No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - NLU Podcast, Episode 248: Justin Thomas

Episode Date: September 18, 2019

JT is back to discuss his 2019 year, the new Tour Championship format, what $15 million means to him, how many PGA Tour wins he would trade for a major, his spat with the USGA, the drama around the Ryder Cup pairings, the upcoming Presidents Cup, and a ton more. This one was a lot of fun, and JT doesn't shy away from any of the topics.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm going to be the right club today. Yeah. That is better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most! All right guys welcome back to the No-Lang-Up Podcast gonna get to our interview here shortly with Justin Thomas I believe this is appearance number five one per year. We try to average one per year with JT This was one of my favorite ones that we've done just a good look back at last year. A lot has happened with the Ryder Cup, upcoming Presidents Cup, new FedEx, new schedule, and some stuff around the USGA.

We cover a lot of topics and he's not shy about talking about any of them. Before we get going, I'm sure you guys saw the big exciting news from Caliway today. They announced the signing of Young Phenom Oxe batia to their tour staff. It is crazy to talk about a 17 year old being on a tour staff, but he's coming off a clutch performance at the Walker Cup, the youngest US player in history to compete in the tournament. He's going to make his professional debut this week at the Santers and Farms with a full bag of cowboy gear, epic flash sub zero woods, woods, apex, and beirons, and a chrome soft ex golf ball.

He is of course a George Gankus disciple. He along with Randy, being the Gankus disciples under the Calloway family and the Gankus family. So congratulations to Hock Shay on that. This guy is going to be very, very, very fascinating to follow. Also wanted to mention another partner of ours that is sponsoring the podcast that is herbal active. We are getting in the CBD game. We've been trying this stuff out for several months before officially moving forward on a

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here is our podcast episode with Justin Thomas. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the No-Lang Up Podcast. It is time for the annual podcast. It is fall season. This was your idea. I wasn't sure if you wanted to keep doing these every year. That's when you know I'm bored. You must not have much going on at all.

Mr. Justin Thomas, another season in the books. What grade would you give your year? Almost your first year since your rookie year without a win. You waited till the very end. I did. It was a very weird year, but I'd give myself a B minus, I'd say. Because I played really, really well.

I mean, I feel like I drove the ball probably the best I've driven it. It just, and I hit my irons really well. I mean, I feel like I drove the ball probably the best I've driven it. It just, and I hit my irons really well. I just had a very, very bulky year with my potter. I would have thought after coming off the wrist injury, I would have been really, I would have been kind of the best part of my game because I was potting so much, but I think I was potting too much and I really got myself in some bad, bad habits, but it was a good year, but it definitely could have been a lot better.

Well, you combine like three questions I had in one there, but with the putter, doing my job for me, with the putting. So you said you form bad habits, what are bad habits that you form? I mean, if you're putting with an injured wrist, are you gripping it differently? Is that kind of what?

No, it's just, I was over, I was trying to become perfect and putting it so, I feel like instinctive. And you still have to be athletic and feel it out. And I was trying to get to mechanical. I really was just trying to get to perfect. I was trying to, I was like, I have all this time. I'm gonna get my putting stroke perfect.

I'm gonna come back and put so well. And I mean, I changed, I didn't change to a lot of different putters, but I went back and forth more than I ever have. I used a different golf ball this year, which I thought was, it was a great change for my ball striking and my distance control and everything was good, but as crazy as it sounds, it was quite a bit softer of a golf ball and I feel like that kind of had an impact on my speed and putting your putting. Yeah, really. And I never thought of it really until like middle of the year.

And I got, I think it was like right after the US Open, I got 40 who worked for Titles, does all the golf ball stuff. And I was like, you know, this is going to sound crazy. And like, but do you guys ever do golf ball testing with putting? He's like, well, I mean, yeah, we do some testing. I'm like, yeah, but you know, like you hit balls on a robot and, you know, like are the speeds the same at ball speed. Like, I know it's a 10 footer, I'm like,

but I was like, my speed has just been all over the place this year. And I remember in preparing for the Ryder Cup in years past, kind of messing around with either Tigers ball or someone else's and how soft his ball was. And I felt like how weird it was putting. And I'm like, well, why did I never think of this?

So I went back to the ball. I've played. I went back to the putter I used because like killing my killing my putting coach was saying I was changing so much that we couldn't even find a constant. You know, he's like, if we're changing something every week, then how do you even know what the problem is? So I remember back to the basics. Yeah, I remember here in a story of when I believe it was Capco when he was, you know,

he was testing new golf equipment after the Nike deal was over that he's testing golf balls. He's like, yeah, this ball rolls out like two inches further than this one. I was like, kind of rolled my eyes at it. Yeah. I'm kind of like, okay. Yeah, I didn't notice like, I'm not that anal or like, I know, like, strict. My catty Jimmy used to work for him and I remember talking to him about that.

And he always said, you know, playing with Tiger and so many of those. The match is the cups that he struggled putting with his ball. It was Tiger's ball. He said he felt like he couldn't get it to the hole. So I never noticed anything like predominant like, you know, this is always three inches shorter, but my speed was very, very inconsistent. But, you know, how golf is a lot of time is just in your head. Well, what kind of an effect did the wrist injury have on you? And I'm coming from this in this standpoint of this is kind of your first significant injury you've had since you've been on the PGA tour, but for people that, you know, of golf, especially where, of course, you have like your endorsements and whatnot, but your living is made with

on course earnings and like you are relying on your body being healthy. Was that frightening at all to kind of have an injury and did you like do you fear whether it's still there when you come back? What's that? What's that mindset? Like I don't fear it coming back at this point. I'm honestly I'm probably more proud of and it sounds very corny and kind of dumb, but I'm more proud of the fact that I waited as long as I did to come back because I talked to a lot of guys, a lot of guys have been injured, I talked to Tiger a lot, and he was checking in a lot, just basically telling me to don't be an idiot and don't go play, don't go practice.

Yeah. He's got the experience with that. Exactly. So I remember the PGA was the main goal. Like I want to come back for the PGA because I love Beth Page. I think it's so good for my game. And I kind of had that circled, I feel like all year. And then saw I was, I wanted to get back for that. And I remember Tiger went to go play the week before.

And I just kind of asked how the course was. And he just immediately called me and said, don't play. Yeah. You cannot play with that rough. That's a terrible matchup for you. Yeah. So, and then even after that, it was just like, I could have probably played Colonial, but it just wasn't worth it. I'm like, well, what am I going to get out of that?

You know, I kept, it's crazy as it is. I hate to boost a Zego anymore, but I kept thinking of Brooks, you know, like last year, people forget that he missed the first, what, three or four months of the season and once the matchers. Exactly, so I just was telling myself, hey, make sure this goes away. Do the proper stuff, be smart, be patient with it, and so it's never an issue again, and it wasn't an issue this year again. Because you go, do you go stir crazy?

I guess, I mean, because you watch golf when you're not playing, right? I mean, it seems the only upside, I think, was you kind of will start getting a little bit involved in social media and talking about golf when you're not playing and whatnot But do you go stir crazy kind of waiting for it to heal because it's just I mean time is really Yeah, that's that was the thing about it

It really was something where I couldn't just go Go in and you know put a machine on it and and it's better I mean obviously there are a lot of things I did to try to to speed it up but in reality just kind of had to wait for that bone to heal and Yeah, I was very, very bored. I actually did a decent bit of traveling. I just was kind of using it as an opportunity to be like, all right, well, I went to Chicago

to go see my girlfriend, went to like three or four Cubs games and I'd go home. One of my buddies had a bachelor party, which I was luckily able to go on. So it was like I kind of had like a little mid season break and it was actually kind of nice come the end of the year when people are kind of getting more tired. I'm like, hey, I'm ready to keep going.

I had my break, kind of one another one. Do you like traveling? When it's not, I mean, for as much as you guys travel, it's just, what do you want to do? What do you like to do and go see? Or like, we see the Baker's Bay, we're not going to go there. But what do you like to do to travel? Or what's things you haven't done that you like to do and go see? We see the Baker's Bay, we're not gonna go there. But what do you like to do to travel? Or what's things you haven't done that you want to do?

I really would love to, I mean, there's a lot of places I want to go. I want to take a Europe trip. I want to, there's so many beautiful places there. And obviously, we're very fortunate. I would go off to go to some cool places. But there's definitely a lot of places I would like to go and not bring my golf clubs and just go enjoy. I really, really, I really like good food and cool restaurants, kind of just, you know, whether it's a little small, kind of little dive bar looking place, or

if it's a place that, you know, you got to get dressed to the nines or whatever, but like I just enjoy and going to a city like Chicago, you know, or New York. I always try to stay in a different hotel every time. I always try to go to new restaurants just because it's cool, the different places you can go and people you can meet. And you'll be heading to a new country here in a few months, Australia.

Never played golf, never been there before. What are you looking forward to the most about that? I'm excited, I've all heard from guys that have been there, they say that I'm gonna love it. It's, the golf is looks really cool and I'm very into golf architecture. I respect it, especially playing a lot of different courses. Now I like how this design, I don't like how this design, whatever. I do one day hope to build some golf courses, but I'm excited to just go see something new

and play a really cool golf course. What intrigues you about golf architecture? Because what I remember is you getting really upset about the centerline bunker at TPC Boston when they put that in. That was just, well that was a terrible design. It made, I mean, it's one thing if it's a 410-yard hole, but I mean, it was so stupid. It just made, I mean, the fact that you have guys

hitting it over to another fairway because that's a better way to play the whole, I think, speaks all you need to know. That's what you do at the old course. That's what the old course is all about. That's very different. All right, so you won the BMW Championship this year. It puts you in the driver's seat,

heading into the tour championship. I remember when you did win the FedEx Cup, your immediate reaction was you were just frustrated that you didn't win the tournament. So backing up to that, was it really less about winning the money and more about collecting trophies for you? Is that what you say?

100%. Yeah. So this new format, I guess, what's your reaction to the format having been the one that kind of slept on the lead and went through it? What was your thought? What did it feel like going into it? What do you think of it afterward?

I actually, I talked to Commissioner the other day and I told him I'm more optimistic about the format than I was beforehand. And that's, I feel like saying something for somebody who lost a lead, but it's just, it's so bizarre. I can't explain it, but I just, it was so funny to me how everyone was just like giving me it before it even started. I felt like people were like, oh, you know, he's got the two-shot lead. It's like, and I like thinking to myself was like how many times have guys gone more hard to hire to win a tournament? And then I have to do it another day. So like

it's no one's ever done it. Obviously Obviously no one's ever started with the lead, but it was really kind of comical to me. How the media, how a lot of people were like giving me the FedEx cup before it even started. And at just two shots, two shots is not insurmountable, like leading into Sunday. It's like leading into Thursday. I think maybe the difference with this being

that the field is small enough as it is. And there's really only maybe 10 or 12 guys that probably could have won that tournament that being the difference. But I'm imagining it sounds like from what you're saying, it's an uncomfortable feeling going into the week. It's just really, would you really prefer though to have been all squared, squared? 100% really.

100%. I just would have played. It's so hard to just tell yourself, OK, we're all even. And I was trying to, because I was trying to win the golf tournament. I was trying to get the world ranking points. I obviously knew if I beat everybody that week, I was, I was going to win.

But and I love that golf course. But honestly, the perfect way to describe it is the first hole the golf tournament for me. I had a perfect drive, I had a nine iron two of front pen, which is, it's not a hard pen, but I mean, with, I feel like a nine iron, I can hit that inside of 15 feet a lot of times, and I hit it to the middle of the green and had 30 feet downhill, and I'm trying to put and make par, and it's like, it never really sunk in until like after people were asking me about it and for some reason that shot I'm like that's the perfect example like the first hole the golf tournament and I'm playing defensively with a nine iron win it's just hard to get yourself

to attack obviously but it was a learning experience for me and obviously I'd love to be in that position next year but I think you're gonna see a lot less number one, or leading the golf tournament through Thursday win, but you definitely have the potential to have 10, 15 guys, I have a chance to win on Sunday. Yeah, see as a fan, I like that, it made you uncomfortable.

It's different as a different twist towards the end of the year. And I think it is more just about the aesthetic of how it's presented at the end, right? Because basically your percentage of winning the FedEx Cup was the exact same as whatever it was before. It's all kind of combined into one thing. Whereas in previous years you had something to distract you, the immediate tour championship and it kind of distracts you away from the FedEx Cup.

I think that helped you win a FedEx Cup. So for help us for golf fans, what is 15 million dollars mean to you? Because as a fan, when I'm sitting here watching it and I'm watching Rory and Brooks Duke it out, I have no idea what that means to them. Whether it's five or 15, it's obviously that's a huge difference, but it doesn't mean as much to the fans. So, help me out with that. What does 15 million dollars mean to you? It doesn't mean as much as the trophy to me.

It's, there's gonna be a lot of people that don't believe me, but it's just, the only time, honestly, in my career. Maybe a couple of times I'm a rookie here, but that I thought about money on a putt was that 18th toll on Sunday in Atlanta. It just kinda hit me. I'm like, line this putt up. I'm like, this is a million dollar putt.

And it's three feet in it breaks. This year, you sure? Yeah. And I was shaking. I got my yardage book out and I'm like, holy shit, I'm pretty nervous right now. So, I mean, yeah, that's cool. That's big, big money.

I mean, that's it. But obviously for someone like Rory, that's very far from changing his life or Brooks. But it's, I don't know. I guess everybody has different motives. But for some reason, I've never been pushed for the money. I just want to beat everybody else. That's consistent with, I think it was the first time you came on a year, you were rookie year, you finished like third or something in the players and made half a million dollars.

And I asked you about it and you're just like, yeah, you know, like to be honest, I was pretty pumped about the finish but like I plan to make a lot of money. It's not really something that, so like for perspective, you made 30 million on the course plus, I don't think that counts like FedEx cup.

But like it's a significant, it would be a significant portion of your career earnings. But that's what I think some fans are having trouble with this big end of your thing, is it's hard to tell what it's kind of much, but watching the match, even between Tiger and Phil, I'm like, guys, I know you're playing for 9 million, but I don't watch the Masters

because the winner gets $2 million. Yeah, yeah. I mean, if you want some real entertainment, go grab two random guys in Jupiter and tell them they're playing for 9 million dollars, that would be entertaining. That would be good content. We want to do something with Daniel Negrano on the pot as a poker player and he bets in Sains amounts of money, but he'll he'll like back a good player to like play with them. And they'll they play on you don't owe money

if you lose, but you get a portion of their winnings. We want to do something with them where like you kind of do a big. Well, if my putt is for $50,000, I'm gonna be freaking out over that kind of a safe. Yeah, I mean, it's all about, you know, kind of how you handle being uncomfortable. And yeah, there's a lot of things that make people uncomfortable, but that's, but you know, whether you probably know it or not,

you know, that's why you like to play. You know, there's something about going on the last hole and even a $20 puck, but if it's to beat your buddy, he has to hand you that $20. That's the best. So what did you, I guess you said you were more pleasantly surprised with the format of the end? What pleasantly surprised you about

or why you optimistic about it going forward? It's just for the fans. I think it's going to be, I mean, I do think there's going to be years, you know, say if I had one of my weeks where I just kind of everything was click in, I mean, I could have won that thing by 12. But also, you know, if I kind of do what I did, and then, you know, Patrick doesn't play well,

and then you kind of get a couple more guys that, like, four and five, I mean, I really do think you're going to have a year where there's 10 or 12 guys in the bag nine and that can win and it's that's pretty crazy. And that definitely is better for the fans and better for the tournament. But it'll be interesting. I still think there'll be years, you know, like this year or even more so where it's just two or three guys kind of battling it out. But you know, at the end of the day, you can't.

You got to try something. And I think that it's like I told Jay, I think it's definitely moving the right direction. I think it's getting even closer to just being perfect, if you will, or getting even better. But yeah, you never know unless you try. That's why I was talking to him about it this week. And I said, you know, he said they talked about it.

But if you just called it the FedEx Cup at the end of the year, I think people would have a, a lot easier time with it. Because the fact that it's a tour championship, yet it's not, yeah, exactly. It's a tour championship trophy. Exactly. You don't even have a tour champion. Yeah, it's not anymore.

It's, yeah, but I, I like that they're trying something new. And it is kind of like a transition year for the tour with the new schedule and how it's all lined up. For you personally, selfishly, do you like the way the new schedule sets up? Well I mean it had a nice little six week break in the middle of it so it's you haven't fully experienced it. Exactly it's hard to say but I it's definitely more consistent you're kind of more in a rhythm I feel like golfing and playing in tournaments I mean I'm not gonna have as many two week two weeks off which I have in years past but the end of the day and playing in tournaments. I mean, I'm not going to have as many two weeks, uh, two weeks off, which I have in years past.

But the end of the day, I mean, I, I control that. I mean, if I want a couple two week off sprees and I can do that. But, um, I think for me, it's better when I'm playing and, uh, you know, just kind of kind of play around with it and see what works for us. Do you, does, does the, like the condensed major schedule change anything? And Rory's come out and said, and Justin Rose has made comments just saying

that he feels like the majors are even more elevated now. Do you get that kind of sense at all? Is that like a topic that's discussed out there? What's your kind of position on? Does it change any prestige of any tournaments this new order of them? I mean, the majors are always, they've always been the majors to me.

I don't know how they could have been put on any higher of a pedal stole to me just because the time of year. But I definitely could see that and I do I mean I think it is based out very well. And I don't know it's interesting. It's good. You're definitely going to have some some more opportunities for some PGA championship courses. That's for sure in terms of being able to go to different locations, but yeah, I haven't viewed them any differently in terms of importance. Because on kind of the same vein,

it's weird kind of the reaction to Rory's season, even he was kind of sheepish about winning the player of the year because he played so incredibly well in everything except the majors. And like how do you kind of, the consistency was just incredible. It's like, but you know he would trade all that for a major.

How, this may be a hard question to answer, but how many regular PGA tour titles would you trade for a major? That is tough. I know not all PGA tour titles are equal as well, but if we're presented for next year and we say, right, your return events are one of major, yeah. I'd probably say, yeah, like three. I mean, fours, I don't know.

That's a tough question. I guess it depends if I can know how I played in the other events, but yeah, I mean, that made majors your life changing. And you're in the history books, you're just, you know, you're a major champion. It's, that's a big deal. But I would say three is probably my number. Okay. Because along those lines, you are, so you're 26 now.

If I'm looking at your career numbers, 137 starts on the, on the PGA tour, 10 wins, 44 top 10s, which is 32% of the time. 17 major starts, you have the one win of the PGA, three top 10s, which is 17% of time, which is different than your PGA. Do you owe that to anything? And are you, I guess, you've won the one. Does that make you satisfied with your major record to date. Not at all. I mean I feel like I've very very underperformed in the majors. I mean this year I was a couple just a couple bad finishes away like coming down the stretch from having a couple top five for tens and the masters in the open. So I've just I've been close I had a

couple PGA's where I've been around there, but it's just, I don't know, I don't know if it's my prep, that's what we kind of talked about, and I've always taken the week off of four majors, and you know, it's like, do I need to play now, but then it's like, I'm not going to go to, you know, like San Antonio's not a good prep for Augusta, or, you know, sometimes it's kind of hard to go to Canada before the US Open, if just geographically, it can be tough. So, I don't know. It's something that veterans haven't figured out.

I know. Sometimes Phil is three weeks off before the US Open. Sometimes it's player third week in a row. I don't think there's like a set formula because I mean, you can play great for two weeks and then just lose at the third week. But that's what I wonder if, I think it's I think it's definitely on, you know, I would imagine you don't want to speak on other players, but to the point where Rory is thinking so much about

majors that he almost, I don't, I'm putting words in his mouth, but almost feel like he didn't even appreciate how great his season was, you know, and a lot of people don't in that way. So it's just got to be hard. I imagine knowing you can't show up at a major and try to convince yourself it's not a big deal. Yeah, it's the same thing as the FedEx Cup. Like I couldn't, I could tell myself all I wanted, but in reality, I had a two shot lead. I can only say I'm tied and I'm even par so many times.

But yeah, it is a big deal. And I mean, I've felt so prepared for the Masters the last couple of years and I've played so well. And then, you know, it's like, I just, I've felt so prepared for the Masters the last couple of years and I've played so well. And then, you know, it's like, I just, I won it so bad. And then I just have a couple bad puttin, you know, puttin weeks or like, I remember a couple of years ago, I potted chips and potted great and I hit it bad. So it's like, you put so much emphasis and so much prep on one week. And then it's just one part of your games off. You can't win the tournament. It's pretty, I guess, disappointing. Is it, for most fans, whether you finish T15 or T5, it's kind of in consequential.

You didn't win and you didn't really have a chance to win. Is there a big difference for you in a major finishing T5 versus T15? For sure. That's what I think it's people just kind of forget about. Because people don't, you know, TV doesn't necessarily, a lot of people just don't forget about because it's just not people don't you know TV doesn't necessarily A lot of people just don't care if you finished a through 10th or whatnot for you guys individually It means a lot does to me. Yeah, obviously you're there to win and it's I mean You don't want to call it a failure of a week, but um I guess it definitely could be but it's just yeah, it's more about just getting yourself there

You know if you're tea or even if you're T15, you had a chance to like it, a gust of this year, I had a chance to win that tournament. I've finished, I bogeed my last hole, and I think I finished T12 or something like that, but I bogeed 14 at 15. Like I was right there, I easily could have won that golf tournament. And that's another thing I think a lot of people don't realize, too, is that pretty much anybody in that top 25 it's a very very fine line which you

know of either winning the tournament or being you know down the last couple holes or finishing 20th or 25th and no one even knows you played. What's it this year in particular is there any kind of distraction knowing what Tiger's doing out there knowing what that means to world of golf a friend of yours and somebody you looked up to as a kid, do you get, or are you totally locked in on your round, or are you getting the sense that something crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy is always happening.

Yeah, definitely. I'm trying to think of how far ahead of him I was, but it was bizarre. I think I got way more into it once we finished, or once I finished, I was in the clubhouse and watching. Actually, I have a pretty good story. So Charlie, his little boys, he's amazing. He's, Apple definitely doesn't far fall from the tree there.

I mean, he's identical to Tiger, and just such a little smart ally, and so then, Erica and the kids and his mom, Rob, they're all sitting in the corner of the clubhouse, as Tiger was kind of on, you know, 15, 16, 17 and I just went over to say, hey to them and what's up to Charlie and I just kind of saw him, I said, what's up, dude, and he just looks at me and goes, oh, hey, look, it's the guy who can't put. Thanks, man.

That stuck with you a little bit. Appreciate that. But yeah, I got a good kick out of that. But it was just being out there. It was unbelievable, man. It just was like nothing. I kept trying to think of things to compare it to in other sports, and I just can't. I mean, how many guys were in the clubhouse cheering them on? And I mean, I remember why I was sitting there

at a table with Keith Mitchell and I swear you would have thought he was like an eight year old boy. Like he, that ball's going, rolling down the hill and 16, it's going to go, where are he's yelling? I mean, it's just, there's just nobody else and the sport that can make us do that, it was unbelievable. It's almost like overwhelming how, like,

it happened fast. I mean, you know, especially like with three sums and there's a lot of guys up there. It's just weird how it all kind of came together and part of I think everyone's kind of watching and just pinching like, okay, it probably won't. Like it probably, you know, he hits the shot in 2011 to five feet on 15 and then misses the equal plot.

Like, something's gonna not happen. And just to see that all happen, what was it? I guess you're in, I don't know if you would say it's intercircle, but you're close enough to him. Once you get back here, back home, are you guys celebrating? Do you have any celebrations of any kind? What's that like? Well, I had, I had to go home just because I had my foundation event the next week. And then I had the stuff going on with the rest. So I was kind of around everywhere. But yeah, I mean, it just was kind of like, I just remember kind of reaching out. I'm like,

hey, you still won that Master's? You still won that, didn't you? And he's, you know, signed a picture of the code or something like that. And it's just, or the jacket. And it's just, you know, it was cool. I think it was something for him and even probably just a couple of days, it's a kind of, you know, to decompress. And I think it's something, at least I remember

from the PGA a little bit, it doesn't really set in, or well, he has a lot more experience with that than I do. But I remember for me, it didn't really set in until kind of a couple of days later and just kind of realized what I had done. So I don't know how that happens when you do it 15 more times. What's it going to be like, I guess, playing on his team in the president's cup?

I mean, it seems, it seemed to me when they announced it, it was, seemed very early for him to be a captain and kind of, they're still still looks like it's up for grabs somewhat, whether he's going to play, I know he's signing off some blog post as playing captain, so it would appear he's going to play. What do you, how do you view that role? Is it going to change anything with him playing potentially or, or you're just going to be kind of focusing on what you got going on?

Yeah, I'm just going to go out there and I mean whether he's playing or not, I mean he's still the captain, I'm gonna go try to go out and get some points for him and the team, but I mean, I just wanna be as involved in the process and as helpful to the entire team as I can. And yeah, it'll be cool. I mean, if it's kinda something where

if you to told me as a kid that I'd be playing on a presence cup for my hero growing up, that'd be, I'd have been pretty excited so I think sometimes I kind of have to sit back and pinch myself and understand and realize what's going on but it's I'm just excited I mean the any time that you can represent the United States is is very I guess humbling if you will just it's really amazing experience but it might have a little asterick on this one. Well, I don't kind of similar vein

that we were talking about with the major championships versus regular PGA Tour events. And I don't want to downplay the president's cup, but it does seem, because I feel like you guys get as amped for it, like the team experiences or you guys just talk about them in such a different way. Is it less pressure to go play in a president's cup compared to a Ryder Cup just based on the history of the team and kind of what the expectations are?

It's just different. I mean, it's still a huge deal. I think the fans are going to be out in pretty full force in Australia. I mean, I would think it seems like golf is very big in that area and it's going to, you know, the fanatics will be out there and full force as well, but it's definitely, I can't even come close to comparing, you know, Liberty and then LaGolf National. I mean, it just was so, you know, you look at the first he alone and it just was, I mean, just the nerves

that I had at the Ryder Cup or something that I've never experienced before. And what was it like? I mean, in what way, I had at the Ryder Cup or something that I've never experienced before. And what was it like? I mean, in what way, as you hold the club, it feels totally different. I mean, I tell everyone that, so I hit five wood off the first tee. And when I hit five wood off the tee, I don't, or off of the tee box, I don't put it on a tee. I just, I put it on the ground so I can just kind of cover a little bit more. And I just tell everybody that if I had to put it on the tee, I don't think I could have really.

Jordan and I were walking over the bridge and I mean we had everything I'll kind of planned out but we hadn't really discussed, you know, do you want to go first? Well I want to go first. I think in Bestball it's just so much of just kind of whatever the Moe is, you know what I mean? And we're walking these like, you know, you want me to go first? You want to go? And I was just like, I'll go.

I'm going. Just get it out of the way. And he just was like, okay, just kind of let me go. But it was, I just was manned, especially because in past I've learned that when I'm nervous, my miss is left. And that's not a good miss there. So I mean, I'm just,

well, it's got to be, I would imagine at least how I am with the first tee that I'm somewhat nervous about if I can put driver on it I'm fine. It's a big old club head. Yeah, but that tea that was cruel. Everyone's got to hit iron. It's cold. Yeah, just the rough, you know, if you hit it in it, you really don't have a chance, but it just is Yeah, I mean, I was Jordan did such a great job with me and just kind of getting me Relax and kind of eased into it. Because you were in my mind, Amped, nervous, nervous might not be the way it were.

It's you were anxious, like you were, you seemed very prepared for it. Yeah. You were ready to do it. You weren't afraid to take the crowd on, you were animated. It's very, you don't really know who's going to come out and be kind of play that role. I mean, we saw Patrick Reed in 2014, we didn't know he was gonna be like that and just embrace the moment like that.

And some people get, you know, pucker up a little bit more. So did your president's cup experience? Cause it was kind of, it's still audibly that was your only writer cup experience that your president's cup experience helped in that regard. Yeah, I think so.

And I told, I was talking to Zander about that a little bit. And I was like, and Atlanta, I said, dude, I think so. And I told, I was talking to Zander about that a little bit and I was like, and Atlanta, I said, dude, I think that it's, you have this, I was talking to Cantlay as well as like, I think that you have this so perfectly mapped out to where I think it's so big to play in a presence cup first. I mean, obviously, they were going to be just fine if they did, and then they play Ryder Cup. But just to, this is the experience.

I mean, it's just like coming down the stretch in a major with a chance to win. I mean, you can learn from it, but there's a good chance that a lot of those guys in the team room are gonna be guys that are gonna be in your team room at the Ryder Cup, but also the vice captains, the guys that I got to know,

David Devall at the Ryder Cup, and I didn't really know him that well before. And then Fiorek hit the president's cup and Freddie, I didn't really know that well. And now I feel like I know, so it's just getting to know those guys and being comfortable around them, but just knowing the guys in the team room of things that I think the president's cup

is kind of a good one for, I probably observed a little bit more, especially in the team setting, just in the team meetings or whatever might be and I understand that I want to be a leader of a team, but I was trying to kind of understand my role and figure out what's appropriate to say what not appropriate say because the rider cup I definitely felt like I was a little more vocal because you know I wanted to be and I felt that it was appropriate. Looking back at the Ryder Cup 2018, it's a weird week for you. I'd imagine that you probably felt like you did all you could. You went four and one, you let the team in points, but the team got smoked. So how do you separate out the two? I mean, obviously you'd rather have the team win, but does it sting to talk about the Ryder Cup or do you look back on it fondly? It's got to be hard on individual bases.

Yeah, I don't think it's selfish to say you look back fond it fondly. It's got to be hard on individual bases. Yeah, it is. I don't think it's selfish to say you look back fondly on it. Well, I look back fondly because I did everything that I could. That's the thing that's hard about the RAD or any team matches that literally the only thing I can control is my match. And I did everything that I possibly could. And I would like to think I was a good teammate

in terms of either pumping guys up or getting them, or just doing anything I could to try to help out. But no, I mean, it just was somewhere we just got outplayed and, you know, some guys just didn't play very well for us, it's just the fact of the matter. And it's not like it's, you know, you can't put it on any, you can't put it on Captain Fierrick, you can't do anything about this. It's just, you can look at it any way you want, but the fact of the matter, they played better in us and we we got smoked so that's

That's that's where I net out on a lot of it is I don't have the records in front of me But Phil has been on every rider cup team. He was gonna get picks like that's just how it was gonna go And I think don't think he won a point Tiger literally won the week before like so it was not like he wasn't informed He went 0 and 3 Bryson was just absolutely on fire leading into the right cup and didn't win a point. So, certain points, you got to play golf and it didn't happen. Yeah, it didn't happen. Did you sense, I guess at what point did you start to sense

if you did that there was going to be some potential drama around maybe the pairings or kind of all the things that fell out afterward? Not until it happened. Really? Yeah. No, I didn't, I don't think anybody really felt that one person felt that way, but everybody else I thought was fine.

And we all were fine. It just was, I think it's easy when something bad like that happens. You want to look at something or kind of cope with it a certain way. And I think that's just kind of what happened. But yeah, it was like we said it just got We just got our brains beading well and also leading up to it from conversations you and I had it

You know the potential pairings you were throwing out were even different than what they ended up being so it didn't sound like it was all totally Decided upon before you went there who was gonna play with who or that you know Speed and read we're gonna break up and you and Jordan were only gonna play together It that didn't seem to be the case leading up to it. Is that right and saying? Yeah, it's, I think. Unless you were trying to throw me off last year. No, no, I'm good with what I tell you, but it's, it really is, it's something to where

we all have our ideas. I mean, Jordan and I, we knew that we were going to play together for, we had a good idea that we were, we were definitely going to play at least one match together. And it was something to where I think if we struggled, then I was gonna go out with Tiger and P. Reed and Jordan were gonna get back because it's like, hey, if we're winning, then you can't, you know, we're gonna keep winning.

And it's something to where, I remember even at the presence cup, like Rick and I were playing, we were winning every match. And then, I mean, we had Burger and I had no discussions of ever playing together and no captain ever said anything. And Rick was gonna sit afternoon, I think, on Saturday. And Captain came up, he's like, hey, you good to go out with Burger?

I'm like, oh yeah, I'll go out with Burger. So we just went out, we won. So it's like, you always have the up in the air thing of, you know, some things are gonna need to get changed around because it's something to wear, you know, like the pairings say with Phil, like he had his pairings, but he was kind of, he was taking one for the team, really, and saying, like, look, I'm not playing well,

like, don't play me. So then, when that happens, you have to change something up, but there's just, there's so much more that goes into it than people think. And it's, I mean, it's not like Jim's sitting in there, like, all right, let's see if we can really change something up. There's so much more that goes into it than people think. And it's not like Jim's sitting in there like, all right, let's see if we can really change this up and win this. It's like, no, he's sending out the best teams

that he feels like we have. And we all feel like we have. And if you would have asked me to play with someone, I didn't want to play with, I would have told him no. But I think that's a good thing about a lot of these teams is we're also good and get along to where we can play with most each other. And that's where it seems, you know, most of the guys that I talked to on the team are

take a pretty good at taking ownership and like it was not 2014, I know you weren't on that team, but it wasn't dictated who you're going to play with. Like you guys are, it's an interaction. It's a feedback thing. Who do you want to play with? And, you know, it's a certain point. It's up to Furek the captain, but at the same time, it's like you guys are also identifying the people you want to play with.

Absolutely. It's a lot of communication. I've already been asked who I potentially want to play with a couple months ago. It's a lot more than just we get there. And we all sit down like, all right, so who do you want to play with? I mean, I was practicing months and months before with Tigers Ball in case we were to play

together. So I would be ready for that. And he was doing the same thing with my ball. He was doing the same thing with P. Reads ball. So it's a lot more than people think. Can you teach us? We'll save the draw chip for later because I want to do, I want to still talk a little bit more right.

So what did it, honestly, a lot of people correlated, you were the only one that went over and played the French open and then you went four and one. Did it help to have seen that golf course, do you think? It's, I mean, anytime you see a golf course, it helps. It nothing could possibly hurt, but I hate to pick on them, but it's like I'm over saying Phil wasn't playing while, but it's not like if you went over, he'd be like,

Oh, no, I'm good. It's like no, like if he did go over and play it before the open. Yeah, exactly a lot of guys, I mean, a fair amount of our guys went and played it beforehand. But the thing is too is the French was, it was firm. It was really firm to where it was, I mean, I remember on nine, I was hit in five wood, like five iron pretty much every day. And then in the Ryder Cup, I was hit in, I think I was hit in like three wood. And then I was trying to hit three wood into the green. So it's just, the wind was totally different. It was firm. It was... Makes the rough play a lot differently, I would imagine. Yeah, so the rough was, the rough was every bit as long at the French.

Because it was, I just remember I drove it really really well that week And I was glad that I did so I didn't have to play out the rough But obviously it was being a lot more wet and everything like that It's just that that changes it a lot in terms of being able to get to the green and such Well, what did you think of the way that golf course was set up? I'll ask that one first and then kind of transition into an idea I have about course set up and the writer couple whatnot. But do you think, did you like the way

that course was set up? Did you think it was a good golf course to play for that event? I mean, I thought it was fine. It's not, I mean, such a golf course. It's not, and it was kind of funny to me because like some guys were like, God, like how I can't believe how narrow

they got these fairways in the roughs up. I'm like, I got news for you. It was just like this at the French open. Like, this is no different. And I just remember reading stuff online. And it's like, you know, this is just such a typical home course thing or home field advantage where the Europeans are setting it up. And I just want to be like, this is not any different than this course.

It's a hard golf course. It's, I mean, I think seven or eight under one, the French open. And it's like, it's a hard course. So they didn't do anything different in the setup, but the course is definitely, I don't know. I mean, I liked it. I thought it was a good test and it has the opportunity, depending on the conditions and the wind

and whether or whatever is to, you can have some birdies, but it's also, especially in that one, it got windy in that alternate shot. You know, your wind and holes with bars and bogeys, so I guess it just depends on what you're like watching. Yeah, I just remember looking down that 17th fairway and just being like that is for a 485 yard hole. That is the wind off the left, yeah. The most narrow fairway, I feel like I've ever seen. It just looked like it was brought in. And so you don't think fairways were brought, okay?

I really, really do not. But my point overall, and I want to get this out in advance of whistling straights because it can get perceived as just butt-her-diness about losing the most recent rider cut. But I think we're going to start trending towards, because 16 was set up really friendly, bombers paradise, and I think the heroes looked at that. We're like, well, we are going to change that. And you know, put up the groove of the rough up and just made that setup about as hard as possible. I think we're going to steer right back the opposite way

for Whistling Straits. And I just think that at some point, we're going to have to look into it. We want to set up for the most exciting event. Because the last three rider cups have not really been close. And their home team has won all of that. That's very true.

It's like, I don't know if we want to keep trending in that direction. Because we want drama. I mean, I want the US to win, of like, I don't know if we want to keep trending in that direction. Because we want drama. I mean, I want the US to win, of course, but we want excitement. We want it to be close and exciting. And I just think that there should be some kind of neutral party that kind of sets up these golf courses.

Yeah, that's starting in 2022. Yeah, I've never really thought of that. But I definitely think that is a good idea because it's not like it's, you're not gonna get the better players win. It's golf course. We could go play Jupiter, par three here, and one of the teams is going to win.

So it is true, but I guess when it is your home field, why wouldn't you do it, especially when it's something as big as the Ryder Cup, but it is funny how it is training home field, you know, why wouldn't you do it, especially when it's something as big as the Ryder Cup, but it is kind of funny how it is turning that way out, so I probably haven't played enough to understand it or, but I mean, I know I've talked to Rory about Mdynan, he's just said it was laughable. The rough was, it was not, not easy to say. Yeah, well, it just was weird to mean,

and it's not coming from just the US perspective too, and listeners of this podcast have heard me complain about this, but it's, they've seen Rory and Ron get totally neutralized by that golf course too, was certainly, watching, seeing Rory stand up with Iron on number three and hidden Iron off of par five was like, whoa, this is, this is different. But one of the best moments of the year I thought was you're a little fued this spring with the USGA. What, what in the hell happened, I honestly, I had to go back and I don't even

remember what the source of it was. It was basically on the new lineup rule, correct? And the rule changes, defect the rule changes have kind of, that kind of issues have faded away. Summer, what was your big issue with the transition period? Yeah, it's definitely faded away. That was so childish. It just was, I mean, it was something where, again,

I was just sitting at home and then, you know, I'm pretty sure that was when I was hurt or I don't know. Now, you were playing, it was waste management. Oh, okay. It was the line, like, playing with the caddies. I guess I thought it was the whole thing with the USJ was after that. But I do, I mean, I was very vocal because I think that is just the dumbest role ever. It just doesn't, I understand if you're lining someone up, but everybody, I mean, the way it was getting interpreted was exactly. Exactly.

And the fact that it's so funny to me too, it's like, how do they end on the two-shot penalty? Like, why not one? Why is it two? So my thing that I, and I've spoken with the USGA many times, is I just don't like the transparency and I don't like the, how there's not how there hasn't been that much communication in the past. And they've wondered why the relationship has struggled between us and them and it's like, well, you don't talk to us about anything and then you just make these changes and then

we say something that we don't like it and then you get defensive. And it's almost like if they just will come out, if they just would come out and admit, not, they don't need to admit they're wrong, but you know what I mean? Just kind of like face the truth. Yeah, exactly. And it just was, yeah, I mean, when they, whoever got a hold of their stuff

and tweeted out that I've canceled meetings and stuff like that, I was, Justin, we need to talk. I was, I was, I was, that was probably the most angry I've ever been because it's like, look, you're not just, I understand if I did that, but you can't, when you are that big of a, of a program or that big of an organization, you can't just be putting stuff out there that's false. I'm like, you guys are slandering my name and make me look bad and people are thinking that I've just been hiding behind all all this stuff and I'm like, even if you did die, you still like,

it's a whole thing about like social media justice and all this, any kind of allegation sticks to you. Exactly, and as soon as that happened, I was like, it's stupid of me, I shouldn't have said anything. I should have just been a bigger man and just gone to them, but it's like, unfortunately, that's just kind of the day and age right now where it's like, it's almost like if you're having a bad day,

you just go to social media about it. But it's, yeah, when that hole came out, I just was like, you gotta be kidding me. I mean, how can you honestly just say something that is so blatantly non-true? Right. Well, what is it that makes the USGA somewhat of an easy target from players? Because you never hear players, you know, be this critical of the PGA tour on any kind of, you know, anything that pops up. What is it that kind of leads to this distrust that I feel really exists between the players and the USGA? Um, I just think it's, I mean, that's the thing is I have like, I have great relationships

with a lot of guys in the USGA and like I don't think that, you know, that Mike Davis is a bad person. I just think that he's made some not very good decisions. So it's, and I think Jason Gore being on the USGA now is going to be very helpful. I mean, I've had a lot of discussions with him and anytime I have a question, you know, I call him and I like, I mean, again, I like many of them, but like I like Jason and I know him personally to where I feel like I can talk to him. But I don't know, I just, I mean, I think it speaks for itself the fact of what they've done with some setups and golf courses. And just never kind of admitting when they mess up kind of thing and just some of the things that they kind of say.

And I mean, the whole, yeah, I mean, there's there's it's a pile on effect, though, too. I think it's kind of what, you know, Rory really went hard on them three years ago And I think that brought the brought people like even Ricky was going in at 2016 at Oakmont Which Ricky never really takes on controversy so it's just it is kind of a the way I've you know People will say to it's like a lot of tour guys I don't want to say don't respect the USGA, but also just like a lot of The way it's viewed is they're mid-handy capcappers that are kind of telling you how to play your game. And it's just they don't necessarily necessarily the people that maybe in the past, I don't

want to say if I can speak for the current set of the USGA, but just don't have the golf spirit, like the golfers that really understand competitive golf. Yeah, it runs the whole thing. Yeah, and I mean I think it's crazy as it is. I think that everything that happened with the whole just the Twitter stuff, like, I'm not just saying this because it was me, but I really do think that was kind of a big step because I think that for them, they like realized like this is really what we're doing.

We're at this point and just the amount of times that are the effort that they've made now to either come out and talk to us personally or talk to different guys and get opinions because I think that is important. And, you know, I mean, there's a lot of different things that, and not only the USGA, I mean, the PGA tour of the map, like it's, we all want the best of for the tour and for the organization and it's just, yeah, like you said, sometimes they're an easy target.

But they have been because they kind of set himself up for him. Right. Another fun incident from this year, is you were in Bryson's group. I believe it was in the playoffs at some point when he took over two minutes and 15 seconds on a, but I was considered a rather simple eight foot putt. You didn't seem to be as enjoying it quite that much

as it was going on. Did you and him talk about that incident at all afterward or what was the reaction like after that? No, so I mean when I got done, I got asked about it in the media. So I mean, obviously as you know, I've been very open to the media. I just don't really like kind of being a robot or lying or anything like that. I just want to, I don't want to be disrespectful, but I want to answer the question truthfully. And they asked me what I thought and I told them what I thought.

And I reached out to Bryce at the late of that night because I didn't really like how it happened. I would have much more preferred me talk to Bryce and then do that because I just didn't want him to feel like I was talking behind his back. So it makes sense. I just reached out to him. I was like, talking behind his back. Right. It makes sense. I just reached out to him.

I was like, hey man, I don't know if you saw all this stuff I said. But I just wanted to reach out because I didn't like how it happened. I wanted to talk to you personally. And I was like, I'm more than happy to talk anytime, like if you want to call me or see the course, whatever it is. But I just, I don't like we're're gonna have a long future playing against each other and playing on teams together. And I don't want there to be any animosity between us.

And so I just, I basically just kind of want to apologize. But, yeah, he can't, he never, he just said thanks. And I'll see you at the course or something like that. And I mean, it was not really the time on a Sunday morning to discuss it, but it was for he and Brooks, apparently. Yeah, yeah, he came up to me and said something, and I just was like, yeah, I mean, another time kind of thing,

but now he never reached out, so I mean, I think he's doing all right. You think you're cool. What is slow play, how does it affect you? It looks a lot of people say, there's a lot of guys, I guess talk about slow play and golf and some viewers. And I've kind of been at this opinion for a decent amount of time of like, I don't care that much about it. If, you know, it gives the TV time to get over and show more golf shots and whatnot.

I'm not a huge hurry for your guys' rounds to finish. But what does it affect you? From the professional competition standpoint of an event, I do care about it. If it's fast players that are paying the penalty for other people being slow, I think that's bullshit. But yeah, how does it affect you personally? It just think it's so hard to get an arrhythm. It affects your golf. I mean, you can't get an arrhythm. It's like, you know, you say you're playing well and then you get on a tee and there's two groups or it's like it's, or you're not playing well and then you get on a tee and there's two groups or you're not playing well

and then you're just you just, it's just, there's so, so much that goes into it and that's gonna be something that I don't think will ever get perfected in terms of getting a great system but it is really hard but it's just frustrating. You know, it's like, does it really need to take us, you know, six hour, five and a half hours but it's long rounds but take us, you know, six hour, five and a half hours, but it's long rounds,

but yeah, I mean, I think the, honestly, a big part of it is just the amount of people that are playing in the tournament and the golf course set up. It's just strictly what it is. I mean, you look at, there's no coincidence that the US Open is the longest round we play all year because the USGA sets it up very difficult

and there's a lot of people there. So it's not, I think the whole time part just needs to get thrown out the window because it changes every day in terms of the conditions and the setup and the course and how many guys are there. So I think time parts are relevant in general, but it's just it's something to where,

it's just if you just play a little bit, everyone just plays a little bit faster. I mean, it's so funny because we talk about it all the time and things that we can do to get better. But like, how much time are we really trying to improve here? Like, are we all going to get this much faster for 15 minutes less off the round? Like, it's, yeah, it's great.

But, you know, look on the weekend when we play in two zones, we play in, you know, just under four hours. And that's, it seems to be, yeah, to me, it's more of a traffic issue than it is. And actually, I mean, there are contributing factors to slow play, but one being fast greens, like nothing's really a gimmie, you know, and you're trying to avoid everyone's line.

There's gonna be more markings, there's gonna be more reading, and just, it's a lot, a lot of things that really contribute to it. Do you have any fixes, anything that you think like, all right, we need to do that. Like we get rid of green books, we need distance find, or range finders, what would you propose

if you were in a position to make those decisions? Yeah, range finders definitely not. I mean, because no one ever just like sees pin hit pin. You know, you gotta, I mean, it helps for the occasional offline drive that I'll hit, and I'm in another fairway that'd be nice But whether intentional or unintentional. Yeah, exactly. So I Think that's that wouldn't do anything because you're still gonna be looking at your book and what what your cover is and where you're gonna land

At this and that but it really is just the I mean, it just it can't take that long to hit a to hit a shot you're Especially puts and stuff like that. I mean, I think that's what's hard is because if you do, if you're very, very strict on the timing and then you get a 25-month-hour day, I'm probably gonna back off five or six shots because what am I gonna hit the wrong club and hit it over the green and make a bogey instead of a birdie,

so it's like, that's where I think that they've had a hard, the tour's had a hard time just pulling the trigger on something because it's just something like that isn't fair. Well, and it's also, it is a very cyclical issue because there's often nowhere to go. So why hurry up to go wait on the next T-Box, which is why the penalties are the way they are and that you only get penalties

if your group is out of position and you take over and you're on the clock. And because like the two events I played in this year, you only get penalties if your group is out of position and you take over and you're on the clock. And because like the two events I played in this year, I had to slow myself down so much because I don't wanna go sit and wait. There's two groups waiting on the next T-Box of Part Three. Why would I hurry and do it?

And that just kind of slowly eats its way back, the goal, of course. I think the number one thing that I would do just to start, is just, your warning is when you tee off on the first all like you we don't we're not eight we don't need to get told when we're behind hey you're behind it's like no shit I can't even see the group in front of us like it's pretty obvious we're behind so let slower players don't I feel like don't care if they're behind they don't mind that it's the fact they might get penalized that would make them speed up

But they don't necessarily feel an obligation to keep up with the group in front of them. And that's where I, I'm curious, it's kind of a half-baked idea, but kind of not. There's data out there on how long each player takes on each hole, and who's the fast players, who's the slow. My proposal was pair all the slow players together, pair all the fast players together, so that the slow players

can't take advantage of the fact that somebody else is helping them make up the time. They're going to get put on the clock and they're going to have their shots timed and they just, you know, they can't benefit from you taking less time and them taking more time. Yeah, it's a half-baked idea, but like there's something there. We've kind of talked about something like that. It's just, it's hard because then you get into the categories and stuff like that. But, you know, you bring up the idea of like, hey, let's, if you're in the best category

and you get bad times, like you're bumped out of category, like you, something like that, or you can play your way up a category, which is tough because every rookie has to go through that. Like it's, it's, you can play your way out of those two times. Like I had to play my first 10 events and those two times and I played well enough to get into the next category. Like that's just a part of that process. But I mean, I even proposed like, I mean, it's kind of childish and laughable, but like shame them. Like get the 10 slowest people, put them up in the locker room.

Like let them know, like you can't argue. Like it's funny to me, as slow players never think they're slow. It's insane. And whatever, like you're good dude and everything, but Bryson, like how can you say that you're not slow? Like you're very everything to slow. It's insane. Whatever, you're good dude and everything, but Bryson, how can you say that you're not slow? You're very, very slow. It's just, it is.

I think something to where you're like, hey, you're up there, you can't tell me you're not slow. You're face the truth. It's time. Yeah. And I think that'll give him some accountability. I don't really want to be on this list anymore sort of thing. So I brought that up and kind of got laughed at, but I thought it wouldn't be a terrible idea.

Got laughed at by the slow players. That's none of the fast players. But I think that would be a cool system, too, to reward the fast players. I mean, who are some of your favorite people to play with in a competitive event because of the pace that they play at? Bill Hauss is definitely one.

Kiz is always good. I mean, Brooks is fast. DJ's quick, but he takes his time on the greens. But I mean, like someone like Kiz and Bill Hauss is definitely, he's my favorite to play with. He's awesome. Would you have any interest in a made for TV event like the match where you paid attention when Tiger and Phil played and would you want the interest in doing something like that and Phil played, and would you want to be interested

in doing something like that in the future? I would definitely want to do that. Yeah, I did watch it, but I think that it would love that. That's just kind of up my alley, like just being able to talk trash and have some fun. And that's what it felt like it needed. A little more people involved and kind of, because those guys are not good at trash talking

each other as much as they think they are, they're really not. And they kind of need a little mix of guys that are willing to raise each other in kind of. I think two more players would have been big. I mean, when it's one on one and like, you know, if you one person hits it, left and one hits it right, like they're not going to see each other till the green. So it's like you just to be able to have those two extra people to, to, or even if they're talking amongst their team or to the other people or fans, whatever, but just to have those additional people would be, I think would be big.

I can't remember if we ever talked about this one here, and last couple here we're going to let you go, but we've been to talk about this in recent years, but I'm curious, I'm sure you get asked this a lot. What you've kind of seen happen in unfold with smiley cough in a friend of yours, and how often you guys talk. And from everything I hear, he'll go out and practice around Stripe it, he'll go on the range, Stripe it, and it just has not worked for him in the golf course for several years.

Do you, is there anything you can relate to in any of that? I mean, do you guys talk about it? What do you see going on there? I mean, help us understand it. Yeah, I've talked to Smiley a good bit. It's something where we probably don't, we're not like texting every week, but like we'll FaceTime or we'll talk on the phone for, you know, once every two or three weeks for, you know, a half hour, 45 minutes. I just kind of catch up on everything. And I mean, if he's playing in a tournament, like in the

playoffs, I text and I'm telling him, play a while, stuff like that. But I just, I think the thing that's so hard for, or what has been so hard for him is kind of similar to like what I was doing with my putting is like I think he was changing so much to where he never had a constant variable, you know, like he, he tried this, maybe swing coach and then like, all right, well, I'm just going to see this guy while I'm home and then we'll maybe do this. But I mean, he, I have played with him and yeah, his swing does look good and it's just about the reps and getting the competitive think back.

And I mean, we all know he's good. I mean, you don't win on towards the accident. I mean, he's good enough to play out here for a really long time and win again, but it's just about, I think he's kind of had the two way miss going and really struggle with his club face control. So I think once he gets that consistency back

and just kind of can eliminate one side of the golf course to where he can play it again, because it was actually funny. We were talking last week. And he said how he had such a good putting year. He's like, man, if I didn't put, he's like, I would have put up some number. So it's such a funny game.

It's so hard. And it doesn't make sense how someone can play so well for a year or a couple of years. And then all of a sudden, it's like, what game. It's so hard and it doesn't make sense how someone can play so well for a year, a couple of years, and then all of a sudden, it's like, what am I gonna do? And why can't I do this? So it's a tough game and it sucks sometimes, but I think you'll, you know, in the long run,

when he gets out of this, he'll be way better before it, because I think it kind of puts things in perspective and he probably respects the game a lot more now. He chimed in on Twitter when we were all getting all fired up when Max home a one earlier this year because Max has been pretty honest about the struggles he's had and he just said that damnises like relatable as hell to like not knowing where every OB stake is on the golf course to like winning golf tournaments.

Yeah. It can happen. It's not over. I mean, I don't know a lot of people have declared it's over, but if that talent is in there, then I think it can be activated. But it's just, I do admire the perseverance and like, he keeps seeing it up and it's, at a certain point, it's got to be embarrassing, I would think, and you have to feel some of that and it, we hope that, keep rooting for him.

He's almost become a bit of a punchline. That's the part that's really unfortunate is, I hate seeing that. It's like, no, dude, like this, I don't know Spinaly very well, but I'm like, dude, there's a human here that's struggling with this career. It's not really funny to let that play. It is tough, and I think it's a lot more relatable, like you said, he's one of my good buddies, but it is, I think people just always have to have something to pick on or something to kind of do, and it's people just always have to have something to pick on or something to kind of do. And it's unfortunate that it has to be him or that it has been him, but the joke will be on them.

And I know that a part of that is kind of pushing him and probably in the back of his mind, like I can't wait to win again so I can kind of silence all those people. What do you think of, you know, okay, so you came out, you were one of these guys, you were a guy that hits a long ways, come and fresh out of college, takes the tour a bit like a bit by storm. You're 26 now, I don't know if you consider yourself a veteran yet, but now you're seeing younger guys,

guys younger than you come in, play really well, really quickly. Does it shift the competitive landscape at all for you? I mean, does it help you? Because you know, you had a target of when you get out there looking up and see all the older guys that have been there. You got to look both ways. Does that have any kind of effect on you? It doesn't. I think that it's great for golfers sure, and they're so impressive what they're doing. I mean, it's crazy.

It's like the, for obviously everything Matt Wolf did and Victor Haaland did was unbelievable. And they're obviously great players, but I mean, what Conwork Howe did and how well he played and how consistent and just, I feel like he's handled his emotions so well. And he's, we're represented by the same agency, so I've gotten to know him a little bit. And he's just, he's handled his emotions so well, and we're represented by the same agency, so I've gotten to know him a little bit.

And he's just, he's a good dude. He's driven, he works hard, but he's right here the whole time. He's not like me when I was at age. I'm not bouncing my emotions aren't everywhere, but that's just how he is. I think he's someone that's going to be out for a long time. I went a lot of tournaments, but I think just how he is. And I think he's someone that's gonna be, I mean, I think they're all gonna be out for a long time and win a lot of tournaments, but I think he's so impressive and it is kind of odd having to look both ways. I'm definitely, I welcome the challenge

and I know that they have plenty of things to learn still, but I would love to be coming on the stretch with them and teaching them a thing or two, that's for sure. Last one, you had recent posting on social media about a melanoma scar you had on your leg. Tell us about that, how you discovered that and kind of where it comes from and what the messaging is there.

Yeah, it was definitely scary. I hadn't gotten going to the dermatologist in probably a year and a half or two and I just wanted to go check it out. And I had this, I mean, it was a really, it was really, really small mole. It just was on the back of my left cabin. I just wanted to go get it checked out.

So my doctor here, I reached out to him, asking for a dermatologist and one of his buddies is. So I just went and checked it out. And he just asked, is there anything in particular I want to look at? I was like, just look at this. If you don't mind, he's like, yeah, we'll just, we're want to look at? I was like, just look at this, if you don't mind. And he's like, yeah, we'll just, we're going to take that and we'll check it out. So they shave it off and they take it into the lab, do whatever.

And I got a text from my doctor like three days later at about 6 p.m. saying, call me. And that's not a good thing. Right. So I called him and he was like, so there was some melanoma in that mole. And I was, he's like, yeah, you're so lucky. You caught it when you did. What kind of hit home for me is he was like, yeah, you were probably about two years away

from potentially being like a patient in the hospital if you didn't get this. And I was just like, holy shit. I mean, it just was, it was crazy. So I went in and I scheduled an appointment to get, I mean, they call it a surgery. It's not really a surgery, but to get it removed and they numbed me up and cut a pretty nice chunk out of my leg in 15 minutes.

I was gone, but I did get a call a couple of days ago that all the melanoma was out. So it is good. It just is scary, especially for as much time as we spend in the sun. And it's not just golfers. I mean, it's anybody, but I remember as a kid not wanting to get looked at, and just because it's like the dentist, you know, it's something you just don't want to do.

And I definitely am glad that I did it, and it's pretty scary, but I talked with my agents a while, but like, you know, I just kind of said, I was like, do you think that this is something I should share? I feel like this is a, it's a pretty good, but I don't want it, I'm not doing it because I don't want people to feel sorry for them. No, no, no, no. I don't know.

I was like, there's a reason why people always say these things, like, yeah. Where are your sunscreen? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, you guys are great. I learned a ton about you from you guys about sun protection, don't mess with this stuff. It's not meant to be messed with

and thick the stuff you guys use on the golf course, like with all the zinc and stuff and is what you need to protect yourself from this stuff. But it was just cool because I had so many people reach out, like, you know, like, it's so cool. You did this, like, I had a dad who had this or, like, I've had three spots removed. And like, I mean, the messages I was getting on Instagram, like, it was scary. I mean, people were like sending me stuff that happened to them, and it was just a change in my life.

I didn't get it in time, and I'm just like, geez, that's... So I was glad I did it, because I definitely do think that it spread, and I had friends reach out to me, saying I just scheduled an appointment, and I'm... It was a scare for sure, but I'm glad that it's all gone, and I'm ready to start doing something again, because I'm getting pretty bored. There's not a whole lot on TV.

That's why you called me down here to come down here. No, thank you again. We'll wrap it at that for I think that pretty much covers the last year, last year of golf and life. But this was a lot of fun. This was like my favorite one we've ever done. A lot of really good stuff. So I appreciate it, man.

So next year. Till next year. Well, I guess we got rid of the rule. The rule was originally we had to win the Masters coming up, but we're suckers for content. We'll let you let you back anytime you want. Perfect. All right, thanks, man. Yeah.

It's getting right close. Be the right club today. Yes. Yes. That is better than most. How about him? That is better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most.