Ep189: Massive Show: Brooks, Bryson, Elvis, Rory, plus The Australian Open date.

After a break through January and a fantastic collection of holiday mini's, Nick and Mark are back today with a massive first pod of 2026! So much to discuss, we barely know where to start, so we've decided to just hook in and see where the chat goes.

By the way, Nick has come back physically injured - or at least he was, and he's on the mend. Mark has come back emotionally injured due to an issue with his handicap. So both are tender. Dan's fine.

We start with the big news a fortnight or so back about Brooks returning to the PGA, what it means, the impact of it, and Nick talks through the PGA 'Returning Member Programme' and what the criteria is. Mark discusses the rumoured offer that may have come, or may be coming, to Bryson - the numbers are mind-bending. Nick says that ironically, given they're not the best of friends, Brooks leaving has given Bryson huge leverage.

Mark has gotten in trouble over the break and is not allowed to name his 'source' in the US of much of his rumour and scuttlebutt. He can still reveal said rumour and scuttlebutt, however he just can't name the source.....if you've been listening for a while you will know who that is. But....Mark has said that his mail is that whilst the PGA paid the fine that was on the table for Brooks, they also made the same offer to Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. The plot thickens

We discuss Elvis Smylie signing with LIV. Nick is good mates with Elvis and Mark wants to know if Nick knew it was coming and kept it from us. Nick is curious about the fine situation - Elvis has told Nick he'll be playing DPWT events, so who pays the fine? Particularly as LIV are now now longer paying Rahm and Hatton's fines. Mark estimates what he thinks Elvis has signed with LIV for. It's a boatload. On fines - Rory had some comments last week about them, and we have a listen to what he said....particularly in the context of The Presidents Cup.

Back on Elvis - Mark says having no money concerns is likely to help Elvis' game. Nick disagrees and says often having that much cash can have the opposite effect on a player. Speaking of money. Scheffler has cracked $100 million PGA Tour earnings. Wow. And his stats from 2025 are exceptional, Nick runs through them.

Mark raises The Australian Open date (again!), given the next couple of weeks is precisely the time that he feels it should be on, and he explains why he feels that way again, saying Golf Australia should be in a room with Brian Rolapp to organise it, at the very least make the effort to explore it.

And we head to the turn by remembering last weeks Hostplus Guest pod with Peter Senior - huge feedback on it, it was a ripper. If you've not yet heard it then go back in the feed and listen or watch, it was a lot of fun. Particularly a certain story involving Spain. And we had a lot of minis over the break - if you were busy with family stuff or away, understandable, but worth catching up when you can - the majority are quite short and easy listens.

After The Turn, for Betr, Nick lists the Top 5 things that were surprising to him over the break....unintentional, but there is a LIV lean to the Top 5 including a whack from both Nick and Mark for one particular thing that LIV did recently.

Thanks to BMW - Mark's Touch of Class today is great, it's a young gun (18-years old!) from the US who did something amazing last week, he's got a bright future ahead of him, Mark explains what he did and why it was so impressive. Unfortunately Nick then takes the pod down a risky path putting our podcast license at risk.

We get back on track with Hostplus' 'That's a Plus' for Golf, we've given that to Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA as an indication of the best players coming back together. And speaking of Hostplus, if you have a guest you'd like on the pod - let us know!

Mark's talked a big game with the Masterclass today. Tip of the year, maybe of the century. You decide. And then Nick brings us home with the PING Global results , plenty to run through.

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