Subpar - Taylor Twellman talks how his viral ESPN rant cost him the golf trip of a lifetime, finishing 4th at the American Century Championship

Episode Date: July 22, 2025

On this week's episode of GOLF's Subpar, Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz are joined by MLS commentator Taylor Twellman for an exclusive interview. The 4th place finisher at the 2025 American Century Championship shares how his viral World Cup rant cost him the golf trip of a lifetime, why he had to turn down a round at Augusta National and his favorite moments working alongside Scott Van Pelt at ESPN. --Thanks to our official sunglass sponsor Shady Rays. Head to shadyrays.com and use code SUBPAR for 35% off premium polarized sunglasses: ⁠https://shadyrays.com/collections/green-wolf⁠--Performance is in your hands with Golf Pride, the #1 grip in golf worldwide. Get 20% off a full set (up to 13 swing grips + 1 putter grip) with code SUBPAR20 at ⁠⁠GolfPride.com⁠⁠ — now through August 31. --Carlisle, headquartered right here in Phoenix, is the professional contractor’s choice for innovative building materials for more energy efficient homes and commercial buildings. Learn more at ⁠⁠Carlisle.com⁠⁠--Choose your style, pick your favorite Birdie Juice logo and shop from a line-up of top tier brands at ⁠⁠shop.golf.com⁠⁠ today!

All right, here we go. Welcome back to Golf Subpar with Colt Nost and Drew Stultz. Slees, I feel like we're starting to do this quite often. Scotty Schaeffler wins again, picks up his fourth major championship at the Open Championship, his second major title of the year. Dominating fashion, one by four, it seemed like he won by 100,

but this guy, he is just ridiculous, man. Robert, like, legitimately, we joke about it, but what more can you say about the guy? Like he's head and shoulders above everybody else in the world of golf. And kind of for a while, you know, the talk was, well, what happens if he putts good? What's he going to do if he putts good? Well, there you go. You see what happened this week.

He was second in strokes game putting. It was a runaway victory. Four strokes at the end, dude. I don't know about you. Like, that doesn't even feel like it does it justice. The thing was a runaway from the start. There was not one single moment in the final round, including the one slip up he had on eight where he made double where I thought this thing, where I thought anyone else had a chance. I mean, he comes out the gates, hits it to a foot.

on one. And then he just pretty much outside of hole eight hit the perfect shot, the shot that it called for every single time. He led in strokes gained approach Colt. And I know he's had a ton of great performances. But to me, especially the first three days where there were some elements, there was some wind, a little rain. That might have been the best iron play like I've ever seen. He seemed to hit it pin high every single hole. Yeah, it was a ball striking clinic. And in my opinion, all the golf I've watched him play throughout his life. Like, I think that's the best he's probably ever putted. I mean, Wednesday, I don't know if he's ever in his PGA tour career finished first for a week in strokes game putting. He did it this past week. And I just think the

perfect example to look at it last week of why he is just so much better than everyone else. One, how he played the par three's in general, which were very demanding at Royal Port Rush. But then you go to 16, which is one of the hardest holes. Johnson Wagner did a segment on it leading end of the week talking about how hard this hole is. It's calamity corner. All hell can break loose at this 235 yard par three. Scotty birdies at the first three times. And then on Sunday with a massive lead, it's a four-iron from two-thirty to like 15 feet left of the hole, exactly where you're supposed to hit it. Easily could have birdied the hole all four days. But when you look at that, I mean, we're not talking seven irons, eight irons. We're talking three and four irons that he is

hitting exactly pin high from 230-plus yards to within makeable, birdie range and he's converting him. It was just an absolute clinic, man. It's special to watch. I don't think we give him near enough love of him being totally honest. I think after watching this, like we kind of talked about it going into the week, and I know he hasn't played a ton of Lynx golf and it's something you got to play a little bit to get the hang of.

I think Link's golf favors Scotty Shephler more than anything else just because of the array of shots he can hit and that he's willing to hit in a tournament. Like, the cool thing was like watching him play. Let's say there's a left to right wind. Like he would smash a draw. up against it, net straight. Same with the left or right, or excuse me, right to left. He'd smash a fade up into it and go straight.

Then you'd see guys other world-class players like Colin Morcawa, left-or-right win. He would just play a monstrous, you know, fade in there. He just seems to hit the right shot every single time. He flights it down. He would hit it up. It's just, I mean, when he putts like that, and Sunday was just a cruise, dude. That was like zero stress. He wasn't trying to do anything.

I felt like he just had 20 feet to the fat side of the green, dead pin high every single time. Look, we don't want to be prisoners of the moment, but this has been going on for a long time. And it's just, it's hard to see it slowing down because even his bad golf is still top 10. Yeah, he has two finishes outside the top 10, I believe, so far this year. He has an 11th and like a 20th.

I actually checked that. He has like a 25th at the WM. Phoenix Open, his second event back after hand surgery when he had the little accident with the wine glass. But it's just weekend and week out, even when he doesn't win, he's still a factor. I think that's what just makes it so impressive. You go out and put the way he did. I mean, the field has no chance.

You heard Xander Shafley afterwards talking about Scotty and how good he is. And he says, nowadays, when we look up at the leaderboard and see him at the top, it really sucks for us. I was like, that was, I think he's number three ranked player in the world now, was number two, won two majors last year. And he's talking about seeing Scotty's name at the top. And he's like, yeah, this is a problem for us. Yeah, that's, by the way, that's like every week, more or less. I mean, Zander said that. Rory made a comment at the end and said, like, you know, this felt inevitable.

Hal Tong Lee, the night before he played in the final round, the closest pursuer of Scotty Sheffler said, you know, I feel like I'm probably playing for second, but I hope I can go out there and play a good round of goal. It's like they're just conceding to them, which you sometimes see players talk about guys and like just the way they revere them and how good they are, but it's normally after they retire. You don't see it a lot while they're still playing, and that's what you got with Scottie right now.

And I mean, how could you say anything different, dude? Like what he's doing right now? I mean, Tiger's only comps that we can come up with, and Tiger did it for a long time. He's got a long ways to go to catch him, but that's just the most dominant stuff we've seen in a long, long time. If that putters anything close to what it was this past week, just forget it. Yeah, I thought it was a cool stat they put on the broadcast,

how between Tiger's first major win and his fourth major win was 1,197 days. Well, when Scotty went on Sunday, it was 1,197 days since his first major win. Just crazy, the comparisons. it's always, you know, kind of tough getting in to comparing him with Tiger Woods. I thought Butch Harmon, who just randomly called into our serious XM show today, said it beautifully. He compared him to Jack Nicholas. He's like, forget Tiger.

Tiger changed the sport and all this. Scotty Sheffler is the closest thing I've seen to Jack Nicholas since Jack Nicholas. Like the way he plays the game, the way he goes about winning, how he's a family man, all this. I thought it was really cool to hear that from Butch, who's been around the best players in the world for a very long time. Yeah, you know the thing or two. And that's Scotty, like, that's his 10th consecutive tournament where he's held a 54-hole lead that he's closed out,

which for mortals is unbelievable. It's so hard to win out there. It's not a sure thing if you're living by two, three. He's winning by huge margin, so too. I think his last five wins, Colt, I've been by four strokes or more. 25 shots total. Yeah, he never seems to make the dumb mistake. Like eight, like, you know, we looked to that,

but he had an enormous cushion there. I think he took that shot on because he could. And then what do you do right after that? Bounce back, hit it to three feet, made a birdie, back on cruise control. He just never seems to make the mental errors that some of these guys do. And that's so much easier said than done because when you're out there, most guys are feeling the heat. I mean, you were talking to Max Homer recently, you know, when he was in the hunt and he was saying like, man, I'm exhausted. This takes so much out of me.

You know, Scotty does this every single week. That's just what he's accustomed to. And I think we kind of, we just expect it so much. I don't want to say we take it for granted, but I don't know that he necessarily. you know, we really appreciate how hard it is to do what he's doing right now. No, I just, I love everything about it. And the way that, I mean, golf is what he does. It's not who he is.

And I know he's preached that for a very long time. I mean, his family and his faith are the two most important things in his life. His family is there by his side pretty much every single time he tease it up. But it's just to watch him go out there. We get the random freak out. I remember in Denver last year he was like, how, how, how? like when he had a shot over the green. Other than that, most of the time,

it just looks like he's out there playing with his buddies. I know he's not laughing and joking around, but he's just going through the motions. Whatever shot is required, he hits. That's simple as it comes. Like he never looks nervous. He never looks amped up or never gets really down on himself for the most part. There's a few moments here and there.

I think this game gets the best of all of us. But whether it's working out, practicing, or playing in a tournament, like he does everything that is required. nothing more, nothing less, and just goes about his business. He's probably the most conservative player on the PGA tour, and he is far and away the best player in the world. You know what else used to do that? I've noticed it, especially in major championships.

Tiger Woods used to do that. Just play the fat side of the green. Give yourself 20, 25 footers, whatever it is, over and over, let the field fall out, and then all of a sudden come Sunday, you're right there. Scotty's doing it, but when he's making pots on top of that, then there's just no way to catch him right now. So come September, I'm glad he's on our side for the right.

Rider Cup. You're going to be a good win to have, but it was actually an important week for a couple guys' cult this week. Rider Cup-wise, I'd say Harris English probably cemented his spot on the team. And also Chris Goderup, falling up that Scottish Open win. Coming back, third was right there. Could have been second pretty easily. But Monster for him, I mean, he's entered the chat for sure.

And I'm probably the biggest pom-pom waver for Goder up. You are. I'll say this. I think the future is rather bright for Scotty and Chris Goder-up. They might want to get themselves some shamed. Shady rays, Slees, and Shadyrays offers high-performance sunglasses built with golfers in mind. The Green Wolf Collection has semi-polarized lenses to cut glare while increasing clarity. Enhances contrast on course, tent designed to enhance readability, lightweight, comfortable with

rubber nose pads and snap-in hinges, so they stay in place during your swing. 30-day risk-free returns and exchanges. Head to Shadyrays.com and use code subpar for 35% off sunglasses. All right, back to a little more Rider Cup talk here, Sleaz, because I like where we're going with this. I do 100% agree. Harris English has locked up his spot for Beth Page. He is up to sixth in the standings. Chris Godder. I know you're very high on him. I love the guy. He's been on subpar at least once, if not twice. Superstar amateur coming out of college played great the last two weeks. I still think, in my opinion, we need to see a little more before we start outfitting him for those

sick red, white and blue clothes they'll be wearing up at Bethpage. Yeah, I'm not saying he's on I'll tell you this, if the tournament started tomorrow, I'd pick him. I know it was length golf, it's different, but it's still golf, and he went and won the Scottish, which not a signature event might as well have been. Scotty, Rory, everybody was over there. Then he backs it up on a week where he wasn't even expected to play, Colt. He had his flight book back to go play the Cooter, and he had bail out from the Cooter to play the Open Championship, and he finishes in the top three. He's not there yet, but if he can go put together another top five at a in a playoff event or something along those, lines, man, you know, we switched to six captain's picks for a reason, and that was to capture the

hot hand, kind of Billy Horshaw was the reason we did all that. If he shows some form going forward, it'd be hard pressed to leave him out. Plus, he smashes it, which is, of course, great for Bethpage, Northeast guy. There's kind of like some of the intangible stuff, too, but not saying he's there, but it'd be, it's not all the realm of possibility for sure. No, it's not, but definitely some more work to be done. He is right now scheduled to play at the 3M. I'm a little surprised by that. He's got to be somewhat exhausted. But yeah, he would be awesome up there.

I know the New York crowds would love him and some interesting news about the Ryder Cup that came out this morning, Sleeves, because every single year the captains, they sign an agreement about how things are going to work over at the Ryder Cup between the two captains. And this morning, European Rider Cup captain, Luke Donald, has reportedly agreed to a change in the captain's agreement that would allow Team USA to assign the captain's duties to a vice captain in the event that Keegan Bradley is playing in a session. Interesting. It's made to just throwing that in there for no reason. Yeah. So definitely that sounds like they're probably leaning towards

Keegan, teeing it up. But a cool of Luke to agree to that, because by the way, I don't know how you could disagree with that. Be like, no. But I guess when you are Keegan Bradley, you're one of the top bright eight Americans right now. You might not want him to be teeing it up against you. But I think this is the right move for everybody involved. Yeah, I mean, Kagan sits 10th right now. You know, we talked to Billy Orshall on the radio today. He said, look, I want him on that team. He's sending messages saying, I think, you know, you got to play on this team.

You give us the best chance to win as a player more so than you do as the captain. Cool for Luke to agree to that. I would be floored if he had any issue with that whatsoever. It's supposed to be, you know, the 12 best Americans versus 12 best Europeans. If he's one of them, let him on that team. I don't care if he's signed up as captain or not. Yeah, and it also sounded like over at the Open Championship. Kegan Bradley has told Bryson DeShambo, he will be a part of the U.S.

Rider Cup team. Phenomenal final three rounds for Bryson over at the Open Championship after opening was 78. But we need to put one thing to rest here. All these people saying, oh, if only Bryson would open with this, only if he would have done this, well, he didn't. He shot 78. And that's what separates him and Scotty Schaeffler. And Scottie Schaeffler and the rest of the great players in the world is.

Scotty Sheffler doesn't do that. As we learned this morning, his highest round on the PGA tour so far this season is 73. Like, Scottie never has that crazy off round. Possibly the biggest difference between him and everyone else in golf is that his bad is still top 10 most of the time. Top 15 for sure. And everybody else is the 76, 78 here and there, right? And also, Colt, like, you've been in that position, I've been in that position. You play a horrible first round.

At that point, you have no option other than to go and to press. And like you play differently than you would. You make different decisions than you would if you went out and shot 67 the first day. You're probably taking on par five. So you're pressing it every which way. So there's really no downside at that point. Not taking anything away from what Bryson did. That was an incredible final three rounds.

I think he and Wyndham Clark minus 16 the final three rounds. But yeah, the point is there ain't no 78s coming out of the Sheffler camp. He doesn't ever have to do that. And by the way, he cruised on Sunday. Took on no risk, basically. Absolutely, Cruz. And by the way, Wyndham Clark final three rounds, phenomenal. He moved up to 16th in the Ryder Cup standings. Be interesting to see if he makes a late push.

He's also teeing it up at 3M this week. A much-needed good week for Wyndham Clark with everything that is going on. I know he did finally come out and apologize to Oakmont. They're working on things there, but good to see him play well those last three days. Yeah, and I think along with Goder-Up, I think maybe the reason they're playing 3-M is to try to make a push for this. Like, look, you know, I got only a little couple of. events left and then it's playoffs. If they go out there and pick off a win on a field that's

not the fields that, you know, at least Wyndham's accustomed to playing week in, week out, huge move, huge potential for playing at Bethpage. Yep. Just two weeks left before the start of the playoffs. It's wild. This season has flown by, man. I mean, we have two events left with CBS and I'm done until January. It's just crazy to think how fast this has gone by. Yeah, it's weird. For the majors being done in July, and then just a couple more weeks, then it's playoffs, Rider Cup and then yeah I mean we're in it but then we get football yeah yeah

can I one last thing I want to throw at you I just found rather interesting you know listen I'm a PGA tour guy I still pay attention to everything that goes on in the world of golf with live and all of that but I found it rather comical that on Friday night or Saturday morning depending on where they were

when they put this out there you know they had 19 guys to start the week in the field at the open championship they made a graphic with everyone's face that made the cut at the Open Championship. Are we really bragging about this? I don't know. I don't even like getting into all the Liv versus PGA Tour.

It's their social media, of course. What are they going to do? They're going to promote their guys. I don't know that making the cut is the biggest thing in the world, but maybe they're showing like, look at what percentage of our players that we had in this field ended up playing the weekend. I got no issue with any of those guys.

Of course, their social is going to promote them just the way of the PGA Tour is going to promote ours. but we make it we PJ tour's not making cut graphics or I mean PJ tour champion is not putting a picture of Justin Leonard out there say Justin Leonard made the cut at 55 years old pretty unbelievable though that he did which I didn't even realize he had done that until Sunday and they started showing him like holy shit he's playing that pretty damn good for 55 pretty cool for my man Randy Smith who 28 years ago got to drink out of the claret jug when Justin Leonard brought it home to Dallas Texas he'll be doing the same with Scotty Sheffler here in a couple of days when he shows back up to Royal Oaks Country Club.

Big congratulations to Randy Smith and that entire team. And his son, Blake Smith, who is the manager to Scotty Sheffler and Brooks Keppka. Blake completed the rare manager career grand slam with Scottie Schaeffler's Open Championship. He's been a part of nine major titles. It's a nice little major championship run for him from Brooks getting five pretty quick. And now Scottie's going to take that baton and just run with it for God knows. how long. So shout out to him for the Grand Salami. I got to ask you, though, because you went on a little golf trip last week.

First time, her up at Band and Dunes. A little Lynx golf for you, my man. What do we think? I took my sticks. My golf pride grips, as always, Sleaze, because if you care about feel, consistency, and control, start with your grips. Golf Bride's new Align Max has a raised edge that fits your hands

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that up. Had an amazing time of abandoned dunes. I've never been before. And I've been one of those guys like I've told you on here before. I like golf trips, but I like there to be other things to do as well. I'm not a guy that's going to grind it out four or five days in a row playing 36 holes every single day. And it's not the easiest place to get to in the world. I know it's fantastic, but it's not the easiest place. Well, an opportunity came up where it was rather easy to get to. It was in. It was out. And I was going to get to play two days at Bandin Dunes. So I did it. We went up there. We played the banding course, which I think it's probably amazing, sleeves, but it was so damn foggy.

You couldn't see more than like 150 yards in front of you. You could hear the ocean, but you couldn't see it. But from what you could tell by the design, the course looked awesome. We didn't have a crazy amount of wind, so it wasn't that hard. And then we played the Sheep Ranch course on Friday, which beautiful

views, perfect weather. Once again, not a ton of wind, but, man, it is a cool place. If you're a golf lover, like, I ran into a guy that told me they were on their sixth day of the trip. The previous five days, they had played 200, holes already and they were signed up for 36 more on Friday. That's, I mean, you got to really want it.

I've played it. I played those a handful of times and I've played it like you did in the fog with very little wind to the point where our caddy had to run up like, I'm talking like 50 yards in front of us and be like hit it over my head. You couldn't see any, it's 175 yards. Like you couldn't see anything more or less. And I've also played it when it's blowing 30 and it's brutally hard out there. It's a really cool place.

any anyways because it's like authentic lynx golf real like fescue and you would never think you're in the states if they just you know air dropped you in there um but it is fun if you get a chance to go back and play it in the wind because it's so different dude when you play with no wind like i was hitting lob wedges into holes that i remember hitting like five irons into you know at the pacific coast amber or the last time i went up there or whatever but cool joint glad you got to go up there and at least at least get a couple of them because like honestly if you're going to stay in north america it's either bandin or cabot um but are like the only, I think, the only two, like, genuine real links golf,

at least that I've played. There may be one or two else out there, but it's pretty good spot to go have a little fellow's trip. Yeah, I mean, shout out to Band of Dunes. It is so organized. It is so well ran up there. I was shocked by how many people are on that property. I know it's a massive piece of property with six golf courses

and a part three course, but everything is just perfect up there. If you ever get a chance, I highly recommend going. Also, Slays, went all the way up to Band, Dunes and had two Whisper Rock caddies for two days. Shout out to Shug and Jason Castle is leading us around Bandon Dunes. Shug's been up there for 16 years. Castle is for 14. Castle's in the sky.

And he is in the sky most of the time. I should say that. He comes by that honestly. Great dudes. Yeah, it's a little hub for some of the Whisper guys. We've got a bunch that go up there. Chicago gets some. Whistling gets some.

It's sweet. And you're right, dude. It is a monstrous piece of land. and it is a huge production out there. But it's one-on-one for sure. Cool thing right there where you can have breakfast and lunch right at the Bandon course

because Bandon, I believe, has hosted every single USGA amateur event there is. And they have every single trophy there. And the four ball was there, Sleaze. I kept looking. Couldn't find Slees and the kitty on there. I thought about writing it in for you. They got the runners up?

They didn't have the silver. A lot of people say that's even better at that time. It's coming to Sleys and it. Scottsdale next year. Desert Mountain. How about that? DM hosting this thing. So, I mean, if we can't get it done this time, God, and we might just be time to hang it up, you know? Damn, y'all might need security being in Scottsdale,

USGA four ball. It's going to make the Ryder Cup look like fucking library on a Wednesday afternoon, dude, it's going to be raucous out there. All right. Well, we might be doing some live subpar shows from the four ball next year. Hopefully I'm in town for that. All right, let's get to our guest this week because this is a fun, one right here. The man loves him some golf. He knows more than anyone about soccer, and he's just a

great dude. Taylor Twelman joins us on golf subpar. All right, folks, our guest joining us today was a goal scoring machine during his time in the MLS. He's now the most prominent soccer commentator in all the land. He's the lead analyst for MLS on Apple TV, talented man, taking his talents to the golf course. Coming off a fourth place finish at the American century, Taylor 12th. Elman is with us long overdue, my man. Good to be with you. Boys, long time listener, first time callers. So this should be a lot of fun.

It's going to be a lot of fun, Taylor. And by the way, I saw all when he announced fourth place finish, you're like, you're not too happy about that. No. No, I'm not. I'm not. When you are, listen, I gave Joe something to think about with four holes to play. And then I got run over by an 18 wheeler and he went three under.

So, uh, long story short. Yeah, it's still a little salty in my mouth. mouth, Colt. It's not, it's a little salty. I'm not going to lie to you. You weren't the only one, though. There was a handful of guys kind of in the mix. Like, at the end of the day, if you just look at the scoreboard, it looks like, oh, Joe won kind of comfortably going away, but it wasn't like that. But for you, I mean, this is your second time in a row, I think, after a hiatus from the time you played, you know, your first time. What was it like? What was it like being in the mix going down the stretch there?

I love it, Drew. I absolutely love it. And you've known me for a little bit, just running into each other at Whisper Rock and whatnot. Golf has always been a part of my family. My uncle Jay Delson was on tour for 20-some-odd years, so I grew up with the sport. But when I went to college and then kind of went the pro soccer route versus the pro baseball route, I kind of put the clubs away for about 10 years. And then it was like 2007, 2008, I kind of got back into it. And it kind of saved me for your listeners. My career ended right before the 2010 World Cup. I had a nasty concussion. And I couldn't work out. Still really can't work out. with certain regulations now. So long story short, golf kind of saved me. It kept the competitive

juices going. It gave me something to shoot for, no pun intended. It just gave me something to really kind of grasp this second phase of my professional life. And so I'm very grateful for that. But this was the second time I've been in Tahoe in the first year, I don't care what anyone tells you, but Marty Fish looked me in the eye and he said, there's nothing like Tahoe in that first round absolutely i shot 76 didn't make a single birdie didn't even come close and it was the deer in headlights and i just kind of grew into it and figured it out that you know what you just got to hit greens and try to make as many birdie putts as you can for me to shoot in the tournament one over in stroke play i mean you two know this game better than me i i would assign that dotted line without even knowing where i

was going to finish so all in all it was an absolute blast i love going into the final four or five holes with the lead or tied for the lead. It's just the chips didn't fall my way. And that's a bitter pill. I have to take it at a certain point. Well, like you said, it's one of the best weeks of the year. Like, we love going up there. And everyone I talk to that knows you says you're one of the most competitive people they've ever met. And I know you went there to win. A lot of guys go there to party, have a good time. But Taylor Twelman was there to win. What was the preparation like the few weeks leading into it? Cole, it's a great question. Because honestly, You want to go in, and this is where golf is so different than any other sport,

especially team sports, because either you win or you lose. As I've started to play competitive golf again, it's, listen, you've got to play the best you can in that moment. And if you think that way, you actually enjoy the process way more than worried about the result. And that's kind of where this was for 2025 for me. So we played, we had a small tournament in Maine drive for kids. I was in the final group with Joe Pavelski again, was tied for the lead with five holes to play again.

And Joe went three under in the final three holes. But then Marty Fish shoots 67 and he trumps both of us. Basically, Colt, what I'm trying to say is my goal is to play the best round I can do in that moment. So the preparation is playing money games. I love a closeout. I hate practice. I much rather play $100 close out to get me into. If I'm only playing golf once a week, guys, I don't have time to go range, you know,

hit balls for two hours and then go catch a flight. I'm traveling 200 days a year. So my thought is go play a $100 close out. Put yourself in pressure. Do that. So I did that five, six, seven times played in a couple tournaments. We did the member guest to Boston golf where it's scratch only, no strokes. I mean, that gets you into the thick of it.

Uh, so that's a long winded answer, Colt of just saying, trying to play as much as I can in a competitive environment versus just being a ranger at. Did you, did you play that Boston Golf Club? Was that with McDonough? Yes, but, but McDonough is not in the scratch part. Sorry, Sean. Sandbaggers aren't allowed, Sean. Sandbaggers aren't allowed.

We love you, Sean. We love you, Sean. Love you. But I was, that explains because I was going to ask you because there's so many guys like Colt and I, you know, like the quarterbacks we were around. They seem to be like the most technical, you want all the information, take a ton of lessons, do all this. I was just talking with one before we got on here.

He's a complete mess right now. I was like, dude, you're a good athlete. Just do it. But you seem to be more like a shopmaker feel guy, yeah? Yeah, Drew. If we start getting into the thinking of the parts for anyone that knows me really well, if I think too hard, we're in real trouble, both on and off the course. So all jokingly aside, I'd rather just be an athlete, play the game.

Now, in saying that, I lost the tournament because my technique from 30 yards and in is not clean. And it's not clean enough for the fact that my uncle can see it on TV. So if I want to do something of this and go find the next gear, I'll be the first one to admit, you can't hit 48 out of 54 greens and only make 10 birdies. You can't do that. It's got to be better with the putter. and anywhere 40 yards and in. You got to get up and down.

Now, I didn't have to do that that much in Tahoe, but I'll be the first one to tell you and raise my hand. The short game's got to get a little bit cleaner under pressure, and that's the next phase of my game that I've got to find. Yeah, because it looks like, Taylor, you got a lot of speed. Like, I haven't seen you hit it in person, so you can move it out there. And that golf course plays extremely short.

So you have to be really spot on with your wedges. You have a lot of 40, 50-yard pitches into greens, and then you've got to make a lot of putts. Cole, it's a great point. Honestly, I didn't hit that many drivers off the T because I was thinking, if you're in the fairway, especially at Edgewood, you've got a legitimate shot of hitting the green. And that's where the course has had. The complexes around the green, the greens were running 133, 134. For those of you listening, in the Northeast, we don't have a lot of poana. So the first two days I'm there, guys, it's really getting used to the greens and reading it.

And then if you're in the afternoon, they're bumpy, they're fast. So I spent a lot of around there. But Colt, you just hit the nail in the head. If you've got a shot into the green and you're hitting the green, then you're going to put yourself in great spots, particularly in this kind of environment, but you've got to make birdies. And that's the thing that people don't understand in Stableford. You guys know this, but I don't know if your listeners do. It's better to go bogey birdie multiple times than it is to do what I did on Sunday, which was one birdie in 13 pars into the final four holes. That's not going to get you anywhere. Joe, on the final day went double bogey but then he made five birdies in an eagle that's how you win that's crazy though

you hit 48 out of 54 greens dude like that's good and like short games all it needs like you know that's just spending time i would think but looking back on it now if you could go back in time you get a mulligan on one shot in that final round where would you take it oh it's a great question drew honestly it's whole four i had a 12 foot put for eagle and it lipped out and then you Joe had a 10 foot putt for Eagle and he missed it. And I knew it at that point because he had to press having doubled and bogied the first two holes. And I could see it. I hit a cut seven iron into the green from about like 190 and it was underneath the hole. It was 12, 13 feet. And when I hit it, I didn't even look at the cup until about a second later because I thought I drained it. And it just

lifted hit the lip on the right side. If that goes in six points, he's now chasing me a little bit. Then the put on six from, I think it was five feet for Bertie. I'm way more, yes, it's above the hole, but I'm more confident. The eagle putt is the one I want back just because I think it sets the tone that he's going to have to chase me for the rest of the day. Well, I know this. You're going to be a problem at Tahoe for many years to come. Like you're going to be one of those guys.

You're going to be the Joe Pavelskies, the Marty Fish, Mark Molder. Like, you're always going to be up there. And it's going to be so fun to watch. But obviously you can tell how much you love golf. and you said you travel 200 days a year. How much golf do you get to play through the year? Because I've heard you've played some rather nice places. Colt, I am America's guest and I'll be the first person to admit that, which is no problem.

I have no issue with that. And anyone that wants to call me, you can find me on Instagram, find whatever at Taylor-Talman, just by the way. The long-winded answer is this. I play once a week. And I find any kind of gambling game I can. I just joined a great new place. If you guys are ever up here in the Northeast, I just joined. the international golf club.

It's core Crenshaw on one side. It's Fazio on the other. They're building a bunch of cottages. It's completely been redone by Escalante golf. It's magnificent and it's got a great range. But I'm not going to go there and sit on the range for two hours. I'm going to find myself a close out. I'm going to find myself a game.

I'm going to do that. And Colt, the reason why I need that is golf is still a reprieve for me. As much as I am competitive and I want to do the best I can. It's still the reprieve in my life. I'm still walking 18 holes. My cell phone's off. I've got a little music playing. We have a couple drinks afterwards. Cold, I don't want to lose that. I don't. I'm 45. I'm at the time of my life where the competitive juices are there, but it's also life is too short. And I don't want to miss the moment. And so for me, golf is a huge reprieve. And I kind of want to keep it that way. Give me your favorite courses you've played, because like you said, you're America's guest.

Give me your favorite couple of courses you've played, and maybe a couple that you haven't had a chance to play yet. Colt, I am a very, and Drew knows this a little bit. I love history. So right away, I'm going to tell you, Okman, Shinnock, right, the two right off the top of my head that I absolutely loved every second of it. It may or may not have been the frozen transfusion on the 10th hole at Oakmont. That might have done it for me, but that's neither here nor there. I didn't make Augusta. Should I say that lot?

Like, do I tell people public that I kind of had to turn down an invite? Oh, you had to turn one down. Turn one down? Yeah. So, guys, I'm, the fact that I am a celebrity is a very loose term. I'm actually the only one that played at Tahoe that has to work for a living. And so when I got an invite to play Augusta, I had to do. do England, Italy, European championships at Wembley. I didn't have a choice to say, you know what,

I can't, I can't do the final because someone invited me to go play Augusta. Yeah, I don't, I promise you, I won't get that invite again. But anyways, um, I love Sage Valley. I love tree farm. I love old Barnwell. I love South Carolina golf. Um, yeah, those are some off the top of my head that I love and absolutely i i've done sabonic national friars head all long island golf up here is fairly easy for us to get to colt so those have been good but for me shinakokok omont to hear the stories to call my uncle and say hey how about this hole and we can literally talk about it that's how i grew up listening to him talk about the pj tour so it's kind of nostalgia for me tell me about boston golf clubs i've not yet played it there's there's so much good golf in the northeast dude you can play like

courses you've never even heard of. It'd be the best course in Arizona, like by a mile. But I've heard such good things about BGC. Drew, BGC, old sandwich catans it. Yeah. Myopia. I think Essex is arguably the best one here. The country club at Brookline where, you know, Fitzpatrick won. There's so many good golf courses. For me, Boston Golf, here's how I judge golf courses.

And I want you guys to tell me if I'm right or wrong. when you're done 24 hours later, how many holes do you remember? And if I remember more than six or seven holes, I think that's a good golf course. No. And some of the nicest places that are rated the highest by Golf Digest, I maybe remembered three or four, but then I play some of these like want to moisten. Oh, I mean, the first Donald Ross course where the Northeast amateur is, that was the best experience of my life.

And yet people will tell you, oh, yeah, it's okay. I'm like, what are you talking about? So BGCs, Gilhance, it's got a lot of Pine Valley feel where the bunkers look like they're unmanicured. They're very, there's a lot of undulation in the greens. But I can give you eight holes right now, Drew, that I remember off the top of my head. And that's why I've always had it at the top of my list up here in Boston just because it stands out more so than others. I tell you what, you mentioned Wanda Moise that is a gem.

I played the Northeast Dam a few times. and I haven't played there since I was 22, so 18 years has gone by, and I bet you I can tell you every hole right now. Colt, yeah. Colt, I just need you to tell your listeners, the first tee ball where everyone's drinking right behind you, and you got to hit the tea over the lake

where Dustin Johnson flat out told the story the first time he played in the Northeast Ham, he topped three wood into the lake. People don't understand the anxiety on that first tee ball. We have the long drive content. there every year, which obviously I have no business being in. But I remember the first year I played. This is when J.B. Holmes was the guy. And it's blowing 25 in off the left going up that hill. And he starts this thing up the left. It fades back to the center. And they announced back

313. And I was like, what the hell are you out of your mind? Like that's when back then, that was like ridiculous. Drew, the whole three, Drew, at Lamauna Moist it is basically 109 yards. And it's a par four. It's borderline. impossible to hit the green it's awesome i love i love those old courses like that they don't make them like that anymore i would think everyone's hitting at 350 but like where you tee off like the first tea is literally like on the patio where people are eating you know like garden city has a finishing hole like that actually belair you know i don't i haven't played it since the redo but like that you use the teoff like

while people you're like you could knock over their drink with your back i love that i love that in bgc finishes on a par three so everyone finishes they go up to the club house house. Everyone's having a drink. They're hooting and hollering. And any kind of banter for me, guys, I win. If I can talk shit to anyone behind me or in front of me, you're going to win me over. So that's where BGC just kind of, it just kind of flows perfectly for a great four hour round. I love that. You've played it so many great places. Let me ask you this. I know you watch a lot of golf too. Like, who do you model your game after? Oh, that's a real good question. John McDonough?

Uh, the mannequin, Mark Mulder. Um, yes. By the way, best nickname ever. That's a, I mean, honestly, who would you like to model your game after? Maybe that's a better question. I want to find myself where I know any shot that comes up, I can find it. So, Cole, you answer that. Who is that? Like when I watch golf, so I really admire the fact that Shuffler's got the oddest, weirdest footwork because that tells me it doesn't matter he's playing his own game i respect the non technical golfer maybe because i'm non-technical so when i see the non-technical golfer like that and by the way for the listeners i'm not saying i'm scotty sheffler i respect people that have an identity and a personality within their own sport and in golf oftentimes it comes to your technique would i

love to hit a driver like rory mackroy sure am i going to absolutely not because i like to play a cut because if I play a draw, God knows where the hell that ball is going to go. It's honestly, Colty, it's your question because I watch you guys a lot. And by the way, I think you have done a really, really good job of acclimating yourself into the profession, but also having a personality. Very few people can do that. Thank you. When I watch you guys on CBS, I watch everyone going into the 70 yard into the green shot,

because I want to see if they're doing any little technique, techniques wrong word, any kind of mannerism or setup that allows them to be relaxed and it's not forced. And here's the shot I'm going to be to give an example, the travelers with Tommy Fleetwood versus Keegan Bradley. I've watched it now 10 times. You could see it that Tommy Fleetwood was uncomfortable. You could see that Keegan Bradley already,

knew what he was going to do. So that's kind of what I watch versus, oh, I'm going to watch. What does he do with his right elbow? What does he do with his lead hip? That kind of, that kind of shit. Honestly, cold, I'll, I'll probably go into a black hole with that. And I don't want to go there. But when I watch Keegan Bradley at the Travelers, what I saw was someone that stayed in the moment. It literally compartmentalized the entire situation and said, I'm going to hit this within eight feet. I don't give a shit what Tommy does. Yeah. That's kind of what I watch. It was, that was one of the coolest scenes I've seen in a long time just with how many people were there and the moment in him being there. But you could tell, like, Higin Bradley knew what he had to do.

Like, he had to go get it. Tommy Fleetwood was basically saying, don't mess up. Yes. And that was the difference. And Cole, to your point, that's what I did on 15. I completely screwed it up. The tree was overhanging myself. And I went back and I changed clubs two or three times.

And my gut reaction was take my 48. degree, punch it onto the green. Instead, I tried to hit a cut 54, which was idiotic. You missed the green tournament's over. I keep replaying that because I'm like, dude, you literally told yourself the entire week. By the way, if you have my caddy on, I never asked him what to hit until that shot. That was the first shot the entire tournament. I was like, ah, Steve, what do you think? And he's like, he's looking at me, go, what? What do you, what are you talking? You haven't asked me the whole week. My name's Chris. Yeah, exactly. Now, like really, dude?

Now, so honestly, it's one of those things you learn from, but also it's the best part about this sport. And you guys know this better than me. You literally can hit the perfect shot and get screwed. You can hit the worst shot and get lucky. It is unlike any sport in the world. And I made a career out of doing jack shit for 88 minutes, but I scored the game winning goal. And everybody goes, oh, Taylor, great job.

You scored a great. It's like, did you watch the 90 minutes? I played like absolute horse manure. But the reality is the team wins. You score the goal and everybody does this. Golf's 180 degrees opposite and it's kind of why I'm addicted to it. This portion of the podcast is supported by Carlisle companies, a leading supplier of innovative building envelope systems.

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has the largest purse on the Epsontour and attracts some of the best talent in women's golf. The Carlisle, Arizona Women's Golf Classic at TPC Scottsdale every spring reflects Carlyle's commitment to the support and advancement of women in business and athletics. Now back to Taylor Twelman. Give everyone idea. You said you shout one over at the tournament in Tahoe. What's your playing handicap?

What do you play at when you go play these member guests? I keep a handicap. Now, I've been told, I've been told it's kind of stupid to keep a handicap at this point, true. But I think it's fair to keep a handicap if I'm going to play with, you know, a couple of my buddies that are, say, five, six is sevens. And if we're going to do it. So I play as a plus two and a half.

Oh. And that's what my number's been for almost, I would say, two, three years now. But I think it's fair. Now, I know a couple of my buddies that are plus twos that show up and play as scratches. I just think I would feel bad if we're playing for money, if I'm not telling them what I'm really playing as. And that includes competition golf as well as me playing on a Friday. So I do keep a handicap for that reason. I have some people you need.

God bless you. Yeah, I have some people you need to speak to that are a member over here in California, which we just talked about on our last episode, that they don't feel the same way you do. Let's put it that way. No, Cole, I've been told many of times by the mid-ams here in Massachusetts, and there's so many good ones. They're like, why are you keeping a handicap?

And I'm just like, well, listen, if I'm playing against the six, I'm not going to play him as a scratch. I should play them at what I am. Anyways, that's just for me to sleep better at night, and that's probably why my wall, it's a little lighter. Fair enough. Let's transition here to your broadcasting career, I'm always fascinated how athletes get into TV because I feel like a lot of people,

they don't have the plan. Like when you're an athlete, you plan on playing your sport for a very long time, being very successful and then riding off into the sunset. You know, you look at yourself, Tony Romo, many others. I mean, Tom Brady's doing TV now. When did you know you were going to get into TV? Colth, great question. God, August 30th, 2008 is when my life changed forever.

Goalkeeper came out, punched me in the face, and I got a concussion that took away my career. I was more than likely going to end up going to England, and then I was going to more than likely playing the 2010 World Cup. If you asked me on August 29, 2008, what do you want to do when you're done playing? TV would have been at the bottom of the list. And so I am going to be the first person to tell you that sometimes life throws you a curveball

and you have no idea what's coming, and it may be the biggest blessing in disguise. I didn't want to do TV. I wanted to be a general manager, technical director. I wanted to build teams. I wanted to be successful because I had lost, I don't know if you guys know this, but your listeners will pray.

I am the Jim Kelly of Major League Soccer. I lost three MLS Cup finals in a row, and I lost four total. And so there was always a chip on my shoulder of saying, you know what, dude, you've left it incomplete when you're done. If you don't win one in Boston, then why not come back and be the general manager and bring that?

And yet I had had about 500 beers with the NBA producer for ESPN and also the MLS producer. And his name was Tom McNeely. It was Peter McNally's brother who Peter McNally fought Mike Tyson for the listeners that don't know who I'm talking about. And Tom used to always say, you should think about media. And I was always like, screw media. I'm not doing media. I'm not doing this. So anyways, after the 2010 World Cup, he had me do a friendly.

Colt Drew. I had no clue what I was doing. The first three replays that came up, I was just watching them, not even talking. And the replays are going up. And the, you know, by play by play guy, Rob Stone, who's now at Fox, he hits me on the shoulders. And he's like, and he holds cough down. He goes, you're supposed to talk. I was like, what is that mean?

What am I supposed to talk about? I do the game. I called Tom McNeely. I said, Tom, I am so sorry. That had to be the worst TV ever. The game was nil-nil-nill. So Drew, Colt, the worst. zero zero i have nothing to talk about i get on the plane fly home two days later someone from

es bn says we like for you to do one more game well that was what 16 years ago so cold i love it um it kept me close to the game it kept me close to my teammates uh to my generation i also love the fact that 51 percent of the fans when you commentate a game love you 49 percent absolutely hate your guts because they're fans. I kind of like that. I have thick skin where I understand 95% of what you're going to say on Twitter and social media. That's because you're a fan. I don't care because that means you care about your team and all of that. So hold, I had no idea what I was doing. And honestly, I love every second of it. I would love to try and do golf, not in the way that you guys do, but more so just maybe be there, do interview.

views, you know, just be a part of that environment because it would make me a better broadcaster because it's not as fast paces in 90 minute soccer game. I just am so grateful I found broadcasting because like I said, if you would have told me in 2008 when I was playing, scoring a ton of goals that this is what I was going to do. I told you out of your coconut. There's no way I want to do that. That's awesome. Yeah. And now you're the marquee guy in soccer. You come into ESPN, like you said, you're the soccer guy. But then quickly, I think like right around the time, I was getting to know you like, all right, now you're a sports center anchor.

Now you're talking about other sports. A, how does that transition happen from, hey, he's our soccer guy to, hey, why don't you anchor sports center? And then also when you start talking about other sports as a soccer guy on TV, what's the response? Because, dude, everyone's going to be like, what the fuck do you know, you're a soccer guy? You know, you start talking about basketball. Completely true.

Everyone naturally is going to look at me and go, who the hell is this? Why is James Vanderbeak talking about the Chicago Bulls for? versus Orlando Magic right now. Like, what's the point of this? I liked being uncomfortable, which is part of the reason why I love golf, but I loved being uncomfortable on TV. My first two years,

I was blessed with the opportunity to follow and work with Mike Tariko, Bob Lee, Ian Dark, these guys that have been doing it for 25, 30 years. Then I get introduced to Scott Van Pelt. Then I get introduced to Michelle Beatle and Jamel Hill and all of these different kinds, kind of people and talents. And I liked being uncomfortable. When they asked me about sports center anchoring, majority of the people that I asked, all ex-athletes, by the way, said, you are an idiot

to do that. It's completely different. I wanted to be uncomfortable. I don't do teleprompter, guys. So when I did TV, I hated the teleprompter because that meant if that teleprompter went out or went away, if I'm relying on that, then I have no preparation whatsoever. SportsCenter taught me, one, how to write your own scripts, how to interject your opinion while being a newsworthy person. You could show personality when you wanted to, but you were the news person versus every other show I was on. It was asked Taylor a question, pull the string, and wait until he shuts up.

This was different. So Drew, honestly, was the most uncomfortable I've ever been in TV and it was the best thing for me. I did over a hundred some odd sports centers as an anchor. That was awesome. But the most fun I had is being with people that you won, and you guys will agree with me in this, when you trust the person next to you,

when you like the person next to you, and when the person next to you challenges you, there's nothing more fun. Scott Van Palt and I had the most fun in the 2018 World Cup when we were told 18 hours before the first World Cup game in 18, that we have no highlight rights and scott and i came up with the idea that i draw the highlights and he reacts to the draw i literally drew the poop emoji 10 times in the first group stage and it was the most fun i've ever had that is hilarious so i so honestly drew just was sports

center made me uncomfortable and i've now reflecting on my life i don't know about you guys i've learned the most when I'm wrong. I've learned the most about myself when I'm uncomfortable, and I've grown the most when I am uncomfortable wrong, and yet I'm aware of what I'm trying to do. And that's kind of what SportsCenter did for me in TV. That's cool, man. And Sean McDonough nailed it, by the way. He said, you're good at everything, which I'm starting to realize you really are, which we're very jealous of. There's not many people out there, but I actually forgot about the Sports Center stuff. That's fantastic. We are going to circle back around to that in the emergency nine.

Slee, should we get to that now? Hold on real quick. You talk about how he's good at everything. I got a couple questions about this because I knew you played stuff in high school. I didn't know you played football, soccer, basketball, baseball. You had a Royals offer, I believe, coming out of high school to play baseball. What did you play in baseball? What did you play in football?

I need like a little scouting report on Taylor Twelman outside of soccer. Hey, Cole, just for Newsworthy, Mike Hillig and Cliff Hillick did not offer me the Royals contract just so we make that abundantly clear for our inside joke we are going to get to this actually i've just i've changed my mind and we're going to talk about this during the e nine um senior year of high school uh drew is real easy senior year of high school i had to go to the under 17 world cup so i missed all the pre-draft stuff for baseball and yet cardinals metts and royals said when you come back we're going to allow you played a month with your legion team and then after that we'd like to do a personal workout, did a personal workout, and the Royals offered me a contract

right there. And I'll never forget this to this day, because you're going to then ask me what my, when did I choose soccer? And it was on this day, because when they handed me the contract, they said, my two questions were, if I sign this, when do I report? They said five days from now. And two, do I have to give up soccer? And they said, well, yeah, you're going to Shreveport or wherever you're going. And I looked right at my dad who played pro soccer for 10 years, by the way. And he never put pressure on me. But I looked right at him and I said, dad, I don't think I want to go to Shreveport right now. And that was the decision. Drew, baseball was a love of mine. My grandfather played for the Yankees and the Tigers and the Browns. That was Jay Delsing's dad. That's my mom's dad. And so I always

love baseball, but I knew I could be a soccer pro as quickly as possible versus baseball. I would have gone to rookie ball single ball double a ball i mean ryan howard was the same age of mine he was in st louis it took him a while he's a good example and he was you know MVP with the philly so i just wanted to be a pro as quickly as possible i kicked for the football team i didn't really play football but i did okay a quick side story because you guys love this and this is your podcast so i kicked five field goals the whole year if it was fourth and eight we gave it to our running back his name was ronado Fitzpatrick. If it was fourth and eight, guess what? He got nine yards. Best running back in our high school. But why do I bring this up? Southborough year of college, his grandmother buys him a lottery

ticket. He wins the lottery in the state of Minnesota. Oh my God. How much? For $9 million. And he just quicks football. I think it's the best story ever because everyone goes, hey, do you hear about Renato Fitzpatrick? I'm like, yeah, I only kicked five field goals. They're like, no, Twalman. It's not about that. We're talking about the. We're talking about the. a lottery. He won the lottery. That's unbelievable. That's one of the cool stories I've ever heard. And then I played by bye football.

Yeah. Yeah. He all gave it up. I mean, he should have. He was a gopher. Like, what are you going to do with Minnesota? Not stop. You know what I mean? When did I realize I was not going to be the next jail and Rose at Michigan when Larry Hughes, if you guys remember that name. Jason Tate Jason Tatum's dad, Justin Tatum, they were legit. They beat us. in the districts, 83 to 38. And no joke, guys, I'll be the first person to admit. I thought I was going to be the next like Dugan Fife.

You know what I mean? Go be the point guard for Michigan, do everything. Larry Hughes dunked over me. Everything, his mid carriage right my face. I get stuck with a block. It's the play of the year. Trey Wingo's reading it on St. Louis. I'm in the car as if I just realized Santa Claus isn't real.

I saw a ghost, all of this shit, and no joke. My dad looks at me, he goes, you're all right? I go, dad, I don't know if I'm going to play basketball anymore. It's a moment what a couple nuts in the face will do for your basketball dreams. You know what? Two nuts. Right your face, dude. Right here.

And I said, know what? Golf sounds pretty fucking good right about now. I mean, Drew, the Roman helmet made me think very quickly. Did you ever play against Darius Miles? He's the East St. Louis guy. He's St. Louis. So he was either just after me or just before me. But Larry Hughes was the guy, right?

And he ended up playing in the NBA for 16 years, went to St. Louis U, which was so random. And then it came out that, you know, his brother needed a heart transplant and they put him number one on the list. But Larry Hughes was my first, like, real dose of humility where I was like, ah, man, I don't think I can be in the Fab 5 anymore or the Fab 12. You know what I mean? No.

That's awesome. Oh, I know. I know it real well. You've had it a hell of a career. There is no doubt about that. And we love watching on TV. But we got to do the E9 here. Have a little fun with you.

Since you are a TV guy, I figure we might as well ask this. I mean, you do it all. So if a movie is being made about you, who's going to play you? Kevin Costner. Oh, think about it for a second. Jesus.

God damn, you said James Vanderbeek earlier in the show. Yeah, but James Vanderbeek isn't the kind of, I need the drama part that Kevin Costner does. And every time I look at, in the mirror to prepare for a TV show. Drew, I just, I just see Kevin Costner. I don't see James Vanderbik. Yeah, that's true. I see it too, by the way, and that movie should be made by God. We might get on that. We're going to take a break from Taylor Twelman to tell you there's just something about custom gear. It looks better, feels better, and let's be honest, it plays better.

We recently made some birdie juice gear, and the whole process was seamless. Super easy design, and they turned out sick. You can build your own setup to hats, polos, hoodies, whatever you need, all from the top golf brands, and fully customized with your logo or design. So skip the off-the-rack stuff. Head to shop.golf.com and make something your crew will actually want to wear. All right, first one for me here. Let's see where we go. All right, which one would you choose to have to make with your life at stake?

Okay. You got to make it, or it's nighty night for Taylor, okay? You got a P.K. and soccer against like a real, like a world-class goalie. Yeah, yeah, yeah. or you got a three foot put, half ball outside left. Half ball outside left is fine. If you told me half ball outside right,

I'm taking the penalty 100 out of 100 times. Interesting. I will take the, I'll take the penalty, but I really want to challenge you and be like, I'll take the three footer because you know what, F it, I'm going to make it. I'll take the penalty.

I thought the outside left might change it. What's the, What's the best, what's a good penalty kick percentage? 80? Yeah, I would say, I was going to say 78. There's, you know, there's probably 10 or 11 current players that maybe have missed one. But when Leonel Messi has scored, what, 860 goals in his professional career, yet he's missed, I think seven or eight penalties.

That puts it into perspective. Bum. Yeah. Yeah, no, it sucks. On a new gig, bud. Seriously, messy. Wait, hold on. He's actually, I'm staying at his house.

You're cool with that? Tell them I was kidding. All right. We can stand soccer because I think Ted Lassau took the world by storm and everybody just fell in love with soccer watching that great show. But which character do you most closely resemble? Jamie Tart, Roy Kent, or Zava? Oh.

Good question. You're tart, dude. Don't even fucking. I am 1,000% Jamie Tart. 1,000%. Yes, it's not, it's not even debatable. I am very self-aware. There's a part of me that wants to say Zaza, but it's not.

It's 100% Jamie Tart. 1,000%. Yeah, I kind of figured the answer. But not loosely, just actually. Not really. It's kind of slow. Yeah, throw away loosely. That's great.

That's a good one. All right. I like that question. This is like a real question. This isn't even like bullshit question. why does soccer players feel the need to act like they're going to die on the field every time they get their leg kicked or literally anything? It's a great question, Drew.

And honestly, it's the one thing that holds us back, I would say, in American society. Because I think the one-nill game can be exciting. And I think a lot of people watch those types of games in the last two World Cups, and they've been intrigued by it. The flopping in our sport is not great. It's not ideal. And listen, flopping's kind of creeped. into the NBA and it's creeped into offense alignment getting holding.

But the difference between the NBA and the NFL is they're not rolling around asking for cold spray and the magic spray and all of that nonsense. The truth of the matter is, is majority of the time when the players rolling around, they are getting themselves and their teammates a break because there is no stoppages in the game. Now, majority of the time, it is an interpretation of trying to manipulate the man, the, the referee or the official in the moment. And when there's a tackle in that split second, that human element, which is why video review is now part of our game, the referee, depending

on where he or she is from, may see a serious injury and it may indicate whether or not that's a yellow or red. Drew, it's a long-winded answer of saying, it's not that way all over the world, but it still is a huge part of our game. And I quite honestly believe, and I still believe this, lot of people disagree with me. I think all it takes is one referee in the biggest game to give a yellow card or red card to that person faking it and it ends it for good. It does. But I don't know if we'll ever see it.

I don't know. I would hope so, but I think it would hit it. Yes, it is slow play. I mean, guys, one time. Guys,

it took five hours, five hours and 58 minutes for Fleetwood Macquarie and Thomas to play today. It's embarrassing. What? Yeah. I mean, dude. Stroke one of the big guys on Saturday or Sunday for slow play coming down the stretch of the tournament. I'm with you.

Game over. It's done. We start playing faster. In cold Drew, I actually think they'll play better. That's my personal opinion. I know they'll play better if they stop going over. I do. Yeah, I'm with you.

Yep. I'm on record. Slow play doesn't equal good play. All right. My next one, you mentioned you don't like reading off the teleprompter. Well, you got a lot of cool memorabilia behind you for all the people that are watching on YouTube. You got a little Ron Burgundy doll there. Tell us a little bit about some of the memorabilia back there.

And I heard the Ron Burgundy story is awful special. So real quick, since you brought it up, Ron Burgundy is right here. When I put Ron Burkady on this bookshelf and this bookshelf was built during COVID, because I had to do Sports Center every single day. And Scott Van Pult and I created a segment where you would just guess what's on my bookshelf because we had no sports to talk about. Anyways, so I filled it with memorabilia. Ron Burgundy had batteries in it.

And I didn't know that. And live on air, I hear San Diego. That's German. And I was like, and I start scrambling. I throw it across my office. I was like, oh my God, what is going on right now? I look at the bottom and it's got the batteries. So yeah, just so you guys know and you can see it, the batteries, no, they don't exist anymore.

I've got pictures of my dad. That's my grandfather's baseball card with the Yan. There's a Shinnecock member guest up there. That's pretty cool. Not going to lie to you. Um, and just a bunch of other stuff. I've got my own, you know, bobbleheads here just because I like to talk about myself as you guys have noticed over the last 45 minutes and a couple games I've done. And yeah, there it is. The Ron Berger thing. That is fantastic. God, I love that. It was just, just imagine Colt, you're on a whole 16 in the final group and you here, San Diego. Yeah. It's German for what?

Yeah, no. That's great. I like it. Yeah. We got to get to a Jamie Tart bubblehead back there with it. You know what I mean? That would go nicely. Very nicely.

Man, you got some good genetics, too. I was just realized you got Yankees and pro golfers on all kinds of. Yeah. No wonder you're good at everything. Yeah, it's not really practice. Just show up. Yeah. Some of us had that way, I knew.

For the record, I found out as an eight-year-old, what an over-under was money lines so yeah important yeah that's very important it's my pay attention in math you teach it like that 100% instead of doing it the way they do now I've lost brain cells uh all right taylor this is like the obligatory I feel obligated to ask it because this is like your moment but the the super viral 2017 rant about u.s soccer which is fucking phenomenal

when did you realize at what point did you realize like this is a thing and I I just became a meme. So I've told this story once publicly. So you guys don't know the real reason why I lost my shit, do you? No, but I need it. You need it. You know why? You know why?

It's golf related. Okay. Okay. Yeah. So U.S. Four days before this game, U.S. beat Panama 4-0. I do the game on ESPN. It's in Orlando.

I get a phone call the next morning. I'm at Orlando airport flying back to Boston. Hey, would you like to play 18 at Shinnock, 18 at National, 18 at Sabonik, and we will do 18 at Friars Head. It's going to be a scratch-only game. And then we're going to ask the members to play in the final whatever. And I was like, I didn't even listen to anything. I said, yes, I'll be there.

When does it start? They go, here's the date. 10 a.m. first T at Shinnock. I go, oh, that's the day after U.S. plays Trinidad. So as one would, I pack my car. I got everything set up. I buy my ferry ticket at 5 a.m. I will be getting to Shinnecock at 7.30.

I will hit balls. I will have an egg and cheese English muffin. I will have the time of my life. And I cannot wait because I'm playing in a scratch game. This is great. Awesome. And then the U.S. are down 1-0. And I start thinking in my head, wait a minute.

If the U.S. fails to qualify for the World Cup, I don't think I'm playing in that scratch game tomorrow. I don't think I'm going to. Okay. Messy's losing 1-0. Guys, at halftime of that game, U.S. and Argentina is losing 1-0. We've got 10 TVs in the studio,

Scott Van Pelt Sports Center, Max Brados, Nicole Briscoe, the other sports center. Everyone's watching the games, and everyone's on their pins and needles because Messi may not be in it. The United States may not be in it. And the whole time I'm sitting, They were going, do I back out of the golf tournament now or should I wait? So the whole time, I am like, there's no effing way that I don't get to play in this golf tournament

because we cannot beat Trinidad and Tobago in Trinidad, where our roster, the United States MedSatheaschian team was worth $194 million and Trinidad's was worth whatever it was, 24, 25, whatever in the number. Well, here we are. They lose. we've got people crying grown men and women crying in the studio Max Brados can't look at me can't figure out he goes what are we going to do I said buddy we've got to go out there we've got to do something

Scott Van Peltzike I'll see you on my show right afterwards no problem we go on the greatest accomplishment until the day I die is the fact that I did not say the F word once in that rant that is 100% the truth Colton Drew for anyone that knows me the F word is just it's easy I did not say the F word and I completely lost my shit. I completely lost it. And afterwards, I still, for the record, hadn't taken myself out of the golf tournament. So I do the rant. I go into the room and I'm 100% not thinking about golf. I can't believe we didn't qualify for the World Cup. But I'm sitting there going,

you got to be kidding me. And I had my phone on airplane mode. I turn it off. And 10 minutes later, that's when I knew, yeah, you're not, you're not going to be able to get to the island. No, no. I didn't sleep for 30, 34, 35 hours with the show was, I did every show, everything. And honestly, I, I, I don't regret it, but I was just like, what the hell just happened? But the whole time I was thinking about a scratch game at those four places, guys, you can't be serious. That would have been heaven. Yeah, that's tough. That's a tough rotation to be, dude, globally.

Yes. And all in, and Drew, the best part is, because you know me, I'm like, all right, how much does it cost? and they're like, take care of the caddies. And I'm like, oh, my God, yes. America's guest. Yeah. The best. I'm like, awesome.

Cool. That is. And then they're like, and someone shot like 64, shinnie and you're like, whatever, who cares? U.S. loss. Yeah. Great.

To Trinidad and Tobago. To Trinidad and Tobago. What are we doing? I'll never forget. Trinidad and Tobago now. Well, earlier you brought up. That's a good story. You brought up the Ileg family, which they own sporting K.C.

And I know you're very close with them. as am I, but respectfully as an Ilig, I need you to back off, okay? Because I recently got a picture of you in my two step parents, the Iligs, okay, Bonnie and Cliff. And apparently you're calling them mom and dad, and I'm not okay with this, okay? There's only enough of us to go around, okay? They adopted me a few years ago. They can only feed so many mouths. You need to go away.

Drew, here's the thing, right? We're sitting at a really nice, you've got the backdrop of Lake Tahoe, the mountains, great food. and Bonnie looks at me and says, you're just, you're not as good as Colt knows. That's right. And I was like, you know what?

I get it. I get it. But Uncle Eddie is still part of the family. So like I could be Uncle Eddie and still have no problem with the Colt. You know, I like you, so I'm okay with this now. And like Slee said,

there's plenty to go around. We're going to be fine. But I got a little nervous when he sent me that picture. I was like, oh, God, he's creeping in on my parents. Go away. Get out of here.

Cold, I'm from St. Louis, trust me. They will adopt you 10 out of 10 times over me. They're the best, man. They're so great. Oh, shit. I'll find up to be their lap dog. You guys got the uncle thing. Anything. Whatever, dude.

I'll take any membership I could get to that family. All right. My last one, Taylor, I'm very curious about this because like the big narrative around soccer is like, oh, if the United States, if we put LeBron and, you know, our best athletes out there, we'd be the best team.

in the world. So here we go. Your goal is to create the best soccer player in the history of the world and you get to choose one athlete from any sport ever. You can go back in time, make them focus solely on soccer. Who do we take? Oh, wow, that's a great question. I'm going to give you an answer that I think we'll create a little buzz, but also be intriguing for all of our listeners. anyone that says if lebron kevin duran played soccer shekeel and neal look at what we do they're all they're absolute idiots they have no idea what they're talking about however what if alan iverson played soccer you know what i mean yeah yeah you know what i mean like what if what if allan ivorson played what if chris paul played what if barry sanders played you see where i'm kind of looking at

you know the the the short and stature the one that's quick feet all of of that stuff. But I think of Alan Iverson, guys, it's no different than looking at killing Mbapé. Yeah, I mean, killing and Bapa, yes, is straight running. He's probably faster, but quickness and all that. Like, those are the kinds of athletes that you have to ask that question. But I love it, Drew, because everyone goes, what if LeBron was a goalie? I'd be like, yeah, I would have scored 100 goals. He's 6.10. It's easy. It doesn't, you know what I mean? Like, he's 6.8. It doesn't matter how tall he is. It's the Alan Iversons of the world. They're like, I don't, what if they play?

That'd be a different conversation. I like that short quick burst. He'd be sick. I guarantee you. He's like you. He was good at everything. Yeah, I wouldn't. You guys have a lot in common, actually.

I don't like the way you just, I'm more of Jamie. No, I. Jamie Tarred. Me and Allen, Iverson, what's wrong with you right now? No chance. I'm just saying that he's good at stuff. And he's good at the practice field, though. As I was saying, and you said you don't like to practice.

Maybe it does. Practice. Yeah, maybe it does kind of make sense. Imagine if. he said close out, that would have been the best side. Close out. Close out. All right. Last one. We're going to put a little picture up on the screen here that I received from a friend and I want you to tell me about it here. So Mark, fire away. What the hell is this? Oh, God, it's so good. Look at that. So it's you guys are going to laugh. That is Luis.

I didn't know how to draw him. And he was coming off a World Cup where he bit a player. Remember, he bit the player in the shoulder, the Italian player, Georgia O'Kiolini in the 2014 World Cup. So we're doing 2018 and Suarez was playing. And I just drew that. And I've Scott, Scott couldn't even get us to the commercial break. We were laughing so hard. And all I said was Scott, this guy can chew an apple through a tennis racket.

And he lost it. He absolutely lost it. That is so good. Taylor, I texted him and it might have been the fastest he's ever responded to me ever. I said, hey, having Taylor 12 men on you got anything good? He goes, show him this picture. He will die. I was just like done. Oh, that's so good. Man, Taylor. He's an artist, too. He's an artist too. Guys, that was so good. That picture was so good. That is awesome. Hey, man. Did that guy ever see? it? I've I've showed his I've showed his um entourage that picture because he's playing for intermaheimmy now and I just kind of want him to retire first before I show him where I'm in the same vicinity but I'm telling you it he can chew an apple through a tennis record drew.

The picture's perfect. Oh, it's so good. Man, this has been so much fun. Taylor. I feel like we can go we could go for hours but it's been a pleasure catching up with you. And also congratulations. getting your degree from Maryland. I know that was something that was super important to you. And yeah. Guys, so you guys, you remember the old game hat? Remember growing up? The game hat was like you had all of them. They just brought it back. So obviously for those at home, I graduated 27 years. I'm still not a doctor, but I got my degree and I got my game hat. So thank you. American Studies. You know everything there is to know about it. If you have a question about

America or studying, hit up Taylor Twelman on socially. He's got you. I love it, dude. You're the best, man. Thank you so much for joining us. Boys, this was a bucket list for me. Thanks for having me. All right. That was Taylor Twelman joining us on golf subpar after a fourth place finish out at the American Century Championship. I have a feeling the way he goes about things, Lee's going to bring home the title one year. He's all business out there. Yeah, and he's had a long time where his games have been good for a long time. He just hadn't been able to play in it now that he's playing in it, gotten his feet wet. I mean, he said he's like the legit, he plays it a plus two and a half when he goes around.

He can get it done. He'll be a mainstay on that leaderboard for a long time. And by the way, there's very few guys better to hang out with. He's such a good time. It comes across in that interview. And it was cool getting into some of the stories like the rant that made him famous. The what are we doing? What are we just unloaded on Team USA?

It's like, oh, yeah. Well, he had to give up a once-in-a-lifetime golf trip, even before that happened. So I could understand him being pissed, even before. before, you know, the U.S. didn't make the World Cup. Totally get it. And I love the drawings with Scott Van Pelt because they couldn't show highlights from the World Cup. That was hilarious. And then the Ted Lassow, I mean, he is, I mean, he's got to be related to Jamie Tart.

I mean, that is just a spitting image right there. When you ask that, I was like, if he says anything but Tart here, I'm going to come in with some haymakers. If he's like, Roy can't, I feel like I'm more of the Roy Kent type. Now, he is, like I said, dude, I think that character was. design, Dr. Taylor. But he was a stud, dude. He was a thud soccer career cut too short, unfortunately, with the head injuries. But he does a lot to help out with that and awareness and things.

And hell of a good golf game, too. He'll be out at the Rock this winter. We'll get a good game to see it firsthand for you. And a college graduate now, 27 years. But hey, he's a college graduate. Him and Van Wilder. That's right. American Studies.

All right. Well, before we get out of here, I know it's a major championship. It's over. but we still got events to be played. So why don't we throw in another bet for everyone out there? We looked at the odds over at Fanatic Sportsbook earlier today. We're at the 3M. You're coming off a W with Tirohatton, top 20.

I got absolutely hosed on a same game parlay because of Shane Lowry's two-stroke penalty, which was absolute bullshit, in my opinion. I know the ball moved, but if that's just a normal group and the guy is not even like looking at the golf ball, he's looking at his target like Shane Lowry was, you don't even know that moved.

Said it a million times. If you don't slow down, on the camera, zoom in, frame by frame, all that stuff. Just like John Rom, at the memorial, you know, a number of years ago. I was like, how many groups came through there and hit it in that same spot and the ball could have moved just as much, but nobody knows. I hate it. And also, rules, like, if you don't gain an advantage and it's not on purpose, what's the

point? Like, why I didn't improve, he didn't gain an advantage on the field. It's like, some of the shit, man, it's just like, come on. Two strokes for that. I did. This feels too much. That what a shit way to lose your parlay, too. What was the, that was plus a lot, too, wasn't it?

Yeah, plus like 900. It doesn't suck. But I'll say this. Like if he's going into the ball and like he puts the club behind the ball and as he's looking down and he sees it move, like he's going to call a penalty on himself. But he put the club behind the ball, then took like a little practice swing beside it. And as he made the practice swing, you could tell obviously by the camera, the ball did move a little bit. But he and his caddy, I'm guessing, were looking forward talking about the shot and nobody saw it.

And then they go in afterwards or they told him on like 13. He's like, hey, there's a chance you might be getting a penalty. I'm like, get the fuck out of here. And then you have to worry about making the cut now all of a sudden. He even said it in his interview afterwards. He's like, oh, God, if I get two shots, I've got to kind of be careful here coming in. It just sucks, man, because it's not the same for everyone. It's not the same.

And that's what makes golf different. And also, like, I stand by this. I think the rules are in place to keep a level playing field, to keep players from having an advantage over other players. That's not an advantage. Why are we in two strokes, too? Like, the punishment doesn't fit the crime at all. Two strokes is massive for something that, more or less,

you didn't even really do and you gain zero. from. It just feels like too much. I don't know. Some of this stuff can get tightened up. Got the same penalty Patrick Reed did for just scooping a bunch of sand out from behind his ball down in the Bahamas. There you go. Pretty different circumstances, in my opinion, you know? Yeah. All right. Well, let's give a pick out real quick. I'm going to go with the top 20 play, trying to get on the board, and nice juicy odds coming off a really good week, plus 160. I normally don't like taking guys that played the Open Championship and have to play the next week, just with jet lag and all the quick turnaround.

But Wyndham Clark just played phenomenal for three straight rounds. I know he wants to keep this going to try to make a push for the Ryder Cup, get up in those FedEx Cup standings. And at plus 160 for a top 20, give me your man, Wyndham Clark. Yeah, I liked it, and I almost took it too. Forget the British, or the Open Championship we play as well. Scott or she was in the final group.

He didn't have a very good final round, but he was right there with Rory and got her up. So back-to-back weeks, he's starting to show some form. I'm going to go with the top 20 bet, too, Colt. Try to just piece maybe back-to-back here. but it's a juicy top 20. It's plus 200. Give me Jake Knapp to finish inside the top 20.

You know, he had the close call at the rocket, you know, about a month ago. He was fourth there. And then he's finished right around 20th and his next two, John Deere, Scottish as well, having a week off, getting to rest, coming back, playing up here. I like Jake Knapp plus two bills. All right. Here we go. Jake Knapp and Wyndham Clark.

See if you follow along with us. Try to get this thing going a little bit here towards the end of the season. but that's going to do it for us. Hope y'all enjoyed that one. We'll talk to you on next week's subpar.