No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - 983: 2025 Masters Preview

Episode Date: April 7, 2025

Live recording as we kick off the 2025 Masters week with our traditional preview podcast. We run down storylines and favorites, check-in on some Odds, run through some questions and more. Plus trivia, head-to-head match ups and a lot of fun. It's Masters Week! Support our sponsors: Rhoback - Best fit, Best feel! FanDuel - FanDuel.com/NLU AT&T - Connecting Changes Everything Subscribe to the No Laying Up Newsletter here: https://newsletter.nolayingup.com/ Subscribe to the No Laying Up Podcast channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLayingUpPodcast If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining The Nest: No Laying Up’s community of avid golfers. Nest members help us maintain our light commercial interruptions (3 minutes of ads per 90 minutes of content) and receive access to exclusive content, discounts in the pro shop, and an annual member gift. It’s a $90 annual membership, and you can sign up or learn more at nolayingup.com/join Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Be the right club. Be the right club today. Yes! Johnny, that's better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most! We have made it folks. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the No Laying Up podcast presented live on the No Laying Up podcast YouTube channel it is Masters week our official

Masters preview it's taken every ounce of effort not to have accidentally previewed the Masters and every episode we've done leading up to this but Sally here joined in North Augusta with my guy mr. Neil Schuster hello Neil greetings Sally how's the Berkman's today, buddy? It was, it was, it was good. Man, it's crazy. It's like a Disney world, but you went to Berkman's. I did for lunch. Sick.

He's got to take advantage of the membership. I had to get out of the rain. Yeah. Well, good to be here. TC. Good to see you. How are you? TC is here.

Hello, Mr. Tron. I'm great. I flew down to live yesterday. I here TC good to see you. How are you? Is here. Hello, Mr. Tron. I'm great. I flew down to live yesterday. I don't want to hear it. Get you guys. Private fire. Sweet buddies. I'm great. I had a great BLT for lunch and just I'm feeling

feeling like a million bucks. How about you, Randy? I'm good. I'm good. I'm in my new office setup here behind me. Anybody watching on the video channel? Your lighting looks fantastic back there, Randy. How about it? I wish you could see the rest of it because it's more built out than my old one too. So I'm happy to be here.

Excited for Masters week, guys. It is going to be a great week. We are kicking off a lot of content with shout out to our friends, of course, at Roebuck. You already know Roebuck's got our favorite polos, hoodies, shorts, pants, you name it. They got the best fit. They got the best feel. It is simple as that. Now that we're in the heart of spring, they're dialing up some of their incredible polo designs. Been spying some of the florals on their site. I wore it yesterday, actually out on there. You gave me a compliment on that one.

You can say, oh, you're a collection out there. Not something I normally would have done. They are fantastic. If you're not a floral guy, the Fairway Fusion Polo is fantastic. If you like your classics, they got some great stripe combos going as well probably rocking a little bit. Just like this should call this the solid different shades of blue here on that. This is one of the go tos they're Delta Looper shorts are back in stock for spring to I got the khaki ones on right now each time I put them on I'm just there. I'm amazed at the stretch waistband the quality of the of the of

the shorts there. They're just fantastic. They're comfortable, perfect for spring golf, perfect for attending the Masters as well. Time to load up on some Roeback now that it's spring. Code NLU on roeback.com. Generous 20% off your first order through the end of this week. That's R-H-O-B-A-C-K.com. 20% off polos, shorts and more with code NLU. All right. Typical major championship preview fashion, we are going to do our storyline draft. We're going to go around the circle, list off our top storylines, things that have us intrigued, tickled, you know, sitting on the edge of our seats heading into this week. We're going to talk about some of our brief takeaways from being there in person so far. We got mostly rained out today, but did get to walk around a little bit. We're going to check in on the early odds from our friends at Fandl. We get to a couple questions. We got mostly rained out today, but did get to walk around a little bit. We're going to check in on the early odds from our friends at Fandl. We get to get to a couple questions. We're going to make some head-to-head picks. We're

going to go down the sheet and go on the record. This guy versus this guy, who are you taking this week? And we're going to track that, of course, throughout the course of the week. Cody's going to sprinkle a little trivia on us. We're going to list off, we're going to go through a few players, and we're going to answer the question, Will this player win a Masters in their career? We're also going to go through some previous Masters winners and say, Will they win another Masters as we get to that section? And I'm going to take us back to 2015. Hopefully people got a chance to listen to our KBV's Narrative Podcast last week, talking about some of our favorite Masters. DJ detailed it excellently. But I did a rewatch of this one recently for a Twitter space, as I did with Shane Bacon last week on the Masters channel.

And I just want to go back through it, because we were so justified in all of the Speed fandom, and we still are. And I just want to go through line by line and reemphasize some of this. It's your guy, Randy. It's your guy. Love him.

Yeah. And then at the very end, we were saving our picks for Wednesday, the Happy Hour Show. But we did ask our wives for all of their picks and we got some good content out of that. I think I may say so that's. I'm fired up to be here to experience a full week It's been I guess 10 years TC since we were here for practice round for me 10 years ago We're kind of special project with KVV. So I'm gonna give you three minutes. So my storyline is time is a flat circle Randy I'm doing it. I'm calling it now Rory's gonna win the master. Oh my god I in time is a flat circle because you're shaking your head I knew this is gonna happen sol is already talking himself out of it

He's been talking so into Rory for weeks and I hear him over at the table before the pod starts like I did a data dive I shouldn't I was going with the gut and the eye test and I looked at the data and now I'm Strowdy fire up the grill, baby it might have to be a to be a digital detox block party. The DJ's got to fire up the grill. I might not be able to host it, but I'm going to be there, Randy. I'm fired up.

But I guess my actual storyline, I think it's a big guns masters. I was doing a little research on some picks and they've got those big guns versus the field and it's like Scotty Rory Zander. And then I would throw Colin into that kind of big, like to me, it's like one of those guys Ludwig. I just feel like it's going to be a big name. We haven't seen all these guys, other than the players facing off much this year. And I just think it's going to be kind of a clash of Titans.

That's that's that neck out. Let's go. It's a giraffe. It's not a giraffe take. I know, but I, uh, it's not a giraffe take. I know what I Like a turtle take he doesn't even want to stick his neck. No, it's a cold I just feel like there's a lot of like who's the alpha in 2025. We just don't know right now We simply do not know no because we haven't seen them all face off together and and I just think you know

Roars put really really good golf Coming into this thing and is that a lot of pressure? Yes, but I'm just gonna feel, you know, Rory's played really, really good golf coming into this thing. And is that a lot of pressure? Yes. But I'm just going to, it's going to be Rory. So that's my, that's what I'm feeling. Question for you. Who maintains ownership of the block party right now? I know you sold it off to private equity and there might've been a rug pull at one point and you know, things are not going well this week. No, I'm going with the El Prez, you know, our friends over at Barstool.

You know, I sold it to Private Equity churning group and then bought it back. I got it back for a dollar because solid doesn't want it because he can't make it. I didn't buy it. So let me in. Yeah, they ran into the ground. That's not true. That's not true. You are the owner of it.

But I brought this to Neil's attention a couple weeks ago I found this on reddit and I was shocked because it was really solid out there crowd sourcing Funding for his block party. All right Jodi ran this by these like did you make this? I got this up red. Do you make this? I was like no I did it. I was like, is this really off read it because no I made this you make this? I was like, no, I did it. I was like, is this really off Reddit? He goes, no, I made this. Fantastic. Neil, let me just ask what you're just gonna throw another

block party willy nilly, like what, what if this all goes poorly yet again, I thought there needs to be some downside risk for you here. I'm okay. It'll be a egg on my face. I'll handle the liability. Randy, I just I want to feel my face. I'll handle the liability, Randy. I just, I want to feel some stuff. I think it would be really fun to be here in person to see Rory win. And you know, Randy, we were talking about it a little bit. It kind of goes to some of my, my feelings of being on site. It's really easy to be cynical about a lot of stuff in

golf right now. And I was just thinking about it last night after we left the course and I was like, I just think I would really enjoy watching Rory win. And so that's what I want to root for it. That's where I'm at. And it's kind of as simple as that. So that's what I'm manifesting that. That's my storyline. And I know that I'm sorry if that disappoints you.

No, no, it's fun to hear though. If I know it thrills and delights you to, you know, it could be an all-timer because then if he gets close again and it goes wrong, like how delightful is that for you and I'm feeling pain. Like that's, that's what we're looking for. We're looking for emotion, man, you know, but tragedy or comedy, we want what either way, man, I want to feel something this week. That's what I'm looking for emotion, man. You know, but tragedy or comedy, we want what either way, man. I want to feel something this week.

That's what I'm looking for, Randy. No, I know. It just all feels like destructive habits. It feels like I don't want to feel like you know, heroin addicts. Listen to TC over here. TC is going to be like, Oh guys, maybe I'll swing through Friday. It looks like it's going well. TC is just going to stop by. Don't let him off the ring. You talk yourself into the reds every year.

All right. You want to talk about destructive habits like you got to get the kings, the kings. Yeah, but I mean, that's, that's outside of my work life. That's for fun. You know, that's worse. This is your career. That's where you're investing your personal time to your father. Now, Neil.

All right, ready? You get to go next. What do you, uh, what's, what's the you're investing your personal time to. You're a father now, Neil. All right, Randy, you get to go next. What do you, what's the big storyline on your draft board? Actually Rory, can Rory win was number one. So let me, let me go for me. So we're fishing in the same pond, you know, I just, I did stick my neck out. How about that? I do think it's fun how popular of a picky is right. And I think that is somewhat, uh, due to what I will draft for my storyline and it could be bad news for

Rory guys. The official storyline is this is Scotty bringing a hot putter to Augusta with him. And I, I, I would point you to his week in Houston where he was plus 1.77 strokes gained putting. That's the best putting performance he's had in his last 25 starts. If he has found something with the putter,

I'd love his chances. I will remind you last year, he wrote a tie for second in Houston to a green jacket victory a few weeks later. This year he finished tied for second again in Houston. I just think if Scotty has found something, if he's rounding into form, this could be his third green jacket. So that's my official storyline pick. Randy, we're fishing big guns, man. Clash of Titans. Let's go. Good players are going to do well at this very difficult setup in this major championship. That's right. Yeah.

Do you think it's going to be difficult though? I mean it's a difficult, it's a exacting challenge. It's a difficult test. Like it's very difficult for Aaron Rye to compete on this golf course. KC, you would have loved it. I was right at 15 and I just, they had the, the sub airs just rooming over there, man, like the exhaust pipes going out, just hearing that low, right? If it's precision air, precision air at Augusta. So anyways, TC what's, uh, what's your top storyline? Yeah.

A lot of different directions we could go here. Uh, I'm going to go best available. You know, this is not a needs based pick. This is just best available. I think can Ludwig, you know, Ludwig second appearance, he's, he's kind of been shaky a little bit coming in, but, uh, he garnered a lot of hype from people. The media machine is, is on for him this week. I think he, you know, the athletic had a big feature on him, all sorts of,

you know, Johnny come lately's, uh, thrown the spotlight on him. So, uh, listen, we, we've been here for a long time and we're going to be on this block for the next two decades. So Ludwig, I want to see, I want to see you back up last year's, uh, magical, you know, debut with, with some more substance here. I'm supposed to kind of punt with having the Rory thing taken, but it is my still number one and my take is this on this. I think that Rory. You're taking a player that's already been taken. Well, it's not that I'm taking a player, it's taking a different storyline.

And the storyline is this, all right? I'm probably going to pick Rory this week right I I'm gonna pick I'm probably gonna pick Rory this week I'm not committed as a Monday I have until Wednesday to lock in the pick okay I have it listen and this will be I have a once-in-a-lifetime I'm a one and done for picking Rory for the rest of my life if I pick him this week and he does not win I will not ever pick him again for Augusta okay I don't know that I know you don't know you don't Cody write that down please write that one down I need to remember that. I don't believe that. I know you don't. I know you don't. Cody, write that down.

Please write that one down. We need to remember that. Yeah, Sally, Sally, put that in your little tracker thing. I will put that, I'll put that in the NLU record that I'm not allowed to pick Rory ever again. I do think this is his best chance with kind of Scottie scuffling a little bit coming in. I know he had a close finish at Houston, but that doesn't really do a whole heck of a lot for me.

His ball strikes have gotten all the way there. Wow, that's just part of my pick. Yeah, I hated your pick, Randy. And if it's going to happen, if these swing changes he made in the off season, it looks like he is a different golfer than he has been. The players' championship was very, it was just impressive of how the eight-footers felt like they were going to go in. And it just felt like he was very in control of his golf ball in a way that, and in control of his expectations.

And he's just got more of a fuck you attitude, it looks like, and doesn't feel like he's leaving things up to chance or up to the luck or up to the golf gods for him to go do it. Like if he's gonna do it, he's just gonna say fuck you to everyone and just blow the doors off this week. And it's either this or I don't think he wins a Masters like I think I will I will be on the camp of he's not going to win a Masters if he doesn't win this one. That's my commitment. That is my top

storyline for the week. All right, I'll take that work. Is that his angst here, Randy? He doesn't have to worry about any phone taking anyone's phone this week, but my fucking name on it. Is he really though? I mean, I guess this is always going to be a psychological evaluation for Rory. I don't care about swing changes. I don't care about feels. It's it's a and that's what I'm saying. He's either gonna test. He's either gonna pass the head test this time or he's not ever gonna pass it

because I do think it'll kind of put his game in a body bag a little bit too at Augusta, right? Well, so here's kind of where I was starting to waver a little bit. And then I'm just going to throw some numbers at you guys and that Augusta's test is highlighted by the volume of approaches that you have to hit from 150 to 200 yards, specifically from 175 to 200 yards. The best player since the beginning of this year from that range is your king, Sepp Straka. Yeah.

Next best from that range. He's a Ryder Cupka. Yeah. Next best from that range. He's a Ryder Kub lock I heard. But big shot Bob. Third is Zalatorz. Other Ryder Kub lock. Okay. So that is some- Zalatorz is my pick to win this week. I've got him in something we're going to do later this week as well. But Scotty so far this year is like 10% off of his two-year baseline from that range. Like his ball striking was 99th percentile and it's not, it has not been. So there's a dip there. Now the problem here is Rory is like 24% off his two year baseline from this distance.

So not only is this not a strength of Rory's game, he's actually, despite the good play this year, he's down in this category that matters a lot for Augusta. Funny enough, he's really improved in the 125-150 category that we've dogged him on forever. And you don't hit 125-150 shots at Augusta almost nowhere on the golf course, do you? There's a lot, you hit a lot less of those than you do on a typical PGA Tour golf course. So that's where I started waving right before the show, just being like, Ah, man, like like that's a specific reason why Rory's course history here is not good. Like compared to a lot of the guys that have very solid histories of in terms of strokes gain compared to their expectation, Rory's does not stick out compared to the Zanders and the Scotties and so many of the guys that we've seen have success on this golf course. And that was 150

to 200? Yes. So, so what's the storyline? No, no, I'm just, I'm just presenting, throwing some numbers behind. Like if it goes wrong, like that's kind of the storyline of what has not gone right or where the X, where we're solid hedging. No, no, I'm still in on the take. I'm just saying like, the math shout out to my guy, Ryan, being said, I'm still taking roaring.

I'm going against the data here that you should love this. I'm going eye test, total gut test, to say if it's gonna happen, this is the year that's gonna happen. So back up to you, Neil, say next in the draft list. God, I mean, I just kinda, I had one storyline prepared. That was, I got some thoughts on that. For me, that's it. It's a one player draft for Neil.

Actually, I think there's some interest, it's longer- It's not a player draft. It's a storyline draft. No, something that I'm interested to watch like Thursday, Friday is it's a Langer's last year. Cabrera is back. Phil seems to be showing signs of life. Kind of the past champions category is interested, like the older past champions category. The olds, who's going to be the alpha of the olds this year, Randy. I always find that to be a fun storyline to follow when, you know, when Fred couples, you know, five, six, seven years ago used to kind of make that Thursday, Friday run like, Oh, look at Freddy's playing well.

I think it's fun to see these guys with all that course knowledge, like who can bring it year to year. And this year, I feel like it's up in the air because VJ he's out due to injury. He would have been a kind of a favorite for that category. So you know, the king of the olds is up for grabs. I'll take that storyline. That's that's kind of from the personal collection What's your in your mind Neil? What's your kind of the age level for these former champions group? Like what how old do they have to be for the cohort that we're talking about? The easy answer would be 50, but I'm going to say 45. I'm going to

lower it just a little bit. But you kind of, the old, you know, when you see him, Randy. Sure. You know, guys are like, yeah, that guy's not going to win. But I mean, Phil, what was that? Two years ago, he was second. Yeah. That's fun. I think that's always fun. Like comes out of nowhere. You're like, oh my God, he's like, for instance, Bubba Watson, 46 years old. He's officially an old, I would put him in that category. 100%. Adam Scott. Is he an old now? Uh, borderline old. Uh, he looks, he's still, I don't know. I don't think that he still qualifies as, uh, he's 44 years, nine months. So he's not as last as not an old. Yeah. Uh, all right, Randy 44 years, 9 months. So, he's not an old. He's not

as last as not an old. Yeah. Uh alright, Randy, what's your next? Oh gosh. Where should we go here? You know what? Let's uh I'm I'm gonna select the storyline. Can the proclaimed best player in the world at the moment from Phil Mickelson,

Joaquin Nieman, not only can he get in contention at a major, will he earn his first career the It's fun. I'll say Joaquin, you know if it's it's getting to be time. It's probably past time for him to show up in a major but to his credit, you know, he won the Saudi in international in December of 2024. So what five months ago, he's had two wins so far in 2025. It's like we got to see it Joaquin and I don't want to say it's this year or never, but it needs to be this year. If I'm going to take you seriously. TC.

Uh, I'm going to go with Xander. I think Xander, you know, it's, it's one of those things. We talked about it a little bit on Sunday with, with regard to max of just, you know, is, is this place, is place, is the comfort level at a place like this strong enough to kind of wash away any sort of, you know, bad juju you have going on right now? And I think with Xander, like this is a really good, I think if Xander doesn't play well this week, then like it's officially time to be worried about Xander moving forward.

Long term or short term? I think both. Really? this week, then like it's officially time to be worried about Xander moving forward. You know, Xander's been... Long term or short term? I think both. Really? Yeah. So, you know, it's just, he could be the McRib, right? It was a rib injury, right? I think it was.

Oblique or rib? I think it was a rib on his side. General area. Yeah. So, you know, that's all I'm saying. I think Xander's been, this is a spot where, you know, like this, this place fits him to a T. And if he doesn't win one of these next, you know, two to three masters, I think, you know, like he could, I think Xander could really separate from the pack a little bit

more with a win here this week, more so than some of the other guys. Yeah, and it's funny, Xander's course history for this course is not incredible. I mean, he's guys like obviously Scottie, but Zala Tora, Spieth, Ram, Morikawa, Cameron Smith, Justin Rose, just straight up in strokes gained rank higher than Xander has and even like, you know, compared to an expected one, you know, some of these top players get really big leaps in their expected, you know, in their performance versus the expectation and Xander and Rory are kind of the ones that are just kind of lolling around their normal PGA Tour golf when it comes to this. But that kind of throws everything into a big bucket when he's got a t2.

He's got a t3. He's got a solo eighth last year, like it's you know, he's just got a full like you look at Zander's Wikipedia profile just major wise and like, you know, he's a freaking hunter in in in in major championships. So I think, you know, he's got a miscut in 2022 here and then a T 50 in 2018. Otherwise, it's been top 17 or better. He has a lot of good finishes. It, it's interesting, I would say I still think short term for Xander is a different question than long term for me of if he has a bad masters, I still think that he's just kind of shaking off some rust and health

and who knows exactly how the body feels. It would take a longer stretch for me to be concerned long term for him. But it's something shouldn't be forgotten about it always just feel like Augusta is weirdly a place that like if you're not playing your best coming in, there is a sense of, of that. That's why I'm picking it like that's the storyline for me is like is that is that it's kind of the the balm to you know, so much value, Randy, compared to everybody betting on Rory. Doesn't matter, I wanna feel something. And then too, it's like, if, all right, if Xander wins, that's what?

That's three of the last five majors, I think? I think three out of four. Three out of four. Three out of four, yeah. That changes the narrative in a big way, right? Feel like that is a really under talked about storyline coming into this one. Speaking of which, I know we've mentioned Scottie already,

but this is a storyline that I'm surprised to take this long to mention. He would be the second person in Masters history to win three out of four. Tiger Woods never won three out of four. Jack won in 63, 65 and 66. And this would be 22, 24, 25 for Scotty. And he's the overwhelming favorite going into this one. That is, you know, if he gets

anywhere near the lead, like we're chasing some level of history of winning this amount of green jackets in the short of the time period. And it almost it almost kind of seems like people are already like willing to put the green jacket on him. I felt that way last year. I don't feel that way this year of just like ready to do it. It kind of more, it's more of a human pursuit this year of like, this would, this is a realistic question of can he channel it and get it figured out? Last year, it really was like, Hey, if you are, your B-game or better, you're going to probably beat the rest of this field. So I look forward to that. I would say a storyline that I felt the last three years, I don't think there's any organization

that's benefited more from the schism in pro golf than Augusta National in this tournament. This is the first place that all these guys come back together to play. And we haven't mentioned Jon Rahm. We haven't talked about Bryson, one of major last year. Like it's incredible. It's like, Oh my God, they're all going to be playing for the first time in, I guess, six, you know, seven months, six months. And maybe if they played in the Ryder Cup together. And that's just that, I mean, candidly, that's added a lot of juice to the masters the last three years for me personally. Um I guess that's a storyline. Which one of these live guys comes back and is in form? It's just generally is a question.

Is that your next? That is my taking that I'm drafting that. Before we go to TC's, we're not going to make a lot of guarantees in this podcast or on Wednesday. But AT&T has a new guarantee. Because most things in life are not guaranteed like actually getting the rental car you requested for your wedding turning out exactly like you dreamed it would someone make another pot of coffee in the break room after drinking the last drop of the last brandy not guaranteed. In a world where nothing is

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implement a little bit. I mean, I can't. Yeah, I think honestly, Lynx Master, George, the spieth, this spieth, man, it's, I'm feeling things, things I haven't felt in a while, Randy. Just going to throw it out there. That's all I'll see the floor. I would love to God, I just cannot imagine him putting together four solid days in a row. It just doesn't seem Brandy and good conscience cannot recommend the stock. No, it just, he's a fiduciary. You can't do that.

We can save some speed stuff for the end. Cause I, I, I, I, I, but it was one of my things on my board. Don't sleep on speed here. Uh, TC, but it is the golf course has changed since he won it. And I don't think it necessarily plays into his hands the way that it has changed a little bit. I wish they would change it back, man. I do want to say, Randy, I'd like to put this question to you.

Everything that TC said about Xander, I feel like is it truly word for word, the same with Colin. Uh, even with, but with him, it's better short-term form. I was going to say, I was playing great golf, being playing playing great, but it's like he has not been able to close. So that's been a storyline for the year. Then close calls, like you go to his data golf page and he has better strokes gained here at Augusta National and he's got kind of a similar resume as far as top 10 finishes go, including last year where he was in the final group.

So Randy, are you buying low? What are you thinking here? You're buying, you buy a high and high selling high selling low. What are we doing? I, it's a good question. You'll, you bring up a very good point. This was actually one of my storylines. I think this is a true litmus test week for Colin Morikawa. Uh, he's, he's, is this guy any good actually? Like does he deserve to be one of the three, four or five best players in the world or, you know, essentially like how serious do we need to take this guy? Cause you're right. Three straight top tens at Augusta. He's played well this year. I think he's what? Third in the data golf rankings on the season. He's fourth in OWG. Why don't hit him? Why don't I feel confident that

he's going to show up this week? I think that's not right now. I want to be my guy right now. I know I want him to be my guy, so I feel like I feel like he is going to show up. He needs to show up, which probably if you're sitting at home means he won't show up. We listen, you shouldn't have to make a call on this until after tonight.

We're probably gonna see him tonight. This is where we saw him last year at a party with his dog with shoes on. And if the dog has shoes on tonight, I think it's kind of like, did Tony Phil see a shadow? That's exactly right. If the dog doesn't have shoes tonight, we'll report it and And you can you can go ahead and make a pick. Porter tweeted this out. We know what the dog's name is. I think it's like avocado toast or something like that.

If you guys could get that as well. If we can. I'll chase that down for you, Randy. You probably find that on Instagram. Koa the Doodle. Okay. Mora Kawa leads the world in strokes game approach in 2025. He leads the world in strokes game ball striking in 2025. Strokes game Tita Green in 2025. Strokes game overall in 2025, gained ball striking in 2025, strokes gained Tita Green in 2025, strokes gained overall in 2025 as one of two players to finish in the Masters top 10 each of the last three years. Played in the final pairing last year, is a two-time major champion and is not one of the top three favorites. That's the whole thing right there.

Yeah, that's damning. I mean, is it, I think it's just like the markets are kind of under rating them a little bit more than anything, I would say plus 1600 type of blood bridge on there. There's good reason to under rate them. Okay. We struggled to close. That's a fact here. I'll close us out for this, for my storylines, just to say like a few of

these kind of sleepy live guys are up to some stuff. I'm not talking about Rom or Bryson or any of the big guns, but I could absolutely see one of Sergio or Phil top 10ing this week. The old, I mean, Sergio's playing- You could see Phil winning. I could see Phil winning as well, but I think it's like, I think that at least one of those two is going to finish in the top 10 this week. Sergio has been playing some really, really good golf and Phil, all you need to see is one sign of life to believe that he could do top 10 this week. Sergio has been playing some really, really good golf and Phil, all you need to see is one sign of life to believe that he could do something crazy this week. I'd be rooting for it. We haven't talked about Kim Smith yet either.

Yeah, I feel differently about that one for whatever reason that I do like some of these weird olds that I don't know. I'm getting hyped to like legitimately find out about. I'll say this on Phil because I was fishing in some of these ponds. He was an even year guy early in his career, but he's kind of switched to an odd year guy lately. T2 in 2023, T21, T18, T22, T2 going all the way back in the odd years the last 10 years. Yeah. Uh, we don't, we, we truly don't speak enough about him looking like a, you know, strung out offensive coordinator and the short sleeve rain gear finished in second a couple of years ago. I mean, unbelievable. It was so much fun to watch him on the back nine. It was so much fun. So yeah, that's a, that's

panicking late to the party. Like refuse to talk to anybody that week. Right. He just didn't like didn't speak at the champions dinner. He just was like, I'm not, I'm not talking. You got to wonder how the market uncertainty is going to affect him this week though. Will his mind be elsewhere? Neil? That's very fair. It's true. Anybody have anything that they the dining off their chest before we move on to the rest of the show? Just one thing. Yeah, did you guys know Patrick reads only 34 years old? I would

have I I would have lost a bet I would have guessed. Late 30s early 40s. Yeah, that's that's a that's kind of a shock. Also that either that dog tag that he was wearing. Joseph LaMagna did a little, little hit with him from live Miami and he that he was wearing. Joseph Lamonia did a little hit with him from Live Miami. I mean, he was wearing some dazzled dog tags around his neck. I love it. Strange.

I think, you know, we haven't talked Tommy yet. You had your opportunity to speak. How do you guys? You can just tell. I'm speaking on it now. I'm still like midway through my big board here. You know, how are you guys feeling about Tommy? I'll just ask. I'll ask. 81 does not have me feeling great TC. I got him. You're asking for my honest opinion. You know, no offense to anyone. I'm not feeling the wind this week TC. That's where I come down.

God, I don't think we're going to get the monkey over back this week. I think Tommy's going to play well this week. I think he's like in the top, he's plus 120 for a top 20 this week. I think that's borderline insulting. Like I would not, I don't think he's going to finish outside of the top 20. I honestly don't put a lot of stock in a really bad round in the wind on a golf course. It's nothing like Augusta. While his mind's probably on about getting to here. Yeah. Just, just, I would, I would throw that out. He finished top five here last year. Not, not dismissing Tommy at all this week. And I'm not just sucking up to TC.

Guys, I've got another, another bone to pick here. I'm on the Blowpig's Wikipedia page. There there's not a single yellow square. Oh, for a second, I thought you were mentioned on on Wikipedia page. I mean, you know, somebody could make that happen. Yeah, like it is editable. He's got the one, you know, he won the US open at LACC. His next best major championship finishes T33 at the Open Championship. He has played in 12 majors, five cuts made, 12 majors. He's like a 40% strikeout guy that just has all fields

power. He's gonna run into a bunch of home runs, but like the path to getting there is tough and he's going to strike out a lot big swinging strike rate, big chase, big outside the zone swinger. And there's not you're not going to get consistent performances out. I just don't throw him a meatball. He's taking enough walks either. No, he's not taking any walks. Don't throw him a meatball, Randy. No. He kind of reminds me like a Chris Davis. Oh, love that. Things of that nature. Aristides, maybe. Yeah. So I just wanted

to call that out. I would like to see something from Sahith. This was, that should be a great course for him. And then I would like to, I would like to ride the DB straight vibing train. I think this place brings out irrational confidence in guys. And I think DB straight vibing is an irrational confidence, like a merchant of that. And I would like to see him really, really step to the fore. The statistical models be damned because I know he's not a bomber. And then it's just crazy. I never know what to do with Hideki. Never. Can he win this week?

He could. He could. He could. Yeah, he could. Yeah. But yeah, Hideki, I'm always just totally perplexed by him. And I think Sep might be a guy that we need to talk about more. Yeah. I think that's a really good value at, at plus 8,000. Like that's your guy. I mean, I would, I would hope he's in some of your guys picks with how much you guys have hyped him this week and how much it's, I mean, plus 8,000 is borderline disrespectful for, for what is long iron play looks like. And I know he gets a distance hit on this golf course. But I don't know, I'd be looking first round leader play maybe for him. It's interesting. It's one of the ones that jumped out. We'll get to some more down the odds.

Sally, one other one. JT, are you buying his recent resurgence? I am, but not Augusta. I think't I just don't. I think he's got scar tissue at this place. He said these those horrific missed cuts like the epic collapses to miss the cuts on Friday. It just seems like he hypes himself up for this week too much. And we just have not seen sustained success from him at Augusta. But I'm buying the resurgence. I am also I'm gonna ride with you on that full take. So few notes from in person so

far, I would say I've got to walk the course for briefly this afternoon, or I got to walk the back nine. Really, the tree damage the trees being gone is definitely noticeable. I mean, I know to look for it, but it is it is noticeable out there. Behind 15 does look a lot different. It honestly looks like, way better. I never I never looked at those trees and thought they needed to come down. But now when you're standing there looking at that shot, that fairway, it almost was like a depth piece for that

almost island-like peninsula-like area of that 15th green. Now that's gone. It looks way smaller. Like it just kind of looks a little bit more intimidating. I know these guys have hit that shot a million times and they know the exact depth and all that stuff, but it just looks a little bit more intimidating. I know these guys have hit that shot a million times and they know the exact depth and all that stuff. But it just looks a little different. And I think that's I don't think that's that's that's nothing. And kind of looks like the old 16 at Jack's Beach, if we're being honest. how it lines up with 12 green without those trees in the way and how it just brings you that much more. I just love connectivity between other holes on golf courses. I think it does make you dream of a lot more trees being removed from Augusta National and how, how fun that would be. Yeah, and just how that, that all the, the noises would flow and how,

you know, the creativity of the angles could, could flow a lot differently. I thought the left of 13, I don't know this to be true, but it just felt like left of 13 green up on that hill. There were a lot less trees up there. Like, there's always that all that vegetation and the azaleas and all that, but it looked like less big pines. And it looks really good. Just kind of that removal and kind of how that green sits up in that setting. So, again, removal and kind of how that green sits up in that setting. So, again, I would say, yeah, the tree loss is noticeable, but almost in a good way. I felt the same way. I looked down 11 to 12. That's something that always sticks out to me is when it looks like there's 200 yards of fairway behind 11 green, it's like the areas of perfectly mown grass that are like not in play just sets the scale and the vista of this place so well. And then actually, there are numerous trees that are still up that have cables that have been secured via cables. So there's trees right of 18 that are leaning, like you look at them like, oh my god, those are going to fall. And then you see like, oh, no, they're hooked into cables. So it looks like they've tried to, well, it looks like they tried to save a lot of trees. Noticeably, they took a lot down, but they've tried to keep as many as they can up, it seems like. Yeah. And if you're behind on catching up on the

social news from the day, it absolutely dumped rain. They said they weren't even going to open the gates this morning. They ended up opening the gates. And if you had a Monday ticket, you got, you made it till about, I think, 11.25 when they called play and they're not letting patrons back in. And you get a Monday ticket. They get, they get a refund and they get the right to purchase a Monday ticket for next year. So, that's, that's a job well done from Augusta on that front. Cause I think we were sitting here lamenting like, man, imagine if you flew in here, hoping to go to the master. You got to go today, at least for a a little bit and then you get the right to come back next year if you want it. So wet golf course, I know they got the precision there and all that but other in the Rory category just saying. Gentlemen, I'm gonna

be really nice the rest of the week right? Looks like Friday I thought might have a little bit of issue but that is otherwise like high 60s, low 70s. Yep. Sunny, calm weather. But yeah, 60% chance of rain on Friday, Neil has given us his is supposed to schedule for a three ending start, but he went four and a third. So thanks for having me. Open. Thanks, Neil. Checking in on the odds here early in the week. As we're here Monday afternoon, we have Scotty Scheffler, of course, the favorite at plus 450. Rory, second

favorite at plus 650. That is, that's gaining on Scotty, man. That was not how odds in major championships looked last year. John Rahm at plus 1400. We barely talked about him really at all. Ludwig plus 1600. Mikawa plus 1,600. Xander plus 1,800. Bryson plus 2,000. JT plus 2,200. Waukeen Neiman plus 2,800. Hideki also at plus 2,800. Brooks Kefka also hasn't garnered a mention yet. Plus 3,000. Jordan Spieth, disrespectfully, plus 3,300. Fleetwood plus 3,500. And then a few other weird notables as you go farther down Zellotaurus at plus fifty five hundred jumped out to me again incredible course history And as mentioned some of those those iron number iron plate numbers were really going in his favor Sep at plus eight thousand Sergio plus eight thousand read plus nine thousand

Keegan you guys have been telling me all about this Keegan character. He's plus 11,000, expecting a lot of you guys to have some money on him this week. And Phil, plus 12,000. That's down from, you know. KVV moved that market. Plus 15,000. Plus 20,000. I think it was 22,000 and he moved that one. So solid couple I'm seeing. I think Mav McNeely, I know he's a rookie here, but if there's somebody who's got the kind of the mental horsepower to deduce this place in his rookie debut and he's seems like this this kind of suits

his game just from a from a statistical profile the way he's been hitting it all year he's he's uh plus 15 000 and then you've got uh I just had to call out the pro is currently plus 27,000, which is crazy. Well, I don't think he's going to win this week. I'm just going to put that out there. I know people think we're being soft on him in recent times, but I don't think he's going to win. But I wouldn't be surprised if he made the cut this week. I'll say that.

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God, that was not the best one ever. I think on that one. Sports fans CJ 97 winning score prediction conditions. So Sally, you think it's gonna be soft? Ish? Ish? I don't think it's gonna be it's not a slop fest. I mean, Ish? Ish? I don't think it's gonna be, it's not a slop fest. I mean, they got two days to dry it out. There's gonna be sun on Tuesday, Wednesday. I don't know what the wind is gonna look like

on Tuesday, Wednesday. If they got, you know, some, they got the kitty litter out though. Like the pebbles are sprinkled out there and they're ready for it. It looks like wind tomorrow is gust up in the 20s at times, but for the most part, not much wind. And then a little bit more wind on Wednesday. So I'd say medium. I don't think it's going to be firm. The greens were firm as of yesterday watching shots come in,

but there was over an inch of rain today. So even with the precision air, I'm sure they've softened up just a little bit. But not a lot of wind doesn't look like in the forecast for, I mean, Thursday is showing quite light wind, especially compared to last year, a little bit like medium level wind on Friday with some potential rain, which again, could soften things up. Pretty light standard wind on Saturday and even lighter on Sunday. So remembering the scores from last year, Scotty won an 11 under and only one other guy was lower than five under. But that was some mega, mega wind in the early parts of last year. So I think it's going to be lower than that, but I'm, it's always, always hard to, to, to predict that, that winning score. I just want to see him throw us a curve ball with the setup. One of these years. Like, hey, this year we're not going to have the first cut

or second cut or whatever they call it there. Or just get the balls running out more towards the pine straw. These guys' hunting angles. It'd be awesome. Some scores. I'm not going to include Dustin Johnson's November Masters in this but the last several winners of the Masters have been 11 under 12 under 10 10 and 13 Tiger in 2019 Reid was 15 under in 2018 Sergio was minus 9 Danny will it was minus 5

So obviously with some some variety in that one But I think if I was to guess I think this is going to be on the lower end based on what we know. And I'm just gonna I'm gonna call minus 14 as the winning score this week. I will ride with you on that Sally. Okay, like in 14 as well. I'll go I'll go a touch under I was I was thinking in that 1112 range. I stole this from Ron Kloss from BetSpurts.

He tweeted this out, just a bunch of info on Augusta, which I found to be all interesting stuff. It's the most predictive course. It's got the most predictive course history. So, you know, we talked a little bit about this a few weeks ago with Bay Hill being a very predictive golf course as well, but Augusta is even stronger.

It's got elevation changes, of course, uneven lies, tricky pin positions, steep runoffs around the green, swirling crosswinds and risk reward approach shots. 73% of the scoring comes from attacking the four par fives. You got to survive the other 14 holes. It's got the toughest par fours and the fourth toughest par threes of any golf course on tour. The average score is plus 1.47 over the last 4 years. That is the toughest and the seventh longest annual course. But it also has the second widest fairways at 51 yards on average. It lacks hazard areas off the tee. It's got the third fewest bunkers and only 4 water danger holes. 72% of the approaches come from over 150 yards. It's got non-penal rye grass, of course,

the first cut of that fairway. Greens are treacherous, sloping, firm, lightning fast, bent grass ranging from 12 to 15 on the stent meter. And the course fits our bombers off the tee, carry distance on soft reverse mode fairways, mid to long iron play, high apex height into firm greens, creative scramblers, lag putters, par-5 scores, course history veterans. Oh,

that was just like an awesome write up and summary of Augusta of like, of the exact guys that thrive there and all the considerations there. So. Rich Rantz asks, Why do you think we've not had a classic since 2019? Even that was pretty much settled by the final hole. All other majors have produced at least one classic final round in the time since. I don't think I have an answer here. I'm curious. I think some of it's course set up, man.

In what way? I just think they, you know, they, it just hasn't seemed as fiery. And, you know, it's, I think there it just hasn't seemed as fiery. I think there's just less guys now that can win this event too. We're not getting fluky winners either, but we're also not getting... I guess that's supposed to be the sign of a great golf course is that it can separate out. But I think it's gotten almost too hard to make birdies in certain spots, or they kind of have to manipulate the place. It seems like Saturday into Sunday, they really changed the complexion of the place, and they're still trying to figure out kind of what the right give and take is there.

Because I think it's definitely, I think for a while there, they were way too penal as far as like, you know, not enough birdies happening. And now I think we've gone back to some more birdies and all of that. But like 13 is a good example of, if anything, I think Ridley was talking about this in one of his pressers or something last year where moving that tee back actually made it a less thoughtful hole as well. Guys are just hitting bombing driver down there now. They don't have to worry about skirting through into the pine straw and all that. It's like they've almost optimized it too much.

They've, they've limited the variety. Like the more you lengthen like two and lengthening and these sorts of, it limits the variety of the ways to play the whole, it just becomes kind of thoughtless and hit the driver. So it's pretty prescriptive, I think. Yeah. So, and which is kind of the opposite of what the original intention of the course is. I don't know if that contributes to it lacking suspense down the stretch or not, but it hasn't helped that Scotty, two of them has just kind of blown the doors off of people. Hedeki one was somewhat close at the end because he kind of let some people back in, but and Koepke just did not keep up with Rom in that final round of that grueling final round day. So I don't know if it's necessarily anything

specific to the championship or the course other than there's these have these little pockets where this kind of thing happens. So I don't know, Randy, you have any thoughts on this? No, it's probably a lot of luck or, you know, just odd, you know, luck of the draw, I guess. I will say we're a little due looking at just the history. We're in one of the longer droughts, at least without a playoff, you know, going back to Mike Weir's playoff win in 2003, we have not had one since Sergio in 2017. So this is, there were many between 2003 and 2017. So perhaps we're due for one this year. I and I

think probably strength of the field overall, you know, it's just a smaller field, there aren't as many like competitive dudes. I'm sure that maybe factors in. But yeah, hopefully this year will be a classic. I'm gonna ask you guys to pick one guy at plus, more than a hundred to one. What is that? Plus 10,000 or more. If you had to pick one guy that could win the Masters greater than plus 10,000, who would you pick? This is going to include Keegan, Tom Kim, Sahith, Justin Rose, Sung J, Berger, Brian

Harmon who just won last week, Fitz, Adam Scott, JJ Spahn, Sam Burns, Phil is up there, Billy Ho. If you had to pick one guy, who's it gonna be? Uh, gosh, that's a tough one. I'm gonna say Phil. I kind of want to say Phil as well. I mean, he's the preeminent old. He's the he's the alpha old right now. I know Team Rose is kind of infinite is his heels

there. But I'd say Phil and let's listen. HG you guys know I'm a huge fan of Harris English as well. He's plus 2200 at the moment. Yeah, I know. Something's like Matt Fitzpatrick, like should be off big time. Yeah, I know. But Mattcneely is the 10th ranked player in the Gulf rankings and is plus 15 000 to win the masters. That's that's where I really like math. There's a Pop debutant there you go. And we've got davis thompson at plus 600 erin rye ball speed imposter taylor pendreth thomas Detry. Mav McNeely is fifth in that cadre of players right there. So I think him, like Max Grazerman, I know he's fallen off a little bit, but plus 1200 for him on that.

Joe Highsmith playing great golf right now. So that's going to be, like I'm tracking that market. Yeah. It's just, it feels, it could be a weird year. I don't know why, but it feels like, I don't know why I was drawn to that part of the list more than ever. What do you guys think of, of what Ludwig had going on on the fit in the fit category today? He, uh, this was, this was garnering some commentary around

the press center. If you're watching the YouTube channel, this is up on the screen right now. You got going off through a little makeover. I think he does too. I think Adidas like re kind of relaunched their classic logo, some of their retro stuff. So you know, very much. I still think we need to get Ludwig maybe a little bit smaller hat. He's kind of got the Rory,

you know, like I have a small head as well, that sort of thing. So I think, yeah, I think you look sharp. I think some of the stuff that he was wearing in some of the pre, you know, they, I think they did a photo shoot last week or a couple weeks ago. That stuff was a little bit too aggro. This looks classy. Yeah, this is this is working. I I've seen some of the fits for this week and looking maybe a little baggy. I don't know if I would classify as Ludwig as the guy that could pull off baggy. I also didn't think J day could pull off baggy and I think he is like, pull off like whatever you want him to be true. Well, we can hold for that one. All right, we got a lot still to

get through here. We're gonna go quickly through this next section. If you guys will allow it. This is our head-to-head picks We're gonna go through two guys and you got to pick one who's gonna finish higher this week And we'll go around in this order. We'll go TC to Randy to me if we can Scotty or Rory Higher meaning like better better. Yeah. Yeah, I'll go Scotty Scotty Let's have some fun. I'm going Rory. Mora Kawa or Rom. Mora Kawa. Um, Randy's in a blender.

I'll say Rom. I'm gonna go more Kawa. Xander or can't lay. I'll say can't lay It's I mean at some point can't lay is gonna play well in one of these majors, right? He's gotten better in majors. Yeah, I feel like it gusses in he's not great here I'll say Zane Zander. It's got too many Delta commitments. I'm gonna say can't lay I'm gonna ride with can't lay here and I'll check what the. It's got too many Delta commitments. I'm gonna say Cantlay. I'm gonna ride with Cantlay here. And I'll check what the merchs are on this one.

If you get your picks in in the comment section here, go through this exact exercise. You might have to rewind and watch it, but on the YouTube channel, get your picks in. Whoever does the best on this will give a gift card to the Pro Shop in. Whoever gets the most right out of these two, but you gotta get your picks in, obviously,

before Thursday on this one. But, uh, next up, Joaquin or Tommy. I mean, Tommy quick. Yeah. I actually think Tommy. Yeah. I think, I think that's big of you guys. Russ Henley or Keegan Bradley.

Oh, oh man. Think about this one. I'm gonna go Keegan. I love, I love Russ, but if it's a longer ballpark this week, uh, I think he, you know, I think Keegan's coming. So he's coming, coming for your ass. Sure. I'm shaking. Randy. I like Russ. I'm going Russ Henley there. Brooks or Bryson. I'll go Bryson. Yeah. I'll say Bryson, I guess. I think I got to go Bryson as well.

So just to be clear, you floated that to people in the comments. Yeah. Of what the how are we going to track that? No, not not in the live chat. I'm sorry, like in the actual comments on the YouTube, not in the live chat watching this live. Sorry if everybody's doing this. But no, we're not tracking that in the live chat. Got live. Sorry if everybody's doing this. But no, we're not

tracking that in the live chat. Gotta go in the comments section. I'm just trying to I'm trying to free us up. No, no, no, no. Thank you for clarifying that. Cody's like, what the fuck? I got to go through all these comments. No, no, no, no. Hovland or speed. This this pains me. I'm gonna go Hovland. I'm you guys know Hovland. He is making me feel things. Hovland is making me feel things too though. I watched that meal thing with Hovland, the golf ball thing the other day and it got me all amped up for Hovland.

God, I'll take Spieth. I'm on on speed from this one. Hideki or Lowry Hideki Hideki Lowry uh, Min Woo Lee or Zala Torres Zala Torres. Yeah. DJ put together.

I'm not claiming this one. Cause uh, uh, he's John. I don't know if he's trying to, uh, will this Min Woo Lee say, yeah, that's very insulting. I'm going to Zala Torres with that one. Large tone or cam Smith. Cam Smith. Oh, God. Yeah, cam Smith by default almost. Yeah, I gotta go cam Smith on that one. Sorry, big toe. Scotty and Rory or the field is the last one.

I think just because I mean, Scotty is Rory or the field? This is the last one. I think just cause I, I mean, Scotty is really hard to go against. I think it's Scotty. So I don't even need Rory. It's just Scotty. Big. Ah, I think there's the, I almost, I will take the field.

Okay. I'm going Scotty and Rory in this one. But all right, next up, Cody has prepared, I believe, a little bit of master's trivia for us. Gentlemen, what I'll say here is that, you know, Sally's done a lot of deep dives on past masters, everything else like that. Maybe you give a slight pause in your responses on these, okay? Starting here, who's the first player? Is that DEI or?

Yeah. Who is the first player to win back to back in the Masters? Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus or Tom Watson? Hmm. Is this like first in? Yeah, you got to say it. Come on. Let's say give it long enough pause. Let me say B Jack Nicklaus. Very good. B. B is correct.

Moving on here. Who is the last player to win the Masters on his first attempt? That is answer the B fuzzy Zeller. Good job, big. Well, we'll read off the the multiple choices on here for the podcast listeners. Who is the only player to finish runner up in the Masters to Jack Nicholas and Tiger Woods? A Tom K Kite, B. Mark O'Meara, C. Jay Haas. The answer is A. Tom Kite in 1986 to Jack

Nicklaus and 1997 to Tiger Woods. That's a great question. Who is the first Masters Champion? Horton Smith. 1934. Very good. Dr. Horton Smith. Who is the only player to win the Masters twice in a playoff? A. Bubba Watson. B. Seve C. Sir Nick Faldo. Sir Nick? The answer is Sir Nick. Who is the only British Open champion to never post a round under par at the Masters?

A. John Daly. B. Todd Hamilton. C. Bobby Jones. Hamilton see Bobby Jones see Bobby Jones. Did he play in his own event feels too obvious I'll say see Bobby Jones as well. That's correct. What is it. You're right Bobby Jones.

Okay. Who is the first international player to win the Masters guys? I'm gonna go a Gary player. Is that Harry Lighthorse Cooper? No Very very big Gary player who is the only player to lose the Masters in a playoff twice? Greg Norman Greg Ben hey Chris DeMarco be and Hogan see Greg Norman. I. Ben Hogan. Hey, Chris DiMarco. B, Ben Hogan. C, Greg Norman.

I'm going Hogan. I'm going with Norman's leg. B, Greg, or Ben Hogan. Norman? Wow. The Norman lost to Larry Mize. I think that was the only one he lost in playoff. Who is the only multiple Masters champion who never had at least a share of the 54-hole

lead? A, Horton Smith. B, Bernhard Langer. multiple Masters champion who never had at least a share of the 54 hole lead a Horton Smith be Bernhard Langer or see Nick Faldo great question say be Bernhard Langer I'm gonna say see Nick Faldo yeah I'm gonna join you there see sir Nick Faldo. Wow. How many times did he win? Three? Three. Who holds the Masters record for the largest final round

comeback? A, Jack Nicklaus, B, Nick Faldo, or C, Jackie Burke Jr. I'm going to go B, Nick Faldo. I'm going to say Nicklaus. C, Jack Burke Jr. Randy, I'm so proud of you, buddy. That is correct. It is Jackie Burt Jr. What I got. That was 10. Very good. That's great. Sorry, Randy. I think I think Randy was the kind of stand out. We need to go back and tell him up. But I was very, very impressed. That was really good. You get a Brady's doing one of those.

He's doing one of those AI things on another screen with the with the I've seen all those videos. All right. We're gonna do 10 guys and I'm going I want you to tell me we're entering this in the NLU record answers for everybody. On this one. Will this person win a Masters? Okay? In their life in their career. Rory, will he win a Masters? Okay in their life in their career Rory will he win a Masters? Yes, no I'm gonna say yes

Xander will he win a Masters? Yes No Let's say yes. This is hard. Somebody give away a lot of green jackets Ludwig. Will he win a Masters? Yes Multiple who win multiple masters. Sorry. Yes, I think you will. I think so too. More Kawa. Yes. No. Let's say yes. The safe way is just say yes on this because like you technically have you know a long time to run. You get a rub back in your face pretty quickly if they win the next year. This one's an interesting Bryson will he ever win a

green jacket? Yes. No. I'm declaring no on this one. Tommy Fleetwood? Yes. I'm going no. I also want to be on the record on that one. No. So mean-spirited. Brooks Kepka. Soly just keeps, he keeps shoving the data. You know, the data is saying that Tommy's going to win one. I'm going to say Brooks, no. I'm going to say Brooks, no as well I'm gonna say Brooks, no. I'm gonna say Brooks, no as well.

I'm going Brooks, no. Cameron Smith. Yes. No. I'm going no. Final one, Luke Clanton. I mean, he's already one of the best. You've never won one.

That's what I'm saying. He's, he's about to do. I'll say yes. Oh God. Um, yeah, for the 20 years of runway, I'll be 30 years. I can, yeah, I could be in the ground before I have to pay this one. I'll say yes. I'll, I'll say yes as well. Just for fun.

Okay. I got five guys. Will this guy win another masters? All these guys have won a green jacket. Will they ever get to that elusive to green jacket club Jordan Spieth? Yes. He's he's got like four though. So that's true.

It just kills me. I say no. Just cause I want to believe in something. I'm going to say yes. Had Deki Matsuyama. I say no. Just because I want to believe in something I'm gonna say yes. Hideki Matsuyama. No. No. No. John Rahm. I say yes. I'm gonna say yes as well. Scottie Scheffler. Yes. Yes. Yes. Patrick Reed. No. No. I'm going to know as well.

I couldn't come up with any more that were like even realistic potential option. You'd be surprised how much some of these guys get washed out pretty quick. Sergio. If Reed won this year. Right? No. Sergio. I think the answer is probably still going to be no.

You're going to say no to pretty much anybody else that won before Baba I mean, I think we're to the point with Sergio right now Like I think Sergio is a lock to make the European Ryder Cup team if he keeps this up I would I would have to think so as well, right? Alright, will you guys allow me then on the speed note to go back a little bit into 2015? All right, will you guys allow me then on the Spieth note to go back a little bit into 2015? The Masters, 10-year anniversary, of course, of Jordan Spieth's, this is a mini-dive back into this one.

We're not gonna do too much shot-by-shot stuff here, but again, I just wanna remind people that Jordan Spieth was 21 years old. Like, Luke Clanton right now is 21 years old, and he will not be winning a Masters at this age. Gordon Sargent is 21 years old. Okshay is 23 years old and he will not be winning a Masters at this age. Gordon Sargent is 21 years old. Akshay is 23 years old right now, and he's viewed as one of the young guys on tour. Jordan Spieth almost won it at age 20 the prior year and then came out and shoots

an opening round 64 and straight up brought Augusta to its knees. Followed it with a 66, had a five shot lead at the halfway point of the 2015 Masters. He only shot 70 on Saturday that cut his lead down to 4. And I really, this is such a vivid memory, I guess, for me. This was like a time period where I think both Rory and Spieth were like, you, I knew exactly what time they were teeing off every day, and I was going to find my way in front of a television to watch essentially every shot of that because it was a complete thrill ride. But do you remember who was teeing off 20 minutes earlier than Jordan Spieth on that Sunday in the 2015 Masters?

Jack Nicklaus. No, that's an interesting guess. Didn't he? He had like a late in 98, not in 2015. He was an honorary starter by then. I mean, where's red on the sun? Or I mean, the cat, the cat was in the group to in front of Jordan on that day. And remember, 2015 was the year that he shot 82 in Phoenix, didn't play at all between Phoenix and the Masters. It was kind of a late addition. He shot 68-69 on

Friday, entered the final round tied for 5th. Now he was 10 back of speed, but he's only 6 back of 2nd. And like he, in 2011 when Rory had his big lead and Rory collapsed, Tiger was tied, didn't even make it to the turn and was tied for the lead at one point. So it was like not out of the question that Tiger was going to make a little run in that time period. It didn't happen. Do you remember who Tiger played with on that Sunday? Anthony Kim. Kyle Stanley. Rory! Tiger was paired with Rory at the 2015 Masters. So there's this image of the final six guys on the t-sheet on this day warming up on the range. And it is I mean, it's freaking epic. It goes Jordan at the top. He's

warming up next to Tiger. The next person on there is Rory. I'm sorry, who is the next person on there? The image is kind of small. It's Justin Rose. Sorry, it's Justin Rose who's playing with Jordan's feet. Then it's Phil. Phil was in the group in front and Phil started the day only five shots back. Then it's Rory. Of course, Charlie Hoffman is up there. He made it all the way to Sunday in this particular year. He had to have been one of the, you know, close to the first round lead, right? I think he had, he shot 67 in the opening round. He was in second place behind, behind Jordan. And this shot is just crazy. Like, Tiger, like, Jordan and Tiger, like, talking on the range during warm-up. I actually reached out to Jordan, because

there's this video, and like, it looks like Tiger's describing, he says something like, Top-Right Pin-Up-Tee, which makes me, makes me think that they were talking about the sixth hole for whatever reason. I asked him if he remembered what they talked about on the range. He said he did not remember that conversation. But just, I found it interesting that Tiger was like, chatting with the leader of the tournament. It almost looked like he was giving him advice, but... Don't recall, Your Honor. Leading up into this again, Spieth won the Hero in December by 10 shots. He won the Valspar in an epic playoff over Reed and Sean O'Hare. He finished second at Bolero and then second at Houston. And he came in only 10-1 at 20 years, 21 years old, behind Rory. And Rory had

just won the prior two majors. And this was Rory's first attempt at the career Grand Slam. I mean, we've seen him go through 10 of those attempts now. But, and Jordan obviously would go to win the next 2 majors to the point where Rory and Jordan held all the majors. They were both under the age of 26 and held, held all 4 of golf's majors. But, I mean, Speed just comes out and like Rose birdies the first hole, but Speed birdies it right on top of them. He makes a sick birdie putt on 3. Bogie's 5-7, and Rose gets within 3 at some point, but he never got closer than that. He birdied 8 and 10. He got up by 6. He goes the first to ever get to 19 under at Augusta. Had an 8-foot putt on the last, I don't remember this, but an 8-foot putt for the scoring record on 18 that he missed to fall back to 18 under to

tie Tiger's scoring record at the same age that he set it, age 21. So just reliving that was like a, man, we are justified in like being bananas about rooting for this guy. Yeah, it's so good. But also noted in there, since that Masters, there's been 5 holes that have been lengthened. Do you know what the 5 holes that have been lengthened since 2015? 2. That's correct. 5.

Correct. 13. Correct. 15. Correct. 13. Correct. 15. Correct. And 25. 11. Correct. Five for five. That's cooking. Well done. Now, a little deeper on trivia. There's been four holes that have not been lengthened since 1999.

Can you name the four holes? 12? Correct. Three? Correct. Let him cook. Since 1999. 16?

Correct. Final one. TC for nine for nine. Since 1999. 16? Correct. Final one one TC for nine for nine. It's 1999. I will say nine. It's six. Six. Okay. Yeah, there's really nowhere to go back there. That was impressive. So the first hole has gone from 410 to 410. So that's a good one. Wow, it's six. Six? Oh, okay. Yeah, there's really nowhere to go back there. That was impressive. So the first hole has gone from 410 to 445.

Two has gone from 575 to 585. This is again between 99 and 2025. Number three has been 350 the whole time. Four went from 205 to 240. Five went from 435 to 495. Six has been at 180, seven went from 365 to 450, eight from 550 to 570, nine 430 to 460, 10 485 to 495, 11 455 to 520, 12 155 the whole time, 13, 485 to 545, 14, 405 to 440, 15, 500 to 550, 16 has been 170, 17, 425 to 440, and 18, 405 to 465. That's an increase from 69.85 to 75.55, a total increase of 570 yards over 26 years.

I think some of them are good. It's just a matter of they've done that and they've also added in trees and spots and more long grass and spots. I just struggle a lot with seven in particular. I think seven could be such a cool hole if it's like a little half shot par four. Like to your point, Salih, on some of those hundred yard shots, those hundred, 125 yard shots, like getting guys to, I don't know, it's just so out of balance with what that hole should be, I think. I completely agree with you there. I don't really have a great answer for what they could

or should do because I think just with so much information now and the technology the way that it is, if you took the trees out and made it short again, everybody would just bomb it up near there and flip it onto the green. And it's such a severe green and like I think almost having spin control be part of the part of the equation there. In the 90s. Yeah. I mean, that made perfect sense. It just nowadays, it just kind of seems like you can kind of do whatever you want with it. So which I think three is three still a brilliant hole. I think three is still one of the best holes in

the golf course. I think four is like when you look at some of the some of the old, you know, old photos of four green, like Oh, man, like that looks so much cooler than it does now, you know? Yeah, as always technology more to blame here than the than the folks that have to react to it. But and new superintendent this year. I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah. Interesting. So.

All right. The last bit we have for today. Again, we're saving our picks for the Wednesday happy hour. But we did ask our wives for what their their picks was their reaction, their their take whatever it might be. I think we're gonna have Neil's wife Carson is going to be up first. For spousal predictions we have I believe we have some graphics from from Mr. Cody as well. Yes, that's right. So let's start with Carson first, of course

Beautiful boy Ludwig. She's taken Ludwig. Ludwig gets the ladies going The next one is coming from the Schuster household The other Schuster's down south and typical TC fashion now Alex submitted two picks. Her first initial thought was she said dig. And then she said, I want Ludwig to win, but I think Rory is going to win. Well, there you go. You had it too going down the leaderboard, just like her guy.

Next big, who did Miss Kat go with? Yeah, I had to pin her down on just one pick. She was kind of the same boat. She wants Max Homa to win, but she's settling for Rory actually. Wow. A lot of Rory love. Next, Solly, who did Hannah go with?

I think her only pick was someone unexpected. That is correct. Someone unexpected. Billy Horschel perhaps? I think that would qualify. Is who she went with. She's come. Someone unexpected. Really? Horseshoe perhaps? I think that would qualify. Is who she went with. She's come to the board. I interrupted a very important business call to get

Yari's pick and she said that guy from Dallas, Scotty Scheffler. You're Tom Kim? That guy. That guy is killing it. Sung Jay? If she would have said the other. No, Sung Jay lives in Atlanta.

Oh, we moved, didn't he? Yeah, yeah, that's right. Or maybe he's from Dallas. Yeah. Did we moved, didn't even, yeah. Yeah, that's right. Or maybe you have her Dallas. Yeah. Did we get a steam pick from DJ and then DJ is bad illness. Yeah. I think he's, uh, he's fighting for his life right now. So, uh, just Dean picked a player to be named later. Uh, anything we missed, uh, before we kick off the week, who do you

guys think the low AM will be? This feels like the weakest crop of AMs at the Masters in a long time. I think it's ballast Alistair and then There's a clear drop after him. He's kind of in a class of his own I haven't I haven't done my research on that one yet TC. So I'll go with that Okay, I was saving that one for Randy. I know you're a big proponent of the amateur game. You know, I was looking TC and I got to be honest, none of them were getting me excited. So I'm, I'm abstaining. So I think they're all going to miss the cut. How about that for a prediction? All right, that is going to wrap our official master's preview. Thank you for all 2700 of you

that are watching this live on the No Lange Up Podcast YouTube channel. You can subscribe to that if you are a listener in your car on a different app. It's always great to pop in throughout the day and just catch the video parts of it as well. Cody does a great job on graphics and images, and it helps bring a lot to the show. We are going to be back on Wednesday, 4pm Eastern Time with our Happy Hour show, going through some of the news items of the week, reactions to press conferences, any updates to the field or anything like that, making our official picks, diving in even deeper in the odds

and top 20s, all the fun first round leader, all that stuff is gonna be on Wednesday. Then of course we are live at the end of every round of play on YouTube and on the X app, the everything app, right near the conclusion of play usually when TV is wrapping up we go live and chat about the day, do a bunch of fun graphics and all that stuff. So anything else I'm missing? Neil sent me a long shopping list of stuff I got to get for the blog party.

So I'm going to be put to work until Wednesday afternoon, but I'm excited. What kind of excited. What's on the menu? Oh you know he this is uh initially he's like hey you gotta go to Costco get some paper plates and cups and things like that so uh we're we're in prep mode right now TC. Okay. Uh I got a lot of thinking and about the cost of life. Rick is going up. Sully what's the plan? Are you just posting up over that big old tree or are you going to walk the course again? I'm gonna do a little bit of everything. Walk the course.

I even get to walk the front nine. You know, we'll get, try to get some eyes on some practice round stuff. I'll be, I'll be doing some tree standing as well. Thanks to everybody that comes up and says hello. It's always a, um, nobody's on their phones. Everybody's eyes are up and it's always, uh, it's's just always everybody's always so happy out there and just has big smiles on their face and it's always nice to meet a bunch of people so if you do happen to run into myself or Neil or Kevin make sure you say hello we

appreciate the support from everyone but yeah tomorrow is my freest day to go run around and see as much as possible and and experience all the all the all the sappiness and all the wonder of Augusta because it really is still just sick to to walk around the place and watch watch dudes hit shots out there even if it is just a practice round. So thanks everyone again for tuning in live Cody thanks for running the ones and twos shout out to our friends at Fandl at and T and row back. We cannot wait to bring the content this week and thanks for your

support. We'll see you bring the content this week. And thanks for your support. We'll see you back here soon. Cheers. Crack on. Woof woof.