next on the tee (Chris Mascaro)

In Part 1 of this week's show, I'm joined by PGA Tour Legends David Peoples and Tom Purtzer. David had a fantastic Amateur career which included winning the 1979 Florida State Amateur Championship before he joined the PGA Tour. He went on to win twice on Tour, at the 1991 Southern Open and the 1992 Anheuser-Busch Classic. He also won the 1990 Kapalua International.

David was so much fun when he joined me in December that I couldn't wait to have him back on the show. He and I talk about how he came from 2 strokes back to win that '79 Florida State Amateur defeating then 44-year-old and multi-time champion Jack Vegte and future Tour Pro Jay Schrader. He also shares memories of finishing runner-up at Q-School in 1982 when it was played at TPC Sawgrass, his appearances in the 1992 and '93 Masters, and why he decided not to play in The Open Championship until playing in the Senior Open Championship when he was on the Champions Tour.

Tom Purtzer is one of my all-time favorites. In his 7th visit to the show, he shares his insights on this year's Players Championship plus his experiences playing in the tournament from the late 70s through the early 90s. He talks about the challenge of figuring out the winds swirling around the 17th green, similar to the ones around the 12th green at Augusta National. We also talk about the incredible putt he made from the back lip of the bunker on the 13th hole on his way to victory at the 1991 Colonial Invitational and why he never mentioned that putt to tournament host Ben Hogan. We round out Part 1 of this week's show by talking about the fracture in the Pro game and if we would be here if Deane Beman was still Commissioner.

Top Instructor Rob Strano and Champions Tour Pro Bob Friend Jr. join me on this edition of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast. 

Rob shares some great golf tips to improve your putting, hitting low shots into the wind or out of the trees, and how to improve your bunker play.

Bob gives us his thoughts on the new rules, which ones will stick and which ones they may need to roll back. He also shares his routine for how to prepare to play in a tournament and the difference between practicing your swing and playing the game of the golf.

Hear all that and much more on this edition of Next on the Tee.

Two time major champion Tony Jacklin talks about winning those tournaments, how the British media drove him to move to the US, what it was like captaining 3 Ryder Cup victories back when the European team had never won and his new book "Bad Lies, A Story of Libel, Slander& Professional Golf."

Rees Jones, World Renowned Golf Course Designer & Architect, talks about the work he did renovating Bellerive Country Club, site of this year's PGA Championship, back in the mid 2000s. The course was originally designed by his father Robert Trent Jones in the late 1950's and opened in 1960. It became the youngest course to host a US Open which was won by Gary Player in 1965. Rees talks about the course layout and what it will take to win this year's PGA Championship on this segment of Next on the Tee.

Bryan Finnerty shares his story of going from an 11 year member of the Detroit Rockers in the National Professional Soccer League, to owning some of the largest sports arenas in the country, to being a Board member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, to being CEO of V1 Sports and the Galway Bay brand.

In this episode, I'm joined by former PGA Champions Hal Sutton and Shaun Micheel plus Top Instructors Jason Hase and Eric Johnson.

Hal Sutton shares his thoughts on golf in the Olympics, Xander Schauffele's gold medal performance, how that victory might propel him to winning his first major, Louis Oosthuizen's summer, and how to develop an attitude for winning. I also get his thoughts on how US Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker can prevent the team room from becoming a circus with Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed all on the team.

Shaun Micheel catches us up on his performances at the Sr. PGA Championship and Sr. Open Championship. We also hear about trying to prepare for playing links golf, and whatever became of the 7 iron he hit to 2 inches on the last hole of the 2003 PGA Championship.

Top Instructor Jason Hase takes us around his home course Buffalo Dunes which Golf Magazine ranked #8 among the best municipal courses in the country. He also gives us a tip for how to stop hitting our wedges fat.

Eric Johnson is a Golf Digest Top 100 Instructor. He takes us inside his new home course, Yellowstone Golf Club in Big Sky Montana. Eric also weighs in on the upcoming US Ryder Cup team, and how we can be mentally strong when we're faced with those 2-5 foot knee knockers.

Thank you for coming back for Part 2 of Season 12, Episode 19, a special Masters preview edition. In this segment, we continue our Masters preview with two guys who competed in 8 Masters tournaments starting with one of the finest golf analysts in the history of broadcasting and a 14-time winner around the world, Frank Nobilo. Frank will be on the CBS Sports broadcast team this weekend, providing commentary on four key holes. He’s competed in The Masters four times himself, with a standout 4th-place finish in 1996. We dive into how he approached playing Augusta National, especially the challenges of navigating Amen Corner. Frank also shares some great insights into the tournament’s history, and the patience required to succeed at Augusta. Plus, like my other guests this week, he offers his predictions for who will be atop the leaderboard on Sunday—and throws in an intriguing dark horse to watch.

Then we wrap things up with two-time PGA Tour winner John Inman. John and his brother Joe both played in The Masters multiple times, and John tells a hilarious story about Joe’s suggestion to drop a ball into Rae’s Creek while crossing the Hogan Bridge—and the surprising reason behind it. We also hear about John’s experience staying in the Crow’s Nest as an amateur, what it was like staying on-site during tournament week, and the time Tom Watson caught him and a fellow amateur watching a movie in the Champions Locker Room. John gives his perspective on the tricky Par 3 fourth hole and the always-demanding 12th. He’s a fantastic storyteller, and I think you’ll really enjoy our conversation.

There’s a ton of great stuff in store for you this week on Next on the Tee. Thank you for being here and pressing play.

Debbie O'Connell is one of my all-time favorite guests and individuals. She's the Founder of Golf Positive and a Top 50 LPGA Professional. She shares her Keys to a Championship Mindset and how to get to the next level with you golf game. Be sure to check out her Web site at www.golfpositive.com.

Former Tour Caddie Russ Holden was on the bag for over a decade for Bernhard Langer. He also served as Caddie Captain on the 2004 European Ryder Cup team. He shares his insights from that experience and the great work he's doing now for our Military Veterans through his organization Caddy For A Cure.

Peter Kessler, The Voice of Golf, takes us back to the 1980 & '86 Masters, why Seve won and why Seve lost. He also shares his thoughts on why Arnold Palmer's Masters and majors dominance was confined to 1958-1964, the special appearance fee Sam Snead required to play, and his thoughts on this year's Masters tournament. Hear all that and much more on this segment of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast.

Champions Tour Player of the Year Scott McCarron talks about how he got his start in the game, his time playing college golf at UCLA, why he's had so much success here in Atlanta, and his run to the Charles Schwab Cup that ended in the final tournament of the year when Jeff Maggert holed out from 123 yards in a playoff against Ratief Goosen that took the Cup away from Goosen and won it for Scott.

This week Tom Patri shares his thoughts on Tony Finau's big win at the Northern Trust, his picks for the US Ryder Cup team, plus tips for getting out of greenside bunkers and why we should go for accuracy over distance when buying a new driver.

Tom Patri shares his thoughts on next week's PGA Championship, the reception Phil's fellow players may give him, whether Jason Day and Rickie Fowler are rounding back into form, plus we get tips on short iron setup and par 5 strategies.

Top Instructors Rhonda Ferguson and Jack Diehl share their stories and playing lessons on this edition of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast. If you have a junior golfer in the family or you need some tips for how to play better in windy conditions, this is an episode for you.

Paul Grangaard tells us why it has always been so important to him to keep manufacturing jobs in the US. When Paul was the CEO of Allen Edmonds Shoes and now as the Founder & CEO of Circle Rock, he's kept their manufacturing plants and all the materials they use, produced here in the US. He lets us know about the incredible locally made men's polos, casual and dress shirts, plus sweater vests they have available on www.circlerock.com.

This week I'm joined by 3 of the best Instructors and PGA Professionals in our game Tom Patri, Tom Wildenhaus, and Nancy Quarcelino plus aspiring Tour Pro and Trackman Golf Rep Andrew Strother.

TP and I try to make sense of what's going on in the game with Jon Rahm signing with LIV when the proposed partnership deadline is still weeks away. Has Patrick Cantlay gone all Alexander Haig on the PGA Policy Board? Why has yet another tournament sponsor pulled out? Could we be headed for tournament specific golf balls at USGA & R&A hosted tournaments if the PGA Tour and PGA of America hold fast to not adopting the rolled-back ball. If so, who's going to produce that ball? As usual we try to solve the world's problems in segment one.

Tom Wildenhaus is a 2 time South Florida PGA Professional of the Year. He has also spent over 2 decades at one of the top courses in Florida, Olde Florida Golf Club. We discuss the high expectations of one of their founding members, Mike Ditka. We also hear about the wonderful things the section has done for people away from the game of golf and some of the tremendous junior talent that has come up through the section as well.

Nancy Quarcelino is not only annually named one of the Top 50 LPGA Teachers by Golf Digest, she has now reached Elite status. We talk about that recognition. I also get her thoughts on the new influx of money into the LPGA Tour, a return to mixed team events like the Grant Thornton tournament, the recent loss of her friend and University of Kentucky women's golf coach Betty Lou Evans, working with our mutual friend Dr. Alison Curdt, and how incredibly talented Minjee Lee is.

Andrew Strother is one of the great people you get to meet in our game. After playing high school golf in rural Kentucky he went on to the University of Kentucky and graduated with a triple major in finance, marketing, and communications. He didn't play college golf but did help establish club golf at UK. In his late 20s, he decided to give professional golf a try after competing in long-drive contests. Andrew talks about his grind to get through Q-School to play on the Mexican Tour, his Top 30 finish in the Colorado Open, and caddying at the Barbasol Championship earlier this year.

Tim Cusick is now a member of the Education Faculty of the PGA of America at their new headquarters in Frisco, Texas. Tim updates us on how their new facility and two championship golf courses that will host major championships are coming along. He also shares tips for how to read greens, dial in our distance control from 100 yards in, and fix your swing if you're struggling with coming over the top.

Tom Purtzer takes us through some of his 9 Tour victories, why he was so successful on the West Coast, plus his Top 10 finishes in the 1977 & '79 US Opens and the 1982 Open Championship at Royal Troon. We also hear about his twin daughters and why they were named after Robin Yount and Juli Inkster.

Tom Patri is back with me this week along with 3 Next on the Tee rookies, 1984 National Champion John Inman, 1986 Florida State Amateur Champion Barry Cheesman, and Robert Morris University Head Men's Golf Coach Steve Shingledecker.

TP and I got into this past weekend's Wasted Management Open and if it has gone from being The People's Open to needing The People's Court? We also talk about the rash of 60 and sub-60 rounds we've seen recently, plus the resurrection of the Maxfli golf ball.

John Inman won the 1984 National Championship while at the University of North Carolina. We hear about that victory, what it was like teaming with Davis Love III and Jack Nicklaus II to win the 1983/84 ACC Championship, getting the better of Rocco Mediate twice at the '84 Western Amateur and the Provident Classic, plus whether his brother Joe, a 4-time winner between the PGA & Champions Tours, would make a great next Commissioner of the PGA Tour.

Barry Cheesman started out as a Minor League baseball player in the Cardinals farm system back in the 70s. He later turned his attention to golf and won the 1986 Florida State Amateur Championship. We hear that story plus about his 2 wins on the Ben Hogan Tour including at Quail Hollow outside of Cleveland. We also hear what it took to be a long driver out on Tour in the days of persimmon woods and balata golf balls.

Steve Shingledecker is a great multi-sport athlete. He was an All-American baseball player at North Carolina State. He coached Franklin High School in the Pittsburgh area to the 2006 AAA PIAA basketball state championship, and he's now the Head Men's Golf Coach at Robert Morris. We started out talking about his high school friendship/rivalry with Top 100 Instructor and fellow Pittsburgh area native Eric Johnson during their Oil Creek Region days. Someone used the phrase "garbage athlete" to describe the other. While the other one used air quotes around "athlete" when describing his friend. We moved on to learn about his college baseball days at NC State where he was the ACC Tournament MVP in 1990. We got into his golf career and learned what it was like being in the mix at the 2002 Pennsylvania State Mid Amateur Championship. We went on the court to hear what it was like coaching Franklin High to that state championship. We rounded out our conversation getting into how he went about getting the Head Golf Coach position at Robert Morris and working with his players to build that golf program.

This week I am joined by 4 of the Top Instructors and Body Movement experts in the game.

Keith Jarvis is a Lead Instructor at Golf Channel Academy. He can be found in the New York/New Jersey areas and on the V1 app. Keith breaks down Trackman data and helps us understand what smash factor is, what good spin rate numbers are off the driver, how to take a pivot after we strike the ball, and why you should tee the ball lower than what you've been told.

Terry Hashimoto is the Founder of BodiTrak Golf and Golf Rehab.com. Terry explains why all good players have 80+% of their weight on the lead leg by the time they get to the top of their backswing. We also learn why golf is a great rehab game for those suffering from concussions, and which fundamentals are no longer relevant.

Katherine Roberts is the Top Movement Skills person and Yoga Instructor in the world in my opinion. She's about to begin her 10th season working with the Chicago Cubs. She takes us through how she can help those of us suffering from some sort of injury get back in the game. We hear how ground reaction forces can help us generate more distance, and some stretches we can do to warm up before we go play.

TP joins me and shares his thoughts on last week's PGA Merchandise Show, the time he spent working with Jackie Burke Jr., Rory's about-face on yet another LIV issue, and who he's picking to win the Super Bowl.

Legendary Broadcaster Ben Wright shares his insights on the Ryder Cup on this segment of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast. Hear his insights on why the US team lost, what they need to change going forward, and why the Ryder Cup means more to the European team. Mr. Wright also shared his memory of the 1969 Ryder Cup and "The Concession" between Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin. He talks about why Nicklaus conceeding a 2 foot putt on the last hole to half their singles match, halving the overall competition and retaining the Ryder Cup for the US, was still such a big deal.

What a night on Next on the Tee getting to listen to my guests Charlie Rymer, Chris Carter, Liberty Devitto, and Bob Winskowicz sharing their stories and insights. If you enjoy triumphant, fun, and informative podcasts, this is it folks. We get choked up and laugh a lot in this one.

Charlie Rymer shares his year-long battle with stage 3 colon cancer. We hear how the doctors discovered, the treatment and surgeries he went through, and how he ultimately rang the bell for being cancer free. We also talk about some of the recent episodes of his show featuring guests Paige Spiranac and John Daly.

Chris Carter is the Founder of the Sports Geek Radio Network up in Wisconsin. Chris talks about the great courses they have up there beyond Whistling Straits and Erin Hills. He also shares his thoughts on why LIV Golf is good for professional golf and the fans.

Liberty Devitto played drums in the Billy Joel band for over 30 years. Listening to him tells stories was one of the most fun segments of the year. We hear how his love for the drums started when he was 1 1/2 beating on the pots and pans in the kitchen and when he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, that cemented his desire to be a musician. Liberty tells us about what it was like traveling with Billy to play in Cuba and Russia. We hear the funny story of how he ended up playing with Paul McCartney, how much he and the band hated Just The Way You Are, and thought that Scenes From An Italian Restaurant was too long. He also talks about their concerts at Yankee Stadium and on New Year's Eve 1999 at Madison Square Garden.

Bob Winskowicz is the Founder of SQAIRZ Golf. He updates us on the tremendous growth Sqairz had had this year. Their shoes are worn on Tour by Sepp Straka, John Daly, and Mark Calc. We hear why you should throw away any golf shoes you have that you can twist in your hands. We hear why Sqairz gives you greater stability which leads to more distance and greater accuracy. Bob worked with Arnold Palmer for many years at Mr. Palmer's golf company, and he tells how Mr. Palmer's principle of "what's in it for the consumer" is at the forefront of everything they do at Sqairz. 

Rick Fehr shares his thoughts and lessons for how to deal with tournament golf pressure. We talk about his stories from being low amateur in the 1984 Masters and US Open. What it was like for him to be a part of the victorious 1983 Walker Cup team, his win at the 1986 BC Open, and the short list of things all great ball strikers do.

Dr. Bill Mallon joins me in this segment. Bill played college golf at Duke and on the PGA Tour from 1975-1979 before going back to school and getting his medical degree. We talk about getting through Q-School and earning his Tour card. We also talk about his 6th place finish in the 1976 Western Open and playing in the 1977 US Open. Bill shares why he left the Tour to go back to medical school to be an Orthopedic surgeon. Plus, I get his insights and expectations for Tiger Woods following Tiger's most recent foot surgery.

Rick Reilly joins me in this special segment of the show. Rick shares his thoughts on:

• The US Open and LA Country Club
• LIV/PGA Tour merger
• Phil vs. Tiger
• Who is the greatest of all-time Jack or Tiger
• His 694 tries to make a hole in one
• Some of his favorite golf holes
• Living in Italy during the Covid outbreak.
• Playing golf with Donald Trump
• And much more...

On this episode of Next on the Tee I'm joined by legendary Broadcaster Ben Wright, Golf Academy Lead Instructor Brian Jacobs, and SuperSpeed Golf Co-Founder and President Mike Napoleon.

Ben Wright shared his thoughts on the US Open, the Open Championship and looked ahead to the PGA Championship. We talked about his memory of the 1965 US Open which Gary Player won in a playoff. It was held at Bellerive Country Club site of this year's PGA. He shared his memory of the 1992 PGA Championship, which he helped broadcast, and was also held at Bellerive. We also talked about Tigermania and the disservice the media does to the other players because they are so focused on Tiger. He said the media has never been so focused on any of the other great players like they are on Tiger. He added that Ben Hogan's comeback to win several majors following the car accident that nearly killed him far surpasses the comeback Tiger has made.

Brian Jacobs shared his method of teaching junior golfers including assessing their goals and how he goes about making the game fun so they stay excited and engaged. He also talked about how to generate more club head speed plus fix one of our common swing path errors of coming over the top and pull hooking the ball.

Mike Napoleon is the Co-Founder and President of SuperSpeed Golf. Their SuperSpeed program is designed to help us generate more club head speed. Mike took us through the products and practice protocols that can help add 5+ MPH to your club head which equates to more distance.

Tom Patri, Golf Tips Magazine Top 25 Instructor, talks about his college golf experience including when he and his teammates at Florida Southern won the Division II National Championship. Tom took the individual National Championship as well. He talks about the rich golf history at Florida Southern, and how college golf has changed over the last 30 years. Tom also shares some playing lessons including drills you can do at home to square the club face up at impact. Hear all of that and much more from Tom on this segment of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast.

On this edition of Next on the Tee I talk Masters past and present with former Golf Channel Producer and Author Keith Hirshland, the Host of Backspin Golf Matthew Laurance, and Golf Tips Magazine Top 25 Instructor Tom Patri.

On this edition of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast I'm joined by 2011 Senior Open Champion Olin Browne and Top Instructor Dave Stockton Jr. I talked with both guys about playing out on the Champions Tour, their insights and experiences from being Assistant Captains on Ryder Cup teams and what went wrong with this year's team. Olin also talked about what it's like to be playing in a Champion's Tour tournament while his son is simultaneously trying to qualify for the Web.com Tour. I asked him if it's more stressful for him playing in the tournament or wondering how his son is doing. I also asked Olin if his strategy is different now playing in the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs than it is playing in a regular Tour tournament because the field gets narrowed down every week during the playoffs. Dave, who just turned 50 on July 31st, talked about playing in his first Champions Tour event at the 3M Championship and his plans for 2019 out on the Champions Tour. Hear all of that and much more on this edition of the show.

In this special bonus edition of the show I'm joined by former Houston Oilers Pro Bowl QB Dante Anthony Pastorini.

Dan Pastorini is not only a multi-time Hall of Fame athlete but also a Hall of Fame human being. Despite what you might see on commercials, he truly is one of the most interesting men on the planet—which you can read more about in his book, Taking Flak: My Life in the Fast Lane.

In this segment, Dan reflects on his journey with golf, sharing how he developed a passion for the game and even helped his Houston Oilers teammates get invited to the Houston Open, breaking a tradition where only Cowboys players were previously included. He recalls the thrill of teaming up with fellow Houston Sports Hall of Famer Jackie Burke to win the Pro-Am and names the players who would make up his most fun foursome.

Dan also highlights his annual Celebrity Golf Invitational, which raises funds for the inspiring organization Be An Angel (www.beanangel.org). Shifting to football, he reminisces about the fierce yet respectful rivalry between the Steelers and Oilers in the late ’70s, including memorable third showdowns in the AFC Championship Games in 1978 & '79. He shares stories of mutual respect, like Joe Greene and John Banaczak helping him off the field after the '79 Championship game and Joe being there to honor him at his Houston Sports Hall of Fame induction.

TaylorMade Golf Sr. Vice President of Research, Design, & Engineering Todd Beach plus Golf Tips Magazine Top 25 Instructors John Hughes and Tom Patri join me.

Todd Beach talks about the technology behind their M5 & M6 drivers and how the resin injected is actually done so to bring the driver back to conforming to USGA limits. He also takes us back to the story behind the bubble shaft they used to use in their woods, he shares insights on their twist face design, and what we can look forward to in 2020.

John Hughes shares tips on how to improve your short game, your bunker play and some drills to help you square up the club face at impact.

Tom Patri talks about the advantages of having a shorter shaft in your driver, how to improve your putting stroke and how to practice with a purpose.

John Cook shared memories from when he first started out on Tour in the late 70s when celebrities often hosted Tour events like Bing Crosby, Glen Campbell, Jackie Gleason, and Sammy Davis Jr. We hear about his playing partner in the Crosby, James Garner. John then shares stories from his first Masters appearance when he was the reigning US Amateur Champion. He talks about when his invitation arrived in the mail, his first drive up Magnolia Lane, and what it was like staying in the Crow's Nest. We also hear about his near-victory in the 1990 Las Vegas Invitational when his shot from 95 yards flew into the cup and then bounced out taking him from birdie to bogey to lose.

Golf Pride Marketing Channel Manager Charlie Fisher, Champions Tour Pro Tim Simpson, and Golf Tips Magazine Top 25 Instructor Tom Patri join me on this episode of Next on the Tee.

Charlie Fisher updates us on their new grips for 2019 including innovations with the mostly widely used grip on Tour, their Tour Velvet Align series, along with their Tour SNSR putter grips.

Tim Simpson talks about some of the legends that he worked with including Sam Snead and Gardner Dickinson. He also talks about the toll that Lyme disease took on him and memories of playing in The Masters.

Tom Patri shares some playing lessons for how to hit better pitch shots and controlling distance on our lag putts.

In part 1 of Episode 39, I am joined by two remarkable figures in the golf world: 1991 Open Champion Ian Baker-Finch and 1984 National Champion John Inman.

Finchy and John are among the most wonderful people you could meet in golf. Ian and I delve into his victory at the '91 Open, held at Royal Birkdale. He gives us an inside look at his third round course record 64 (which Jodie Mudd broke the next day). We hear about his eagle on the 17th hole, followed by a birdie on the 18th that tied him with Mark O'Meara going into the final round. We then discuss the five birdies he made in his first seven holes on Sunday, en route to a front nine 29 which put him in control of the tournament. I asked him how he stayed focused in the moment and didn't let himself think ahead to becoming the Champion Golfer of the Year. You'll also hear how his family kept him grounded that week, about his friendship with Mark O'Meara, his close calls in 1984 and 1990, and how those experiences prepared him to win in '91. Ian also shares his thoughts on this year's Open and Xander Schauffele's impressive win.

John Inman was so great earlier this season that I couldn't wait to have him back on the show. We get his thoughts on Xander's big win and discuss why he never played in The Open. We then look back at this year's US Open, John's T14 finish in the 1990 US Open at Medinah, his hole-in-one in the '91 US Open at Hazeltine, and his recent trip to Cleveland to see Ralphie's house from A Christmas Story.

Golf season is just around the corner, and that means new equipment drops from all the major manufacturers! In this episode of Next on the Tee, we break down the latest gear and help you make smart decisions before dropping big money on new clubs.

Joining me first is Scott Felix, one of the Top 100 Club Fitters, to guide us through the maze of new equipment. From TaylorMade’s Qi35 woods and irons, which just earned top honors on the Golf Digest Hot List, to other big-name releases, Scott takes us beyond the marketing hype. We’ll cover:

• When to buy new clubs, when to hold off, and when to invest in lessons instead
• Understanding the shaft and clubhead market
• Why the latest driver won’t magically fix your slice

Then, we shift gears to the mental side of the game with our monthly visit from Dr. Bob Winters, aka The Confidence Doctor. This month, Doc shares strategies on "finding a way to get it done" and how to remind yourself that you're smarter than your doubts and better than your fears. His insights will be worth jotting down in your golf notebook before your next round!

It’s an episode packed with game-changing advice—don’t miss it!

We're kicking off 2025 and Season 12 with a fantastic lineup on Next on the Tee! This week in Part 1, we start the new year in the best way possible—with our resident Director of Instruction, Tom Patri and The Confidence Doctor, Dr. Bob Winters. Come back for Part 2 featuring 2 time Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year Brandon Stooksbury and the Head Golf Professional at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio Jason Carbone.

In Part 1, TP shares his insights on the first PGA Tour event of the year in Hawaii, where Hideki Matsuyama put on a record-breaking performance, finishing at an astonishing 35 under par. With an incredible 88% greens-in-regulation and 1.56 putts per GIR, Matsuyama won in record-setting fashion shooting a PGA Tour 35 under par. Tom shares his thoughts on that plus we dive into the latest golf equipment hitting the market and discuss the one Tour player he’d love to have a crack at fixing.

Then, I welcome back The Confidence Doctor himself, Dr. Bob Winters, for our monthly deep dive into the mental side of the game. Dr. Bob takes us deep inside the mental game, to its core. Doc breaks down how our actions follow our thoughts and shares practical strategies to combat negativity and how to strengthen our mental approach.

It's an episode packed with insight, strategy, and inspiration—so let's get 2025 started the right way!

Nick Bradley talks about taking Justin Rose from #125 to #5 in the World Golf Rankings, the importance of visualization in your career, and the next shot plus, what stoicism is and why it's important.

Check his books available on Amazon:

• Kinetic Golf
• The 50 Secrets to Great Golf...You Don't Know...Yet
• Letters to an Evolving Golfer
• The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing

Give him a follow on social media at: @nickbradleygolf & @thenickbradley. See his swing lessons on www.performancegolfzone.com

On this edition of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast I'm joined by: one of the best Instructors of all-time Dr. Jim Suttie, the Voice of Golf Peter Kessler, and Randy Peitsch, VP of Operations for the PGA Tour SuperStore.

Dr. Suttie and Randy Peitsch join me from the PGA Merchandise Show. Dr. Suttie shares some great playing lessons and insights into the biomechanics of the golf swing. Randy Peitsch talks about the new equipment that the major manufacturers are debuting at the Show plus great new technology that's about to hit the market and be available in the PGA Tour SuperStore. Peter Kessler's enthusiasm for the interviews and content he's added to his Web site www.peterkessler.com bubbles over when he joins me in segment number 2.

In this episode, I'm joined by 2 of the Top Instructors in the game, Tom Patri and Tony Ruggiero plus former Tour Pro Mark Lye, and 20-year Army Combat Veteran now a 40-year-old member of the Stephen F. Austin men's golf team Jonathan Shuskey.

TP shares his thoughts on the Presidents Cup, the great week that Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Max Homa had, and the forgettable one that Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns did. I also get his thoughts on the rise of Tom Kim, and a playing lesson for how to dial in our wedges from 100 yards in.

Mark Lye was an All-American in college at San Jose State and played on Tour from 1977 to 1994. During his high school days, he never lost a match yet colleges thought he was too small and his game was too erratic to recruit him. The only one who came knocking was San Jose State. He made the others school regret their decision. Mark won the 1976 Australian Order of Merit and the 1983 Bank of Boston Classic. Hear those stories and more in his segment.

Jonathan Shuskey was a 20-year Army Combat Veteran who saw 5 tours of duty in the Middle East. We hear about his play on the All-Army golf team, winning the Fort Benning Club Championship 3 times, and what it's like being a 40-year-old Sophomore playing on the Stephen F. Austin men's golf team.

Tony Ruggiero is a Golf Digest Top 50 Instructor and Host of the Tour Coach Podcast. He and I have a lot of synergies with show partners and mutual guests. Tony recently had an amazing conversation with Hal Sutton. We talk about that and how Tour Pros focus on their good shots instead of obsessing over their bad ones. We also get a playing lesson on how to fix our slice and square the clubface at impact.

Top 100 Instructor Tom Patri joins me from Shinnecock Hills. Tom grew up on Long Island and has played the course numerous times. He shared his insights on the course conditions and set up plus the strategy for how to play certain holes and who he thinks will be on top of the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon.

Andy Traynor shares his insights on Lee Westwood and Matt Kuchar plus drills you can do at home to keep your swing in shape and how to properly execute a great fairway bunker shot.

On this edition of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast I'm joined by Golf Academy Lead Instructor Keith Jarvis, 2010 South Florida PGA Teacher of the Year Chris Czaja, Golf Tips Magazine Top 25 Instructor Tom Patri and 2Undr VP of Sales & Marketing Jack Curry.

Sports Psychologist and one of the Top Instructors in the game, Dr. Alison Curdt joins me on this segment of the show.

Alison talks about how to overcome the hole that you struggle with every time you play a particular course. She also shares a drill that you can do with a towel to improve shifting your weight and an incredibly easy putting drill that drastically improved my stroke.

Bill Bergin updates us on the progress of his latest course design partnership with Rees Jones, The Outpost, up at McLemore. We also hear about his experiences playing in 3 US Opens, and who he likes this year.

Mitch Laurance shares stories and information from his recent trip to Sweetens Cove, one of the Top 100 courses you can play, located just outside of Chattanooga, plus courses around the state of Michigan. Hear all that and much more on this segment of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor Tim Cusick shares drills you can do at home, how to hit better chip shots around the green and how to determine proper ball position.

Former BC Lions WR and former Chairman of Els for Autism Marco Iannuzzi joins me on this segment. Marco and I talk about his college football days at Harvard and the Grey Cup Championship he helped the BC Lions win during his rookie season. Marco has been playing golf for years and we hear when and how he got introduced to the game plus how CFL legendary WR Geroy Simon gave him a set of clubs only to turn around and charge him for them after Marco took all the skins one day. We also talked about the great charity work Marco does for Els for Autism, Multiple Sclerosis of Canada, and winning Canada's Smartest Person competition and ending it by dropping the people's elbow.

In this week's final segment of Next on the Tee, Michael Breed talks about his dream to play Major League Baseball and the time when he pitched back-to-back games one righthanded and the other lefthanded. We hear about something near and dear to his heart, the endowment fund he started for the men's golf team at his college alma mater Randolph-Macon College in honor of his coach Ted Keller. Michael also shares the story about his experience qualifying for and then playing in the 1994 Greater Hartford Open. I get his perspective on the LIV Tour, plus Lexi Thompson's putting challenges at the KPMG PGA Championship.

On this episode of Next on the Tee I'm joined by: Kevin Roman, 2014 Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year and current Director of Instruction at Monterey Peninsula Country Club; Alison Curdt, 2015 LPGA National Teacher of the Year; and Golf Digest Top 100 Club Fitter Scott Felix.

Kevin Roman shares his insights into the set up and playing conditions at Pebble Beach as we look ahead to the US Open. He also talks about what it will take to win there and the type of player the conditions will favor. Kevin also talks about the two Top 100 courses they have at Monterey Peninsula Country Club and shares some playing lessons for how to deal with windy playing conditions.

Dr. Alison Curdt talks about this year's Women's Golf Day event and the challenges she's had to overcome as a female during the course of her golf career. Alison shared her experience of not only playing in but also making the cut last year in the Men's PGA Professional Championship. We also got a couple of playing lessons for how to hit better pitch shots and shots out of a fairway bunker.

Scott Felix took us through why it's even more important for high handicap players to get fit for their clubs than it is for Tour Pros. He explained the importance of finding the right shaft for your swing speed, the steps he goes through to determine the right clubs for each of his customers, the importance of grip size and how to get fit for the right putter as well. 

Top 100 Instructor Nancy Quarcelino talks about the advice she would give Team USA to help them be victorious. We also get tips for when to hit a hard iron shot versus taking one less club and hitting it softer, her 3 ups to gain more distance off the tee, and proper foot alignment to help get a better turn.

On this segment of Next on the Tee, Dr. Alison Curdt talks about this year's Women's Golf Day event and the challenges she's had to overcome as a female during the course of her golf career. Alison shared her experience of not only playing in but also making the cut last year in the Men's PGA Professional Championship. We also got a couple of playing lessons for how to hit better pitch shots and shots out of a fairway bunker.

On this week’s episode, we kick things off with a visit from our good friend and Robert Morris University Men's Head Coach Steve Shingledecker. RMU is riding high on a wave of momentum, thanks to their men’s basketball team capturing the Horizon League Championship and making an impressive showing in the NCAA Tournament, where they pushed powerhouse Alabama to the limit in the first round. Steve shares what the energy has been like on campus during the team’s thrilling run, how that success is already paying dividends in the recruiting process, and how the evolving landscape of college athletics—including the transfer portal—is impacting mid-major programs like RMU. We dive into whether top talent from these schools is at risk of being poached annually by Power Five programs, turning everyone outside the SEC and Big Ten into a de facto minor league system.

Then, I’m joined by World Golf Hall of Famer David Graham. David had a stellar career both here in the U.S. and internationally after coming over from his native Australia. We reflect on his standout 1970 season, where he captured the Tasmania, Victorian, Thailand, and French Opens, and teamed up with Bruce Devlin to win the World Cup. We also revisit his major championship triumphs at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open plus his home national championship at the Australian Open. David also offers his thoughts and memories about The Masters and what it was like to contend at The Open at St. Andrews. You won’t want to miss these incredible stories and insights from a true legend of the game.

Former Champions Tour Pros Bob Friend Jr. & Donnie Hammond join me. Hear stories from their playing careers plus they drop their thoughts on:

• LIV Golf
• Out working other players
• One of the all-time great college coaches Buddy Alexander.
• Greg Norman
• Why Cam Smith shouldn't join LIV.
• Why the PGA Tour should reimburse expense money to players who miss the cut.
• Augusta National lengthening the 13th hole.
• Could the LPGA survive if there's a LIV Women's Tour
• St. Andrews without wind.
• Are majors just another tournament after the first tee?
• Vin Scully
• Neal Schon & Journey
• NASA's return to the moon
• And much more...

One of the all-time great ball strikers Tim Simpson shares stories about his college days at the University of Georgia and his roommate Chip Beck, plus looks back to when he was first presented with a medal wood to test out, the evolution of the golf ball, and how often he actually had his "A" game, if he won all of those times or did he piece together some of those wins?

In this episode I'm joined by, Bruce Devlin, Tom Purtzer, Bob Estes, & Tom Patri Join Me...

Tom Patri and I discuss the players that continue to stream over to LIV Golf plus his reaction to what we say at the Tour Championship, was Rory's win bigger for him or for the PGA Tour, the surprise crowd reaction to Cam Smith, and a gotcha playing lesson for what not to do as we all chase more clubhead speed.

Tom Purtzer shares his thoughts on LIV Golf. We go back in his playing career and hear what it was like being paired with Jack Nicklaus in the final round of the 1977 Tournament of Champions, and his memories of Tom Weiskopf.

Bob Estes is one of the best players in the history of both the University of Texas and the State of Texas. We talk about his 6 wins during his college days. We also talk about the year he's having out on the Champions Tour, and his thoughts on LIV Golf as well. We also learn what's made him one of the top putters on Tour.

Bruce Devlin and I walk through his great career. You'll hear how he got started in the game, winning the 1959 Australian Amateur Championship, his 19 wins on the Australian/New Zealand circuit, playing against Arnold Palmer in the 1964 Masters, being tied with Roberto De Vincenzo going to the back 9 of the 1968 Masters, beating Billy Casper at the 1966 Carling World Open, teaming with David Graham to win the 1970 World Cup matches, being inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, and the podcast he's doing now with Mike Gonzalez called "Fore The Good of the Game. 

Linda Hartough shares the story of the Augusta National member who launched her on the path of being one of the all-time great golf landscape artists. We also hear about the New York Times article that named her the Rembrandt of the Back Nine and the bucket list of courses she'd still like to paint.

On this segment of Next on the Tee, PGA Master Professional & Top 50 Women's Instructor Kellie Stenzel talks about her trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and across the state of Montana playing golf with her son. She also shares tips for how we can get center face contact for greater distance, when and if there are shot where you should change our grip, and how to gain distance control on our chip shots.

In this segment, TP accurately predicts that Rickie Fowler will win the Rocket Mortgage Classic. We also hear how players with unconventional swings and putting strokes made it work, how he gained length through technology, and the challenge of teaching this generation's junior golfers.

Jonathan Shuskey was a 20-year Army Combat Veteran who saw 5 tours of duty in the Middle East. We hear about his play on the All-Army golf team, winning the Fort Benning Club Championship 3 times, and what it's like being a 40-year-old Sophomore playing on the Stephen F. Austin men's golf team.

On this episode, my guests are a pair of Top 100 Instructors Tom Patri and Kellie Stenzel plus former Tour Pro Donnie Hammond and the President of the Golf Heritage Society Dr. Bern Bernacki.

Tom celebrates his birthday with us by sharing his thoughts on the Ryder Cup, Bryson DeChambeau's image transformation, missing the old silly season, plus what we need to change when the fairway and greens get harder as the temperature gets lower.

Donnie Hammond shares his insights on the Ryder Cup and the recent rash of player/caddie breakups. We also hear about the less glamorous side of life on Tour and memories from his victory at the 1986 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Dr. Bern Bernacki is the President of the Golf Heritage Society. He gave insights into some of the historic golf courses in and around the Pittsburgh & Northeast Ohio areas, including the Clearview Golf Club which is the first golf course designed and built by an African American, William Powell. We also hear about the Bob O'Connor Golf Course which dates back to 1897, the recent Golf Heritage Society 50th Anniversary Convention, and some of the cool pieces of golf memorabilia that were on display there.

Kellie Stenzel has been named a Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor every year since 2009. She talked about the growth of the game on the women's side thanks to great events like the Solheim Cup and the truly international leaderboard at the Olympics. She also talked about why most of us should switch to wedges with a high degree of bounce, tips for choosing the right clubs to chip around the green, plus a tip for how to get it close to the hole when your ball is embedded in deep rough just off the green.

Former LPGA President and Tour Legend Gail Graham shares her thoughts on the state of the women's game, the upcoming Olympic games, the Canadian team, plus how to chip the ball closer on this segment of Next on the Tee.

In Part 1 of Episode 48, I'm joined by two incredible guests: our Resident Director of Instruction, Tom Patri, and New York Times bestselling author, Tom Coyne.

TP is currently on a bucket-list golf trip in New York, playing some of the most renowned courses in the country, and we get to live vicariously through him. He also shares his fond memories of "The King" on what would have been Arnold Palmer’s 95th birthday, including why he named his son after Arnie and Palmer's touching reaction. Plus, we dive into Scottie Scheffler’s record-breaking season, Jim Furyk’s Presidents Cup captain picks, and how coaching in golf has evolved since TP’s early playing days.

Tom Coyne, one of the premier golf authors and journalists of our time, joins me as well. His novel, A Gentleman's Game, was named one of the top 25 sports books of all time by the Philadelphia Daily News. He’s also penned several New York Times bestsellers like A Course Called Ireland, A Course Called Scotland, and A Course Called America. In this episode, he shares stories from these unforgettable journeys, talks about the prestigious award named in his honor, and gives us a glimpse into his podcast, The Golfer’s Journal.

Top Instructor Tom Patri shares his thoughts on the Patrick Reed situation. TP pontificates, "If Arnold Palmer was the Presidents Cup Captain instead of Tiger Woods? Do you think Patrick Reed gets on the plane for Australia and is part of the team?" TP also shares tips to knock the rust off your golf swing if its been in hibernation for the winter.

Former PGA of America President Paul Levy joins me on this segment of Next on the Tee. Paul talks about playing his college golf at LSU plus the upside and downside of his time as President of the PGA, during our conversation from December 2018.

America's Caddie Michael Collins joins me in this bonus ​episode of Next on the Tee.

Michaels shares his story of how wanting to make his mom laugh put him on the path to becoming a comedian. We hear about how he got over the fear of going up on stage the first time and the rush of getting that first laugh. Michael ​tells of meeting his first PGA Tour Pro, Omar Uresti, and how laughter helped Omar relax during ​that round​ of golf. It led to Michael getting inside the ropes, ​and then inside the PGA Tour. ​Michael also ​tells how he got his start​ in broadcasting and the night Pat Perez got hammered during their show Out of Bounds.

Michael has added great photographer to his long list of talents thanks to his personality (listen to the story) and some help from Ken Griffey Jr.

He makes our game, and this segment, so much fun because he's in it. I'm incredibly thankful for the time I got to spend with him. When you listen to this segment, you'll understand why he's quickly become one of my favorites. 

Rob Strano takes us inside his great TV show, The Golf Kingdom. Rob also spent some time recently with Collin Montgomery at Rob's Golf Academy in Destin, Florida. We also get some tips to help us improve our chipping and putting.

On this edition of Next on the Tee I'm joined  by PGA Professional and Head Golf Pro at Lebanon Country Club Chris Sheehan; Author of 3 outstanding books and former TV Producer at ESPN and the Golf Channel Keith Hirshland, and former President & CEO at Ben Hogan Golf plus author of "The Wedge Guy" blog, Terry Koehler.

Damon Hack shares his thoughts on whether Jack Nicklaus' reputation is under any threat after being sued by the Nicklaus Companies. We hear which milkshake is his favorite that's being served this week at The Memorial Tournament and who he likes to win the event. I also get his thoughts on Mito Pereria and Tiger Woods, plus when or if we'll see Phil Mickelson playing this season.

Andy Lano II talks about the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon that is the PGA Tour. He also talks about the opportunities he had to talk with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and the golf memorabilia he's collected over the years. Hear all that and much more on this segment of Next on the Tee.

In Part 2 of Episode 26, I'm joined by Brian Jacobs, Chandler Withington, and Eddie Murray. You can use the link below to stream or download the show:

Brian recently moved from Rochester, New York to Palm Beach Florida. Brian is a two-time Western New York Teacher of the Year. His new club is one of the top facilities anywhere in the world, Ballenisle Country Club. It features 3 top-rated courses, 5 restaurants, tennis courts, pickleball, and a host of other amenities. It's the Club we'd all love to belong to. Check it out online at www.ballenisle.org. Brian talks us around the club. We also discuss his recent email newsletter outlining the characteristics that make up great leaders. We also get a playing lesson for those of us who struggle with coming over the top and early extension. Follow him online at www.brianjacobsgolf.com

Chandler Withington was a PGA Professional at some of the top courses in the country like Merion and Hazeltine. He recently shifted his attention to spending more time with his family, his artwork, plus public speaking engagements. His artwork is off-the-charts great. Check it out online at www.archive22.com. Chandler shares one of his favorite Arnold Palmer stories, plus the story behind his hand-drawn Masters piece. He bet on himself when he walked away from Hazeltine so he could spend more time with his family and focus on public speaking engagements. Hear him talk about why and how he made that switch.

Former Pro Bowl Kicker and a member of the 1980 Team of the Decade, Eddie Murray rounds out the show. Eddie talks about what it was like being in Detroit for this year's NFL draft plus the Lions' return to the playoffs last season. We go back to when he was first introduced to golf over in England, when he got his first set of clubs, the similarities between kicking and the golf swing, plus the Hope Network Golf Classic he hosts annually that's coming up on Monday, June 17th at the Oakland University golf course in Rochester, Michigan. Check out the tournament online at www.hopenetwork.org

One of my favorite people to talk to, Frank Nobilo, joins me in this segment of the show. Franks talks about what he saw while broadcasting this year's Masters Tournament. We hear about Tiger's performance, Rory electrifying the patrons on Sunday, if Rory can carry that over to next year's Masters, Frank's memories of playing Southern Hills, the site of this year's PGA Championship, and how this generation of players compares to the players of the '60s & '70s.

Rob Strano takes on the course at The Players Championship. Rob hosted a camp for deaf players on the grounds that week. We also get a taste of the Veterans Appreciation Event and what TV doesn't do justice to regarding the course. Rob also shares his thoughts on the idea of rolling back the golf ball plus helps us hit better pitch shots from 40-60 yards off the green.

This week on Next on the Tee I'm joined by our resident Director of Instruction Tom Patri, 4 time winner on the PGA Tour Chip Beck, and East Lake Golf Club Director of Agronomy Ralph Kepple.

Tom Patri shares his thoughts Sergio Garcia's win at the Sanderson Farms Championship and whether Sergio belongs in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Tom also talks about whether weekend golfers should have a 4 & 5 irons in their bags versus hybrids.

Chip Becks shares memories from his stellar college golf career at the University of Georgia plus advice and tips he received from some of the game's greatest legends.

Ralph Kepple talks about being in charge of the grounds at East Lake Golf Club home of the Tour Championship and the course Bobby Jones grew up playing on.

Top Instructor Tom Patri talks about the impact that the coronavirus is having on the livelihoods of PGA & LPGA Professionals around the world. He also talks about the fluid swing Seve had and how we can emulate it and how he dealt with the pressure of winning a Division 2 National Championship at Florida Southern.

TaylorMade CEO David Abeles and Monterey Peninsula Country Club Director of Instruction Kevin Roman Join Me on this edition of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast.

David Abeles discusses why TaylorMade made the decision not to attend the PGA Merchandise Show in January plus the great success their Twistface driver technology has had for players like Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka and the rest of their players. We also talked about the0 speed foam technology in their new P790 irons and GAPR clubs plus what they have in store for this holiday season and he wet our whistle for new technology that will change golf clubs forever. They are set to launch it in January.

Kevin Roman shared his experiences from playing in the 1993 US Open at Baltusrol and the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine. Kevin also talked about his new club, Monterey Peninsula Country Club where he is the Director of Instruction, plus tips on how to focus in tough playing conditions and how to strategically play the golf course versus just hitting golf shots.

In Part 1 of Season 12, Episode 7, I'm joined by John Hughes and John Mahaffey.

John Hughes, is one of only 448 among approximately 30,000 PGA members to reach Master Professional Status. He has been recognized by Golf Digest as a top instructor in Florida, and The Golf Range Association as a Top 100 Growth of the GAme Instructors. During our conversation, John offers his perspective on whether investing in the latest and greatest golf equipment can enhance your game or if those funds are better spent on lessons. He also provides strategies for setting effective golf goals, discussing whether to aim for reducing stroke counts or going after milestone scores such as breaking 100, 90, or 80.

Following John, I welcome back 1970 NCAA National Champion and 1978 PGA Champion John Mahaffey. John was a great player, but he's an even better person which I hope you get a sense of as you listen to his insights. John shares the ironic story of winning the 1978 American Optical Classic by two strokes over Dr. Gil Morgan—the only optometrist on Tour. He also weighs in on the upcoming structural changes to the PGA Tour, including reduced field sizes and fewer available Tour cards. Additionally, John names one of the most formidable competitors from the 70s and 80s—a choice that may surprise listeners. Finally, he offers a unique perspective on why former President Donald Trump might be the key to bringing together the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger.

Tune in for these great conversations, expert insights, and much more on this week’s episode!

Stu Sackowitz, Orthopedic Specialist & Founder of Pine Valley Orthotics, joins me in this segment. If you have back, hip, knee, ankle, or foot pain before, during, or after your round, Stu shares how to make not only make it better but perhaps how to alleviate it for good.

We help build your game from the ground up with Top Instructor Tom Patri and the Developer of BrodiTrak Golf and Manitoba Golf Hall of Famer Terry Hashimoto. We also hear the latest from the LPGA Legends Tour from their Commissioner and 2 time LPGA Major Champion Jane Geddes.

Tournament Director Nathan Grube is back sharing his insights on the Travelers Champion and course set up at TPC River Highlands. I'm also joined by my Thursday Night Tailgate Co-Host Bob Lazzari who is on-site covering the tournament.

Nathan takes us through the amazing charitable work they do giving back to the local community. We also hear about great moments from the tournament's history like the day the earth shook...when Jordan Spieth holed out from the bunker to win in a playoff in 2017. We also go through the last 4 holes of TPC River Highlands, where the tournament is often won or lost on Sunday.

Hal Sutton shares his thoughts on the impact that a parent's over zealous desire for their junior golfer's success can have on their child's psyche and love for the game. He also talks about why he's opening up on Twitter, how he would entertain the other players during rain delays, plus thoughts on The Masters.

John Fought shares stories from his college days at BYU and their rich golf history. We also hear how he captured the 1977 US Amateur championship, his time being a part of the victorious US Walker Cup team, his 5th place finish in the 1983 PGA Championship plus his golf course design work.

John Simpson is the Founder of the On Course Foundation, dedicated to assisting our wounded Veterans and helping them learn or relearn how to play the game through their Adaptive Golf program. If you are a Veteran or know one who would like to see how they can get you back in the game, please look them up online at www.oncoursefoundationusa.org.

John's golf industry career took off when he wrote to Mark McCormack, Founder of IMG, and told Mark that he couldn't grow his organization without him. Mark either believed him or was impressed by John's boldness because he hired him. We get to hear that amazing story plus:

• How John overcame polio as a child.
• How his father and uncle were pilots in WWII.
• What it was like working with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, & Gary Player.
• Getting an opportunity to represent Nick Faldo, Vijay Singh, Bernhard Langer, and Nick Price.
• The crazy things advertisers wanted them to do.
• What led him to create the On Course Foundation.
• Mr. Palmer's involvement with the Foundation.
• The Simpson Cup tournament.
• And much more...

Scott McCarron and I talk about his recent performance at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic and we look ahead to the back-to-back majors they have coming up at the Regions Tradition and the Senior PGA Championship. I asked him about the golf ball distance issue since his average driving distance hasn't changed much at age 58 since his days playing on the PGA Tour. We also talked about the potential of Tiger playing on the Champions Tour. He said based on conversations he's had, it looks like Tiger will play several tournaments a year but he goes on to say that their "supposed leader" PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, didn't like it when the Champions Tour ratings beat the PGA Tour's the week Phil played his first Champions Tour event. When I asked why, isn't it all in the family, he said you'll have to ask Jay Monahan that question.

Have hip, back, or shoulder issues? Does your age qualify you to play on the Champions Tour? If any of those apply to you, Todd Kolb shares tips for how we can still play better golf in his book, "The Bad Lie, Why Traditional Golf Instruction is Failing You (And What To Do Instead).

In this special segment of the show, Todd shares drills we can do to ensure we're on the proper plane. He talks about what flaring our toes in our stance can do to help us with our backswing and follow through. For frustrated players, we hear why the fix is easier than we think. If you're a swayer like me, Todd explains how to fix that. He also gives us strategies to hit more greens and explains why we should value accuracy over distance.

Frank Nobilo talks about the preparation that goes into The Masters broadcast. We hear his thoughts on how awkward the Champions Dinner could be with the former champions, who are now playing on the LIV Tour, back in the room. We also get his thoughts on who he likes to be on top of the leaderboard come Sunday evening.

PGA Tour Legend Hal Sutton plus Top Instructor Tom Patri and 2-time winner on Tour Bob Friend Jr. join me. Hear their thoughts on The Players Championship, what it was like for Hal to stand on the 17th tee with a 1 shot lead over Tiger Woods in 2000, what his caddie said to him as they walked to the 18th tee, and why you do pin seek on 17 when you're in second place even if it goes in the water...you're playing to win. Plus gets tips from TP on how to shake the rust off your golf swing and what it was like for Bob Friend when he was paired with Arnold Palmer and Seve Ballesteros in the 1999 Bay Hill Invitational.

In Season 12, Episode 2, Part 2, I am joined by perhaps the most decorated instructor in Canadian golf history—Paul Horton. Paul has been recognized as the PGA of Canada National Teacher of the Year and National Coach of the Year, alongside multiple PGA of Alberta Teacher and Coach of the Year awards.

We take a journey back to his early days, where he spent time with two legendary figures in Canadian golf—George Knudson and Moe Norman. Paul shares incredible insights into his teaching philosophy, emphasizing the importance of mastering the mind before mastering the swing.

We also discuss the immense satisfaction he’s gained from coaching 60 students who earned college scholarships and 28 who have gone on to turn pro. With so many incredible stories from Paul, this episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical lessons for golfers at every level.

Tune in and enjoy this fascinating conversation with one of the great minds in golf instruction!

This week I'm joined by Tom Patri and a trio of Next on the Tee rookies, one of the Top 100 Teachers to Watch for 2024 & 2025 Meaghan Francella, one of the most decorated Amateur players ever Steve Scott, and the Director of Golf at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts Brendan Walsh.

TP and I recap where we aren't with the PIF/PGA Tour merger, Keith Pelley's resignation as CEO of the DP World Tour, Martin Slumber's resignation from the R&A, plus a playing lesson to help you fix your slice.

Meaghan Francella won back-to-back New York State junior championships in the late 90s. She would go on to win the Conference USA title at the University of Memphis before transferring to the University of North Carolina and winning the ACC Championship there. We hear those stories plus her remarkable debut on the LPGA Tour where she beat Annika Sorenstam in a playoff to win the MasterCard Classic in just her second start on Tour.

Steve Scott was another accomplished junior player having won the 1992, '93, and '94 South Florida Junior Championship. He was an All-American at the University of Florida, winning 3 individual titles his senior season. He famously battled Tiger Woods in the 1996 US Amateur taking a 5 UP lead into the last 18 holes of their match. If Steve hadn't reminded Tiger to move his ball mark back on the 16th green, he would have won the match 3&2. Instead, he did the right thing and went on to lose the match on the 38th hole. The golf gods gave him great karma as he went on to a great amateur career including 2 appearances in the Walker Cup and now as a top Broadcast Analyst for ESPN and PGA Tour Live.

Brenden Walsh is the Director of Golf at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is the 12th of 15 children to a father who is a Philadelphia golf legend and a mother who is clearly a saint. Brendan played his college golf over at the College of Wooster just outside of Akron, Ohio. He won the 1996 Connecticut Open. During his tenure at The Country Club, he hosted the 1999 Ryder Cup, 2013 US Amateur, and the 2022 US Open. Hear all those stories and more during our conversation.

Dustin Brekke is Director of Engineering and Eddie Drye is a Regional Sales Manager. They share the great new technology they have in their Cleveland Launcher XL driver and why it won Gold in this year's Golf Digest Hot List. We also talk about their new 5 & 7 fairway woods, the wedge groove enhancements that help us land the ball softly on the green, and how to determine which golf ball is the right one for our games.

2013 Sr. British Open Champion and Top Instructor Mark Wiebe shares some playing lessons and ways to better think your way around the golf course on this segment of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast.

Jason Hase talks about the upcoming Symetra Tour event at his home course Buffalo Dunes in Garden City, Kansas. He also shares playing tips for how to cure your slice or the over correction of pulling hooking the ball.

What a privilege to get to spend some time with one of the great people you get to meet in this life, Melissa Fitzgerald.

Melissa played Carol Fitzpatrick, CJ's assistant, on The West Wing. You've also probably seen her movies like The Truman Show and Monument Avenue or on other TV shows like Gray's Anatomy and Chasing The Hill.

Melissa and I start out talking about growing up in Philadelphia. She is the daughter of a father who was a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judge and her mother was also politically active and volunteered in the community. They are graduates of the University of Pennsylvania. I asked Melissa what it was like for her to give the commencement speech at Chestnut Hill College. We then delved into how loyal West Wing fans are to the cast and show. She talks about the support she's gotten over the years from her West Wing cast members, and the new book that she and Mary McCormack have written about their West Wing experience called, What's Next, due out later this summer.

We then transition into the incredible work she's done following the show. We hear about how the In Excelsis Deo episode became a reality for her when she was hired as the Director of Justice for Vets, a non-profit organization focused on veterans' treatment courts. It has recently gone through a rebranding to All Rise. Her cast mates have rallied around her in her new role to help raise money and awareness for the great things this court system is doing to help our Veterans, who are dealing with substance abuse or mental health issues, get their lives back on track.

Be sure to check out the great things Melissa and All Rise are doing online at www.allrise.org plus give her a follow on Instagram or X @maffyfitz. The book will be available later his summer in August. You can pre-order on Amazon. I will try to get both Melissa and Mary McCormack to join me when the release date gets closer.

This week on Next on the Tee I was joined by two of the Top Instructors in the game Tom Patri and John Hughes plus PGA Professional Hall of Famer Bob Ford, and 2UNDR VP of Sales and Skoni Founder Jack Curry.

Tom Patri tries to explain why I'm wrong for agreeing that the golf ball needs to be rolled back. We also talk about what The Masters Champions Dinner and tournament might be like with the LIV players invited back to the dinner and in the field.

Bob Ford shares his thoughts on why I'm right that the ball does need to be rolled back and should have been years ago. We also hear what it was like for him as a first-year Assistant Pro at Oakmont, living up on the third floor of the clubhouse.

John Hughes also weighs in on rolling back the ball plus we talk about the Club Pro crisis. John also give us a playing lesson on how ball position impacts ball flight and a tip for how to get your body prepared for the new golf season.

Jack Curry introduces us to Skoni golf shoes which won Best in Show at this year's PGA Merchandise Show. We hear how they created a shoe that you can wear all day at the office or out and about and then go right to the first tee. We hear why their revolutionary sole won't wear out with daily wear. Jack also updates us on all the great new, fun designs they have this spring at 2undr. When you do your spring cleaning, clean out that underwear drawer and get the ones the pros are wearing. You can use code nextontee20 to save 20% on www.skoni.com and code Next20 to save 20% on www.2undr.com

Drew Koehler, Co-Founder of Blue Tees Golf joins me in this segment.

Drew tells the story of how 3 friends with broken range finders thought there must be a better way so they decided to start and fund their own golf technology company. You'll how they got their idea off the ground, took on the big boys on the block, and how they're set to revolutionize the golf tech industry going forward.

This week on Next on the Tee we help your golf game from tee to green with Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor Tim Cusick, Class A Teaching Professional Mike Landry, and Head Golf Professional at Magnolia Creek Golf Club in League City Texas, Jack Diehl. Plus after hearing our segment on Old Head Golf Links, former PGA Tour Caddy Andy Lano II stops by to talk about his recent experience playing there. 

Former Giants 2-time Super Bowl Champion DB Mark Collins joins me on this special segment of Next on the Tee. Mark also played for the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Packers.

Mark talks about his favorite Pro-Ams to play in including the Mid Penn Bank Celebrity Golf Tournament. We hear about his recent trip to the TaylorMade Kingdom, his week working with Butch Harmon, how Butch got him to realize that golf is supposed to be fun since he doesn't play it for a living, the courses on Mark's bucket list, and who he thinks will be playing in the Super Bowl.

Scott Felix, Golf Digest Top 100 Fitter, talks about how to get properly fit for your clubs, how to use that wrench that came with your driver, getting fit for your putter plus explains what the heck smash factor is.

Our resident Director of Instruction Tom Patri shares his concerns about the LIV Tour, the proposed changes the PGA Tour is looking to make for next season, and if Will Zalatoris was his student, what he would have said to him Sunday night after his third 2nd place finish in a major.

Debbie O'Connell is annually recognized by the LPGA as a Top 50 Instructor. We delved deeply into our mental approach. We hear about what "flow state" is, her Keys To A Champion Mindset, how to not listen to our inner critic, and how to stay in the moment when we're on pace to shoot our best round ever and our buddies say things like, "hey if you par the last 2 holes you'll break 80."

Charlie Mechem has a new book out titled: "Arnie & Jack, Stories Of My Long Friendship with Two Remarkable Men". Listen in as Charlie shares several of the stories in the book including, how he convinced them to co-design The King & The Bear Course at the World Golf Village when neither wanted to do it. We hear how differently both men viewed playing golf when they got older. Charlie tells the hilarious story of how Arnie couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't go for it on 13 & 15 at Augusta National...do you know how many times I finished 2nd in The Masters? Neither do I. Plus so many more great stories from his multiple interactions with both men.

Steven Yellin created a program called Fluid Motion Factor. He delves deeply into brain function and how we've grooved our swings but what gets in the way is our minds. We learn about turning our intellect off, finding wholeness and the key element being that moment before we start our backswing. 

Chris Sheehan, Head Golf Professional at Lebanon Country Club in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, shares tips for how to fix your slice and better read the greens on this segment of Next on the Tee Golf Podcast.

On this episode, hear stories and insights on The Masters and Augusta National from 2011 US Senior Open Champion Olin Browne, Backspin Golf Host Matthew Laurance, and Broadcast Legend Ben Wright.

2011 US Senior Open Champion Olin Browne takes us on the course at Augusta National to let us know what it's like playing there and in the Tournament. Hear his explanation of the wind tunnel that the 13th hole is and how the trees around the 12th green causes the wind to swirl making club selection a challenge. He also talks about how intimidating the tee shot is on 18.

Matthew Laurance talks about how the reality of being at Augusta National far exceeds your expectations regardless of how high they are. We also talk about who he is rooting for and perhaps against and how nervous he and any of us would be if we got that invitation to play the course.

Ben Wright takes us behind the camera for what it was like preparing to broadcast the tournament. We hear about legendary Executive Producer Frank Chirkinian and how Clifford Roberts summoned Mr. Wright to Butler Cabin to audition to see if he would allow him to be a part of CBS's broadcast team. We also get his thoughts on the chances this year for Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, and Jordan Spieth.