Ep95: Australian Open, Strokeplay vs Matchplay, Can 35-Under be 'B-Grade'? Mark Says Yes.

Aaaand we're back for 2025. How you doing? Good break? You look relaxed. Have you done something with your hair? Very nice.

But back to the pod. We're live from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, where we'll be pretty much most weeks from now, very exciting. And we welcome Titleist and Footjoy as new major partners of Talk Birdie To Me, along with our long-term partners watchMynumbers, PING and the Golf Clearance Outlet. And another new partner Betr, who will have some special offers for Talk Birdie listeners in coming weeks.

Onto the pod....Mark has had far too much time on his hands to think about the Australian Open and he barely lets Nick or Dan get a 'happy new year' in before he launches off on the Australian Open 2025, the format and the timing. He asks 'what is going on at Golf Australia' and reiterates that the 'experiment' is surely over. If Nick and Mark had their way there would be either no Open in 2025, moving to February 2026, or hold one late this year and a second almost right away in February. We discuss the comments from Cam Smith and Matt Jones last week. Mark suggests March 1 is a good deadline to have clarity from Golf Australia.

We chat about the TGL, Nick loves the venue, and he talks about the best driving range he ever saw in the US.

Last week LIV golfer Eugenio López-Chacarra had a red hot crack at LIV for not delivering to him what they said they would. We discuss. Tissues at the ready, and small violins, it's very sad.

Nick talks about a possible format change for the PGA Tour Championship, he outlines his proposed format, and Mark counter-proposes his. We discuss matchplay vs strokeplay, which leads to a chat about the Australian Amateur event this week.

Nick names the Tour Pro who has 'the worst grip on tour', and talks to rumours that he has been adjusting his swing in the offseason.

We have big news for Talk Birdie To Me....which we chat about just prior to the Turn. Exciting!

Following the TGL chat, we find out what songs Nick and Mark would choose to walk out to. There may be a singalong.

Nick's Top 5 things he'd like to see in 2025 is a cracker. Being the first pod of 2025, not a lot of feedback, but we've got some. Nick's PING Global results leads to Mark calling Hideki Matsuyama's 35-under performance 'B-Grade'. Surely not!

Unfortunately, we end the pod on a disappointing note as Mark tells a joke. Apologies.

We're coming from Titleist and Footjoy HQ, and we're here thanks to our great partners:

• The watchMynumbers app, play smarter and use your data. Download from the App Store or Google Play;
• PING will help you play your best. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, visit them online here to find your nearest store, they're all over the country;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia.
• Southern Golf Club - now with their brand new Simulator Room including Trackman.
• And of course Titleist and Footjoy!

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We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:

• Hostplus, Talk Birdie To Me's official retirement partner
• BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;
• Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;
• FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;
• Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;
• The Find My Player app - follow every player on every tour;
• And Southern Golf Club.

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