Drop Zone - GOLF Podcast

The Tiger Takes

Tiger Woods is back and feels better than he has in years, but what does it all mean? We're here to tell you. Four GOLF.com staffers offer their takes on what this latest Tiger comeback will amount to. We predict victories, Ryder Cup matches, even a distant major championship...and we also predict failure. These are the Tiger Takes.

Maverick McNealy

Maverick McNealy is the most intriguing young golfer to come along in quite some time. Yes, the kid can play: He spent much of 2016 and '17 as the top-ranked amateur in the country while earning a degree in engineering and management science. But what makes McNealy so unusual is his backstory, as his father Scott is a Silicon Valley legend, having co-founded Sun Microsystems, which was sold to Oracle in 2010 for $7.4 billion. Maverick grew up in gilded circumstances — for years the family kept a mansion on the 16th fairway at Pebble Beach - but he is remarkably self-possessed and down-to-earth. Maverick sat down with Alan Shipnuck in Las Vegas, where he played on a sponsor's exemption and missed the cut. It was the second of seven he is allowed to take as a non-member of the PGA Tour. If he earns 269 FedEx Cup points during these seven starts — equal to the 150th place on the 2017 list — he will become a "special temporary member" of the Tour and be able to accept unlimited sponsor's exemptions for the remainder of the season. Maverick discussed that uncertain grind and much more during the chat.

John Feinstein

The 2016 Ryder Cup played out over three days last fall in chilly Minnesota, but John Feinstein began researching the story of that event 12 months prior. You see, he's wanted to write a Ryder Cup book ever since he attended the event in 1993 at The Belfry. Now, just 13 months after the Americans won at Hazeltine, Feinstein's newest book "The First Major" details the inside story of that memorable event, with all the background and team room details a golf nut desires. Feinstein joined the podcast this week to discuss the process of writing that book, what that particular event meant in the golf world, and even more specifically, what it meant to Tiger Woods.

Olin Browne

Olin Browne is one of golf’s great late-bloomers. The Occidental College grad didn’t break through on the PGA Tour until he was 39, when he won the Greater Hartford Open. Two more victories followed, including the Deutsche Bank Championship at the ripe age of 46. Six years later he took the U.S. Senior Open, torching Inverness. At 58, he continues to dig the secrets out of the dirt on the Champions tour. Olin sat down with Alan Shipnuck recently to talk about all things growing old in the game. Oh yeah, he's not going anywhere any time soon...unless his pro golfer son keeps beating him.

Steve Flesch

If you watched Steve Flesch over the years on the Golf Channel, or during his recent gigs on Fox, you might've noticed a twinkle in his eye. The guy is bursting with opinions, many of which he has had to censor on-air over the years. They occasionally leak out on Twitter, thankfully. Well, Flesch went deep with Alan Shipnuck on a number of topics, including his sneaky-good career, which included four victories in the span of four years on the PGA Tour, sending him to a career-best 24th in the World Ranking. Flesch turned 50 this May and is easing into life on the Champions tour. What does that mean for him, his career as a broadcaster, and his way of life? Listen to find out.

Stanford Golf Coach Conrad Ray

Conrad Ray runs one of the most successful college golf programs in the nation in Palo Alto. As glamorous as that may seem, he'll be the first to tell you it isn't easy. Ray caught up with Josh Berhow recently to discuss the many aspects of his job, what it was like watching his players in the recent Walker Cup and how he helps those players move on to their professional careers. Ray, who was a sophomore on the Stanford Men's team when a budding Tiger Woods arrived in the early 90s, also discusses what it was like having Woods as a teammate and what the 14-time major winner means to the program today.

Scott McCarron

Scott McCarron is doing his best to dethrone the machine that is Bernhard Langer. Who knows if that is even possible, but if this podcast is any indication, McCarron is up to the task. The 52-year-old joined Alan Shipnuck recently to talk about California golf, his weird ascension into professional golf, how the long putter changed his life and why Langer might be the greatest "old" athlete on the planet. McCarron also sets the record straight on the controversy that is anchored putting.

Peter Malnati

On Sunday, 641st ranked golfer in the world Peter Malnati stepped out of the shadows a bit with some public commentary in regards to the controversy involving President Trump and the NFL. Known for his writing on his blog (petermalnatigolf.wordpress.com), Malnati shared quite the powerful statement, especially when you consider the silence of just about every other male player in the game. The 30-year-old pro spoke with Alan Shipnuck Monday night as he was still processing the reaction to his comments.

Paul Goydos 2.0

Paul Goydos enjoyed two victories on the PGA Tour but he's better known to fans for performances at two tournaments he did *not* win: losing a playoff to Sergio Garcia at the 2008 Players and shooting 59 at the 2010 John Deere. Those close to the game know Goydos as one of golf's keenest minds. He has an opinion on practically everything, including politics, which he follows closely. Goydos sat down with Alan Shipnuck last week at Pebble Beach for a lively, wide-ranging conversation that included his thoughts on President Trump, with whom he was paired with at the 1993 Crosby Clambake. Two days after the chat, Trump began his war of words with NFL players and NBA icons, adding a freighted backdrop to Goydos's musings.

Dean Wilson

After receiving all kinds of messages on email and social media in response to his column about Dean Wilson in the October issue of GOLF, Alan Shipnuck figured it made perfect sense to have Dean join him as a podcast guest, so here we are. Dean is as laid back as they get, and Shipnuck had the pleasure of witnessing that on a recent trip to Bandon Dunes. Years removed from a professional career, what's most important to Dean Wilson now? The hang.

Remembering 9/11

Less than one week after terrorist attacks shocked the world 16 years ago, Sports Illustrated writer John Garrity did something almost no one would have considered: he boarded a plane for Europe. The Ryder Cup was cancelled and the PGA Tour put on hold as people everywhere braced for what seemed to some as the start of a third world war. Garrity left his home and family in Kansas City and flew to England. His assignment: tell us how the golf world would react. What he found was very telling, but more than anything, if only for a few fleeting days, Garrity saw golf heal the minds of many people who were left confused and unsure how to move on.

The Top 100 Courses in the World

GOLF has unveiled its ranking of the Top 100 Courses in the World. Travel editor Joe Passov joins the podcast to discuss the ranking, how it's created, who gets a say, the best new courses and much more.

Jhonattan Vegas

Alan Shipnuck caught up with Jhonattan Vegas last week at the Northern Trust on Long Island. Shipnuck profiled Vegas back in 2012, detailing his upbringing and humble beginnings in Venezuela. The two have remained chummy ever since, and sure enough, just days after they met in New York, Vegas finished tied for third behind Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson. Topics include: 1. Vegas' family 2. His humble beginnings in the game 3. His tricky path to the Tour 4. Playing against Tiger early in his career 5. How winning for a second time is different than the first 6. Why he's had so much success in Canada

Recapping the PGA Championship

Back again, Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger recap the final major of the year from the PGA Championship. They talk Justin Thomas, Quail Hollow, Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner and share how it unfolded from a writer’s perspective.

Inside Donald Trump's Ties to Golf

Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger discuss Donald Trump's many ties to the golf world, his complicated relationship with it as president, and the recent Sports Illustrated story the explains what golf means to Trump. The discussion includes: How Trump called the White House a "dump" -- 3:10 Why he needs golf as a validation -- 9:00 What it's like playing golf with Trump -- 16:50 Trump's desire to control a Sports Illustrated story -- 21:30 Possible ties between Trump's courses and foreign financing -- 28:15 The role golf will play in post-presidency Trump -- 34:40 Trump's place in professional golf -- 38:52 If you could ask him one question... -- 44:40

In Love with Links Golf

Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger sit down in advance of the British Open to discuss their undying affection for links golf. Both writers have covered decades of Opens and probably spent just as much time traipsing linksland chasing their own golf balls. Topics discussed: 1:23 -- Why links golf is better 4:35 -- Playing jet-lag golf 7:37 -- The 1985 Open 10:55 -- Playing the Old Course alone, and in reverse 13:40 -- Walking St. Andrews with Tom Watson 17:20 -- The best courses in the rota 19:00 -- Jack Nicklaus and hotels 23:15 -- Tom Watson and the 2009 Open

The Story of Seamus Golf

The story of Seamus Golf, a golf headcover and handmade products company, begins with a beer bong of all things. A beer bong in Corvallis, Oregon on gameday between Oregon State and the University of Oregon. Megan Kenton convinced Akbar Chisti to do a beer bong, and though they barely knew each other at the time, they had a future in business together, as well as marriage. Both Megan and Akbar talked with Sean Zak recently about how they created a giant in the headcover business, and got the attention of every governing body in golf. This is a story of a startup company, but also a story of living freely with your present and your future, and stepping out on a limb with business decisions.

The U.S. Open and a career of covering it

Alan Shipnuck and Michael Bamberger are back to recap the U.S. Open and their careers covering the event. If you’re looking exclusively for a breakdown of the most recent major, well, you’ll be getting that and a whole lot more, including stories of U.S. Opens and Sports Illustrated from the 2010s, 2000s, 90s and 80s. Topics include: Why Erin Hills became the story of the event — 1:10 What should the U.S. Open be? — 9:00 How Bamberger caddied at his first Open — 17:30 Shipnuck’s first Open — 23:55 Bamberger 1999 flight alongside Fred Couples — 36:30 Senior writers being on TV — 42:15 How the Masters eclipsed the U.S. Open —47:18 Reporting the 2001 U.S. Open — 53:15 Reporting the 2010 British Open — 56:40 Reporting failure at the 2011 Masters — 58:35

Andy Dillard and the 1992 U.S. Open

The 1992 U.S. Open ended with Tom Kite winning his first and only major, but it began strangely with Andy Dillard setting a U.S. Open record that will almost certainly never be broken. As we came to find out in his fateful story, he needed that record more than anything else in his life.

Dave Pelz

The Dave Pelz you see in 2017 isn’t all that different from the Dave Pelz you would have seen in 1957. The golf fanatic was then playing on scholarship at Indiana University, and competing against Jack Nicklaus, no less, so to see where he is today—as a world renowned short game instructor—comes without surprise. The astonishing part is how he got there, because shortly after enrolling at Indiana, and losing to Nicklaus on a number of occasions, he realized he wasn’t Tour ready. His ascension to the top of the short game world—which includes advising Phil Mickelson, one of the greatest short game players of all-time—begins at NASA, and has to do mainly with physics, his major at IU. As you can tell by listening, he’s pretty good at telling the story. Topics include: 2:25 — Playing junior/college golf against Jack Nicklaus 7:30 — How a college golfer ended up working at NASA 11:10 — His introduction of the 60-degree wedge on Tour 21:45 — Phil Mickelson’s greatest short game shot 25:20 — His annual work with Mickelson 31:50 — His new green-reading project

Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley took a circuitous route to the PGA Tour: down the ski slopes of the toughest mountains in the Northeast. With stops at St. John's and developmental tours, he splashed onto the scene in 2011 with a PGA Championship victory. Over the last couple of season Bradley has been battling to get back to that rarified air, playing through swing changes and the USGA’s anchoring ban. Alan Shipnuck caught up with him at the Players to talk about his unlikely journey, and where he goes from here. Topics: Playing with Phil Mickelson -- 1:10 PGA Tour money games -- 4:25 His relationship with Michael Jordan -- 5:45 The importance of golf shoes -- 9:10 The grind he's been on over the last few seasons -- 15:15 PGA Tour weddings -- 23:30 His first love (skiing) -- 28:00 The PGA Tour cliques in Florida -- 32:15 His dust up with Miguel Angel Jimenez -- 34:15 What he envies most about Dustin Johnson -- 37:02 His relationship with Jason Dufner -- 43:15

Tour caddie Kip Henley

Tour caddie Kip Henley wasn't always a caddie. He was once an aspiring pro, until (in his words) he saw Jack Grout, Jack Nicklaus' famed coach. That's when his career as a golfer took the fateful turn. Since, Henley has made quite the career carrying bags and reading putts for a number of players on the PGA Tour, most recently Vijay Singh, whom he broke ties with just days after the recording of this podcast. You'll hear his thoughts on Vijay and much, much more. Topics: His failed Tour career -- 4:20 Why he began caddying -- 12:25 Caddying for Brian Gay -- 16:45 Are Tour caddies overpaid? -- 20:50 What works between player and caddie -- 26:33 The pettiness of certain caddies -- 31:00 The prevalence of cheating on Tour -- 34:07 How difficult it is to leave a player -- 38:20 Vijay's late-career abilities -- 41:43 His caddie dreams -- 45:10 How caddies make mistakes -- 48:06

Sean Foley

Sean Foley is only 42 but he’s seen a heckuva lot in his career as a swing guru. His pupils have won a U.S. Open (Justin Rose) and now a Players (Si Woo Kim), but it is the man he took to number one (Tiger Woods) who made Foley famous. As you'll hear in this podcast with Alan Shipnuck, Foley is a philosophical thinker in his approach to teaching anyone around him. He's also a huge hip hop fanatic. Don't think so? Just ask him for his top 5. Here are just a few of the topics included: Hip hop music -- 1:42 His college experience -- 7:53 The roots of his teaching career -- 19:23 His time with Tiger Woods -- 27:10 How he works with young players -- 32:03 Why he can't watch live golf -- 38:32 Watching Justin Rose at the 2017 Masters -- 39:35 Why golfers practice incorrectly -- 56:40

Paul Casey

Paul Casey might have the most infectious laugh on the PGA Tour, and just a few moments into this discussion with Alan Shipnuck, he shows it off. Casey and Shipnuck sat down at the Players Championship this week to discuss cars, cycling, his Ryder Cup status, how he views his career and much more. Topics: The Tour's FedEx sponsorship extension -- 2:10 Cars -- 4:15 Cycling -- 7:13 Stipulations of his Nike contract -- 12:10 Golfer injuries -- 13:30 His relationship with Peter Kostis -- 16:00 How he perceives his career -- 19:25 The Ryder Cup -- 26:35 The European Tour -- 31:50 His best Walker Cup memory -- 39:05

Danielle Kang

Danielle Kang lives a lavish life, and she'd even admit it, but she'll also be the first to tell you it takes a lot of hard work. Kang recently sat down with Alan Shipnuck to discuss every corner of her career and approach to competing on the LPGA Tour. The discussion goes as follows: Living in Las Vegas -- 4:00 Getting through struggles -- 6:40 Why golf is the family game -- 14:08 Her successful amateur career -- 24:40 Her relationship with Michelle Wie -- 33:45 Why she has a love-hate relationship with golf -- 35:47