237: Should Keegan Bradley play in the Ryder Cup? 🏆 + James Colgan on new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp

Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme break down Wednesday's announcement of Team USA Ryder Cup captain's picks, starting with the stunning decision made by Keegan Bradley to not pick himself as a playing captain. Smylie and Charlie discuss why Keegan opted to go with Collin Morikawa instead of himself, and whether Rory McIlroy and other Europeans were playing mind games in the lead-up to Keegan's decision. SK and CH also dive into potential pairings, and who they would roll out for the Friday foursomes session which will kick off the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Team Apparel Banter 03:09 Keegan Bradley's Captain's Picks Discussion 06:00 Analyzing the Team Composition and Rookies 09:09 Keegan's Decision Not to Play 11:57 The Dynamics of Team Selection 12:52 Press Conference Insights and Data Analysis 15:24 Ryder Cup Format and Strategy 18:15 Pairing Players for the Ryder Cup 21:26 Final Thoughts on Team Dynamics 28:32 Equipment and Pairing Strategies for Bryson 31:25 Exploring Team Dynamics and Player Compatibility 33:51 Experience vs. Form: Crafting the Best Lineup 38:10 Identifying Key Players for Five Sessions 47:20 Setting the Tone: Importance of the First Day #AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #rydercupusa #keeganbradley #teamusa #golfhighlights #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup  Big thanks to AHEAD for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/

28 Aug 52min

Fresh off broadcasting Tommy Fleetwood's long-awaited first PGA TOUR win in 164 starts, Smylie Kaufman joins Charlie Hulme to break down all the action he observed at East Lake, and the massive narrative shift now that Fleetwood has notched win number one. Smylie and Charlie then move down the leaderboard to discuss Ryder Cup implications, and break down the developing four-for-three dilemma that Keegan Bradley faces as we look ahead to Wednesday's captain's picks.  Finally, SK and CH wrap the show with some truly mind-boggling Scottie Scheffler stats, and award their "Player of the Year Podium" - the gold is obvious, but who wins silver and bronze for Smylie? Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:45 Tommy Fleetwood's Historic Win 12:04 Analyzing the Tour Championship Format 21:07 Ryder Cup Discussions and Player Selections 48:41 Reflections on the PGA Tour Season 59:02 Closing Thoughts and Future Expectations #AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #tourchamp #eastlake #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup  Big thanks to AHEAD for their support! Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/

25 Aug 1h 5min

Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme are joined on the latest episode of The Smylie Show by recurring guest Kyle Porter of "Normal Sport" - check his work out at normalsport.com! Kyle, Smylie and Charlie review the biggest storylines a week ahead of Keegan Bradley picking the final six players who will represent Team USA in the 2026 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Kyle dives deep on season-long trends to identify why the Americans could be underestimated, and lists the six he'd be taking to Bethpage - along with answering whether he'd pick himself to be a player-captain if in Keegan's shoes. Smylie and Charlie open the episode reviewing a 2026 PGA TOUR schedule that looks somewhat different from season's past, and look ahead to the 2025 playoff finale at East Lake, making their picks for the eventual TOUR Champion. Thanks for tuning in, and as always, like and subscribe for more golf insights! 00:00 - Intro 01:30 - 2026 PGA Tour Schedule 10:00 - New Events 13:40 - Kyle Porter joins the show 18:45 - Keegan's Dilemma 24:00 - Team USA predictions 28:00 - Team Europe predictions 36:00 - The Ryder Cup excitement 49:00 - New TOUR Championship format? 53:00 - Future of the Playoffs 57:00 - Farewell #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/

20 Aug 59min

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