2024 PGA Championship Preview Show – Part 2

Part 2 of our 2024 PGA Championship Preview Show assesses the form and chances of Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and other LIV challengers, Ludvig Aberg and the return appearance of Michael Block. The crew of Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner, Brendon de Jonge and Taylor Zarzour also take aim at their long shots, missed cuts, contenders and ultimate winners of the Wanamaker Trophy.

Read More:
Website: https://www.5clubsgolf.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/5ClubsGolf
Twitter:
Tweets by 5ClubsGolf
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/5clubsgolf/

[Music] welcome into part two of the PGA Championship preview Gary Williams alongside Taylor Zer Brenan young and Johnson Wagner we talk about our favorites we talk about the winners long shot stars who are going to miss the cut so much coming up in our PGA Championship part two [Music] in this Split Second your hands make all the difference it was time for a grip to help them own the moment introducing reverse taper technology to stabilize both hands for a more Square putter face at impact the most important Split Second and golf reverse taper only from Golf Pride respect the grip let’s get back to some guys here uh the ROM thing I thought you were around him you I was in his presser on Tuesday of the Masters I just just felt a sense of discomfort like it was awkward coming back and it wasn’t just merely a celebration it was a lot of it was a lot of almost like an inquisition and I felt like he was Defensive from the moment He Walked In The Press Room on Tuesday about like if you don’t think you’re not going to be asked about the decision you made you’re being naive and I I I I didn’t think that the questions were that pointed and I thought the whole week was not he wasn’t vibing he wasn’t Jing is he in a better place no matter what the results have been since going to ball and getting away from the Dynamics of Augusta National hasn’t W on live he’s been competitive but he hasn’t won out there I think that he is like all of us disappointed that the game isn’t unified and I think that he thought him making this move was going to do that 100% I think he was of the feeling that as soon as he went over there that was kind of going to be the Domino that that’s naive well he he said that in his press conference yeah I I feel like he thought I’m going over there I’m a big enough name that I’m going to unify this game and it hasn’t and he’s disappointed and yeah he’s disappointed in his decision I think though Gary that he thought and I I think a lot of us thought that that could have at least led to okay we’re going to work this out by X date and a year or two years from now we’re going to be able to all come together and that hasn’t happened and I think in the months that followed he realizes that he may never well I don’t know that NE never is a strong word I think that he realizes it may be a long time before he ever plays in Phoenix Arizona again or in San Diego California or in in Heritage events that he cares so deeply about and he cares about the history of the game he’s a very thoughtful person he’s extremely competitive and I think that what you saw was a little disappointment that he’s not going to be able to do this on a recurring basis for a while he can also be a moody person which is not uncommon for most of us um I but I don’t think he’s ever self-defeating when he’s on the golf course I think he gets over it you can look at his the idea of bounce back and all that Stu like I don’t think he wallows in self-pity but I think he can be in bad places as far as his head space and I thought he was in a bad place uh at Augusta National are you bullish on him at Valhalla not at all not at all I think he was in a really bad head space at Augusta and in that Tuesday press conference I felt like he was really talking out of both sides of his mouth it was oh I missed playing Waste Management I miss playing calua and Tory Pines and AMX where I’ve won twice but you know what I really like team golf too and I’m really having fun over there playing Team golf it means a lot to me and I think it’s I think he’s being muzzled to an extent and I I I think he is not happy with his decision because he’s realizing that he wasn’t as big of a deal as he was I think he’s mad and upset and I don’t really care because he made the decision to go it was worth it to him it was best for his family to go and I I’m I’m over it with him sorry uh you no not not feeling him at I agree with what’s Johnson saying to a point he was he certainly was not very concise with his points at Augusta he was he was talking out of both sides of his mouth I’m still bullish he was Defensive he very defensive but I’m still bullish on him I think this guy is that good he is I think he is an unbelievable talent I think anytime this guy tees it up he’s going to be one of the favorites how about you I’m not Pi I’m not picking him no no no but I mean yeah no but I he’s we’ll get to your pick I don’t I think that I need to see him do something that shows me that he’s ready to win a major championship there’s only one guy on live that I don’t need to do that with and I think we’re getting to him next but um as for everyone else in the world not just live but in general you’d like to see some form as they play themselves into a major it’s it’s um you know making choices when we make a thousand of them every day uh it’s a ton of money but I think that there is an element of remorse whether it’s because he thought unification was going to come right away or it’s what it is that feeds him when it comes to his job which is I I I do value history and I do pay attention to what people have done before me and and I’m turned on by it and he’s doing something right now that has a frivolity to it that is everything but that like the the earnestness of the pursuit of a 72 hole championship and earning a late tea time on Sunday instead he’s searing Deep Purple while he’s teeing off on the 14th hole you love the Deep Purple reference reference yeah I don’t know if they play that I don’t know what their play with I don’t think I don’t think they play Deep Purple not in Australia should be they should be some buyer remorse I don’t feel sorry for him John like I don’t feel sorry for him but in the same respect I do U he’s missing his job that he used to have yeah and so is Bryson D Shambo as though he has he listens thinking you know what Unity is the best thing for the game and a Friday or Saturday press conference at Augusta like you’re the one that busted it up you don’t have the right to sit there and talk to me about Unity of the game when you’re the one that made the decision to go and bust the whole thing up I don’t I don’t have the time to hear it I’m not going to say anything nice about somebody that says it that wants to have their cake and eat it do it’s it’s it’s really frustrating too is is people that U do this for a living that watch all these other people that started something else and did it in the way that they did it yeah that created so much friction and created so much Division and created the difficult position we are in right now to say look at us look at how we’re working and how come you won’t Embrace us you’re the ones that started the fight you know and it is it’s um it is a really difficult time it’s as I think you can see it on my face it is not fulfilling to be part of what’s going on currently in I listen to your show every morning on my on my way to a meeting uh and and I can I’ve I’ve heard it in your voice for well over a year um I want it to end I mean you know John Ron may say he wants it to end but I I truly want it to end well I was flying back last night from New Orleans and like there was this guy I was sitting here watching the end of the golf having a beer and this guy’s like what’s hey I recognize you what’s going on with what’s going on with the game of golf I thought the PJ tour and live were getting back together and I’m so sick of answering that question I just said look there are a lot of details there’s a lot of people at the PGA Tour that are pissed off and it’s not just that easy to allow these guys right back in with what you know with no penalty and how many are actually eligible to still be playing like there’s a lot of details to work out and for the people that burned it down to say unification is the best with no ideas on how to do it it it’s like I I just I’m I’m I’m over it I couldn’t agree more I I think that’s a great point I think people need to hear people like that say that I would have added to to his his query uh it’s not the game of golf uh you’re talking about the sport of men’s professional golf the game of golf look at rounds year over year month over month the game of golf is flying um this television show you’re talking about is dealing with a lot of turbulence uh there there’s an enormous difference all right kka um kka did not fire at Augusta National I thought he would um you know I look at some of these guys you know I looked I brought the whole Masters leaderboard here with me to get your thoughts on on some of these guys Kea did not have a week uh what about balla I still have more confidence in him when he hasn’t shown me anything than I do just about anybody else but I wouldn’t say that I’m as fired up to pick him to defend or have a chance to defend as maybe I was this time last year I I think the further we go down the line with this the the less inclined you are to hold yourself accountable when you’re when you’ve made the amount of money he’s made and you’re playing in a league that doesn’t feel as competitive as the as the tour that you were on before so I’m I’m not as confident as I was but I he he is somebody that can go and show you nothing for 3 months and then all of a sudden have a chance to win a tournament I I think what one one thing about something you just touched on I think will be examined historically is like competition and competitiveness and drive and desire when all this guaranteed money has been has been introduced to the game and what it’s done and lines of demarcation from what somebody did before this all happened and then what they did after and and someone that I’m going to point out as an example of that when we talk about some of these other guys at the end he had four overpar rounds at Augusta National ke got off to an average start and you know average starts at Augusta you’re out of the draft you’re out of the tournament man it just doesn’t happen so 73 73 7675 Flatt as can be tied for 45th you sir were the one who stood up last year and went he’s winning this damn thing how about this year uh not as bullish I still I agree with Taylor he’s the one guy that I don’t need to see previous form when Mages come around I I will still say that he’s going to be in the mix I it was a weird Augusta week you could have got caught in some weird spots with some weather some wind and stuff I I would throw that week out for him I wouldn’t look at that form and say hang on say we can’t we can’t he was late in the afternoon on Friday to that point we can’t look at that closely and say Brooks has got no chance just from austa week um I would love to have seen more I I haven’t watched any Liv I don’t know what his results have been like there on Liv um but I I will say that he is going to be in the mix come Sunday okay so two top 10 on live this year okay you you throw out the major you throw out the Masters his last three major starts tied for 17th at the US Open at La tied for 64th at the Open Championship and now a tie for 45th at the Masters a guy has been living in the top 10 third we were talking about Rory’s uh major championship resume kepka 39 major championship starts 18 top 10 14 top fives he’s won the the PGA three times let’s say he does win it a four time PGA Champion that’s pretty strong very strong I mean yes who who would be he be up there did Jack even win it four times Jack won it five times and and tiger won it four times and Walter Hagen and Hagen five yeah yeah I mean so he’s boom uh I mean it would he’s already in the Hall of Fame he’s a legend it’s more for me with kka looking at his world ranking Stats today he’s played in the last two years he’s only played in 11 events that Garner world ranking points eight majors and he’s only he’s only gone to play three events one was in Oman one was somewhere else like that that’s a problem to me yeah and I know he’s got his 14 or 28 live events that he’s played the last couple years but I I just not being able to stack up and measure yourself it’s it’s becoming an issue it’s it’s remarkable that he’s still top 40 in the world but I I just I I find that to be an issue and I think that’s what we’re seeing as we get into this year three of Liv is that these guys are just Vanishing what what’s also interesting about year three is that some of these guys get closer to the to the end of exemptions based on performance and Majors including winning them yeah Bryson’s getting there that’s why he wants to come back to the PGA Tour so bad yeah DJ um now he’s he’s got a couple that he can that he can count on but even the US Open the US Open they they’re they’re coldhearted and I love it that everybody else is kind of like the lifetime thing USA is like 10 years enjoy it and then you’re going to be out there with bag on your shoulder like Tom Kite playing a 36 old sectional give me a live boy give me a live boy that you’re kind of feeling a little bit I mean I was feeling that way with walking Neeman going into the so going into so going into the Masters um I guess I’ll go cam Smith he’d be he’d be my guy for the PGA but I but I’m kind of like Brendan I I don’t um Kim Smith six at the Masters I for six I don’t really keep track with where everyone finishes in these tournaments number one um the live tournaments the live tournaments and number two I don’t know how much they matter because I felt that way about walking Neeman going into the Masters and it didn’t necessarily translate at the Masters so I don’t know if finishing well in those tournaments necessarily means you’re going to play well in a major championship the sense I get from afar is it’s a very different feel for competition there than they than it is for a major uh Neeman tied for 22nd at Augusta decent start shot 70 then 78 blew him out but I’ll go cam Smith cam cam was good in the majors last year as the majors continue and coming off a big team win in Adelaide all right you got a uh I mean like Rory and Shane coming off a big team win you got a live boy I’ll go with Bryson I hate saying it but I’ll go with Bryson um took Johnson’s pick but I’ll go with Bryson um uh even if I thought he’d be the best I don’t think I could pick him uh can I can I abstain absolutely I’m going to abstain abstinence is a healthy thing can we do a podcast at some point on Co and Bryson trying to skip through Co um through some of the co policies on the PGA tour I’d love to do that with John you’re not one of the three some odd million people watching his videos he’s posting on his YouTube channel I’m I’m not I wish him well I don’t have he he may be reaching a new audience yeah I wish him well but y there you go yes all right um let me ask you about uh I I too like cam Smith among the live guys um oberg oberg a Bonafide in your mind top three favorite for you yes yes yeah absolutely I think that again a guy that is playing with such confidence he has no demons um it’s insane watching this guy’s ball flight off the tea and into the green I love the confidence he plays with and how quickly he plays the game Joe scin hasn’t moved the bag Away by the time he’s already hit hitting a shot to the green if there’s one reason not to say he’s going to win the tournament is I do need to see his short game improve a little bit but um yeah I think he’ll be I expect him to be right there who will what what will be the greater caddy pivot historically Joe scin or Ted Scott Steve Williams yeah yeah yes that’s a good one that’s unbeatable Ted Scott was pretty good yeah and you’re not having to deal with bab all the time that’s a good point well that I think we have a winner um oberg top three guy for you oh yeah 100% yes 100% every time this guy teas it up I think he’s going to win so we’ve gone from first major start being the narrative to absolutely he’s a top three favorite you you liked him going into the Masters I I liked him from the time I saw him te up last year the John Deere I think was the first time I saw it I think this guy is phenomenal generational Talent um you were calling him a top 10 player before he won RSM last year which was very impressive does anybody like being right more than him he he reposted his mooy Lowry pick to Instagram immediately that’s why I quit following him on Instagram lud viberg is the second most consistent player in professional golf behind Scotty Sheffer it’s ridiculous and I know you’ve heard me say this multiple times you probably have too but I think it’s worth mentioning you know the whole world ranking thing he’s only played played now 27 events and his his number of points is divided by 40 cuz that’s the minimum number he hasn’t even played the minimum number and he’s ranked what fifth in the world now sixth if you divide his points by how many events he’s played he is a point and a half above Roy maroy as the number two player in the world it’s ridiculous what he’s done and it’s Le it’s not even he hadn’t even had a full year of professional golf and he kind of turned me on to it last year about how good this guy was going to be and he has exceeded yeah I think you had said by the end of this year he’d be top 10 player in the world I think it was by the end of last year he was darn near after he won RSM it’s it’s shocking what he’s done in a short period of time and it just does not seem like there is any stage too big so I I mean I think he if depending on what happens with Scotty’s child uh I think ludvig may end up being the favorite going into the PGA he’s got the perfect makeup for Majors as well like everything water a Ducks back doesn’t get too up too down um again yeah I expect this guy to be right in the Mi he’s sweet as Sheffer is what he is I mean his the you know the physical part of it you know roughly the same height he’s he’s much more Orthodox he doesn’t have the type of lower body action that Scotty does but in terms of you he he’s an adult he’s a grown-up he’s not going through the clunky phase of am I on Twitter am I not on Twitter what’s my brand guy is guy’s level as can be and again he he is insistent on contending every week I love how much he enjoys playing in competition too and just the fun he seems to be having with scav while he’s out there it’s it’s fun to watch I um yeah I would put him among my top three um Jordan spe and the PGA let’s go to his resident yes just [Laughter] mouthpiece I I I can’t remember if it was a conversation having with you or with somebody maybe not even in this room somebody for sure but it it’s time for Jordan spe to find a new swing coach and I think Cameron McCormack they’ve had a nice run and maybe it’s just someone to go take a look Roy mroy just went and saw Butch Harmon it’s time for Jordan to go get a different set of eyes not saying he can’t come back to Cameron I’m not saying Cameron’s not a great coach but what they’re doing is not working it’s not coming in quick enough um he’s my it was part one of the topics was star to miss the cut and I I was in tears writing this name down but I pain you it was painful like to not even have any was it on the flight last night you did this how many cold ones had you had I was good last night I had I had one beer and then I had a one vodka on the plane and it was right after the second vodka hit that I that I uh wrot I I got pretty emotional um and it’s sad to not even think that it’s a possibility for him to complete the career Grand Slam this year but uh valal is going to have thick rough and it is not the right venue for Jordan’s be the the look I know it’s is somebody who who does this I appreciate you know your cander your honesty not easy to to call for somebody making a change what essentially been a lifetime relationship colore CWA had to make that decision uh with Rick susing house um and and he immediately saw dividends Xander yeah Xander same thing it not easy I I ask you Brendan I look at spe as somebody who spent a ton of time being like God I mean he there was something magical about the way he did it and I’ve talked to like historic players he had he had the magic man he had it he had a paintbrush I feel like he’s using a wrench now I feel like there is a there’s something about over engineering that seems palpable to me do you feel like he’s got too much technical thought yeah very much so but that that happens when you’re struggling on the golf course right everything everything looks diff difficult everything looks like you’re really struggling to get to a final decision um and the artist kind of goes out and you start playing golf swing instead of golf and and that’s kind of where Jordan is right now and it and it’s been hard to watch like I’m I’m not a Johnson Jordan Speed fan but I liked watching the guy play golf and it is it’s hard to watch them and to the point now where the the there’s over commentary between him and Michael Gera like everything is overthought and and again that’s because of the difficulty that he’s he’s having on the golf course with his swing I wouldn’t say this unless I um had asked some questions to people close to Jordan I think I I don’t think he’s trust he trust his wrist I think that it’s um it’s still not completely he doesn’t have peace of mind yeah issues at Hilton had with it and I think that that’s part of the issue and and when I had first heard that that was still a consideration was a couple of months ago so um it was interesting to hear at Harbortown that that was something that he was still dealing with but um I think that in 2024 that’s been in his head a little bit so yeah I don’t expect him and I’m you know like Brendan I’m not at at that at the Johnson’s level but I would love to have him in the fight it’d be great for incredible it would be incredible you see what it does to people we oh my gosh I’d be i’ hand up I’m so glad I’m wrong if um if he was in the fight yeah uh no I’m I’m I’m with you and I I you’re going to be bullish on him because you’re inclined to be I thought he was going to have a great 2024 and I you know is like this beginning of the year thing looked at Piner and went oh yeah baby with you know recovery intuition shots from native areas missing a ton of greens looking at those greens and going yeah I got this more than you do uh and I’m not ready to sell it off completely the rist thing is a legit uh concern and I’m not feeling it either and you mentioned another element um when you’re not hitting Fairways and the density of that rough uh with a with a compromised wrist to some degree um I I think is an issue uh Michael block you had him on your show uh recently uh Michael block going to be a it’ll be celebrated will it be will the charm be choked out of it well like what he did last year was incredible and and I and I don’t I I don’t fault him for taking every opportunity he had and he deserved all the Kudos he got now Michael Block’s got a big personality and maybe put his foot in his mouth a couple times but I would have probably done the same thing doing it I just I just I’m going to have to delete Cameron McCormack’s contact out of my phone now I’ll never be able to talk to him again um but yeah the question was is it going to be annoying and yes it’s going to be annoying okay uh any guy any guy who can parlay a a a a top 15 at the PGA into a deal with Raisin canes I admire you yeah I en you I actually resent you which is not a healthy thing God I would love some right now unbelievable had some at the airport yesterday and Tulsa at the PGI went there every night yeah it’s fantastic need to bring it to Charlotte uh is it going to be insufferable no I think it’s going to be a sideshow for a minute he’s going to go he’s going to miss the cut and it’s all going to be gone that that’s what I was going to say is um it was it was an incredible achievement and it was so fun to be connected to that last year um working for the for ESPN’s feature group coverage last year we had Michael block and mooy on Sunday and I was like gosh this is so much fun and to see what he did the way that did you know he made a whole one before he did I did I watched it Go in yeah um and and from that tea I could get why he didn’t know that but um looking looking back into the sun too yeah um I I’d be shocked if he recreated it this year of course so of course I but no it was a good story listen of course it was a good story but I think that we we it doesn’t mean it’s just it’s not about golf it’s about everything we figure out a way as a society to literally choke the charm out of everything that that has a feel-good feel to it uh it immediately becomes cringy and and I remember last year on Thursday Van Pelt doing a Walkin talk with him on the 14th hole and I’m like this is fun this is great good for him give him the moment then he kept hanging around he kept hanging around I it was a great story and then it just it like a boomerang it just came around so quickly look he earned everything that he got um but I like look if if he makes the cut that’s extraordinary CU he’s going to get so much attention he’s having his high school re his 30-year High School reunion they are coming to the golf course since he can’t go to it like it’s it’s um as somebody who it’s a hard fade is the only guy here who I believe has had his 30-year High scho Union that is accurate correct it’s pretty good it’s pretty good we’ve gotten Beyond like 10 you’re like how much is he making how much weight has she gained at 20 you’re kind of coming around people have had kids there’s some compassion by 30 you’re like my God look at us we’re getting older I genuinely loved you back you want names come on let’s all be honest here this is I mean he’s being honest all be I want you to have to delete numbers out of your phone 30 was a great I’m talking about 10 not 30 30 was a very warm hearted reunion he’s going to have a he’ll have a great I didn’t realize they were coming to him how did you know that where’d you get that Intel he he subbed for Johnson on an interview last week and uh he told me very good all right Le let’s get down to the nitty-gritty here all right um one last thing before we get to long shots and some contenders and a winner this is ESPN’s major you just mentioned being on you know feature group coverage for ESPN ESPN has Thursday and Friday of a Augusta National but it’s a it’s a CBS not that it’s not still from a technical standpoint cbs’s production but the Personnel coming on early last p hold Van Pelt you know steering this ship virtually the whole day um I’m not going to start with you because and it’s not to say that you’re compromised um that the ESPN Major that’s what the PGA is they made this choice this was a bid between NBC and Golf Channel and and ESPN and Seth W under his leadership chose ESPN and that included the the Junior League and the championship you’re a part of that do you like the ESPN Major that the PGA is I do I really do I I I think it’s it was the one that they they could pick up and it was going to make sense for them I really do I think it it makes sense yeah and it ESPN obviously has a broader audience than the Golf Channel and I think their streaming platform does a lot better than maybe my company’s streaming platform but uh I love how you said my company I I I’m a company man yeah I know you are um that being said I think they took some Chances with some of their streaming platforms last year that were a big Miss for me and and maybe they weren’t for me uh and their early round coverage on one of the ESPN channels wasn’t for me but maybe people are watching I’d like to see them but I’m a traditionalist and and and I don’t know it’s I guess it’s good to have all these different channels because everybody likes something right yeah everyone to their own everyone’s got want to see different things I I do I I like it okay I am compromised but I think his feedback is totally fair by the way for for some of the risks that and you know the things that they tried and I think they would admit that some of those didn’t work which is you know um which I appreciate somebody when they’re candidate about that I think ESPN has a huge advantage in broadcasting this major Gary is they can prepare for it weeks in advance and they take a a lot of people that I work with during football season and they put them in management positions and to run this PGA Championship and those people are so busy from August through January and then they have a couple of months to think about broadcasting the PGA Championship they’re not doing what everyone that Johnson is hanging out with is doing which is preparing for this tournament this week and preparing for the next tournament the next week and so forth and so on which is hard it’s really hard to do um CBS in the same situation so I think that they are very thoughtful for how they um produce the the PGA Championship I really like SVP and Duval and um I love Johnny mcginness on the golf course and Billy katzer and the guys that they have there for a few days Dave Fleming Bob wusan I think those guys do a good job um for a couple of days and I think that the way they think through this is uh it again it’s an advantage because they have months to consider it but I yeah I love that they do the PGA Championship and you could remove me from the equation and I would still feel that I know you would uh your company was my company and when this decision was made I was disappointed but I totally got it um I I I got it in the grand scheme of where ESPN populates people’s thoughts and Minds about all sports I thought it was I I I totally understood the decision of them to put their digital product on ESPN plus I think golf is one of great one of sports great Innings eaters um again and the other thing about ESPN that they’ve been very shrewd about is that while people thought that ABC ESPN was divesting from golf actually they were just adjusting themselves to allow other companies to provide the financial outlay for all the fiber and then we come in here and and here we are on certain days uh with our personalities and our platform and our reach I think it’s been very effective look Scott Van Pelt provides anybody who’s right next to him chemistry is an invaluable thing when it comes to when I watch things like I watched Shaquille O’Neil laughing his ass off at at Charles Barkley trying to backpedal about going to Galviston Texas oh so good again this is genius stuff and and the reason it is is because they like each other scap velt is is not only an easy listen he’s easy to be with and when you sense that when you’re with somebody for 12 hours calling golf shots I felt that way when they had the Open Championship for all those years I think it’s a I think it’s a wonderful week I hate the fact that Shawn MCD uh is doing hockey and he is a casualty because Sean is not only one of one of the great generational broadcasts of all time he’s funny as hell and I wish he was a part of it it gives me tremendous pain to hear Those comp I know that but you you agree with me you know that he drinks you out of every white claw in meinberg County when he comes to town um Maniac I think it’s I think it’s I think it’s a really good it’s excellent no one needs compliments Less in the world than sea McDon and I love him bis runs a close second yes uh all right so last thing um all right no no let’s get to it yeah let’s get to it who’s your long shot we’ll start here does Mackenzie Hughes count as a long shot absolutely sure he does okay sure he does he’s a he’s been a top 25 I tried to make him my long shot in the Masters and he wasn’t there yeah that’s a tough one um he’s been a top 25 machine for most of the year and um I yeah that would be my long shot for p especially since hooking up with Mark Wood I think it’s been really good for McKenzie getting his ball striking a little more consistent letting that short game and putter bail him out when needed and uh yeah I mean V I just he he keeps trending in the right direction that’s an excellent pick yeah no I listen I tried to play the card month ago and he didn’t play his way into the field and I look like a jackass all right so who’s your long shot aay batia I uh I like how excited this guy is to play golf he’s excit he’s talked about wanting to play major championships win major championships he’s in them now I like I like I couldn’t agree more he’s not going to be a long shot for long do you agree with that yeah I’m a little concerned with oxay at the moment and it was no fault of his own but his caddy that he won baruda with left him to go to live and then he had a fill in that was Justin sucat that he won with at the Texas open and now he’s got Keith Mitchell’s longtime caddy John lamman on the bag so my only he was going to be mine too that’s my only hesitation is that he’s kind of on in the beginning of this caddy relationship but he won with a caddy from the first week that’s well thank you for that’s very good point nobody appreciates the the the the the caddy conversation you and Kevin Ryan your researcher he loves that caddy conversation nobody you guys know I mean you know hug part of the deal it is all these pieces are a lot of them are moving constantly uh so give me your long shot uh Steven joerger uh trending in an incredible Direction winning in Houston beating Scotty sheffler in the final group and he you know the guy won six times on the corn fairy tour and finally getting that first win he’s been trending for two years he’s picked up a ton of distance in the last two seasons as well crazy he’s not scared of winning he’s not scared of winning and I think Steven’s G to have a good only person that’s beat Scotty Sheffer and Ellie Corda in the last couple of months it’s true it’s true and and the fact is is that Stephen jger did not like shoot a low one and wait it out he’s out there with sheffler in Houston Texas bombs hitting bombs any guy who’s repping the coupe I got an affection for him yeah I mean I I look he’s he is for him to make a transformation the way that he has is very impr we talk about Matthew Fitzpatrick Matt doing similar things in terms of speed drills and gaining distance Jagger’s a good one um Kentucky and Indiana are neighboring states and Adam shank uh is is my long shot um another guy who I think is terms of ability to to take advantage of par fives this is a golf course that provides that opportunity I like I like Adam shank requalified for the Masters next year with his good play there yeah I I like him all right give me a second level Contender it’ll be interesting to see who we all Define second level as yeah cuz that I mean what you have here in the rules are outside top 10 odds favorites that is correct sir so that to me would be you know 11 to 30 in in the world kind of in technically speaking yes yeah kind of in that range and i’ I’m um I’m really torn because there’s three or four guys I was looking at here I’m going sep straa as my second level guy that’s good he’s a p i mean Power Player Ridder cuper sep is now what a two-time winner on the tour with the John Deere and the Honda from a couple years ago I like sep and I’m glad you didn’t take mine are you going to take mine I don’t know Cameron Young no you’re not that was one of my that I thought about yeah would be a great story hasn’t being able to break through on the PGA tour make your first win a major number 12 in the world a theala okay well you and I are riding together uh I did I did wonder if he might be top 10 no he’s not I just check the odds before we started okay good that’s I like it so tell me why uh I think his creativity is incredible also he’s had two runner ups and Signature Events this year he finally got that first win at fortnet last fall I just think his short game and his creativity lends itself to playing well at major championship golf he’s also another guy that I think the more people get to know him they will love plays with so much energy on the golf course and he’s has a homemade swing um there’s there’s some quirky things about him that I think people will love I’m with you I I want everyone to be who they are yeah I I think that there’s he is a little fidgety my God his his he hits putts and I’m going okay if that doesn’t go in it’s going seven feet by I mean he is he’s like Ricky Fowler from 10 years ago in triplicate I I’m a huge fan I’m with you he has an infectious way about him and I do believe he will be on the United States President’s Cup team I mean he’s 12th though he may be on the United States Olympic team right that too um no I I like him a lot I got a Walkin talk with him I got him committed on Friday right after missing the cut in New Orleans I got him commit to do a walk and talk Tuesday Wednesday of the PGA so I’m homing for that one W what can we have him recreate that should have been a bullet what what historically would you have him recreate I would oh oh like on a on like a Tuesday night try to walk it out I got to do a historical reference you got do my ACL or you got to do the Bob May putt on 18 the double breaker the double breaker you got to do that yeah the the the tiger Walkin on 16 you got to do that Rory uh they got to put you well live froms perfect you in the pitch black dark you got to try the t-shot over somebody’s head over somebody’s over Brand’s head preferably or or aan uh yeah and then the the last thing you got to try and I don’t know that you can do this um but I want to see you try to drive the green on 13 because nobody can H where but you you might move up a tea or two yeah wrong the wrong guy to try and drive a I’m I’m going to stick to chipping and putting come on you didn’t mention the one that I want him to do most I want you to be the guy who’s down in in the in the reads throwing Tiger’s ball out on 18 one of the most mysterious bounce back Ricochet of all YouTube it everybody seriously where did that ball come from Kathy Jordan and ha Irwin in the Ryder Cup that be another that is well how about doing the the come on Sergio let’s go play another hole Anthony Kim all right come on let’s move on you don’t have any of them no I’m I’m be current this year 2024 Recreations okay I I first of all those have been such a home run um they’re they’re they’re fantastic all right give me a star to miss the cut starting with you we already talked about it oh no spe yeah havland havland I think he’s the fact that here we are havin in Rome on the chip in on Friday you’re going he’s the dude man he’s the dude and now suddenly he’s in the wilderness we haven’t even mentioned him he’s a good one all year year that’s a great that’s a great call he’s got to be thinking like what the hell was I tell you what he’s think too much yeah his pressure at the Masters when he started taking it deep on thought and process and where he is I’m going okay I love a curious mind and he’s a really delightful guy there’s a lot going on up there uh I’m going Jordan be as well you are yep I I was thinking of two guys both who we We Know by their initials Justin Thomas home game for him haven’t thought about him played well at Harbor toown was good to see so I thought that’s why I didn’t pick that I I I think we’ll see him he PGA is his best major yes it has you think he’ll have a decent week I do okay DJ was the other name he’s my guy DJ’s Dustin Johnson um is he still a star uh fair question fair fair um he’s he’s got 24 wins I know but where is he I mean like as far as his world ranking goes that’s not I don’t think that’s a that’s a that’s not sh that’s not a shocking pick of someone miss the cut but he and and listen he’s been he’s been open about this it’s almost like he’s in a mini retirement phase of his career and he’s I mean I think he’s been honest about that you yeah okay so if DJ is fair to ask um is he a star still um he’s a historical star for him to to shoot the numbers that he shot at Augusta National M are you closing the book on him ready to no no because golf form is such a Fickle thing I mean you can go through years of being uncompetitive compl real thing then all if you have the talent that He possesses then you six years from now he could say man I want to really be good at golf again and if he wants to be really good at golf again he can be so50 large in the bank I’d be surprised if he did that do you think he’s ever said that to himself though I think he’s always gotten by with such raw natural abilities that he never really had to to to close the book though no I agree with you I agree with you I just don’t think he’s ever had that conversation like no he hasn’t but things change and you might wake up one day and say hang on a second I need to work hard to get back to 2021 PGA Championship made me say you know what I’m never ever going to close the book on somebody until they’re 55 60 years old I I’ll go back though to something you said earlier about about you know what happens when things change and the influx of money has fundamentally I think affected mindset of the of the human condition in a sport that was always built around it’s the score in the Box Y and when you show up and look make what you make and I’m not begrudging it I’m just saying that there are there are effects that happen and having $150 million in your bank um you’re going really am I ready to find it in the dirt again yeah six years removed from that you’re right look we we talk about guys like Tom Watson Tom Watson at 50 finish tied for 10th of balla yeah but Tom Watson like he’s like oh oh he’s the ultimate grinder yes no no that’s when he plays a lot of golf when he’s home and like I mean I just I I don’t think he the king of meritocracy he is the king of I am going to earn what I earned yes totally all right so with that winner Xander Schley you are on fire look at all you guys look at all you guys man why why why is he going to do something he hasn’t been able to do before because he’s the guy that’s there okay he’s the guy that puts himself in position over and over and over and he’s going to cross that line at some point and I want to be on him when he does tell you what too he is pounding the ball like he has picked up four miles an hour Club head speed he’s a couple shots last week what no he’s laughing at me he’s laughing at me because he stole my pick you went first 18 he’s hitting 189 mph ball speed that goes a long way go ahead no I was just going to listen I I’ve always been a f fan of Brendan’s thoughts on golf even what when he wasn’t a fan of his own thoughts on golf um and so I’m very excited that that he picked Xander choffle but um it it is the one major he’s been less competitive in I mean he still has a good record but than he than he is in the others he’s a top 10 machine in the others yep um but it’s time it it’s time I I really like what I’ve seen so far this year he doesn’t think of himself as a great player which bothers me a little bit I hear him I’ve had conversations with him about this he thinks he’s a very good player he doesn’t think he’s a great player yet he thinks he needs to have that moment in order to be that I would like him to believe that in order uh to achieve it but um I man I love everything about what I see with the golf game right now in 2024 um I think in another in another good Major Performance which we just saw is a reason for that yeah I you know when we we talk about earmarking guys uh he’s going to win a major he’s going to win a major really I mean there’s only so many of them um and we’ve done that for years and years and years with Ricky Fowler and I never felt like Ricky had to win a major If he if he does great and and it wouldn’t be unreasonable at all and if he doesn’t I’m not going to look at him and go God he should have won and he’s he was he’s obviously a really really good player shafley to me there does seem to be an inevitability to him winning at least a major because he has gotten himself into the deep end of the pool and into the blender a lot the players though to me was kind of a microcosm of him in these big moments it’s not an implosion it’s a slow burn it’s a soft bogy it’s the absence of something that doesn’t allow him to get across the line I wish he had somebody like Johnson in his ear who was so good in those still is by the way so good in those moments as a front runner like you relished being in that role you did no but when you had a CH s won a ton of I know he but when you had a chance to win you had this level of swagger to you and I I I wish that somebody would say to him hey man you have everything we’re going to win this tournament do not let doubt creep into your mind it’s cuz Johnson knew he wasn’t going to get there very often he better close the deal it’s true it’s very true uh Xander at the Players Championship he had the right misses going on kind of right in the middle of the Swing changes he was making I think the last couple times he’s played especially at the Masters and last week even uh like he his swing is coming around and I I’m going to put that Sunday those few misses out to the right on 14 then he missed it left on 15 and didn’t get up and down that was kind of the end about the short Miss on 17 the short Miss on 17 was concerning it was yeah it it was was I I just think that I think I I’m not picking Xander but I think he’s going to have a good chance okay who are you picking I’m debating between two players they happen to be number one and two in the world so I’m really going out on a limb here I’m begging you to pick number two I am picking number two I’m picking Roy M hell yes yes that would be I don’t know that we I don’t know that the PGA Championship radio postgame show can function uh if that in fact happens from the Cozy confines of South Charlotte uh not Louisville Kentucky I I just think he and Brenan kind of solidified it I had him both written down here but what what Brennan said about the way he played with Shane Lowry and the joy that he played with and you then you talking about him coming to Wells Fargo a place that he loves the week before I think he’s going to go in there with a really clear head and Gary you’ve been making the point for the last couple years that Rory’s never going to win The Masters until he wins another major right yeah and I think that and you’ve been making that point too I think that we’re there it’s a comfortable place and and I I I think I think we’re going to see it yeah boy I I got to be something um and and I’m not trying to act like it would be unreasonable at all he absolutely should be top of mind for everybody because he’s he’s he’s that good if you cheer for the game if you want the game to do well that I don’t think any I mean I don’t think any of us expect tiger to be in the mix so anything short of that that’s the biggest story is Tiger going to make another cut in the major slam yeah yeah yeah B deal big big deal cut Maj I think hold on one thing about the speed thing I think because the expectation is so low that we’re not giving it the grandiosity of what it would be because we’re not thinking it’s plausible let me tell you something if he goes into the weekend a shot out of the lead that gets ignited immediately Because by the way again back to the ESPN Major you’re not going to think that they’re going to not rekindle a reminder to everybody that this is what’s on the line for this guy and he was a darling and people have not forgotten that I know it’s dormant right now it’ll be lathered up if we get there and can you imagine me going out and recreating Jordan Speed like wedges I’ll be skulling those things all over the place did T make another cut in the major this year yeah don’t no this one valal is he even playing I I think he will play I have my I’m less confident in him here than I am at Pinehurst or at TR y I agree with that I I think he will make the cut I think he’s going to grind his butt off to make the cut like he has been all he knows and then kind of going to fade away on the weekend as he gets more and more fatigued I I don’t see I don’t even I I don’t see him playing at Valhalla I know it’s I mean maybe he I think he tees it up plays a bad first round withdraws after three holes DRS he does play but doesn’t I kind of wish he wouldn’t to be honest I’d rather him save himself you know for the summer and have a shot at pineer or at trune nothing against been good to him man I know ago those aren’t those aren’t hard walks valhal is a hard walk no no no Piner and compared yeah and Valhalla is yeah so I I just I don’t see why he would do it um but I think he’ll probably be there I think he’s going to be there and the reason why I think he’s going to be there is that I think an announcement I think an announcement is coming um he he kind of he gave everybody an indication that that this conversation been continuing with the PGA of America and the Ryder Cup at Beth Page by answering a question in his Tuesday presser by not saying unequivocally I’m not doing it he said after this I will then get back with Seth and this conversation’s continuing I do not think that he says that out loud in front of international media assembled without knowing that this is far down the tracks I think he’s doing it uh our our friends are as part of the SiriusXM team our friends of the PG of America were thrilled with that answer by the way yeah so I and I think they’re confident that that’s a good point I didn’t think of that maybe that’s the reason to be there yeah it’s It’s Tricky it’s has anybody mentioned that we’re talking about the Ridder cup captaincy at Best Page there just I never heard that spoken I didn’t it kind of felt like yall were talking about retir I knew what you were talking about but I feel like I I said it in code and if you’re we need a grown up in the room if people are here right now they know what the hell we’re talking about true 2 hours on yes shots fired all right we’re getting to the end here uh the one tricky thing about it is are you upstaging your major to make an announcement about something that is 18 months away to me you’re not it’s your other Crown Jewel it’s him it’s like what a better way to kick off the week than that yeah I think it’s I think it’s possible and it’s time I mean Luke Donald’s been named captain for a while it’s a it’s a long process of being a captain it’s time to have the captain the only reason we haven’t is because he hasn’t decided that’s the answer I think Johnson just decommitted from the US Open preview show if you don’t make a pick for the PG Championship he’s got to go he’s he got home late it’s sheffler I love you overthinkers it’s fun it’s clever I we’re go I tell you what’s going to Piner the sheffler effing Freight trainow is going to Piner is what’s going there I was on it with you and if if he wasn’t having a baby I would be wife having the baby if he was I wouldn’t pick him with that for Brendan a young Johnson Wagner Taylor Zar I’m Gary Williams enjoy the PGA Championship at Valhalla see you folks [Music]