228: What Makes Scottie Scheffler One of the Best Ever?

Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme recap the weekend in golf at the BMW Championship, discuss Fedex Cup standings and playoff storylines, and recap some interesting conversations Smylie had on-course at Caves Valley 👀 Tune in Wednesday for an in-depth Ryder Cup preview and US Am recap episode! CHAPTERS CHAPTERS 02:15 - Episode start 08:45 - Golf Recap 12:00 - Course Review 15:00 - Fairway Conditions 18:30 - Scheffler's Play 21:30 - Chris Gotterup Story 28:30 - Si Woo on TikTok 31:00 - Keegan Bradley Talk 34:00 - Scottie's Signature Moment 37:00 - Ryder Cup Team 40:00 - US Amateur 50:00 - Tour Championship Preview 55:00 - Final Wrap-Up #AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #scottiescheffler #bmwchampionship  #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup #keeganbradley Big thanks to AHEAD for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/

18 Aug 1h 5min

Smylie Kaufman is joined by Ian Baker-Finch - a beloved golf broadcaster who signed off on an emotional CBS broadcast for the final time at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Ian takes us through his golf journey - from an early TOUR win at Colonial, to his 1991 Open Championship triumph, the struggles that followed, and finding a fulfilling second act in the broadcast booth. Smylie and Ian also trade thoughts on the modern game, from the progression in golf instruction and the way Ian used to create his own yardage books, to the complexity of the modern game - and whether some of that is unnecessary. Ian also shares his insights on the future of golf in Australia, emphasizing the importance of creating more global opportunities for players. Check out his book, "Ian Baker-Finch: To Hell and Back," here: https://www.amazon.com/Ian-Baker-Finch-Hell-Geoff-Saunders/dp/1761451642/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro 3:00 - Ian's broadcasting career and final sign-off 5:30 - Career Highlights 10:45 - Transition from playing to broadcasting 15:20 - The influence of Jack Nicklaus and early inspirations 20:00 - Evolution of golf instruction  25:40 - Challenges Ian's faced 30:15 - Reflections on the Open Championship win 35:50 - The mental and physical toll of professional golf 40:30 - Transition to broadcasting and finding new purpose 45:00 - The future of golf in Australia and global opportunities 50:20 - Closing thoughts and Ian's book release #AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #justinrose #jjspaun #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup  Big thanks to AHEAD for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/

13 Aug 56min

On this episode, Smylie and Charlie dive into the dramatic finish in the first round of the Fedex Cup playoffs. From unexpected leaderboard shifts to the intense playoff between Justin Rose and JJ Spaun, Smylie brings an insider look from a scorcher in Memphis. Plus, insights into the players' strategies and the impact of the new course conditions, analysis on FEC rankings heading into next week, and Ryder Cup implications. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:57 Justin Rose and JJ Spaun 06:06 JJ Spaun 10:08 Scottie Scheffler 13:02 Key Moments 16:01 Playoff Tension 21:49 Course Conditions and Challenges 35:30 Justin Rose's Resilience and Career Reflection 40:39 JJ Spaun's Breakthrough and Consistency 44:44 Tommy Fleetwood 51:10 Rickie Fowler 56:09 The FedEx Cup Bubble and Player Updates #AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #justinrose #jjspaun #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup  Big thanks to AHEAD for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/

11 Aug 1h 2min

Fresh off a trip abroad that saw him win the Scottish Open and place third at the Open Championship, Chris Gotterup joins Smylie Kaufman on the Smylie Show! Chris details his journey from junior golfer in New Jersey to rising star on the PGA TOUR, discussing early influences, challenges faced during the COVID pandemic, and his transition from college golf at Rutgers to Oklahoma. Chris reflects on his stellar recent play, experiences at major tournaments, and his aspirations for the 2025 Ryder Cup.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:50 Chris's Early Life and Golf Journey 05:34 Transitioning from Rutgers to Oklahoma 08:22 The Impact of COVID on Chris' Career 10:47 College Golf Experience and Development 13:36 Turning Pro and Early Challenges 16:30 The Importance of Mental Focus in Golf 19:11 US Open Experience and Performance 21:55 The Road to the Ryder Cup 24:35 Reflections on the PGA Tour and Future Goals Big thanks to AHEAD for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/ #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #golfrecap #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #rydercup

6 Aug 1h 4min

Join Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme as they dive into Cam Young’s first victory in a runaway at the Wyndham Championship, what it means for him going forward, and how this could shake up the Ryder Cup selections 🇺🇸 They also preview the upcoming tour playoffs, and tease an exciting episode featuring Ryder Cup hopeful Chris Gotterup dropping later this week. Stay tuned, like, comment, & subscribe! Chapters: 0:00 Introduction & Overview  2:31 Cam Young's Victory  15:01 Ryder Cup Selections  30:01 Tour Playoffs Preview  45:01 Chris Gotterup Interview Teaser  50:01 Closing Thoughts Big thanks to AHEAD for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/ #golf #pgatour #camyoung #golfhighlights #golfrecap #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #rydercup

4 Aug 59min

Join Smylie Kaufman as he welcomes Harris English to the show! Harris shares insights from his incredible season, including a win and two runner-up major championship finishes. Dive into Harris's inspiring, challenging, rollercoaster journey from his junior golf days in Georgia to his rise in the PGA Tour, and hear about the trials and triumphs that have shaped his career. Whether you're a golf enthusiast or just love a good comeback story, this episode is packed with inspiration and behind-the-scenes stories from the no. 8 ranked golfer in the world! CHAPTERS: Intro - 0:00 Harris's Early Days in Georgia - 2:15 Junior Golf Experiences - 5:30 College Golf and Transition to Professional - 10:45 Challenges on the PGA Tour - 18:00 Major Achievements and Wins - 25:20 Ryder Cup Experience - 32:10 Overcoming Injuries and Setbacks - 40:00 Current Season Highlights - 47:30 Closing Thoughts and Future Goals - 55:00

31 Jul 1h 7min

With just one week remaining in the PGA TOUR regular season before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin, Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme discuss Kurt Kitayama’s win at the 3M Open, Joaquin Niemann’s win on LIV, and where strong weeks for Jake Knapp and Chris Gotterup position them for Team USA Ryder Cup picks. Producer Jaxon Brown joins for his first extended show cameo to give his boots-on-the-ground report from TPC Twin Cities, and recaps his favorite moments from Happy Gilmore 2 with Smylie. Finally, Charlie brings some group chat beef to the show, as rumors that his North Carolina Tar Heels will join Smylie’s LSU Tigers in the SEC are heating up. Chapters 00:00 Introduction  05:00 Kurt Kitiyama's Victory and Its Implications 13:05 Joaquin Neimann 20:56 Jake Knapp 26:52 Ryder Cup Considerations and Player Rankings 29:24 Ryder Cup Team Dynamics 33:04 Player Performances and FedEx Cup Standings 36:57 Emerging Talents and Expectations 43:28 On-the-Ground Insights from TPC Twin Cities 48:37 Happy Gilmore 2: A Review 53:08 North Carolina's Potential SEC Move?! Big thanks to AHEAD for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/ #golfhighlights #pgatour #3mopen #golf #rydercup #fedexcup #smylieshow

28 Jul 1h 1min

While we've sadly wrapped up the 2025 major season - where did the time go?? - Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme take a look back at the year's biggest golf tournaments to relive their favorite memories, compare their preseason picks to the actual winners, and analyze who over- and underperformed. Smylie and Charlie also take a way-too-early look at the 2026 major slate, discuss venues, and make some predictions as to who will take home the hardware. Let's hear your predictions in the comments! Chapters 00:00 The Aftermath of the 2025 Major Season 04:29 The Masters 20:35 PGA Championship 32:18 US Open  44:08 Memorable Moments from the Major Season 47:16 Looking Ahead to 2026: Major Predictions 52:51 Evaluating Player Performances in Major Championships 57:36 The Impact of Live Golf on Major Competitions 01:07:44 2026 Major Championship Odds and Predictions Big thanks to AHEAD and ShipSticks for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/ Use promo code SMYLIE on ShipSticks or this link for 20% off: https://www.shipsticks.com/?utm_source=smylie&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ss_acq_pod_0_smylie2025

23 Jul 1h 23min