deal going on there. How did you do the first week against Bill? Yeah, it's true. Calloway has been generous enough to sponsor the conversation that our good pal, Bill Simmons and I have once a week, Friday

afternoons. We each make three selections. It's called the Callaway par three picks a pod. I'm not sure what the correct way is. It's the Callaway Part 3 picks. That's it. And I am mad at one of the teams.

We decided to try and score this according to PAR. I am presently, I had one correct selection and two incorrect selections. That would put me, I believe, two over PAR at the moment. And the one, the team that let me down was the Bears. Come on, Bears. They were right there with Houston for quite a bit of the game. And then that defense just turned turtle. And they crap the bed for the rest of it.

And so disappointing performance by the Bears. But I'll try and do better this coming week and the par three picks presented by Calloway. Well, you've got 16 weeks to go. And you've got, of course, to get excited about tonight's Redskins game. And, of course, the return of the Los Angeles Rams. I could barely get down the street today without running into all the people with the ram slags on their cars.

Not quite. Yeah. All right. Well, we will next join you all from Hazeltine. I will be a beautiful Hazeltine. And we will probably talk to you there, I think, from about Tuesday of Rider Cup week. We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. But we're looking forward to that, and it should be a great Rider Cup. Should be a little more drama, right, House coming up here. When Justin Thomas gets picked, and we'll get to kick that around. And it should be a great event at Hazeltine at the end of the month. That's going to be a great one. I can't wait for the next shack.