Golf’s and its ‘Gen Alpha’ problem | The bunkered Podcast

Golf’s and its ‘Gen Alpha’ problem | The bunkered Podcast

According to a new study, golf “risks dying out unless it acts fast to win over a new generation”. But is there any truth to that?

Michael, James and Lewis discuss on this week’s episode of The bunkered Podcast.

There’s also praise for Lottie Woad following her remarkable win on the Ladies European Tour last weekend, whilst the guys set the scene for this week’s Genesis Scottish Open, which is set to debut (amongst other things) a new ‘Stadium Hole’…

Tune-in now!

#thescottishopen #renaissanceclub #lottiewoad #robertmacintyre #scottiescheffler #xanderschauffele #paynestewart #golf #rorymcilroy #golfer #bunkered #thebunkeredpodcast #golf #golfpodcast

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[Music] Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of the Bunker Podcast in association with Calorie Golf. I’m Michael McKuan. Thank you very much for tuning in. We are back. We took a week off last week because well I was on holiday. Very good holiday it was to a little bit of center parks action near Paris then Euro Disney followed by Wimbledon. Really really good 10 days off and I’m full of the joys of life. Be back working just brilliant. Love it. Anyway, it’s Monday the 7th of July as we record 11. 7th of July. That means there are only 64 more Colin Morakawa media meltdowns before Christmas for those of you who are keeping count. The next one of those, no doubt happening this week at the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance. Maybe the Open at Royalport Rush next week. Maybe he’ll do it at both. Let’s find out. Big big week coming up. Big month coming up. So much happening in golf over the next six weeks or so. We’ve got, as I said, the Scottish Open. We’ve got the Open. We’ve got, let me see, the Senior Open, the AIG Women’s Open, the Women’s Scottish Open, the Nexo Championship, the Stacier PGA Seniors Championship. Then it all kind of takes a lull because we got the FedEx Cup, and who cares? And then it builds all the way up to the Rider Cup. Before you know it, it’s going to be October. It’s going to be Halloween and we’ll be counting down to Christmas. Thanks for tuning in. See you next week. No, we honestly we do have rather a lot to get through this week and so I’m going to bring them straight in. The gruesome tusome the ants and deck of golf as somebody on YouTube described them recently presumably cuz one’s shorter than the other. I won’t say anything about their driving issues. I don’t know who’s got how many points in their license, but you know, let’s just draw the comparison right there. James Tate, the gear editor of Bunker and performance editor Louis Fraser. Gentlemen, how are we doing? Doing all right, thanks. My driving license is clean for anyone interested. Yeah, mine’s good too as well. Thanks. Really? Is it? I thought you got done for speeding recently. All right. Okay. Oh dear. You got done for speeding. Yeah, I got done I got done for I got done for speeding. It was on one of those average speed cameras and I came I came onto it off a slip road onto the motorway and just went straight through into basically the into a 770. It clipped me from You’re the first person I’ve ever heard getting done by an average speed camera. I’ve never ever heard of that. Yeah, it was. So, they work on I know. The one time they switched them on. Yeah. So, I got It was It was an average speed of 50 and I was doing 58, but I came off the slip road and I must have been the last camera in this average speed check zone and then straight onto the motorway and I got done. Three points and a five. Thanks very much. Happy days. Did you have to do that course to get out of the points? Did they give you that as an option? You can do like a speed awareness course or a safety awareness course. I just p I just paid the fine and just moved on. Yeah, quite right. So, what is it with you and speed? Well, if it’s not in the car, then it’s on the driving range. You’re not first, you’re last. Yes, as they say. Le I’m liking I’m liking your t-shirt today. For those of you watching on YouTube, you can check it out. For those of you listening, what’s the deal there? Lots of dogs. Yeah, it’s a guide dogs t-shirt. Very good. I thought I’d Yeah. Best. Yeah. Represent. How much they paying you for that? We can talk about that offline. Spot it. If you want to get involved and we’ll all be wearing guide dogs t-shirts. Absolutely. Guide dogs for the blind. Absolutely. Yeah. No, it’s a good cause. I just It was classic like Instagram advertising. You know what? I can get that support a good cause and yeah, thought I’d wear it this week. So, good on you. obviously, you know, big uh dog person. So, a month leading your account with us. I thought it was a a 20 pound or 25 pound, you know, donation to get a t-shirt and then So, yeah, good deal all around. Good on you. Well done. How’s your holiday? Really good. Yeah, really, really good. Nice and relax. Well, no, it wasn’t at all relaxing. That was a euro, doesn’t it? By the way, was it good? What a time to go to France. 42° last Monday Celsius. 42°. You must have been playing hide and seek from the sun. Oh, relentlessly. Luckily, at Euro Disney, there’s quite a lot of places that are shaded and where you can go and hide. But it was so hot that apparently the top of the Eiffel Tower got closed. No way. Really? Genuinely, I was thinking, well, why is that? And I thought, is it cuz it’s, you know, the heat makes it contract or expand? It probably is a lot to do with the fact that it’s metal. Imagine standing up there. It’s a good heat conductor. Yes, exactly. So, no heat aside, great holiday, lots of fun. I won’t lie, like you know, Euro Disney with the family was very, very special. I really enjoyed Wimbledon. Went there and tons though, tons of parallels between Wimbledon and the Masters. Oh, really? So many. I mean, for a start, I mean, you got the obvious one that they’re both run by private members clubs. Augusta National England tennis club and like the attention to detail at Wimbledon for those of you who’ve ever been you’ll know what I’m talking about. if you haven’t the attention to detail is on another level like in the same way as at the masters where every sing you don’t see litter anywhere you know you don’t really see any staff which is the other thing you go you know you go to a lot of events like we’re going to the open next week you’re going to get tons of volunteers tons of marshals you’re going to get some guy with a an armband who’s going to shout at you can’t go this way that’s the wrong direction the other way like mate you’re just holding a rope yeah I’m trying to literally 10 m that side. That was a really good Irish accent as well. You’re making this just unnecessarily difficult just because you can. Yeah. At the Masters, there’s none of that. You’ve got the crosswalks that are all pretty much self-regulated. It’s the same at Wimbledon. So, you don’t see staff. You don’t feel like you’re being watched even though you are. Yes. The media facilities. I got a little tour of that. Shout out to Stuart Fraser at the Times for for sorting that out. Again, it’s I think it’s the same software that they use at the masters. So, the level of detail that IBM have put into it, if you want to know the fastest serve that day, you can get that with a click of a button. So, all of that stuff’s available to hand. And then you’ve got like the merch. Yeah. Now, I will say that there are some differences in so much as the overall cost when you’re on site for like food and drink and so on at Wimbledon is like ridiculously high which is famously low. Yeah. Two pints of by the way Stella D’s breaking out. Yeah, there was. I’ll come back to that. There was you reminded me. But um I mean if they just at the masters they call it like crow’s nest and I’m pretty sure it’s blue moon. If you just got Wimbledon to call it center core IPA or S SW19 IPA it would taste a lot better. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, two pints of that 19 quid. At the masters you’re getting like five pints of it. I do. I do remember that. I was I was on uh Murray Mound as they call it. Yeah. Not um Radicanu Ridge. I heard something. That’s awful. Not until she wins. That’s awful. But no, not until she wins. But no, I think they were charging when we were there for pims. It was like 9 quid. It’s now 13. Jesus. For pimps. Yeah. Mental. But yes, there was a fight. I saw some guy absolutely losing his mind getting chucked out by security. It took three of them. He’s like, “Don’t you [ __ ] touch me. Get your heads off me.” And he went to headbutt one of the security guards. Missed and then toss the table on the way out. Brilliant. Absolutely superb. He will have woken up on Saturday morning with just the mother of all fear. That’s the Oh, my head’s absolutely a [ __ ] What did I do? He was so sober as well, I So, no. Wimbledon was good. Holiday was great. Good. Lovely. Happy to be back. Don’t know. Ended up buying some [ __ ] on holiday as well, you know? Like you just end up buying stuff because you can. Money is not real when you’re on holiday. Yeah. Yeah. It’s really weird. Oh, this will be nice. I’ll get this. Yeah. When am I ever going to use an inflatable ring ever again? 20 nothing, is it? Yeah. It’s fine. You’re coming back with this extra small suitcase for Although claw machines, there’s a thing. Oh, yeah. You know those claw machines that you get arcades that you never win, totally rigged? Won it for the first time. genuinely first time anyone’s ever won. I think so. Yeah. Sadly, it wasn’t like an iPad or anything like that. It was a a soft toy from a wee girl. But she was buzzing. I was even happier. I couldn’t believe it. This the claw goes down. It grabs it and you go, “Oh, here we go again. Got a chance though. Up it comes. It’s still hanging on.” You’re like, “It’s made it this far, but it’s probably going to wobble and it’s going to fall.” No. Brought it out, dropped it, received the toy, brought it home. A what was it? a cuddly axelottle I think is one of these lizardy things. Sure. She was absolutely over the moon. So they do work. Okay. She’d have been over the moon at getting a new toy. You were over the moon to see one of these things actually work for the first time ever. I was basically standing around at the machine for a while after going, “Does any want to talk about that? Who wants to interview me?” Press release. So yeah, good holiday, but time to get on with some some work because gents, we do have a busy month coming up as discussed. And we have to kick it off though with just the weirdest bit of news. We’ll get to the Scottish Open in a second, but something weird has come in this morning that we need to discuss and we will talk about that right after this. The Bunker Podcast brought to you by the new Elite Driver from Callaway. Okay, thank you Callaway. Always nice to have your support. Looking forward to seeing the Callaway guys next week at the open. You were down seeing them last week, James, but we can’t talk about that because it’s under embargo. Is that right? That is correct. I can’t say anything at all. But new product coming out. However, if you cast your eyes to the website on the 10th of July, you will see some lovely new lovely new gear. I was about to say merch. New products. New products. New product coming. So yeah, look out for that. Played Princess as well, didn’t you? I did. What? What a lovely Well, I say a lovely track, but there’s three nine ninehole courses, so you can do different kind of obviously loops and stuff like that. But yeah, lovely. Really nice. And we had great weather for it as well. Former open venue. Mhm. Yeah. So, right, the big question this week, gents, I’m just going to blurt this one out because I can if you’re driving, be very careful. You might crash your car when you hear this. If you’re showering again, just it’s always good to be careful in the shower in general sense, but yeah, just put the lenses on. Yes. Be very careful how you respond to this question because it will trigger you. Gentlemen, the big question this week is golf dying. The reason I asked got this email this morning, subject line, golf could die out without Gen Alpha research finds. Hi there. Golf risks dying out unless it acts fast to win over a new generation. A new report from American Golf warns. When Gen Alpha hooked on trendier sports like football, paddle, and MMA, sorry, with Gen Alpha hooked on trendier sports like football, paddle, and MMA, many parents admit they don’t even try to get their kids into golf, seeing it as boring, pricey, and out of touch. To change this, American Golf is launching free junior putting lessons nationwide this summer. It’s obviously a bit of a a a plug for American golf, this this bit of research. But yeah, this study claims to find that over a fifth of kids, 21% claim they’re not interested in golf because the sport is quote boring, with a further 1 in 10 claiming there is a lack of relatable role models in golf. Quite a bit to unpack with this one. But this James kind of flies in the face of everything that we’ve been told about golf participation even during co but certainly post. Golf has never had it so good. There’s not been ever really as many people playing golf as there is right now. And now we’re told that Gen Alpha is not interested and therefore the future’s at risk. First up, what is Gen Alpha? I was going to ask you. Does anyone know? No idea. Right. I haven’t got a clue. Well, your obviously after Gen Z or whatever the heck it is or ah it’s the demographic cohort born between 2010 and 2024. So yeah, they’ve done well to interview a lot of one-year-olds and their responses. James, to that point though, golf has got it so good. So what is this something we should legitimately be worried about? No, I think it’s a lot of crap. Like I’ll be honest like I think over co as you’re saying there was a massive spike in participation golf. Yes. Okay. I mean it’s saying here there was 44% since 2016 and that was not a lot of people under the age of 18. Great. Yeah. Like but I think you know from when I was growing up like at a young age I think your parents like if you are in like a golfing environment or golf community you’re going to get your kids involved in playing golf and even if they are wanting to share an interest you’re going to find your closest golf club or golf coach to get lessons and kind of get them introduced. There’s loads of kids summer camps about especially around you know Scotland and your golf club. So, like I don’t I don’t see how this is actually relevant whatsoever. Like I think it’s just it’s obviously like a big plug and a push to obviously for American Golf to show showcase that they’re doing like free putting lessons over the summer. But you’re not buying into the results. No, absolutely not. I think it’s just crap. Lewis, how about you? Well, I’m reading this press release and I think in the second line it says over a fifth of kids uh claim that they’re not interested in golf. So, if 21% is the number that they’re giving me are saying kids aren’t interested, does that mean 79% of kids are interested in golf? It’s not a majority, never mind an overwhelming majority. The overwhelming majority apparently are interested in golf. Not brilliant. If you if we got a press release and 79% of kids are really interested in golf, it’s not brilliant. That’s the spin, isn’t it? That’s the spin. Yeah. So, I don’t I don’t quite get that. Uh is golf dying? No. Of course, it isn’t. Like, no. Even like I know it’s anecdotal, but you look at junior opens for example, like so many of them are fully booked, which is totally different to how it was. Yeah. Like when I you know, even when I was playing like junior opens, it was the same kind of crowd. It wasn’t busy. And then before co things kind of tailed off a bit. Not the case now. Like kids get hooked on golf. We all know how addictive it is. And yeah, as James kind of pointed out, families will get children into golf. They go to the nearest place. You can spin numbers however you want. Of course you can not die. One in 10 claim there’s a lack of relatable role models. So yeah, by logic again, presumably nine and 10 are quite content with the lack of ro with the availability of role models. The role models point is quite an interesting one though because you know we are in this somewhat of a post Tiger Woods era for us growing up. Tiger Woods was the man. He was you know where everything started and he was the entry point wasn’t he for golf. Any role models thereafter you kind of found them when you went looking beyond Tiger. Is there anything in that though just the relatability of current players? I mean, Rory’s very relatable as we know, but this, I think, speaks a bigger concern that some of us have about the game, which is that we’ve got an awful lot of robo pros these days. I mentioned Colin Morava at the top, you know, are are guys like he and Xander Schaefully, even Jordan Spe, Justin Thomas, in the women’s game, Nelly Corda, a big name, but, you know, we don’t really see her doing a huge amount. She’s quite, you know, fame shy. Is that a bigger concern going forward, James, that maybe these players who are benefiting so much from opportunities and huge amounts of money, more money than ever, do they have a bit of a responsibility and certainly more of a responsibility than they’re taking on to raise the profile of the sport? Yeah, like pay it back essentially. Yeah, I definitely think there there’s maybe something in that out of that whole press release. I think there’s maybe something in that comment. I mean, like you said, like if you look at the the guys who we kind of grew up watching, there were some proper like icons, but I think now in this kind of day and age, there’s I mean, Scottish Sheffler is the world number number one, but he’s like he’s not Tiger Woods, is he? He’s not he doesn’t have the same kind of flash or aura, shall we say? Um, even guys like Ricky Fowler in in our day, they’re big standout characters because of, you know, the way they kind of dressed. I mean, obviously Jason Day kind of comes to mind because he’s kind of been doing a few kind of out there bits with Malbourne, but even still, there’s not really someone which I would kind of like look at maybe from a a younger generation be like, oh, they’re like they’re they’re kind of like really cool kind of thing. Everyone’s kind of maybe a little bit sy and like I think that’s the problem. And I think there’s no one who really actually stands out from the crowd anymore. Yeah, I would. Yeah, with with maybe a handful of exceptions. I I was interested in that one. 88% of parents aren’t even trying to get their kids into golf at a young age and instead are pushing them towards team sport such as football. No surprise there. That’s always been the case. Or newer trending activities like paddle and mixed martial arts. I refuse to believe. Sorry, I don’t care what the numbers say. I’m just not that I mean you see where are they doing this sports direct like what like MMA tell me there’s not many octagons for kids no no way I’m not buying that at all just don’t believe the numbers like I guess if it’s if it’s karate and it’s judo and whatnot fine mixed martial arts you know I’m not seeing to get little Conor McGregor’s cutting about hopefully not hopefully not less the better in that I don’t know. We’re drawing the conclusion then that this one’s just a bit of Yeah, it’s it’s brand promotional, but it’s also deliberately scaremongering. Is that what we’re saying? That’s not too seriously. Listen, it’s worked. We’ve talked about it indeed. And we mentioned the the free putting lessons you can get at American Golf if you’re a junior. So, go along. Golf isn’t dying. Golf is not dying. I certainly hope categorically. If not, then we’re in trouble. Not even close. No, but no, it’s not. Thank god that’ll be all right. So worried honestly I could tell I’m glad we cleared that up beside myself with fear. I wondered what was really getting at you this morning. Didn’t know if it was just coming back to work. Driving in this morning I thought there’s something not right in the world and then that email land. I was like that’s it. You take one week off work and golf dies all of a sudden. All these three-year-olds out there just going I’m not interested in golf. Can do MMA instead. Colin McGregor, he’s a great role model for him. Oh my god. Just sensational. Oh dear. Let’s talk about someone who is a legitimate role model and who definitely deserves our attention. Who has certainly got a very bright future in the game and that is Lotty W. Lotty is a name that hopefully plenty of you watching and listening will be familiar with. If you’re not, that’s probably on us and other media organizations for not paying more attention. I do think we have paid quite a bit of attention to her. The reason we’re talking about her now, well, as an amateur, Lotty has only gone and won on the Ladies European tour over the weekend, the KPMG Women’s Open, I believe it was in Ireland. The first amateur to win on the le since 2022. I think this is making a bit of noise over here because, well, one, she’s uh British for a start. She’s also the reigning number one women’s amateur in the world. and she kind of announced herself on the global stage when she won Ana, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur just over a year ago. Lotty looks like she’s got all of the tools to go on and be a a really really big star in the game and have a very very long successful career. Lewis, what do you know about her so far and what strikes you as being particularly impressive about her? I think from watching some of the golf over the weekend, what impresses me is she hits the ball incredibly hard, which is great to see. like she doesn’t hold back the way that she hits it and the way that she plays the game. Like she’s really aggressive in the way that she approaches it, which is brilliant. She’s had an incredible amateur career. Like you mentioned there, Ana, she’s won the Smith Salvig Open. Uh even like at the US Women’s Open, she was top amateur. Mhm. Nothing seems to phase her like a lot of amateur golfers in that situation with how many chen by seven shots and then ended up winning by six. And I think that’s arguably the most eye opening part of it. It’s not like she stumbled across the line one by one or in the playoff. She romped that event going into an event final round of the lead like that. We see so often like experienced players within god like a miles ahead. Try and be defensive here. She didn’t do that at all. So yeah, everything nothing stands out to me as being a problem with her game here. Obviously there’s a lot to learn and she’s still an amateur. So things change when you’re playing for a living, but so far so good. That over the weekend was just different class, wasn’t it? Different class against a really strong field as well. Well, you took the words out my mouth. I mean, Meline Sagstrom, who’s, you know, a Solheim Cup veteran, was her closest challenger, like we said, six shots a drift. She was 21 under par to be clear when she won. So, she obviously knows how to go deep. Three rounds. There’s that that horrible cliche, but I guess there’s some truth in it. She’s not afraid to go low. She she’s obviously got birdies in her, but yeah, Meline Sax in the field. Charlie Hull also in the field. Georgia Hall, former AIG Women’s Open champion was there. Leona Maguire. I mean, that was a seriously deep deep field playing on, you know, a tough golf course as well. I mean, Carton House is really, very tough conditions. Yeah, she’s uh she’s genuinely making a lot of people excited. And James, one thing I thought was really interesting was the advice that Paul McInley came away with for her after her when he obviously took notice of it and on social media advised her to keep doing what she’s doing. He said, “Evolve, don’t change.” Yeah. And that’s a really important bit of advice, isn’t it? Because she’s only 21. The temptation could be when she finally turns pro to, as we’ve seen so many times, to rip up what she’s doing and find a different way of doing it. McInley’s advice is no, don’t do that. just let your game evolve rather than be tempted to make wholesale changes. Yeah, I think um when you get that kind of advice from someone who’s a veteran themselves, who’s been around the game for a long time, yeah, you need to take that on board and and listen because quite clearly she’s done something pretty special. I mean, she’s won five times for Florida State as well already. Um number one amateur in the world, obviously won uh Augusta as well. Um, but she’s got so much ahead of her. I think you need to take the advice from, you know, guys like that who are watching it day in day out who have that experience. Uh, and just and just listen because like you said, we’ve seen guys that have have turned pro from being being amateur and just maybe tried to do things differently and they’ve gone backwards. like the last thing you want to do is is take your foot off the gas because what she’s doing is is quite clearly working. Um but to watch her play in those conditions because it was windy and shoot you know those low scores and beat a field of players which is you know pretty stacked. Y um hugely impressive. So I think I think she’s going to be a big bright talent in the future for sure. Are you surprised she’s not turning pro? She did say that she’s not tempted yet. She’s still trying to get her final two points for LPGA membership. Yeah. And then she says she’ll see what happens after that. But are you surprised that she’s not been tempted to make the plunge? I mean, that patience is impressive, right? Yeah. It’s interesting because obviously there’s a lot a lot of other factors that are behind that because she’s playing college golf. M weirdly, you know, now in in the collegiate sports can in the NCAA like American footballers and basketballers can obviously make money and get paid, but in golf it’s not like that. So, she’s had to turn away 58 grand and give it to the person who’s finished in second place. So, there’ll be stuff like that that’s weighing on her mind. And to be honest, when you’re 21 years old, you’re like, that’s a lot of money. Um, but she’s obviously got plans to probably finish college, get her degree just in case. You never know what happens in sports. There’s injuries and all that kind of stuff. But yeah, I think getting those extra two points would definitely make her consider to probably earn earn professional for sure. I I would think Lewis James mentioned the money there. You know, 58 grand. Yeah. For a 21-y old, that’s that’s a lot of money to turn away. 58,000 euros, I should say. There has been quite a lot of chat I’ve noticed since she won uh yesterday around having to forfeit that money more so than I’ve seen when other amateurs have won tournaments. I think of Shane Lowry when he won the Irish Open all those years ago. No one really discussed the fact that he couldn’t take the prize money. It was oh my god Shane Lowry an amateur has won. I remember there being a little bit of chat around it in 2015 at the Open St. Andrews when Paul Dunn, if you remember another Irish amateur, was leading the way. I can’t remember at what stage. I think it was maybe 54 holes. Yeah, it was in the final group. He was in the final group, wasn’t he? I wouldn’t say it’s a consensus yet, but people are starting to pose a question around I mean, could something be done around prize money? Could she accept a portion of it? And I think this is something that’s only really happened since the name image likeness deals were something that amateur athletes could start to accept. Are you is this something you’ve noticed is something you’ve clocked on to the the money chat for amateurs? Yeah, I think in in this case she’s probably not worried about it at the moment because she will earn a lot of money in her career. But generally I don’t see why they shouldn’t earn this money. Like they’ve competed in the same stage. It’s not like she’s playing a different golf course just because she’s an amateur. I get why this doesn’t happen. But yeah, like they should find a way around this so that amateurs can be paid prize money when they win professional events. So status are then by definition not amateurs. Yeah, I know. I get it. But it doesn’t seem fair to me at all. And because she’s beaten these professional golfers and won the professional event, I I understand why she’s an amateur, so technically can’t win money, but she’s also, you say, getting money from NIL heels or she could do. I don’t know if she does specifically, but others do. Others do. Yeah. So why not in an event when you’ve actually earned the money as well? Well, that’s the thing. The funny thing for me is always that the the prize of money goes to the next best placed professional. Yeah. Well, no, that doesn’t seem right. You didn’t earn that money. You You didn’t beat the person. So, you should the person who finishes second should get the money for second and nothing else. But obviously, Sagstrom can’t imagine she’s going to make much of a case against not being given that extra cash out. But you’re right, there’s a little bit of a I don’t know if gray area is the right word. Just seems to be a bit of a strange phenomenon that arises when an amateur performs well. It’s one of those it happens every week. like it would have been the same when she finished, you know, tied 30th, whatever it was at the US Women’s Open. Like she’s missing a lot of money there. But yeah, it would be if I was an amateur and went and played in a professional event and I’ve potentially won 60 grand. I’d be disappointed. But because you could give 50 of that to the guide dogs. Exactly. Yeah. 55 probably. Yeah. Set up a direct debit a grandish month. James, what do you think should at least be getting paid? It is that gray area like I I I agree with Lewis like you’ve done all that hard work. You’ve beat a worldass field of golfers like you yeah you you should in my in my opinion it’s a technicality of self-def. Yeah exactly. So yeah I I think I think they should be able to take take the money. Obviously in in an amateur event it’s completely different um because the prize money is like not there. So, you’re literally just playing for first place and hopefully you’re picking up that trophy. Yes, there is the the classic like, oh, you’ll be paid in gift vouchers or whatever or whatever it will be. Spend it in the pro shop. Scottish golfers. Yeah, exactly. Um, but yeah, I think you should be able to take them take the money home because you’re proving yourself against some of the best. The reason that I’m asking you that question specifically is you’re quite an interesting case because when you go and compete as you’re going to do later this week again in a long drive event, there is prize money up for grabs. You’ve won prize money this year, but you can still compete as an amateur because well, long drive is somewhat different, but the principle is the same. It’s golf. You’re using golf equipment. You’re competing on a golf course. Yeah. Under a controlled set of rules and regulations. M your skill at a golfer is allowing you to be paid on one hand and compete as an amateur on another. So that’s a blurred line in itself. You could go and compete in the St. Andrew Lynx Trophy if you wanted and then fly out to Germany and win and get paid whatever thousand. It’s a weird it is a weird kind of there’s a ruling somewhere. I’ll need to look it up, but basically long drive is not considered like golf. It’s like a skill within itself essentially. So you can, you know, get paid to to do that, but then you can also still compete as an amateur, maintain handicap and and that as well. So yeah, I think the rules of amateur status must have a separate chapter all about that. Yeah. So it for for me and what I do it that in itself is still a a great area, but it it allows us to do do that. This is kind of in that kind of gray area, but there’s been stuff put in place for god years and years and years that says as an amateur golfer, you are not allowed to like win prize money. Mhm. I think if you’ve been able to prove yourself not in an amateur setting, but in a professional event, then you should be able to take that take that that money. Let me see. What you’re saying is you believe that there should be no prize money in amateur events. For example, the St. Andrew’s links trophy or the Brabason. There should be no prize money available there. But if you are an amateur playing in that in a professional event and you do well enough to earn money, you should be allowed to keep that money. Yeah, Lewis. Yeah, I would love that to be the case. I don’t think it will be anytime soon, but that’s the way I think that just kill off amateur golf. That’s the thing. at the elite level. And you know, what does that then look like? Uh, oh, because you’re still going to have people who aren’t playing like the Scottish Open that will be playing the St. Andrews Lynx Trophy and is still truly amateur golf. And then you’ll have people like Lywood who are the elite of the elite and go get into these events and could potentially earn money that way. But yeah, the whole thing just doesn’t it doesn’t really sit right with me that she’s not earning money for winning a professional golf event. It’s one of those it’s it’s quite an unusual case and that she’s won this time and puts in the spotlight. Will it change soon? Probably not, but I’d like it to for for her sake and for other amateurs coming through. I’m sure otherwise golf will die and Jane Alpha will be like amateur. This is the thing. Yeah, I know. I’ve not checked my email since we started. But is that the next is that the next problem what percentage of amateur golfers think this could be changed. A jeez. Yeah. That sort of detail aside, ly we’re right to be excited, aren’t we? I think so. Yeah. Well, I always gauge this by like cut through to sort of members of golf clubs and I was when the US women’s open was on. I was playing a medal at Clyde Bank and usually like let’s be honest demographic of old guys playing golf women’s golf isn’t always the first thing that comes up but he was talking about watching like the US women’s open and saying how Wy is like the next big thing. Yeah, she definitely think I think he’s right. Yeah, he’s back on seems to have all the tools, well does have all the tools to compete and win at this level and as you say, if she keeps evolving her game rather than changing it, there’s no reason that’s not going to not going to keep going. I think it’s important as well we try and temper some expectations because she will turn pro eventually and there will be this expectation that because she’s had such a great amateur career that she’s going to go on and win majors straight away. two words, Rose Zang, you know, absolutely ridiculous amateur career, probably the best amateur career in the last 20 years. Won literally everything and yeah, she’s been successful, you know, in the in the time that she’s been a professional. She hasn’t won majors yet and she’s not really been contending over the last period of time. There is this kind of adjustment that takes place after you turn pro, you know, plus form is such a fickle thing. It can come and go. So, you know, let’s not start putting expectations on Lotty that she’s going to win, you know, 10 majors in the next six years, but yeah, she’s legitimately legitimately exciting. Y got an invite into the Aian as well. Yeah, I saw that. That’s next week, isn’t it? So, major championship again. Oh, it’ll be interesting to see how she how she does there and see if she can take that form and continue that. That would be pretty cool. Well, if she wins that Yeah. Anyway, like I’m saying, expectations. Come on. Yes, you’re saying take the take the money. She wins that. I tell you. No, take the money. Before we go to the break, it’s time for the the latest asked and answered. Apologies. I didn’t get a chance to share this with everyone on social media because like I said, I’ve been off. But so, gentlemen, no answers from social this week. So, it’s just down to you guys to see if you can un well crack the enigma. Basically, decode the enigma. If the answer is Estonia, what is the question, Lewis? Yeah. My only like overriding thing that I can think of with Estonia is that time Scotland turned up to play them and they didn’t build a team. Remember that one team in Talon? That’s right. Now, when that must have been 1998, wasn’t it? Uh, Scotland, Estonia. 1996 it was. Yeah, you’re right. one team in Talon and then they ended up like redoing the fixture and we drew so we couldn’t even win when there wasn’t a team in the field. That’s right. Brutal. Yeah, typical. I don’t think that’s the question that you’re answering or asking your No, it’s not. That that game lasted like 3 seconds, didn’t it? It was It was over after like 3 seconds and a vague memory of was it Darren Jackson or or John Collins? I think it’s John Collins celebrating it. Superb. No. Well, yeah, it’s a good guess, but no. And it’s funny. I think that’s going to be when you hear the the the the name Estonia as a Scott, your mind just goes straight back to to that, doesn’t it? So, good guess, but wrong. They’ve actually just Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was looking at the team that the Estonians that was for game, he didn’t play. James, any suggestions? The only thing that comes to mind when I think of Estonia was when I lost the keys from from my rental car, but that’s it. Hey. Yeah, Estonia. I I’ve got nothing for it, but last time I was in Estonia, I lost the keys from my rental car when I You’ve been to Estonia? Yeah, I went to Talon. What’s it like? Um, it’s actually I actually really enjoyed it. It’s It’s still got a bit of a uh It seems like there’s still maybe a lingerings of there used to be a kind of curfew vibe uh in the in the evening, but um 8:00, why you still out? It’s like 8:00, why is there nobody walking around the streets like just me? But no, yeah, it was it was good fun. Um it’s got quite a good food scene uh in this in the center. Um and good good kind of like bar scene as well. So yeah, it’s actually quite a fun fun place to go. I actually enjoyed it. Yeah. Not not not so much when you’re losing your keys. How? Yeah. When you’re going from bar to bar trying to, you know, find your keys. It’s not the best. Yeah. No. Yeah. But I didn’t really answer it, but that’s it. Didn’t I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you the answer to this question. It’s a good answer right after this commercial break. Do not go anywhere. Ready to tee off in one of Europe’s finest golf destinations? Discover the beauty of Lisbon with Glenor Golf Holidays. Enjoy sunny weather, stunning coastal views, and world-class golf courses. All handpicked by our experienced team. Plus, we’ve just received the FIFO 10 years of proven trusted service award in 2025. Visit glencorolf.com or call 01904650 to book your dream golf holiday today. We’re members of protected trust services to ensure complete consumer protection and full compliance with package travel regulations. Welcome back. Part two of this week’s bunkered podcast in association with Callaway, Michael, James, and Lewis all with you. Before the break, asked and answered. If the answer is Estonia, then what is the question? The question is this. What is the home country of Richard Tedar, the 20-year-old amateur who hauled out for eagle in a playoff to get through open final qualifying last week? Pretty long- winded question. It’s like one of those ones that an American journal is going to ask next open. I’m just just curious. I would like to get a two-part question for a start. Just curious. Of course you are. That’s why you’re asking a question. You don’t need to preface a question by saying I’m curious. Well, of course you are. That’s the whole point of an Inquisition. Ask the [ __ ] question. Correct. So, yes, Estonia is the home country of Richard. Get that off your chest. Woo. Feel better. You may have seen this on social media last week, but what a way to qualify for your first major championship. The open at that. The bold Richard was off the green in the rough and needed to hole out to punch his ticket for Port Rush and he only went and did it. Yeah, stunning scenes. Great celebration with the the caddy as well, lifting them up, almost dropping him over the shoulder, which would have been injured, broken leg. Sorry. But hopefully he’s fine. So, I’m sure his ribs are okay, Louis. Don’t worry about him. But yeah, Richard’s gonna be the first Estonian to play in the open, which is amazing. Is it? Is it that much of a shock? Suppose it is. I I guess. Well, yeah, I kind of guess it is because you don’t really see a huge amount of Estonian golfers kind of on the not a shot. Yeah, I can’t think of any other Estonian golfers. I was looking too trying to see what’s the most obscure country that has had that player play in the open. There must be some. In fact, I’ll tell you what, we’ll throw that open to you. That’s a great question. Get into our DMs. Let us know the most obscure nationality represented in the what we on now 160 plus years of the Open Championship. Let us know. If you can come up with the most obscure one, then I will send you a prize bought from the open shop at Port Rush next week. How’s about that? There you go. That’s a great prize. Yeah. I mean, Trinidad and Tobago, I’m thinking, is probably right up there. Although Steven Ames, who was born there, represented Canada. Always go to Trinidad for him. So, yeah, let us know. Paraguay or something like that. Yeah. So, it has to be like the the flag they played under. Yes. The flag they played under. Like Justin Rose caveats here. Yeah. I’m not I’m not having any Rory Sabatini action. I’m quite honest. I’m surprised that Richard Tedar isn’t the second Estonian after Rory Sabatini who no doubt has represented every other country. Oh man. So yeah, like give me a a B or a Nepal or something like that. Monaco. Monaco. Yeah. Oh yeah. The Vatican. Wow. Vatican. Hope Leo is going to get a sponsors invite. Off to Port Russion. Unbelievable short game. Yeah, Pope Leo the 14th. An unlikely sponsors invite if ever there was one. So yeah, get into our DMs, let us know. Before we move on, cuz I want to talk about Scottish Open in a second, want to draw your attention to something that these guys and producer Deck sitting quietly in the corner did last week, Wilson Wednesday. Hopefully you saw this. It was a big, as they call it in the industry, an activation to draw attention to Wilson’s phenomenal range of irons. The guys did a hole in one challenge last week. James, you attempted to get a hole in one. I did on a simulator. For 4 hours, and I won’t spoil the ending. Just go and watch the recap of that on YouTube. 500 balls. You hit 500 balls. How your hands? Uh, I split my finger. Let me see. Oh, that’s disgusting. It’s kind of dried up now, so it’s fine. I had to run to reception and golf at Glasgow, which is where we did it, and be like, “Strange request, but have you got a first aid kit?” The guy was meaning for himself. Yeah, I know. Yeah, we were falling apart. Guy hands you a No, I big man patched up. I tuned into a little bit of it when I was waiting in Charles de Gaul or Charles de Hell to be more accurate airport in Paris and yeah it looked a lot of fun. So go and check it out on our YouTube channel youtube.com/bunkered and you can recap some of the action. See if James was able to make a hole in one or not. Should also add our latest edition is on sale now with Charlie Hull on the cover. You’ve heard us mention it a few times now. the open. It’s taking place at Port Rush next week. With that addition, you also get a full open preview, separate supplement, 50 odd pages. We’ve got interviews in there, exclusives with Tommy Fleetwood, Zack Johnson, Graeme McDow gives us the the hole by hole on Port Rush. Spoiler alert, some crabble and Patrick Harington is in there talking about ice cream. Really? So, go and check it out. It’s on sale now from all good news agents bunker.co.uk/suboffer if you want to subscribe. Alternatively, if you have an Apple News subscription, you can read us there as well. The open is next week. This week, gentlemen, is the Scottish Open. The Genesis Scottish Open taking place once again at the Renaissance Club in East Lotheian. Unbelievable fields. Like, what the hell? Yeah. Rory, Scotty, Ludvig, Colin. I mean, Xander Schaeer, I think, is playing, isn’t he? Yes. And obviously Bob McIntyre, defending champion. Real buzz about the Scottish Open again this week for tons of reasons. A buzz that I can’t really remember the tournament happening having since it left Loman. What’s that, 15 years ago? It feels like it’s rediscovered its identity. Yeah. Part of that I think is maybe down to the sixth hole. Lewis, keep me right here. This is something that came out last week when I was on my halls. But am I right in saying they’re that par 36 that the Renaissance? Yep. That’s now going to be uh what they like to call a stadium hole. Stadium hole. Give me the dets. Yeah. Well, the the tour released this and they described it as being fully enclosed. At first I thought they were putting like a roof over it or something. I don’t believe that’s the case. Thankfully, that would be too a little dry spell and he’s loading. I know it’s got his microclimate, but [ __ ] me. Have to keep the ball flight a bit lower if you don’t hit the the railings up the top. Can’t confirm. I don’t think that’s No, there’s no roof. But the fully enclosing like the short par three to have stands all the way around it like that’s the idea. Yeah. Trying to make it like this, which I think is something different. I’m really interested to see. Is it different? It’s different for the Scottish Open. For the Scottish Open maybe, but obviously Waste Management Phoenix Open has cornered this particular part of the industry. Got it’s doing quite well with it. Liv has attempted to have these stadium holes or signature holes. Yep. So obviously the brains at the DP World Tour or Genesis or Scottish Opener PGA Tour obviously because it’s co-sanctioned have thought we could do this bit of that. Yeah, I think you mentioned the PGA tour there. That’s probably my hunch would be that’s the sort of driving force behind this innovation. I saw a lot of people in social media thinking, oh this, you know, Scottish Open, we don’t need this. But it’s one hole. I think it’ll be quite cool. I think it’s not like Scots to resist change. Not in my backyard. No, don’t need that. But it’s good as it is. Leave it. I get that to an extent, right? So true. So true. It’s the Scottish way. It’s totally the Scottish way. I just leave. You’re changing it. You don’t even need grandstands, man. What’s the point? I think it’ll be good fun. I think I’m I’m looking forward to going and seeing seeing what it’s like. But when you go to postage stamp at Trun, there’s a massive grand stand behind the tea. It’ll be like that. I think this will be all the way around the hole. All the way around the hole. Yeah. So, people who have been to the which is a great place to go and watch by the way, will have been in the grand stand that sort of goes around behind the green. But that’s going to be extended all the way sort of past the media center up towards the clubhouse I believe. So going tomorrow so I’ll keep an eye out. It’ll be quite it’ll be quite interesting because I played in the proam last year. Mhm. Um and it it kind of you could they were kind of already doing it but you could see the potential of what it could knock that mic out. You could see the potential. You can see the potential of like how big it could be. So, it’ll be really interesting to see what they’ve done to kind of add to it cuz it’s a it’s a good it’s a good little par three. It’s a good par three. Um, but having a bunch of rowdy Scots around it, who how rowdy are they going to get? I don’t know. No, this isn’t it’ll be fine. Yeah, this isn’t like the six quid a pint. Are you joking? Phoenix gets all of the students from Arizona State to send. They’ve been doing it for years. This I mean how rowdy and rockus is it going to be when you’ve got you know guys from Abber Lady showing up today? Oh this is different. Yeah. So is it a good thing or gimmick? Um probably a bit both. I think I think not mutually exclusive. No. I think they’re obviously trying to build it up and make that like a you know a destination kind of spot of the course and get a little bit of buzz around that kind of area. And I think, you know, if someone’s someone’s kind of going well over the first kind of few holes, then there might be a little bit of kind of chat and buzz and people will start kind of flocking to that area. Um, and you know, when guys are in content and kind of going down like on the on the final day, like hopefully it’ll be nice and loud, but I guess we’ll kind of loose you’ll be able to tell us what it’s like when you when you go check it out. But I think I think it’ll be good. Um, but we’ll just have to wait and see. They’re going to wheel out the wee guy from the Cory’s to sing the national anthem probably at this rate. Amy McDonald showing up. To be fair, if McDonald showed up, that would be great. But I think is Katy Tons playing the she is like Saturday night. Katy Oh god, I forgot about Kat. Yeah, suddenly I see. I did also on this um stadium hall thing. So, I don’t have the forgive me if the details aren’t spot on here, but I believe that if you’re in the grand stands, you get to like pick who’s going to be the first player to make a hole in one, right? So, I could say Bob McIntyre is going to make a one in this hole. If he does it and you’re correct, then you get an all expenses paid trip through Genesis to go to like the Korea Championship. I’d rather just have a car. Just give me the Genesis. If Bob makes a hole in one, he’s getting a car. I’m getting to go to Yeah, it’s not bad. It’s all right. I mean, you’re not paying anything to forget it then. Don’t know why I mentioned it. You think it was quite cool, but you don’t want it. It’s fine. They did give me the money. They did something similar last year. Do you not remember? They were getting um they were getting uh a couple people from the crowd sitting in the chairs and if someone made a hole in hole in one then they would get like a an all expenses paid trip or a a Genesis car or something like that. I’m sure they were doing something like that last year. They’re trying. But yeah, they’re trying something different. Why not? It’s I’ll be interested to see how it looks. I my my only fear is that stadium holes are becoming a bit more and more ubiquitous these days and it’s going to take something really special to come even remotely close to what we’ve got at 16 at Scottsdale. So, it’s always going to look a bit naff by comparison. It’s going to look a little bit I know what they’re trying but it could have been so much better. So, we’ll see. Yes, we will. But the field, like I mentioned, absolutely unreal. Second strongest field on any tour so far this year in terms of strength of field. That that weird metric or device that nobody really understands outside of the majors obviously. Although, am I right in saying Scottish Open is a stronger field data wise than the Masters was data wise? Yeah, I think it’s cuz um Scottish Open probably has about double the amount or not quite double but close to double the amount of players. And then you’re taking out some of the amateurs and the older past champions in the masters. No burner langanger this week. No. Well, you never know. Couples. Not that I’m aware of. Anyway, it’s it’s funny though. I mean, when you consider how strong that that field is. What is it that that makes it so appealing to the best players in the world? Why are why are they all now coming over to play the Scottish Open? I think there’s a few things, but the main aspect for me is the the links golf side of it. guys play like there’s a chartered flight from the John Deere Classic coming to Edinburgh probably right now as we’re as we’re speaking. Mr. Svad, the the owner of the Renaissance. Yeah. Fueling the jet. Yes. Quite quite possibly. Yeah. I suspect. So having that chance to play on that course before you go and play the open is massive for these guys. Uh but it’s just something different for players. It’s like you watch John Deere Classic, like it’s all well and good, but the horses become sort of monotonous at times in the DJ tour and it’s very similar and you forget kind of what bowl you’re on. For Americans coming over, I get the impression they actually really enjoy playing the Scottish Open. Like the Renaissance is so different to what they’re used to. I know it’s maybe not a typical Scottish links, but that aspect and then for a lot of players, it’s a chance to get into the open because there’s spots on offer. for the ones who are, it’s a chance to really fine tune their game before that week. But yeah, it’s a brilliant week. I’m I’m buzzing for it to get underway. Excellent. James, what about Bob McIntyre? Obviously attempting to successfully defend the title he won last year. Come on, Bob. Bob’s Bob’s got a good record around race though, not just the win, but came extremely close to winning two years ago when Rory had to produce something pretty special down the last to to pip him. Bob’s been playing a bit of Lynx golf over the the last few days, maybe even over the last week. Saw him on his social media channels at Mahanish, Mahanish Junes, obviously trying to fine-tune his link skills after spending most of the year out in the States so far. I mean, is it too much to think that he can defend his title? No, I don’t think it’s too much at all. I think he’s obviously come back home and he’s just like, “Right, I’m just going to submerse myself in Lynx golf just playing winds because let’s be honest, when you go to Ireland, guaranteed wind.” And I think and I but but I think obviously going into the Scottish Can he defend? Absolutely. He’s been playing so so well all year like it’s been seriously impressive. But I think the fact that he’s taken the time to come home, go play some Lynx golf, um, and just kind of fine-tune stuff. And even watching the stuff on his in Instagram, the nine holes that he posted, I think it was like one under or something in the end or sorry, three two under in the end, three birdies, one bogey. Like he looked solid and he looked like he wasn’t even trying. Like it looked effortless and I was just like, “All right, cool.” like he looks like he’s in a really good headsp space and I think you know him being on home soil he’s he’s going to he’s going to fancy isn’t he he’ll want that badly as well so it’ll be good to see if he he does it but I’m I’m hoping for a good week for him good memories as well obviously 12 months ago incredible scenes it would be brilliant to see him do it again but really really busy strong field I mean Roy’s in there as well won it just two years ago played well again last here. Lewis, what’s your what’s your your never mind your hopes, what’s your expectations for Rory at the Renaissance this week? Because let’s face it, next week’s a bigger week for and no disrespect to Scottish, but or anyone involved in Scottish Open, but next week’s the bigger week for Rory, obviously on home soil at Port Rush. Yeah. Is this all about trying to find some some good vibes? Yeah, frankly, it is. You he might not say that and you’ll say that he’s trying to win the event. I don’t doubt that he is, but I’m not even at the back of the mind. At the front of his mind will be Port Rush, and that’s completely understandable. Expectations, he’ll make the cut and get four rounds of Link Golf under his belt. If he gets in contention, great. But he’s not going to lose sleep over it. If he’s not, I wouldn’t think it’s And it’s probably that way for a lot of players. It’s not just Rory, but I’m expecting him to go there probably. Yeah. make the cup comfortably, be near contention, and have more than half an eye on next week, which is completely understandable. Those are the events that mean the most to him now. So, yeah, it’ll be good to good to see him and, you know, see see what he has to say, see how he gets on this week, see where his game is kind of at. There’s still quite a few questions around that, isn’t there? Yeah, there is. I mean obviously his most recent appearance was Travelers Championship closing in on a month ago now the week after the US Open where he rallied well to make the cut at the US Open ended up finishing the tie for 19th. Travelers he he was better he finished in the tie for sixth. So it feels like the game that was maybe he was fighting some parts of his game post Masters which is understandable feels like he’s rediscovering that just in the neck of time. So yeah. Yeah. Be interested to see what driver he has in the bag. very interested to see what driver he has in the bag. Mhm. Cuz that is the that has been that’s been the issue the issue and the story for for the last few months, hasn’t it? So, look, I was going to talk a little bit about Ryder Cup. I’m actually going to save that for another episode because we have another episode of the Bunker Podcast coming up for you very soon. So, I don’t want to give you too much all in one go. Our open preview, we’ll go into Rory in a bit more detail as well as everything else regards Port Rush. That will be out at the end of this week. Should expect that to be landing on Friday. So, keep your eyes and ears peeled for that. And then next week when we’re in Port Rush, obviously it’ll be the return of the open commute. Again, in association with Callaway, daily bite-size podcasts designed to be listened to in the car on your way to or from work each day. We’ll be giving you the lowdown on what’s happening, all the stuff that you maybe don’t see direct from the 153rd Open Championship. So, 150 something open. We’ll we’ll be more specific next week. But yeah, those podcasts will be dropping all next week. So, I don’t want to give you too much too soon. We’ll save the RDER Cup chat for maybe post open, but there are some compelling storylines emerging there. Instead, I’m going to move us straight on to Pod of Merit. Keeping on the Scottish Open theme, gentlemen. It is the start of a new season of Pod of Merit after your thoroughly deserved and somewhat convincing win in season one. Lewis, well done. So, thank you. So, pick order. Everyone is all up for grabs. All players are back in play and the picks are we will go with the standings from the season just ended. Lewis, you’re picking first, then you, James, and then it’s yours truly. So Lewis, your pick for the Scottish Open. Fantastic. I’m going to take someone who I don’t think was picked at all in the last season, which is unusual considering the stature. He might have been Xander Schae. Oh, no. I picked him. Did you? Okay. Right. Just gave me bugger at all. Right. That’s why I forgot then. Probably a miscar. The last last year I went on numbers a lot. He’s just due to win. That’s a eyeball test here. Xander is due to win at some point. He’s coming back from injury. Former Scottish Open champion as well. This is it. Yeah, he’s won round the course before. He’s been sneakily good since sort of the Masters. Really good course for him. I think conditions probably going to suit him because it’s meant to be fairly nice weather over the next few. It is meant to be nice weather meant to be amazing. He’s the open champion so he’s got good links for him. Fancy him to do well this week. So taking him. Okie dokie. James, I can hear you typing Furiously. It’s gonna come as no surprise, but I’m going to choose last year’s champion, Bob. Bob Mack. I think what a year he’s having. I think he’s definitely coming into a bit of good form as well. And I just feel finishing second at the US Open. Yeah, exactly. So, I think he’s uh he’s going to want to put on a show for uh for the home crowd. And I I hope he does. But yeah, big man, big bald Mac. He’s going to going to get it done. Fingers crossed. In that case, I am going to I’m going big. Come on. We’re we’re on a, you know, clean slate here. You could win this time. World number one Scotty Sheffler. Oh, I mean, he wins anywhere he goes. This is true. He’s just a machine. So, or he comes second or third. Yeah, exactly. So, top five is guaranteed. This is it. There’s Listen, there’s only one more major this year. There is logic to this. There’s only one more major championship. Yeah. in this next nine or 10 months. So, I probably wouldn’t have chosen Scotty at Port Rush. So, where else am I going to choose him? I may as well stack the game, go in hard, get the three points on the board early doors and force you guys to chase. Fair enough. Yeah, I don’t hate that. Scottish F. I mean, I like Yeah. Yeah. But most of your picks have missed the cut. So, what are the chances? I’d be shocked. This is the thing, right? What are the chances he does that well? Let’s just find this out. When was the last time that Scotty Sheffller missed a cut? 2022, was it not? So, let me look at his results. 2022 going I’m looking at the world rankings, which shows it at a glance. All the way back. All the way back. All the way back. So, I’ve gone as far back as the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open. That’s the 2-year period obviously the the points count for. and he hasn’t missed a cut in that time. Okay. So, he’s due one he’s jinxed his Scottish open record for those of you who are particularly interested. He Let me see. Oh, why is it doing that? Come on, computer. Don’t be a dick. Yeah, he played in 2023 and finished in the tie for third. Yep. Okay. What is it you’ve got? What are you going to No, I was just saying his last cut he missed was on the 2022 August 14th. So yeah, three years ago I have jinxed him. Scottish Sheffer is going to have a nice weekend cutting around Kill Spendy doing nothing else. No, he’s going to win. He’s my guy. Come on, Scotty. Don’t let me down now. So yeah, playing Archerfield at the weekend. To reiterate, Lewis Xander, James Bob, and I’m going with Scotty Sheffller. Brand new season of Pod of Merit is underway. Let’s see how we get on. Right, Bear Lies to finish up. And James, it’s your turn this week. Are you ready? Oh, born ready. When did you almost kill last time? Funny you say that. When I was 17, I played with Aaron Stewart, being Stewart’s son. I know that’s true. You’ve told me that before. But I beat him in a match play not once but twice. You beat Payne Stewart’s son. So my first thought is that’s no big deal. If you beat Pay Stewart twice at match play, fine. But just because and we’ve seen this how many times just because someone is the offspring of somebody’s a successful golfer Yeah. doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to be a particularly great golfer themselves. So how good is Stuart Jr.? Uh he went to SMU on a D1 scholarship. SMU? What’s that? South Methodist. Uh yeah, in Texas somewhere. Okay. D1’s like the highest, isn’t it? Yeah, he was he was a really good he was a really good player. He was very very good. What what his handicap is, no no idea at the time, but they all just went off of scratch scratch scoring and what you were scoring in, but he would have been plus figures easily. When did you claim? Uh, it would have been 2007. What was the tournament? It wasn’t a tournament. It it was uh an ex the same exchange that I went on this this bloody bloody exchange. Honestly sick of hearing about. So I went on an exchange once and we played basically Pine Valley and Cypress Point and before Tiger Woods was there. Yeah, he was Tiger’s carrying my bag. No. Um, oh, it was at his back. It’s like so many shots into the woods. Um, no, it was at um really the uh No, it was at Worth and then obviously at the return trip. It was on the It was in St. Andrews on the Jubilee. Jubilee. That’s the name of the course. Yeah, I know. But I wasn’t sure if it was in your jubilee. I had to think about that one. But yeah, so what were the scores? H. So that’s going back in Worth. I won on the last hole. He like four putted or something like that for Yeah, it was it was brutal to watch. Um, great for me. And then on back in St. Andrews, I think it was two and one or three and two, something like that. Okay. Going back a bit though, what was he like? Yeah. Oh, super nice guy. Very funny. Yeah. Yeah. Quite a character. Did he have plus4s on like his dad? No, he did not. That would have been quite good. Yeah. Was he doing like celebrations like the you know the famous Pinehurst famous one? Yeah. Yeah. Any of that not cuz you were beating him so he wouldn’t have been doing that. No. No. There wasn’t wasn’t too many fist bumps. Put it that way. Maybe from my side. Right. I mean, it’s entirely believable. It’s one of those that’s going to be like he beat him three times or something. Yeah, I think James is just bringing this up so he can boast about having the major champion son. He’s just trying to segue this into the conversation. He’s been thinking ever since he joined this pod a few months back. He’s going to bring up the time that I beat Pay Stewart’s son twice. Yeah, I got it. Bare lies. So, yeah, I think this is 100% true. I have not even the slightest shred of doubt in my mind. Yeah, likewise. I’m gonna go true as well. I think it’s Yeah, all the details seem to add up. The sort of 2007 that seems about right, doesn’t it? Is true. Yeah. Knew it. You’re just one to both. So, true. Keep going then. What is What else What else do you know? No, it was it was it was just that same trip where it was him and the only other kind of notable um professional golfer son was John Omir and Mar’s son on the trip as well. He we play Kings Barnes as well, but it wasn’t a match. It was just a b a bounce match, but he shot a 62 off the back. Well, Omir did. Wow. Off the backs at Kings Barnes. 62. Yeah, it was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen in my Must have been flat cam. Uh, it wasn’t cam cam. There was a bit of breeze, but it wasn’t like a hard wind to navigate. Put it that way. But he just hold like he was holding 25 ft putts for fun. It was one of those days. He couldn’t miss a putt. But if you play 10 under. Yeah. But if you play king if you play King’s Barnes before, the greens are actually fairly easy to read. There’s not It’s not like you go down on I’ve always found that. Too easy. If anything played a couple times, won’t be back. Not a challenge. Anytime I hit the green, I just go, “That’s a gummy.” Yeah, maybe that’s what this guy was doing as well. Inside 20 ft. You have it. Pick it up, mate. Um, but no, it’s like they’re all there’s no kind of subtle breaks like when you go down on the old course and stuff like that. Um, which is why the pros probably go quite low. Told that part all those years ago. Yeah, of course. It actually just funnels to the hole and then you like it across the green. I ruined that. Michael. Michael. No, but um yeah, it was uh it was pretty impressive to watch it that way. Oh, bet. There you go. So, Aaron Stewart, loved his dad. Pain was just Yeah. Yeah. genuinely one of the biggest tragedies I think in sport, you know, just horrible what happened to him. Uh yeah, I just used love watching him play. It’s funny when I think back like obviously at that point 1999 you’re familiar with Tiger quite familiar with Phil Mickelson but outside that the next big American was Payne Stewart. Yeah. You know just not just cuz the way he looked and the way he dressed the fact he was extroverted just seemed like a really good guy with it a proper natural entertainer. talking about role models at the start of the show like that’s someone who you look to and think you are not cut from the same cloth as anyone else and then they don’t do things by the book like obviously kind of before my time but just looks like the way he played like was caution to the wind all the time way dressed so cool and yeah iconic celebrations better than me yeah proper stand out I mean there was there was another side to him as well there was edge you know like certainly the RA cup there was of course I’m I can’t say for sure I don’t think he and Sebie were probably bosom buddies for a while, but you know, there was there was a side to pay Stewart that was a real competitor and or whatnot, but yeah, it wasn’t all just chirpy, happy golucky, but that’s you need that you need that competitive edge. I remember speaking to I think was it was Jim Furick. No, tell a lie. It was Davis Love who played alongside him in I think his first Rder Cup. loves First Rider Cup and said that he couldn’t have wished for a better partner to play with because he was just so supportive, so encouraging. He was like, “I’m not going to read your putts. You read your own putts and I back you 100%.” Just what a loss. I cannot honestly help but think, you know, what would he have gone on to do? Another major win maybe. But what a what a Ryder Cup captain he would have been. I I remember watching Bane shirt. I think it was actually it must have only been like a couple weeks um before obviously that hor horrific accident but he was at the Dunhill and I think at the time it was still the it might have still been the team event the Dunhill Cup. Yeah. Yeah. And I remember he was there and it was absolutely chucking down the rain. But he’s there in his plus fours and his and his little hat and stuff and like he was really entertaining to watch even then. But it it was obviously then meeting Aaron and we’re kind of going around we we were at Sawrass and stuff and you you’re looking at Aaron like looking at photos of his dad and stuff like that. Did you talk to him about his dad? I think we were kind of kind of at that age where like now we probably would, but like when you’re kind of 17 years old, it’s like probably not something you want to bring up, but you’re just kind of like thinking like this must be really difficult just like looking at your dad who’s achieved so much and probably could have gone on and done so much as well. And it’s just like this must be really hard because everyone talks so highly of him. you’re just getting to kind of know your dad through everyone else and kind of actually what he was like. It’s like it must be really tough. But listen at the like he’s if he’s anything like his like his dad was there’s one thing that Aaron is he’s like got a great personality, massively driven and just like all around good guy as well. So it was it was so much fun to to meet him and obviously his family as well out there. So pretty cool experience. Yeah, good on you. And you won twice. And I won twice. Sorry about that in there. Yeah, always helps. Right, gent there for this week if that’s all right because there is, like I say, quite a lot to be done. Lots happening. So yeah, thank you very much everyone for listening. Much appreciated. There will be our full open preview. It’s going to be big coming later this week. And then of course next week, the open commutes every single day from Tuesday morning onwards from Royal Port Rush. We’ll also be putting out our daily open email newsletter bulletin thing. Excuse me. That was a I coughed. Managed to swallow. Cough. Got it. Y got it. He would have broken a rib. Yes. So, next week we’ll have our daily email newsletter, the open bulletin every single morning in time for breakfast. If you aren’t already registered, then go to the bunker website and sign up for free to that. I’m away to work on the next edition of the mag. try and get that to print on well it goes to print on Friday. Let’s try and send it on Thursday. Really, really, really cool cover star this issue. I won’t say too much more, but I’ll tell you this. He’s not a golfer on a golf magazine. He’d like to be he’d bloody love to be good golfer. Good golfer, but not a good a golfer as such. So, yes, keep your eyes peeled for that. Lewis James, thank you very much. Thank you, Michael. Producer Dex, thank you. Callaway, thank you for your continued support. But to you for listening, watching, wherever in the world you are, remember, I want to know the most obscure nation represented in the open. Slide into our DMs with that info. Until next time, it’s bye-bye for now.