No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - NLU Podcast, Episode 783: LPGA 2024 Season Preview

Episode Date: January 18, 2024

As the LPGA season kicks off Thursday at Lake Nona we fire up the first of many LPGA focused podcasts in the new year. Ahead of the Tournament of Champions, our crew of Randy, Tron, Cody and Jordan go 24 for (20)24 with two dozen questions to be answered over the course of the upcoming season, including: Our favorite venues and events on the 2024 schedule including a breakdown of the courses that will host the Women's PGA, US Open and Open Championships The season outlook for Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Linn Grant, Lexi Thompson, and several other big names on the LPGA Tour Our predictions for movement in and out of the Rolex Top 10, potential first-time winners in 2024, Player and Rookie of the year awards. Early thoughts on the 2024 Solheim Cup A look at the ANWA and NCAAs Off-course rumblings around the rumored LPGA-LET merger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome into the No Laying Up Golf podcast. We are glad that you are here. We are previewing the 2024 LPGA golf season. It is upon us they are down at Lake Nona Golf Club in in Florida outside Orlando. Sorry, little little brain cramp there. Where is Lake Nona outside Orlando for the tournament of champions. This is not one of my most favorite events just because I think they spend a ton of time on the celebrity aspect of it, but I know there are reasons for that. So I won't harp on that too much.

I have a great crew with me. We're going to talk about a bunch of big questions that hopefully we'll set the stage not only for this week But more broadly speaking the entire 2024 women's golf calendar Before we dive into that an exciting new announcement. We have a new sponsor our good friends at Yeti Big thanks to Yeti They've been a great partner now with us for over a year, and they have extended it. They wanted to be a part of our women's golf stuff, and we are just so thrilled that they are here.

And if you only know Yeti for their coolers and their drinkware, I'm here to tell you that they have an awesome assortment of luggage. Of course, the hard coolers, the soft coolers, the drinkware. You name it Yeti. Has it head over to Yeti.com, yet.com for their complete product line. You can see all the different stuff they are making and selling. I have to say, the Yeti name, it just comes with the reputation of quality.

It's going to be well-made, well-manufactured, well-produced, it's stylish, it's convenient, it's functional. So go over to Yeti.com, check them out, and we couldn't be more thrilled that they are the title sponsor for our LPGA podcast this year. So how about that? Thank you to Yeti for coming on this year, be in a title sponsor for what we are doing

in the women's game. That is awesome. Let me now introduce the people joining me in no particular order. I got Tron Carter, Mr. TC here. How are you? I'm great, Randy. Excited to get the golf season started. I would give a shout out to my guy, Big Flask, who really started this event.

The Diamond Resorts tournament champions back in the day before it became the Hilton. So again, not my favorite tournament, but I am excited for the LPGA season ahead. Yes. We also have Jordan Perez. Jordan back for what we hope will be a full year. Jordan, I don't want to tip off too much, but we certainly, certainly enjoy Havinian, and we hope to see and read and hear a lot from you this year. Welcome to the show. Let's just say if Team USA does not recapture this whole heim cup, then I potentially might run away from all women's

golf coverage. But no, happy to be here. So stoked. Yeah, I think it's going to be a great year. I always think of this this event as the Disney golf event just because it literally used to be inside Disney World. So I don't know. I'm just really excited for the calendar to ramp up and really excited for another great year. Well, we're excited as well. Thank you for being here. And last but not least, the Sarge, Cody McBride, Cody, how are you today, sir? Big, you're coming out of the gate early. The only reason why you don't like Hilton, turn them into champions is because of the defending champion.

We're starting the year out with some Brooke slander. I hate to see it. We're supposed to turn the page, buddy. Come on. No, no, we love Brooke. We love Canada. Canada loves me. We've we've Odies all chippy because the LPGA got rid of his volunteers in America classic out of the out of the colony. Yeah. Well, this today's show, the first of 2024 dedicated to the women's game. And we have we have a lot of good things in store across this full

year. We are going to do over 30 podcasts dedicated solely to the LPGA and women's golf throughout the year. We have a number of happy hours plus live shows. Those are going to be around the Chevron, the US women's open, the KPMG, women's PGA, and the AIG women's open. Oh, and as well as the Soulheim Cup, you may notice that Evion is not included in that. That is our way of only recognizing four majors on the women's side. On top of that, I think some combination of us, NLUU plan to be on site for hopefully two of the majors and the Soulheim Cup doing, like I said, the happy hour, the live show, the Sunday recap,

all of that good stuff. So we will share exact details with where we are gonna be when they are set. And then if that's not enough, Jordan not to put you on the spot, but always look forward to you and KVV leading our writing efforts. I really enjoyed your cash. The one that just sticks out is the Lexi Thompson piece from the Soulheim Cup. I thought your angel in peace last year around the tour championship was excellent as well. So we will be augmenting our podcast and live show coverage with the written word as well in 2024. So really, really big things planned, a continuation of 2023 and something that I think it's all excited. So I appreciate you guys,

TC, Cody, Jordan, the rest of the crew will be in and out this year. I appreciate you guys, TC, Cody, Jordan, the rest of the crew will be in and out this year. Appreciate you guys come along for the ride. And of course, the listeners, whether you're a fan of the women's game or somewhat new to the women's game, hopefully, we can teach you something, we can keep you entertained and light the fire to check out more of the women's game this year. With all of that said, like I mentioned, today's episode is going to be somewhat of a broader season preview. The format, I thought, was 24 questions for 2024. So I have given the rest of these guys 24 questions as homework that they have prepared answers to. And we're going to run through them here in just a second. But before we get started, guys, anything I'm missing, anything you'd like to add.

Listen, if you like your any of your podcasts, you can keep your any of your podcasts. This is all additive content that we're doing around the women's game. And I think if there's one thing we've learned over the last couple of years, it's that like we, the more we've dipped our toe in, the more we like it it the more we've enjoyed covering these events and it's a stellar major slate this year for the ladies. So I think it's a much more coherent schedule. So I'm excited to see how that flows to the year. Definitely more coherent schedule. The only thing, you know, there, it's it's not quite perfect yet. And the case and point being, like I said, this week, the tournament of champions. Next week, there's a drive on championship from Bradenton, Florida, but then we take almost a month off. So, so we have a little bit of a quick start and then a stop. And then the next big swing will be the first Asian swing, which will start the end of February

and go to mid March. Let's call it. And so just to let you guys know, you really won't hear another podcast, an LPGA podcast from us until February. So it's gonna be a little bit of a slow start, but once the women really hit their stride with the schedule come April

and then throughout the spring, summer, and fall, so too will the cadence of our show. So you can expect at least a couple Thursday episodes, hopefully some interviews, maybe even a Tuesday show. And then like I said, the happy hours, the live shows around the biggest events of the year. So first question, T.C., I'm gonna put you on the hotspot. You mentioned we have an excellent major lineup this year

of the three women's majors that change the locations each year, which are you most looking forward to this year? And for the people at home, the KPMG will be at Sao Holly Country Club outside Seattle. The US Women's Open will be at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania. And the AIG Women's Open will be at the Old Course in St. Andrews, T.C., which of those are you most looking forward to? Gosh, those are three great venues. Keep like thinking, Sahali, just because it's, I don't know, it's kind of somewhere

we don't get to see too too often. Lancaster was great last time, but I gotta go with the old course. It's the old course, it's the lady, like it's a, everything's in kind of proportion for the ladies there. They don't have to trick it up too much. It's gonna be great.

Jordan, do you have a different answer? I don't. Yeah, and I really, I really wanted to go against the grain here and be like, oh, but I've been, I've been. Chef Ron. Chef Ron. We're talking about the majors, the grain here and be like, oh, but I've been just Chevron. We're talking about the majors, the three majors. No, but it's surely going to be the women's open at the

old course. I, you know, I think it's been what like almost a decade or so since they were lost there for the women's open. I can't think of a better way, especially kind of capitalize on the momentum was that for the US women's open last year. And yeah, I think platforming the women's game on world famous venues like that is only going to move this needle even further. And so I'm stoked. I wish there was more of a dedicated road on. I wish we could see them play at the old course more often. I think that would be sick. But yeah, I think to jump off of what T.C. said,

I mean, I think that their way the women's game is just a lot more primed for playing at the old course, especially in a place that asks for a lot of precision and a lot of good win play. And so I'm stoked. I cannot wait. I wish it was next week. Yeah, I totally agree with all that. TC like you said, Sahali, kind of a blind spot to me. Really curious how that will look on television. I think it'll be really cool up in the Pacific Northwest. Lancaster, I think it's going to show up and show out. Lancaster. Lancaster. Lincoln. We're all going to give it.

I was too afraid to say it. Yeah, we're going to get crushed this year. Oh, God. If we don't. Now, in granted, I will say, Randy, you know, in another L for you, Brook Henderson did win the 2016 women's PGA at Sahali. And it was, that was a great tournament. Hate scene, you have to take an early L on Brooke there. Hopefully she wins again.

But the answer is the old course, right? I mean, Jordan, you said that the last one was 2013, Stacey Lewis was your winner. I believe the winning score that week was eight under par, with love, love, love for another tournament, in that six to 10 under par range, maybe the win spices up a few days. It's just gonna be a really, really fun event

and, like you said, the old course just makes sense for the distances that the women play. And I think we're going to see, you know, the old course at it kind of at a throwback vintage that's just playing different than we've seen it with men's British opens and even the Walker Cup. Cody, we all said the old course at St Andrews as being the major we're most looking forward to, do you have a different answer? No, I'm right there with you guys. I think I am so excited for the old course.

I think it's going to be a, it's a perfect time of year. It's a perfect course to truly see like how probably echoing a lot of what you guys said of, of, of how the women's game matches up best. I think on the old course, you're going to see all the weird quirky stuff kind of shine through there. But I mean, we don't get a lot of golf in the Pacific Northwest. It's hard to ignore so Holly, very excited to see, you know, another championship there with, you know, these, the massive trees. Big. I can't believe that wasn't your pick, just because again, I mean, it's Brooke,

it's Brooke's championship. And then I'm afraid to say the name in Pennsylvania we're going, because of Lancaster. Lancaster. Lancaster. I'm excited for it just because of like the phenomenal pictures that I see all the time.

And it's one of those things where I didn't get to go to Toledo a couple of years ago for any like we did a media day there and then Soul Hime Cup. I wasn't on that trip. And it just kind of like feels like a throwback course there that is just like, you know, perfect time in summer or exactly kind of what you would expect from from golf in the greater Philadelphia area, but I mean, it's very, very hard to not go with the old course. Yeah. No, that's an easy one, but a great slate. I don't want to diminish Saoholy or Lenk Um, and hopefully, you know, the elevated cheffron

and Evian will deliver with with great leaderboards as well. Uh, Cody, I'm going to cover what it's not for sure. What's that? What? It's not Houston. No, it's not Houston. All right. Uh, I'm going to stick right with you, Cody. What's what's one non major event you're most looking forward to this season? Well, we love everything in the in the Northeast. You know, we talk a lot about up in Montclair. I was excited. Last year, I think rose the first event at Liberty National, excited to see Mizzouho continue to step up. Yeah. Yeah. To see them step up and and that event come in like it's second year. I think it's a really cool run between like the two New Jersey events. Then the US women's open, then finishing back out again at the shop right in New Jersey

before we finally move back across the United States. But overall, it's, I think it's so cool. I understand we have another name change here for the LA open. All right, the LA open has a new title. And I'm pretty sure it's called now the fur hills say, epoch championship. That's what they renamed it to. Of course, say, epoch being great champion from South Korea, but she is playing tournament host. That played at Palas Verde's and then of course the L.A. championship sticking with J. Amigo at Wilshire, but I'm excited for Wilshire. It's one of those places that I see all the time. I want to go play it. I don't really say that a lot about L.A. golf. I

haven't really played any L.A. golf, but Wilshire is always one of those places that looks so good on TV that I would say, yep, like you can count me into watching every single minute of that event. That was mine. Just to get that out of the way, I picked the J M Eagle L.A. championship, some of these tournament names are getting very confusing, but it's presented by Plast Pro. It presented by Plast Pro. But it is at Wellshire and that's the most important way. Well, sure. Well, sure. Oh God.

T.C. What's the event you're most looking, non-major that you're most looking forward to? Yeah, I was going to say the chevron. You're a bad guy. You're a bad guy. No, I think, for me, I think we have the opportunity here. I think the LPGA match play at Shadow Creek, April 3rd through 7th. Great spot on the calendar now. Yeah, that's basically, you know, that and An-Wall will be the same weekend. And that, you know, Friday, Saturday, because like the finals are on Sunday there, that Friday

Saturday is really, like really good. There's a ton of matches on the course. They they had that place firm and like, you know, really tough last year. Like that was really, really good golf watching. So I'm going to say that one. That's a good one. Jordan, how about you? I almost had the same one as TC. The easy answer feels like so high, I'm obviously I don't. But I to actually provide a not a non major, but like, you know, non like big time event, I'll say, the event at TPC Boston, I'm curious to see what that produces. And I think that's going to bring out a really high quality field and location wise, I think, you know, it could only be an positive. So

I think I'm going to say that one. All right. Yeah, I dig it. That's another one. I've definitely am curious to see how, you know, we've seen TPC Boston on the men's side be fun to see the women attack that place as well. I believe that's Labor Day weekend, two weeks before the Soulheim Cup. TPC Providence, really. It's not about that. Yeah, I think that's the first number one thing. Jordan, welcome to the podcast,

but I don't understand. We've seen that course plenty of times. Are we interested? I guess you could say the same thing about the old course, but I don't know of TPC Boston outside of the excitement being that it's the first time event and new energy and the women's game finally getting back to Boston. But I don't know if that's like the right course choice there. It's not even in Boston. Kind of interested to see how it's going to all work out there. The other thing big that I wanted to say and I know we dump on it all the time just because it has it's you know, it's major championship status

But I think I want to go to the Evian one of these years Just when I go to France Yeah, well Cody you're getting. I thought you would be right up there with me on this. Hey, I don't know what I go to the fridge. When I go to the French Alps or Swiss Alps, like, I'm not trying to go watch golf. Well, I'm not saying we have to watch all the golf. But what I'm saying is that doesn't it look like a beautiful spot, though?

It does. I mean, it has that going for it. I know the players, the caddies, they all rave about how well they're taking care of. I think what bombs us out is that it's always has like some pretty, pretty bad TV windows. It doesn't really generate like the best championship endings ever. And they basically just bought the claim of a major, which I understand all that. And they basically just bought the claim of a major, which I understand all that. But that's still it's like, I have this gut feeling of like, should I feel bad that I still want to go?

No, no. Cody, I will say one thing on the, going back to TPC Boston thing, I bet it's pretty hard to find a club up in New England that is going to host a tournament in late summer, early fall. It's such a short season up there. TPC network, obviously. But there's not a whole lot of clubs that are going to give away their Labor Day weekend to men's or women's event.

Do you think because it's a, do you think like the the TPC network meaning greater PGA tour ink is charging like full freight? Oh, I'm sure they're wet and they're beaks off of it. That's the way they operate. You know, just like they, just like they, they, you know, messed with the, you know, like they totally gave short shrift to the ladies on the media negotiations and all that. But I know Fenway sports groups involved. I know there, it seems like it's going to be a very reputable well-run tournament, but I'm sure the PGA tour wet their

peaks on the TPC. Gaslight, Gake Keep, girl boss. Is what it sounds like. Hell yeah. All right, question three. Let me, let me start here with T.C. If you could make one change bigger small to the LPGA schedule, what would it be? I would get rid of the three day events. I think they're unbecoming. I think they're, they're disgrace. And I think we need to get beyond that. Jordan, how about you? The double Asia swing. I it's just such a logistical nightmare. And I don't know what quite the answer is is to which one you should eliminate. It kind of feels like the ramp up to the end of the year. But I'm just not sure. But I don't know. And I got, I like that low-tay is kind of sandwiched in there now to like

make that transition stateside back a little bit easier. But I still don't think that necessarily solves the problem. And speaking to like bad TV windows, it's just tough to kind of capitalize on the momentum of overnight golf to, hey, our tour championship is coming up in three weeks and you better care because the one of the smallest fields out there is going to play. It doesn't make sense, a lot of sense to me, and it's really hard to feel, it's not hard to feel amped up just because there's always like a great field. There's always just a great ramp up. And, um, game bridge is really great in kind of creating them a momentum and seeing just who's going to get in. But somehow it feels super abrupt. And I'm sure for

the players, it's super taxing, and tiring, and expensive. And I, you know, maybe that's where you cut it out, but I think you've got to get rid of one or the other. And it's either the beginning of the year, the two tournament stint, or the one right before the end of the year. It does feel more coherent though, now that they've got Lotte slotted in there,

where it's not just like hacked on, you know. And some we learned last year talking about how expensive is Jordan that the tour actually covers their travel for if you qualify for any of the Asian swing front end or back end, they're covering your travel for it. So it's not crazy. Obviously, you're not covering, you know, whatever else they're doing while they're over there, but at least airfare wise, they're taking care of. I would say big, this is kind of right up your alley. I was getting real comfortable with the Cincinnati event. I thought I had a great two year run. There's one thing that I would change is that I don't know how you get around this.

And I know that like clubs and sponsors and charities and everything. I have there's so many cooks in the kitchen when you talk about like each little individual event. But there needs to be a way that the the calendar can be published without TBDs on it. And I don't know how you do that without like clearly like penalizing host of venues if they like back out of an agreement. And I know that's probably not what hometown organizations want to hear or anything else like that. The other thing is that I understand like where does the L.E.T. fit in this schedule? I would like to see more co sanctioned events. I think that there is a gap that's on the front half of the LPGA calendar. When we, you know, we play these two events in January, then we wait till basically the end of February.

Why don't we have more co-sanctioned events in there? It'd be good for the LET tour. It'd be good for the LPGA tour. If people want to travel, they go play these wherever they're playing at. They can go do it. But I think all boats rise, and I would like to see more inner connectivity between these two organizations. Yeah, you can go to the Middle East, you go to Spain, Portugal, Southeast Asia, even. Cody, on the flip side with the schedule thing, I think, then I feel like then we get to a point with the TBDs where they're waiting to release the schedule so much later and we're not getting it on time and you know all that I think there's always like there's still a TBD on the PGA tour schedule for Barbos for where they're hosting Barbos all this year.

But it's kind of crazy they like the Scottish open they don't know where that's going to be. Right. I guess that's where I was more I really since an adi I look at it and I know that there's a lot going on there, but the Scottish is other clearing one there. The other thing is that a lot of these courses events, just like you said, TC, the three day events, we got to move the floor up on some of these purses. If we're still in the $1 million range for purse sizes, you see a lot of the new ones coming in and stepping

up and being at like that kind of like 2.5 to 3 mil minimum to start at, you got to get some of these others, you know, to move their way up. Wish shout out to the new event in Boston, $3.5 million per big.

So. So my answer briefly would be, Jordan, I was kind of with you with the Asian swing. I would, you got to find a way to consolidate the two Asian swings. I would push the Asian swing back into the fall and make that the one bigger Asian swing back into the fall and make that the the one bigger Asian swing. And then I would try to move everything West Coast up into that February March timeframe, hell even end of January.

And I really think the LPGA should consider like a Sunday to Wednesday time frame for those, for those West Coast tournaments. It's, it's the time of year where domestically speaking, the most people in the US are in cold, cold weather. They're like dreaming about golf. They're seeing these sunny places. You could put these events in prime time on Monday, Tuesday, including on Wednesday. And I just think that would be additive to golf fans, right? So I know logistically that's probably impossible for a lot of reasons, but that would be the one change I wish they would make. Real quick here, we'll go rapid fire on question four. What non major LPJ event would you most want to attend in 2024?

Code man, we'll start with you because I think he already kind of told us. Yeah, I would like to get out to LA and check out Wilshire. I think the only other one that continues to just ball out is the Canadian event. But I don't know. As close as Alberta is Canadian event, but I don't know. As close as Alberta is to my heart, I don't know if Calgary is the year that we need to make that trek, but you know, are there having it? One of those two. Earl Gray golf club, which is that like, is that just a T house?

It's sweet if it was. DC, what's your answer to this one? You know, Wilshire, certainly in my list, I'm going to take a little bit of a curveball here. I've been talking to my guy, Bunky, a lot about Northwest Arkansas. It's a hot spot right now. A lot of people move in there from Austin, from Dallas, from other places. You know, many people are saying it's on the come up, big purse, $3 million event. It is a three day event. Three day or, though, yeah.

Only. But, you know, so they're basically devoting a million dollars per day, per swise. But yeah, I would love to see, you know, I've heard good things about that event. We'd love to get over there and see what Rogers Ark and Saw is all about. That's a great answer. Jordan, how about you? I kind of have heartedly answered Soulheim for the one that I was looking forward to the most.

So I just want to say Soulheim. I mean, like, last year was incredible. And I have more, I think I'm more amped up for what the atmosphere could be and what the team competition could look like and just the fact that it is in a back to back year and what how those narratives are going to carry over rather than venue, but I would say surely so. I can't argue with that one. I picked the founders cup. I think especially at Upper Monclair and New Jersey, it just seems like a very proper, proper golf course. It's the tournament with the most history to the LPGA tour itself,

honoring the 13 founders. I wish it were the fourth major, but that was the one I picked. Question five, we're getting into more player predictions here. Gosh, who should I put on the hot seat with this one? Jordan, we're going to start with you. Liliavu enters 2024 as the number one ranked player in the world. The question is simple. Will she finish 2024 as the number one ranked player in the world? See, I was looking, I kind of looked at the top 10 and I'm like, who really wants to knock Lili off her pivot? And I think the only player that I feel like is probably the hungry is to do so is probably Charlie Hole. You could make a case for Nelly Cordetoo just because she's made so many changes in the past year and is put the health stuff behind her. But

I think with the way Lillia and her 2023 and ended 2023, it's just hard to say that that momentum is going to diminish. She shows up in big moments. She's older, consistent, and even in between injury, we saw it just, you know, the makings of a generational player. And I think if she carries that into 24, then we can confidently say that. But yeah, I, it's hard to say that she won't be. And she's given us every reason to believe that she could continue staying at number one. Cody, what's your thought? I think she had an amazing 2023 calendar year,

but she will not finish 2024 as the number one player in the world. And that's simply because Nelly Corden is going to do it. I know that's crazy, but I think she, the time off has been well served for her. She's been absolutely grinding on her stroke. She hits a ball better than anyone else. And you know, honestly, I continue to go back and look at data and the data that is provided for us. And as the KPMG performance insights

get better, her putting us truly not crazy bad. It didn't pass the eye test. We understand that. And I agree with you on that. But it's just for somebody who puts herself in positions to make that many birdies, it's just very, very hard. And I know that easy comp there is Scotty Sheffler. Like when you, we watch him hit every single putt, that's because he's hitting like every single grain and has that many opportunities. I truly think Nelly is going to finish the year

as number one in the world. I love it. Bold prediction. T.C., how about you? Lil' Iavoo number one. No. First of all, Lil' Iavis is not going to be number one. No, not a slight to Liliavu. I think it's just tough to, it's almost as tough to stay at the top as it is to get there.

I vehemently disagree with all the Nellie stuff we'll get there. I think Minji Lee's coming. I think she's, she is like rejuvenated. She is, I think finished the year fourth in the world in 2023, closed out the year strong with a win in Korea. She played well down in Naples. I think she's getting to have a career year. I think she wins at least three times, at least one major. I think I think it's the year of Minjee Lee coming up. Wow. I do not have Lillia ending the year rank number one.

For a lot of reasons, you guys said no slight to Lillia. I actually would love it if she did consolidate power and you know went on a huge number one ranked streak. I have a tie-it-it come coming and we'll get into that a little bit later, but she, if somebody's going to knock her off her perch, that was my pick. TC, I'm going to go right back to you because it dovetails a little bit with question six, talking about Nelly Corta, she did not win on the LPGA tour, on the LPGA tour in 2023. How many times will she win in 2024 if at all? I think she wins once in 2024. So another disappointing season. I mean, winning only once, I have to feel like

is disappointing for her. Yeah. Yeah, I think she wins once maybe twice, but I'm just I'm not buying this this bomb here. Jordan, how about you? Look, I think at least once you got to give her at least once. She I think it clearly matters to her. She's made the changes, changed this wincoge, changed putting coach. I think she's intent on returning where she belongs, kind of like what Cody said,

their, the numbers are there, prove it. I think out of minimum once, nine top 10s or nothing to sniff out either, I think, you know, she's heading in that direction, but you know, whether it's a major championship, whether it's just an ordinary them a calendar, I think we see her back in the win column. Cody, you tipped off your super

bullish on Nelly. I am too. I got her winning three times in a major. I think she puts up a season very similar to her 2021 when she won four times, including a major. Neal's bullish too. Neal's of course super bullish. I just trusted to figure out the putting. And like you said, the ball striking is always there. She puts herself in contention a ton. I think she figures out a way to cash in quite well this year. Number seven, seventh question for you. Cody, we'll go to you.

Two women will both spend the majority of 2024 at 21 years old. I'm talking about China's rooting in in Thailand's ataya titta come. The question is who finishes higher in the LPGA player of the year race in 2024? I think this is going to be a tie-up. We talked about this throughout all of last season. It was kind of crazy. The only thing that she was actually missing was actually like getting a win. And I understand that as a big hurdle to get over considering the year that she came off of prior to that, but everything is right there. It's crazy. It felt like we didn't talk about her as much as we probably should for the amount, like

the season that she put together. I think the wins are going to come for her. She's going to continue to settle in. I think that was what happened last year, kind of a little sophomore slump just because her rookie year was so powerful and dominant. And this is not a shot at ruining it all. I just think that Ataya has a little bit more horse power than Rooney does. PC, how about you? You know, as tough as it is for me not to trust, like I just, I don't trust Ataya. I just, I don't understand kind of her, her abs and flows, but I think the upside's

there. So I'm going to bet on the upside. Jordan. T.C. is going to tweet out. I wasn't familiar with your game when Ataya wins her first major. For sure. Are you familiar? No, I'm very familiar. I just don't know if I trust it yet.

Mm. Might need a season or two more. You know, Rooney has the one thing. Ataya don't. Doesn't, but I think Ataya is prone to tying together a lot of great momentum. And I think of a contrary, I trust her a little bit more than ruining, but yeah, I'm rolling with Ataya. Clean sweep. I'm going with Ataya too. I think so much of her 2023 was marred by miscuts at Baltic Raw and Pebble Beach. And outside of that, she was an absolute top 10 machine.

I expect that to continue. And I just think it's a big ask of rooting in or anybody to be that consistent week to week. So no slight to rooting. I got a desperately hope they're battling it out. Week in and week out. It's two of the better young players on the women's side. I hope they both take big leaps. Question eight. I got TC. This one's for you. Maya Stark and Lynn Grant, two 24 year old Swedes both have one career LPGA victory. Do we think that both win again in 2024? Yes. And I think

Lynn wins four times. A major. Not necessarily four times on the LPGA, but four times worldwide. Okay. Okay. So she's going to go play some mule vents. Is that what you're saying? Or what's the deal? Yeah. She might play the skin and even mixed and things of that nature. Well, listen, I don't think that's a mule event. I think that it's truly we didn't give enough credit again to her winning that coach sanctionable. Exactly. Cody, how about you? Do you have the Swedes both winning in 2024? I, yes, very bullish on it, just like TC. I wasn't going to go with four. I think Lin is going to have a multiple win year. I think Maya will get a win in there. Again, it's just one of those things where it comes down. Like we spent, we're very lucky that we spent some time around Maya. I just can't wait to see where Lynn's floor actually is because it wasn't what we saw

last year. And I know there was a ton of other things going on of delays getting over unlimited schedules and everything else like that. The potter needs to get better. For sure, but she is like, she's a, I don't want to say it. I was going to say put a title on the type of player that I think that she is. But true. She's so damn good, so damn good. And I'm so excited. I can't wait to see like the results follow that.

God, you got me excited. Jordan, how about you? Do you have them both winning? I'm going to keep singing the Lynn praises. I just think recency favors her so much. And we haven't seen her play a full full LPGA schedule just yet. So I definitely think for a Lynn, yes, Maya, I want to say one piece. I don't think Lynn grants winning four times. But I think we're going to give them both one piece and feel good about that. I think the other thing too, I, I know, I'm like, God, I, I think they, I, I want them both to win. Certainly. I definitely think Lin is going to win. I think TBD on Maya, that's the one I'm least sure about. But I will just add to, we saw them both have tremendous

soulheim cups last year, which was awesome. I would love for that to be a springboard. I think it could be more of a springboard almost for Maya Stark. I think Lynn is quite confident in who she is and what she wants to accomplish on the golf course. And I just feel like we saw Maya really grow up through 2023 and listening to her speak at the Soul Heimcup, what an experience that was for and that feeling of like fitting in and belonging.

And you know, she's got Suzanne Pederson there that she's trying to impress. I just have to think that did a ton for Maya. So I would love to see her come back and and cash that in and and and have a big 2024. So it says here this is a huge suite in house. I think I think we all got them both winning. We shall see. Question nine, Cody, I'll go to you. Will we see Jin Young Co or Minji Lee win their third career major in 2024? I hope so. I think it's great for the old women's game. Yeah, I mean, that would be great to see them.

They're both amazing champions as they are. I think I'm not quite as bullish on Minji. I think she will have a better year than Jin Young Co. But I would give if anybody's peeking out there, I'd say of the two, it's definitely going to be a Minji year. PC, I know, I know you're super bullish on Minji. You said that already. How about Jin Young Co? Yeah.

I'm bullish on Minji. I think, you know, I listen, nothing against Genie Unco. She might lack the most important ability. Well, it's staying healthy. Yeah. Being too invested in the local food scene. Jordan, how about you? Do you have either of them winning a major in 2024?

I'm going to lean into the Minji Echo Chamber. She played really good outside of the majors and her major results in 2023 weren't super favorable to maybe the idea that she'd win her third and 24, but health favors her at Jin Young Co. We just don't know. She kind of ended her year not in the way that she'd hoped. I think what she got a surgery at the end of the year. And so I'd love to say that it could be Jin Young Co

and she'll return to that dominance once again, but it just seems like in the ASAP category, it feels like Minjee Lee will get number three. I don't have either winning a major this year. I'll just keep it there. Don't have either. TC would love if Minjee though, went on a tear. Thank you. She's she's great for the game. This next question, very curious about Jordan, I'm going to go to you, Lexi Thompson, all right. She comes into the year ranked 30 second in the Rolex rankings.

Simple question. Will she finish higher or lower at the end of the year than 30 second? I think she finishes higher. I think she knows where she's at in her career and she ended in 2023 on a pretty good note. I mean, I think post-Solheim, she was just kind of glowing and I think that continues. And I don't, I think she feels confident about where she's at and I just don't, I don't see her falling below 32. Now, whether she makes like any huge strides, I'm not sure. But I certainly think she keeps up the momentum and she's certainly trending in the right direction. TC, what do you think from Lexi this year? I don't know, I got a dig deeper into like the Rolex rankings

and how the, you know, how it's calculated and it's sample, you know, how big your sample size is and all that stuff. Because I can legitimately see Lexi like joining the cleaks this year, like on live. I think we're a little surprised. Yeah, she's still, she's still playing. We were waiting for that retirement announcement. I guess she kind of intimates that every year.

So who knows? I just struggled to see her like carrying forward momentum through the offseason when like, I don't know, it just doesn't seem like she loves playing golf. Yeah, being another Soulheim cup year, though, Cody, what do you think? I think that's the thing. Like if it weren't a Soulheim cup, I think it'd be an easy. She's going to finish lower. But I do think she, you know, the Soulheim cup means a lot to her. You know, I put my feelers out in the, uh, the greater West Palm Beach area and that there's no one who has been grinding more on their game than one Alexis Thompson. All right. She's she's pulled back a little bit of the social

content. She's absolutely dive in. She's down with my do sweeper, man. The do sweeper crew, they're just revolutionizing her game. I talked about this last fall, but you know, she went to the do sweeper. He's got inside her info at the beginning, beginning of August. And if you look and see how she turned the back half of the year around, it's truly phenomenal. Jordan mentioned for her play after Solheim. I mean, there was a she went from like missing basically every cut to starting post Solheim, you know, T19 and Cincinnati to just tied for eight at Walmart. Then we had a solo fifth at the ascendant. Then, you know, went down to the onica and she

knew what was on the line. Like she basically had to win in order to get the tour championship. Didn't come up, you know, came up a little bit short there, still finished top 10. And I'm actually, I'm excited for Lexi season next year. I know that's very, very weird to say. And you're right, T.C. She very well, she could pop up on the cleak or smash or any of the other teams or who knows what happens to the led on their grand their grand plans for next year on in the women's game. But I think she's going to be not only like not in the 30s, not in the 20s, but like regaining in like top 15 in the world, contending again.

I kind of want to change my answer now, but I'm sticking with it. I know. I have lower two, but Cody, that's, that's a very compelling case. I now expect to be wrong with that one. I think this is just going to be yes or no. All right. I guess you can expand a little bit. But in the interest of time, question 11, Yes or no, all right, guys, you can expand a little bit. But in the interest of time, question 11, Lydia co she sits two point shy of induction into LPGA Hall of Fame. You need to earn 27 points to get into the Hall of Fame. Lydia has 25. Will she earn Hall of Fame status in 2024? I say no. I, I could see you're getting one win somewhere, picking up one point. I say no. I I could see you're getting one win somewhere picking up one point. I don't see you're winning a major. I don't see you're winning the Verr trophy for scoring average. I'm curious. Anybody say yes. reach tournament win two points for a major. Correct.

One point for one point for their player of the year. How many points is the Olympics? And then one one for an Olympic gold medal. Nothing for silver or bronze. So I guess a better question. Does anybody have yes? Does anybody see a big Lydia season coming? I mean, it's like theoretically she could, I would say the

theoretical and like one, you know, one LPGA event and get two points, you know, but no, I bet she gets one point. We're left. Or she tries to, you know, get her over the finish line here and then her career feels a little bit more coherent moving forward and she can make decisions accordingly. I want to say, yeah, she's going to pick up two points. I think, you know, she's going to win next year. I don't know if she'll win a major championship, but she's definitely going to win. And I think it'll probably, you know, he'll if she'll win a major championship, but she's definitely going to win. And I think it'll probably, you know, he'll, she'll pick up her two points via multiple regular LPGA

tour wins. She'd very, very comfortable. Had a T 10 the last time they played the KPMG at Sawhale. I think Lancaster is a good Lancaster Lancaster excuse me. There you go. That's gonna be a problem. All you good. It's a good match for her. Like I you know, you don't have to hit the ball crazy long, but what she, like her, she thrives at short game stuff. And I think that that plays into her because she can just control. She's she's so good with her distance control.

That was a shocking thing about this year. Is it like how many times you just saw her being like her iron distance is being crazy off and I know that there's a ton that changed in her life But I think she settles back into that. She's re you know Remotivated to play more she talked about that at the end of last year and how, you know, her husband is traveling almost every single week with her. And when you come in the, you know, kind of a position of privilege where you can do that and it doesn't really, you know, matter, why not? Why wouldn't she have a good year? I think last year is just like a down year for her. Yeah. Is she the most,

for her. Yeah, is she the most, she feels to me like the most forgotten woman engulf a little bit. And she obviously had a down year, especially after the way she ended 2022, a real resurgence, but just a fascinating career arc so far. I don't know where it's headed, but I'm interested to see where it goes. I feel like Celine Bootsie is a little bit of the forgotten woman right now too, just as we you know, Randy, you clearly hate her. We never mention her on this podcast. T.C., you could not have had a better segue because question 12, the question is, PC, you could not have had a better segue because question 12, the question is, who is one woman not currently ranked in the Rolex top 10 that will finish 2024 inside the top 10? And conversely, who is one woman who is currently inside the top 10 who will drop

out of the top 10 by the end of 2024? And just for those at home, the current top 10, as we are speaking to you, is Lilia Vu, Rooning in, Celine Boudier, Minjie Lee, Nelly Corda, Jin Young Co, Hugh Jookim, Charlie Hall, Atayatidikum, and Ji-Yu Lin, are your top 10. And Tee-Cee, my answer is I have Celine dropping out of the top 10 by the end of the year. precipitous. Well, I think it's just going to be tough. She had such a good 2023.

It was such a breakthrough. I just think it's a big ask for her to follow that up. Again, I need to know more about how these points are working. She has 49 events played. That's more than anybody else outside of Tidakum until you get down to G-I-Shin 15. She's got 54 events, but it's kind of total points. You've got average points.

I don't know. I need to do more of a deep dive into the cricket role, actually, the game within the game. And just to finish my answer, I have Rose Zhang, who's currently 25th. I think she will be top 10 by the end of the year. And I do think TC to your point, I think a large part of why I feel that way. Rose just doesn't have that many events played.

So I think especially the first half of this year is just going to be, I'm kind of guessing at how the world ranking points, but you, you know, if she top tens a bunch It's just gonna be a points bananza for because she's got nothing, you know, nothing dropping off if you will This first half of the year. So that's my answer. T.C. Why don't you go? What's your answer for this? Yeah, I got I got Lynn Grant obviously moving in, you know in a big way She's got a whole whole moving truck coming in. I've got Megan Kang coming in. I've got Lydia coming in. I've got Charlie moving out. I think Charlie's been red line on the engine. And, you know, I think it's going to be tough to sustain. Like if Charlie, like that's like a career year for her

and she's only up to eighth, you know? I've got G. U. Lynn moving out. And, uh, unfortunately, she leads the LPJ tour in almost every single Stroke Skating category. Again, I'm just, it's going to be tough to sustain, right? And then I've got Jin Young Co. moving out as well. Interesting. Well, three for one special for you guys. Based on Charlie's

Instagram, yeah, she's still red line. And god damn, she's, she's in balls every single day. Cody, what's your answer here? I agree with T.C. I think Lin is coming in all the way, you know, getting close to the top here. I, we talk about that we want to see this, is coming in all the way, you know, getting close to the top here. I, we, you know, we

talk about that we want to see this, these top three, if we could get a little lifting and separating going on there, I think, between her, between Nelly, between even Liliah. I think Megan Kang's definitely coming into. I don't think so. I think it's taking a big game a long, long time to get that first win. I understand that you can move up these rankings just based off the amount of events that you're playing and not getting a ton of victories. Megan Kang right now is 14th in the world. I don't think she's going to get better than that. I think, uh, you know, she'll stay in the top 20, but she's not going to break into the top 10.

And again, that's no offense to her. I just think that if you look at people's games, I don't know what else making gangs kind of going to show us here. Um, so who do I have going out then? And I think just like the rest of you guys, I think it's going to be genuine. Co, we have no clue what happened post knee surgery. I don't know what that recovery is going to look like. We don't know what form she's going to have coming back or anything else like that. Plus, she had an overall kind of shake a year. I mean, it's not the dominant performance

that we're kind of used to her. So that's my one in one out. Jordan, what do you got? So I'm going for easy target. Jinyoungco again. Sorry, JYK. But yeah, I think that that's going to have a massive effect on these numbers. I kind of want to, I kind of want to go against the grain here a little bit and maybe not too much in the recent sea lines, but just in terms of

who's going to sneak into that top 10, I think Alison Lee has really found a great form and I don't think that's going to end anytime soon. I think she's one of the hungriest people in the top 20. And so I think it's Alison Lee. I think Randy, I think Rosang is a good one too to sneak in up there. But yeah, that sample size is too small. I feel like to promote a make like a safe top 10 call. But I think Allison Lee is gonna make a cute leap this year. Interesting. Nobody mentioned Angel. Yeah. Nobody mentioned Nasa.

Right in some notes. Should we do an ad? DC, let's pay some bills. Excellent call, sir. Our other sponsor today are good friends at titleists. This episode is brought to you by titleists and the new Voke SM 10 wedges which recently made their PGA tour debut and will be available to LPGA players for the first time at next week's drive on championship. Guys, we had a chance. Jordan Jordan you didn't make it out with us but Cody Tron and I we were out in an ocean side Southern California at the end of December we went through

the fitting process. Did you guys what any big changes to your wedge setup TC did you change your equipment? The ground source changes. Yeah, Yeah, I'm in a T grind. I got trying out an M grind. I went to a D grind in my 53, and then I've got the T grind. It's just been, I'm like a new player. So stoke to get these SM-10s, you know, throw out the X, SM-10s, get those in the mix. And then vocally, it is hands on me too, and has potentially cured me

of my chipping yips. Everything that ails you. My fitting was revelatory as well. The SM-10s aren't going to make their official debut until next week. So we can't really get into too much of the technical details I want, make some special. But for my fitting that the Tyler's people sent over some of the transcript, yeah.

And I was like, oh my god, shout out to my guy, Chris, but just teaching me how to use the tool better, learned a lot about the bounce and just how to play and think about different shots. It was awesome. So I'm going to be in a slightly different grind in my wedges this year. I had slightly different bounces and a couple of them, but very, very excited to get them in my hands and start hitting those nippers and scooters around the green. If anybody listening, if you need to get your wedges dialed and chances are you do because they always say if you ever replace a grip on your

wedge, you should just switch out the wedge. Tylus can get you dialed and that means the correct loft, the bounce and the grinds for your game and the course conditions you play as well. Those are all very important factors and it's one of the easiest ways to improve your short game. You can head over to vocie.com VOK, EY to learn more about the wedge fittings and all of the Voki tour proving grinds. And stay tuned to title as social channels for all SM 10 news and updates. We thank them for being a great sponsor. And now let's get back to the questions. We're about halfway through.

In the interest of time, we might have to, you know, just limit these to one word answers, but this is probably one we could expand upon a little bit. The question is, will we get a first time major winner in 2024? And if you think yes, please name the player in the tournament. Feel like I haven't kicked off many of these. So let me start. I thought yes. And I'm going with Leonna McGuire at the Women's British Open. I think it's a course of venue, a type of golf that she can really excel at. And I think more than that, it's going to be in that lead

up to the Soulheim cup. And through these last two Soulheim cups, she has proven to be an absolute killer. And I think she will start kind of peaking towards that late August mid September time of year. And I could see her doing really, really well on the old course. So I'm gonna take a flyer and say Leona at the AIG Women's Open will be a first-time major winner. Let me toss this to Jordan. What's your answer here, Jordan? Oh, I think Angel Yen will finally win at Chevron And I think not having the pressure on her of being the defending champion is gonna free her up so much

and she's been freed up so much in her game just in the past year. And I obviously she knows how to play so well at that venue and I think she's finally gonna take it. That would be awesome. Cody, what's up you? Yep. I, I'm going to be right there with you at the old course for the AIG women's open. Unfortunately, do not have the same winner because Lynn Grant is going to win at the old course. I'm going to be hailing

and TC is going to be jumping into my arms and we're running up and down, celebrating like crazy, crazy dudes out there. The other, I also, I like Angel at Chevron. I think that's kind of where I was thinking too. And then, you know, like if you want an actual bold, bold take, of course, we always want bold takes. I think that Hannah Green is going to win the US Open. I do have to caution you though, Cody, she is a major winner. So she would not qualify for this question.

Cut this. Mark her it. So it is a bold take. It is a bold take. T.C. What's how you? Yeah, I said, I got Lynn Gran it's Sa Sahali. It's also blown my mind that Leona's never cracked the top 10 before. That's damning a little bit, isn't it? Right. And she's not, you know, like, she's been out there. She's kind of a lay bloomer. How old is she now? She's 29. Yeah. I have a link on a question for you guys. Please. When do you think this window of expectation for her first major ends or expires, rather? She's kind of getting some whiffs of Tommy lad. Little bit.

Right? Yeah. Yeah, I just don't think that I don't think the game, like, you know, there's obviously different playing yourself. I agree with your takes that Tommy still has a ton of, like competitive, highly competitive years left in front of him. I just don't know if Leon is that fortunate. I know it feels like the window is what,

like three years, and then, like, yeah, you hate to stay it on the women's side, but they just, I think his players keep getting longer and longer, like it's gonna get tougher and tougher than we've ever been to, because she's not that long to begin with. Yeah. It'll take a special type.

But like the old course is a great example though. Like take a special type of venue, right? Yeah. She is so I'm so impressed at this all I'm cupped out. All right. Next question comes back to three American women. Rose Zhang, Angel Yan and Megan Kang, they all captured their first LPGA victories in 2023.

The question is, and let's go by LPGA player of the year points race. Who will have the best 2024 Cody? Let's go to you first. I understand why you grouped these three together. I think that there's probably one that stands out above the rest. I, it's very hard for me not to say Rose here. I, she didn't play a full year.

She, seeing a lot of these courses for the very first time. She's going to rack up a ton of points. I'm still, you know, very cautious and not saying that Rose is going to win, you know, buckets loads of tournaments or major championships or anything else like that. But as she continues to, you know, grow up in front of our eyes and get familiar with these venues and everything. It's just hard to say. She's just so consistent. TC, how about you? I got angel. I think angels being unleashed. I think she's a predator in training.

Jordan? I think my original answer was Megan Kang, but I'm going to change it to angel, because I've kind of convinced myself in the past few minutes that it indeed would be angel. But again, I think the Rose Ang sample size is too small to definitively say. I really want to see her play a full year on the LPJ before I feel like, you know, where her windows of consistency and highlights and low lights are. And yeah, I mean, a lot, a lot has really happened to her game in ever since she turned professional. I mean, yeah, putting some work, just a lot of of aspects of I don't want to say like Rosang is really broken, but you've seen the cracks and I think there's going to be a little bit over pair this year and you know, hopefully that lends itself to the same ascendant Rosang we're

used to seeing. I think it's going to be a fascinating one to track through the year and I'm glad we have some some difference of opinion. That'll be a good one to keep tabs on. Next question, 2023 soft 12, 12 first time winners on the LPGA tour. Will 2024 yield a higher or lower amount of first time winners? DC, what, what's a you? I would say lower. I think there's going to be less parity overall, both with first time winners and just generally speaking, more multiple time winners within the calendar year as well. Cody? I would say lower.

Again, I think it's one of those things where you just, that number seems so, so high. I think it's time for us to see quite a few, you know, these women get a couple wins each year. It's crazy. It's crazy to see Jordan. How about you? I say about the same or lower. I think yeah, we're seeing less and less parity and a little more of a concentration of great players.

I mean, I think there's a great crop of talent coming from the Epson Tour and Q series, but I think even so, I don't, I think 12 was, 12 was a pretty big number, so it's gonna be pretty hard to match up. TC, you took the words right out of my mouth. I had lower for the simple reason. I wanna start seeing Lillia, Nelly, Rooning-in,

Ataya, Lynn,. I want to start seeing Lillia, Nelly, Rooning in, Ataia, Lynn, like I want to start seeing these these great young younger talents start winning. And then you throw in Wikipedia profile. Yeah, exactly. Then you layer in Lydia and Jin Youngco and Minjie Lee. And yeah, I just don't, I hope there aren't going to be that many opportunities for first time winners this year. All right, we're gonna get into some more specific predictions. Jordan, I'm gonna start with you. You're kind of our amateur golf maven.

Who do you have winning the 2024 Augusta National Women's Am? Wow, I wanna say Latana Stone. I wanna say her redemption arc is finally here between missing out on an Anwa title, on a US Women's Am title. I want to say Latana Stone, I want to say her redemption arc is finally here between missing out on an anwa title on a US women's am title. I just think she could be the hungriest and probably possibly the best of the hungriest players out there. I feel good about it and a Davis repeat, though I think starting college golf is

going to throw a bit of a wrench in her schedule because she's so used to playing junior golf and mixing pro events in there. And I think there was a little more freedom in her schedule. And now I think things are going to change just a little bit. If I could throw just a couple of lesser-known names, I think Maria Jose Merin at Arkansas, who advanced to Augusta last year as she was ending her junior career is phenomenal, just such a powerful player especially for her size. And of course, Geonna Clement, who I think her wager does her absolutely no favors. I mean, she's easily the sneakyest best junior player out

there. I think she's poised to win any of these elite titles. And I remember talking to her after Ann Wands, she said she felt she learned so much playing Augusta National. And there was just a lot that she did. She used that as the basis to totally rework her game. And I think she's totally going to come out and just, I don't know, I could totally see her snatching it from everybody. and just, I don't know, I could totally see her snatching it from everybody. I like it. I like it. Uh, T.C. Who do you have? I have, uh, an English woman, Lottie, Wode or Wad or Wode. Yeah.

I was going to say Helen Breem. I don't know if Helen Breem's turned pro yet or not. The German, the big German, The big German, I love. Yeah, but yeah, I think Ann was tricky because, you know, indelibly all the, you know, the memory is always of Augusta National, but two of the three rounds are dictated on at Champions of Treat. And there's some high scores out there.

There's kind of a, you know, a pretty big like, there's been, I mean, even when Rose won, like, you know, she had the two rounds of champions retreat and then struggle to Augusta versus, you know, like you've seen a bunch of stuff on the flip side where, you know, you'll get a 78 or a 79 mixed in with a, you know, a good round over there. So, yeah, I'm to say one of those two

future soulheim cup stalwarts. Cody, how about you? Yeah, those all sound great. You know, it's very hard when you don't know what the field's actually going to be. The only name that we haven't really talked about so far is Ingrid, right? I mean, who knows? I don't even think was it last year that she didn't even play because she was Monday qualifying somewhere else or something like that, but I don't know. I feel like her, you know, she's what her fifth year at LSU. I know she has a couple wins so far in the fall. If she plays, sure, but the rest of them sound great too. I don't know. Maybe we go Stanford back to back, maybe mega pops up in there. You just never know. I'm a little bit concerned that that Ingrid has in term pro yet, you know, like Saki Bob is turned pro. Ingrid like, you know, fifth

year senior. I think she wants an NCAA more than anything. I think that's what that's the goal. She loves college golf so much. Cody, to your point about Ingrid, Ingrid played pretty badly. And while last year she kind of faded out very quickly at champions. It was a tough go. There you go. Well, maybe it won't. Maybe she'll run. Didn't Delta.

Did her luggage or something too? Yeah. Was that right before stage two of Q school. Yeah. And then she ended up meddling, or meddling if you will there. Oh, Jordan, my pick. You tell me how crazy this is. And it might be a couple of years early, but I have Gianna Clemente winning anwa. I think this could be the coming out party where all of golf starts to learn her name. I don't think that's so crazy at all. Ever since, ever since she really won the Sally and she'd almost got the West Girls

junior, I've kind of thought like if there's anyone that could come as close to Rose Zang out there, it would probably be Gianna. Megatallin to the American. All right, Jordan, back to you. Is LSU the team to beat? Who's your pick to win the team? The team, NCA championships in May. Well, we're switching venues this year. So it could be LSUs. Thank God. Could be. Yeah. God, we're we're headed to to Lakinta. No, La Costa. Thank God. Could be. Yeah. Oh God. We're headed to Lakinta. No, Lakosta. Lakosta.

Damn, and I knew I was going to mess that up. I newly renovated Lakosta. Shout out Omni. Gill Hans. Lang. Lancaster. Lancaster. Lakosta.

Lakinta. It's going to be a tough year. Sorry, George. We're going to have to create a running pronunciation guide in these agendas. Truly, truly. Yeah, I mean, it feels like LSU does have all the talent between Ingrid and Latana. And we kind of thought it was going to end that way last year. But I think Stanford is still really strong.

I still think Wake Forest still has it as a defending champion. I also wouldn't count out USC to emerge again and Auburn who's getting Anna Davis now and they have the reigning US women's AM champion in Megan Scofall. They missed match play last year but talking to Melissa Luelland, she seems fairly confident that this team is refreshed and they've got they've got so much talent between the men's and the women's program. It feels like everyone is locking to offer. So I it's really hard for me to say definitively a team, but I do think this is the one thing

Ingrid Lindblatt has been playing for. I feel confident saying it's going to be Ingrid. Because she, if there's anyone who can totally lock in and totally focus and get it done, it's her. I mean, she's made such good strides and just every single part of her game between, I think, a few years ago it was the putting and now it's the ball striking just everything. I think she has the whole package. Cody, how about you, anything to add there?

No, sounds good. I mean, wake, it's hard to get. I mean, this isn't a thing about like lack of knowledge here. It's this is a complete breakdown of not, not just women's athletics, but both men's and women's collegiate golf. How the fuck are we supposed to track like track any of this? So I test it's hard. The I test, but all the shadows. I mean, that that's been a massive, massive controversy. This offseason, right?

Or this, you know, for the fall season into now is like, they've, they've totally reworked the stats and the results and all that gathering mechanism and they've seemingly botched it on the front end, right? We also won't have live scoring until safely, I think, fall 24. I think they're hoping for earlier, but I mean, there's still programs are still using golf stat and other services, but officially with Clipton scoreboard, there's still programs are still easy to go all-stat and other services, but officially with Clifton scoreboard, that's still not going to happen for a little bit. But the rank in the rankings kind of seem like they are not in a

trial and error phase, but certainly in a phase where all the programs and all the coaches are still trying to figure out just how to schedule what any of it means. And to be honest, I think I've busted my brain in a number of times trying to understand the new ranking system. Crazy. T-S-T-I'm officially picking LSU.

Who's your official pick? I'm picking Stanford. Okay. Maga, you know, they've got some new skin and avian's coming in. I also think it's crazy that both Auburn and Wake Forest have women's coaches are named Blue Ellen, but they're spelled completely different. That's wild. I also want to say else you has on you, Don again, who had a great week last year. Yeah. US women's open. I like what she's made out of until she got it alone out to see.

Yes, but she showed some pluck, which I enjoyed. All right, we're going to turn to the Soulheim Cup now. Famously, famously, TME USA has not won since 2017 in Des Moines. That spans the last three soulheim cups. They get another shot this year at Robert Trent Jones golf club in Northern Virginia. Second week of September. The question guys, Cody, I'll start with you. Is this the year team USA breaks their soul harm cup drought. Sure. If we don't, we got a big old mess on our hands here. Yes, we did. I'd be task force season for sure.

TC, how about you? You know, as much as I want to say, team Europe, I think, you know, I think Azahar Munoz is going to come back in the mix. I just, you have to worry about, you know, if, if, if headwall can keep her, can keep her momentum going. Headwall has been back in from the wilderness again. You know, or she moves in to kind of an assistant captain role. You know, I worry about like, how is, you know, Celine didn't have the greatest Soulheim cup,

and there's some friction there, I guess, with Suzanne Patterson. How does that work? I think the US team, they've got between Liliah Flexi's playing well, if you've got more young talent kind of on the come up there. There could be more Spaniards on the way. But I think the next crop of European

talent is at least 18, 24 months away. So I will say the US gets it back. I hate. I know. I'm with you. I think the US gets it back. I think it might even be decisive. Jordan, what say you are we a clean sweep for team USA? We are a clean sweep indeed. There are three letters in the word yes, three letters in the acronym USA. It's time. And if it's not time, yes indeed, it's task force season. Yeah, I think I don't I don't entirely believe it's gonna be a copy-paste roster. And I certainly think the captains picks are probably going to be extremely different this year.

They gotta do it at the pressure's all on them. And if they drop the ball here, they're in trouble. We're in a lot of trouble. All right, I'm gonna limit you to just saying the name, but give me the way too early top score prediction for each side in this whole I'm cup. Jordan will start with you. For each side, um, that would be Lilia and Carlota. TC Lilia and Lynn Cody Allison and Lynn. Which Allison? Carpus. Okay. Well, Allison Lee, you know,

it could be the LG has as good a year as Jordan thinks. I have Leona and Lillia. A lot of expectations for Lillia this year. All right, this is a, I really like this question and it made me think who will be a soul-hymed cup rookie for each side? Cody, we'll swing it right back to you. I'm going to go with Sarah Schmezzle. Schmezzle. Schmezzle. All right, Mollmi. And the reason I say that she's currently 12 on the list as we speak right now, of course, qualifying this year because of going back to back is going to run through the 2024 AIG women's open seven automatic selects for team US and then filled out with the

rest. And then hold on, you got to wait for me to get the European teams. Come back around for my turn, Europe. T.C. I think I know who you're going to say, but go ahead and tell me one rookie for each side. All right. I'll start with the Europeans. Alexandra forsterling. Oh, big German. Big German. The Germans are coming. The Germans are coming. The Germans are coming. Yeah. I think, you know, how

to had a nice, nice fall over in Europe when the VP bank Swiss ladies open. That's a national open. Is that one of regional open in, in, uh, my orca? You know, I kind of, kind of in island open, if you will. Sure. Um, so yeah, I think, uh, one her and then United States. This is the one I think I can guess, but go ahead. This is a complete home or pick. Yes. But I think she's gonna take the next level with her, the next step with her career.

And I think she'd be an awesome, awesome soul home cup candidate Lauren Cogland. And whips of a home game. Yeah, yeah, she's, you know, live, she lives in the area of sure she's played out there a bunch, world class ball striker, I think putting is leveling up. And I think she's, I think she's going to have a, a really, really nice year. And not far off. I mean, I, I understand that could be a very bold prediction. Obviously, Homer's on our part, but like she's 13, or or excuse me 14 from the list right now. Yeah,

like she she has a decent year like a way on 100% in the picture. Yeah. Jordan, who are your two rookie picks? To continue the wonderful trend of Swedish rookies and soulheim cups and rider cups, I will say, Ingrid, I think Ingrid hits a stride when she turns professional and just, bam, locks in. For the US, I'm feeling, I'm feeling Alexa Pano. I think Alexa Pano keeps on and qualifies and makes her way in there. I like it, I like it.

TC, I'm right with you on LC. It is a Homer pick, but she can absolutely do it. I feel like her game is trending in overall in a good direction. For Team Europe, guys, I'm surprised nobody said this already. And Van Dam, take a look at what she's done recently. She has seemingly come out of the wilderness. She's got her Rolex ranking all the way up to 71st in the world.

She had a very good season on the LET. She of course has maybe the best swing in the women's game. It hits the shit out of the ball. I got her as a rookie on this year's Soulheim Cup team. You could also send her out against Angel and have, you know, shit out of the ball. I got her as a rookie on this year's Soulheim Cup team. You could also send her out against Angel and have, you know, kind of, you know, I know Angel gets, gets all, she's like, no, I'm the longest player out here. And we totally get like the game within the game within the game. Four questions left here. Another

way to early prediction, but I asked you guys to give me who will win the season long race to the CME points list, and then who do you think is going to actually win the CME tour championship? Let's see. TC will start with you. Yeah, I'm going to say, Mindjili wins the points list, and I have no clue who will win the CME championship because it's a total crap shoot. Yes, yes.

Yes, random. Okay, that's fair. Cody, who you got? Nelly Corda is going to win the points list and I'm in the same bucket as TC and I don't want to get accused of a ditching that last question, not picking my team Europe, but I think it's gonna be the Trevino, Anna Anna Trevino who probably should have made the team last year.

Okay. Jordan, who do you have? CME? Points list, I think, I think it's going to be Lollia again. I'm just going to keep riding the Lollia wave like I did earlier. And winning the CME, yeah, the CMEs of Crop Shoot, but I'm going to be brave and try to answer this. I think, I think it be Nelly. Maybe that'll be your one title. Great minds think alike. I have Nelly winning the tour championship and then I have a tie at it to come as the season long points leader going into the tour championship. That could be some, you know, some lipstick on a bad season.

Yeah. I'm sure they kind of saw through. Yeah. All right. Well, let's combine these two questions. I asked for your LPGA rookie of the year selection and your LPGA player of the year selection. Jordan, why don't you kick us off? Rookie of the year.

This probably feels like maybe somewhat of a safe pick, but I'm going to say Gabby Ruffles and player of the year. Oh, you know, I threw down Allison Lee for this one and hey, I mean, oh, yeah. I'm going to stick with it, you know, feel like it's a little bit of a bold one, but I'm going to stick with Allison. Like I said, she's making the leap that year. It's not a little bit of a bold. It's a very bold prediction. And I love it. I'm here for it. 20th in the world right now, I think. Yeah.

It just seems like she hasn't really broken through yet. But anyway, all right, T.C. give us here too. Yeah, I was going to say Gabby Ruffles. But you know what, I'm going off the board. I'm going Monet and Name. Just because I don't think she's like really a rookie. She's already won. Yeah. Like she won last year and she's played Japanese tour a bunch, but I think she's just going

to take her talents to the States in a big way. I think Gabby's going to be a killer too. But and then Minji Lee's player there. Cody. I will meet you guys with either one of those two rookies, uh, Moni, she just like gobbled up all the victories you possibly can and then Gabby. It just has like all the runway in the world. Uh, unfortunately player of the year, I've said this name quite a bit.

I just feel good about it. All right. And no, it's not Lexi, but it will be Nelly Corda. Nelly, yeah. I love it. I love it. I'm gonna join you guys with Gabby. I think she has the year she really, really breaks through. I expect a major championship. I expect multiple wins. Give me a tie. Guys, at least just the last question I have for you, kind of open ended. This was one I struggled with quite frankly. Cody, I'm going to ask you to go first here. But the question is, will the LPGA officially

merge with the LET and if not, what will the situation look like, kind of broadly speaking in the women's game at the end of 2024? I'm going to give you a yes, no answer. I think we time we talked about this on the last podcast. I don't think when people say merger that they think that like two entities come together and now they just form one and that's the only thing that's moving forward. That's not the case here, that's not the case on the PGA tour side. You're still gonna have a ladies European tour,

you're still gonna have an LPGA tour, but you'll have some form of a larger global. Yes, exactly. And that's already, we've talked about that. We broke that on the last podcast of, they're already operating that way with the LPGA basically financing the vast majority of the LET purses outside of a Ramco events. What I think you're going to see though is that there will be a consolidated effort to have a

higher tier schedule of events that's pushed forward and they'll figure out their way around that. Hopefully, if not, I would say the losing end of that would be the LPGA tour, because I think the majority of the playing like the talent, the players will go over and continue to play more ladies European tour events. Interesting. If those purses get underpinned by, yeah, 100%. Teaser schedule is not out yet, isn't it? It is out. Rough, yeah, rough copies of it, though. T.C. Any thoughts to add to that?

I don't think they merge. I think it gets weird and acrimonious. And, uh, yeah, I think we're left with even something that, you know, the, the LPGA is, isn't a more untenable spot towards the end of the year, like Cody said. And there's, there's more of a not exodus, but there's a lot more doubt. Which is really going to stink. I really hope they can see what's going on on the men's side and work together collaboratively. Cody, to your point, I don't know if that means they will kind of come together. But I do, I think with the LPGA already being a very global broad tour, like there's no reason they couldn't come together. Hey, if it's the LET, if they want to prop up certain events in Europe, like build out a

really strong European swing, right? I think that would be great as a fan. I just, I really hope they can avoid the split and the exodus and the, you know, the all the headaches and the publicity that goes with, you know, if a Nellie Corta or whoever it may be, renouncing LPGA membership, I just think that would be a disaster. that goes with, you know, if a Nelly Corta or whoever it may be, renouncing LPGA membership, I just think that would be a disaster.

So, Jordan, any other thoughts to add to this situation? I don't think it's gonna be challenging to get, I think, it's 60% of the membership that has to vote in favor of it. And it feels like a natural next step, like you said, where the women's game is already so much more globalized and you don't want to see the friction and any more segmentation than there has to be. But I don't know, I feel it feels like it should be yes, but it feels like very possibly it could be no, too. But I think no, I know if that, if it doesn't happen, it feels like it can

be disastrous, especially if you start losing your stars. I mean, I think the LPGA is in such a vulnerable position already that it just, I mean, why not? Well, guys, I appreciate all your predictions, your thoughts. This will be a fun one to revisit throughout the year, check in on some of our takes and see what we get right, see what we get wrong. I do want to allow, if there are any predictions that did not get covered by the questions, please, I want to give you space to level any other big predictions. But absent that, I think we call it an episode. I think there's better than a non-zero chance

that Lexi goes to men's live. Like non-women's live, straight up men's live. Okay, so better than a non-zero. What are you putting it at? Like maybe like an 8% chance. I'm just trying to live pipeline. Okay. Outside of your fandom for the

cleaks, which team do you think she would should integrate best? That's a great question. The cleaks obviously have a couple, you know, I think Kai Simuja or some boy is going to get an occupy one of the the open roster spots, but

obviously they have a roster spot, you know, I think possibly the iron heads, I don't really have an identity. Of course. That is tough. So we'll see. I like that one. I don't know.

I think you're right. I mean, it's one of those things where and I hate the saying like where they're smoke their fire, but like so many people have talked about that she has had multiple conversations that like that contracts have already been. I was going to say people told us that she had an offer. Yeah, once this thing is initiated, like she is the, she's supposed to be kind of like the first one, the, the, the Justin Johnson, the Phil to go out there and be like, okay, this is what we're doing. You know, the people that she surrounds herself with that would kind of make sense.

You know, it's just, I don't know. We'll see if that happens this year. But think about it this way. Think about it. If they wanted to, you know, both increase interest in live, you know, at least from the jump there, they could, they could easily juice it that way. Then they could also, you know, then when they are ready to do the women's stuff, you know, or they, you know, they let this LPGA let stuff, they played nice and kind of try to be the

ones bringing both tours together. But then they are basically inflating the value of Lexi as well in the lead up to, you know to having a women's thing. And then she plays all the Aramco International Series stuff too on the women's side. Yeah. Do you know, it would not take much for them at all. Like you could literally run with 48 man field, these live events of three days of shotgun start. Like you could, you could run men's and women's events

at the same venue. And like everything that we always talk about, the issues with telecast and all the logistics are just go out the window. They can even make it like she's not even on one of the teams. She just, you know, she's just like a like a, you know a competing marker. I don't know, it could be fascinating. I've also seen that the women's game might be the best avenue for the PIF to kind of get in with the USGA, the RNA, because you think about, if they wanted to stand up of 48 women or 50,

whatever the number would be, you would have to think they would attract most of the top players in women's golf if not every single one. And then all of a sudden, it's like, well, okay, what do you, what are we doing about the US women's open like, you know, are we opening qualifying avenues? And then it's like, well, we're doing this on the women side. Why can't we do the same thing on the men's side? I don't know.

That's a theory that's out there. And it's not the worst one I've heard. It'd be very, very interesting to see what happens. Yeah, it's a little depressing. What's in there? Guys, like I said, I appreciate it. You hate one more question. Do you think anything comes of the LPGA seeking, you know, outside investment? Yeah, good question. I hope so. I like they seem to be trying to decouple from the PGA tour a little bit. They should go talk to the A-Corn group with Cody Skies out in the military industrial

Randall Stevenson, Oklahoma dudes. This is a friends of golf. Yeah, I think that's certainly the hope on the women's side, right? I think Molly would love to find outside investment, you know, figure out some stuff with the broadcasting, getting them on streaming more often, all priorities for it. Maybe that's the back door, the Fenway sports thing with, you know, they're tied in with the PGA tour and then they have a good relationship with the Saudis as well, you know. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Like it's crazy to me that like the whole TGL thing that there that there wasn't a women's element to that. Right. Criminal teams or co-ed teams. Yeah. I know, but nobody thought of any of that. No, I know.

Like how the easiest thing you could have possibly done. I don't want to share the pot, man. I mean, it's fucking. And I still, I want to call one more time on, I think there should be a women's major, whether it's a, you know, KPMG women's PGA or something, founders, something at TPC sawgrass at some point. I think that would be fucking cool. Hey, man, or Soul Hunt Cup.

Soul Hunt Cup would be amazing. And no, it doesn't necessarily fit in with their agronomy. And they don't want to play nice with others. And the proud partners have all this in that. Let's figure it out. You know, figure it out. Well, guys, let's leave it there. Like I said, tournament of champions this week, drive on next week, and then we're a little

bit of a break until the end of February. So we will be back in February with another LPGA specific pod. But hopefully some good questions to get everybody ready for these first two weeks and the broader season. Cody, Tron, Jordan, thank you guys very much. We will be back quite often this year. And yeah, wish you guys a Merry 2024. Cheers.