Witness insurmountable deficits turn into unforgettable victories at the Travelers Championship, the northeast one and only PGA Tour signature event. See Scotty Scheffler, Worry McElroy, Victor Howlin, Patrick Cantley, and returning champion Keegan Bradley, as well as other PGA Tour stars in all four days of the competition at close by TPC River Highlands. The excitement tees off June nineteenth through the twenty third. For tickets and information, visit Travelers Championship dot com. The Travelers Championship there is only one. It's the Son of a Butcher podcast. I'm your host, Claude Harmon. Coming off of a very very excited PGA Championships Xanderschoffle gets his first major and wanted to take a deep dive into it, so figured we would get one of the voices of professional golf, Steve Sands, NBC Golf Channel. I think he's one of the best in the business and had him on the pod before. But it was a very very interesting week at Valhalla and a lot of storylines, just a lot of craziness from last week, so I wanted to get Steve Sands on to talk about it, and I think it is a good one. So sit back and enjoy listening to Steve Sands my guest today, Steve Sand's Voice of Golf on Golf Channel and NBC Sansy at the beginning of the week. Beginning of the week at the PGA, if I told you the headlines were going to be Scotti, Scheffler gets arrested, Rory McElroy's getting divorced, Xander closes, Bryson has a chance to win another major and is a fan favorite. I mean, does any of that track with with what we thought was going to happen?

Witness insurmountable deficits turn into unforgettable victories at the Travelers Championship, the northeast one and only PGA Tour signature event. See Scotty Scheffler, Worry McElroy, Victor Howlin, Patrick Cantley, and returning champion Keegan Bradley, as well as other PGA Tour stars in all four days of the competition at close by TPC River Highlands. The excitement tees off June nineteenth through the twenty third. For tickets and information, visit Travelers Championship dot com. The Travelers Championship there is only one. It's the Son of a Butcher podcast. I'm your host, Claude Harmon. Coming off of a very very excited PGA Championships Xanderschoffle gets his first major and wanted to take a deep dive into it, so figured we would get one of the voices of professional golf, Steve Sands, NBC Golf Channel. I think he's one of the best in the business and had him on the pod before. But it was a very very interesting week at Valhalla and a lot of storylines, just a lot of craziness from last week, so I wanted to get Steve Sands on to talk about it, and I think it is a good one. So sit back and enjoy listening to Steve Sands my guest today, Steve Sand's Voice of Golf on Golf Channel and NBC Sansy at the beginning of the week. Beginning of the week at the PGA, if I told you the headlines were going to be Scotti, Scheffler gets arrested, Rory McElroy's getting divorced, Xander closes, Bryson has a chance to win another major and is a fan favorite. I mean, does any of that track with with what we thought was going to happen?

It makes perfect sense, Scott. I mean, that's exactly the way the world has been the last you know, eight or nine years, the last three or four years. In the sport. It makes all the sense in the world that a guy who sleeps with a Bible, who's the hottest player on the planet, it's the most recognizable person in the sport outside of Tiger, just outside the gates at a major championship, would get into some type of disruption or discussion with a police officer and it just doesn't work. I mean, what are we talking about here. It's crazy. You know, the legal part aside the sad part is, of course we had to say this out loud, that somebody lost his life, Claude, that was the reason there was a traffic terror. That's the first thing and really the only thing. The secondary part of the number one player in the world being arrested. We've been to sporting events a thousand times in our lives, Claude. We've seen that traffic type of pattern. You know, maybe not the circumstances because of the traffic, but we've seen that traffic outside of sporting events for years. That was just I have no idea what happened. I hope the police officer and Scotti are all perfectly fine, but again, we have no idea what took place there.

It makes perfect sense, Scott. I mean, that's exactly the way the world has been the last you know, eight or nine years, the last three or four years. In the sport. It makes all the sense in the world that a guy who sleeps with a Bible, who's the hottest player on the planet, it's the most recognizable person in the sport outside of Tiger, just outside the gates at a major championship, would get into some type of disruption or discussion with a police officer and it just doesn't work. I mean, what are we talking about here. It's crazy. You know, the legal part aside the sad part is, of course we had to say this out loud, that somebody lost his life, Claude, that was the reason there was a traffic terror. That's the first thing and really the only thing. The secondary part of the number one player in the world being arrested. We've been to sporting events a thousand times in our lives, Claude. We've seen that traffic type of pattern. You know, maybe not the circumstances because of the traffic, but we've seen that traffic outside of sporting events for years. That was just I have no idea what happened. I hope the police officer and Scotti are all perfectly fine, but again, we have no idea what took place there.

Yeah, and listen, I've been in courtesy car. You ride with the player you're trying to get in. I mean, we were all saying on the driving range. I mean, how many players you've You've done that one hundred times, right, You've you've seen the traffic. You know you're in a courtesy car. You know it's got the you know they're gonna they're gonna bring you in, and so you know, so definitely the guys I've worked with, DJ and Brooks. I mean, you do that at majors, you do that two or three times a year. It's just it's all that part of it. And normally the police as soon as they see the courtesy car, you know, with the logos on the side of it, you get ushered right in. Scotty Scheffler and Brooks Kepta have the same agent, Blake Smith. Blake's father, Randy Smith, is Scotty's swing coach, and Brooks and I were talking on the driving range. I gotta think that Blake Smith never thought he'd get a call saying that he had to go get Scotti Scheffler out of jail.

Yeah, and listen, I've been in courtesy car. You ride with the player you're trying to get in. I mean, we were all saying on the driving range. I mean, how many players you've You've done that one hundred times, right, You've you've seen the traffic. You know you're in a courtesy car. You know it's got the you know they're gonna they're gonna bring you in, and so you know, so definitely the guys I've worked with, DJ and Brooks. I mean, you do that at majors, you do that two or three times a year. It's just it's all that part of it. And normally the police as soon as they see the courtesy car, you know, with the logos on the side of it, you get ushered right in. Scotty Scheffler and Brooks Kepta have the same agent, Blake Smith. Blake's father, Randy Smith, is Scotty's swing coach, and Brooks and I were talking on the driving range. I gotta think that Blake Smith never thought he'd get a call saying that he had to go get Scotti Scheffler out of jail.

I mean, what are the odds of that happening going into the week, What are the odds that happening anytime? I honestly, I have no idea how this is all going to play auclaude, but Friday morning last week has to be one of the most bizarre, you know, stretches of I'm Beyonce around a golf tournament in the history of the sport. I mean, that was just yikes, man, that was great and we laughed. There's this you know, who knows how this plays out. I mean, we're joking about it now, but my goodness, you know, if this doesn't work out in anybody's favor, we're not going to be laughing here. Who knows?

I mean, what are the odds of that happening going into the week, What are the odds that happening anytime? I honestly, I have no idea how this is all going to play auclaude, but Friday morning last week has to be one of the most bizarre, you know, stretches of I'm Beyonce around a golf tournament in the history of the sport. I mean, that was just yikes, man, that was great and we laughed. There's this you know, who knows how this plays out. I mean, we're joking about it now, but my goodness, you know, if this doesn't work out in anybody's favor, we're not going to be laughing here. Who knows?

I mean and talking to Randy Smith on Sunday, his you know, Scotty's longtime swing instructor. He played Friday on just pure adrenaline. I mean, just pure, one hundred percent adrenaline. I mean, nobody can prepare you for something like that. I've got to think out of all the places Scotty Scheffler ever thought he would be in a jail cell period, let alone a jail cell at a major championship, is just something that you just couldn't He couldn't even believe that would happen. And then on top of that, he goes out and plays an unbelievable round of golf. But then Saturday again, his caddy, Teddy Scott's going to watch his daughter graduate. Teddy Scott's not on the bag. You kind of figured that was going to be Saturday was going to be tough for him. It was. Once he got arrested, it was like a lot of the like the wind went out of the sales of the tournament, because obviously everybody thinks that Scott he's on this run to maybe win his second major championship. The rounds he played on Friday was unbelievable. I mean, I couldn't believe he played that.

I mean and talking to Randy Smith on Sunday, his you know, Scotty's longtime swing instructor. He played Friday on just pure adrenaline. I mean, just pure, one hundred percent adrenaline. I mean, nobody can prepare you for something like that. I've got to think out of all the places Scotty Scheffler ever thought he would be in a jail cell period, let alone a jail cell at a major championship, is just something that you just couldn't He couldn't even believe that would happen. And then on top of that, he goes out and plays an unbelievable round of golf. But then Saturday again, his caddy, Teddy Scott's going to watch his daughter graduate. Teddy Scott's not on the bag. You kind of figured that was going to be Saturday was going to be tough for him. It was. Once he got arrested, it was like a lot of the like the wind went out of the sales of the tournament, because obviously everybody thinks that Scott he's on this run to maybe win his second major championship. The rounds he played on Friday was unbelievable. I mean, I couldn't believe he played that.

Well, that's as good a round of golf as he's ever played under the circumstances, considering it's not a Sunday to major, I understand that, but for what he went through that morning to come back out. She's sixty six. I realized there were low scores that day, but it doesn't matter. It's this incredible last for Saturday. Claude, I just think he ran out of gas man. You know, imagine what was going on, you know, in his mind. Again you're talking about for people who don't understand. To be number one in the world, you have to have some omph to you. There is no such thing as being mister nice guy all the time if you're going to be the best at something on the planet. But Scotty is as nice a kid as you'll ever be around. If you have a daughter, he's the kind of guy you want her to marry. He's he's warm, he's nice, he's smart, he's thoughtful, he's an incredible athlete, he's competitive, the whole thing. He's got the whole package. I just can't believe he got arrested. I just can't believe that happened. But again, well I'm gonna have to wait and see how it all plays out. But what he did Saturday, with that Friday, with that sixty six, Claude, Holy smokes. I mean, you and I both know we've been around these guys a long time. It's one thing to be talented, to be great, to go out there play golf kind of laissez Faire's another thing in major championship golf and in big PGA Tour events, big live golf events, big moments like that. You know, from the collar bones up, you've got to be strong out there, and you couldn't be stronger than the strength he showed between the ropes on Friday, playing on adrenaline and all the things going on in his mind. That sixty six was outstanding.

Well, that's as good a round of golf as he's ever played under the circumstances, considering it's not a Sunday to major, I understand that, but for what he went through that morning to come back out. She's sixty six. I realized there were low scores that day, but it doesn't matter. It's this incredible last for Saturday. Claude, I just think he ran out of gas man. You know, imagine what was going on, you know, in his mind. Again you're talking about for people who don't understand. To be number one in the world, you have to have some omph to you. There is no such thing as being mister nice guy all the time if you're going to be the best at something on the planet. But Scotty is as nice a kid as you'll ever be around. If you have a daughter, he's the kind of guy you want her to marry. He's he's warm, he's nice, he's smart, he's thoughtful, he's an incredible athlete, he's competitive, the whole thing. He's got the whole package. I just can't believe he got arrested. I just can't believe that happened. But again, well I'm gonna have to wait and see how it all plays out. But what he did Saturday, with that Friday, with that sixty six, Claude, Holy smokes. I mean, you and I both know we've been around these guys a long time. It's one thing to be talented, to be great, to go out there play golf kind of laissez Faire's another thing in major championship golf and in big PGA Tour events, big live golf events, big moments like that. You know, from the collar bones up, you've got to be strong out there, and you couldn't be stronger than the strength he showed between the ropes on Friday, playing on adrenaline and all the things going on in his mind. That sixty six was outstanding.

Yeah, I mean, he is the he is the Tom Hanks of golf, right, I mean, he's he's this character, this person this personality that everybody loves, says, you've been you've been around the game a long time. Your your weekend week out with these players. I mean, you've seen some amazing runs. Obviously what Tiger Woods did, what the greats of the game has done. But putting to perspective the golf that we're seeing from from Scotty, because I think that because his personality is what it is, and that's to me, the best thing that he's got going for him is you know, I was talking to his agent, Blake Smith. His mind is his superpower, right, his persona. Yes, his golf game is unbelievable, but I think the approach that Scotty has to not only life, but to also professional golf is the superpower that he's got. How significant in the in the realm of great players and runs that great players have been on. This run that Scotty's been on for the last you know, two three years, it's as good of a golf is that we've seen.

Yeah, I mean, he is the he is the Tom Hanks of golf, right, I mean, he's he's this character, this person this personality that everybody loves, says, you've been you've been around the game a long time. Your your weekend week out with these players. I mean, you've seen some amazing runs. Obviously what Tiger Woods did, what the greats of the game has done. But putting to perspective the golf that we're seeing from from Scotty, because I think that because his personality is what it is, and that's to me, the best thing that he's got going for him is you know, I was talking to his agent, Blake Smith. His mind is his superpower, right, his persona. Yes, his golf game is unbelievable, but I think the approach that Scotty has to not only life, but to also professional golf is the superpower that he's got. How significant in the in the realm of great players and runs that great players have been on. This run that Scotty's been on for the last you know, two three years, it's as good of a golf is that we've seen.

It really is. It's amazing what he's been doing. The ball striking is outrageous, The consistency is outrageous. That round on Saturday at Valhalla was the first overpar around he shot all year. I mean that that's a joke. I mean, that's that's really truly outrageous. Another top ten finished for him. Didn't have a chance to win it on Sunday, but it's still a top ten finish. I was talking to Raymond Floyd. You know how in Live from the Masters on the Golf Channel, we have all the guys come in with the green jackets and Ben Crenshaw, Raymond Floyd, Tom Watson, Jack Nicholas. It's all really cool. Gary Player did it for years, Arno Palmer did it for years. All these guys come in, and Raymond was when he was in there, I asked him, what are we seeing here from Scotty Scheffler? Same question you just asked me? And Raymond said, and I totally agree with them. So you have I told Ramy, you have McElroy from eleven to fourteen winning four majors. You have Speed from fourteen to seventeen winning three major championships. You know, keepka on that crazy run. Then he won another one last year to make it five major championships. What are we seeing from Scotty Scheffler? And Raymond said? Great players all get hot, The question is can they remain hot through a sustained period of time? So when I went over those names that we just went through, McElroy, Speed Kepta, those crazy great runs they went on, Raymond said, oh, no, we all do that. But when we get into a separate category like a Tiger or a Jack and those types of players, you're talking about guys who are consistently great beyond three years. So what Raymond said was, we're seeing pure greatness from Scotty, there's no question about that. We're also seeing someone who's on a heater. There's no question about that. The combination of the two will it sustain itself after three years? That will put Scotty Laud in a different category than just being another not I mean quotations, another great player who's gotten hot. But there's no debate he's the best player in the world right now. There's no debate is the best ball striker. And if that Potter cooperates, he's going to be there on Sunday, and if it's his time to win another one, it is. And I think he's the best player in the world right now by far. Yeah.

It really is. It's amazing what he's been doing. The ball striking is outrageous, The consistency is outrageous. That round on Saturday at Valhalla was the first overpar around he shot all year. I mean that that's a joke. I mean, that's that's really truly outrageous. Another top ten finished for him. Didn't have a chance to win it on Sunday, but it's still a top ten finish. I was talking to Raymond Floyd. You know how in Live from the Masters on the Golf Channel, we have all the guys come in with the green jackets and Ben Crenshaw, Raymond Floyd, Tom Watson, Jack Nicholas. It's all really cool. Gary Player did it for years, Arno Palmer did it for years. All these guys come in, and Raymond was when he was in there, I asked him, what are we seeing here from Scotty Scheffler? Same question you just asked me? And Raymond said, and I totally agree with them. So you have I told Ramy, you have McElroy from eleven to fourteen winning four majors. You have Speed from fourteen to seventeen winning three major championships. You know, keepka on that crazy run. Then he won another one last year to make it five major championships. What are we seeing from Scotty Scheffler? And Raymond said? Great players all get hot, The question is can they remain hot through a sustained period of time? So when I went over those names that we just went through, McElroy, Speed Kepta, those crazy great runs they went on, Raymond said, oh, no, we all do that. But when we get into a separate category like a Tiger or a Jack and those types of players, you're talking about guys who are consistently great beyond three years. So what Raymond said was, we're seeing pure greatness from Scotty, there's no question about that. We're also seeing someone who's on a heater. There's no question about that. The combination of the two will it sustain itself after three years? That will put Scotty Laud in a different category than just being another not I mean quotations, another great player who's gotten hot. But there's no debate he's the best player in the world right now. There's no debate is the best ball striker. And if that Potter cooperates, he's going to be there on Sunday, and if it's his time to win another one, it is. And I think he's the best player in the world right now by far. Yeah.

And I think Sansy's the thing that when I look at his game, I mean just the way that he approaches golf and the way that he kind of lives his life. You know, he doesn't really get wrapped up in a lot of the stuff that a lot of athletes, but specifically golfers get wrapped up in. You know, my dad says the same thing, but she says the same thing that can he sustain this and can the heater become What Rory did was Rory came out and he was on a heater and then he just did it for the next ten twelve years. Right. You can talk about the fact that Rory hasn't won a major in ten years, but Rory has been one of, if not the top three four dominant players of the last ten years. So he's been doing this for a decade. And every major Rory is one of the favorites for the foreseeable future, Sansy, every major Scotti Scheffler, regardless of where the golf course is, regardless of what the setup is, he is going to be the favorite because he has so many of the other things that you have to have to be a great champion and a great player. You have to be able to handle the pressure. Like you said, everybody's good. Everybody gets on these runs, but to be in the elite great you have to sustain it for longer than just a two to three year period.

And I think Sansy's the thing that when I look at his game, I mean just the way that he approaches golf and the way that he kind of lives his life. You know, he doesn't really get wrapped up in a lot of the stuff that a lot of athletes, but specifically golfers get wrapped up in. You know, my dad says the same thing, but she says the same thing that can he sustain this and can the heater become What Rory did was Rory came out and he was on a heater and then he just did it for the next ten twelve years. Right. You can talk about the fact that Rory hasn't won a major in ten years, but Rory has been one of, if not the top three four dominant players of the last ten years. So he's been doing this for a decade. And every major Rory is one of the favorites for the foreseeable future, Sansy, every major Scotti Scheffler, regardless of where the golf course is, regardless of what the setup is, he is going to be the favorite because he has so many of the other things that you have to have to be a great champion and a great player. You have to be able to handle the pressure. Like you said, everybody's good. Everybody gets on these runs, but to be in the elite great you have to sustain it for longer than just a two to three year period.

Well, just think about the four major championships. You know. The beauty to me of the four major championships is is they're different. They're like tennis, you know, they're the four Grand Slams are different from each other. The four major championships in golf are different. You can't find one that doesn't fit Scotty. I used to think this about Tiger, you know, like, oh, this course fits him well? Really which one doesn't? I mean, which one doesn't fit him well? So you know, the Masters, obviously he's won it twice, so clearly augusta National has warmed up in Scotty's mind. You know, the PGA Championship again, he put himself right there. The Open is the US opens at Pinehurst, I mean, tell me why he can't succeed there and then at Royal Troon. There's no reason at an Open championship. The way he strikes a golf ball. If it's windy there and the bad weather comes in there, it doesn't matter whether the weather's great or whether it's bad. He's the best ball striker in the world. So if the weather's bad. I'll take the ball striker when the weather's bad, and the guy who's mentally tough. Oh, by the way, Scotty's mentally tough as well, so he's got one of those things. It's, you know, not picking on Andy North winning two US Opens or Lee Jansen winning two US Opens or hail Or winning three US Opens. You know, love all those guys, and they're all great, great players, but it seems like they had like one avenue. You know, in these major championships. You talk about Rory, you talk about Scotty Schefford, these guys could win anywhere. You know, these guys could win absolutely anywhere. And look, we're gonna go to pine Ricks next month, and as long as he's healthy and still there, who's gonna be favored Scotty?

Well, just think about the four major championships. You know. The beauty to me of the four major championships is is they're different. They're like tennis, you know, they're the four Grand Slams are different from each other. The four major championships in golf are different. You can't find one that doesn't fit Scotty. I used to think this about Tiger, you know, like, oh, this course fits him well? Really which one doesn't? I mean, which one doesn't fit him well? So you know, the Masters, obviously he's won it twice, so clearly augusta National has warmed up in Scotty's mind. You know, the PGA Championship again, he put himself right there. The Open is the US opens at Pinehurst, I mean, tell me why he can't succeed there and then at Royal Troon. There's no reason at an Open championship. The way he strikes a golf ball. If it's windy there and the bad weather comes in there, it doesn't matter whether the weather's great or whether it's bad. He's the best ball striker in the world. So if the weather's bad. I'll take the ball striker when the weather's bad, and the guy who's mentally tough. Oh, by the way, Scotty's mentally tough as well, so he's got one of those things. It's, you know, not picking on Andy North winning two US Opens or Lee Jansen winning two US Opens or hail Or winning three US Opens. You know, love all those guys, and they're all great, great players, but it seems like they had like one avenue. You know, in these major championships. You talk about Rory, you talk about Scotty Schefford, these guys could win anywhere. You know, these guys could win absolutely anywhere. And look, we're gonna go to pine Ricks next month, and as long as he's healthy and still there, who's gonna be favored Scotty?

Well? I mean, And the other thing is he's playing this week in Colonial. Wouldn't be surprised if he wins there? Then what memorial before that? Sure is? How wouldn't surprise me if you won there? Because that's a big golf course. You have to be a great ball striker. He could conceivably go into Pinehurst off the back of two more wins.

Well? I mean, And the other thing is he's playing this week in Colonial. Wouldn't be surprised if he wins there? Then what memorial before that? Sure is? How wouldn't surprise me if you won there? Because that's a big golf course. You have to be a great ball striker. He could conceivably go into Pinehurst off the back of two more wins.

No question about it. And that's the thing that I love about watching Scotty play. Is Colonial this week, Okay, I'm flying there tomorrow. Okay. Colonial this week is like hilton Head, like why lie the Sony Open in Hawaii, and then all of a sudden you got this monster ballpark which we're going to be seeing at the memorial at Mirfield Village. And last week Valhalla was like Tory Pines and hilton Head combined, real small greens but a massive ballpark. And here he was once again, except for that one day, like Brooks Kopka, you know, just one day kind of took him out of the event. And Scotty just didn't have a great day on Saturday. But weird circumstances for him. But there's no way he's not the favorite clot coming in. It's just it's just wild now, different months, different conditions, different cour different time zones, different brass, different agronomy, different players coming in. Hot Macelroy this week was the man who won two in a row in New Orleans with Shane and then at Quel Hollows, Vander came close and then he put it together. The one constant in all of this is Scotty Scotty is just there every single week. It's amazing.

No question about it. And that's the thing that I love about watching Scotty play. Is Colonial this week, Okay, I'm flying there tomorrow. Okay. Colonial this week is like hilton Head, like why lie the Sony Open in Hawaii, and then all of a sudden you got this monster ballpark which we're going to be seeing at the memorial at Mirfield Village. And last week Valhalla was like Tory Pines and hilton Head combined, real small greens but a massive ballpark. And here he was once again, except for that one day, like Brooks Kopka, you know, just one day kind of took him out of the event. And Scotty just didn't have a great day on Saturday. But weird circumstances for him. But there's no way he's not the favorite clot coming in. It's just it's just wild now, different months, different conditions, different cour different time zones, different brass, different agronomy, different players coming in. Hot Macelroy this week was the man who won two in a row in New Orleans with Shane and then at Quel Hollows, Vander came close and then he put it together. The one constant in all of this is Scotty Scotty is just there every single week. It's amazing.

There's no better way to enjoy the Majors than to play the course while you're watching all the action. With the rap Sodo MLM two Pro, you have a mobile launch monitor and a golf simulator that you can easily take to the course or set up at home to play and practice. The award winning MLM two Pro offers thirty thousand simulated courses to play, thirteen metrics to look at your swing, and three video replay options to analyze your swing, all for six hundred and ninety nine dollars and ninety nine cents. During the month of May, rap Soodo's Play your Way contest is rewarding MLM and MLM two Pro users with some incredible prizes, including a year's supply of RPT golf balls and a virtual lesson from me. Visit rapsodo dot com to say full list of prizes and ways to enter, or visit rapsodo dot com. Backset h three and you will receive a fifty dollars gift card to rapsodo dot com with the purchase of an MLM two Pro. Whether you're looking to improve your game or just play more golf. The MLM two pro is the solution for you play your way with rapsodo golf, play without limits. You mentioned Xander Schaffle getting his first major championships. Within the fraternity of professional golf, both on the playing side and the media side and the caddyside, everybody, there are popular wins and then there are popular wins. Zander winning a major will be a very, very popular win, but there are also wins on tour when players get their first major to where everybody in the sport says, you could see it coming. He's always had the game. The knock against Xander is, you know, eight wins. I mean he's what fifty million now, I mean, you know, turn pro, what's sixteen seventeen, So the career is so legit, right, But the knock against Xander was when he did he should have won more. Yeah, I mean you can always say that about a lot of guys, but Xander seemed to always put himself in position a lot, and he put himself in position a lot in majors. And he has every part. There isn't a part of the game that he doesn't have. And you know, he's made some changes to his golf swing with Chris Como. But for a small guy, he hits it. Miles Xander is as legit as it gets, and I think everybody is surprised that it has taken him this long to win a major. Thus just because that's how good everybody thinks he is.

There's no better way to enjoy the Majors than to play the course while you're watching all the action. With the rap Sodo MLM two Pro, you have a mobile launch monitor and a golf simulator that you can easily take to the course or set up at home to play and practice. The award winning MLM two Pro offers thirty thousand simulated courses to play, thirteen metrics to look at your swing, and three video replay options to analyze your swing, all for six hundred and ninety nine dollars and ninety nine cents. During the month of May, rap Soodo's Play your Way contest is rewarding MLM and MLM two Pro users with some incredible prizes, including a year's supply of RPT golf balls and a virtual lesson from me. Visit rapsodo dot com to say full list of prizes and ways to enter, or visit rapsodo dot com. Backset h three and you will receive a fifty dollars gift card to rapsodo dot com with the purchase of an MLM two Pro. Whether you're looking to improve your game or just play more golf. The MLM two pro is the solution for you play your way with rapsodo golf, play without limits. You mentioned Xander Schaffle getting his first major championships. Within the fraternity of professional golf, both on the playing side and the media side and the caddyside, everybody, there are popular wins and then there are popular wins. Zander winning a major will be a very, very popular win, but there are also wins on tour when players get their first major to where everybody in the sport says, you could see it coming. He's always had the game. The knock against Xander is, you know, eight wins. I mean he's what fifty million now, I mean, you know, turn pro, what's sixteen seventeen, So the career is so legit, right, But the knock against Xander was when he did he should have won more. Yeah, I mean you can always say that about a lot of guys, but Xander seemed to always put himself in position a lot, and he put himself in position a lot in majors. And he has every part. There isn't a part of the game that he doesn't have. And you know, he's made some changes to his golf swing with Chris Como. But for a small guy, he hits it. Miles Xander is as legit as it gets, and I think everybody is surprised that it has taken him this long to win a major. Thus just because that's how good everybody thinks he is.

Well, we know that that golf is your life. It's been your life, you know, literally your entire life. But I know you're also a sports fan and you also appreciate other athletes in other sports. You know, it took Michael Jordan's seven years to win his first NBA title. He had to get through the you know, the Pistons. They had to get through the Celtics before that with the Pistons. Teams do this all the time in teams competition. They can't quite get there and then they break through. Well, there's no reason to think that golf is any different. You know, Xander had to build up some scar tissue, he gave a couple away, didn't play great a couple of times when he was in that spot, but overall, he put himself in a position to win. Just wasn't his time, and you ran into a brick wall. It happened for him on Sunday, and I'm so happy for him. It's an incredibly popular to win AI amongst his peers. He's a great guy, not just a great player. He's a competitor. How about his confidence, Claude, I mean, you're in the instruction business, okay, you know which I've always joked with your dad about this. You guys are so brilliant at the technical side of the game, but also have an understanding without a degree in this, that you're also part sports psychologist when you're also coaching in golf. And for him to switch away from his dad, okay, his lifelong coach is his dad, all right, And he goes to Chris Cuomo, and he has the changes, and he's not playing not to lose, Claude, He's playing to win, and he's stayed aggressive. The second shot on eighteen, when you had to dig into that bunker, get real low below the ball, do you lay up there? Do you play conservatively there? Or do you say no? No? This has been my game plan all week. I know I need a four at this par five to get a win. Let's keep playing the way I've always played. And you put all that together and I'm just so happy for him. I'm proud of Xander for hanging in there. You know, in this short period of time. People think he's been out there for one hundred years and he hasn't gotten that first major championship win. Like you said, his body of work in his time frame since turning pro claude is beyond legit. Man. He is a filthy, filthy golfer man. He is a great, great player, and I think there's more to come. I'm not a huge fan club. You know, you and I have talked about this before. You know, it happens all the time. Guy busts through and wins his first major, and now everybody is saying, oh, now the floodgates are going to open. I don't necessarily believe in that in this particular case because of how he's gotten to this point, building the step by step to get to a major championship victory. To me, Xander's not going away anytime soon. I fully expect him to be in contention at plenty of majors over the next decade.

Well, we know that that golf is your life. It's been your life, you know, literally your entire life. But I know you're also a sports fan and you also appreciate other athletes in other sports. You know, it took Michael Jordan's seven years to win his first NBA title. He had to get through the you know, the Pistons. They had to get through the Celtics before that with the Pistons. Teams do this all the time in teams competition. They can't quite get there and then they break through. Well, there's no reason to think that golf is any different. You know, Xander had to build up some scar tissue, he gave a couple away, didn't play great a couple of times when he was in that spot, but overall, he put himself in a position to win. Just wasn't his time, and you ran into a brick wall. It happened for him on Sunday, and I'm so happy for him. It's an incredibly popular to win AI amongst his peers. He's a great guy, not just a great player. He's a competitor. How about his confidence, Claude, I mean, you're in the instruction business, okay, you know which I've always joked with your dad about this. You guys are so brilliant at the technical side of the game, but also have an understanding without a degree in this, that you're also part sports psychologist when you're also coaching in golf. And for him to switch away from his dad, okay, his lifelong coach is his dad, all right, And he goes to Chris Cuomo, and he has the changes, and he's not playing not to lose, Claude, He's playing to win, and he's stayed aggressive. The second shot on eighteen, when you had to dig into that bunker, get real low below the ball, do you lay up there? Do you play conservatively there? Or do you say no? No? This has been my game plan all week. I know I need a four at this par five to get a win. Let's keep playing the way I've always played. And you put all that together and I'm just so happy for him. I'm proud of Xander for hanging in there. You know, in this short period of time. People think he's been out there for one hundred years and he hasn't gotten that first major championship win. Like you said, his body of work in his time frame since turning pro claude is beyond legit. Man. He is a filthy, filthy golfer man. He is a great, great player, and I think there's more to come. I'm not a huge fan club. You know, you and I have talked about this before. You know, it happens all the time. Guy busts through and wins his first major, and now everybody is saying, oh, now the floodgates are going to open. I don't necessarily believe in that in this particular case because of how he's gotten to this point, building the step by step to get to a major championship victory. To me, Xander's not going away anytime soon. I fully expect him to be in contention at plenty of majors over the next decade.

Yeah. And the other thing that that was impressive about last week is he had he had a chance to wink before at Wells Fargo and he got smoked by Rory McRoy. Okay, Roy McRoy has this extra gear that not a lot of players have. But he's in the final group with Rory. Rory turns on the gas, wins going away at Quail Hollow the week before. It would be easy to be affected by that, to say okay, because that could go the other way, right, that's another chance that Xander's got to win a big tournament against a quality field, against one of the best players in the world. And you know, Roy what shot eight nine under on Sunday at Quail and Sander what shut couple under and didn't get it done. So you wouldn't be surprised if he comes in with a little bit of scar tissue. But sixty two, sixty eight, sixty a, sixty five to get to twenty one under on a Sunday that Listen, there are a lot of people Sandy talking about the golf course being too easy. It was like EPC all of it. The golf course is the golf course, right, and the players play the golf course that they're told to show up to. I thought we saw some big time drama on Sunday for a major that everybody that a lot of people. I've heard articles social saying, oh, it needed to be harder, it needed to be harder twenty one under. I thought it was really good.

Yeah. And the other thing that that was impressive about last week is he had he had a chance to wink before at Wells Fargo and he got smoked by Rory McRoy. Okay, Roy McRoy has this extra gear that not a lot of players have. But he's in the final group with Rory. Rory turns on the gas, wins going away at Quail Hollow the week before. It would be easy to be affected by that, to say okay, because that could go the other way, right, that's another chance that Xander's got to win a big tournament against a quality field, against one of the best players in the world. And you know, Roy what shot eight nine under on Sunday at Quail and Sander what shut couple under and didn't get it done. So you wouldn't be surprised if he comes in with a little bit of scar tissue. But sixty two, sixty eight, sixty a, sixty five to get to twenty one under on a Sunday that Listen, there are a lot of people Sandy talking about the golf course being too easy. It was like EPC all of it. The golf course is the golf course, right, and the players play the golf course that they're told to show up to. I thought we saw some big time drama on Sunday for a major that everybody that a lot of people. I've heard articles social saying, oh, it needed to be harder, it needed to be harder twenty one under. I thought it was really good.

But I would like to see a major championship play more difficult. There's no question about that. I think everybody would agree with that. However, there's no way to discount someone's victory. It rained two inches the week prior, It rained half an inch on Monday. It rained a little bit more on Thursday night and Friday morning. The golf course is soft. There's nothing you can do about it. If it was firm and fast, it may not have been as entertaining. Who knows. It was incredibly entertaining. And by the way, it was like that for everybody in the field. All right, So was it a little bit on the easier side, Sure, okay, the scores were low, but Xander was the best player all week. And by the way, let's not discount the wire to wire factory, Claude. You know this, What people see in golfers and what we see in athletes is their talent, their skill. What we can't measure is how mentally tough they are because we can't get inside their brain. Well, you try sleeping on a lead. I've talked to a million golfers who who have told me, can't sleep when you have a lead next day, can't sleep when you have a lead. God forbid. You have the lead after fifty four holes, and you're leading with only eighteen to play, and you know what's in front of you. This guy went wired to wire, all right. That is so difficult to do at a regular PGA Tour event. It's so difficult to do at a Players Championship. It's exponentially more difficult to do at a major championship. I just think the world of Xander as a person and as a golfer, and I think it all came together for him last week, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how he moves forward, how this propels him moving forward, will keep him motivated to win more? Will he rest on his laurels? I'll take the former, not the latter. I think Xander is here to stay for a long time. He is a great, great player.

But I would like to see a major championship play more difficult. There's no question about that. I think everybody would agree with that. However, there's no way to discount someone's victory. It rained two inches the week prior, It rained half an inch on Monday. It rained a little bit more on Thursday night and Friday morning. The golf course is soft. There's nothing you can do about it. If it was firm and fast, it may not have been as entertaining. Who knows. It was incredibly entertaining. And by the way, it was like that for everybody in the field. All right, So was it a little bit on the easier side, Sure, okay, the scores were low, but Xander was the best player all week. And by the way, let's not discount the wire to wire factory, Claude. You know this, What people see in golfers and what we see in athletes is their talent, their skill. What we can't measure is how mentally tough they are because we can't get inside their brain. Well, you try sleeping on a lead. I've talked to a million golfers who who have told me, can't sleep when you have a lead next day, can't sleep when you have a lead. God forbid. You have the lead after fifty four holes, and you're leading with only eighteen to play, and you know what's in front of you. This guy went wired to wire, all right. That is so difficult to do at a regular PGA Tour event. It's so difficult to do at a Players Championship. It's exponentially more difficult to do at a major championship. I just think the world of Xander as a person and as a golfer, and I think it all came together for him last week, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how he moves forward, how this propels him moving forward, will keep him motivated to win more? Will he rest on his laurels? I'll take the former, not the latter. I think Xander is here to stay for a long time. He is a great, great player.

Yeah, And I also thought it was a statement the way he played in the final group, playing with a two time major champion in Colin Morrikawa. You'll call him, you know, won two majors early in his career, and it's made looking made winning majors look really really easy. The switch from Stefan, who is a larger than life character, like one of the great characters in professional golf. We're lucky enough to know Sanders dad Stefan. You hear him before you see him. He's one of my favorite people. But like you said, it is tough when your father has been kind of your coach and your mentor and helped you get to this platform. It's not an easy decision that Xander took to reach out to Chris Como and say, okay, let me see if what you think and let me see if there's some gains that I could make, because you know, there's a comfort level when you work with your dad and he's kind of been your guy. I take my hat off to to Xanders, say listen, man, I'm gonna try and see if there's something I'm missing or something that maybe I don't know. I think that that's been huge and for Chris Como, that's you know, two major champions now for Chris as a coach and Bryson de Champeau and Xander, who couldn't be any more different, but an interesting, interesting choice from Xander to make that change.

Yeah, And I also thought it was a statement the way he played in the final group, playing with a two time major champion in Colin Morrikawa. You'll call him, you know, won two majors early in his career, and it's made looking made winning majors look really really easy. The switch from Stefan, who is a larger than life character, like one of the great characters in professional golf. We're lucky enough to know Sanders dad Stefan. You hear him before you see him. He's one of my favorite people. But like you said, it is tough when your father has been kind of your coach and your mentor and helped you get to this platform. It's not an easy decision that Xander took to reach out to Chris Como and say, okay, let me see if what you think and let me see if there's some gains that I could make, because you know, there's a comfort level when you work with your dad and he's kind of been your guy. I take my hat off to to Xanders, say listen, man, I'm gonna try and see if there's something I'm missing or something that maybe I don't know. I think that that's been huge and for Chris Como, that's you know, two major champions now for Chris as a coach and Bryson de Champeau and Xander, who couldn't be any more different, but an interesting, interesting choice from Xander to make that change.

Oh interesting for sure. I'll tell you what, Claude. I was saying this last week to some people. I wasn't working last week because a CBS ESPN event and I don't do life in the PGA, so I was just watching. But I was texting with some friends of mine. I was like, you know, you ought to you ought to bring up how about the credit Stefan deserves. Oh yeah, for your son, who's your your your your whole world professionally and personally, like you said, great guy, credible personality, huge, larger than life kind of person. But for him, Claude, you know, I'm a parent, you know, for you to receive that news from your son and then take it the correct way and not ruin your a relationship with your son, which is the most important thing, but be the professional side as well of what Xander's trying to do. To me, it speaks volumes as to what people thought of Stefan before this and now after. He is not some guy who's just in Xander's face and in his way. That is a tremendous job. In my opinion, I see the smile on your face, you know, not a part coach, part parent. I thought Stefan handled that beautifully, and I thought Xander handled his father beautifully in that position. You can imagine how difficult that must have been for Xander. Now I'm not making them analogous, but we all see Mike Thomas and Justin Thomas all day, every day at PGA tour events, and people ask me all the time about that relationship, and Mike gets asked about it all the time. Justin gets asked about all the time. It can't be easy when you're with your dad twenty four to seven like that, in a working environment, and when things don't go well. As we all know, Claude, it's never the player's fault. It's the cadi's fault. It's the coach's fault. He's fault. It can't be the player's fault. And I say that facetiously, but you know what I mean. So when you have to make a switch, or you feel like you need to make a switch, it's one thing to call Claude Harmon, it's another thing to call your dad. I mean, my god, that's not easy. They're all not easy. So I give them all credit for that. I give Chris a ton of credit for handling that situation well and again for Xander to mix up his action because he needed to make an improvement to get this next step and then to have it all come together and come to fruition. Man, I give all the parties there a lot of credit. It's just it's just just a lot there. And by the way, back to the Justin Thomas and Mike Thomas thing. You know, Justin and Mike have both told me and you know this for years, they have found that correct balance of father and coach, coach and father pupil and father pupil and coach. Because Justin is the boss, he's the player, and it's got to be very strange to have that. And I give all the credit in the world a step on and Xander for handling that beautifully.

Oh interesting for sure. I'll tell you what, Claude. I was saying this last week to some people. I wasn't working last week because a CBS ESPN event and I don't do life in the PGA, so I was just watching. But I was texting with some friends of mine. I was like, you know, you ought to you ought to bring up how about the credit Stefan deserves. Oh yeah, for your son, who's your your your your whole world professionally and personally, like you said, great guy, credible personality, huge, larger than life kind of person. But for him, Claude, you know, I'm a parent, you know, for you to receive that news from your son and then take it the correct way and not ruin your a relationship with your son, which is the most important thing, but be the professional side as well of what Xander's trying to do. To me, it speaks volumes as to what people thought of Stefan before this and now after. He is not some guy who's just in Xander's face and in his way. That is a tremendous job. In my opinion, I see the smile on your face, you know, not a part coach, part parent. I thought Stefan handled that beautifully, and I thought Xander handled his father beautifully in that position. You can imagine how difficult that must have been for Xander. Now I'm not making them analogous, but we all see Mike Thomas and Justin Thomas all day, every day at PGA tour events, and people ask me all the time about that relationship, and Mike gets asked about it all the time. Justin gets asked about all the time. It can't be easy when you're with your dad twenty four to seven like that, in a working environment, and when things don't go well. As we all know, Claude, it's never the player's fault. It's the cadi's fault. It's the coach's fault. He's fault. It can't be the player's fault. And I say that facetiously, but you know what I mean. So when you have to make a switch, or you feel like you need to make a switch, it's one thing to call Claude Harmon, it's another thing to call your dad. I mean, my god, that's not easy. They're all not easy. So I give them all credit for that. I give Chris a ton of credit for handling that situation well and again for Xander to mix up his action because he needed to make an improvement to get this next step and then to have it all come together and come to fruition. Man, I give all the parties there a lot of credit. It's just it's just just a lot there. And by the way, back to the Justin Thomas and Mike Thomas thing. You know, Justin and Mike have both told me and you know this for years, they have found that correct balance of father and coach, coach and father pupil and father pupil and coach. Because Justin is the boss, he's the player, and it's got to be very strange to have that. And I give all the credit in the world a step on and Xander for handling that beautifully.

Yeah. And Stefan, you know, was a very good athlete when he was younger, and and you know, I think he took a lot of the things that that kind of propelled him in his early career. It's trying to be an athlete as well. Sander goes to number two in the world. If if you still believe in the Official World Golf rankings. Can he be the best player in the world. Does he have that type of game? Santy?

Yeah. And Stefan, you know, was a very good athlete when he was younger, and and you know, I think he took a lot of the things that that kind of propelled him in his early career. It's trying to be an athlete as well. Sander goes to number two in the world. If if you still believe in the Official World Golf rankings. Can he be the best player in the world. Does he have that type of game? Santy?

It's a great question, Claude, Uh do Look. I think that Rory, Scottie and if John ever got it together again, you know, and it Brooks is a completely healthy and motivated at all times. I think that those five, you know, justin Thomas has kind of fallen off just a touch, but obviously the game is still there. I'm sure. I'm sure he'll get it back. Kyler Marakalis seems like he's gotten it back, you know, a little bit to where it was when he was in his heyday. But as far as to me, McElroy, Scheffler, Xander a healthy and motivated, productive John Ram I think those are the four best players in the world that I don't see any reason why Xander can't be number one in the official World Golf ranking if you still believe in that, but also be right there with those guys every week as far as being favored and then showing up on Sundays on leaderboards at major championships. For sure, Xanders got the game. I mean, he's got all you need. And now that he has this win, perhaps that little shot of confidence that lets him know that, Yeah, there's a big difference between thinking you can do it and knowing you can do it. Well, up until Sunday, he always thought he could do it, and now he knows he can do it. So let's see where it goes from here. But I don't think there's any reason. Maybe week in week out, I would think that Rory and Scott he might be more consistently better, maybe right now, but Xander's right there with him. Man Sanders, good man, he is so good. Club.

It's a great question, Claude, Uh do Look. I think that Rory, Scottie and if John ever got it together again, you know, and it Brooks is a completely healthy and motivated at all times. I think that those five, you know, justin Thomas has kind of fallen off just a touch, but obviously the game is still there. I'm sure. I'm sure he'll get it back. Kyler Marakalis seems like he's gotten it back, you know, a little bit to where it was when he was in his heyday. But as far as to me, McElroy, Scheffler, Xander a healthy and motivated, productive John Ram I think those are the four best players in the world that I don't see any reason why Xander can't be number one in the official World Golf ranking if you still believe in that, but also be right there with those guys every week as far as being favored and then showing up on Sundays on leaderboards at major championships. For sure, Xanders got the game. I mean, he's got all you need. And now that he has this win, perhaps that little shot of confidence that lets him know that, Yeah, there's a big difference between thinking you can do it and knowing you can do it. Well, up until Sunday, he always thought he could do it, and now he knows he can do it. So let's see where it goes from here. But I don't think there's any reason. Maybe week in week out, I would think that Rory and Scott he might be more consistently better, maybe right now, but Xander's right there with him. Man Sanders, good man, he is so good. Club.

Let's talk about someone who's really kind of I will say this, I think he's transformed his game. Bryson d Chambeau. I mean, Bryson always had a tremendous amount of talent, and then you know, he went down the route where he looked like he ate Bryson and during COVID bulked up and all of a sudden showed up looking like the incredible Hulk and was trying to drive greens and wins a major at Wingfoot and then makes all the comments that he makes about Augusta where par Is in the fifties and all of this stuff. But I've been you know, all of my guys went to live so I've watched Bryson play a lot of golf over the last two and a half years, and sansy he has figured out how to play golf. He is still as quirky and unique and testing equipment and always pushing the boundaries. But there is a different Bryson in twenty twenty four than there was in twenty twenty. He's evolved as a person, but he's also evolved as a golfer. And I thought, you know, four rounds in the sixties, sixty eight, sixty five, sixty seven, sixty four on Sunday, I mean the eight iron he hits from two ten to twenty and stiffs it. There's nobody in the world that Bryson is one of those players that can do things that really no one else in the game can do. How how important do you think last week was for Bryson from a game standpoint, but also the fans seem to embrace him in a way that they never did before, and he seemed to embrace the fans in a way that he hasn't embraced them before. I just think it's been cool to watch this kind of transformation into Bryson kind of where he was to kind of I think this is Bryson two point zero.

Let's talk about someone who's really kind of I will say this, I think he's transformed his game. Bryson d Chambeau. I mean, Bryson always had a tremendous amount of talent, and then you know, he went down the route where he looked like he ate Bryson and during COVID bulked up and all of a sudden showed up looking like the incredible Hulk and was trying to drive greens and wins a major at Wingfoot and then makes all the comments that he makes about Augusta where par Is in the fifties and all of this stuff. But I've been you know, all of my guys went to live so I've watched Bryson play a lot of golf over the last two and a half years, and sansy he has figured out how to play golf. He is still as quirky and unique and testing equipment and always pushing the boundaries. But there is a different Bryson in twenty twenty four than there was in twenty twenty. He's evolved as a person, but he's also evolved as a golfer. And I thought, you know, four rounds in the sixties, sixty eight, sixty five, sixty seven, sixty four on Sunday, I mean the eight iron he hits from two ten to twenty and stiffs it. There's nobody in the world that Bryson is one of those players that can do things that really no one else in the game can do. How how important do you think last week was for Bryson from a game standpoint, but also the fans seem to embrace him in a way that they never did before, and he seemed to embrace the fans in a way that he hasn't embraced them before. I just think it's been cool to watch this kind of transformation into Bryson kind of where he was to kind of I think this is Bryson two point zero.

You're familiar, Claude with the what's going on with the TV ratings this year on the PGA Tour and how down the ratings have been. The ratings were up ten percent on Sunday, and that's a direct result and no offense to Xander, who I love. It's a direct result of Bryson. I think that the fan favorite part of it is fascinating because Live took away some of the great villains in the sport, and I mean that in a lovable way, you know, like a lovable villain in sports is necessary. And to me, what I saw last week, more than anything Claude, is just how much golf fans in America miss seeing Bryson to Shamba play. He is a showman. He is a bizarre cat who thinks his own way, plays his own way, does things his own way. It's as if Frank Sinatra's song My Way was written just for Bryson to Shambo and the golf fans. Last week on TV and in person, you could just sense how much he has been missed because he's out there hooting and holler and he's running around, He's doing the whole thing. He's Bryson, the whole deal, and he's muscling everything and is just fascinating to watch. He's the most fascinating guy in the sport to watch when he's playing well. I don't think there's any debate on that. You can like him or dislike him. You can go through the litany of ten, twelve, fifteen best players in the world, you can't find anybody more fascinating to watch than that guy at the highest level. So he's missed and his game is so good, Claud and he's just he's done it different ways as far as the science of it all, but he also has evolved into the player he is today through his own convictions, his own way of doing it. And there's a lot to do with the people around him and Chris and everything. But you know, good for Bryson for you know, getting it together and getting it back on track. And I think he's better now than he's ever been. And I was not surprised to see him play well last week. It won't surprise me to see him play well at Pinehurst or Royal truon well. He's just a tremendous player and my god is he a breadth of fresh air to a sport that really needed it in twenty twenty four.

You're familiar, Claude with the what's going on with the TV ratings this year on the PGA Tour and how down the ratings have been. The ratings were up ten percent on Sunday, and that's a direct result and no offense to Xander, who I love. It's a direct result of Bryson. I think that the fan favorite part of it is fascinating because Live took away some of the great villains in the sport, and I mean that in a lovable way, you know, like a lovable villain in sports is necessary. And to me, what I saw last week, more than anything Claude, is just how much golf fans in America miss seeing Bryson to Shamba play. He is a showman. He is a bizarre cat who thinks his own way, plays his own way, does things his own way. It's as if Frank Sinatra's song My Way was written just for Bryson to Shambo and the golf fans. Last week on TV and in person, you could just sense how much he has been missed because he's out there hooting and holler and he's running around, He's doing the whole thing. He's Bryson, the whole deal, and he's muscling everything and is just fascinating to watch. He's the most fascinating guy in the sport to watch when he's playing well. I don't think there's any debate on that. You can like him or dislike him. You can go through the litany of ten, twelve, fifteen best players in the world, you can't find anybody more fascinating to watch than that guy at the highest level. So he's missed and his game is so good, Claud and he's just he's done it different ways as far as the science of it all, but he also has evolved into the player he is today through his own convictions, his own way of doing it. And there's a lot to do with the people around him and Chris and everything. But you know, good for Bryson for you know, getting it together and getting it back on track. And I think he's better now than he's ever been. And I was not surprised to see him play well last week. It won't surprise me to see him play well at Pinehurst or Royal truon well. He's just a tremendous player and my god is he a breadth of fresh air to a sport that really needed it in twenty twenty four.

What do you think last week showed the fans that they maybe didn't see before, or maybe Bryson wasn't able to show them because he's always had legit game, right, I mean, you can't you can't fake it. I mean usam you know, wins early major champion. He's been on President's Cup and the Ryder Cup team, but last week seemed like it was different. Is that more Bryson changing or do you think the fans are changing.

What do you think last week showed the fans that they maybe didn't see before, or maybe Bryson wasn't able to show them because he's always had legit game, right, I mean, you can't you can't fake it. I mean usam you know, wins early major champion. He's been on President's Cup and the Ryder Cup team, but last week seemed like it was different. Is that more Bryson changing or do you think the fans are changing.

A little bit of both. I think that, you know, one thing that people don't realize. I'm fifty five years old, Claude. I think you're a little younger than I, but.

A little bit of both. I think that, you know, one thing that people don't realize. I'm fifty five years old, Claude. I think you're a little younger than I, but.

I'm fifty five. Babies, Sammy Hagar.

I'm fifty five. Babies, Sammy Hagar.

We're the same age. There you go. So I think people really forget that this guys are kids, man, their kids, and they're growing up Unlike you and me, they're growing up in front of the world's eye, so everything they do and say is scrutinized from the time they were like nineteen twenty twenty one. So here's Bryson Wotson in his late twenties. Is he around thirty maybe, you know, let's say around there. He's just getting going, claud I mean, you know he can be. He's young enough to be one of our kids, for God's sake, So he's just kind of evolving as a human being and not just a golfer. That's the first thing I think. The second thing is, I think the guys who I've spoken to and you know this way better than me, the guys i've spoken to with live the one thing they say they miss more than anything is the juice, you know, they miss, you know, being against the best in these monster crowds. I know there's a big crowd at an Adelaide down in Australia, but for the most part, they're not playing in front of these monster crowds. And I think people forget to use this word earlier with Bryson. People forget these guys aren't just professional golfers, their performers, Claude. You know, during COVID we heard a lot of them say it was really weird. It was so quiet out there. They weren't playing in front of fans, They didn't have any reaction, they didn't have the adrenaline going and I think Bryson loves the show, isn't afraid to show off a little bit, isn't afraid to show his enjoyments on the golf course and get people fired up and do things a little differently than most professional golfers. And I think that over time, he's maturing as a human being and he's also maturing as a golfer. And I think they all came together last week and I think that Live, more than anything, and this PGA Tour Live ridiculous spat back and forth has made the major championships, Claude bigger. They've made them better, They've made them bigger. And that's why the major championships are not getting involved in misfight. They keep inviting Joake Neman too, Augusta Taylor, Goots and a couple of guys at the PGA. It's going to continue because the majors are small. They know Claude that the fight between the PGA Tour and Live is only elevating their events because their events are the only ones that Bryson and Brooks and Dustin and Cam and all these guys get to play against the guys on the PGA Tour. And it was a win win for everybody last week, but Bryson was the show. Alexander stole the show by winning, but Bryson was the show over the course of the weekend, especially on Sunday. Man it was just fun to watch them out to compete again. It was cool.

We're the same age. There you go. So I think people really forget that this guys are kids, man, their kids, and they're growing up Unlike you and me, they're growing up in front of the world's eye, so everything they do and say is scrutinized from the time they were like nineteen twenty twenty one. So here's Bryson Wotson in his late twenties. Is he around thirty maybe, you know, let's say around there. He's just getting going, claud I mean, you know he can be. He's young enough to be one of our kids, for God's sake, So he's just kind of evolving as a human being and not just a golfer. That's the first thing I think. The second thing is, I think the guys who I've spoken to and you know this way better than me, the guys i've spoken to with live the one thing they say they miss more than anything is the juice, you know, they miss, you know, being against the best in these monster crowds. I know there's a big crowd at an Adelaide down in Australia, but for the most part, they're not playing in front of these monster crowds. And I think people forget to use this word earlier with Bryson. People forget these guys aren't just professional golfers, their performers, Claude. You know, during COVID we heard a lot of them say it was really weird. It was so quiet out there. They weren't playing in front of fans, They didn't have any reaction, they didn't have the adrenaline going and I think Bryson loves the show, isn't afraid to show off a little bit, isn't afraid to show his enjoyments on the golf course and get people fired up and do things a little differently than most professional golfers. And I think that over time, he's maturing as a human being and he's also maturing as a golfer. And I think they all came together last week and I think that Live, more than anything, and this PGA Tour Live ridiculous spat back and forth has made the major championships, Claude bigger. They've made them better, They've made them bigger. And that's why the major championships are not getting involved in misfight. They keep inviting Joake Neman too, Augusta Taylor, Goots and a couple of guys at the PGA. It's going to continue because the majors are small. They know Claude that the fight between the PGA Tour and Live is only elevating their events because their events are the only ones that Bryson and Brooks and Dustin and Cam and all these guys get to play against the guys on the PGA Tour. And it was a win win for everybody last week, but Bryson was the show. Alexander stole the show by winning, but Bryson was the show over the course of the weekend, especially on Sunday. Man it was just fun to watch them out to compete again. It was cool.

Witness insurmountable deficits turn into unforgettable victories at the Travelers Championship, the northeast one and only PGA Tour signature event. See Scotty Scheffler, Worriye McElroy, Victor Hovlin, Patrick Cantley, and returning champion Keegan Bradley, as well as other PGA Tour stars in all four days of the competition at close by TPC River Highlands the Excitement teas all June nineteenth through the twenty third. For tickets and information, visit Travelers Championship dot com. The Travelers Championship there is only one you mentioned, you know, the majors. I mean because to me, in this whole kind of PGA Tour live thing that we've all been involved with over the last couple of years, the majors to me hold all the cards, but they're the ones that can say, listen, you guys fight this out. I thought that Seth Wall and the PGA, you know, inviting some of the live guys was a good thing. Listen. I think at this point, if I keep saying this, if you're anti live and PROPGA Tour at this point in twenty twenty four, with all the evidence and all the information that's out there, you're doing that strictly for your own reasons. Right. If you're ANTIPGA Tour and you fiercely live and you're you're one of those, well you're doing that for your own reasons as well. Right the game, I think we are seeing that the narrative that going to live means you can't play anymore. I think this is the second year in a row where we've had a live player almost win a major championship and come in second. Happened at the Masters last year when Brooks finished second to John Rahm. He went on to win a major, you know, a couple weeks later. But again, there is still a narrative out there that if you go to live it only prepares you for three round tournaments and stuff. I think we are seeing that golf is golf and the other thing. Sandy and I said this to my dad last week when I had him on the pot as well. There is an eye test in golf that those of us and this isn't an arrogance thing that I'm saying that we go, but those of us that are around these players day in day out, week in week out, year after year, as much time as we spend around the professional game, there is an eye test. You know who the good players are, regardless of where they play, right, And I think now more than ever is there is going to be an eye test because I don't see I mean, I don't see anything happening anytime soon. I mean I think next year at this time, we're still going to be talking about whether there's a merger or not. But I do think that when you see players and you look at their results and you look at whether they've been winning, how they've been playing, there, to me, there's an eye test. And Bryson D. Chambeau, regardless of whether he's playing live or not, Bryston D. Shambau is one of the best players of the world.

Witness insurmountable deficits turn into unforgettable victories at the Travelers Championship, the northeast one and only PGA Tour signature event. See Scotty Scheffler, Worriye McElroy, Victor Hovlin, Patrick Cantley, and returning champion Keegan Bradley, as well as other PGA Tour stars in all four days of the competition at close by TPC River Highlands the Excitement teas all June nineteenth through the twenty third. For tickets and information, visit Travelers Championship dot com. The Travelers Championship there is only one you mentioned, you know, the majors. I mean because to me, in this whole kind of PGA Tour live thing that we've all been involved with over the last couple of years, the majors to me hold all the cards, but they're the ones that can say, listen, you guys fight this out. I thought that Seth Wall and the PGA, you know, inviting some of the live guys was a good thing. Listen. I think at this point, if I keep saying this, if you're anti live and PROPGA Tour at this point in twenty twenty four, with all the evidence and all the information that's out there, you're doing that strictly for your own reasons. Right. If you're ANTIPGA Tour and you fiercely live and you're you're one of those, well you're doing that for your own reasons as well. Right the game, I think we are seeing that the narrative that going to live means you can't play anymore. I think this is the second year in a row where we've had a live player almost win a major championship and come in second. Happened at the Masters last year when Brooks finished second to John Rahm. He went on to win a major, you know, a couple weeks later. But again, there is still a narrative out there that if you go to live it only prepares you for three round tournaments and stuff. I think we are seeing that golf is golf and the other thing. Sandy and I said this to my dad last week when I had him on the pot as well. There is an eye test in golf that those of us and this isn't an arrogance thing that I'm saying that we go, but those of us that are around these players day in day out, week in week out, year after year, as much time as we spend around the professional game, there is an eye test. You know who the good players are, regardless of where they play, right, And I think now more than ever is there is going to be an eye test because I don't see I mean, I don't see anything happening anytime soon. I mean I think next year at this time, we're still going to be talking about whether there's a merger or not. But I do think that when you see players and you look at their results and you look at whether they've been winning, how they've been playing, there, to me, there's an eye test. And Bryson D. Chambeau, regardless of whether he's playing live or not, Bryston D. Shambau is one of the best players of the world.

Yeah, I don't. I don't know where he was in the official World Golf ranking coming into the PGA, and.

Yeah, I don't. I don't know where he was in the official World Golf ranking coming into the PGA, and.

It's thirty five now, but I think he was in the hundreds before, so he jumped I mean for thirty five.

It's thirty five now, but I think he was in the hundreds before, so he jumped I mean for thirty five.

First of all, he's not the thirty fifth best player in the world. Second of all, he's not in the hundreds. Okay, So the Official World Golf Ranking is clearly a little bit skewed because of what's going on with LIB. But to me, the most important factor right now, if I was a live player, is the clock is ticket. The clock is ticking for them, because if the Official World Golf Ranking is not going to recognize live and it continues to keep the players out of the major championships. For the guys like Bryson, who won the US Open in twenty twenty, next year is his last year of those five years twenty one, two, three, four five, So he's going to have to have these top four finishes to get back into these majors after next year's four major championships, as long as he doesn't win one of the next two or winning one in twenty twenty five. So to me, you know, I mean, I don't see it coming together anytime soon either. I don't know, I have no intel on that, but I think both sides are kind of you know, thinking one thing and thinking another thing on one side and vice versa. And I think they're pretty far apart as far as coming together, but as far as the guys on Live and the guys on the tour coming together and playing in these big events, the majors, Man Claude, you said it. The majors could end this that they wanted to. They sure majors wanted to end it. They could just say hey, sorry, not coming. But they're not doing that because it benefits that And I don't blame them whatsoever. I think this is the PGA Tour and lives fight. I do not think the major championships are going to get involved anytime soon. To put this aside.

First of all, he's not the thirty fifth best player in the world. Second of all, he's not in the hundreds. Okay, So the Official World Golf Ranking is clearly a little bit skewed because of what's going on with LIB. But to me, the most important factor right now, if I was a live player, is the clock is ticket. The clock is ticking for them, because if the Official World Golf Ranking is not going to recognize live and it continues to keep the players out of the major championships. For the guys like Bryson, who won the US Open in twenty twenty, next year is his last year of those five years twenty one, two, three, four five, So he's going to have to have these top four finishes to get back into these majors after next year's four major championships, as long as he doesn't win one of the next two or winning one in twenty twenty five. So to me, you know, I mean, I don't see it coming together anytime soon either. I don't know, I have no intel on that, but I think both sides are kind of you know, thinking one thing and thinking another thing on one side and vice versa. And I think they're pretty far apart as far as coming together, but as far as the guys on Live and the guys on the tour coming together and playing in these big events, the majors, Man Claude, you said it. The majors could end this that they wanted to. They sure majors wanted to end it. They could just say hey, sorry, not coming. But they're not doing that because it benefits that And I don't blame them whatsoever. I think this is the PGA Tour and lives fight. I do not think the major championships are going to get involved anytime soon. To put this aside.

Fred Ridley, who's the chairman at Augusta Nashvill and his press conference, said, this is an invitational. There always a criteria to be you know that they have for players top fifty in the world and stuff like that. But the Masters has always been an invite. I mean every year the players that get invited, you know, they get their they post on social they get an invite, they get you are invited to the tournament. So there isn't anything stopping the major championships from saying, listen, we're going to have a criteria for our tournaments. There's four of them a year, and these are the people that we are going to allow to play.