Subpar - Taylor Twellman returns to talk being an analyst for the World Cup, finishing 8th at the American Century Championship and guest hosting the Today Show

Episode Date: July 28, 2026

On this week's episode of Subpar, Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by professional soccer and World Cup analyst Taylor Twellman. The lead commentator for Apple TV's MLS coverage recaps the impact of the United States hosting the World Cup, why he was disappointed in his 8th place finish at this year's American Century Championship and how he landed the role of guest host on the Today Show. --Thanks to our friends at Zone Nicotine for sponsoring the show.Bring the heat with the full spicy lineup from zone nicotine pouches—shop Spicy Strawberry, Spicy Mango, and Jalapeño Lime at Nicokick.com/zone and use code SUBPAR20 for 20% off your order.We’ve teamed up with Shady Rays to bring you an exclusive offer. Head to shadyrays.com and use code: SUBPAR for 50% OFF 2+ pairs of polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people.

I wanted to play in the tournament. I will always play in the tournament. I brought my girls with me. We did July 4th watch fireworks, but the next day I took a red eye to Dallas, Spain, Portugal, and then flew back, watched the U.S. Belgium game,

played in the pro-am, then flew out and did it. You know what I'm saying? So it just, it was difficult. But I'll always play. You guys know me well enough. Two rounds, 19 rounds, I don't really care. I'll play.

I'll do my best. this year just was i knew coming into it i wasn't going to feel terribly confident like from 120 yards in you guys know this better than me when you don't play a lot of golf that 100 to 20 to 80 yard shot and then obviously putting that's going to be rusty and that's what it was just like i had four eagle putts listen to this colt i had four eagle putts inside 30 feet i pard all four holes oh nice No. Solid. You're just like Tiger, though.

You just need more reps. All right, how we doing, everybody? Welcome back to Subpar with Colt Nost and Drew Stultz and Sleys. A Star was born. No one was more zoned in. I want to give a special shout out to our friends over at Zone Nicotine. But a star was born, young Jackson Coyvin. You know, he had all the accolades, had the incredible resume.

Destined to be a star, but it doesn't always work out that way. But it took him all of three events. as a member of the PGA tour to pick up his first win, and he did it up to the 3M open in the Twin Cities. What a week it was for that young fellow, beating world number one, Scotty Sheffler, by three shots. Yeah, dude, probably, I mean, for a tournament, you know, for being honest, doesn't have a ton of juice going in.

They got Scottie Sheffler this year. That was nice to have. This was probably best case scenario for 3M. Scotty Sheffler in the mix, making a run on a Sunday, and then the young phenom, Jackson Coivin, trying to hold him off. And, I mean, third start as a pro on the PGA tour. It looked like he'd been there a million times.

How about a little bogey-free weekend, setting the all-time scoring record at the same time? I don't want to be one of the guys that jumps to conclusions. Like, this kid's going to win six majors and be world number one and all that stuff. But it'd be hard to be higher on a kid that's 21 years of age coming off his amateur career that he had and now doing this on the PGA tour. That was clinical. Until the drive on 18, that made me feel a little bit better.

He messes up. He's human because he looked perfect for like the first, you know, 12 or 13 holes. It was an absolute clinic. I mean, going back to the 61 on Saturday when, as you said, Scotty Sheffler, right there, he goes out, shoots 29 on that back nine Saturday to get himself in the mix. At one point, there was five guys at 14 under, five guys at 13 under. It looked like it was going to be an all-time shootout around TPC Twin Cities. And then Jackson Coyven just said, not so fast.

I'm just going to go out there and shoot 28 on the back nine and take a three-shot lead into the final round of a PJ tour event looking for my first ever win. But he won every award there was. I mean, his freshman year, he's the only person to sweep all four of the major college awards, the Haskins, the Hogan, the Nicholas Award, as well as the Phil Mickelson Award for freshman of the year. He's done things in this game.

Nobody else has ever done. But that all goes away once you switch from amateur to professional. Like, yeah, it's cool. yeah, it's there. But now I got to start over. And yes, he was number one in PGA Tour EU with the Accelerated Program. So he has a PJ Tour Guard,

so he's not technically starting over. But to go from being the man at the level of golf he played for three straight years to now, okay, I'm a professional. I'm with the big dogs now. They don't give a shit what I've done the past several seasons.

I got to go out there and earn it. And boy, did he ever. Yeah, I mean, three starts, goes miscut at John Deere, then goes top 10, now win. Now, third betting favorite this week, same odds as Xander Schaulet. I mean, it's hard for a kid like Jackson-Coyvon to live up to the hype because the hype is so much.

But I think he's done it and surpassed it. I mean, we already got President's Cup talk going on. If he continues to play well, contends, do you put him on that team, you know, with the thought being he's going to be a rider-cupper going forward? I don't know. There's still a lot left, but what he did this past weekend, bogey-free. Scotty Schaffler chasing you down. He mentioned it, like, you know, everywhere he'd go on the golf people say,

Scott, he's making a move. Scottie's making a move. You wouldn't have known it. I mean, he held him off. He looked great. Also, loved in his interview afterwards that he called the man to Ballionis. Yes, ma'am. Well, on that.

I had to sting a little for Amanda. I was like, damn, you know. But the kid's 21 years old. Shit. I mean, that's what you do in the South. But I thought that was hilarious, by the way. She didn't find it as funny as you did. She, I texted her this morning, ma'am.

And she said, the audacity in all capital letters. So we're going to have some fun with that when I feel like. going forward. But man, he was fun to watch. He plays quick. He plays aggressive. It reminds me so much. Like you mentioned the President's Cup. Like Jordan Speath, 19 years old. He's playing on sponsor exemptions.

He earns enough points to get his card, but to get in the playoffs and get everything that comes with all of that, you have to win on the PJ tour. He wins John Deere, gets him into the playoffs. He plays with Phil Mickelson on Sunday at Boston, shoot 62. Phil calls Fred Couples and said, put this kid on the team.

He's going to be on these teams for many years to come. Let's get him in there now. He's ready. And I really think if we see Jackson Coyvin, he's number 70 right now in the FedEx Cup standings. So top 70 get in. So he needs to play well at Detroit and Windham to make sure he locks up a spot, see if he can move along in the playoffs.

If he does, I expect his phone to ring and it will say Brantznetterker. Yeah. It's highly possible, which is crazy that he's already 70th on the FedEx Cup point. He's got three starts under him. the Jordan Speed comparisons will continue to come. That's why, though, also when we, like, that's what we do in golf. It's like, he wins one time. And it's like, oh, he's going to win six majors and all this stuff.

Like, Jordan Speed came out and went first, first, first, fourth, second in a stretch of major championships. You know, that was the same conversation. Like, how many is this guy going to win? It's so hard to do it over a long stretch of golf like these guys go through. But right now for Jackson-Cloven, it's like, how could you be more impressed with what he's done coming out? And, yeah, he was definitely zoned in this. past week. And he's in good company too, BG, because it was a hell of a weekend for like kind of the future of young American superstars that are on the come up. You got Blades Brown, shot 61

on the same day that Jackson Coimba did, but he did it down on the Corn Prairie Tour. Miles Russell, who ended up losing in the U.S. Junior Am in the finals, but he played 36 holes the day before. It was 14 under through 30 holes. I watched a good bit of it. He looks like a joke. And then Tommy Morrison, the UT star, wins on the Corn Prairie Tour. and now he's eighth on that. It looks like he's going to be on the fast track to the tour as well. It's wild to see these kids at this young age go out there and perform at the highest level. It's awesome.

I mean, they continue just to get better and better. But I will say, just to defend the old guys a little bit, there was not one major champion this year that was in their 20s, all four in their 30s. And by the time the Masters rolls around next year, this is unbelievable. Colin Warcawa turns 30 years old in February. and when he does, there will not be a men's major champion under 30 years old. That's hard to believe.

I mean, because the average age has gone down so much in the last, you know, a handful of years. The average age is extremely low right now. We had Gary Woodland on radio earlier today. What did he say, how many guys there were that are over 40 with full status? He's so small. He said they talked about it. They think there's 11 guys over 40 with full status on the PJ tour. That's crazy.

I mean, I can think of a handful. of them right off the top. But for there to be only 11 with full status, I mean, it's getting younger and younger, but yeah, the path to major championships. All these guys were talking about Rory, you know, Rom, all these guys, like they were young superstars too. You know, you still got to

go through them, but this little crop that we got coming up, man, it's hard to be higher on a group of young kids that are going to come over and take the baton from those guys that we've been talking about. Eventually, one of these young ones is going to pick one off. There's no doubt about it as far as the majors. But it's just so cool to see. I told you this on radio and like when you when I turned pro what is it like

19 or 20 years ago Trevor Emelon was talking about this like you had a very nice resume you're you're a great amateur player but even though you were at that level like you didn't really expect to come out and win right away on the PJ tour like I was like I want to get the ball on the tea on the first toll Thursday and then I would love to make the cut and be around on the weekend nowadays it's like no man like I don't I don't need to just just go into the shallow end first and then get into the deep end. Like, I'm ready. Let's go. Cannonball right into this thing.

And let's get out there. I want to mix it up with the best in the world. And I'm not scared of them. It's not going to freak me out when a camera runs behind me to film a shot that I'm getting ready to hit. They expect to win right out of the gate. And a lot of them are doing it. Yeah, in our day, David, a college guy got a sponsor's invite, played the weekend. That was like a huge deal.

By the way, like qualifying for US Open was a huge deal regardless of if you played the weekend or not. Now you got high school kid. like Miles Russell finishes 39th at the U.S. Open this year, and it was like almost viewed as of disappointment. Like, oh, he didn't have his best stuff. Like, it's just, it's insane. The technology, how good they are, all the stuff, man. Like, it's just getting younger and younger.

And we got, like, teenagers virtually that are out here competing with the best players in the world. It's also, that's got to hurt a little bit to say, like, yeah, when we turned pro 20 years ago. Yeah. See, I'm not quite there yet, but you're double the age of Jackson Quovin. That's right. I'm a man. Plus two.

42. I'm in my Pat Tillman year right now. That does hurt a little bit to know that when I was celebrating turning 21, he was coming out of the womb. So that's cool. That's cool to know. But he's fun to watch, man. I love it. Scotty Schaeffler too, by the way.

His fifth runner-up finish of the year. It's, in my opinion, if he had nine holes to do over again, his back nine on Friday, he probably wins that golf tournament. But you know, you don't get that luxury. You don't get to go redo it like Smiley does. Kidding, Smiley. Love you. But Scottie Schaeffler, he is so close, I feel like, to just running away with so many golf tournaments. It's just a little thing here or there, but it's his fifth runner-up finish of the season to go along with the win at the MX.

He is taking two weeks off before the playoffs. But I would be shocked if he does not win one of the three FedEx Cup playoff events. I mean, it's getting hard to come up with new stuff that says like we could record a segment after, one of these weeks where he finishes runner up and just put it on replay. I feel like it's been the same thing. Oh, it's hard to believe that it's having over and over and over where he's come this close this many times, left some shots out there. Didn't quite have his best stuff, but still there Sunday afternoon.

It's just over and over and over. But although I do feel like he mentioned in his press or two, like the ball striking the last few weeks has been phenomenal. The putter got him at the British Open or the Open Championship. And there was a little bit of that same thing. this. I thought when he made birdie on 10, 11, 12, I was like, dude, he might go shoot one of these 28s, and this thing could get real juicy. I disagree with the putter as far as the open championship. Like, there's a difference between putting bad and just not making anything.

Like, you hit, you know this. You hit good putts that just don't go in. At the open championship, I've never seen him lip out more putts for four days. Of course, there's a huge, like, there's days where you just feel like, I'm the worst putter in the world. I hit shitty puttts all day long. And there's some days where you're like, I putted fucking great. Just nothing went in. and he's doing that. But like at the end of the day, that's probably more frustrating when you're hitting the good puts

and the lipping out. Like, dude, some of these deserve to go in. On the stats, they show up the same way. And I just feel like at the open. I was like, God,

if he just could limp any of the, like, he made like no puts of like, very few puts of like any length out there and still had a chance. Like that's what I'm saying. It's kind of just like rinse, repeat every single week it feels like for Scotty.

Yeah, it's got to be getting a little frustrating because all he does care about is the Ws when it comes to the result in golf tournaments. but it's so much. Like it's just, here, he's six back and you just know. Everyone in the field just knows he's going to go out there and he's going to be on fire on Sunday. And he's going to make a charge.

And I'm sure for Jackson Coyman, he's got to be like, damn it, go away. Just shoot two or three hundred. Leave me alone. Let me not have to deal with you on this Sunday. But, man, he handled the situation so well. He's a PGA tour winner. And the future is very bright. Before we get to our interview, Sleys, I want to give some love to Olympic Hills up there outside of Minneapolis.

list, my man Fernie. State Farm, got your ass finally. Johnson, rinse and repeat, no problem at all, but Olympic Hills, great golf course, had so much fun around there, played two days in a row, actually got to play with Olympic gold medalist hockey player Matt Boldie, who plays for the Minnesota Wilde up there. We had an awesome day. He brought the gold medal out, did a little video with it, but great dude, great golfer. We're going to get him on the show. You're going to like him. He likes to have a few pops. he likes golfing and he likes gambling. Yeah, sign me up.

You okay with that? I mean, that's like a typical hockey dude, didn't it? I was with a few of them this weekend. They had a little like reunion up here, and I was just like, man, it's just across the board. They don't miss. They're like 90% just being dudes. That's cool.

How's the metal? How'd the metal feel? It was actually heavier than I thought it would be. Yeah, I've heard they're heavy as shit. And it, like, it's the case it comes in. It's freaking huge. It's cool. but he was sharing some stories, obviously, the night at 11 there in Miami,

and just coming back after winning, it was some cool stories that hopefully he'll share on the pod with us one day. It was fun. No question about it. I'm more of a silver man, myself. Yeah, you got a lot of silvers. You know what I mean? Yeah.

Yeah. All right. Well, let's get to our interview this week because this is a fun one. You know, everybody fell in love with the World Cup. I mean, it was in America for the first time. What, 35 years? Is that what it was? Last time it was in America?

Yeah. Yeah. like it's been forever, over 30. Well, we've got a bunch of soccer fans over here now. The World Cup was phenomenal, and who better to talk about it than Taylor Twelman on subpar? Okay, we are very excited to welcome back a good friend and a man who can talk both high-level soccer, high-level golf. We're going to do a little bit of both today. He is former MLS star, current lead MLS analyst on Apple TV, not to mention fill-in guest hosts on the Today Show.

Taylor Twelman joins us. Taylor, good to be back, brother. Boys, this is fun. I like this. I like coming back. I'd say, speaking of coming back, you're going back with that hotel room

you're in right now. That thing looks like it's from 1942 back there. Like Abe Lincoln's White House. Well, it was interesting. When I tried to give my credit card, they actually told me they only have a fax machine and a typewriter here. So it was one of those where I was like,

yeah, I don't know where I'm going. But I'm in Charlotte. MLS All-Star Game Week. And yeah, we're staying in the 1944 hours of George Washington. It's beautiful. It's beautiful. I love it. We're going to get into a lot of soccer.

We get into your toe, too. But, dude, I didn't know this because you and I were texting throughout the World Cup. I was asking you all the stupid questions that fans asked. Next thing I know, I see you pop up. You're hosting the Today Show. Dude, how did this happen? And how was that experience?

That's large. Well, they lost the bet, right? Naturally, they drew a short straw, and they realized during the end of the World Cup, were in dire need of a host. No, long story short, I was their contributor during the World Cup. So that was a blast.

So I went in there about six, seven times in studio, and at the end of the World Cup, they're like, do you have any interest of hosting, you know, in hosting the Today Show? And I'm like, looking around, Drew thinking, wait, me? Yeah. And I was like, sure, I'll do it, whatever, I'll see it. Guys, it's fun.

It's so unlike anything else that I do. So I did the third hour. Dylan and I have actually known each other from this golf stuff because she is an avid golfer loves golfing, plays in American Century, all of that. And she plays in the one we do, the Hilton Grand Vacations one. So I knew Dylan from years past.

And so short of it is that they asked me, I hosted twice, and nobody got hurt. That's huge. It's an awesome job too. I'm on Apple TV with Reese Witherspoon and what's that show? That's the morning show. Yeah, is it like that? Do you have any like little beeps with other hosts and all kinds of scandals?

It's, oh, absolutely, like I came in right away trying to start a fight with someone just to create content. You know what I mean? But like everyone there is, you know what's really weird? Seriously, they all really get along. So like I was coming in thinking there's five or six talent coming in and out. There's no way everybody likes each. other and I'm going to disappoint everybody. They really all get along. It actually makes it really easy to fit in because it doesn't feel like TV. It just feels like friends sitting around.

Now, the beauty segment, that's where I've got to kind of fit in and try to do something fun. But Drew, honestly, in Colt, there was, it was remarkably surprising how easily it was to get along. And obviously, we all know what Savannah and her family are going through, like, how difficult that is. And it was very easy to get along with everybody and fit in. So that was kind of fun. Is it something you want to do again? Yeah, I mean, absolutely.

So no doubt we've had conversations about it. And so, yeah, I enjoyed it so much that I've asked if they would like me to fill in and they literally didn't even need me to ask. So we're going to figure out some dates and go from there. Good for you, man. That's great. Yeah, it'll be fun. It'd be great.

That's huge. You got the perfect hair for it. You got the look for it? Absolutely. I've got the perfect hair for it, Drew. Which is key. That's key, by the way. Let's get into a little Tahoe in your golf game.

Back to back top tens for the kid, but I know that that's like we were fourth, I believe. This one sucked. Yeah, you're not happy. Also, it had to be like the worst timing for you, I would think, like work-wise. Awful. Middle of the World Cup, you're doing all the stuff in the world, and then you got to try to get ready for that. But how was it overall?

It was, I mean, listen, when American Century sends the email, you're like a little kid on Christmas morning, right? So you're so pumped to get the email. I had already given them a warning that I need to solidify World Cup stuff. And if it's okay, I'm going to need one of the pro-ams off. So Mike Milthorpe and Jonathan Thomas and John Miller, they were very accommodating. But to give you guys perspective, last year I played 19 rounds in the month of June. June coming into the American century. This year I played two.

So I just, I wanted to play in the tournament. I will always play in the tournament. I brought my girls with me. We did July 4th watch fireworks, but the next day I took a red eye to Dallas, Spain, Portugal, and then flew back, watched the U.S. Belgium game, played in the pro ham, then flew out and did it. You know what I'm saying? So it just, it was difficult.

But I'll always play. You guys know me well enough. Two rounds, 19 rounds, I don't really care. I'll play. I'll do my best. This year just was, I knew coming into it. I wasn't going to feel terribly confident, like, from 120 yards in. You guys know this better than me.

When you don't play a lot of golf, that 120 to 80-yard shot, and then obviously putting, it's going to be rusty. And that's what it was. Just like that. I had four eagle putts. Listen to this, Cole. I had four eagle. peter, inside 30 feet, I pard all four holes. Oh.

Nice. No. Solid. You're just like Tiger, though. You just need more reps. Just reps and glutes. You got to activate them. I need more glutes.

My right glute wasn't firing. The good news is the next three years at the Tahoe, you don't have an excuse because we're going to be four years without the World Cup. Absolutely. So when I finished eighth again next year, I'm going to tell you guys, I'm going to come up with something. But it's such a great week. Like, we've been lucky enough to go out there.

The golf course is fun. The crowds are ridiculous. I mean, I think they broke an attendance record this year. The viewership was insane. Larry David was there. Did you come across anyone you hadn't met yet before and get to spend some time with them?

Yeah, Larry David actually handed me as golf clubs and said, if you don't mind, just clean my wedges before I hit to the range. I'm actually competing with you. But I'll clean your clubs anyways. No, it was this year was fun. Like we've gotten, what American Century does really well,

is they try to bring like seven, guys in our good buddy sean mcdonough got to play in them for the first time he was thrilled to the moon he had no idea what it was like coming into it what it turned into uh so that was an absolute blast uh but you just what's really cool this year guys everybody wanted to talk about the world cup yeah so in a weird like i probably did more press than anyone i probably had more conversations everyone wanted to answer quite like that was really for me just because my sport has been always this niche and yet over the last two or three years messy coming to MOS and then the World Cup being in our backyard it kind of felt like a lot of

these guys are interested in it you know obviously we're talking about VAR we're talking about diving and flopping but all the stuff that you know I'll talk about with anyone to grow the sport so colt that was the most fun for me is just the you know the watch parties we would play in the pro wham and then every Everybody would try to find the TV to see whatever game was on. That was really, really cool for me to experience. And I think a lot of the people, too, with the American Century, their clients, they were going to World Cup Games in Kansas City, and then they came to Tahoe for the event.

Then they were going to LA for World Cup games. So they wanted, like, insight. So it's a long winded way of saying, I was very busy this American Century Championship, but I kind of enjoyed it because it felt like a culmination of my passions. what I did for a living and what I'd love to do now on a daily basis. So I really enjoyed this year even though I didn't play my best. Yeah, and you're the go-to experts. I haven't all these celebs coming up to you asking stuff.

That had to be sweet. I know they got out there's a lot. Off the core stuff that's sweet too, like the Cichuk brothers were there this year, which I heard they murdered it at karaoke night. They were the winner. And were you at it? I was going to ask. Did you get to see it?

Because you get family and stuff. By the way, don't forget about Matt Boldie. He was up there on stage with him too, Sleeze. Matt Bowie's a stud. Which, by the way, absolute stud. So I've known the Kachukhucks for a while. Their sister, who, no offense, Brady and Matt, may be the better athlete.

My dad coached her in high school. So I've known about the Kachucks for a while. And finally, I got to meet Matt two, three years ago. And we really connected when he won the gold medal because of playing for your country is our pinnacle, right? And we're going to get into the World Cup. But when you play for your country,

it's just unlike anything else. And those guys winning the gold medal, like Matt and I talked a lot about it, right? And just his experience. And then he kind of got into the World Cup through that. And then I finally got to meet Brady and Boldie, by the way. I played around with Boldie. Great stick.

Unbelievable guy. I had no idea that he's a Boston guy. Obviously, I've been in Boston for 25 years. So the hockey guys are just unique individuals. I connect with them immediately. I know you guys do as well. So the hockey guys are a blast. So Kachucks killed it.

Dream on karaoke was a no-brainer. But the best part was they did not know that they had to sing the next night. So Matt and Brady were like, wait a minute, we got to do this again. No voices. Obviously they've been going at it for a couple of nights. So the second rendition may have not been as good as the first one. Listen, Boldie marked his ball on 17 with his gold medal.

Like that's just, come on. And then they're like, Taylor, you got a putt after that. I'm like, why? You know what I mean? That's just, it was fun as shit to be with those three guys. And those three guys know exactly what they're doing. They're great to hang out with. They're some of the most humble people around.

And rightfully so, they won karaoke. you. They were great. They were great. Before we get back to Taylor Twelan, if you're serious about your golf game, your vision on the course matters. That's where Shady Ray's golf collection comes in. And I'm not exaggerating. They feel every bit as premium as the expensive brands I've owned. These are built for the course. Their color rush lens tech enhances contrast that helps you track the ball in the air, read greens better, and cut harsh glare. With lightweight frames that stay put through your swing, there's no slipping when you're lining up a putt. Meanwhile, I'm

I'm wearing shady rays everywhere, to the lake on the boat at the game, and straight to the T-box. Like, whatever happens, happens. Because if I drop them in the lake, they replace them. Knock them off the cart path, they replace them. Sit on them day one, they replace them. Lost or broken. They send you a new pair with their lost and broken protection program. Over 300,000 five-star reviews and millions of people have switched.

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At the 3M? Up in Minneapolis, we played a place called Olympic Kills. He's a plus two handicap, by the way. Like, he can play. Oh, he's an absolute stick. But you guys know this better than any? one like boldie and i connected on it it's great you're a plus two now it's ball and hole in competition now what do you do different story right and yeah and he and he needs to do it a few more times i told

him i was in same with austin reeves another guy i've played a couple of times that they're great sticks but when it comes through this process of that four footer coming back it ain't good like you just how do you do that how you navigate it but those guys really good sticks but also great guys to play with. Yep. Golf and tournament golf, two totally different animals. And you're around all the athletes, as well, like, you've known the Kuchucks, all this stuff, but there's so many, like, a variety

of celebrities there. Starstruck is not the right word, but is there anyone that you've met over the last couple years that maybe, like, you were a fan of growing up. You're like, yo, this is like a cool, like 15-year-old Taylor would freak out of for this. Or a 46-year-old Taylor? Absolutely. Yeah, yeah.

I mean, you guys know this, but I think you're listeners would really appreciate. Charles Barkley's a unbelievable individual. And I don't think people talk about it enough. I really don't. I don't think people fully understand his star where he is in the public eye and yet to have the personality to connect with people to remember people's names, the way he shakes your hand, looks you in the eye. I won't name names, but there's a lot of celebrities that I've met through American Century Championship, through golf, and even through other things that they don't give too shit about what you are, who you are, what you do.

Charles Barkley makes you feel like you're heard and all of that. And so I just don't think he gets enough credit for that because at that level, that is really, really interesting to me how quickly you can do that. guys Larry David went around the room and met everybody you know so three nights before the tournament we have the athletes and the celebrities come in shake everybody's hands and some come in some don't there are some guys that still don't go to the meeting and and who knows if they'll be back but my point is is that Larry David went around said hi to everybody and I think he was he'll never say this publicly I think he was very excited but also very nervous because I'm not sure

he knew exactly what this guy. It's a real golf tournament. Cole Drew, I don't think you're listening. It's real. This isn't some like, there's no handicaps. There's no different teams for certain. This is real. So I think Larry David was a little nervous, which was kind of cool to see.

I don't know if I said this last year with you guys, but this year, it's a, Michael Pena is one of the best actors. He loves golf. Is addicted to it. Again, another one. You come by, ask him to shake his hand, sign an autograph. He stops every single time. So those three from just the American Century Championship,

I don't think people fully understand. And the Kelsey brothers right now are a unique phenomenon. I played behind them. I'm going to forget which day. You're talking five to six security guards. You're talking hundreds of people following them. You're talking about a six-hour round following that kind of circus and all of that. that was that Jason and I've met each other through the ESPN ways and all that

Travis didn't play this year he played last year that's a very interesting phenomenon I think I understated like really how popular that phenomenon is and a lot of it is obviously Travis and Taylor but it's it's crazy you know you mentioned the Charles and just how great he is with people and I've been lucky enough to be around him a lot over the years and I got to share the story with you because it just shows you how amazing he is. We're in Vegas. This could also mean he just goes to Vegas way too often, but I'm going to use just that he's a great person. But we're down watching football. He's like, let's go up to the room, have a cocktail, we'll change and then go out. So we go up and the,

housekeeping lady is outside. And he walks up and he's like, Sarah, how the hell are you doing? They start talking, go off. He remembered every family member's name. He goes, how's your son, Chris doing? She's like, she's good. She's like, you tell my, sure, I tell him, I stay in school, all this. I was like, dude, you know, like the employees here. That's, you realize that's not normal, right? Like, that's just how good of a duty is. He's so gracious. And like you said, he never turns anyone away, wants to get to know who everyone is. It's, it's incredible. It's cold. It's unreal how he just makes you feel bigger than life. Another guy, too, guys, is Nate Bargettsey. Oh, yeah. You know, there's, I find him to be one of the funniest human beings around. But full disclosure, he's the exact same

way on stage as he is behind the scenes. So I don't think, yes, he's writing his material. Don't get me wrong. But I don't think he's out of character. Does that make any sense? Like I don't think there's an on stage, Nate, and an offstage. So I think it's very easy to like relate with him to talk to him because that's who he is. His routine to not have any curse words, to not be that.

I mean, he's as creative as anyone I've met. And yet the biggest soccer fan ever. So he and I are getting IVs one day. We're talking 45 minutes just sitting there shooting the shit about MLS, about the World Cup, about his Nashville team, all that. Like that was, it kind of surprised me because, you know, comedians, it's got to be so difficult. You're always expected to be on.

And yet when I met him, I'm like, oh, this is just who he is on stage and off. He is who he is. And that's part of his charm, I think. He gets paid to be himself. That's a good gig. Yeah. Yeah. Be nice.

That's a bus drink of ourself. Yeah. No, it's a very, very, more like the opposite version of ourselves. But when Nate, it's so cool at that tournament, because there's so many big names, so many, like, alpha personalities that want to come in a room and take it over and do all this stuff. And Nate is, like, so, you know, content with just laying low, you know, doesn't have to, like, steal the room and stuff. Even though now, like, deprecating. So self-deprecating. Like crazy.

And like when in reality, like he's one of the biggest stars there now. I mean, you could argue he's the biggest comic in the world right now. No doubt. And then he put on a show Saturday night. It's, it's, yeah. I mean, Drew, no doubt. Like he's, but he doesn't act that way. And so I just, I love, because there's stars at the American Century guys that come in and you know they're a list.

And you know it because they want it and they act like it. And they do it that way. Nate walks in with like three of his high school buddies. It'd be like us three walking into a room having a couple beers. Be like, hey, man, what's up? And just making fun of himself, making fun of his brother. And I'm like, this is actually relaxing. It's actually fun.

Did he do, when he did the show, did he do the DoorDash bit? I'm telling you, I actually think I pissed myself twice. The first time I saw him do the DoorDash bit, I was like, oh, I'm like, yeah, been there, done it. All of it. 100%. Colt, Colt, because we all know exactly what that feeling is when you're like, I want to do this. And when he just drops the words, the Dairy Queen Blizzard, I'm done. I lost it.

I lost it. It's so good. God, he's great. The bit too about like, if he were to go back in time and he's like, I'd have a hard time actually proving him from the future because I can't explain. No, we got these things and you talked to. Oh, how does that work? what's like there's the satellite

floats in the sky. I don't think I could even prove that I've been there. And shit is so good, man. He's great. Well, that's awesome. And there's no curse words. Yeah. None.

Honestly, think about how creative that is. It's not dirty. There's no curse words. And we relate with all of it. Honestly, I think it's one of the more genius things I've ever heard. Andy gets paid to make fun of his wife. I mean, what a gig. I know.

Yeah. Yeah. That's American dream right there. You make fun of your wife. If we do it, you ain't getting paid. The funniest schick from the entire tournament was we called his brother Derek Mike. And I don't know why. And we did.

And seven of us every time we left. Guys, it was a sixth grade joke. Somehow during the process, we thought everyone thought his name was Mike. So Nate goes, yeah, let's just call Mike. And I'm sitting there. And Derek is. texting me and I'm sitting and going who the hell's Derek? So that

gets back to Nate in the crew so then he was in my I thought it was Mike. So anyways there was like six of us that called Derek Mike the entire trip and we thought it was the funniest thing ever. I'm like this is the dumbest thing ever and yet it's hysterical. I don't know how to quantify it. God, what a week. Slays we got to go back. Somebody get us a deal.

It's just like you can't explain it. Like that room, the rumor they close it off for the gambling and stuff. Like, that's like one of the, yes. When you really like just remove yourself from you, like, holy shit. Like this is like probably the most special room in the world legitimately right now. Totally. Like this is.

And Drew, I love, I love the guys that come up after, you know, you shoot like one over. And they're like, yeah, what happened to you today? I put money on you. I'm like, yeah, thanks. No, no, it's awesome. It was cool. Like, I really wanted to play bad. Thanks for telling me.

It's cool. Yeah. No, I was trying to play like shit. Yeah. Yeah, no, it's awesome. That's great. No, I three putted four times on purpose. So thanks.

I'm so sorry. And I was thinking the whole time, you put money on me. My bad. Yeah. Welcome. Yep. By the way, I don't know what needs an update more. That room at that casino there at the Harris or your hotel room.

I don't know which one. Same interior designer. That room is cleaner. I'll argue this room might have better gambling stories than that room. Yeah. Good point. Yeah. Good me.

Another thing about Chuck when he comes through like, goes to that room and then he goes and plays in the back you know it takes him 50 minutes to get from that room that's a tiny tiny room and he goes and like oh the touch points with everyone now it's it's a fun thing just to watch him work his way through because everyone there thinks are his best friend and he makes him believe that yep and it's so cool walking into that room with 25 dollars chips and everybody else is playing out i'm like all right guys i'm gonna i'm gonna i'm gonna eat popsicles with my kids yeah that's humbling some people some people approach the gambling a little different than others, but it's an awesome.

I'm the only one invited to the American Century Championship that has to work for a living. Yeah, that's fair. That has to work for a living. That's good. That has to. I do it well, but there's like people on the 16th green, you know, and I've got a putt and they're looking. They're going, who's right? Is Ryan Seacrest playing here?

It's me. Who is that? Oh, that's cool. they had a contest winner. He gets to play this year. I mean, it's hysterical. I didn't sign many autographs in my playing career, but I'll never forget.

I was at this one tournament, and this little kid asked me for his autograph, and as I'm signing it, I hear him to his dad go, who is that? I was like, God. I don't know, but he's wears logos. Who is that?

Oh, it's good. He's got a score card with his name on it in his back pocket. Yeah, that's not mine. He's got a glove. He's definitely playing. That was hard. A little more golf before we get to the World Cup, because you got the pro tour going on right now, which is just awesome, man.

So many former athletes teeing it up. I do laugh at the five categories. You know, you got basketball, baseball, football, hockey, others. Like, we couldn't come up with a better name than others. So the best of the first off, John Smolz, what a great idea, unbelievable creation to come up with this. And this group that has really put this together, and we're on to something, right? So whatever the next phase of growth,

and it's coming as we enter our semifinal stuff in August. But to your point, Colt, so they invite Marty and I. We don't have a category. Everybody else. So the first tournament they do, and I don't know if you guys saw this, but it was a Ryder Cup, baseball, hockey, basketball, football.

So we're watching it. Marty and I are texting Smoltz going, what's our name, Skip? Like, what is this? And Marty's like, we don't know how to include you. So they revamped the tour after that. And they're like, you know what, there's got to be something. So the first tournament comes out, it's exactly what Colt says. They've got their category.

So it says baseball, hockey, basketball, football, and we're others. And there's only two names. It's Marty Fish and Taylor's Wollman. So we're sitting there. there and me being the ass that I am I text Smolz and I go do we play in the tournament are we just like the the cart like or are Marty and I playing are we the score cards like what is this what are we doing and he says no no no you're going to get into this so we get into it while they realize they can't get a lot of others so cold three tournaments in drew it's still Marty and Taylor

yeah we so they're like hey do you guys want to invite anyone so to Marty's credit he got Jimmy Conners to come so that was cool as shit yeah truly and I've got a couple soccer soccer guys we've got some surfers in there so now it's they've renamed it the top next

eight which I love it it just keeps changing but Marty and I are sitting here and I'm like Marty we are really the outcast but you guys know I mean they're trying to build it on the celebrity big names for about 35 not

celebrity the the hardcore athlete names for 35% and then swelts is like no let's do good golfers so naturally marty and i are going to get the invite but we really feel like the outcast you know what i mean because when hockey's doing well the hockey players root for the hockey guys yeah basketball and like if marty and i are you know in the in contention or marty like all of that we've got nobody it's like literally marty and i in a cart and nobody else it's beautiful yeah that The Marty and Taylor. The Marty and Taylor. Dude, there's some good, if you need to fill out that division more,

there's some good skaters. Like, sports, dude, that are good. Like, Sean Maltho is huge. He's real. So Sean Maltho just got Drew. He just got in. So he played the last, he played in the last three events. But another one, right?

Sean's a good stick. First tournament afterwards. He's like, oh my God. I was like, dude, it's ball and hole. Yeah. It's different. But they get addicted to the, adrenaline of the tournament play, all of it.

But the pro tour, it's really cool. I love how they've done. They do your top 40 to 50, play for the purse in the final round, but the bottom 20, do a two-man best ball, and they play for some money. So it's cool how you're not, because, you know, if you're in the bottom, say, you know, from 50 to 7580, create a different game, and it's creative, too. And so we've had broadcasting with it. We're in negotiations and maybe doing a, like just stuff, YouTube maybe versus this.

I personally think, and I've said this and I can't believe I'm on your podcast. I think you two should commentate on it. Oh, hello. No, I'm dead serious. Right up for alley. Because what it's first off, YouTube, the banter, the can, like Josh Donaldson's really funny talks, like you guys know all this. Like, but we need two people on a mic.

Like you guys, it'd be a no-brainer. You guys would be so good for it. Talking shit the whole time, it'd be great content for YouTube. It'd be fun. We're inked. We'll talk numbers later. Did I do it? Oh, we're also in.

Big numbers. No, it's perfect. No, you got to pay me to do it. Okay. That makes more sense now. By the way, I can tell you one thing you need to do out there is you need to get rid of Aaron Hicks. He is a problem. Have you played with him yet?

Played with him. The first tournament I played him. I'm in the final round with him. Colt. It's a joke. Final round, final group. I pipe a three wood, and I'm doing the old, oh, yeah, how's that? I look at him, he hit driving iron 25 yards past my three, but, and I was like, wait a minute, what the hell is this?

Mm-hmm. Dude, great guy, unbelievable stick. Tyler Clippard. Yeah. I don't know if you guys remember him. Very good stick. Mm-hmm. But Aaron Hicks, dear baby Jesus.

Wow. I mean, he cruises at like 131, clubhead speak. Like Gary Woodland's number one on the PJ tour at 127. That's cruising. Colt and Drew, I've never seen it. Hold on Grand Vacations, Whole 6, over the water, dog leg left to right, but you can drive the green if you really want to. 98% of time it's into the wind.

And he drove the green with like, not a hybrid, but maybe five wood, whatever. and I was just like, that is a different game. But he's got great hands. So it isn't someone that just powers the ball hits at a mile. Like over the last, I'd say two years, his hands have gotten really good from like 120 in.

But that ball speed's a joke. I've never seen anything like that. I've never seen anything like that. I'll give you some advice here to help you get in his dome a little bit because we had him on the show recently. And obviously his wife is Tiger's niece, Cheyenne. And you get him going out there on the golf. course, if you happen to get a little match play with him, just start calling him Mr. Woods.

And I think it's not going to go too well. I think he might rattle him. Apparently, that bothers him quite a bit. Yeah, but guys, sorry, this camera's shaking. The only problem with that is he could stuff me in the trash can in two seconds, and then what do I do, Colt. That's the risk you got to take. You got it. Okay.

All right. My head won't fit the trash can, but my ass will. That's the problem. Without question. Yeah, no shame in having him. rip it like he's weird i mean he did the same thing to tour players so no shame plus i didn't know it was like a really good junior like he grew up playing junior golf winning junior golf tournament so like that was in his blood and he just happened to be world-class baseball player i was like oh go make

a billion dollars out there true but also it's a great guy like we played i was i'm going to say december we were at um in orlando and in the final group we went into is me tyler him and Justin Upton were the final group on that. And Upton hits the ball, Miles. And listen, I hit the ball far. Like, it's fine. It was not even close to those two knucklets. I was like, what the hell is that?

Like Mulder and I, we played one of the rounds. I was like, bro, that is not normal. And Mark's like, dude, that ball is. And the thing is, it's launched. different. It's just different. He matches it. He really matches it. He's going to be tough to beat in those things, but it's awesome. You've got two left

Turning Stone and then Black Desert in Utah. Yeah. We got semifinals in Turning Stone. That would be fun. Black Desert is interesting because I've got a game in the middle of that with Leon O. Messi and the Campione's Cup. So I might not be

even playing in the finals, which sucks. And I told Smolz and Smolz is like, ah, man. Tough break. Sorry. This, uh, you're the only guy working on that tour, too, by the way. Yeah. Your job's really messing up your golf.

In the history. I mean, hey, I need to take care of the kids. So sorry, I got to do it. But those are two fun places, Colt, to your point. That'll be two fun places to play. Yeah, we played Turning Stone. My rookie year was the last year. They had it up there.

That place is going. I haven't been to Black Desert, but it looks sweet on TV. It looks amazing on TV, but it's impossible to get to. Okay. Yeah. Yeah.

Again, I got to fly Delta, middle seat to try to get there, right? Well, I might be driving five hours from Salt Lake City. Yeah, you got to make some pals on that tour because there's a lot of iron in the air landing at these things. And they don't have Southwest or Delta on it. So you got some, make some buddies. Drew, I'm like, hey, guys.

When do you guys leave? And they all look at me and they're like, well, when we want to, I'm like, whatever we want. Cool. That's awesome. That's great. I got to be there two hours early. I got to get there because I need my clubs to get on and I need to. Yeah.

That's, oh, that's cool. That's great. You think my clubs will make it through Charlotte? Awesome. They don't even know what a club glove is. What are you mean? You wrap your clubs in some of? No, God, no.

What do you mean? You take your driver head off your, off your, for shaft? What for it for, Taylor? That's what I call my G4. I have 17 air tags in my golf bag, just to make sure no one steals anything. They're like, what are you doing? Yeah, yeah, you need to.

That's funny. Unfortunately. Well, let's a little round ball. You want to? Yeah, your actual job. Yeah. Yeah. Because that was a, dude, that was a summer. Guys, what a summer it was? It was awesome. Awesome. Having it in the States. I feel like the whole country checked into this. even guys like the, you know, non-socker fans, like people were into this, which is why I wanted

to ask you, like, with all the hype and excitement that we had for it, felt like the whole country was into it. We losing the round of 16. Not just losing there, but like the way we did, you know, getting taken to the wood shit. Like, was that the World Cup as a whole net positive or net negative for U.S. soccer? Oh, okay. I'm glad you phrased it that way. For the men, I don't know because I think if you lose that game 2-1 respectively, you're competing, you lose to a great goal from Belgium. I think the SEC, ACC, ACC college football fan that's tuning in just for that game can respect it and do that. The way they played was flat. It was very, very lethargic.

The way the balligan news, Donald Trump getting involved, was it real, was it not? The whole thing, Drew, I think, left a real sour taste and a bitter pill into the mouths of a lot of people. That is a tough game to lose in that manner. That's the worst loss in U.S. men history in a World Cup. So, and this is a generation that they captivated the audience and the general public. That opening game against Paraguay, guys, I will tell you, I'm not sure the U.S. men have ever had a performance like that. Paraguay had only given up six goals throughout the entire World Cup qualifying. in South America.

So to give all four goals to the United States, everybody around the world was like, whoa, maybe this United States seems different. You beat Australia, you beat Bosnia, you don't have politic for the majority of the tournament. So to lose the game, Drew, in that manner, I just think, listen, we are stuck in the round of 16. Okay, so you guys heard, you don't even have to be a soccer fan.

You heard the narrative. We are stuck in that spot. Now, on one level, you've got to have perspective and say, You're in the top 16 of the world. Pretty good. But for the United States American, where we try to be the best at everything, and we pretty much are close to the best in everything, or get into the conversation at least, in my opinion,

I've said this all along. We've got to be in the top eight. And once you get into the top eight, then you can figure it out. England, since 2018, World Cup finals, European finals, semi-finals, they haven't won, but you're just trying to knock on the door and get into that competition. conversation. I don't think we should be in the top 16. I think with the amount of resources and the athletes that we have and where the American player is going, we should be in the top eight. And listen,

you can lose in the 16. Germany did. Germany lost the paraguil. The team, the US beat 4-1. So my point is, you can lose on random. But I'm talking about the expectation level and the performance level, matching up being linear together, that performance sucked through. It sucked. And I feel for the players, because I don't care what the public says internally, they know they really laid an egg on that day

with effort, responsibility, the way they played the game. Buddy, that's a tough one. That's a real tough one. Yeah, that sucks. And it was shocking how they came out there and, like you said, they were flat and just didn't perform. But as a whole, just looking at,

at the World Cup. You've been a part of so many of these. You've been all around the world to these events. I've never been that tuned into it like I was this year. And it just seemed like everyone from all over the world came to the United States to watch this embrace it. Like the atmosphere was just electric every single game. What was it like for you as a guy who's been a part of so many? Well, Cole, I mean, I jokingly said this on the Today Show, but I meant it, but it resonated with the non-sports fan that watched the Today Show. The highlight for me was I did 35,000 miles of travel during the World Cup, okay? When I did that in all those flights, every TSA agent arguing with me about calls or decisions or teams.

That was so cool for me. They were telling me I was an idiot for something I said on ESPN or Yahoo or whatever it was. Colt, I loved it because it was. it was no different than your Monday quarterback arguing about Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs or something the Raiders did or it didn't you know what I'm trying to say it became part of the vernacular of everybody in our country for six weeks that's never happened so to answer your question directly yeah we we have other World Cups but there was something different about this World Cup it transcended the sports crowd I mean you two know this

You could have talked the World Cup with anyone. At the grocery store, you could have brought it up. The Amazon driver, the Amazon delivery guy, or it could have been the Starbucks, barista, whatever. You could have talked about it. And everyone was kind of captivated by it. The one thing that really stood out to me was, and you guys know this because you stay in tune with the news and stuff. The United States had a lot of negative news coming into the World Cup that were. We're going to struggle to host this.

It's going to be a disaster. The ticket prices. It was the exact opposite. It was the exact opposite. And it was really the first time. And I said this just to give kind of a period since COVID where I felt like fans just kind of lived. People were living. There was no politics.

No talking of politics. Trump got involved with Balligan. But you know what I'm saying. There was Mexican fans and Dutch fans, Morocco fans and French fans. It was everybody just. kind of came together and we're living life and enjoyed it. It was a party every night. I mean, I live in Boston. The Norway and Scottish fans took over the city. The Scottish fans drank the city out of beer. There's only one other time it's happened that's St. Paddy's Day. Think about that.

So, Drew, it's a long-winded way of saying it was awesome. It was amazing. But the one thing I need your listeners to understand is we as a country can do big parties and big events very easily. A lot of other countries can't. And that's the one thing nobody understands. The amount of stadiums that we have in training facilities in MLS alone, not even counting the NFL, you can host a major tournament. And so that's why I think it caught the world by surprise when you have Dallas, Atlanta, L.A., Houston, Vancouver, five indoor stadiums. They're hosting World Cup games as if it was nothing. So if FIFA really wants to do 64 teams, which they said they want to, that will happen.

Guys, how many countries can do that? There's really only one, right? So it took 32 years for the World Cup to come back. I think the women will get the 2031 World Cup in the United States. It would not surprise me if 34, 38 World Cup for the men is back here. Because if you got 64 teams, we're really the only country that can host that. Yeah, that's valid. point. It was so fun to have it here. These towns were just buzzing, like you mentioned, Scotland,

drinking Boston of all towns out of booze. I'm trying to set up golf games with dudes and we're like scheduling. Hey, US plays that fine. We got to be done before then. Like, which never happens. Like, that was awesome. But go back for a minute to Balligan and the red card and it getting revoked and then him playing. Like, how when I heard it, I was like, sweet. That's great. Like, that's what it should be. He shouldn't be suspended for a game. But like, how unprecedented is that in soccer for that to happen? Well, it's never happened in the tournament, Drew. Never ever? It's never happened in the tournament.

Now, it's, excuse me, it's happened before the tournament has started. Cristiano Ronaldo this year should not have played in the first two games. They rescinded his red card in the final World Cup qualifier. So there were five players that had red cards rescinded heading into the World Cup. But Balligan was the first that's ever been changed during the middle of the World Cup. And honestly, listen, and this is, I don't care who the president is. But when the president gets involved, you immediately bring the attention of everyone else to then say, hang on a minute.

If Balagan doesn't play in that game and stay suspended, the United States does not come out flat and slow. And the reason why is for four days, they prepared without them. So they had an underdog mentality. because of the general public getting involved and because for some reason we made Baligan out to be the next Leonel Messi, Baligan was having a hell of a tournament, make no mistake about it. But even he had the same kind of guilty reaction of going, this has never really happened.

Why am I, if it was announced 24 hours after the game, Drew and Colt, then totally fine. It was announced 24 hours before the game. And so it really was mismanaged. And I think it threw a huge wrinkle into the psyche and the mentality of the United States. And I ultimately think it motivated Belgium. Belgium didn't mean more motivation. But I want you, I want both you to go back and watch all the goal celebrations of Belgium.

They made it known. They did it. Whether it was that, it was like keep mouthing, doing everything, listening. It just motivated a team. that didn't need extra motivation. And it's unfortunate because you can tell from Balligan's interviews post World Cup, he felt guilty too because he's like, it's never happened. It's never happened, guys, in tournament, it was wild.

I was, I thought it was AI. So I was on ESPN with Jeremy Schap. I looked at it. I was like, oh, my God, someone created an AI thing. And then notification, notification, notification. It was every news cycle picked it up. I was like, holy shit. They did it now.

So, yeah, listen. No excuses. The United States played like absolute crap, and the players know that. But I would have loved, I said this to Kirk Herbstry, because Kirk got really into the World Cup, and now he's a massive soccer fan,

and he's trying to figure out why and all that. And I said, Kurt, take it to anyway. It's not as if you're saying your backup quarterback is playing and then it's not Matt Castle versus Tom Brady. Does that make sense? That's not what Balligan. That's not what that was.

So and it made it, the media of the world made it feel like Baligan would come back, Matt Leon O'Messy, and it was like, hmm, that's not what this is. So it's a bummer. It's going to be a story. I mean, listen, up to this point, we're taping this on July 27th.

The Norway Federation wants to follow the group. They had nothing to do with it. and they are filing a grievance against FIFA because it was unprecedented. Well, there were so many incredible stories, good and bad. First off, it was a terrible call. It was not a red card. Yeah, that's the point. So my point is FIFA got to the right decision, but you made a mockery of the process.

If they announced that 24 hours after the game, nobody even blinks an eye at it. Nobody. Well, I got to get to one of my favorite stories. I think it was a lot of people's favorite stories. but obviously Norway, their crowds, Eerling Holland, who is a damn superstar. Now, I don't know what he was like

before the World Cup, but I know the whole world knows who he is now. But how about just the whole Norway and him during the World Cup? That was phenomenal to watch. It was unbelievable cold. I mean, the best part was Victor Hovlin playing in the Travelers and those fans coming down from Boston on their way to New York to do the Norway Row and all of that.

I mean, there's just, Listen, I had the Red Sox tell me that when the Scottish fans went to Fenway, all the players were jealous. They're like, this is what a soccer game is. I'm like, yeah, this is what it is. So Norway captivated the American audience because I think we've lost a little bit of this in life. And part of it is social media and it's kind of ruined it. But they look like they were enjoying themselves. God forbid.

Like as high pressure as it was, it looked like. the players were enjoying it. And there's real value to that. You know, you guys, when we watch golf and you're watching guys in pressure and you see players that are still in the moment and enjoying it, it's refreshing to see because

they're human. They're enjoying it. Erling Holland looks like he's having the time of his life. So, honestly, I've spoken to so many people about this cold. They really captivated the audience because it looked like they were happy,

to be here. They looked like they were kind of playing with House Money because no one expected them to do what they did. And they had an absolute superstar that looked like a character from Braveheart that the American fan would just the American public kind of captivated to in general

because he's a real unique character. Listen, I went to two of their games. They're as fun as any team and their fans are great. I loved them. I really, really loved them. I also love the story of Cabo Verde. You know, Cabo Verde is this small nation, and Spain wins the World Cup,

the only team they didn't score a goal against or beat Cabo Verde. Argentina gets to the final. Messi needs extra time to beat this small nation. That was a real cool kind of little train that could story. That was captivating, but a lot of questions. Even here in Charlotte, they're asking me, what was Norway like? What's early Holland like? and you're like, it's, you see what you get.

There's nothing really around it. Little side note, your listeners will love this. Erling Holland eats liver and onions three days a week. That's disgusting. Yeah, he's got some weird shit. Doesn't he like put some glasses on like three hours before bed or block out blue light? True. He, Drew, he ships his own meat from a, basically, kind of like a farm, I would say, from Norway,

freezes it, wherever he is, wherever he's finding. He plays for Manchester City. England so that's a lot easier but I was like that's interesting in the World Cup I mean we've got pretty good meat here don't we and it was no he eats liver like he's unique very unique did you see the social media

post by his sister oh my that was the greatest thing I've ever seen I was dying did you see this least what did she do not his sister like reenacted all like his movements like dressed like him and everything I mean they're obviously they're related they look a lot of like but you got to look this up it was hilarious she killed

him. I'll check it. And it's so on point. Because I saw a lot of the memes, you know, people have like pencils with like little hair coming out. This is early. Like, we saw all those and those are funny. This will be the top three funniest things you've ever seen. If you've got any still World Cup FOMO, you've got to watch it because she is really, really good. She's really good. She even sticks her, like, neck out when she runs, like it with all that. The whole thing. Yes. It's really good. It's like he just walks around and doesn't really, and then the ball comes to him and he scores. And he's incredible.

And then he came home to that. Yes, the one thing I'll say about him that is amazing is he knows his strengths and he knows his weaknesses. But because of his profile, he doesn't need to run around a lot because he's already attracting attentionously. So it's one thing he does not get enough credit for. He's brilliant. Between the years, he's brilliant.

He's really smart. because if he runs around a lot in that position, it's easier to defend. I know you guys are going to laugh at me. It is because then the defender is reacting. Here's the analogy I would tell you guys. If you're playing NFL cornerback and you're always in motion, well, you're getting a head start to react.

You see what I'm saying? You're already in motion. You already kind of see it. Erling Holland walks around. He moves you by walking and going in spots. You're flat-footed. Then you react late. and he's quick, he's powerful,

and he's really good with finishing. But between the years, he doesn't get enough credit because he's actually lulling you to sleep better than anyone. That's cool. It was a beast. Then he did the media,

I feel like he was like the breakout star that the world didn't know and how they know. I got one other thing that was like maybe my favorite off-the-field portion of the World Cup, and you were working at, you're busy, so I don't know how much of it you got to see, dude, but Alexi Lawless working with Zlatan Ibrahimovich

is the best. shit I've ever seen in the world. I've never seen two dudes who I feel like maybe genuinely or maybe it's made up like dislike one another as much as those two. Anytime they were on the screen, I was like, I was like, everyone shut up. I got to here because they're going to take some stop. It was incredible. That's long guys, dude, all these, I loved him. Zlatan is Erling Holland, but on a different level, right? Polarizing character, but Zlatan is a caricature, right? He knows who he's playing, what he's doing. and all of that. And when he was playing with the LA Galaxy, I had to interview him probably six,

seven times for ESPN. And the red light goes on and boom, you see the whole thing. But off camera, and that's why I think people might be misreading his and Alexi. Like he'll tell you if he doesn't like your, it disagrees with you. But they naturally, naturally probably disagreed on 99% of the stuff. was real television, right? But I don't think if you asked Lotton, do you hate Alexi? I don't think the answer would be yes. You'd just be like, no, I disagree with them or whatever that is. But I think that's how it naturally turned into great TV,

because I think Alexi is very polarizing. He will be the constant guy that disagrees with you because he knows for TV. Like he's that guy, right? Whereas Lotton's just looking at him going, really, dude, like zip it. But Slaton is a character, a caricature unlike very few people. Yeah, he was a Tid. He was a Tid. And then Henry, Dia was in there just like not knowing what was going on half the time.

We called him intelligent or something. I was like, this is. Yeah, well, yeah, because Tieri, Tieri-Ree-Ree wants to be, he wants, he's still got a coaching mind. He wants to look at the tactics and all that. Meanwhile, Lexi and Zlatan would argue about the halftime show. You know what I mean? Like so, in Rebecca, to her credit, God, I've known her for years.

She's got a reel in all three different minds. She did an unbelievable job, but I just know Tieri Henri is sitting there going, can we talk about the right back and the overlap, and those two are going, no, we don't want to do that. It was great, man. I think it was obviously a huge success. I think it's going to do a lot for soccer in the United States as well.

I do too. And I think obviously the three of us could talk for hours and hours, but we all got stuff to do. I just got one last question. then I'll let Sleaze get to his E9. You mentioned the Today Show. I just got to know how much stoppage time was there for you in the makeup chair. Yeah, dude, that's a happy list.

I actually asked if there was hydration breaks because you never said. You know, I was in the zone. I needed some. Yeah, honestly, I won for the least amount in the makeup chair, Dr. Really? And, yeah, Colt, I did. I was like, they're like, yeah, do you need? Now it's perfect.

And I was like, you're a natural, good, bro. They're not a lot to fit. Please, it's four. Yeah, it's cold. It's 4.30 in the morning. 4.30 in the morning, I needed a little help. That's a tough part about that gig. As great of a gig as it is, that's the early.

Especially when Kevin Hart came in there at 6.30 like this. I was like, what are we doing right? Like, what are you doing? Well, he hadn't been to bed yet. I saw that. He hadn't gone to bed yet. Exactly. Yeah.

He kept those on the whole time. dude, you're doing great work. I know you're busy as hell. We can't thank you enough for making time to come on here. We look forward to watch you out there and shock the world. Make some friends. You start flying in there. You know, travel gets a little easier. Yeah, no one lives in Boston, buddy. I'm screwed. And enjoy. Maybe I move to you guys. I'll move to Arizona and then I got a ride. Yeah, there are about eight of them that play that thing. I think they all fly by themselves. Well, enjoy Charlotte and enjoy cuddling with Queen Elizabeth over there all week long.

Yeah, dude. Sorry, it's actually, it's tea and biscuits time. It's three o'clock in the afternoon. The electricity goes out at six, so I've got to hurry up. Beautiful. Sign that declaration of independence, and we'll talk to you next. See it, Taylor. Thank you.

All right, that was Taylor 12th, joining us on subpar from the colonial era, apparently, in his hotel room there, Charlotte. But, man, he is awesome. We've had him on before, but so cool to talk to him. He's got so much juice. Obviously, love soccer, loves his golf. even though he's in the other category over there on the pro tour.

But what a dude, man. I love that guy. Yeah, and I think he literally is the only dude still working at most of these things. Like, that actually has to schedule these things around his job. But he's damn good at it, dude. That today's show, like recurring appearances, I wouldn't be shocked if he starts sliding in there more regularly.

They loved him. Everyone that would listen, loved him, which is rare. He's a great dude, big talent, and he's always fun. He's our go-to. We got no one else in the world of soccer that we can go to. And why would we need it when we got tea? He's a dog. We need to get all earling on the podcast.

He loves his golf. Oh, dude, he loves it. He was like playing during his off days doing all that stuff. I mean, that dude, he was a, he was all world. Then he was hitting off the back of a yacht like all these people are doing now after the World Cup. Yeah, it's hard to feel bad when these guys were like crying on the field after they lost. And then a week later on Instagram, you're like, here they are in a Beezza. And their supri.

I'm like, okay, things worked out. All right. Yeah, they have a nice, interesting crowd with them as well. I saw Mbapé on a yacht and I was like, he's going to be just fine. Yeah. He's in good company over there. But thanks to Taylor for joining us. He's awesome, man.

I love it. Before we get out of here today, let's make some picks. We did give you a winner last week with a Jackson Coyven top 10. Didn't give you the winner, but hey, a win's a win. But run to the Rocket, which is their final year of sponsoring the Rocket Classic. it is at Detroit Golf Club. A revamped Detroit Golf Club. I saw some pictures last night.

This place looks sick. It looks totally different. I didn't even know they were doing that. Oh, yeah. I didn't even recognize it. Yeah, they ripped it up as soon as the last putt went in on Sunday. There was one water hazard on the whole place. It's gone now.

Went back in and did a lot of revamped. It's like what Donald Ross originally designed, put a lot of fescue in, which I think looks really cool. And no water hazard. Par 70 now down from 72. It's going to be over 7,300 yards. They expect a much tougher challenge. They normally light it up here.

But it's going to be cool to get up to 8 mile. Probably hang out with Eminem a little bit and call some golf. Shout out. Tell Papa Doc, I send my regards. It's been a while. Popper, Tom, Clarence. When is they been Clarence? That's right.

Clarence. All right, we're going to start with our top 20 here. Yeah, and this one shocked me a little bit. Coming off a great week at the 3M. I mean, this dude's a major champion, one of the best in the world, and you can get him a decent plus money on a top 20. Dekke Matsiyama plus 150 to top 20.

I feel like that's just like, all right, let's just get a little positive money in the bank account here at the start of the week and then try to go make some more. Yeah, it'd be one thing if he was coming off like an MC, it wasn't playing well, but he's just coming off a top five playing great. And the field's not crazy deep.

I was struck by that number as well. Love that top 20 play there. Moving on to our top 10, might as well ride our horse. Yeah. Ryan, how about Jackson Coyvin top 10 plus 210? I don't think I need to go in the reasons why we like him, but you're getting two to one on a top 10. Look, he's not scared to follow up a good week with another good week like we saw when he was in college.

I mean, he won six of ten tournaments this spring while at Auburn. He just topped 10 in his last PGA tour start before this, followed it up with a win. So why not just stay on the train and keep on rolling down the tracks and keep earning FedEx Cup points money, a lot of money, and hopefully us some money at plus 210. And then our win, one of our favorites here at subpar. He loves Detroit. We don't need to get into why. He likes the golf course a lot, I think.

But he's so entertaining. He played great at the Open Championship. I thought the Claret Jug was going to be filled up with Red Bull, but give a Siwu Kim plus 2,200. Red Bull, Tylenol P.M. That's the breakfast of champions right there. Nobody does it better than Seawoo. Yeah, and he's kind of the same way, dude.

if he gets the putter going like just a little bit. I mean, his ball striking stats are ridiculous. Yeah, he's, the putter's gotten better. It's just he was trying to win his first major championship there at the open, and he struggled a little bit coming down the stretch as he texts me afterwards. I'm suck. I'm suck. I'm suck.

Yeah. Seawu, no suck this week. Like dominate and all that stuff on his gloves. Sea Woo writes, I'm suck. Yeah. See, will you're not going to suck this week. You're going to win the Rocket classic there in Detroit. I can't wait to get up there, see this golf course.

We're also playing a gym. If you're ever in the Detroit area, Sleeves, and you get a chance to go play Franklin Hills Country Club, let me tell you, this place is sick. I highly recommend it. A lot of good stuff comes from the D. You know what I mean? Sure.

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That was a lot of fun. Thanks to Taylor Twelman for joining us and also Shady Ray. It was a great week. Hope y'all enjoyed the 3M open. We're on to Detroit, and we'll talk to you next week on Subpar.