Drop Zone - GOLF Podcast

Pace of Play Confrontations; Dylan Frittelli

PGA Tour players are suddenly calling out slow play left and right, leaving Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau at opposite ends of the debate. Will this lead to meaningful change? Is player confrontation and off-course drama good for the Tour? Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier break all that down, plus Dylan Frittelli joins us from the sauna at Liberty National (23:05) to detail his long, hard road to the PGA Tour, including: 1. Being Jordan Spieth’s college teammate 2. Brooks Koepka Challenge Tour stories 3. That breakthrough Tour win feeling

The Tour's Emotional Rollercoaster; Martin Trainer

The PGA Tour regular season is complete, which means it's PLAYOFFS season. What does that mean for Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods? Two very different things. We discuss that before Puerto Rico Open champ Martin Trainer joins us (17:10) in studio to dish on all that he learned in his rookie season: 1. There are really two PGA Tours. 2. Your card doesn't swipe everywhere 3. Si Woo Kim is a character. And much more.

The Brooks Koepka Era; Notah Begay

Notah Begay joins the pod (32:50) to talk about the similarities between Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods, and he reveals whether or not Tiger can hoop. Meanwhile, Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier wrestle with the biggest golf questions of the week, including Rory McIlroy's beguiling game, fan heckling, the newly released PGA Tour schedule, Sergio Garcia having a normal one, and whether or not we are *officially* in the Brooks Era.

Shane Lowry's Epic Open Win

Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger recap everything about the wild Open at Royal Portrush, including the significance of Shane Lowry's win to the island of Ireland, where Portrush ranks on the Open rota, Brooks Koepka's unbelievable major run and how this year's Open lived up to its considerable hype.

British Open Preview with Shipnuck and Bamberger

Senior writers Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger are back to help prep you for the week in Northern Ireland. They explain why this Open is particularly important, the history behind it, how an Open in Northern Ireland came to be and how Graeme McDowell is the man to keep an eye on this week. Enjoy!

Cristie Kerr on Equal Pay, "Total Domination," and the Solheim Cup

2-time major champion Cristie Kerr joins us for a hearty discussion on spirits, her lengthy career, the difference between the men's and women's games, and explains why golf is so behind the times in paying female golfers what they are worth. Let us know what you think of the podcast on Twitter at @sean_zak or @golf_com!

U.S. Open 2019 Recap

Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger recap the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. GOLF Magazine's senior writers tackle Gary Woodland's impressive victory, Brooks Koepka's dominant run, the state of Tiger's game and mindset, and the ideal U.S. Open rota.

U.S. Open Moving Day Recap

The final day of the 2019 U.S. Open is upon us and Gary Woodland is on the verge of his first major victory at 11-under par. Sean Zak and Michael Bamberger discuss the top players nipping at his heels to hoist the U.S. Open trophy.

U.S. Open Round 2 Recap

Sean Zak and Alan Shipnuck breakdown the major so far: Gary Woodland shot 6-under and stands atop the leaderboard at 9-under. But round one's leader, Justin Rose, is only 2 shots back while 29 players remain under par. Plus, Tiger and Lefty are still very much in the mix.

U.S. Open Round 1 Recap

Dylan Dethier and Luke Kerr-Dineen react to all of Thursday's action which included an impressive leaderboard, underwhelming course conditions, Jordan Spieth calling out his caddy, and Tiger's 1-under performance.

Brooks Koepka, Press Conference King

Sean Zak and Dylan Dethier discuss Brooks Koepka's outspoken press conference from Tuesday at Pebble Beach. The four-time major was the talk of the media center and we hear his best bites from his time at the Podium.

Picking The Brain of Phil's Personal Club Builder

GOLF.com Managing Editor of Equipment, Jonathan Wall, spoke with Callaway’s Gerritt Pon about how he became a club builder, how he gets late night calls from Lefty and what makes his clubs so unique.

U.S. Open Preview

Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and why players' criticisms regarding the USGA seem excessive. They also dive into the idea of narrowing the host list to have a more frequent rotation of the classic five or six U.S. Open courses.

The Long Drive Experience

During this instruction episode, GOLF.com Instruction Editor Luke Kerr-Dineen dives into one thing: distance off the tee! Joining him is writer Josh Sens who recently took a long drive lesson and hit the ball over 300+ yards, gaining 50+ yards on his average drives. So can everyone benefit from a long drive experience?

Colin Montgomerie

Monty stops by the studio to discuss Scotland's best exports, whiskey and golf! Sean Zak hosts as the former Ryder Cup captain discusses Team Europe's win in 2010 and his singles record in the event. He also offers his opinion on a wide range of topics including the increased focus on fitness, why he doesn't think Jon Daly should be allowed to use a cart, and the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Will The 2024 Ryder Cup Be A Disaster?

The PGA Championship at Bethpage Black showcased the fan frenzy that comes with hosting a major golf tournament in New York. But was it an indication that crowds are becoming too mean spirited? Instruction Editor, and Team Europe super fan, Luke Kerr-Dineen wrote an article claiming the event has him "terrified." Host Dylan Dethier asks important questions regarding who's to blame, how it can be fixed, and why it matters.

Watching The PGA With Koepka's Girlfriend Jena Sims

What was it like to watch the PGA Championship alongside Brooks Koepka’s girlfriend Jena Sims? Jessica Marksbury got that opportunity this weekend. She joins Dylan Dethier to give some behind-the-scenes insight into Team Koepka and how they took in the action at Bethpage Black.

Brooks Koepka's Major Statement

Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger host their PGA Championship recap - during the final few holes of the major! The senior writers discuss Brooks Koepka's career and the statement he's made by winning his fourth major in his last eight tries, where he goes from here, and his relationship with long-time friend Dustin Johnson.

The Legend of Bethpage Black

Writer Paul Rogers first played Bethpage Black in college, and he's returned nearly a dozen times since. In this episode, host Dylan Dethier asks Rogers the pain and pleasure of the Black: what magic makes it so special, why it's become a legendary major venue, and what we can expect when the pros tee it up this week for the 2019 PGA Championship.

PGA Championship Preview

The PGA Championship is upon us, much earlier than usual. Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss the tournaments move to May along with Tiger Woods after his Masters victory and Brooks Koepka's game.

Bethpage Black's Mysterious Warning Sign

The PGA Championship heads to one of the toughest courses in America and home to one of the most iconic signs in the sport: Bethpage Black's 'Warning' sign. While the messaging is clear, its origin is not. Josh Berhow hosts this investigative podcast as he tries to uncover the truth of who put up the sign and when. But as you'll find out, memories can be fleeting.

Evolution of Course Design

Paul Stringer discusses the art and process of golf course designs as well as it's future and global expansion in the sport. Dylan Dethier hosts and has a conversation with the Executive Vice President of the Nicklaus Companies. GOLF.com and Nicklaus Companies are both affiliates of 8AM Golf.

Rory McIlroy at 30

Rory McIlroy turned 30 Saturday. What does that number mean for him? To understand who Rory is today, we look back on who he was as a 19-year-old reaching the PGA Tour for the first time. Michael Bamberger joins Sean Zak to break down McIlroy's career and where he might go from here.

Playing and Staying at Pinehurst

In this travel episode, Ashley Mayo discusses the full experience of playing and staying at one of the most renowned resorts. Sean Zak asks fan questions and Ashley fields them based on her visits to Pinehurst.

Anthony Kim Sighting

The latest Anthony Kim sighting reminded the golf world of the sport’s most mysterious star. Alan Shipnuck breaks down Kim's career and disappearance — plus what it’s like tracking him down for a story.