Bonus: Live Wolfpack Q&A from Links Hope Island with Nick O'Hern & Mark Allen

We're live here on Saturday arvo Australian time for a bonus US Masters pod 'after the cut'. Not from Australian Golf Headquarters, but we've hooked up the trusty old Zoom and got all high tech!Nick and Mark discuss The Masters so far. The wind has made it tough, very tough to play but Nick says 'a joy to watch'. Mark said that on day 1 Bryson DeChambeau played some of the most special golf he's seen. However, he has done a reverse on his pre-Masters prediction, and Mark now believes that Scheffler will win the tournament. Nick agrees, and in fact Nick predicted Scheffler prior to the tournament beginning.Mark has come armed with stats. 92% of masters winners of all time have been within 5 shots of the lead entering the final 2 days, which Mark says, from a statistical point of view, any player with a score even or 1 under, or worse, cannot win from here.Nick discusses the extraordinary 10 minutes where we saw Justin Thomas and Matsuyama double bogey the last hole to let 11 players into T50, including our own Adam Scott. Keep in mind the cutline was T50 + ties. Unbelievable. Great for Adam Scott who looked gone.Can Cam Davis win from here? Mark says no, but he can get second.And we discuss Greg Norman buying a ticket like us normies to get into the tournament behind the ropes. And Jason Days pants. Oh. My. Goodness. What was he thinking.A fun one today, 2-days to go - can't wait to see how it ends up!We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and you'll never miss one! And we'd love you to share the podcast, and if you can rate and review us that would be great. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, or send a voicemail to us here. And all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;PING will help you play your best;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;And watchMynumbers and Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 Apr 202423min

Being Masters week, we have a fantastic bonus pod this week.The pod is in in two parts. Firstly, pod listener Mitch from Sydney wrote in and asked how you get into caddying, and make a career of it. We thought, who better to ask than Simon Clarke, who has been a caddie on the pro tour for 30+ years and is currently in Augusta caddying for Aussie Jasper Stubbs who is playing his first US Masters this week. Clarkey talks us through his career, how it started, who he has worked with and what he loves about it. And Clarkey talks us through how Jasper's preparation is going for the Masters.After the turn, we take a forensic look at Augusta. Mark Allen has Nick O'Hern and Clarkey talk us through the Augusta course hole by hole. How each hole plays, the shot selection, club selection, and the pitfalls of each. It is a fascinating insight into one of the worlds great tournaments - perhaps the greatest. We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and you'll never miss one! And we'd love you to share the podcast, and if you can rate and review us that would be great. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, or send a voicemail to us here. And all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;PING will help you play your best;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;And watchMynumbers and Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Apr 202440min

Masters week, one of the most exciting weeks in world golf! Nick and Mark loved seeing some of the pictures and videos of Drive, Chip and Putt Day at Augusta at the weekend, and were impressed with some of the young ones, but amazed at the composure of the kids playing in front of some icons of the game.But back to the Masters. Nick believes that there is nothing like Masters week, the energy, the feel, the media focus, he loves it, as does Mark. And Mark asks Nick how he felt driving down Magnolia Lane when he first played the Masters. And he chats about the overall experience of being there. Thursday this week we'll have a Masters bonus pod, which will be a must-listen. And later in this episode, we'll get Nick and Marks tips.What a finish at the Texas Open, an incredible finish with an incredible back 9 from Denny McCarthy hitting 28! But it wasn't enough to nail the win with youngster Akshay Bhatia holding on under enormous pressure for the win. Nick and Mark talk about how incredible it was to see such a performance from the young Akshay when Denny was coming for him. Mark says, in Moneyball style, he doesn't believe that Akshay would be chosen in a team environment, as he doesn't have, on the surface, the attributes you look for - yet he is developing into a wonderful golfer, and Mark loves it and this is one of the things he loves about golf, the only measure that matters is the score you shoot.A fun Top 5 from Nick, Aussie superstar Karrie Webb made this list, remember this?Pod listener Damian calls in with a question about his driver, he has just bought a new PING G430 Max 10k driver and loves it, but has a question for Nick and Mark about shafts.And being Masters week - we get Nick and Marks tips. They each give us who they think will win, and why, which notable player won't win and why, and who their respective dark horse is. Interestingly, the player Mark believes can't win, is the one Nick believes will win. Controversial.Into the PING global results, and there are plenty. Nick takes us through them all.As usual, plenty of feedback, we love it, so keep it coming either on voicemail, email or socials.Mark's turn for the Masterclass, and this week it is for golfers with 'hands of gold'.We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and you'll never miss one! And we'd love you to share the podcast, and if you can rate and review us that would be great. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, or send a voicemail to us here. And all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;PING will help you play your best;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;And watchMynumbers and Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Apr 202457min

Okay we always say it, but it's always the case - another big week in golf, and Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen will cover it all. Nick is at Cathedral in Victoria today on the dodgiest wifi connection we've ever heard, and Mark is at Australian Golf Headquarters in Melbourne on a fantastic connection.But no time for that......in breaking news, Mark has heard, from someone in the know, in the know, that a decision on where the 2024 Australian Open will be held is imminent, and he reveals the inside info on what he has heard. He'll get to that later in the podcast, he's just waiting on a text message from his 'mole' to confirm a couple of details.A fun chat about the first clubs Nick and Mark ever played with, let us know yours on the socials!Augusta. It is so close, and Nick and Mark are excited. Nick tells us about the course, what it's like to play it, and some of the nuances of the various holes. Nicks insights are great, and we can't wait for the tournament, will be brilliant.A huge weekend for Nelly Korda and Scheffler, whilst he didn't win, he is in a purple patch of form - perhaps with the exception of his putting. Nick and Mark chat about how good Nelly is, and Scheffler of course. Both hugely impressive golfers (captain obvious). Hannah Green got off to a wonderful start at the weekend in the desert, but then fell away. Still, she'll be back, she's a gun. Nick was impressed with Hira Naveed, particularly when he discovered that she's from Perth, even moreso when he discovered that she is a Mount Lawley girl!Okay the text message is in from Mark's contact. Mark reveals what state is definitely out of the running for the Open, and how much the respective state governments have bid to host it, there are two states in the hunt and the bid levels are quite a way apart......but..... it's not that simple. Mark explains why.After the turn, it's the Top 5 - Mark's favourite Australian Open courses. Nick takes us around the world in what has been a big weekend for some of the Aussies in the PING global results. And we have some feedback, including questions for Nick and Mark as usual, and a comment from listener Syd, that Nick and Mark vehemently disagree with, about our Peter Fowler bonus ep. Keep your questions and comments coming.And in todays Masterclass, Nick talks us through the one-hop chip shot. He saw Scheffler and Taylor Moore play it at the weekend in Houston. Nick is a fan, and whilst it's a high risk shot, it's a great one to have in the repertoire if you can.We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and you'll never miss one! And we'd love you to share the podcast, and if you can rate and review us that would be great. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, or send a voicemail to us here. And all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;PING will help you play your best;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;And watchMynumbers and Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Apr 202450min

A fantastic bonus episode of Talk Birdie To Me today. Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen have a chat with the legendary Peter 'Chook' Fowler about his career, life, and specifically his short game tips and experiences.It's a wonderful listen with plenty to be learnt from an icon of the game. If you enjoy it, we'd love it you share the episode around with anyone else you think may find it interesting, sharing like that really helps us out !We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and you'll never miss one! And we'd love you to share the podcast, and if you can rate and review us that would be great. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, or send a voicemail to us here. And all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;PING will help you play your best;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;And watchMynumbers and Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 Mar 202427min

Hatgate.The Talk Birdie To Me WhatsApp group has been going crazy this week. Mark is grumpy about the lack of a Tara Iti hat, Nick is unapologetic that he should not be regarded as a hat courier for people. How does it all end? We find out on the pod. The elephant, or hat, in the room needs to be discussed before we get to any golf chat.After that convo, we get to the golf. Mark has had a sneak peak at the new Commonwealth course, we've put some pics on socials, he loves it and can't wait to play it. Nick suggests we do a pod from Commonwealth, so we're on. Mark discusses how he loves the way that Tom Doak designs golf courses. Nick is a massive fan of the history at golf clubs, of the history lesson when you walk through the clubhouses - the names, the pictures.There was the big meeting in the Bahamas last week with all the big wigs from the PIF and the PGA. Mark has some inside info from his US source on how the meeting went, what was discussed, the vibe in the room. And Nick and Mark discuss what it could mean and how things may end up.Nick has finally caught up on the new series of Full Swing, and we discuss some of the stories. Both Nick and Mark have some thoughts on Keegan Bradley after watching the series.A fun Top 5 today, Nick counts down his Top 5 weirdest hats on Tour Pros over the years. A bit of controversy with one left out that Mark felt should be in the list. Pod listener Steve calls in from the beautiful Rich Rivers Golf Club with a story about watching the great Peter Lonard playing there recently. Which takes us to feedback, lots of it, including a ripping caddy question which we'll follow up next week - and we run through your votes and comments on the GOAT, and put Nick and Mark on the spot to name their GOAT. Interestingly, they each name a different player.Lots of fantastic performances over the last week, and Nick runs through them all in the PING global results, and we wrap the show with a masterclass from Mark Allen inspired by Pro Keith Mitchell on the importance of holding your head still, or close to, right into your follow-through.And this Thursday we'll have a bonus pod with the legendary Peter Chooky Fowler where we'll pick his brains on his short game. Can't wait!We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and you'll never miss one! And we'd love you to share the podcast, and if you can rate and review us that would be great. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, or send a voicemail to us here. And all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;PING will help you play your best;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;And watchMynumbers and Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Mar 20241h

Today the gang is back together. Nick is back from Tara Iti and Te Arai in New Zealand and Mark is back from The National at Cape Schanck. And Mark is keen to find out all about Nick's experience on the New Zealand courses. Did they live up to expectations? Or did they disappoint? Nick talks us through it. He describes Tara Iti as tough, fiery and brilliant, and reckons Te Arai has nailed the experience for golfers, and for families. He explains why on the pod. This inspires Mark's Top 5 today, which is great, but also one of the more self-indulgent Top 5's we've had - the 5 courses in the world that Mark would like to play but hasn't. Does Tara Iti make his list? But all is not smooth sailing. Mark is annoyed that Nick didn't bring him back a Tara Iti or Te Arai hat. Disappointing and could threaten the future of the podcast if we don't solve this impasse.Mark raises the Players Championship, he loved it, and says Scheffler is playing at the moment so well, almost like he is on ice skates. We didn't get the reference either. And we discuss Wyndham Clark and how well he played. Mark wants to know how Nick felt standing on the 18th tee when he played TPC Sawgrass, and Nick said that the course forces you to focus on your mental game. He talks about the pressure of the island green, knowing it is coming.Nick and Mark both have some thoughts on Scheffler's putting, and feel his body is twisted, closed. We discuss. Still on the Players, US journalist Evin Priest has suggested the season should end with that tournament. Could it happen? Nick and Mark discuss.During the Top 5 Mark tells a story about trying to sneak his way into Augusta years ago, did it work? And the story of how he was offered a spot playing in Augusta but turned it down to go to a party.....oh dear. Some wonderful golf at The National at the weekend, a great way to wrap up the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, and Mark congratulates Cameron John on a fantastic win. We chat about the Order of Merit results, and 'the bubble'. This leads us into the PING Global Results in what was a slightly quieter weekend around the world, and perhaps not the strongest week for some Aussies. Plenty of feedback, including a whack for the boys from pod listener Andrew Huntley who reckons they missed an obvious golfer in the lefty/righty conversation last week.And Nick gives a fantastic masterclass, inspired by Scottie Scheffler, on transitioning your weight into the ball when driving.We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and you'll never miss one! And we'd love you to share the podcast, and if you can rate and review us that would be great. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, or send a voicemail to us here. And all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;PING will help you play your best;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;And watchMynumbers and Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Mar 202455min

We're doing Talk Birdie To Me internationally this week, well in part anyway. Nick O'Hern is at Tara Iti and Te Arai in New Zealand, and Mark Allen is at Australian Golf Headquarters in Melbourne. Mark is ever so slightly jealous of Nick being at Tara Iti as he's not played it and wants to! Nick is playing Tara Iti this week, but over the last few days has played the north and south courses of Te Arai, and he discusses the two courses and which is harder.Mark asks Nick if, as in the US and NZ, should Australian private clubs explore 'Member/Guest' weekends and tournaments. Huge in the US, could they work in Australia? Are there any already? Let us know if you're aware of any.Wyndham Clark. Was it a rules violation or not? Nick and Mark discuss what happened on the 18th hole at Bay Hill and whether the right decision was made by the officials. Nick and Mark disagree on the interpretation, and Nick says professional golfers always know if they move their ball - despite what they might say.Scottie Scheffler found his putting mojo, at least to a degree. The technique might still not be perfect, but he got into a rhythm, and Nick and Mark discuss what he has changed. Mark says if he nails his putting consistently, he will terrify every golfer on the tour. However, when putting, Mark believes Scheffler has what he calls an 'anxious head', and that's what this weeks masterclass is on.Leads to a chat on the Netflix Full Swing 2 series. Brilliant. Mark discusses an episode where Wyndham Clark sees a sports psychologist.Back to Bay Hill, a course Nick dislikes immensely, and Nick tells a story about being DQ'd from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of John Daly going on a bender...a very funny story, not at the time for Nick, but in hindsight.Top 5 this week was suggested by pod listener Chris Payne who was keen to hear Nick and Marks thoughts on the Top 5 players who were right-handed, but pretty handy as lefty's. Chris said Mac O'Grady was a highlight, and he makes the list, however Mark disagrees with Nicks choice for #2.Lots of feedback, and some questions for the guys, always great - shoot any questions or comments through.Massive PING global results this week, with plenty of Aussies around the world doing well - Minjee Lee a standout, and on the verge of something special according to Nick and Mark.And Marks masterclass on having an 'anxious head' when putting is a ripper.We're here each week with the great support of PING, see your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting. Just like they have with Nick O'Hern, PING will help you play your best. And the Golf Clearance Outlet, great prices on the best gear. See them instore in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, or online here.Talk Birdie To Me. New episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and you'll never miss one! And we'd love you to share the podcast, and if you can rate and review us that would be great. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, or send a voicemail to us here. And all our Masterclass videos on YouTube here.We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;PING will help you play your best;Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;And watchMynumbers and Southern Golf Club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 Mar 20241h