No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - NLU Podcast, Episode 717: Jane Park

Episode Date: July 19, 2023

We have a very special bonus midweek episode as Randy speaks with Jane Park. Jane left the LPGA Tour in 2021 after her ten month old daughter, Grace, experienced a series of seizures which left her with permanent brain damage. This week Jane will return to the tour along with Paula Creamer at the Dow Great Lakes Invitational - the LPGA's team event - in Midland, Michigan. In addition to enjoying a proper send-off for her competitive career, Jane hopes to bring awareness and raise financial support for families of children who experience epileptic seizures. (You can follow Jane's week on Instagram @TheJanePark. If you'd like to contribute to the foundations mentioned, please visit: Epilepsy Foundation and Golf4Her Foundation) Jane walks us through her family's experiences through the last two years, her goals for the upcoming tournament, her favorite current players to watch on the LPGA Tour and a ton more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm going to be the right club today. Yes. That is better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back into the No Laying Up podcast. Thank you for being here. My name is Randy. We have a special little bonus episode this week.

I know the main event in the golf world is certainly the British Open presented by his majesty, the king, but also going on on the LPGA tours, the Dow Great Lakes invetational and the story there will be all about Jane Park. Jane had to step away from the tour two years ago to care for her now two-year-old daughter Grace. We get into the story and what all she's been through the last couple years. And in doing that, she didn't get a proper sendoff from her peers, from her fans.

And so this week is a one time event. Her husband Pete is gonna be cadding for and Jane is gonna be paired up with Paula Kramer. It's a team event. And honestly, it's just gonna be a celebration of Jane, of grace, of all that she has been through, and what she stands for, the courage, the strength, the humanity that she showed through the last couple of years. And so with that, we thought it was a great

time to bring Jane on. She's a good friend of ours. Somebody we loved, loved, loved, running into on the road. In fact, in a lot of our highlight montages for the live show, Jane has one of the most epic early walks that we've ever captured on camera. So of course, Kudos to her for that. We're going to get into the difficulties that her daughter Grace has been through. What this week means for her. And we're going to just chat generally a little bit about women's golf and the LPJ tour. So I hope you enjoy. Before I bring in Jane though, I want to thank our sponsor for today's episode. And guess what guys? It's the No-Lang-Up Pro Shop. That's right. The Merchzar is buying up

ad inventory to put the word out that's a strapped collection has been refreshed. We have commemorative t-shirts, posters, stickers for each strap season, as well as select items that we've worn on season 11. So visit store.nolayingup.com to shop the strap collection and look out for new head covers, hats, and the new Holderness and Born Summer collection next week. We ship worldwide. We offer free shipping in the United States for orders over $100. If you're a Nest member, you can get 15% off each and every time you purchase something. If you have any issues or interested in a large bulk order for a team or organization,

you can always reach out for help at ProShop at noLangup.com where Casey or the ZARMS self will be quick to help. So visit store.noLangup.com to update your scripting for the 2023 golf season. We work hard to source high quality and stylish apparel and we appreciate the support of the ProShop and our content. Again, that store.noLangup.com where you can go get involved. You know, we thank our sponsors. So I'll go ahead and thank the Mup.com where you can go get involved. You know, we think

I think our sponsors, so I'll go ahead and thank the Merchzars as well for gobbling up the inventory. It makes the internal accounting a real headache, but no, we appreciate it. And without further ado, I'll get out of the way and begin my conversation with Jane Park. What's joining us now, as I mentioned, Jane Park, Jane, it's a real pleasure. Of course, longtime LPGA player. Last played in 2021. We're going to get into your story. But you're making your return this week at the Dow Great Lakes invitation.

Let's start here. How excited are you? How nervous are you? What are the emotions going into this weekend? I don't know if I'm going to cry or vomit, maybe both. I haven't really practiced, but I mean, that's kind of a size of a point. I'm not really returning to be competitive, but more so to raise awareness about epilepsy and also I think Dow has been so gracious to want to have my family back and just kind of I kind of think of this as like the send-off that I would have liked to have

instead of having the choice made for me because my daughter got sick. But yeah, this is, it's nerve-wracking still because, you know, I play competitive golf for so long. And those feelings, although they have been tucked away, way, way, way down deep, they're still there, you know. And I watch golf, I'm able to watch golf now without completely losing my shit. So yeah, it's gonna be fun, but also nerve-wracking. Well, let's just dive right into it. You said this is a chance to have a proper goodbye,

really to go out, I would think, more on your terms than anything else. Can you talk about, I know so many people know your story. I hope most of our listeners already know kind of the last two years what's been going on in your life. But if you don't mind kind of setting the stage for why a proper send off and why you're coming you know, coming back for this event after two years. I believe the last time you played was July of 2021. Correct, correct. Well, I mean, long story short, I had a 10-month-old girl named Grace, who my husband and I were traveling with, kind of trying to get acclimated into playing professionally, having a child using LPGH childcare.

And in July 2021, she was in childcare. We brought her home. I had played like Do Do and Miss the Cut, but you know, it is what it is. And that Saturday morning, she just kind of fell asleep, what I thought was a very, very good nap on me. And she didn't wake up. She was still breathing, but we couldn't get her to come to. And, you know, in hindsight, I wish I had realized that that was kind of an issue before taking her to the hospital. I think we waited probably three or four hours because, you know, I thought it was a really good nap. And, you know, the rule, the golden rules to to never wake us sleeping maybe. But she had been having subclinical seizures, which means they don't present physically.

So she was having seizures and kind of shut her brain down. And there was a lot of lack of oxygen for a while and that caused permanent brain damage to her. And then obviously a very big change in our world going to a full-time caregiver because you know, I mean, anything, I do anything for her and, you know, having to step away from golf was, wasn't ideal, but, you know, in retrospect, I wouldn't have done it any other way. It's unimaginable. I retrospect, I wouldn't have done it any other way. It's unimaginable. I mean, I'm so sorry. I know you've been for folks that don't know your Instagram, it's at the Jane Park on Instagram. You've shared a lot of your journey there.

I'm curious through these couple years. I mean, I know there's just so much, but are there things that you have learned that, you know, for anybody listening that might be in a similar situation with a child needing full-time care? What are those things that have really clicked for you and what would you tell anybody that, you know know is listening in a similar situation? I would say the biggest thing that has helped me is finding a community that are going through similar things. And for some reason advocating for another family or another child that is going through the same thing or even just spending time talking through another child that is going through the same thing or even just spending time talking through

what the parents are going through. It's very cathartic in some ways, but also it kinda makes you feel like you're less alone. And the only reason I found this amazing community of online parents that take care of children or people with disabilities is because of the help with my LPGA friends. I went first, when Grace first got sick, I had no intention of continuing my social media because

it was just too painful because, you know, everything I had shared prior to her getting sick was, you know, golf and LPGA tour life and, you know and new life of being a mom while trying to juggle a golf career. I had deactivated all of my accounts, but come two or three weeks into this new life. I'm like, man, I can't really do this on my own. I need help. And I needed a bigger outreach.

And that's where the LPGA girls kicked in. And I asked for help and they posted it on their social media. And then I got flooded with messages from other moms and people who knew doctors and specialists. So yeah, I mean, if you, I think every parent that is going through what I am, we just want to help each other. And it would be my honor to help whoever might need a resource or a bigger help. It's amazing.

I want you to talk about the LPGA community and how they've stayed involved. But the other thing from your social media is just the role that your family has played. I mean, and I have to say A1 and A2, Ant1 and Ant2, truly some of the most joyful, kind, wonderful human beings that exist, I imagine. Can you just, I don't know. Can you just brag on how wonderful your family's been and I think you're downplaying to a little bit your friends and some of the support you've received from the LPGA players, your colleagues, if you will. Because the stories you share when, you know, they pop by for visits, when they're in town, it's just so wonderful. So I, you know, I just was hoping you could talk about what they do for you. Well, let me just start off by saying that, not all families that have

these difficulties with people with disabilities have the support that I have been very lucky to have. and family and friends have been absolutely crucial to turning not only my attitude around, but like us as a family being able to move forward from, you know, the absolutely detrimental and tragic thing that happened to our family. But yeah, my aunt is here now. She's actually in the basement with Grace and trying to get her to sleep. But she, A1 is just, she just has so much energy and she, I think she sees, she kind of raised me, like I spent a lot of time with her when I was younger. And I think in a way she sees me in grace, like as in physical manifestation, she sees little baby Jane in grace. And she just thinks that's like really fun for her. Like she's getting to do this all over again with with grace. But yeah, they are just

Yeah, they are just salt of the earth people who will do anything to get grace to laugh or me to laugh. And the LPGA players are, we were just, we're, I call us like the traveling circus. We don't have the money to hire private jets and have these extravagant getaways to go from one tournament to another on our private jet. So we fly commercially, we all just try to help each other as much as possible. Yeah, we pack up and we go and we move to a different place and we see each other

at the same restaurants and we play and practice together, like a damn traveling circus, including the caddies. And when someone's in trouble, that's the enateness of the LPGA tours of family. We want to help each other. There have been times where my suitcase didn't show up and girls offered to give me one of their outfits. And outfits are really important during LPGA tournaments to do, you know, I've got to get a little bit of a little bit of little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little without thinking twice, like even small things like that, they are so involved and we just want

to try to help each other, but we also want to beat the crap out of each other on the golf course, which I think is a beautiful type of relationship and dichotomy's relationship to have. Yeah, well, I'll say laundry, laundry's tough anyway, you know, I struggle with laundry here in my own place. How much are you able to laugh these days? A lot more than I used to. I will be honest. And I think it's a way of protecting myself from the stark reality of how difficult it is to take care of a medically complex child. If I didn't laugh then man, I I don't want I don't need to get all

serious and dark on you, but man, if I didn't laugh, I don't think I'd be here. And I know you and I have met before and I'm pretty happy to go lucky to be honest, you know, I not much brings me down, but obviously, you know, incredible life events that just turn everything upside down, you know, it's going to get anybody down. But I will say with the tribe that I have with my family and friends, like they are there to not only sit with me in the trenches when I need to be and validate that, you know, all these feelings are normal, but also they're there to celebrate with me and laugh with me and laugh at me, which is, which I think is the best thing. But yeah, we've come a long way. We've come a very long way, and I'm sure you've seen with like my social

media posts of, you know, how freaking dark it was in the beginning. Yeah, I mean, it just, my heart would break for you guys, for your family. You're being real. You were being vulnerable and honest, and there's no other way to paper over that. I'm curious. You've mentioned an online community. Have you found other resources that you would point people to again,

if somebody's listening and kind of in the depths of something like, you've been going through? Are there places that you found that have been lights? I would say it's really weird, but not weird. I would say as a parent, you know your child best. And one thing I would take away from, and I didn't really believe this, at the beginning of the journey, but a lot of parents were reaching out in my inbox and saying, you know, doctors don't know anything.

And I'm like, well, what the hell do you mean? Like, I don't know shit about anything. And, you know, my kids literally almost dying on this hospital bed. I don't know anything about her condition. Why would the doctors not know everything? They are the ones that's supposed to lead us out of the woods. But in reality, the more you get to know your child's, you know, diagnosis for lack of better word, Grace still remains undiagnosed, but the more you get to know your child and, you know, I guess, relearn your child if you've had a neuro-typical child that suddenly got taken away from you. You really just have to follow your gut feelings about things. And the biggest takeaway from the online community is ask your doctor, but also ask other parents

that have gone through the same thing because there are a lot of similarities. And the doctors are following a statistical kind of roadmap on, oh, this person has epilepsy, so this, and this, and this should happen. Whereas, you know, all disabilities are different. Every epilepsy case is different. And there really is no right or wrong way, except just be true to yourself, I guess. And just keep asking questions and keep researching. That's literally all I do.

I just keep researching trying to find something, but, you know, at the end of the day, something might not come up in Grace World probably would be disabled for the rest of her life. But we love the shit out of her. So that's really all that matters. the rest of her life, but we love the shit out of her. So that's really all that matters. Amen to that. You are going, you're in Michigan this week, you're playing with Paula Kramer. I know they're selling hats at the tournament. Yeah. To benefit a couple foundations, the epilepsy found it proceeds, I should say benefiting a couple foundations, the epilepsy foundation and the golf for her foundation.

Is there any way people can pick those up that aren't attending the tournament? Do you know? I think so. I'm going to have to check with the tournament. I think they're still trying to get all of that kind of figured out. Once I figure that out, I will post it on my Instagram Twitter. Well, wonderful. We will look out for that information. I also want to tell listeners in the show notes to this episode. I've linked to the two foundations, which are being supported,

again, the Epilepsy Foundation and the Golf for Her Foundation. I will say players, your fellow players will be wearing ribbons throughout the week to show their support. It's going to be, I mean, Jane, you're very popular amongst your peers and for good reason. I just, I have a feeling this weekend is just going to be such a celebration and I hope it's just a wonderful uplift of you and I should say your husband, Pete Godfrey, he's great. We've had a chance to meet him in the past. He's gonna be cattying for you. I just am so happy about this weekend for you. You just have to go out and make some birdies.

You know, that's the only thing. Can we start with the main cars? Because, Randy, when I tell you, I have played like eight holes in the last two years, I'm not kidding you, not kidding. That is the extent of my golf. And I've hit maybe 30 range balls since Grace got sick in part because it was a little too painful for me

to go back out, but now it's more like I need to be outside. I need to do something other than, you know, be at home. But yeah, let's start with pars. Cause, you know, Paul and I, we're pretty much dinosaurs compared to the rest of the tour. And honestly, I feel like if we make it to the finish line, I think that would be great. So, yeah, I mean, can we just have Bogey as our partner? I'd be cool with that.

I'm just going to pick up right after, if Bogey, if I'm putting for Bogey, I'm just picking up. What is the format? I, do you know how each day is structured? Yeah, it's alternate shot and bestball. Okay, alternate shot the first day. I don't know, but if it is, man, we are in for a freaking doozy man. I know. I got to think they start you with bestball.

And I should, as the podcast host, I should know that Jane and, and I apologize for. Well, I, I should know that because I have played in that tournament. I still don't remember. Okay. You call yourself a dinosaur, but I want people to realize you've had an extraordinary career dating back to your junior days, your amateur days, US women's open champion, 2004. US women's amateur champion.

Amateur champion. I know you said US women's open champion, 2004. US women's amateur champion. Amateur champion. I know you said US women's open champion. I'm playing. Oh, I'm sure it's open. So my mind. Paul, that's right. Well, you were low-am in the US open before you term pro. And then you had a T five in 2015 in the US women's open. But no, you played across what gosh, 15 seasons there

about played in 56 majors. You made 32 cuts. I mean, you are quite experienced. I guess I would love to then have you been able to watch much golf the last couple of years? I know you said at first it was probably painful and, you know, I'm sure there was a swirl of emotions, but are you ever able to flip it on?

Yeah, I especially tune into the majors, whether it's the men or women playing, definitely love watching now. I would say it took me about a year to kind of allow myself to sit and watch something that has been part of my life for so long that was suddenly taken away, but also I just love watching my peers succeed. And you know, I've always loved watching, watching golf in general. So yeah, I, I watch, I watch quite a bit, I would say. I was watching

Scott show in this morning. I'll be tuning into the ladies golf later. Were you able to catch much from Pebble Beach last week? Oh, yeah, yeah, I was watching intently. It would have been amazing to compete there. Obviously, it was a monumental move for the women's game to be able to play at Pebble. Should have been there many, many years ago, but here we are. We've got a new champion in Allison and she's unbelievable. And yeah, I mean, I don't think people understand how good these women are.

And, you know, I know you guys have been to a lot of ladies golf events, but I think you can definitely agree that we, that they have so much game, and they're just not showcased in the way that I would love them to be. I mean, it's, I don't think people understand, which makes me sad. I mean, it's, I don't think people understand, which makes me sad. You and me both, I've been floor, I mean, Jane, I've told this story some other times, but you know, growing up, I might, I was into golf and, you know, I might catch like a final round of a women's major if it was on broadcast TV, But that's to say, I was not regularly tuning in. I didn't really know what was going on. And as we began no laying up and slowly started

to get out to some events and, you know, meet you, get to play with players and actually start watching the golf. Yeah, it's incredible. The best way that I can explain it to people is, I think the women's game, for me, is so much more relatable than the men's game is. Because I've never in my life have I dreamed of carrying a golf ball 350 yards or, you know, putting the wedge from 180. But the golf that I like to play,

distance wise, right? Or at least clubbing is very similar to what's going on on the LPGA tour. With the one big difference that it's just world class. It is, it's the pipe dream that I would aspire to. Like if I could be as good as I could possibly be, then maybe that's how my game would look. Now that's never going to happen.

But that's why I love it so much is because you have people out here, you know, doing things that I can't do. And it's just amazing that the accuracy with which, you know, the, they, they get off the tee, the wedge games, the putting. It's, it's a wonderful product. And there's no reason why women's golf can't sit side-by-side with the men's game as two very appealing options for consumers, for viewers.

So I will turn it to you though. I'm curious. You said not being showcase what if if if Jane Park, if you could wave a magic wand and change some things, what are those things that you might change to help showcase the women and the way they play better than it is now? Well, we've got that shootout happening. I don't know when I'm so horrible. Where the men are playing with the women. Yeah, this December. Yeah, December. Yeah, December. That's right. I just, and I've said I've spoken to different players, you know, when I was still playing, like on how, how can, how can people get more involved? Obviously going to turn of it is one thing.

how can people get more involved? Obviously going to turn of it is one thing, but you know with social media being such a huge part of today, I would love for the men's game for like guys on the PGA tour to interact more with the ladies. And I don't know if it's, I honestly, I don't know if it's just there in their own world and they want to just kind of stick with that or like they just don't want another thing on their play, but I don't know. I always feel like if they want to get involved and like raise the game and bring more awareness to the game and get more people involved. Like why not help the LPG tour? Why not help the LPGator, whether it's just, hey, even when we see someone tweet about, oh, I'm watching the women's open or I'm watching a congratulatory tweet, acknowledging a winner on the LPGator.

Like that, I don't think they realize how big that is for our tour. Man, I don't know. I would love to see more interaction. I would love to see more of the mixed teams event. I think that would be really fun. I tell you where my, my crusade, if you want to call it. And my eyes were opened by Bethan Nichols and Karen Stupples and a number of different

women. But I think, I think having comprehensive stats for the women, we can and we go, we'll go such a long way to helping casual fans understand like, hey, from 120 yards out, we can see the proximity to which Lydia Coe hits her wedges, for instance, right? And we can go over and we can compare that to how does Jordan's beef do from 120 yards out. And it's just, you know, it's just not available right now, but I do think having stats to help contextualize

just how good of players they are would go such a long way. I'm beating the dead horse about TV broadcasts and broadcasts windows and yeah, it just. Hey delays and all that stuff, you know, you've got, did I, did I screw that up again? No, no. Okay. Okay. For those listening, we've been struggling some with some static in Jane's headphones, but Jane, you sound great right now. Thanks, thanks.

Yeah, it would be nice to just have, you know, no tape delays and, you know, really prime time broadcasting for the women's events, but, you know, maybe not in my lifetime, but maybe one day, maybe one day. And I will say the mixed teams, not mixed teams, mixed event that we had in Australia, where I think it was it was at 13th Beach. And you know the T-times were men's group, then followed by a ladies group, followed by a men's group. And the respect that was paid to everyone, you know, I was hitting balls next to Jeff Ogleby. And I pretty much just stopped and like watched him hit balls.

And it was, you know, he's doing things that I'm unable to do, but he's also admiring the women's game and saying, this girl hits her hybrid closer than my eight iron. And they're like, I can't do that. But I think there was equal respect paid to that. And just having that opportunity to showcase respect paid to that and just having that opportunity to showcase both games. And, you know, you obviously can't compare the women's game to the men's game. It's just so completely different, but I will say I'll be the first to say I love watching men's golf because it's like you said it's like superman shit. Like I can't nobody can do that. And also, don't sell yourself short. I think you can hit it 350 on the fly. I really do.

It would take years of coaching. I have long levers and I actually don't use them, but not with your piss poor attitude, not with that attitude. You cannot, okay. That was my lack of hip mobility. Yeah, you and me both, man. I'm like my hips already feel so tight.

Yeah, just having having that stage would just be that stage more often. I don't know. I don't know how to get there, but that's not really my job to. When you do watch the women's game, who do you most? Well, let me back up and say it's incredible. You know, last year, I think it was the parent, the parent child tournament that Nelly courta played in. And those PGA pros reacting to just drooling. Drilling.

Drilling. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just funny. Which rightfully so, I mean, she has maybe her and like Adam Scott probably like the two most picturesque golf swings out there.

Yeah. Yeah. He had you came. He had you came. Scott a pretty decent move as well. But, man, I, gosh, if you've never seen Nelly or Jess, I mean, I think their swings are like pretty much identical. If you've never seen them hit a ball up close, I mean, I've been paired with Nelly a few times and I am honestly so distracted by how incredible

her swing is, the amount of speed she produces, but makes it look like so fluid and effortless. And I'm just so impressed. I'm impressed. It gives me a glimpse of maybe that's what people felt like when they were competing against Tiger. But yeah, I mean, Tigers the goat. I still watch, I still watch Tiger compilations on YouTube when I'm like, I can't sleep.

Like, Tigers top 25 shots or something. That was such a golf nerd, man. It's ridiculous. Well, we mentioned Nelly swing. I've curious on the women's side, what who else do you admire? And for what reasons? It could be, you know, iron plate, short game, putting mental approach.

I'm curious who you really look towards as things and attributes that stand apart. I mean like in today's current game or? I think more current, yeah. Yeah, okay. Lydia Coe can get up and down from my mother's cleavage. Like when I tell you she can get up and down from anywhere, it is apps that she has the best pair of hands. And I know this from firsthand watching her being paired with her, where I'm like, okay, well, she's completely screwed there. There's no way she's going to get up and down. And then she

like hits it to tap and range, or you know, if I were in the same situation, it'd be like, let's just get this on the green somewhere. Best short game. I think she has the best short game in the world. I'd put her up against anything or anyone. And you know, my husband Pete had catted for her for a year or two and he's, he said the same thing like you wouldn't believe where she hid it, but she got up and down like it was just like a straight chip right up the green from the short stuff. But Lydia definitely, she's got a great head on her shoulders. Obviously golf swing wise, Nelly, I could just watch her swing on repeat. And you know, these girls that come out of college and I'm just going to dip into the

Rose saying pool because I'm a stan. I mean, I want to ask you about Rose. So yes, please, please go ahead. You know, you like, when I was in college, you and when I first came out on tour, like 45 years ago, college players weren't 45 years ago, college players weren't as polished. And I find that the most incredible and the most impressive thing. You know, Rose obviously had a stellar amateur career, like pretty much won everything. But then back in the day, you'd see an amateur

kind of have a lot of success as an amateur, but then you would wonder, like, how is that going to translate into the pro ranks? And a lot of times, they kind of struggle coming out of college and straight onto the tour. But, you know, in comes Rose, she says, hello world and winning on her first, in her first pro debut, I mean, you don't see that, you don't see that ever, at least not in not in my lifetime, but I'm glad I did because, man, you just, a lot of times you don't think that college game is going to translate into the, into the professional ranks, but she did. And it was, you're just watching history, man. How lucky are we? I know. It is so cool. And I just continue to be gobsmacked by how wise and well-spoken and just her demeanor.

I just polyah going back to polished. It's super impressive. I don't know if Rose, you know, Rose is getting a lot of tiger comparisons. And I think that's just, you know, we, anybody that we kind of want to dominate or we think might dominate, of course, there's there's always going to be a tiger discussion. I think that's unfair to her at this point. But something we talked about at the US Open Week was

I feel like the LPGA is in the midst of this run of parity, especially in the majors where I think the stat was like 20 of the last 21 major winners have been different people. I think for casual viewers, having a dominating presence probably would help draw some eyeballs and interests, but I'm curious, I guess if you feel the same or if you think the LPGA is parody a problem or is parody a good thing that kind of speaks to the depth of exceptional play. Man, I was discussing this the other day and it all comes down to Tiger

made the game of golf cool, you know. He's the reason why I started playing. Other than, you know, Sarri was my idol and someone that I could relate to as a female, but Tiger is the one who elevated the game. He raised the bar. He made working out cool. He made taking care of your physical body and your mental state. A very important

he, you know, he made the point of how important that is. And I mean, I think you could agree with me on some point, to some point that growing up in the Tiger era and watching him dominate, it was so exciting for golf nerds like us. I would clear my schedule and figure out Tiger's tea time and I would not do anything. I would sit my ass in front of the TV, watch every single shot. I had armchair quarter bag. I'd be, you know, I was that person. And so are so are so many others. And you're just rooting so hard for this guy. But I like I like the excitement of having someone that's super dominant because you're right. It would it would bring more casual golf watchers to watch. it would bring more casual golf watchers to watch.

And then you've got, you know, in today's game, Jinyunco, you know, she went, I don't know, something dumb like 114 holes without a bogey, like, okay, like, she hit like 63 or 66 straight greens in regulation. You know, had like 14 straight rounds in the 60s. It's just stupid. It's, yeah, stupid. It's, it's unrelatable, which makes it that much more interesting, you know?

It's like Cinderella, but on the flip side, you've got like, like, March madness. You've got, you know, these no-name teams coming out and beating the top seed or something. Like, I think that's really fun too on the flip side of the coin. But also, it very much speaks to the depth that's on the LPJ tour. You've got Roni and who won KPMG and pretty balls to all fashion, man. I was watching and I was just like, you know, she's what, 19, 20? Like, where are her nerves?

But there are no nerves. She's just like, she's just golf. And I think that's really fun to watch too. I mean, she's got a really great golf swing as well. Yeah, I mean, Lily Vue,, I thought was was an exceptional story at chevron earlier this year. I love her attitude. You know, we got a chance to speak to her and she's like, yeah, I got like I just I want to win. Like that's I don't know. I think sometimes I think on the men's and women's side, it's certainly not unique to just the women, but like

on the men's and women's side, it's certainly not unique to just the women. But like Tiger, I think part of what played into Tiger too was like that intensity. Like you knew he wanted to just beat the shit out of everybody. And I don't necessarily get that from some people and I get that. That's not everybody's personality. But at least when you're like inside the ropes on the golf course, if you could show me a little of that, right? Show me how much, of course, James, I'm an absolute killer inside the rope. You look like a big softie. I'm probably golf wise. I'm probably like the least competitive person. I have a few things I get competitive about, but golf is not really one of them. But yeah, I think that's what I think that would help. And again, you know,

these first time winners, I think that goes back to we just need better storytelling. We need better context for people who are tuning in to understand how good a running in is or to understand good analysis and core poses. So I'm optimistic. I'm hopeful like you were we're certainly trying to play our small part, but I really do see some great opportunity in the women's game. And I hope it can really continue to elevate. And like I said, there's no reason it shouldn't be kind of side by side,

like tennis, right? I don't think anybody just kind of accepts men's and women's tennis as what they are and ones not, you know, more popular than the other necessarily. And that's my hope in the Gulf world. But it'll take a little bit there. Yeah, we need, we need you guys to come out our tour and I'm really glad that you guys recognize how incredible these women are. And, you know, showcasing the personalities and the talent is just yeah that's that's the way of the world right now with social media so thanks for doing that guys. It's our pleasure. You do a great job. You do a great job. Well, that's very nice you to say and I will say it's truly our pleasure. I love it. Huge fan. Let's let me let me leave you with this. Are we setting goals for this weekend?

We're just trying to hit 18 clubs. I mean, is that the extent of it? Goals would be to raise as much money as we can for the Eilepsy Foundation. And I, goals in terms of like golf, with the way I'm feeling physically, if I can get through the round without, you know, OD on a leave, that would be good, that would be good. I wouldn't say, watch out for like 59

watch between Paul and I for for best ball. But you know, crazy your shit has happened, right? You know, maybe this two year break is going to be like, oh shit, like all the demons are gone. So let's go out and freaking career it. Full send it. All those bad habits are gone. Well, in all sincerity, Jane, it's a week that you deserve, it's a moment that you and your whole family deserve. I hope you soak it in. I hope you absolutely have a blast. And please, if you ever are watching golf and want to come on and just drop all your takes,

you have an open invite. I am being serious, would love to have you on around our major coverage, if that's ever of interest to you. Oh my God. I just, the cool story bro thing that I did on my Instagram when I was at the masters, it got a lot of traction and people thought it was hilarious, but you know, I don't know, armchair quarterbacking, especially when guys are like 10 beers deep. I'd love to join. Well, we appreciate and seriously, we'll take you up on that whenever you're able.

Jane, our best to you and your family, to Grace, to A1 and A2, please give everybody our best. And like I said, have a great time this weekend at the Dow Great Lakes invitation. Day. Yeah. Yeah. That's better than most. How about in? That is better than most. Better than most. Expect anything different?

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