Start from Scratch
If there’s one thing that always stirs up a debate for our family… it’s golf. Some of us provide sensible, measured and articulate points. Others, chat complete s**t from start to finish. You can decide who’s who for yourselves!
Start from Scratch
S2 E14: ‘Behind the Pages’ of Today’s Golfer with Rob Jerram, The Ups and Down of Golf Journalism and Possible Pairings at Marco Simone
Do you ever wonder what happens behind the scenes in the world of golf journalism? We get to chat with Rob Jerram, Digital Editor of Today’s Golfer. We get candid about our golfing escapades, including Josh and Jack's adventure to Gleneagles in Scotland, and Liam's Mexican retreat.
We share our experiences, from the euphoria of the game to the flip side of juggling work and play. Listen as Rob spills the beans on his upcoming Ryder Cup trip to Rome, and the life event that made him miss the Open. We also dive into the adrenaline-fueled atmosphere of the Ryder Cup, contemplating the ramifications of Keegan Bradley's unexpected absence… namely some reasonably paced golf matches!
Towards the end, we get real about the challenges of journalism in an influencer-dominated golf industry. From the race against time to meet magazine deadlines to the effort required to churn out quality content, we bare it all. Adding a touch of humor, we navigate the world of golf fanboys and the balancing act between professional and personal interests.
We also forecast the potential Ryder Cup pairings and matchups. It’s almost time!
Yeah, I've just had a baby, so there's a part of me that kind of goes do I want to be away for the week? And then I'm like, what are you talking about? You're going to Rome for a week torched to ride a cup. You know, and this will be the fourth or fifth ride a cup, I've covered a car, I remember. So you know it's great and the open. You know, I was kind of livid with my wife for having our baby when she did this year, because I had to miss the open this year.
Speaker 3:Right, welcome to episode 14. I know I do this every week, but I genuinely don't know. Before starting the episode, I think it's around about episode 14. So, what two? Two announcements, then one you're going to be sad to hear that Josh is not with us. He's actually debiting while creating Davidson hacking away at the beautiful golf course that is Glen Eagles. He's with Jack, our other younger brother, and other members from public golf club. Not heard from him really, since he went there. No real clue on how he's getting on, but you just know that it's going to go poorly on such a nice golf course. So I'm joined and Liam's returned from Mexico and his stint of sulking. You don't want to be a part of Josh's nonsense. So you want to have a Liam's voice other than his little chirping. And then, for a while, we've also got DG with us as well, who is familiar voice. So I do have to apologize for having the two most boring co-hosts I could have for this episode, but it is what it is. Just bear with us.
Speaker 5:Oh yeah, jesus Christ, monotone, or what.
Speaker 3:I think everybody would agree If we were to pull out, they'd put you two as the most boring co-host that they've ever had.
Speaker 5:I'm pretty sure Eddie's up there with the ball factor, to be fair.
Speaker 4:Yeah, between yourself and Eddie, it's pretty fucking dire listening to be honest with you.
Speaker 5:I think it's because you've got the same tone of voice. If you're my teacher in school, there's no chance I'd be listening to you whatsoever.
Speaker 4:Do you know when you came to editing this? After we finished? Can you insert an audio clip of a load of people cheering and clapping when you say that Josh is not with us?
Speaker 3:No, I know that listeners immediately, if they haven't already turned off, they're probably just thinking it's going to be a shit episode of Josh's.
Speaker 4:No, they're not. They're going to think we're going to get some real conversation about golf tonight by people who at least half know about the game.
Speaker 5:I'm going to put it out there that your brother, jack will beat Josh's score in one round while they're away in Scotland.
Speaker 3:I don't think anyone's got a problem with that, no doubt.
Speaker 5:And we'll get a band of excuses from Josh when he comes back about how he hit one drive like 300 yards and the rest was absolute, dire.
Speaker 3:I'll say this right, and I'm not talking about the result of Hoileak, because we're recording podcasts whilst we're still editing and I don't want people to know the result. I don't want them to go and have a look on the video, but there was one shot he hit into a par five that I was gobsmacked. He's given me shit before he hits it, as you'd expect he would, and then steps up and hits the choke down a iron and he just absolutely rifles. It. Doesn't leave the pin. Yeah, and more to come with that, but any updates from you? Liam, you played golf in Mexico, is that right? And I asked you for content and you didn't give me any content.
Speaker 4:I have got some content for you. I couldn't get some any real content, though, because there'd just been a thunderstorm the night before I played and the course was pretty wet and I had a buggy and I had to stick, keep the buggy to one side of the course. So it was cart paths only. So it was difficult to like to record a load of the different shots, especially when I was fucking spraying it way, way away from the cart path. But it's good. Mexico, it was a lovely course, jack Nicklaus designed course. It was actually three nine hole courses and you could pick and choose which nine holes you wanted to play. Obviously you could play 27 if you wanted to. I played the Moon Palace course. It was part of the hotel's grounds in Cancun. Very nice, it was really hot, it was quite sweaty, quite sticky as well, and the first time I played a golf course and had to be weary of alligators and crocodiles Dangerous reptiles anyway.
Speaker 3:Was it alligators or crocodiles? Everything else was fine. Were you going to say Rottweilers?
Speaker 5:then yeah.
Speaker 4:And Rottweilers.
Speaker 5:Just get them Olliehead.
Speaker 4:No, the Rottweiler was in the bedroom when I got home For you, because I took five hours.
Speaker 3:Dave, what about you and your golf for you, mate?
Speaker 5:I played on Sunday. I was not playing for a while. I played with a friend over while I was moving Lincoln. To my surprise, I was three under through four and I got a little bit excited and then basically started hitting everything off the hosel after that and then got a bit of love for the game back, actually Set my net up in the garden over the weekend. Well, when I got back, bit a few balls in there and then went to the Reigns last night at Conway but then took a couple of fellow low handicaps at Conway we were also doing the same, so that was quite nice. Luckily only five minutes down the road from there now and it's got really good practice for the team, so that was really good. That's it really.
Speaker 4:You've not really played much this season, have you?
Speaker 5:I've sort of it's taken a bit of a back step this season just purely because of getting married and then pretty much had something on every weekend since then, which is not ideal, but I'm sure the winter will come and I'll start playing properly again.
Speaker 4:Sign your life away, and then it immediately halves the amount of time you can play golf once you're married.
Speaker 5:No, in fairness, I don't think it's anything to do with that. I think it's more the fact that I've got that much stuff on weekends not outside of just me and my misses. It's family stuff and that as well. So it's good to get all that in this year before we get some of our family go back to New Zealand. So, yeah, just one of those things, little commitment in it for a short time and then get back to the golfing with the winter and hopefully start next season strong. We'll see.
Speaker 3:So when you were three under through four, what you're saying to me in a really long-winded way is that you choked.
Speaker 5:Oh yeah, big time joke. No, no messing about, it wasn't like I had to put to go three under through three, missed that and then made birdie the fourth and then shortly after that I started basically a few hostile rockets that I made past the now, but, yeah, pretty much bottled it.
Speaker 4:What did you end up with? 71?
Speaker 5:Yeah, 71. So what's the part of Conway? Oh no, this was another course. Oh yeah, over Lincolnshire way. But as much as everyone, as much as a few people at Bull Bay, think it didn't go in as a supplementary score. I know that's been a bit of a boner contention in the past around supplementary scoring. Yeah, so my handicap is real.
Speaker 4:Send your scorecard over, mate. I've got a world golfer. Oh, I get that.
Speaker 5:So I'll put it in for you. Yeah, sam, right, yeah, I'll sneak it in. Yeah, I'm still waiting to see some people's scores from the Ireland games going their Wales golf, but no comment.
Speaker 3:But I'm going to make sure that those people hear this.
Speaker 4:Oh they will. I'll make sure they hear it as well. It's actually a very good point. I never thought to look, but obviously take it. You've scanned all three of their Wales golf accounts.
Speaker 5:Hey, hey, hey. My best mate played in the Ireland games. I know for well what happened. All right. I'll just wait for that little fish to jump on the line.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you've thrown a rod out and it's time to watch them. Come back now. Yeah Right, we are joined today by someone that actually does work in the world of golf. Can't even begin to say how jealous I am. He works for today's golfer. So his name is Rob Jerem and he is a digital editor for today's golfer. You know, when you're growing up and you're just like I just want to, just want to work in the golf industry, whatever it is, whatever you do and I'm always the jealous of people that actually do end up making a living and being part of the golf world so it's going to be interesting to hear what his life is like, what his job entails, how he actually landed in that job and what he gets to do day to day. So we'll look to bring him on. Good.
Speaker 4:You're looking forward to Carl Isle.
Speaker 5:Yeah, be good mate. Scylleth is a cracking golf course as well.
Speaker 4:Scylleth is my favourite course mate, Apart from Muehfield. Who's this one here?
Speaker 5:Is it?
Speaker 3:Scylleth is just outrageous, Just just.
Speaker 5:I played Scylleth. I think I played Scylleth like 11 years ago, 12 years ago, when I wasn't really playing golf when I lived up there. I just went through a greenfield in my own mind and I was just like this place is like class, Properly, Properly's course. It's like I would say it's similar to for like the field of golf course, probably similar to Conway in certain respects.
Speaker 3:I'd never played a golf course actually set in the dunes, because where we live you've got plenty of links courses to choose from but I'd never played one where you're actually below floor or ground level and the dunes are either side and they shape the golf course and the hole. That that, to me, was. I think that the closest similar to that that part is North Wales North Wales Golf Club. Yeah, yeah, get me to be in there and I love that that. That that's hands down my favorite type of golf course. So I played Scylleth Twilight.
Speaker 3:We'd gone to where is it? Just North of Lake District, is that right? Yeah, it's our own car, I'll be there, yeah. So we'd gone there, me and Jess, and then, yeah, went, just just randomly picked Scylleth and it was something ridiculous like I don't know £20, a set, £20 or something like that for the Twilight at the time and I just came from there and it was just just could not rave about it enough and I still do it. For someone who's been lucky enough in recent years actually to play Murefield, st Andrews Walk, pebble Beach, watch the American Pro-Am modern American amateur championship God can't think. Just come back from Highlake and actually Scylleth is 100% in my top five, 100%.
Speaker 5:John Burns used to rave on about it all the time, and he's faced back. Yeah, yeah, that's where he went, but that's because he had such good memories of the place.
Speaker 3:Hi Rob, how's it going?
Speaker 1:How's it going? How are you doing?
Speaker 3:Okay, yeah, you're up.
Speaker 1:You hear me, okay, yeah you're loud and clear. Good, nice to meet you all. How are you doing?
Speaker 3:Yeah, good thanks. So I'm Tristian, I'm the main host, and then we're joined by Liam. He's one of my brothers and Dave is a friend of ours. And we're the co-host Josh, who you would describe as the idiot. Really, he's actually playing Glen Eagles.
Speaker 1:Oh nice.
Speaker 3:Is he staying up there, or yeah, I think they're staying up there. I'm for the week, is it?
Speaker 4:So they're till Friday. They're playing Glen Eagles, Blair Garry. They played somewhere today that I don't remember. They're playing a few courses, to be fair.
Speaker 1:They're doing the whole batch at Glen Eagles. They're just playing one. No idea. No, it's there. Yeah, we get the chance to go there. It's my probably joint favourite place in the UK. I would say so, yeah, definitely a place to go if you've not been join us in, with which one probably turnbary. I think turnbary and Glen Eagles are probably my favourites in terms of, you know, stay and play. Anyway, in terms of courses then, yeah, glen Eagles is is class, but turnbary, the answer at turnbary is absolutely fantastic, so definitely.
Speaker 3:So I, even though I could give it a go, rob, I think it's best when I introduce, when I ask the guests to introduce themselves. So if you could sort of give us an idea who you are and what you do, and we'll go from there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it's on Rob Gerrim, and I'm the digital editor of today's golfer. We've got a global website, and then we've also got the magazine, which is the best selling magazine in Britain and has been for the past good number of years I'm not sure exactly how many, but you know we were head to head with golf monthly for a long time and then we've kind of stretched out and now hold the number one spot on our own.
Speaker 3:So my wife's mum. So what's that to me?
Speaker 1:My mother-in-law has given I'll go down.
Speaker 3:Well, by the way, yeah, yeah, I think she's one of the only listeners that we have. She's bought me like seven years on the truck now a yearly subscription. Today's golfer.
Speaker 3:So as soon as she knew I was a golfer, she was like, oh, trust me, I'd love this for me and it's one of the only gifts that she. You know I'm sort of digging the hole here I'm going, but she buys me gifts sometimes and I'm like, yeah, jess, will you ask your mum to stop buying me? I bought Reese's chocolate pieces once and I said every Easter I get like a Reese's sort of Easter egg or Christmas and I'm just sick of it. But today's golfer, I'm like now, keep them coming. It's great. Yeah, I get that with.
Speaker 1:Tobaron I mentioned once I like Tobaron, and now it's that thing. At Christmas, you know 15, 15 triangular packages arrive under the tree. You're like, oh, I wonder what that could be. Great Thanks so much. And not a grateful.
Speaker 1:You know, chocolate always goes down, well, but come on, good hot chocolate supply that though. Yeah, good point. Good point, it's that, and obviously, even though I work in golf, so I'm fortunate enough to have access to pretty much anything I could want or need, you know, you get the sports direct golf balls and nudies, and you know all the sort of stuff that you think, yeah, that's going straight in a cupboard and never going to see the light of day. But you know people try, don't they Listen.
Speaker 5:So I think Josh should take the sports direct golf balls. To be fair, he loses plenty.
Speaker 1:So I'll fall in the month, yeah, yeah no worries.
Speaker 3:So you've said it yourself then working in golf. Now I've said in my introduction of you I'm incredibly jealous on, something I think a lot of people would would really love to do. So what is that like for you? Like working on and getting to take advantage of actually being in the golf world every day?
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's great. Obviously it's fantastic. It's kind of you do pinch yourself sometimes. There are days when you sit there and you have a moan and you realise actually, you know we're doing things that people would kill to do. And one of the big things when people do have a moan particularly in the office anybody really we just say you know we're not saving lives, we're, you know we're working in what is most people's hobbies, what most people can't wait to finish their working week to be involved in. That doesn't mean it's not not hard and there aren't days, like any job, where is tough, but generally it's just.
Speaker 1:It's a real balancing act because I think everyone, when they talk to you, assume you spend your whole life out on the golf course. Certainly, for the first few years after I started work at CG, I probably played less golf than I had before I joined CG and when you did play even now, to an extent, when I do play I might have played for a few weeks and then suddenly you go off and play somewhere really, really nice, which isn't a bad thing, obviously. But the worst thing to prepare for going to play an Elser at Turnberry or you know, wherever it might be went with is you haven't hit a ball for six weeks before hand and suddenly you stood on the first tier, a beautiful golf course, and everyone's like this guy's from a golf website, he'll be good. And then you know, you shank, you shank it and you've got the starter looking as if to say is he blagged his way, is he actually from a golf website? Or yeah, so no, it's brilliant.
Speaker 1:I mean, I've done it for 13 years, been in journalism for 24, 23, 24 years, moved over to TG 13 years ago and you know, unless they kick me out, I can't see me me leaving for any particular reason. Why would I? I've got access to everything I could need. We get to meet and play golf with fantastic people and write content that hopefully you know you'll continue to enjoy with your Christmas subscription every year.
Speaker 5:Yeah, but you know, having that sort of job is, like you said, a bit of a pinch yourself sort of moment, I suppose, in a way. Yeah, I think so, I think particular moments.
Speaker 1:You know you try not to take things for granted. Golf is expensive. You know it's obviously more accessible now than it's ever been, but it is still expensive. And you know I went with next week. You know all expenses paid, working, press pass for the week, access all areas. I'm at the Ryder Cup in two weeks, monday to Monday. And you kind of, yeah, I've just had a baby, so there's a part of me that kind of goes do I want to be away for the week? And then I'm like what are you talking about? You're going to Rome for a week to watch the Ryder Cup. You know, and this will be the fourth or fifth Ryder Cup I've covered, I can't remember. So you know it's great and the. You know I was kind of livid with my wife for having our baby when she did this year because I had to miss the open this year.
Speaker 1:But then the then the rain fell and I was like, oh okay, maybe I've missed the right one. So, but luckily I don't think she'll listen to this. But you know, we'll see.
Speaker 5:Hopefully not Otherwise, I mean she's got any socials and make sure, tristag, make sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, she's on. She's not on Twitter, but she's on Insta, so just yeah, yeah, tag her on there. She's got the same surname, so don't worry, I'm sure somebody will very helpfully point it out.
Speaker 4:Sorry, I'm gonna say you're going to want to listen to from part 30 minutes onwards.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I told her I was doing something tonight, but not what. So fingers crossed for no, it is. Yeah, it's pinch yourself for the most time. You know there's a lot of I think people don't realise really with content and you know, you see it with all the influencers and obviously you guys have thought you're doing now it takes a lot of arranging, it takes a lot of work. You know magazines don't magically fall on the shelves and websites particularly you know the size of ours the content doesn't magically produce itself. So the work that goes on behind the scenes is immense and there's a lot of very boring admin. But equally it's very boring admin where you know we're out there trying to get golf equipment in or we're trying to arrange time with players or we're trying to sort out access to golf courses, whatever it might be. So the result always outweighs the effort that goes in.
Speaker 4:So what's the approach then with, like you know, you've got the ride, the kerp looming, you're going to be out there in Rome. Do you already know what you're going to be doing when you go out there? Is it sort of very much you have sort of team talks and try to try to put a plan together before you go? Or is it very much kind of well, you know, if we, if we see so and so on, not whilst we're there or when it you know?
Speaker 1:yeah. So when you go to big events, so the majors in the Ryder Cup, you won't get access to players. It's just. It's just not a thing. That certainly not individual access. You'll get access in terms of will be sat in the media center, will be in the press room when they come in for their interviews, that you'll see broadcast on Sky Sports and, you know, clipped up on Twitter and Instagram, so on. You don't get individual access.
Speaker 1:What we do for the week is it's kind of a giving people a feel of the Ryder Cup that can't be there. So through socials, through Instastories, you know threads or the other things that we use at the moment, and then it's just keeping the website ticking over with constant content. So you see a lot on the ground at golf events that you don't see on TV. It might just be little things you know from around the site. There's only there's only two of us out there for the week, but it's just things you pick up on the site. You might just hear little conversations between players and caddies or you might get an idea a bit earlier in the day of what a pairing is going to be, because you know someone's got a hint in the media center and then you write a piece about that. So we'll have a kind of a blogger search running all the time, a live kind of blog running all the time with things you might have missed from the Ryder Cup today. And then it's the usual stuff. Really it's just covering all the press conferences.
Speaker 1:There's bound to be things that come out. You know it's the first Ryder Cup post live. Brooks is in the team. There are players missing that you know. You might have expected to be there and both captains are kind of going in saying they're underdogs. So I think there'll be a lot to talk about that week. It'd be interesting. It went with. Next week will be interesting as well, because you're going to have all 12 Ryder Cup players there next week, plus the captain, plus the vice captains barring a laugh about. Moron is going to be playing as well, which will be kind of. You know an interesting one. I know he's playing this week as well, but it'd be interesting to see how that goes down next week, because it's kind of everyone's got an opinion on the Ryder Cup.
Speaker 1:That's the beauty of it whether you're a casual golf fan or a hardened golf fan. Everyone's got an opinion of who should be in the team. It suddenly turns golf becomes football for a couple of weeks. Everyone interested and wants to talk about golf. So, yeah, it's going to be great, it's going to be fantastic, but a lot of us play it by ear, genuinely. That's. You know that sort of journalism when you go to those events. A lot of it is we can't plan. We've done all our planning in terms of you guys will have seen it, I'm sure, but you know the preview issue. We've got a massive supplement in the preview issue which has got everything from insight into the course. You know, we talked to the designer, the owners of Marco Simone, we've talked to the captains, the players, you know. So all the hard work is kind of done. Now it's the what happens day by day while we're out there.
Speaker 5:So, going back to Ryder Cup teams and was there, was there any? You know what side are you on. Are you on the wrong should have been in or are you on the? Are you sort of not surprised by Donald's picks?
Speaker 1:I'm not in the camp at the moment that it was Lowry or Moron. I think that was ever a conversation that they would have been having. I don't think. I think you know there's a lot of false talk been out there this week about Lowry. Actually his stats this season aren't bad and if you compare him to Moronx you know he's the right pick and you've got a balanced experience out. I do feel for him. I think there's no doubt that if you win at the venue, the competition is going to be held up and you produce the form he's produced this season.
Speaker 1:I saw a great start on Twitter guy that works at Bunker, alex Perry. He brought this week. I think in the previous 10 Ryder Cup qualifications Janik Paul would have made all 10 and Moron would have made eight, I think. So you know it kind of it shows that this six picks thing has made a big difference. I think that's probably where my opinion lies. The six picks for me is possibly a little too too many. I get why he's done it.
Speaker 1:I do understand that if you, if you have a cycle as long as we do have a Ryder Cup qualification, you can end up with players that have started hot, you know, won a couple of games Jesus, you can edit that out, I was thinking about football won a couple of tournaments early on, you know, and then suddenly they're in the team and actually they're then bang out of form by the time it comes around. I think, yeah, I think Moronks, moronks, unlucky, but he chose. He chose to go and play a PGA tour event when he could have played another Dp World Tour event, which probably would have secured him his place. So, you know, whereas Bob Bob was grinding to get in, you know Huygård was grinding to get in and I'm sure if they'd have PGA opportunities they might have gone as well. But you know, moronk made a choice and probably cost him ultimately. I think, yeah.
Speaker 3:What do you guys think? We touched upon it just briefly before you came on, and I was just saying that I feel really badly for Moronk, like you were saying. And then Leon made a point of would I feel badly for Keegan Bradley? And what I was saying was not really, because I think the American team are just such superstars that they've either been there before or the competition is so tight. But for the Europeans especially if you're not the big gun Europeans it's. You know it's a huge, huge deal.
Speaker 3:You know, adrian Moronk is not guaranteed to being contention in two years time, whereas the likes of Keegan Bradley, bryson De Chambon, they will continue to be in question. So I think, for the European team, because we're not a star studded per se, our thematic just and to be honest, it didn't really hit home for me until I saw him in his press conference, I'm not I think I felt exactly the same. What more could I have done? So, other than that? But to be honest with you, I look at the team and I think the team is great. I think the team is a winning team. I think you'd have been a win.
Speaker 1:I agree, I agree. I think it's really easy to get a little bit starstruck by the names in that American team and then you realise, you look through and you think well, you know certain players, you don't know what's going to happen. Just in time, you're really relying on him turning up and the rider cup taking over his game rather than his form. Recently he's been so, so questionable. Moronk has not had a great year. You know Spieth's been okay, but they haven't got huge amounts of wins on the board. When you look through the team, you know Sheffield is putting his off. Yeah, his results have been great still, but in match play we all know how important putting is and he's not going to get given a single putt inside six feet for the first couple of days. Is he who would give him?
Speaker 1:anything it's going to be harsh as it sounds. It's going to be like Westwood for us. For a few years, you know, no one was giving Westie anything inside six feet because they knew he was caper of missing it. So yeah, it's going to be. It's going to be interesting. I think Keegan Bradley not getting a pick is a fair point. I think he's played well. But equally, we need to get the rider cup done in three days, so Keegan's probably not the man to have there, come on.
Speaker 1:I mean, I can stay on in Rome for a few extra days if you like, but I've got to get out at some point.
Speaker 5:I'm genuinely looking, looking forward to seeing how well Hovland plays, because obviously he's on a massive hot streak at the moment. Yeah, that's the thing.
Speaker 1:That's what you want, isn't?
Speaker 5:it and he's riding, obviously, across the wave at the moment and it's like you want. You want the rider kept up and today, yeah, and I think it's next, next week it went with.
Speaker 1:Fantastic for the fans to have all 12 playing. I don't know I might be wrong, but I can't remember that and all the captains playing I know they try and get them all together. They're all having a wrecky out to Marco Simone on Monday, I think. So they're all going to be there Monday and then they head straight to Wentworth from there. So that kind of team bonding, team feel spirit vibe, sort of kicks in straight away and then that's. You know, hopefully that will just run through to the rider cup and yeah, it's going to be great. I mean, there's nothing like it. I don't know if you boys have been to a rider cup or not, but there is just as an event there is.
Speaker 1:I've been so lucky to be to a lot of sporting events. I've never been to anything like the rider cup. The atmosphere on the first in Paris was just spine tingling. It was just ridiculous, you know. And people in the cold and the dark, at five o'clock in the morning, you know, in a standards suitable for a football stadium, not a golf tournament. You know, chanting and singing will forget the rider cup guardians or whatever they want to call themselves, because then they're not the best, but the rest of them, you know, the crowds are just, the crowds are just incredible and I can't imagine as players.
Speaker 1:I did add an interview with Tyrell a couple of years ago, after Paris actually, and it was the sort of year after I went to another event and he struggled like mentally after the rider cup. He really, really struggled because he just said like, teeing it up in front of, at times, a handful of people on a Thursday on a DP World Tour event just didn't give him the buzz. You know, I guess it's a little bit like a drug, isn't it? You kind of? You know, you know where's the excitement when you go out the next week and it's like you're back being an individual again. I think that's.
Speaker 1:That's quite telling, and I think the same happened with Shane, probably after Whistling Straits as well. So even with the defeat, I think the buzz for them is all too. I've got back to this day because they want to get that trophy back, because it was so demoralizing out there.
Speaker 5:Yeah, you can see that way, to be honest with you, one of the things that you saw in with some straight stuff that you know she hold. Thank you for the first day. What I meant to hold up, even though it was for a half in the end, but, yeah, how much it meant to me. I think it was that passion and obviously, yeah, almost sticking, sticking a few up, a couple of fingers at the americans at the end of the day, because that competitive edge, that You're gonna need someone to take that as well, aren't you?
Speaker 1:because you know the era of polter and so on, and Sergio has gone now. So you need big characters like Shane and Rory and Larry and to come through. And you know you can't expect this in a couple of weeks. You can't expect to a way guard or someone to necessarily be fist pumping and screaming. They're not those sort of personalities yet. They might be in two or three right to cut time. But yeah, it's gonna be, it's gonna be brilliant. I can't wait. It's gonna be so exciting.
Speaker 5:Yeah, you can see sort of a big and you know how you got the like look like. They're almost like nothing bothers and what so ever don't look incredible, isn't it? Yeah?
Speaker 1:that's is not just the era of the modern goal for me. You know, look at a few years ago when sort of Matt Wolff inside probably although he's not done badly despite you know he's had some off the course issues but Moral car and hovel, and you know, straight out of amateur ranks into the pros and just like they belong on day one. You know the aberg situation exactly the same in terms pro in June and he's in the right of cupping in September having not played a single major because he just People look at him and, as Donald said, he's gonna be. You know, he's a generational talent, he's gonna be the next Rory or arm.
Speaker 5:So it's crazy, isn't really, that Donald played him A few weeks ago and then, yeah, obviously it did all right, you did well in the week previous to the Swiss masters and then obviously Showed a good set of stones to get that, get that win on the. Yeah, I think it's very last.
Speaker 1:You know, look last week. I know I'm not through a way to an extent, but obviously the guy came in before birdies as well. So you know you're planning gets to go out a major champion and a guy that's won twice on that course and there was no fear, was there, and so I wouldn't be afraid who he goes up against in the right of cup. If he's, if he's first out on Sunday against, you know, shetha or whoever, I wouldn't have any concerns. And it's not gonna be, not gonna be the walkover. People will certainly be the walkover of two years ago, that's for sure.
Speaker 3:So when you are just thinking of you landing in Rome, does it instantly become competitive between you and golf monthly.
Speaker 1:Golf industry. The golf industry is quite small. It's a weird thing, really, because when it's things like covering news, kind of which the right of copy is effective, isn't it Obviously, you know you guys like John Huggins and you and Murray that work for the nationals and the bigger American sites, they kind of got it covered. You know, we know that we're not gonna compete with them. They're gonna break it quicker. Sky gonna break it quicker than we can. So there is an air and element. Yeah, you kind of want to find some, some angles that they might not have got. Actually, certainly, from my perspective, it's nice to see familiar faces. You know the open weeks always a great one. Could you go up in the media center? You know it's just lifted from one side to the next and dropped. They look the same wherever they are. You know they just in a slightly different location. It's just good to be back among among the people and you know I've met some.
Speaker 1:The golf industry is surprisingly small. It really is. You know people that work for us, work for golf monthly now, people that work for golf monthly and now working for me on the website. People move around. You know I've got people from national club golfer and so on. It's just that's what it's like. There's only so much. Yeah, it feels massive golf, but it really isn't. And that's why we always say, kind of, you want to make sure you've got a good reputation of that. You, you get on well with people, because if you don't, it soon goes before you and you know. But yeah, I mean, yes, there'll be an element of it'll be lovely to have a great week and for our traffic to be fantastic and to hear that there's been terrible but it's not going to happen, so you know there's a big great, as will be great will both go home perfectly happy and Share a perone on the plane.
Speaker 1:how do I? What do you drink in Italy? Is it a pro?
Speaker 5:Get a few rolls. Yeah, yeah, yeah that's more classy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, cut out the.
Speaker 4:Rob, I was really, really hoping for you to see. It's exactly like the Ancomon movie.
Speaker 1:Maybe we'll do that just for fun.
Speaker 1:We could do it, we could do a great we could do a great Instagram real or something of kind of A competitive journalism across that week. I think you know it's. It's funny because we go on press trips and stuff together and you help each other out because ultimately we're all doing the same thing. We're not because it's boring, but we're not saving lives. We go to golf course is always go to golf events and you know if you see one of the other guys is struggling to get the picture they need because they can't hold the tripod and something else where you'll do it for them because why wouldn't you? Because they're a mate or someone you work within the past. So I think it's a bit different when you're in newspapers.
Speaker 1:Although you know all the all the newspaper journalists get on, I think obviously they've got deadlines and they've got a particular. If you're freelancer, anything you've got, you need to get your copy out there. Hopefully it gets picked up. So you're probably going to be a little bit more competitive. We know we've got an audience we're battling for, for share on Google. Really that's our, that's where our main challenge comes in Google's unpredictable beasts. So you know what we'll do our best to get our content at the top of that first page and hopefully people click in on it and reading it. Get it out on socials. Go from there.
Speaker 5:You know, with that you end up going to like the same product launches. Is it basically gender, like clubbing together and going to the same sort of thing?
Speaker 1:Yeah, pretty much. So we're getting towards launch season now so you guys will see all the new stuff. Sort of January, february time will start going on launch stuff. I think first launch we've got pencil in October, so October through December will be going on. Launches will be receiving samples, testing. So our equipment editor, simon Dallow, he will plan in all the testing.
Speaker 1:We go up to Keogh off center In the north of England with our pro. Everything we tested kind of head to head, you know full data sets so that come January, the fourth or 10th or whatever, the embargo lifts on the tailor made stealth or the, you know whatever club comes out this year, yeah, we'll have all the reviews to be a. We're all there. You know it's the same guys. My colleague will, who's one of my junior writers on the website. He's out in Barbados this week which is lovely on a press trip, but it's. He sent me some photos and it's the same. You know couple of the guys from bunker out there I think. And yeah, you see the same people on the same trips. That's how you get to know everybody really and you know people move around.
Speaker 1:But it is just, it's a really surprisingly small industry. It's grown now and there is a little bit of a kind of Not us and them. But obviously there's been a real divide in the last couple of years because influencers have kind of taken a little bit of control and that's taken some getting used to and we've had to kind of work out where do we sit? How do we work with those guys Journalistically? Can we use them? Do they want to work with us?
Speaker 1:Because obviously magazines and websites used to be king and now you know, we're not stupid enough to think that we can compete with the traffic that someone like Rick gets Rick Shields gets, because we can't pull in a million video views in 24 hours. But we can do different stuff and a lot of what they're doing now as well, if you look back at our magazines from 10, 15, 20 years ago, is stuff we were doing then. It's, you know, a lot of the the featurey style things they do and a lot of the kind of quirky things they do are things we did in magazines 15 years ago. But they're now just putting in a, you know, cool, modern video format and it's fantastic and it works and I think there are some influences out there. I mean, I'd be interested to know. You know how many you guys watch and follow. There's some out there that I think are they've seen a chance to jump on a bunmugging and I
Speaker 1:think there are some out there that are fantastic content producers that are useful and only going to continue to grow. You know, you look at guys like you know the guys with no laying up and Rick and Pete Obviously Mark Crossfield was a kind of the trailblazer early on living or hating. And then there are others that you know you question whether they're just trying to get a ticket to a nice, a nice open next year, or an opportunity to go and stand next to Roy McElroy in a photo shoot, you know, which makes it a lot harder for us access to play.
Speaker 1:It's tough, it's really tough. Anyway, you know, sponsors Only get so much time with players every year and so when they give it up, they, they always gonna give it up to the people that will get them the most coverage, understandably. So we're now battling hard with, you know, whereas before it was us and got monthly and bunkered and NCG or whatever, now You've suddenly got to throw in a Rick or you know a page spear and I call her. It may be, and that's. That's a different beast, totally different beast.
Speaker 5:Yeah, is it? Is it like hard as well? Just touching on that, you know about the Like the influencers, and they're almost becoming the ambassadors today, so you sort of play like a little bit of second fiddle to them in terms of peck and order when they have access you know access to players or events or something like that or is it just generally you tend to sort of slotting together?
Speaker 1:Yeah, influence is a little bit different because they they obviously have a lot of telling who they are. They've obviously got certain things they have to do. When they're on site with a player, they will, in my experience, some are really respectful and some push that look a little bit because they, you know, they've got the cameras and if they're in the middle of something you kind of have to say to a media rep, I'll come on. You know, this is our time now. Well, this is this is digging into my time with that player now. So I need him.
Speaker 1:I think what people probably don't realize is you might get, you might get 10 minutes. It's a bit like when you see these press junkets for movies. You know me, the next set of journalists come in, the next set of journalists come in. You've got like your 10 questions or whatever it may be. You know we'll work hard and if we're lucky We'll get. You know, we had some time in that Fitzpatrick just after the open and we had a Decent chunk of time. And Matt up at the Hallamshire plays some golf with him. You know, did an instruction shoot. Nice little interview for the rider cup, great.
Speaker 1:But what you'll often get, particularly the bigger and bigger the player gets and the more demand you might get five to ten minutes with him, you know, and If it's a player that you, that's that in demand. That means there's a lot of content you want with that person as well. Particularly now, you know, you want maybe something for Instagram. You want, you know, kind of a proper interview that you can get out as well, some instruction. You might need to take some photos in those 10 minutes as well, and you know it's like what we've been talking for now 28 minutes, 10 minutes, goes in the blink of an eye, doesn't that with? You know, there's a million other things you can cover and you walk away thinking Christ.
Speaker 1:It's not like you can pick up a phone and ring Rory, or ring Tommy Fleetwood or John Rahman, say sorry, I forgot to ask you, you know. So that's when the pressure kicks in, I think, when you go to those sort of things. The other alternative is something like a couple of months ago We'd worked really, really hard on a live special. It was we were doing a one year of live. How have they changed golf? You know what's it mean. What's the future going to be?
Speaker 1:We had incredible access. We've got pieces with Greg Norman and players and we've done a piece in size century and the magazine was practically ready to go and then the PIF deal got announced like four days before we were going to press, and so every bit of content Was completely irrelevant because suddenly it was from this kind of the rivalry what's the future to. We're probably gonna be a united front and obviously it takes, after we go to press with the maggots, a couple of weeks until it hits the shelves. So by the time it came out it could all have been completely dead. Nobody would have bought it. So we had to screw it all up and and kind of find a way around it. And that's when you know proper journalism kicks in a search you really have to battle to get. You know, hit deadlines and get your magazine on the shelves. So it's pressurized at times.
Speaker 3:Yeah yeah, from an entirely different perspective. As a podcast, we've come to realize that actually, if we're gonna take the next step, that people aren't only listening anymore. So we have. We started during COVID and we had Really really popular numbers for what we were in season one, and then we took a bit of a break and we came back for season two. And here we are. We've realized that actually the, the, the world of golf, has just changed so much around us. So I'm sent here people want visual content.
Speaker 3:So I've become so shocked and and like you would know, unless you know what it takes to film content and produce content I honestly, I think people think I'm crazy because the my brothers and the people who do it alongside me, I'm the one doing the editing of the video. I'm trying to say to them you won't believe how many hours I've put into this. You know, for one video I'm on about maybe five hours. So fine, so it's just, it's. It's an eye-opening Thing for someone. When you think of who producing comment content and how easy it looks Out, then it isn't, is it? It's, it's so hard.
Speaker 1:No, you see that now as well, with people like you know, going back to Rick and Pete, the fact they've got massive teams. And you know people probably still don't realize that at times I think our Rick shells I love him they don't realize there's five, six, seven people working behind the scenes. You know, when Pete did his cycling challenge a couple of weeks ago from John O'Grace to Lanzan and playing golf, you know he had his whole team with him editing video in, you know, in their hotel at three in the morning. You know, trying to get a video out the next morning. It's huge. But then I think, even companies you know we as a media company hugely successful. We've got magazines in every different area, we've got websites, radio stations.
Speaker 1:But times change so quickly and obviously COVID changed things even more because more and more people popped up with I don't know I can create some content myself at home. Yeah, we're down at golf better tomorrow doing some stuff. And it's kind of you kind of have to explain sometimes to your commercial team Just saying to me I just need a 15 minute video. Well, a 15 minute video will take a small day tomorrow filming and then, you know, a couple of days editing probably to get it Right. Then we've got to go back and forth to make sure the clients happy because it is a commercial project. Tomorrow, again, we're up at. Michael Carrick's got a golf date tomorrow for his foundation. There's a lot of good people there. We've been invited and again the sponsors are kind of like well, can you just do some video for us? It's not just do some video.
Speaker 1:I think people think you turn up with your iPhone, you hold it in a few faces and then you stick it on YouTube and it gets a million views. If you look at the quality now and he's always been good but if you look at the quality now of what Rick does, for example, compared to what he did the day he started, when he was just filming, it is range up in in Manchester. I mean it's, it's incredible. It's like watching Hollywood production sometimes. You know and you see good, good people like that. I don't know how much of these guys you follow, but the stuff they do, you know it's just absolutely insane. And that's why brands want to get on board with them, because look at the eyeballs. So yeah, everything's filmed.
Speaker 1:Now a podcast. You know, podcast used to be an audio experience. Now it's an audio experience, a video experience. You've got to clip it up for socials. You know you want reels out there. All these are the platforms and that's before you even think about getting your guests and your subject matter, and that you know you've got all these things, you've got pulled together for for what feels like it's just a chat like now. Yeah, you know you've already got a cut 10 or 15 things out. I've said so. I don't get in trouble with the.
Speaker 5:I've made you, I've made you a good two hours work tomorrow, so you should have heard what you should have heard, what Liam was saying before you came on about his misses. So, yeah, I'll be getting it's a bit of editing, or it might be getting a bit of exposure on socials. I'm not sure yet, but yeah.
Speaker 1:Get it out. Get it out there. I'll take the heat off me. Thanks, liam, that's great. No, it's tough, yeah it's it's, but I think it's.
Speaker 1:It's a really exciting time to work in golf, no matter what you're doing, whether you're just starting out in in kind of trying to create YouTube stuff like that you guys are going to be doing, or Whether you're like us and you're kind of In a really good position at the top of kind of a magazine tree, but you're still building that digital brand.
Speaker 1:We went comm at the end of last year we were dot code UK for that, you know, and it's been a it's been a brilliant year in terms of numbers, but it's taken a huge amount of work because suddenly we've got this whole new US growth audience wise and so Things you don't didn't have to think about before. We also had US audience, but now it's kind of the US is our dominant audience for the website and so it's learning to write in a new way because the US audience want US English and they want priority given to their pricing and their players, and you know it's new. So, even having done it for 13 years, you're still learning every single day and and journalism. Well, in 24 years. Obviously journalism has changed so much. For me it's insane trying to manage the things that you have to do now that that market must be absolutely massive though to break into the US.
Speaker 5:Yeah it is, it's huge.
Speaker 1:I mean we've one thing we've never really done until the last couple of years is we pride ourselves on our equipment content. You know our equipment editor is a former club engineer himself. He's worked in in huge, a huge variety of roles in golf over the years, and so our equipment content has always been held up as kind of you know, kind of flagship content. What we've started doing over the last couple of years is is trying to monetize that as well, which is another side that you know. When I started journalism, that was never a thing. Money came in through. Somebody bought an advert in the newspaper for not now it's. We still test everything properly, but we've closed that circle. We want people to be able to buy the product once they've read our review and watched our video. So you've got then a whole affiliate business on the side that Pressurize you into all. Do you want to include this product? So I will know, because we haven't tested it. So you've still got to keep your, you know, keep yourselves honest and make sure that you've got integrity, because I think there are some.
Speaker 1:The challenge out there now is there definitely some media outlets, and I don't I don't mean any of the the ones we've talked about on here, but there are some media outlets that are just bashing out copy and content to try and make quick money, which is understandable because it's out there. But the US audience yeah, us audience is enormous and obviously Loaded with cash normally, particularly if they, you know they want to spend. I've been at venues, been up at St Andrews or been up in Scotland. When they've come over and you know they will think nothing of $5,000 spends in pro shops. You know it's just that's what. That's what they do if they go from out, they spend money. So we're trying, you know that's that's the new side of journalism trying to target those guys. That was interesting, that just touching on that about.
Speaker 5:You know, americans wanted to spend money and coming over. I was up in Scotland during covid playing up there and played a few courses and it was a bit like usual. I've changed the one of the pros at the golf club and he said, well, you know, it's not so great as you coming up from the North-West to come and play, come and play up here. Oh why? And he said, well, you just don't. You know, this standard UK green fee payer doesn't want to spend as much as a American tourist does there in there in Scotland's yeah, trip of a lifetime. Whatever they're gonna do, and they're just spending thousands upon thousands on anything, anything. Yeah, I mean we, we obviously do the. We've got the Gulf World.
Speaker 1:Top 100 franchise. We used to have Gulf World as a magazine as well, but unfortunately covid sort of meant that we would close the print products and bought the top 100 rankings into into tg and onto the website. And you know, one of the biggest debates all the time is is green fees and how expensive they are and and of course they are if you wanted to go and play the whole open road, so it'll cost you, you know, an arm and a leg, but the reason that that price is one to keep them kind of at that level that you know, so you don't get every time they can have returning up, which you know. I don't know if I agree with or not, but equally there's a US audience there that will fly over.
Speaker 1:When I was up at St Andrews a couple years ago there was a couple in the bar that I got chatting to and they were staying at the Fairmont St Andrews and they they were there for they were over in the UK for a month and the trip it cost them $24,000 I think for all the golf they were going to play and all the hotels they booked. And that was before he said that's before I've even started by a merchandise and in a going to the approach shops he said, oh, but I'm gonna go home probably looking at double the price Crazy, it's crazy amounts of money, isn't it so? But you know, they're the guys that are reading the content we produce and that's why golf will probably always have that element of being looked at as quite elitist and expensive. What we work really hard to do now is make sure it's open to a younger market, and I'm realising that there is ways into golf without it needing to cost 400 quid a round and 700 quid a driver, so it's a challenge, but it's fun.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I want to move into the quiz, but before we do, I want to touch on some of the things I can see behind you there, rob. So the flag is what really sticks out to me.
Speaker 1:Sorry, I know we're on a podcast and I've just pointed at something over my shoulder on a podcast which isn't going to be broadcast.
Speaker 1:This is why you need to get your video stuff moving on. That is a flag from the 147th Open at Carnousty and it's signed by Podrick and Paul Laurie, who are the previous champions at Carnousty. I've not, unfortunately, been able to get it signed by Francesco as yet, but I will hopefully take it somewhere and get it signed by him. And then on top of that are their armbands from the various different opens. So when you go to the open as a member of the media, if you're given inside the ropes access, you get given an armband which shows the stewards that they don't need to be tucked with you out of there and kick you into the street. So, yeah, I collect. I've got a lot of stuff. I mean, there's hundreds of golf balls over there, various signed caps that you probably can't see.
Speaker 1:It's that thing of balancing out being a fanboy when you go and do jobs which, because the professional side of you goes no, you're not going to ask Tommy Fleetwood for an interview and a selfie and then the other side of you goes. You're going to ask Tommy Fleetwood for a photograph and a selfie and an autograph because I'm a golf fan first and foremost. I love golf before I worked in it and the chance to rub shoulders with these guys. I'll do the professional bit first and then it will just be a quick oh, would you mind before you leave? And they're great. That's the thing, tommy. It was funny that I mentioned Tommy. Really he's the one, I think, that stands out for me. Of all the ones I've met and worked with, he is the standout, nicest bloke. He is exactly what you would imagine. He is the guy that you would love to meet and play around a golf with, because he's just so down to earth and so normal.
Speaker 5:Yeah, it's following at Hoyleek because we were there on the Friday. The following he got on the Friday was unreal, really. For the first, well, the second day of competition.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'd have loved him to win it.
Speaker 5:Yeah, oh yeah, I think everyone was. It was either. I know there's a few Rory fanboys on. I think Trist is up there with a bit of a Rory fanboy, and so is Josh, but if Fleetwood would have got it done in Hoyleek, that would have been like being something else. It would have been obviously from the Northwest anyway, so it was even more prevalent really.
Speaker 1:Absolutely and in the nicest possible way to Tommy. Rory will have more chances to win majors than Tommy will. Realistically, you know, might have different opinions, but Tommy's only going to get better and better. But Rory will inevitably put himself in contention, whether it's one of those Sunday charges where he doesn't quite get there, or whatever. But yeah, tommy's. I'd love Tommy to lift one, it'd be great. I don't want another Englishman that doesn't quite get over the line.
Speaker 3:Take the flag with you to Rome, because Francesco is the vice captain.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely yeah, that'll be going in the bag. I've got a few others as well that might well go in the bag, just in case of opportunities to get some stuff done. Well, I'll take it to. I'll take them to Wentworth next week as well. We'll try and get some stuff done for giveaways as well, because obviously, around rider cut time, social media, giveaways and all that sort of thing go absolutely crazy. So that's another side of things. You see, it's not journalism of the old days, it's now. You know you're at an event and you're trying to get stuff that you can check out on social to get some interaction and drive traction. It's a challenge.
Speaker 1:There's just one thing you've left out there, Rob on.
Speaker 4:It's the guitar behind you, so you're going to sing as a tune.
Speaker 1:No, I wish.
Speaker 4:I could. It's there to impress the ladies or something I don't know.
Speaker 1:It used to be my dad's, actually, and then it got passed down to me, so it sits there looking cool with the. During COVID I did that classic. I'm going to learn to play guitar. There's actually three dotted around my office and I can play probably four chords. So it won't be a very good tune if I do play it, mate. No, I'm afraid.
Speaker 3:That's good enough. Are you ready for the quiz?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, cool Maybe. Yeah. As I do every week, I touch upon the rules, and the rules are fairly simple. It's just my rules and basically I make them up as a go along every week. So Josh is not here. He not to be blunt, but he absolutely just pummels Liam every week. So Liam is. Liam's got a chance to do something this week because it's showing against Josh. It's just been disgraceful. Dg's not taken part in many, but did you lose to Josh as well, did you? Yeah, I did yeah.
Speaker 1:Is he?
Speaker 5:a bit of a font.
Speaker 1:Is he a bit of a font of knowledge, is he?
Speaker 5:It's just a pen in the arse really.
Speaker 1:Ah nice, We've all got those mate in our lives, don't we? Yeah?
Speaker 3:I'd be careful to compliment with anything. Well, because he listened to it. So I'm just going to refrain from compliments. So it's just first to shout out, if you get it. If I tell you that you're wrong, you have to pull out of that question until the other two are wrong as well. So you're not out the quiz, it's just question one. If you shout out and it's wrong, you've got to wait until the other two have had a guess. If you're all wrong, you're all back in.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I heard Carl and Gary's attempts last week. So yeah, fingers crossed I can outdo them, but who knows?
Speaker 3:But honestly I don't think it came across in the pod. They were so competitive against each other.
Speaker 1:Of course they were, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they were really going for it. They were asking each other questions that I didn't have down and I was like these two are really.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I heard that we do a lot of stuff for those guys. They're really good. They're good guys.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right.
Speaker 3:Come on then Question one Other than Tiger Woods and Jack Nicholas, who is the only other golfer to have double digit major championship wins? Gary Player, no, gary Player.
Speaker 5:Phil Mickelson? No, you know.
Speaker 4:No.
Speaker 1:It's not on, is it no? Oh God, why do you have a blank when it's something like this, Something so obvious?
Speaker 4:Tom Watson no.
Speaker 1:Trevino.
Speaker 4:No.
Speaker 1:Bloody hell.
Speaker 5:I'm still thinking here.
Speaker 3:You can't be just still thinking it's quick fire, so you're all out.
Speaker 1:Is it older?
Speaker 3:Is it older? His initials are WH. Oh, walter Hagan. Well taken, well taken.
Speaker 5:But I'm not giving you a point there. That can't be a point you can edit that down.
Speaker 1:You can edit that right down to me, just saying Walter Hagan, straight away, right.
Speaker 3:So he's actually got how many?
Speaker 1:11.
Speaker 3:11, yeah. But, that's not the point either.
Speaker 1:Oh, bloody hell, these rules have got made up. Yeah, you're right, they do get made up, they're going to be going so well, it's crowd.
Speaker 5:That's the problem.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Question two Ricky Fowler, victor Hovland, taylor Guter, matthew Wolff have one place in common. Where is that? Yeah, rob's got a point on the board there, oklahoma State.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all orange, boys.
Speaker 3:Yeah, question three what is a condor?
Speaker 1:Oh, it's a school. No, it's a score. It's a double eagle, whatever they call it in America. I can't remember which way around it is in the States but it's a score, isn't it?
Speaker 3:This is not for the American audience, rob, so I'm not going to take that.
Speaker 1:I need it, I need one more than an albatross, only one on a par five.
Speaker 3:Right, dave, you're getting the point, because that's exactly what it is it's a whole number on a par five.
Speaker 1:Dave's first guess was a golf ball and you've given him the point. Unbelievable.
Speaker 5:Second, time round.
Speaker 1:I'm not going back on this podcast again, fixed.
Speaker 3:Right, so Rob's got one, dave's got one. Liam, yeah, I don't know what happens to you in these quizzes. I really don't. You just perform so badly on them Whatever happens.
Speaker 1:Joshua Tobey's got three out of three. I'm just at home all happy.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, he's pissed in grand eagles.
Speaker 1:Oh, of course he is. Yeah, sorry yeah yeah, nice he won't care, then no, right, liam.
Speaker 3:Right, I was going to say Liam, I'm hoping you can contribute, but Gun Sang in South Korea has the longest hole in the world, so the nearest guess wins the point. What length is it in yards?
Speaker 5:1,070 yards.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was going to go 950, but I think it might be more.
Speaker 3:Okay, so you go in 950.
Speaker 4:Yeah 1,350 yards.
Speaker 3:Dave, it is 1,097.
Speaker 1:Impressive.
Speaker 3:Oh nice. I'll take that.
Speaker 1:Very good.
Speaker 3:Would you reckon the part is 10? Yeah, now, past seven. Is it brutal? That sounds brutal, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:God, I hope it's just straight, with no hazards or anything.
Speaker 3:Well, apparently it's surrounded by water.
Speaker 1:Oh good, lord, Christ, pass 70 more. That sounds like a whole course to me that's four drivers.
Speaker 3:Yeah, get past seven on it. Because yeah, but that's four drivers, that's four long drives.
Speaker 5:You've got it Well, it's just over 250 up, isn't it?
Speaker 1:if you want it, yeah, if you're confident hitting off the deck with water, then yeah, it's for a play driver, driver. I'll just I'll wedge it down there and take a nine. See you later.
Speaker 3:But, if you're not the DoD king, then you're going to be struggling to get the ball anywhere near the hole in three.
Speaker 5:Four shots aren't you, yeah, even if your knifer driver is going to run in.
Speaker 1:True, yeah fair point.
Speaker 3:Okay, so, dave, you've taken the lead. Dave, I know this is a rare occurrence. This Are you going to see it out Is the question. Well, I'm known for bottling it so Right, I guarantee you will know this. So you've got to be on your toes. What is the lowest winning score at Augusta?
Speaker 5:Oh, 23 under You're out.
Speaker 3:Dave.
Speaker 1:It's Tiger 97.
Speaker 3:Yeah, 18 under You're out, liam. So, rob, here you go.
Speaker 1:I can't remember what it is. I've written enough about it over the years. Christ 24 under.
Speaker 3:No right, you're all back in. I will help you. It's not Tiger 97. Is it not? It's not, Isn't it? Was it Dustin Johnson? It's DJ.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, it is, isn't it? Yeah, COVID, year 25 under no 21.
Speaker 3:No, so, Liam, you can get up on the board. Dave, what was your?
Speaker 4:last guess.
Speaker 5:No, I'm not telling you no chance. I know we play pairs, but I'm not telling you that.
Speaker 1:You can't see the phone on podcasts, can you?
Speaker 3:20, 22 under. Do you know what, guys, after I've led you into it, you made such a hash of that it's 20 under. So, dave, you're the winner of this week's quiz and you win a pint from both Rob and.
Speaker 5:Liam oh that's safe from Josh. I'll send you it in the post.
Speaker 1:No worries, as long as it's not a pint at going Eagles. I don't care, because now how much they cost.
Speaker 3:No, what Rob will do is he'll just send us a picture of him in Rome with his Parone. Or Ron, go and celebrate on that point.
Speaker 1:I'll tag you into plenty of pictures, don't worry.
Speaker 5:I think I'd be more jealous of an apperel, to be honest.
Speaker 1:I can do that just for the sake of a picture. I'm happy with that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, okay. Well done, Dave. I want to move on to the discussion Now. I know that it feels like we've done it to death, but it is the one thing that we're all looking forward to. So I want to touch on the Ryder Cup again. What I want to discuss is whilst we have you, rob, is I want to discuss some of the pairings we think are going to come up, some of the exciting matches, maybe people you want to see go head to head, anything that you want to contribute with a build up to the Ryder Cup. We have touched upon who would go out with Rory. It could it be Ram, could it be Rose? Rose and Rory have been out in the past. So what do we think? What the pairings are going to look like?
Speaker 1:I think Rory will probably get sent out with one of the rookies early doors. Personally, just because of that experience, I think Rose the same. Really. I think we're now at a stage where you could send out strength. You could go all guns blazing with Rory and Ram and really try and scare them, but ultimately all the players as we've touched on now, they don't really need, we don't need to scare them because I think they'll be just as scared. They all scare each other. So no, I think Rory will probably go out with I wouldn't be surprised if Rory took Ludwig out quite early. I think we will see something quite different this year as well. I think Fitz will play four balls, which he hasn't before. I think he's only played four, some suddenly in his Royal Appearance so far In terms of pairings. That's a very good question, because I haven't actually thought about it particularly as yet. Us-wise, you'd think. Do you just want Europe or do you want US as well? Go?
Speaker 3:for it anyone.
Speaker 1:I think Cantlay and Schoflay will be obvious pairing, won't they? For US? They play well together. They've got a really good record. Thomas and Spieth, there's nothing controversial there, although you've got Ricky in the mix. Who did Sheffler play with in Whistling Straight? I can't remember. No, I can't remember. I think Rory and Shane could go out together potentially. Yeah, I think.
Speaker 5:Rory and Shane. Yeah, sorry, I said before I'd like to see Hovland and A-Berg out together. I think that'd be a good pairing, because it's a little the scandy thing. But then also you've got a red hot, hovland. And then you've also got A-Berg, who's obviously been picked to play Ryder Cup on him. So lots of confidence.
Speaker 1:You could see Rahm probably going out with Hoygarde maybe as well, because they're both massive hitters and they've got quite an aggressive streak about them. But they keep it under control. So well Rahm does. For the most part. I think the interesting one is Bob. I can't quite work out yet, and I'm sure that when I see some of my Scottish friends and colleagues they'll shoot me down, but I can't quite work out who Bob goes with right now.
Speaker 1:Tommy maybe, yeah, maybe. I think Tommy's quite a level head and obviously it's his third Ryder Cup. I think Tommy's that luxury. If you're a captain, I think Tommy can literally go with anybody. I'm not saying the others can't, but I think Tommy's one of those that he's trusted. He's absolutely full of sure of the ball and I think you can trust him to take anyone else.
Speaker 1:In terms of nailed on pairings, I genuinely don't know. I'll be interested to see. I think we'll get an idea potentially next week at Wentworth, because I think Luke will probably have a little bit of a say in the grouping third day one and two and that might give us an idea. And obviously we'll get a little bit of a clue if we can get some knowledge from Monday when they're out in Marcos Amoni. So I'm definitely not worried about whoever he puts out with anybody, because I think that we're in a luxury position of. Actually I think we've got some seriously good players. What do you guys think? You've got any tips for me for my piece that I'm trying to? Write at the moment.
Speaker 3:No tips, but I'll tell you who I'd love to see together I think they'd make a formidable team is Rose and Fitzpatrick, because they're both level-headed golfers who play golf. That doesn't actually match their personality. Their personality is quite placid, they're really calm people but actually they can go and like golf courses, and Rose loves the right to cup and I think Fitzpatrick is going to be the same. And there's always, usually with the English contingency, there's always an English-English pairings of some sort, isn't there?
Speaker 5:Yeah, that's what I do. I'd like to see Hatton and Lowry.
Speaker 1:Yeah that will happen. I think Tyrell was playing with Shane when he held that putt that made him Fitzpatrick last time. So yeah, I wouldn't be, surprised if that went again.
Speaker 5:So quite a fight, I suppose. Well, no hands, obviously a bit fiery, but Lowry's got that streak in him as well, where he obviously is a passionate side. I know it's rather curled, but I think that would work quite well. I know it's only got a half and with some straights, but it's that home advantage, isn't it, of being in Europe.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think you look for those pairings that can give you a bounce, don't you? And I think if those guys win, and obviously the crowd would be behind us, but I think they will be so pumped it's a bit like when Polter used to win His victories almost felt even more important because it was that everyone else knows. So I think, definitely if those two were together, I think it's really important that Lowry starts well after what happened at Whistling Straits as well. It's obviously it was a strained rider cut for him. He didn't perform, so there's going to be a decent amount of pressure on his shoulders and he's obviously the sort of elder statesmen of the team taking rows aside, so he's kind of seen as the flagship player, isn't he? So there's going to be a lot of expectation on his shoulders and, harsh as it sounds when expectations been there at times. He doesn't always, you know, he hasn't always performed when we look at majors, but rider cut obviously, is a bit different. So I've not been particularly insightful there, have I? Let's be honest.
Speaker 5:Well, you know, you touched on that there. You know, obviously there was, I suppose, the elder statesmen out of the team, but Lowry being second to that. You know you look at the European team. It's a young team now. You know it used to be. You know, in lights of Polter and Westwood and all sort of getting towards a twilight of their career when they played last time it's interesting to see that like almost changed the guard.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Yeah, I think there's nobody. The live thing was interesting, wasn't it? Because there was lots of debate and certainly more so for the US about our live players. Are they going to be allowed? And they've got three or four, you know that could be in the conversation Reed and DJ and Deshambo. But for us generally not just because of the live situation, because I've no real feelings towards that None of those guys would have been anywhere near the team for me this time around. Yeah, captaincy, vice captaincy, I still hope that gets sorted. I still think they. Certainly Sergio, you know, for what he's done in the Ryder Cup, it would be a real shame if he doesn't have future involvement. But yeah, I don't think any of those players would have.
Speaker 1:It was a great thing in a way that you know we're in a position now where we have got all these younger guys coming through and it's going to be. You know, the future is going to be interesting because once this PIF deal gets cleared up and once we know what's happening, you know the DP World Tour is inevitably going to look a little weaker at times because we're going to lose 10 players every season to the PGA Tour. Is the Ryder Cup still going to have that kind of Europe USA vibe about it as much, because we're going to have a lot of players that are effectively spending their whole time on the PGA Tour, even this one, you know, listen to the European team how many US accents are in there, because they're European players. But actually I don't think it'll take away from it. I think those guys are still passionate, but more and more you know, these guys are growing up in the States and playing college golf and straight out on the PGA Tour. So it's going to be interesting as time goes on.
Speaker 1:I don't know what the future holds. Really. Who do you think next captain will be? I know that's a different debate. Sorry, I'm taking over your podcast. I'm just wondering if you've got any views, where those?
Speaker 1:guys where those guys aren't yet in consideration. If they weren't available, do you think it's one of the guys that's a vice captain this year?
Speaker 3:You'd like to think so, wouldn't you Someone like that? But oh, I don't know, no idea. I think we've got a good group of potential captains. To be fair, especially as they get, they seem to get younger and younger, don't they? So everybody comes into a potential pick. But yeah, no idea. What do you think about matches? Who would you like to see go head to head? I'd like to see Rory go head to head with Sheffler.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Rory and Sheffler, it's one of those. You could see that going off a little bit like Rory and P-Read a few years ago, couldn't you? But equally, if Rory and Sheffler turn up without their A-games, it could be one of those disappointing ones. No, I want some fire. I want Tyrell to face somebody that's aggressive in the US team. I'm just trying to think who? Brooks? Yeah, probably Brooks and Tyrell. I don't know, I hasn't quite got the punch maybe. But yeah, Brooks and Tyrell are both capable of being fiery. I think Rahm and Brooks would be a good showdown First out on Sunday, and I know Rory is probably the favorite to lead us off, depending on what the scores are. But I would love to see Rahm take on Brooks in that first one. And then I'd love to see Aberg take somebody down like a big name. I'd like him to take Sheffler down with someone, for example, early doors, I think.
Speaker 5:JT's obviously one that's bringing to mind, because he's quite a passionate one as Nick from the US team and obviously he's been brought in as the captain's pick. But it'd be quite a good trick. He can be quite fiery, I suppose.
Speaker 1:Tyrell and JT maybe would be quite nice.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that'd be quite a good one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, let Countlay go out last, so that we can all go home, we can get on the beer when the match is done and they can just potter in at 10 o'clock or whatever as Countlay swings his place slightly round.
Speaker 5:Be all over about that anyway.
Speaker 1:Exactly, yeah, We'll have it won and Countlay can just wander in with whoever he's playing against Hoy Guard, whoever he sticks out last. That's quite respectful to Hoy Guard, Whoever. I just assume it might be a rookie for everybody down. I don't know why. Yeah, well, we'll see. It's going to be fantastic. They always are. I just always hope it's one of those tight ones so that it really goes down to the wire rather than it being over and done with early on.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I'd like to see Rory versus Brooke, because I think it would bring about a real PJ Tour versus Live by Bernadette B. That's how it would be drawn up by, I think, a lot of the fans.
Speaker 1:Yeah, true.
Speaker 4:And then, like you say, I'd love to see one of the smaller guys. But the lesser known guys take a head of a Goliath.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it's nice to see a scout, isn't it?
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, yeah, scotty, probably.
Speaker 5:I'd like to see Bob take someone down.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, that'd be great. I'd love to see Bob take a Morrocauer or a Sheffield or someone down.
Speaker 4:I think Bob will bring a lot of emotion.
Speaker 5:I think he'll bring some grit as well.
Speaker 4:I think he'll be one of those guys who might slide into the Ian Poulter type of roles and characters.
Speaker 1:I was going to say, I think, from that that's a good point, tush. I think the team has actually got a really nice balance. On that basis. I think you've got a real nice. You know, Rahm's cape we'll put out there, but he's a bit more mature head now. But you've still got Tyrell, who we know can lose it. You've got Bob who's got it. He's got that aggression in there. Huygaard's got that underneath it doesn't necessarily show, but then you've got your kind of level headed Rory Again, obviously he got it, but he'll be expected to be calm. But then you've got your Fitzsys and Justin Rose, who he's got the passion, but he knows they'll just bring along the stability. So I think that's where Luke's probably got everything just about right with the picks and then not got lucky with qualifying. But obviously the guys that have qualified, you've got that natural balance there between Rahm, rory, hovland, you know, tyrell yeah, it's going to be. There's going to be some fire in there, though, for sure.
Speaker 5:You know Rose's got, it's got form from Medina and stuff as well. So you know that was that was a massive thing for Europe doing that over there. I know it's some time ago now, but he's got that memory sort of look back on as well, and he's part of that team and we see, yes, you know that's that's bringing all that experience in as well, isn't it? So I think it's good.
Speaker 1:I think there's a pressure. There's a pressure on this right. It could as well for Europe, which I think people will will get drummed into a little bit. That way you can have interest to see how they cope, because you know it's a long time since we've lost on home soil Long, long time, 30 odd years I think it is. So you know, losing out, whistling straight to the way we did, wasn't ideal, but equally, there are a lot of things you can say were different there. Players qualified. You know the COVID situation was strange. The US were kind of at their absolute peak and it just went a little bit wrong, and we often do. You know, losing on US soil is nothing to kind of feel too bad about, but I think, yeah, if we lost this one it would be a bit of a worry. Is this a proper changing of guard? Are we in trouble for a few years? So I hope we can overcome them.
Speaker 3:Rob, thank you so much for your time and I was actually really really pleased that I got in touch with you and you said that you'd come on and that you represented today's golfing. For us, it's a pride ourselves and been able to have different opinions from within the game. I know I've enjoyed it and when I listen back and edit it, I'm sure that I'll enjoy going through that as well. So thanks for your input.
Speaker 1:That's been great. Thanks for having me on. I've really enjoyed it. Nice to meet you guys and I'm looking forward to keeping an eye on your journey and hopefully you know, we'll be interviewing you in a couple of years and about your successes in the magazine and on the website.
Speaker 3:Yeah, thank you. Hope so See you guys.
Speaker 4:Rob Bye Thanks, rob, much appreciated.
Speaker 1:Now cheers. Guys, Lovely to meet you. I've really enjoyed that. It's been great.
Speaker 3:Cheers, rob. Well, that was brilliant, thank you.
