Ep28: The Fedex Cup, Viktor Hovland, Fred Astaire & Pizzas

It was the golfing news that nobody, well almost nobody, saw coming and it has shocked the golfing world. The merger of the two bitter rivals, the PGA and LIV. How will it work? How will the players who remained with the PGA and turned down the cash from LIV feel about it? What does it mean for ranking points? So much to discuss, and really the merger currently is light on detail - Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen discuss the merger on this bonus podcast of Talk Birdie To Me, and it will continue to be a huge topic of conversation on the podcast ongoing.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 Juni 202324min

Week 23 of the golfing calendar and Nick and Mark are back for another big show.The show opens with Marko putting an accusation to Nick about left handed v right handed play. Marko tells us about watching Rose Zhang highlights from her big win at the weekend - he describes her swing as silky and perfect, and Nick agrees. It was the Rose Zhang show. Mark also suggested that Rose has come from nowhere - Nick lists off a litany of strong performances to suggest otherwise.Discussion around Memorial and the great performance of Viktor Hovland and Denny McCarthy - Nick reckons Hovland is looking very good for the US Open. Mark decides to do a masterclass on the footwork of McCarthy which he reckons is impressive.The boys talk about Billy Horschel, particularly the press conference after his Memorial performance. Marko reckons he is solid and strong, but suffers from paralysis by analysis, he overthinks his shots. Nick says that Jason Day has been disappointing again.Marko reveals the exact figure that Texas Tech golfer Ludvig Aberg was offered to move to LIV, but turned down. Life-changing.Nick talks about what he’d like to see Rory McIlroy change in his game.Back to Rose Zhang - Marko and Nick are amazed about her choice of a 5-iron on the 72nd hole out of the bunker at the weekend. Which then leads Mark into banging on about hybrids again, he says everyone should have one!Call into the show from Harley in Perth who has some questions for Nick who wants an update on his right-handed handicap, and they end up having a good old yak about a couple of courses in the South West of WA. Turns out Harley also does a golf podcast, which you can hear here. Letters to the Editor this week, plenty of feedback from you and Nick and Mark run through it. The boys always love reading your tweets and comments - even if you wanna give them a whack over something !Nick and Mark talk about how many majors Tiger Woods would have won if he’d not parted ways with Butch Harmon. Both reckon a lot !!Top 5 this week is inspired by Rose Zhang’s swing, and Mark counts down the greatest women’s golf swings he’s seen.And we wrap the show with a masterclass from Mark inspired by Denny McCarthy at the weekend - specifically footwork.Fun show, as always share it around and let us know any feedback!Talk Birdie To Me, new episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts.If you've got a friend who is into golf, we'd love you to share the podcast with them, and rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.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.

6 Juni 202342min

Looking forward to this weeks show. Starts off with Mark asking Nick if he'd go into golf course architecture, given there are a number of them in Australia being redesigned and rebuilt at the moment. Chat about some of the courses that Nick and Mark feel are underwhelming, and the changes coming at Royal Sydney with the routing alterations. Mark refers to Huntingdale as a disaster, largely because the greens are so big - both Nick and Mark hate what was done to the 5th hole.Nick and Mark chat about Colonial, and Grillo's win over Schenk. The attention going in was on Michael Block after his great PGA performance, however he was unable to back it up. Mark wonders if the mental and physical strain of the PGA took a toll, and asks Nick how he dealt with it as a player. Nick explains how he handled it and gives a couple of specific examples. Mark says that the Michael Block show is over.Steve Stricker gets another mention, he's almost an honourable member of the podcast given how much Nick and Mark talk about him.Nick raises a reality show from a few years ago based on whether a 5-handicapper could break 100 on a US Open course.Last week we chatted about 'Nick O'Who's', Nick and Mark could only think of 3, and threw it out to you for suggestions. We run through some of your feedback...keep it coming, we love it!Just prior to the podcast today, Nick played Royal Melbourne and Mark is curious about whether Nick played left or right handed - as Nick has an idea to register for a right-handed handicap, which Mark is bang up for. Nick is already shooting low-80s as a right-hander...unbelievable.We chat to Warwick from Sydney who reckons he can fill the final two spots in last weeks Top 5 Nick O'Who list. He's got a couple of ripping suggestions that Nick and Mark love. So Warwick has done some homework on last weeks Top 5 - has Nick done his? Has he watched and reviewed 'Seven Days in Utopia'? We find out.Aaron from Curlewis Golf Club also called through with a ripping story about his 'I Can't Believe' moment. It's sensational. Mark admits to some thievery when he was a kid.Nick has been reading the socials, and has found a couple more Nick O'Who suggestions from you.Top 5 this week is great - the Top 5 caddy nicknames, it is very funny - #1 is a classic. And in the Masterclass Nick talks through the best way to do a downhill chip, and the importance of widening your stance. Video is on the socials now.Talk Birdie To Me, new episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts.If you've got a friend who is into golf, we'd love you to share the podcast with them, and rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.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.

31 Maj 202341min

Big episode this week, Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen are both still pumped over the PGA, what a tournament! They discuss some of the great moments from the weekend, and Mark lists the reasons why he believes it was the best ever US PGA. It was a riveting tournament, that is for sure.Nick and Mark both saw Tom Kim fall into the mud, very funny, particularly with his caddy not getting involved - you have to see the vision, check it here.Mark says that the Koepka win shows that the elite LIV players can still compete in majors, equally that if the LIV players haven't won a major they will now never get a look in to play a major as the PGA Tour is 'playing hardball' with LIV and won't give an inch. He believes that LIV will come hard for some PGA players, Nick says there is no way that JT, Spieth, Scheffler will ever go to LIV.Nick talks about Brooks Koepka's winning percentage in majors vs regular events, Nick calls him an 'anomaly', and that he will be regarded as a legend of the sport now won 5 majors.Nick is amused at what Adam Scott was wearing at the PGA. Mark loved it, Nick less so.Michael Block. What a story. Mark loved it and calls it the greatest Cinderella story since Caddyshack, one of the most beautiful things he's ever seen. And the hole in one was 'ridiculous'. Michael Block calls the PGA week the greatest week of his life, Mark loved the curtain call where Block came out and saluted the crowd. Mark says he welled up a little over the whole thing.We find out if Nick and Mark had a career moment themselves as defining as this week has been for Block. Both have a great story! And the guys want to hear your stories - what is your great golfing story? Let us know on the socials.To the Aussies, firstly Cam Davis. Now in the Top 50 in the world rankings and he gets into a couple more majors. Nick talks through Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Lucas Herbert, David Micheluzzi, and Mark and Nick discuss Jason Day and why he didn't play a practise round prior to the tournament. Both believe Jason made an error in not at least walking the course before the tournament.Nick discusses Gabi Ruffels performance, Mark says she is a star.Top 5 this week is inspired by Brooks Koepka - the top 5 players who look like they don't care on the course, but clearly do. And Mark has an idea about a 'Nick O'Who' Top 5 - players who won, or performed well, but they were largely unheard of prior. A player who has come out of nowhere. The boys are after your feedback on the socials on who should be included.And this weeks masterclass is from Mark and he looks at playing out of a bunker, particularly when you have a bad lie. Video is on socials. Talk Birdie To Me, new episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts.If you've got a friend who is into golf, we'd love you to share the podcast with them, and rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.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.

22 Maj 202347min

Bonus episode with the US PGA in New York this weekend. Nick O’Hern is put on the spot by Mark Allen to name the 5 Australians who have won the US PGA. Mark has a theory on Jason Day which augurs well for his performance this weekend, Mark reckons he’s a real shot.The boys discuss the impact of the weather on the tournament, with the move from August to May. Mark loves the change, and feels that the date coming earlier has made the US PGA a far stronger tournament.Nick and Mark discuss whether the PGA should travel around the world, they are in vigorous agreement, and reckon it should happen. They have an idea on how it could happen, and talk through it. But will it happen in their lifetime? In the hypothetical event that the PGA came to Australia, Nick and Mark discuss what Australian course would be best, given the time of year it would be held. Mark believes Perth is where it should be. Nick thinks the sandbelt in Melbourne.But back to the 2023 PGA, Nick and Mark discuss the calibre of the field.Mark asks Nick about the course at Rochester and how it will play, what the players need to be doing to compete.Both Nick and Mark list their players to watch, who they think will win, and who their roughy is. And of course they look at the Aussies.It's a big bonus episode as we get ready for some late nights watching the PGA !Talk Birdie To Me, new episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts.If you've got a friend who is into golf, we'd love you to share the podcast with them, and rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.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.

18 Maj 202323min

Mark played golf with a new partner at the weekend, and was surprised to see this bloke using a hybrid, he had three in fact, and was hitting well. Mark does not understand why more amateur golfers don’t use hybrids, Nick agrees. When will the manufacturers make a good set of hybrids for men?Discussion on Jason Day’s great performance at the weekend. The boys both were excited by Jasons performance, and unsurprised at the win. Nick was impressed by Austin Eckroat at the weekend, in coming second to Jason. Mark has a story about Austin finding an old putter in his garage, and using it! Nick tells a story about a Wilson 8813 putter - Mark gets veeeeery excited.Nick and Mark are both impressed with Jason Day’s golf barn at his house. Wowee, impressive. Check it out here on YouTube.Adam Scott in some good form going into the PGA this week, the boys both excited to see how he performs. And it wouldn’t be an Adam Scott discussion without talking about how good his swing is.Chat about the women’s PGA coming up next month, which leads to Nick posing the question why do they not play a women's major at Augusta? Both Nick and Mark want it to happen.At the weekend, Mark lost a bet that Nick recommended he make. 50 bucks lighter in the skyrocket.Mark raises the one concern he has with Cameron Smith’s game. Nick and Mark discuss.Plenty of feedback this week, most of it about last weeks Top 5 golf movies of all time - who won the poll as to the best Top 5 ? We discuss and read out your feedback on the show. Leads to some homework for Nick who put Seven Days in Utopia on his list, but hasn’t seen it for years - Mark asks Nick to rewatch it, and give a review on next weeks show. So he'll be getting all Margaret Pomerance on us.Nick takes us through some other results from the weekend, some solid Aussie performances including Cameron Smith finishing second in the LIV tournament. Top 5 this week, Mark lists the Top 5 ‘lost their game, and found form again’ players. It’s a ripper. And a great masterclass on this weeks pod from Nick on pre-shot routines, why players do it, why it’s important, and how you can do it.Video is on socials. Talk Birdie To Me, new episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts.If you've got a friend who is into golf, we'd love you to share the podcast with them, and rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.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.

16 Maj 202338min

Mark Allen joins the podcast fresh from the chipping green where he's been helping out show listener Matt who has been using a chipper, which unimpressed Mark, so he's done something about it! Leads to a conversation about chipping and some tips on how to nail your chips.But into the show - and what a week it has been. Gabi Ruffles has won again, what a superstar, her second win on the secondary tour in the US. Both Mark and Nick are massive fans and she's got a big future ahead of her.Still on the women, the Aussie team lost to Thailand but played well. The boys noticed the numbers on the teams, and both pick the numbers that they'd have chosen - leads to a basketball chat, neither Nick or Mark have seen 'Air', but want to.Wyndham Clark had a big win, his biggest ever, at Quail Hollow at the weekend, Adam Scott was in the running for a while but couldn't quite nail it. Nick and Mark discuss Adam Scott, Mark says that Adam has never swung better, and Nick has never seen a swing like it. A long discussion about Adam Scott, and Mark tells a great story about playing with a 19-year old Adam when he was an amateur when Adam blew him away with his putting.Nick talks about the theory of 'putt like a child' and why that mindset is so important.A discussion about the importance of the handling the mental challenges in golf, Mark asks Nick how he managed it when he was at the highest level when he was playing. Nick talks about the importance of having a short memory, being like a 'goldfish', and why a pre-shot routine is key.Plenty of feedback from you over the last week, and Nick and Mark read out a few of your messages, or tweets, from social media. The boys can't figure out what sort of car is in a pic sent in from Tommy, we've put it on twitter - if you know what it is let us know!Nick and Mark run through some more results from around the world including a great result for Cassie Porter tying for 29th, but the boys are impressed with her, and reckon she has all the tools to go on and have a great career.Top 5 this week is a bit of fun, Nick and Mark were talking about Air, the new Michael Jordan movie, so they decide to count down their Top 5 golf movies of all time. We've posted both top 5's on Twitter and the boys would love your votes on who got it right.Masterclass this week - Mark talks about the importance of the 'side-bend' in your follow through. Video is on socials.Talk Birdie To Me, new episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts.If you've got a friend who is into golf, we'd love you to share the podcast with them, and rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.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 Maj 202338min

Today on the podcast so much to talk about!Mark Allen watched Hannah Green have a great win at the LPGA in California at the weekend and was extremely impressed. Nick O'Hern saw her coming up in Perth as a junior and felt she was always going to be something special. Big wrap! Nick is particularly impressed with her golf swing.Discussion about the calibre of the LPGA tour at the moment, Nick says there are just so many great players to watch.Mark gives Nick some homework: He wants a Masterclass on the short, soft chip to the green.Talor Gooch. Another win, but Mark wants to talk about his caddie Malcolm Baker - who has made a fortune in the last couple of weeks! The boys try and do the numbers....it's a shiteload. They have a discussion about the Singapore LIV event, which wasn't as well supported as Adelaide - Nick reckons the weather plays a role, the humidity in Singapore is always tough. Nick and Mark chat about how they handled hot weather as players.Mark discusses Tony Finau, who has a slightly bizarre putting technique, and he can't understand it - even though it's working a treat for Tony. Nick tells a story about playing with Tony many years ago. Mark talks about the the height of the blade when putting. The boys discuss Quail Hollow in South Carolina and what kind of course it is, Nick describes as looking a bit like Augusta, Mark reckons it's a stunning course. The 18th hole at Quail Hollow is a tricky one - it always got Mark. Nick says 16, 17, 18 are pretty tough at Quail Hollow, but 18 is particularly challenging.Nick and Mark talk about golfers they have based their game on at times - Mark was a wrap on Seve Ballesteros, and Nick talks about taking inspiration from Lee Trevino, and explains why he did, and what he took from him. Mark has a ripping photo of Lee Trevino, and he particularly likes the shoes! We've whacked it on socials. And we have feedback - Nick and Mark read out your social media comments, plenty of feedback on LIV last week. Mark talks about the chapter in Nick's book 'playing to your personality'. And some feedback from you on the masterclass from last week, where Nick chatted about mind drifting on the course. Top 5 this week is a ripper. Nick gives his Top 5 best putters who don't have the putter sitting flat. Leads to a hilarious story from Nick about Japanese golfer Isao Aoki - who knew Nick could speak Japanese? Perhaps not fluently - but he certainly knows enough to get by, and the story about Aoki has to be heard - brilliant.Talking results, the boys are impressed with how Geoff Ogilvy is still performing and making cuts, and a good start for Micheluzzi in his first start on the DP World Tour, and a special performance from Steve Alker.Mark remembers that we haven't gotten Graham Marsh on yet, we'll get onto that.And the masterclass this week is great. Nick takes us through Mark's suggestion of how to hit a 'short softy' on the green. Video is on socials.Talk Birdie To Me, new episodes weekly wherever you get your podcasts.If you've got a friend who is into golf, we'd love you to share the podcast with them, and rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.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.

2 Maj 202337min