No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - NLU Podcast, Episode 130: Matty Kelly

Episode Date: March 30, 2018

Matty Kelly, who has caddied for Marc Leishman over the last decade, joins us in the Killhouse to talk about his career as a caddie, how he ended up coming to the states to pick... The post NLU Podcast, Episode 130: Matty Kelly appeared first on No Laying Up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm going to be the right club today. Yeah. That's better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most. Expect anything different. All right guys.

We're going to be the right club today. Yeah. Ready? That's better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most. Expect anything different. All right guys. Better than most! Alright guys, welcome back to the pod.

We're going to get to our fun conversation with Maddie Kelly, who of course caddies for Mark Leachman here. But, I want to update you guys a bit on just our general plan for content and podcast schedule leading up to Augusta here. Hope you guys all got a chance to listen to the Bones interview. That was one of our favorites, and probably one of the ones we've gotten the most feedback on in the history of this entire podcast.

That's some next level insight that I'm not sure you can get anywhere else from a guy like that. So I hope you guys check this out. We're running this podcast on this Friday. This is Maddie Kelly. It's caddy from Mark for a long time. There's a lot of information in this podcast. He's got a fantastic story.

If you're just interested in the Augusta part, that should come in somewhere around the 25 minute mark. It depends on how long that ramble here in this intro. But there's a plenty of stuff on Augusta, some nitty gritty details. We wanted to get some master's history, that kind of stuff with bones, but also kind of from somebody who's going to be

at Augusta this year and somebody who's got some very current experience at a gust of thought his insight would be greatly appreciated. And it's pretty awesome. Next week, next Monday, we're going to roll a podcast with Andy Johnson from the Friday, just talking about Augusta National. The history behind it, all the changes they've made and what what he believes about it from an architectural standpoint really enjoyed talking with Andy. And then hopefully on Tuesday, we're going to run just a group pod with us kind of making

our picks for the week. And then hopefully as well, we may be interviewing one player that may or may not be playing in it this year. But not positive that's going to happen. So a lot of content coming. If you guys could help us out in iTunes, throw a rating and review in there. And people always ask how they can support the pod.

I always tell them, just tell a friend, tell somebody that some of these interviews and whatnot are out there. And usually people really enjoy going back into the archives. So if you guys could help us out with that, we'll continue to pound out the content. On that note, no further delay. Here is Maddie Kelly. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the No-Langout podcast live from the Kill House, fellow Jacksonville native Maddie Kelly. You may know him as the caddy for Mark Leishman.

We're recording this right in advance of the masters. When are you heading up to Augusta? I'm heading up Sunday afternoon, right around lunchtime. We normally play nine, but I don't think we are going to do that this year on the Sunday before. I'll go register, get all that stuff taken care of, get jumpsuit sorted, get keys for our place, and yeah, I'll be there at 5 o'clock Sunday night. How do you get an accent like that as a Jacksonville native? You moved here? You said native.

I've been, you're resident, I should've. I don't even pick up on that. But yeah, I've lived in Jacksonville for seven or eight years, so you get it pretty quick. You're married and native. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, basically native. I told you I hate intro, so. On that note, let's get a bit of background from you. Where are you from and how did you, how did you, your marks, relationships start and how did you end up on his bag? Yep, so Mark and I grew up together. Tony Smalltown in Victoria, Australia.

It's called Warnable. When we were growing up, there's a population of about 30,000. So not a lot of junior golfers going on. Mark's a couple years older me, but we would basically be amongst others, the only junior's playing probably five or six more, but consistently after school every night, we'd just go and play, we'd meet school finish at 3.30, we'd be there at four. He lived on one side of the course, I lived on the other.

And then just played a lot of junior golf, he obviously took off. What year is this around? What year is this? 2000, I was 14, so yeah, teenage, was 16, 17 and started to play like state golf and represent Australia and then he played Aminestaff in the States. I was decent at my home track but my game didn't travel very well so I knew my limitations pretty early.

Fills didn't travel. Yeah, and so yeah, and then he took off and turned pro went to all the Q schools The one he got through was Korea of all places. So he went there for a year. I wasn't working for him at this stage I started an assistant I think you guys call an assistant pro like working a shop basically to become a club pro club program. Yeah career and then And then he made enough money that he could come over here in Monday in the States.

And then the year he got enough, made enough money, he'd got conditional status. And then he asked when to come over in 2008. So this is where it gets good. This is my favorite story. So I don't think you think your story is that. No, I don't think that's that interesting. I think it's really interesting.

Yeah, so Athens Georgia was my first event, which is a pretty nice way to be introduced to America. Yeah, had you been to the States before? Never. Never been. I only tripped outside of Australia was to China to work for market at the HSBC, you know, seven. The HSBC.

Sorry, the hate loves that. So yeah, and then first I've arrived at Lanna. He picks me up, we drive to Athens. What was your first impression of the States upon landing? Well, Atlanta Airport was ridiculous. I've never been, so I don't know how he found me. Like I was just mind blown that I just got off the plane and I walked down there he was and picked me up.

I'm thank God, because I didn't know how I was going to do that by myself. We actually went straight to the hotel, dropped my stuff off and we went out and had a few drinks there. You were probably like, man, Athens, you're pretty cool. It's not a talent. Yeah, I'd only just turn 21 too,

which I didn't really think about when I was planning on coming over. But yeah, Athens, Georgia was a nice start of the state's visual. Yeah, so faster I could couple months in and then Mark was paying me really what he would have been playing a professional caddy. So I didn't want him to pay me anymore, but I'd maxed out two credit cards and I said to him, well, I said, look, this has been a great way to travel the state and see a lot of

the country, but I'm going to have to go home. After how many months or events was that? It was like three or four weeks, I think. A three or four months, sorry. I'd have to look it up. It was right before Salt Lake City. It was a week before that, and then I'd said that to him, and he'd come out in Salt Lake City

and had a chance to win, finish second. And then we had another week off, and he won by 11 the next week. So he can be in series, he's just like, hey, well then he was like, oh my god, actually, can I just change my mind now? I'm gonna say. And then,

Wait, all right, so he's second in Salt Lake City, and then, and then one, Midland, Texas, Bogotá last two, to win by 11. Um. It was a weird, we started, I think we started five in front and the scoreboards were down. So we played the first nine, not really enough. We knew we were doing decent, we were under par.

And we made a turn, I think we're nine in front. So it was like, yeah, okay, and we just tried to steer at home from there and you got to 13 in front. And it was like, all right, let's just get in the house. It was like seven iron off the set. No, we tried to play normal, let's just get in the house. He's like seven iron. No, we tried to play normal, but we made a couple of bogies coming in. So yeah, and then I kind of thought we got to to a championship. And I was like, I thought we'd had our card

wrapped up. I was almost in like celebration mode. And I think we ended like either 16 or 19 on the money list had to be obviously top 25. And he went on to finish like 11th, which really wrapped it up But I thought I looking back. I don't think we were a lock I'm heading into that which I thought kind of thought we were so where was the tour championship? So TBC Craig Ranch and Dallas. Yeah, and they and we flew back to Australia I think the next day because we landed on Wednesday straight to the Aussie open

Program on Wednesday, so it was cool actually they they paired Aaron Price, James Needy's and Leash together, all got their card in the same year, same group, and we all played together, they was open. There wasn't a lot of care factor about the Aussie Open, and that group going on, so, but it was fun. What was the biggest caddy mistake that you made in those first couple of weeks? Oh, thankfully none jumped out, I'm sure there's a few Was it a steep learning curve at Kenby? Yeah, I mean a lot of guys don't last that's for sure

I wouldn't have lasted unless he played really well at the right time either so It's a little bit looser out on the web tour. Yeah, definitely I know we had a good bunch of we had like eight of us between like 34 players Aaron Price, Steve Dartin, all Leish, Nitties and then a couple of caddies as well. We all kind of traveled together. So we kind of helped each other out where we could. I asked the other guys what was going on and trying to learn as much as I could and practice rounds and stuff like that. I mean I had caddy for Mark in there when he was an Amara playing the Aussie Open and Aussie PGA and all those sort of events.

But this is like a fourth, this is my job now. So try to get it as good as I could at it. So after that first season, did you kind of like got back to Australia after the Auss open and yeah, we started up it. We didn't play any full series. Back then it was kind of just like a money grab but it doesn't really affect the FedEx or anything like it does now so we went back to Australia and

spent it with family and friends and I Christmas back there and we'd take it up with the Sony and he finished 12th of 13th this is something his first event and at that point were you dead set on all right this is my career well up until about it finished second of the BMW to Tiger and apply off and he's rookie year. Rookie the year? Yeah, rookie the year. And that was like a big check.

The first time I'd had like money before. I was like, yeah, this is what I want to do. Not only the money, but it was like the hate, obviously, Tiger there. It was all, you know, pre-scan. Where was the BMW there? Coghill. I was there. No, all pre-scanned. Where was the band you there? Coghill. I was there. No, we did. It's cool.

It's when I had to throw a sned on the last bit. He four-potted, I think the last hold. Oh, that's great. That was that year. Yeah, so we're playing with Mark had like a four-footer. And we knew we had to finish. Tide third wouldn't have been good enough for us. We had to finish outright second or outright third.

So he misses that party, goes to Tide third, and he wouldn't have got through. That was your target shot like 62 on Saturday or something, right? Yeah, he was he won by eight. So we didn't kind of that that one year. Yeah. He on the Sunday playing with him. Leish didn't have a bogey. I think he shot one on him at the front and Tiger was like he was just doing what he needed to do getting it around and felt like we we were getting close to him but looking back we never got within, I don't think, five or six. But out of the time it felt like we were kind of making a dent and then tournament was over

and he'd won by eight. So that rookie year played well at Sony? Yeah, played well at Sony. A bit of a low, well we didn't get in much. I remember we went to Palm Springs, we didn't get in. He was second or third old and it started in the week. We did all the practice rounds and stuff and just never, never, a number never got cold so he played what he got in and not until he went to Dallas. I think he finished eighth at the bar in Nelson and fifth that was it used to be San Antonio, lock and terror, maybe the golf course was cool.

I don't know what order that was, but that was, and then that was kind of enough points and stuff that we knew we're gonna play playoffs. And the reshuffle. Yeah, got good going from there. Did you know, like the whole time, essentially, that Mark was in this exception, like he's obviously turned into this next level player,

but the time was there doubt, or were you kind of hitch, you hitch your wagon to him? Yeah. Did you know he was going to be this good? Growing up, I thought I did. But I had no idea about how good good really was. So I just ground up in a small country town. I'm like, oh, this guy's a well beta. He's going to smoke everyone.

And then you get out, even the web.com tour, it's so deep. So you just, definitely, there was definitely some doubt, but I knew how good it could be or is. Still anybody in those first few years that you went up and put the you guys played with and you saw like whoa that's different than anything I've seen before. Scott Pearson impressed me the first time I played with him. He played at I'm not sure of the course, but I think he shot 61 or 2 or 3 something like that, both days on the weekend to win an event, and that blew me away.

I thought, all right, that's next level. And then the first year, I mean, even the rookie year playing with the target, I guess Cosy was so in front he didn't have to do much, it wasn't really whatever. But it wasn't really, it wasn't until we could start applying a lot more majors and stuff and just the next level of professionalism and doing everything I possibly can to be great. That's when you realized that. So that that first year did you have, were you just totally living out of a suitcase? Or did you have a home base anyway? Yeah, I rented a place here actually in Jacksonville

off another caddy Jeff Weber. Caddy, I think he used to caddy for Davis for a little bit. Shannon Wall is now another Aussie caddy. I rented a place here. And that was, we did that for a year and a half or so. And then after that, I'll just, yeah, I was staying with friends who had met or had stayed with Mark, caddy's plays a little bit

until I met Mo'of here in Jacksonville. I'd always locked it, but once I met someone who lived here and she knew all the spots to go to in the restaurants and that's when I really fell in love with the place. Yeah, it's definitely, it's definitely home now for sure. How long did it take for you to feel like at home cadi-ing? Like that you, that this is- You didn't feel like a new- Right. A new camera. Um, probably after that,

bam, w with Taga, I hate to keep bringing it up, but it was like, that's when I knew what I wanted to do. I, you know, you feel like you did a pretty good job that week or whatever, and for that year,

going to the tour championship. Um, that was a probably about it. I mean, what's the, what's the, like a adrenaline like for you as a cdy in that moment? Obviously, we know the players got to be hitting the shots and whatnot, but you're inside the ropes.

You're hearing the same cheers and all that. It's got to be pretty thrilling. Definitely when it first happens, you've got to calm yourself down. My whole thing is I'll try not to get too high and I'll try not to get too low. But early on, I remember on that Sunday, after the round, Mark and I are in the car park like high five and each other We couldn't really believe what just happened, but because we originally weren't even supposed to play with target that day There was a fog delay and they had two sums

Set out the night before and then they fogged a lay so they did Ujra or in threesome so we ended up playing with tyron sneds So that was just like a crazy day, but Yeah, were you on overtime duty like taking phones from people or So we ended up playing with Tyron Sneds. So that was just like a crazy day, but... Yeah. Were you on overtime duty, like, taking phones from people or yelling at people about that day? No, no. We had, I mean, Tyga had so much security,

wasn't there, and funny. And the funny thing is, like, I always find that, because everyone's like, oh, you know, what's it like playing with Tyga, well, there's only a wall of people. You can't say how far deep that wall is. You might be eight deep, it might be 20 deep, but it doesn't really really matter because you only say that front row really.

So the crowd stuff doesn't, I wouldn't say it doesn't marmere me, but it doesn't intimidate me at all. And I think it intimidates Mark. I've heard people notice it that when obviously knowing the crowd that he pulls, the Tiger will, if he's got a short putt, instead of tapping it in, like still market.

Do you notice anything like that? That's a classic. Yeah, he definitely it he does it Because the crowd we felt like we were getting closer to him. It was a little different tiger But yeah, overall, I mean we played with a couple not a bunch of times but a few times now and yeah That's that sort of stuff guys unnoticed by a lot of people because it is a class move Because he not he understands that everyone's just gonna sprint to the next either that next hole the hole in front of that So yeah, it's it's a pretty classy classy move for sure What what's Mark like inside the ropes compared to kind of growing up with a music kid and you know Has he changed a lot and what's what's that whole scenario? He hasn't changed much at all. It's

It's crazy. He I I keep saying this to anyone who asked about him. It's just he's just a good really good dude with no ego that just happens to be really good at golf. He's just like one of us who just went on to be top or he still lives top 15 in the world. Yeah, he's really relaxed off the course. You get to you know, obviously there's moments where it's, he's way more intense, but even his intense, I wouldn't say is close to anyone that, I don't know, he's not, he doesn't get those tiger eyes going

or anything like that, but no, he's very chilly. Never, he never yells at me, he's never really blamed me. He's always so quick to blame himself rather than anyone else for any of his stuff going on. So just to sort of... What do you think of his stuff going on. So, just a... What do you think of it? Over the years, what has he improved the most at? And what have you improved the most at?

For him, well, the noticeable difference, especially, I mean, last year was our crazy good season. His driving went... I don't know, the exact stats, but he wouldn't have been in the top 100 before. A lot of that was that Callaway driver. The epic was just a huge change in his whole. He was the first year he switched to it. He had to adjust so many lines of T's because he used to be a pretty severe cutter of the ball. Now it's a gentle fade, but so the first year he was just going into courses and it was like he was playing them for the first time because he's setting up a lot more down the middle

of fairway and felt like he was going to hit everything in the right trees. We go back to those courses the next year which was 17 and yeah I mean he I don't know exact numbers as I say but I'm sure he was in the top 30 or 40 in driving and it just sets up. It takes so much pressure off the rest of your game. I don't even think we'll have to do an ad read. It's exactly what I was getting ready to say. I know you listened to this podcast, but you don't have to read ads. No, it was crazy. I mean, and this new one, I think new one's good as well.

That epic was just a game change of him, absolutely. And obviously, and then he had a top 10 punting year as well. But you're not going to win tournaments, you're going to have to have a lot of good punting weeks. So I think that's going to kind of get hand in hand. I mean, as far as you're concerned, what? My mind would probably just be in better in the bigger moment. As I said, trying not to get too high, too low, but just, all the way, my problem is I think that certain things affect what's going

to happen in the weekend. So if we bow your certain hole on Thursday, I'm always worried about that hole for the rest of the week. And I think you do see instances like, so in the practice round at Bay Hill last year, market of three would over the out of bounds left. We didn't come within 10 yards hitting that fairway all week. Is this in the right rough, or high tree. He's so worried about it, and I get it.

So that's what I think about that sort of stuff, and how it's going to react later in the week. I've tried to get less anal about that, and try and just calm down a little bit. It's probably reps, too. Yeah, when you're in the big moment, more, it becomes more comfortable, and I try to the best job you can, hopefully it's good enough, but just learning what Mark likes to hear under the pump and what he, things not to say, stuff like that. All right, guys, we've talked a lot about a lot of Caloys equipment, but we've not talked enough about the Mac Daddy 4 wedges.

These wedges are setting a new standard in wedge performance. They've got a new proprietary groove and groove technology for shot stopping spin around the greens and a fantastic shape. I just put these in the bag about a month ago. My divots are much shallower. I'm getting through the turf much better and I think I find the got fit for the right grinds which is key. They're absolutely money and also through Callaway Customs you can personalize your MD4s just like the Tor Pros. You got seven different areas on your wedge. You can customize paint fill, weight, and dyeing colors.

You can put some custom stamping in there or some symbols for good measure. I know I've got a Tor SOS one. Tron's got an LPCP one. We know that, he lacks pop. You can start designing your Mac Daddy 4 wedges now with Callaway Customs at CallawayGolf.com. Slash Customs, let's get back to Maddie Kelly. Moving into 2010, and I want to talk about that first master's we're going to get to that later.

But you guys were runner up at I had it here. No, I lost it. Were you guys a runner up? Farmer's insurance. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What do you remember about that day? Or that week? I remember that I left strut off the round and had the clubs in the car driving to wherever the next event was, and they called me. He's like, hey, Ben Crimes made a buggy. We're like one back now. You don't want to bring the clubs back to see the guys.

Because we thought, oh, yeah, good week, that's great. God, this is my couple of minutes. It's such a tough golf course. I don't know what we were thinking, but what I always think. And he was still there. But yeah, it was a fun way. He loves that golf course. I don't know what we were thinking, but what I was thinking. He was still there. Yeah, it was a fun way. He loves that golf course. He lost four or five times with play there.

He's been, I mean, even this year, he was disappointed with the way he played and he finished eighth. He feels like he should win that event every year. Why? He said, why there? What's the... He just loves it. He played the Junior world there the garas is pretty similar to what we grew up at home. Yeah Yeah, you know Couple of t-shirts to suit that little fade like six and one Seven there's a quite a few How far did you get down the road because you guys finished one shot back. Yeah, we didn't get far. I got to like the bottom of Tory Ponce Hill. Okay.

Yeah, I was rhythm on the caddy Shay, not the Aussie caddy. And he's like, I'm like, how do you mind dropping me back off the track? So yeah, luckily, I mean, I was back before I even finished. So it was fine. But yeah, I think the crane birdie lost as well. I'm not sure. I just pulled up the, so I Z13 under and you guys were 12. Yeah, I think Mark was similar to that there that year too.

And he ended up firing 18 for us to tie a second. So yeah, I didn't get far. That's so good. What's your favorite event on tour? Non-major. Non-major. Todd plays probably a bit biased on that one, but Hilton Head. And that's probably also because it's directly after regast and

it's coming off the probably the most stressful week to the most relaxed. The play is such a big special event. I think it's the golf course. I've never experienced when it's in March. I would be interested in that March change in the next couple of years, but in May, I've been here when it's been played in May, and it's pretty hard to top, I think. Some other ones you look forward to?

San Diego. I look forward to the ones in March play as well. Travelers. Travelers. Most of them are all really good golf courses. The travelers, we get this feeling, every time we play, they're like, we're on the 15th, like how did this happen?

It's a fun, fast playing golf course and we love that. Toriquan's a little different than that. It's a long walk and it's a big golf course, but he plays well there and you always feel like he's gonna be in contention when you go to those places. What do you remember the most about the final round 62 at the travelers to win his first round? I remember a couple of shots he hit the Puff 512th hit it just over the green

and two and the greens were super quick that year. He hit this chip file on the ground that if it had if it was gone five feet past the hole it was in the water and instead of like hitting some of the greens spinning it and leaving it whatever, 10 feet short hopefully, he hit this runner on the ground. I just thought it took a lot of balls to hit that shot and he pulled it off, hit it to a foot and it was a tap in. 62 came after we doubled 17 and bogeyed 18 that saturday and the day before kind of thought out like I was saying before when you think about stuff that's going to affect you down the road, that kind of thought out tournament was done then. But turned out well, I think Charlie, I think you did the same thing Sunday and we won by one, Charlie Hoffman.

So yeah, it's about, it's pretty nice feeling sitting in the caddy area for two hours, not even have to play anymore golf. That was what I liked. It's kind of gifted us one almost. Are we ready to talk masters? How do you want to keep going? Hey, a couple more. We can come back. Oh, no, no, go ahead. What's the toughest walk on tour for a caddy?

Um, Capelua. Probably Capelua, just because you're, well, especially me, I don't do much over the Christmas period except eating, eating drinks, carrying more'm always carrying more than I should, but that week, especially, August is really hard. Just check the forecast for the next week, it's supposed to rain, so that'll be pretty brutal. What other one did we do recently? The match play at Austin's really tough walk. Super hilly and, you know, kind of hot 80-ish.

Dusty. Dusty, yeah, like ailly and, you know, kind of hot 80-ish. Dusty. Dusty, yeah. Like a weird heat, like dry, windy heat. So it kind of takes it out of you, but plus reading tacos always. Yeah, yeah, not very good food. Stay runnin' rainy straight so there's a few extra beers at that weekend. Now, so yeah, Capelua definitely

and then probably Augusta, awesome. All right, so on the Augusta note. Yes. After the win in 2012. So you guys, you got, you made the tour championship in 09, so you played in 2010. What do you remember about the first time you saw Augusta? Just, I mean, crazy hell. We went there after D'Areal, I think it was, and it just always opened space, and then

when you get there, and the crowds are there, it seems so narrow. That was my first, like, holy shit, this is way different to what I remember this being from two weeks to three weeks ago. And then yeah, the difference in the course, it's so, so different on the practice rounds compared to the tournament.

And then the adrenaline of the ball going way further. So you're hitting clubs that you're not really hitting, I mean, apart from the t-shirts into greens, that you're not really hitting in the tournament anyway. So just the amount of change, visually and the way you play the course, that would be my, yeah, mate. And we stayed in a house and,

I mean, you're first a gust, so you don't know if you're ever gonna play one again or not. And we had markers very, very generous to get me. My parents come over and my brother come over. So he gave me three tickets for the week. And we all stayed in one house with his parents and we had a couple of friends. It was like, it was a lot going on.

I think if Mark had his time over, he'd probably get two houses, he'd stay in one and get one for the families or whatever and do it that way. But that's the tiger shred. Yeah. Well, that's just you trying to organize everyone and getting rods to the course and dropping people off at parking.

It's like, you know, easy. Yeah, it's hard. And then you go Augusta National to worry about as well. So just your first master. Yeah. Did you guys seek out advice from many other caddies during that week or any other players? I played the course.

Or did you walk it with any caddies? I walked it with a couple of caddies, I'm trying to think. Well we went up there with Jeff Ogleby and Mark was Sim. That year he took us up there after Dural. Trying to think, I think we just had local caddies that, and then the caddies, Mark was caddy and myself, we just walked inside the course and just, they caddit basically and we just watched what they basically had a practice round

without carrying the bag. You know, you see all the raised creek dots around the place and where everything breaks to and that sort of stuff, but you don't really know that until you go through it, it's like, you have to make the mistake before you're alone from it kind of deal, but... Do you use the same yardage book every year? I convert it. Oh, my notes to the one. Yeah. I was actually going to bring it, but so that's kind of a bit weird, but definitely.

So, yeah, it's a weird place. I had three sitting out there at home. I just went to look through them, and they're all exactly the same. Just got different, obviously, yeah, to just from what we had in there, but older nights are the same. Just got different obviously yardages from what we had in there, but all the nights are the same. Yeah. Having been multiple years now, do you totally see why? First time winners, first time players almost never win, and people tend to struggle their first few masters.

I mean, it's just such a, not I mean, it's daunting. That first tee shot, the gallery's so close, especially for any sort of shaper of the ball, left or right, so that yeah, it's a don't factor. And then you're just not knowing the place. We'll go then next week.

We'll still learn stuff. And we've got years of learning yet. But the boy that guys play these days, I wouldn't. I don't know. It's like, I heard you guys talking last night on the... When you're doing the Masters replay, we're due for a low, like a dull one.

I think someone could blow this. I wouldn't be surprised if Justin blew the field away just because he's the way he plays in no intimidation factor anymore. Which Justin. Justin Thomas. I do think Justin Roosevelt would be right there if that's a close one.

But he could shoot whatever he wants around that place. Justin Thomas. Yeah, I do think Justin Rose will be right there if that's a close one, but like He could shoot whatever he wants around that place. He's long enough He hits it high enough. He's gonna be hitting a lot of wedges in the greens And he's not scared of anything. So I don't know if that would be a low obviously be a huge hype and huge Yeah, he'd be a popular winner, but um, yeah, I could seem winning by a few Well after missing the cut in 2010, the next time you guys played in the Masters was 2013, and you were tied for the lead,

going to the final round. What change in that spare time from a confidence perspective? Yeah. I'm not sure, really. We got off to a good start. I think you shot five to six hundred in the first round. I'm not sure. Yeah.

I mean, it just takes the pressure off late, worrying about the cut and stuff like that too. You should do that. Yeah, let's do that every time we play with him. Yeah, I don't know. He definitely hit it higher back from 13 to 10, but that's obviously a big jump. I don't know what changed, but just, yeah, the good start, not have to worry about the cut. And then you're have to worry about the cut,

and then you're in the meat of the tournament, and that's where he thrives anyway. So he's so good in the big moment that doesn't surprise me that he hung around. So I said he's leading after the fun run, leading after the opening round. Right, but so you talk about how he plays like a feed. Yep.

Why was he able to be successful at a gustor? So I'm not, yeah, I'm not entirely convinced about this whole draw theory. And obviously it does help. And you can see what a lefty's do so well when they play there because they can fade it into all these holes and with these tough tee shots. But I think if you hit it high, you're at no disadvantage whatsoever.

The whole is drawing it on on next days with the ball and clubs and equipment gun, as far as I do, you're going to be far more thrilled anyway. So like two, two is a putter. I mean, two, if you hit a fade, you can't get into that, with drive, you're hitting it straight in that bunker anyway. So you want to take that out of play. It's about the only place, I'm puffing, obviously,

the hazard or whatever way left, but you can't get it on the in that bunker anyway. So you want to take that out of play. It's about the only place, I'm puffing, obviously the hazard or whatever way left, but you can't get it on the green from there anyway. So I try and commence marked hit through, but if it's down when you hit it over that bunker, so if you hit it high enough, you carry in those trees and carry them out and draw as fine. But we try and hit three, we're off there.

Five, you're hidden at straight now anyway. Seven, I guess kind of helps to hold the fairway a little bit. Same with 14. You might want to hit a draw down there, but three would define. 10, you can even hit an iron down there when it's firm. What do you guys do on three? Three, depending on where the pin is, and if it's soft or hard that year, like if that's around a firm, we might lay back, but the more we play, the

more we hit driver and just get it up there and try and deal with it. The green is so severe, and if there's any sort of spin, then you've got to worry about where do I land it, where is it going to end up, all that sort of stuff. Almost feels easier to just worry about it when you're chipping than anything else. And you feel like you can get it in a better mess when you're chipping. Like if you miss judge your have wed from 140 yards, well, it could end up at the bottom of that hill or it could end up 10 yards over the green.

At least if you're chipping, you're gonna be pretty close to where you want your mess to be. So, we try and... What hole is like the biggest exercise for you as a caddy, like the one that makes you think the most? So, as I said, I just checked my notes before. The par-fives are just genius there. There's the long enough that you're hitting a,

I guess, Sergio hit eight on in last year, but we're always probably between like four and five on on 15 and kind of the same on 13 if we hit the fairway. But they're so tempting that you have to go for it. But if, obviously, there's numbers, there's like Johnson one laying up every in, and I get it, he's not as long. I'm sure that's the top.

Yeah, so we'll bleak that. Oh, of course, yeah, I forgot about, yeah, sorry. But it's just, as a caddy, you're like, it's so less, there's so much stress on that golf course anyway. If you can just lay it up to have 80 yards to those par-fives, you're probably gonna make three or four birdies and hopefully no bogies,

that won't hurt you around there. So yeah, that's a big risk reward. Yeah, I think they're genius. The other one's four. Four is just such a hard hole from that back because the left pins, you've got to be left, the right pins, the front bunk is pretty good, but if you try hitting that front bunker and then you're short of that, good luck. So you don't want to hit it, obviously, over the green, you can't keep it on that top tier, so that's a bit of a nightmare that hole for us as well.

Are there any holes that you mentioned hitting the ball OB at Bay Hill and now you're not going to hit the fairway the rest of the week there? Are there any holes out there where he's not had success that you did you think maybe he draws back on that place? Trying to think anything that stands out Hopefully doesn't listen to this right Hopefully he's prepping for a guy No, I don't think so we've only ever missed it right on the first once Maybe twice twice actually now though I think about it because he did He did hit it really he did like three feet out of there one day, we had a perfect gap and ended up being fine. But right on the first, it's way worse than people give it, you think you can just

say the chase something on the green, but you can never do it. Um, where's left? You can always hook something around there or even get a clear shot through those trees. Um, yeah, now there's nothing, there's no T-shirts that he really, I don't get on any T and I'm like, I'm really nervous about this one for him there. In 2013, you guys repaired with Adam Scott in the final round. And having, at that time, obviously in Australia, and it never won the Masters. Was there, and after he makes that put on 18, like you and Adam even embraced and said something like, so was there really strong Australian vibes between them on that day?

I think, between the two of them, they were just sick and tired of listening to the Wednesday and the Wednesday and the Masters. And not like, man, they're obviously friends as well. So when Adam hold that part, you hear Lee, you see Lee's in the background doing the first part. Part of it is for his friend and part of it is so we don't have to answer that question again.

I can almost guarantee it. But yeah, I think Adam admits that he even just kind of lost, had like an out of body experience screened. I think he said, come on, I was he, I mean, yeah, it was, yeah, it was a cool day. Kind of different for us because my whole is this part of my biggest memory of that day is the 11th green. So my whole is like a 40 footer. And because since the crowd can't get any closer than the 12th tee, I hear the ball rattling around in the hole before the crowd reacts. And I think it was either go tied or one back.

And I was like, I would just set them aside. That's a pretty cool moment, I'll never forget. I'm not big into memory beller or anything like that, but that's something I'll never ever forget. But yeah, and then making the part on 18 was pretty cool to be there. At that stage, it was probably the loudest roar I'd ever heard from such a small. I mean, it's not like the crowds are that big there, but they certainly were certainly loud.

It was cool. Well, take us back through, so you said to me, that part on 11, from 11 through 18, did you feel like there was a moment where you let it slip away or I don't recall what happens. Yeah, so we hit we had the honor. Obviously, there's not many people at birdie 11 any day of the week there. So we take off 12. I remember we hit wedge. I can't remember the yardage, but I remember at the time thinking this is a really big wedge.

Obviously, he's pumped up. So Mark's ability to hit his shorter iron's long distances is crazy. I would go as far to say he's up there in the longest on tour with some of the numbers. He can stretch his clubs out too. So we had it hit it like 15 feet, 20 feet maybe. Didn't make it. We had six on into 13, made five. We had, I thought we had a short puttin 14.

I don't have to go back to that. I thought we had another chance on 14, but pretty sure we made four there. And then at that stage, I think we're two back now. I think of Jason Day. And in the middle of fairway on 15, and kind of between three and four iron, he was pumped up, it just started to drizzle a little bit.

And he just got a little heavy, and he let him the bank and roll back in the hazard. We made six. After that, we were kind of done. But then also we had a lot to play like top four in a major at that stage. Got you in every major. The rest I don't have to still does, but so we had a lot to play for, especially you want to finish, especially Canada major, anytime you play in a major. So yeah, 15 was about, and that was excitement Con-disappointing then and then cool to see Adam do what he did on 18 So it was a weird but fun day at the same time. What did you see to Adam after you made the putt?

You remember I can't remember I was you're excited. I was pumped. Yeah I was actually shocked that he ran like it all happened pretty quick I'll just finish raking the bunker and then I saw obviously I saw the puck go in and then I kind of walked to the back of the green And I look over and then he's right there. So it was just a big high five and I can't remember where he said. Do you when you go back to Augusta now like what when you go back next week what's the first couple things you'll do? So I'm trying to decide if I leave early enough to walk the course Sunday. I was supposed to be a nice day so I might do that. I typically go straight to the worst part or where the worst position

we've ever been and just is this any better, is it any worse, is it still as bad as I remember? Yes, it probably is. And then realize where we want to be to those pins and I don't know if anyone's hitting balls into it, if anyone's out there playing, you're watching react to that sort of stuff. As far as changes this year, anything? I haven't heard anything. They'll most likely be some sort of, they'd like to, you know, they'd like to tinker. I listened to the Bones podcast and he was talking about left of 13 there that year one year and that sort of stuff is, it's talked about in the caddie area. We all know what's going to happen but funny how they don't mention it at all and stuff like that.

But yeah, we'll go check all that sort of stuff. And then we get into it Monday and it'll be, we usually just play nine holes every day because obviously it's a tough walk so you don't want to go into our, and you want energy for this following Sunday, not the crowd. Get out early. Sometimes I think it's a really underrated thing to play a late practice round at majors, especially somewhere like the British where you might tee off at 3.15. So I mean, a lot of the time you go to the course at 4 o'clock, I'm going to be dead.

Just knowing out there. So we've a couple of times we'll go and play it for, because that's where we're planning on playing in the tournament. So we try and practice what we want to be doing. So, and Augusta's not about a place for it to you. You get those nice evenings where it's like 65, 70 degrees. It's like golf heaven. So why wouldn't you want to be out there?

Yeah, we, we, we try and avoid the rush. Like if we get a feeling like Wednesday we'll probably play the front nine late, and then you can go to the pro-an, other par three. We do the same thing at the players. Everyone, obviously the, the, caddy shot is on Wednesday. So a lot of guys play the back and the Caddy can hit the shot and then they're done after nine. So we'll go play the front,

where there's no one around. Do you ever hit the shot? I don't hit the shot. I have a history of hitting the 16th fairway more than the 17th Green. So I don't hit it. I don't need to embarrass myself anymore. I had a take last night that was not very well received or a theory in that the Augustus greens are not that hard to put. They're not that difficult to put if you're in putting in the right spots. There's more importance putting,

hitting the ball into the right spot than this. I mean, some spots are so difficult that doesn't matter how good you are to put from, you're not gonna make the put. Yeah, exactly. Is that somewhat of a, I think it's just people that's like, oh, you have to put great to win in Augusta. No, I don't think it's case. No, you look at the guys who will want it, I think it's just people I was like, oh, you have to put great to win a gust. No, I don't think it's good.

No, you look at the guys who are one and I don't think they put that well. Definitely, if you're in the right spot, I don't wanna say one of the easiest because they're just so slopian fast, but you can make putts around there for sure. Obviously, it's hard to get in those positions. I remember when we went there with Jeff Ogleby

on the 14th, Mark was on the top left here. And he had like, it was either a really short part or he dropped a ball. So if this stays on the grain, I'll give you $100. So Mark was like, Mark put it up the hill and it rolled and rolled all the way off the grain. And stuff like that. So obviously if you're out of position, it's impossible. But if part of your theory or your take is that you're in the right position,

then absolutely. I think there. Yeah. And do you have you learned, and have you been there enough times to learn how certain puts break more so than like see it with your eyes? Yeah, I've got my Augusta book would have the most. I don't usually write many reads in my book or what putts did, but that one has the most features. When they're at that fast, it's hard to say the ball doing as much as what it's doing. So I write down a lot in my Master's book for sure.

What's the worst spot on the course? Like in front of five, in front of that mound. That's not, they put a pin down there not too long ago. I mean, it's not great down there. I don't think it's, it's not impossible. We were there last year and two potted. In front of 14, it's not great down there. I don't think it's, it's not impossible. We were there last year and two potted. In front of 14, it's not great. Switches to that.

Things to Saturday or Sunday, people where it's just on top, it's like one extra on top. Because you've got to get it up there. You can't, you could be there all day if you don't. Right on 10, if you're right. If you just carry the bunker and you put that chip, it's pretty gnarly. We'll be here all day.

Pretty much every hole. It's a good one. Yeah, yeah. Left on two is not very good, but not impossible. It's the Delta counter. Yeah, book your ticket home. Exactly. What is the back right pin on 12 on Sunday? What's your

guy's strategy for that pin? You guys play the green. We usually hit a club that can't get to the back bunker. Mark would try and hit something of fade that can't reach that fire. If it just covers the bunker, that's perfect. Front bunker's got a lot more severe in the last few years. It's a real severe downslope into the bunker, so away from the water. So you can get, if you hit the lip and it rolls back under that downslope, you're pretty screwed, but we think that the front bunkers are a lot better that you can hit in the water from that back bunker easily.

So we try and hit a club that can't reach that back bunker and just cover the front one. What about the T-shirt on 13? Are you trying to hug as much on the left side as possible where you play that? Yeah, depending on wind. If it's downwind, we'll hit three wood and just hit it, try and hit a roping, strong hook, basically.

And if it's, if we're hitting driver, we've got to take some of the trees on. But go back to those par five. You're going to have to take it on at some stage anyway, on all of them. So you may as well, as we'll get it over and down with first. You're going to have to take it on at some stage anyway, on all of them. So you might as well get it over and down with first. If you can get your oven, have none on in when you work's done on that hole.

What do you, if they, I mean, they bought the plot of land, they're going to move the tee back onto the tee back. Do you think they should? Do you think it's going to ruin the whole bit? We haven't seen it yet, obviously, but. Let's see what happens. I'm not. Maddie doesn't want to get executed.

Yeah, I want to be out of Caddy next week. I don't know. Set you up to fail there. No, I mean, they'll do a good job with it. They'll make it, probably look like it's been there forever. I'm not telly, oh, it should be, but... Just to be fair, I still going to five of the long hitters if they move it back. Because Zach Johnson's going to hit Draven 30 behind where Dustin Johnson hits Draven.

Like, it's's just I struggle with Roll in the ball back and all that sort of stuff Because it's still gonna favor the longer hitter. There's other ways you can do things But they that I want no one I don't want to hit the pathos I get it, but It's pretty perfect. Yeah situation. I have right now Todd to be fascinating. Maybe. Maybe it turns on the easier side for the contenders on Sunday, but that's what I kind of love about.

Yeah, exactly. And then, yeah, for Sunday, it's almost the perfect back-known. You've got your string of tough holes, like 10, 11, and 12, was really a tough one now. So they're not giving you a booty by any means, but all right, take a little break before it,

you know, it gets going again. It'll struck yourself in, kind of, Dale. And on the other hand, if you're full back, you still feel like you've got a chance, because you can make those up in two holes. What are you going with under the caddy bibs? No, laying out. Yeah, we have a teaching. No, I don't know.

Probably just a what? Plain White T on Nourama. Not going to go like Ernie's caddy last night. I saw the gold chain. Gold chain, no. What do we have to do to get you to know Laying up T under that? I don't know. Does anybody just go straight? You're like Ernie's Caddy last night. I saw the gold chain. Gold chain, no. What do we have to do to get you to know Lagerty under that? I don't know.

Does anybody just go straight under us? Yeah, there's a few guys. Stevie, oh, Commando. All the way. I don't know about that. I'm not really looking around the Caddy area that much for that sort of stuff. I would have believed Stevie was.

I wouldn't put it past him. It's definitely a no shirt guy. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a couple of hot days that just let it all hang out. What's definitely a no-shirt guy. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a couple of hot days Just let it all hang out What's a caddy house hospitality like there awesome there. Yeah, they really take good care of us there They've got it set up so we are parking We just walk in a separate gate. I think it's gate four right on the Washington road there and we're straight into our area and we just wait for the all the bad rooms right there

So we just wait wait for the guys and they get shuttled from the clubhouse all the way right to the range where we are at so they do a good really good job of it. What are some other the best tournaments on tour for Caddy's? Charlotte we don't play there but I just we did play there for the first few years and it's still everyone still raves about Charlotte just like we get our own chef and stuff that week and they big tan up for us Our parking is usually really good Phoenix has gotten really good used to be one of the worst and they've improved a lot Parking is great food's good

Usually pretty cold feel those mornings so we have a bunch of heaters and stuff for the most part the tournaments have gotten really really good That's good to hear good. It's definitely going, I mean, compared to what it was back in the day, even from when I've been around, it's improved a lot. But I'm not, guys aren't afraid to complain a lot about the catty situation, but I think they fully understand that that money comes out of the tournaments basically the purse or all their donation to charity and the tournament wants to get as much money raised as they can. So I don't...

You're not very vocal. No, I don't like complaining about it because I think we have it, I think we have it really good. You go and see someone working there nine to five. They don't get their free lunch or breakfast just because they feel like they should. The lunch one really, and when guys complain about lunch, I really get someone nervous because if you're a grown man and you don't have enough time to go and get your own lunch, you would look in the mirror before you start complaining to

someone else. Breakfast like get and the bathroom situation used to be not very, but it's improved a lot. I mean get 150 guys and a tournament with four or five bathrooms wasn't great, but that's gotten a lot better. So, in some tournaments now, I even let us in the locker room, which I don't really want to be in there that much, but to use the bathroom and stuff like that, facilities, that's nice. How often do you think back on the 2015 open-chaping chip in St Andrews? Nearly every day. Yeah. Yeah. Just because I get mad at myself and not so we had I think it was either 60 and we're in meters So 68 or 71 meters into the eighth hole tied for the lead. We make birdie

We most likely going to win the tournament and marks just marks at me guys all one is a part to win So it's like all right. We'll just hit you know a little knuckleball through the wind into the wind into the rain Our normal love wedge goes like 105 meters. We had plenty of club. I just wanted to hit more of a spinner. Like 105 meters for a love wedge? Yeah, that's 115 yards. Yeah, well, and when I say love wedge, it's 58 degrees or 57 and a half like that.

So it's almost, you know, it's a strong love wedge to start with. Yeah. So, and I wanted to hit more of a spinner in there and try and like stuff it and land it passing and spin it right back. And I just, I'm not mad at him for the shot he played. I'm just mad at myself and not even mentioning it. I just, I got there and I'm like, oh, this is perfect.

He's going to land this 10 pass at a little spin, seven or eight and we'll have six feet to win. But we had a 30 foot or whatever and having a part to win the British open at St Andrews was pretty neat Especially because in Australia, that's the one major That's not on super super early for us. It's it's a night. It's almost like prime time major So we see a lot of that like growing up in Australia. I didn't know what the front nine at a gas to look like Could have been they could have played off mats out there and I wouldn't have even known

They could have been, they could have played off Matt's out there and all would have even known. Sick. Yeah, so we only saw the back because that's it, even that's it like four in the morning, it's all like that. And you guys had the lead on the back nine that day. A bridge? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I think we made the cup by one and then he shot 16. That's such a four.

Yeah, we shot 64 on Saturday and then Sunday was rained out. So we such a four. Yeah, it was, yeah, we had 64 in Saturday, and then Sunday was rained out. So we go back Monday. Saturday was wiped out. Oh, Saturday was a, okay, Saturday. We did out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it was when balls were rolling off the greens.

Was that when Capcom was gonna have a fight with the rules of the show? Yes. So in the early shot, 130 in the weekend, but yeah, we were leading from about, I think he birdied 12 or 13 to take the lead. And that's when, you know, it was enough to left every hole on the back nine. So going out was down off the right, which for a fighter kind of suited him, he could

start it left, and knew it wasn't going to go crazy right. And then most of the time, end up in the fairway. So. Do you guys root for wind root for wind and firm conditions? Just because that's just a firm for us. Yeah, I don't. Wind's so hard because you make one mistake and you feel like you can make whatever, you know, huge score.

So Mark likes it. I wouldn't, I don't know if he thrives in it, but he's growing up. It was definitely weird when it wasn't windy. So he probably wouldn't think to us about when he, you know, he just sees the direction, oh it's strong, I'll just hit this shot. But yeah, firm conditions is a huge plus for us.

Mark's my pick for Cardinals T. What do you think of that? Never been, I think that's one of the ones he hasn't been to either. But I love it. He loves everybody to show. That's gonna say. T5, T2, and T53 T53 and 16 and then T6 last year

He top sixes in the last four years. Yeah, and it's I mean, such cool. What why does it suit him so well? Wind and the conditions. Yeah, so when we I guess growing up we grew up in like I said if it wasn't windy It'd be strange and then it's firm so we can hit He's really good lung on player as well. He hit two on a lot of holes and it goes forever. And a good putter in the wind. The greens we grew up at home, but what today's standards considered probably slow. So the greens don't worry in there and he's,

no, it's a good fun week. He loves it. How many times a year does he a driver off the deck? Certainly, of course. I mean, in Korea, when you were there, nearly three or four a day. You got to tell the story of what happened. Yeah, well, that was my first week using the no-lang up towel. Yeah. And we hadn't seen the course before. I had no idea what we're, but all the power five, so like either just into the wind enough that it was set up that we could just get home. And then so I saw Sally over there,

and I'm flushing the tail at him because Leach has got driver of the deck. And he hits it, and he's like, what, 8, 15 somewhere in this guy. He hit a good shot. And so the 72nd hole was one of the best shots I've ever seen him hit, but he was honestly considering hitting driver of the deck.

It's because it's an island green. To an island green, yeah, into the wind, into a cold wind. Well, was the winner's share? Oh, it was like 1.8. It was 1.8, it was really cool. I think it might have made a million for seconds. So, yeah, so we had like 267 yards, which is not crazy about today's sand, but into the cold wind playing, I don't know, at least

290 maybe. Because I remember looking at my yardage book and there's water that kind of runs into the bunker. There's no There's kind of just the hats of lines in the sand. So I'm looking at that going all right We're going to actually like 12 yards to cover that water if he doesn't get this three. It's not covering the water And we had to hit a slight fade around the tree in the middle of the fairway. It's a weird hole because if you hit it too far, you're blocked out.

So you kind of got to hug the left and hit a certain distance. And we were like a little bit too far into the hill and a little bit too far right, so he had to hit a slight fade. And he's like, I said to him, I said, kind of walked in there after he was like ready to go. I said, we need to talk about this again. Like, sure you want to, and this is a long three

would for us. And he's like, well, I'm going. So if you want me to hit driver, I will. But I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going for it. So it was like, I'm like, oh, god. It was like, and you're purchasing top this hill. So yeah, it's a win. Exactly.

That ball is going to be up there even longer. Exactly. And I said, and well, I said, well, I don't think, the driver has to have, you have to cut it so much that I don't think it'll have so much size, but I don't know. I said, well, I said, well, I don't think the driver has to, you have to cut it so much that I don't think it'll have so much size, but I don't think he can get it close. So he's like, I'm hidden through it. And he just, like, didn't even fade it. He just hit this bullet, like, carried the trees by, like, two feet.

And even Justin's three would enter there. It was just phenomenal to about 15 feet. But, yeah, one of the best shots. Oh, I was such a good shot. Yeah, I've ever seen. I think it was like, if it was a well-known tournament and it was like TIGER, I feel hit that shot. I mean, it'd be talked about forever, but whatever.

And it's middle of night here, so not probably not a lot of people say it, but. Well, that was, I don't know if the golf channel lost its feed, too. That's right. It's a point. Yeah, yeah, sure. It did.

It did. It's what I thought was trying to watch. I had a live tweet that no one else was able to follow. That's right. Yeah, yeah, sure. I did. So I said, I'm off is trying to watch. I had a live tweet that no one else was able to follow. That's right. Yeah, go about that. Well, like the satellite was out of the Yeah. No, the playoff. So that was in the regulation. That was regulation playoff. Actually, that the they didn't like arrange to have the satellite go past whatever hour they needed to. And you have to book the satellite. I don't know if it was a satellite or what, but it flipped back to the beginning of the broadcast. Like on the golf channel of that column.

People were freaking out. And people stayed up until 2.30 in the morning to watch the end of that. And then they lost the feed. They were pretty upset about that. I feel like that just whole thing that sums up leash pretty well right there. They hit like the best shot I've ever seen.

It was in Korea in the middle of the night and the TV feed went out. That's it, whatever. But yeah, you guys had like an embrace after that, because you were pumped up. I was pumped. I was pumped. Six. I love saying, like, I mean, I had the best seat in the house.

I'd say one of the best shots I've ever seen. Like, that was just, I was like, that was just a golf nerd reaction for me, like, holy shit, I just saw that shot. Like, that was crazy. And then, obviously, we had a part to what would have been to go to and front. Obviously Justin could have made a eagle, but any end of it having a part to do it. So I might not have been to win, but we had a part which in the end would have been to win.

So yeah, it was, yeah, we actually connected on a good high five. Yeah, it was important. Like I feel like that's what I remember the top five. Not great. And again, nobody's ever seen it. Yeah, no one's sorry. So last year, I mean, you go from, I think as his highest earnings he ever had made on tour

was 2 1,5 million in 14. Last year, Markerns 5.8 million wins twice on tour. What was the biggest difference last year? Drawing, as I said, Elliot, drawing the ball. The epic draw. Yeah, I mean, and then obviously by hill, driving the ball. The epic jump. Yeah, I mean, and then you obviously, Bay Hill, he won early, so it kind of took the pressure off the rest of the year. But there wasn't many tournaments where starting the

first round or second round, we went into the top 25. So I remember we were on the web tour when we, on our only year out there. Greg Charles was the guy that was just so consistent enough to every round. He was in the top 25 and we said that to each other. And then we kind of brought it up a couple more times because at the start of the week in Bay Hill, we were on the edge of a gaster 50th ish in the world. And we're like, we're just not going to worry about the world ranking this year. We're going to go and play

as if we have to play Reno. We'll go play there. We'll play every event we speak in my leg. Yeah, we'll play every event that we feel like we want to or can and just go and make six man and not worry about. If we're in the top 20 in the world, they'll be great, if it, ideas doesn't matter. You make that much money, you'll be fine. So, and crazy that he won that early and got in contention quite a lot.

We're in contention before that a few times and just didn't pull it off, but... You were in contention at Aaron Hills? Yeah. Yeah. But first year we made the cut in all four majors last year as well, which was nice. That was a goal, going in here.

Yeah, definitely. That was to a championship and all four majors. Obviously, win a major would be amazing, but I think that all four majors are underrated little tidbit on you, little notch in the belt kind of deal. I think it's cool. Because to play all four majors is a bit of a, you know, it's a cool thing to make all four cuts to be done the weekend. It's really good. I'm trying to not make this sound like a cheesy question, but you know, he had all the stuff that happened with his wife and his family kind of the year before that. Was that at all kind of reprioritized things or kind of free him up?

I think. Yeah, I think. It's just golf. Yeah, definitely. I mean, because the 15 British wasn't long, it was like his third event back after that. I didn't think that was that far. Yeah, it was really close. He played, I think, New Orleans and maybe Greenborough before that, and then he went to

the British. Yeah, it was definitely the first, I don't New Orleans and maybe Greenborough before that. And then he went to the British. Yeah, it was definitely the first, I don't want to say it's warm or off, because it definitely hasn't. But when it first happens, it's fresh in your mind. And I'm sure he might still think about it every day. It doesn't quite. When it first happened, it was like, man, I am just really happy to be out here, because as good a dude as he was, he was just ready to step away and just be a dad.

That's what it called for and that's what he would have done. There's no doubt in my mind, so. But for those that don't know, can you explain more? Yeah, so she ended up getting a blood, I guess you call it a disease, sepsis, infection. The blood travels around the body, we infected every organ. So she, the only way for her body to recover was to put her in a coma. And I hate going into too much detail that Mark had pretty much told the doctors

to bump the machine up to get her in a coma and she was kicking and screaming, trying not to go in there. Just, like, gives me chills, still talking like, and Mark would call me and hear him one of your best friends, you know, crying on the phone, I mean, I wasn't going through heart, you know, obviously I love ordering, I was feeling for her,

but he was going through really through it, and I'm just on the other end, trying to be a good friend, but it was a tough, tough thing to go through for sure. But yeah, I definitely think, it's hard to say it's changing because you're still the same guy from the country boy when he was 15, but maybe more mature and the way things. And the foundation that they've developed out of it

is a really good thing for him. It kind of gives him even more to play for, if that makes sense. He's almost representing the foundation every time he tees it up. So it's really good for him. He order. He's really, really heavily involved and mark his as well, but it's great for both of them. It's a really good thing to come out of a shitty situation. It blows my mind too, she was given a 5% chance of surviving. They say every organ, I guess, is 30% and she had basically all of them with five or six organ and something going. That was crazy.

I know we can. Yeah. Well no, all of a man. And then I think it was big like last year, just like we met last year in April kind of right after the Bay Hill thing and then you know it was a odd or it was pregnant. Yeah. And then for her to have, you know, to be able to have a baby. Right. Yeah. And they for her to have, you know, to be able to have a baby. Right.

Yeah. And they just seen them at BMW. I don't know. That's like one of my lasting memories of last year was just watching the whole family running around on the green on the green. Like, thinking about how close they were. I mean, it's like, yeah, it's crazy. It's a really uplifting story.

Yeah. I would say. And when you look at it, look at it now. But yeah. Yeah. Well, and they really, really want another, they wanted a girl. They obviously want it healthy to really really want another they wanted a girl They obviously wanted healthy to start with but they wanted a girl really bad and so for them to even get pregnant And then it turns out to be a girl Comes in the year that they had was you know really lucky set up lifting in the end

so yeah from a You know from a selfish perspective just because you have to worry about your family Yeah, like how much does that how much does that affect you when you know your livelihood is to from a selfish perspective, just because you have to worry about your family. Like how much does that affect you when your livelihood is dependent on somebody else? Yeah, I mean, that's the thing I've struggled with the most in the bank yesterday, talking about a banker and I'm, because my job's a tough one.

I mean, any job I guess, you're not really guaranteed it. You can always get fired, but you just don't know what's gonna happen in our job. Everyone starts the year at zero or the season at zero and you can't really bank on last year, last year or the best year. So do you think you can do that again, of course, but I can't know who knows. Like, so you just never know. And then, so yeah, when that stuff happens, I'll be lying about it. I said, I didn't think about what I'm going to do if Mark doesn't play. But it all happened so quickly, but you didn't really think that far ahead when the whole

order was gone through our stuff. He's just so much more worried about them, and I kind of just pushed the rest aside for a little bit, and you'll worry about that later. But, yeah, definitely when Marks had an interesting back issue for the last couple of years, that he hasn't been 100% but it's getting a lot better, which is good. But you think about that sort of stuff for sure. I got wife and daughter to support now.

And I'd be lying if I said you didn't think about it for sure. What's the longest stretcher on the road at a time? Mark doesn't like to play more than three weeks. Even that, if he's playing three weeks, the family will be out for at least one or two of them. So I'll try and do the same. If we're going to be on the road for three weeks, different if it's overseas or stuff like that,

but three weeks is, man, it's tough to be away from. And then you guys go to Australia pretty much every year for a year? We go for, yeah, at least one tournament. He loves going back to play and trying to support that tour as much as he can. And this year with the World Cup coming up, hopefully we play there. We'll definitely go down for one, hopefully two or three, but and if we do that, both families will probably come. We alternate, oh, Mark and Audrey alternate, Christmas is in Australia, so we try, if we're

not having Christmas down there, we try and go down there for a couple of weeks and then come back down over here. So, it's gonna be pretty exciting for the President's Cup to go back there next year. Yeah, I really like what, I don't know if it's official or they are gonna do it, but if they let Ernie set the course up, how they, how if it's official or they are going to do it, but if they let Ernie set the course up, how they, how he wants to, if they can get that place as firm and fast as they can, I mean, we need all the help we can get with this young American team, they're a stud team, so.

The composite. Yeah, composite course. I've never been around the composite course. I've only ever been to the West. This is a row Melbourne. Yeah. So I don't have any info on I'll have a few holes, but maybe looking forward to Metro.

Yeah, you can see the orange bush. Yeah, you can fill you in. Metro, I want you to get it as work for Metro when you might, when you might on the first day out of that bunker in the world. Yeah, yeah, I was in the green side bunker on one. These are a couple of green side. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I was in like five green side. I was in the greenside bunker on one. These are a couple of greenside. Yeah, I was in like five greenside. I was in the greenside bunker in regulation on number one in mid-9. Yeah, that place can get... He did vow to count every single one of his trips at the end. Yeah, content to come on that. The bunkering and the greens at Metro. I think it's... Well, when I was there last was the best condition golf course I've ever been to.

So I always remember that. I mean, I'm sure it's not like that all the time, but man, it can get fast and you can pop balls and bunkers and you can look silly and one of the green. I really, 16. Yeah, that's the cross made. Oh, I'm there seeing thing like it. Yeah, just like purple. Yeah, I don't even look like brains. Yeah, that is the putters lid on. Yeah, when you're going to be careful getting the bull out of the hole. Yeah. Been there.

It was literally like there was there was rebar. Yeah. Yeah. Like a bit. That's probably my last thing memory of the Australia trip was put it out on 18. And looking behind the green, Neil is so exhausted. He's just laying on the ground. Just trying to like get his feet on your feet.

You got attacked by flies, I think. That's right. That is an issue down there. It's brutal. It's pretty bad for you. We should do another podcast just about Australian golf. Australian golfers. Yeah, I love to.

Who's your last question? Who's your favorite Australian golfer growing up? Growing up. Greg Nolan, probably, but Adam Scott probably, when I was good enough to play, Adam Scott was a win in tournaments. Like when I was 16, 17, 18, enough to, you know, try and hit shots

that he was hitting, not that I could, but that's what I remember like trying to, I got the Steel Shaffer driver because he had the Steel Shaffer driver. Not that I could hit it, but I wanted to be like Adam Scott. And he's not that much older than me, really. It's kind of weird, but. He had the Burberry deal. Yeah Scott and he's not that much older than me really. He's kind of weird but he had the perberian deal.

Yeah, he's just falling. So yeah, it's turned out, we become pretty good friends. Mark and him are really good friends, but you know what? Adam's been nice enough to let us rob them. He's playing a couple of times and you have a few nights out, so it's turned out a good friendship. But yeah, it's been, because Norman for me like 86 I was born in 86 Yeah, so

He went on you know, obviously he was playing for a favorite longer than that But I just don't I don't remember and I don't and I'm not a golf. I didn't get into it to last eight So I didn't really when Adam Scott was like what do you win the players in oh one? Mm-hmm I was 17 then so it was oh one is prime. Yeah, oh 15 That's who was perks right? Yeah, I think no, I think it was a four. Yeah, it was wrong I'll make more sense because I remember being like 17 or 18. I'm so perfect. All right, Maddie We'll end it at that. Thanks for coming by absolutely welcome to have me on kill house and we'll have to do this again

And best of luck to you guys next week. Thank you very much. Awesome. Thank you. It's gonna be the right club. Be the right club today. Yeah. That's better than most. How about in? That is better than most.

Better than most. Better than most.