NSN Tonight’s Thursday episode was taped from the back deck at the Barracuda Championship at Old Greenwood. We have interviews with local golfer Ollie Osborne, former Barracuda winner Andrew Putnam, golfer Patrick Rodgers and more.
[Music] Well, hey there friends and welcome back to Old Greenwood. Alongside Alex Margleys, I’m Mike Stephenson. We’re at the Barracuda Championship for a special 1hour edition of NSN tonight as the golf means something now. Round one going on as we tape. Already some low scores in the morning and a bunch of great guests coming up. This is always a fun event we’re learning for these golfers each and every year as they almost kind of treat it as like a little retreat and a little family vacation as well. Yeah, it totally is. I mean this is an awesome opportunity for them to play a different style of form and obviously a gorgeous environment probably one of the uh most picturesque in the entire country. Uh and I think this is kind of viewed as maybe one of those kind of treat weekends for golfers. Uh but it’s also a very challenging one because you are dealing with very different conditions. the high elevation, the stable fruit format, and then as you’ll hear from some golfers on the show, it’s not just the elevation and the stable fruit. It’s the way that the golf course actually changes over the course of the day. And I’m not sure I’ve ever really dove that deeply into that that when you’re playing at 8 in the morning, it’s very, very different than when you’re playing at 3 in the afternoon. And as a result, a lot of guys in the early part of the day firing off some very high scores. A lot of big ones out there today. We’re going to get some perspective on that morning versus afternoon round because yeah, the leaders in round one will go out late for round two. Best score of the day so far, courtesy of Ben Martin. 16 huge points. That’s how you start things at the Barracuda Championship. He shot a 64 and we had a chance to visit with him moments after his round. We’re here hanging out with Ben Martin. 16 huge points in round one. Still some golfers to to play, but I feel like that might hold up at the top. How’d it feel out there? You shot a 64. 64 18 point or 16 points. I wish it was 18 points. You made two bogeies. Um it was a good morning. You know, it’s to tell you the truth. Uh it’s a little cool in the morning. I’m getting up there in age compared to a lot of these guys. So, the body wasn’t moving great. Uh, so my expectations were low starting the day, but drove it down the fairway on the green on uh started on 10 and two putts and then birdie uh the second hole and kind of got off to the races. Well, we’d love to ask all you guys about this being such a unique event. Elevation, stable fur, get your popcorn ready, right? There’s a lot of math going on like it’s a lot of guessing. You know, we’re starting the morning at 3% then we’re going to five and then seven and then 10. And so, um, luckily you Clemson education did me well. There you go. Does this add like more stress on the caddy? Like I I actually never thought about that because I feel like they’ve got to really be more dialed in with like, you know, being on top of that stuff. Maybe take a little pressure off of you. I’m sure. Yeah. Because uh you know, we want to come up usually the way Luke and I work is, you know, he’s a good player, too. We both played together in college and so we kind of come up with, you know, how far do you you have how far do you think it’s playing? And so there’s a few more variables, you know, to talk through this week, but um we did a good job. teamed up well. We seem to be on the same page on most shots and and hit it tight a couple times. How cool is that to be able to share this experience with a former college teammate being on your bag like that? Oh, it’s been great. He’s been catting for me for probably the last three years or so. And so, yeah, I think the biggest thing with a caddy is you want someone who you just enjoy spending time with because because you’re going to be around him a lot. Monday to Monday to Sunday, you know, 6 8 10 hours a day depending on how how long we’re out here practicing. And so as long as you can stand one another and not get um not get on each other’s nerves too much, then you got a good team. 2014 was obviously a banner year for you. Your only win at the Shriners, five top 10s. How close are you to that form of the the younger Ben Martin and just I mean take us inside just the grind it’s been the last 10 years to just keep on keeping on and staying on tour. Man, that’s the tough part about this job. I think I’m 30 I’m almost 38 now. So you look back and you’re like man 2014 15 I mean um I’d kind of started off I was basically a walk- on to Clemson and so got a little bit better every year made all America my senior year come out here on the tour get my card lose it but get back out and I’m kind of seeing progression and then uh I think in any career uh when you when you you you’re not performing as well as you have in the past you don’t really feel like you’re still ascending. it can be tough and so um it it is nice to uh to have a round like today. This year’s been a grind. I haven’t really performed the way I’ve wanted to, but uh if I if I capped it off with a with a good week this week late in the season, uh it could turn things around. You’re in great shape after round one. South Carolina guy, what do you like about our region? Man, I love that you don’t have the humidity out here. Uh Luke and I were just talking. I mean, we wake up, got a sweater on in the morning, and then it’s it’s perfect in the afternoon, blue skies. We don’t have to worry about an afternoon thunderstorm. So, uh, that there’s perks to being in South Carolina, but I love the Tahoe area in while you can in July. So, you’ve actually played in in this tournament, uh, three times previously, have not made the cut, uh, yet here at the Barracuda, but now an opportunity to be in first going into day two. What do you think was the difference for you? Is it just simply that you might just had a good day, you’re feeling good, or does it now having played here a couple times, getting used to the system, getting used to the elevation, is there a factor of that that maybe helped your performance? Yeah, I had some success over at Montre. I think I had a couple top tens over there when we when we were over there a few years ago. But yeah, like you said, no no no real success here at Old Greenwood yet. Uh but it was, you know, can you I think a lot of times it’s not as much like the course is what kind of form how your game is. And so I put some good decent rounds together last week in Kentucky and didn’t play as well as I wanted to on Sunday, but hopefully keep keep that consistency rolling from last week. Can you tell us about your ball marker based on some quick research? I feel like it’s unique. Tell us about it. Well, uh, you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. I mean, I think I used to always use a quarter like prior to 1987 the year you were born and it tried to go like as early as I could find like 64, 65, anything with a good golf score number to it. But you’ve been golf it sounds like I’m more practical now. I’ve already put it in my bag, but I use one of those uh ones that sticks in the ground that that gets nice and that way I’m trying to help the guys I’m playing with like hey I hit your quarter like it was low the ground. Your 1980 quarter that’s a little fatter than everything else. Our super our superstitions I guess evolve over time. Right. Do you have any that are still lingering out there on the spot? The only one I’ve got now is I’ll usually start Thursday’s round with a titleless one, Friday with a two, Saturday three, Sunday four. I like that. I like that. So, you’re going to be using those three and fours this weekend. That’s for sure. Let’s talk about your Clemson Tigers really quick. They going to get back to the top in this new NIL transfer portal era cuz I feel like Dabo has been hesitant to really embrace all that. You know, hope hopefully he can prove everybody wrong this year, but um I saw a mock draft earlier and we got uh Clubnik, you know, is back for his senior year. Uh they had him one overall. I hope he hope he lives up to that hype. And then uh two of our defensive linemen were we’re top 10. And then uh Antonio Williams and our um corner were both all we had five projected first round picks. So this hopefully is our year. We we open the year at home against LSU. So we’ll find out early. Gut check early on what we got going. Well, first things first. Best of luck the rest of way. You got anything else for I was just going to ask you the the mentality now going into Friday because it may be different in the fact that the conditions right you said even this afternoon the it could firm up. It could get windier I guess. What is the mindset going into Friday knowing that you’re going to be playing the course in a little bit of a different fashion? I think that’s typically what you get out here, right? It’s cooler, softer in the morning and then the afternoon warms up, gets a little baked out and the wind picks up. So, uh, traditionally here, it’s going to play a little tougher in the afternoon and and you know, you see a lot of guys come out like I did today, shoot a really good round, and then for whatever reason Friday. So, I think the goal with that ride is you you kind of all right, yesterday was yesterday, I’m here to do it again today. It’s my best version of today. Yeah. Yeah. And so you can’t um you can’t recreate what you did the day before, but I think you try to recreate, you know, the mindset that you had, what you can control that uh allowed you to play well and not uh come out and try to force, all right, I got to back this up. Well, you’re certainly off to a heck of a start. 16 points, shot a 64 in round one. It is Ben Martin. Thanks so much for the time, man, and best of luck the rest of the way. Enjoy yourself out here, too. Thanks, Jess. All right, cool. Awesome to visit with Ben Martin, but he’s not the only one who scored high today that’s going to be sitting here right between us. Yeah. How about Cameron Champ who is from nearby Sacramento, the Roseville native coming out with a 13point day number one. We had a chance to visit with him on the desk. He’s a three-time PGA Tour winner. And speaking of champs, how about the winner of the Barracuda Championship from 2018, Andrew Putnham. Also the runner up here in 2021 at Old Greenwood. He’s had a nice first day, 12 points. and an interesting story of what happened to him this week that he had to overcome something maybe limiting him uh but still one of the leaders after day one there’s no way you can guess what happened to Andrew Putnham but you’re going to find out later on in the show as for what’s coming up next it’s the local kid in the field the Bishop Anogue product Ali Osborne and brother Steven on his bag will visit with those guys next as NSN tonight rolls on from the Barracuda Championship Back here from the Barracuda Championship in Truckucky joined by the brothers Osborne. We’ve got Steven and Olly, Bishop and Oak High School. Uh Olly, you just finished up playing now your third time in the Barracuda Championship. And what an incredible rally uh you had down the stretch in this one. You had five birdies over your last eight holes. You finished plus five. Uh what a finish for you today. Yeah. Yeah. Much needed. Much needed. Let’s talk about how you started. Uh you had two birdies and then hit a pretty rough patch. Uh two bogeies, a couple doubles at another bogey. So five holes in a row. Uh did not go well for you. How did you kind of dig yourself out of that? Yeah. Um honestly, uh yeah, it didn’t feel that bad on those five holes. It just kind of kind of happened and it it happens quick when you’re out there. Um and then uh Stevie gave me a hug on number two fairway. Is that what changed it? I think that’s what little brotherly love. That’s all I needed. It’s kind of fun, you know, thinking back, you know, covering this tournament and you guys being in it. But we had you guys both together sitting on our desk when we were at Montro back in 2019 at the time. You were still in college. You had just finished right at the University of Nevada. Was that Yeah, right before like straight after or you still in school? Um, I actually have class to take that summer. Um, so I Yeah, finished that summer. Basically finished. So Steven played at the University of Nevada for the Wolfpack and you guys got to share that experience together on what was your home course at the time at Montro. Uh I guess we’ll start with you Stephen. It’s it’s kind of crazy to think back, right? 6 years ago you guys were doing that now you’re back here in Truckucky. Yeah, we were uh talking walking uh to the first tea today and we’re like it’s it’s funny how um I mean it’s still exciting every week we go on tour, but I was like I think every time we’ve come out it’s been like this is a little bit more relaxing this time around and um Ollie’s um played in a couple of these now and a couple other PJ tour events and plays full-time um now. So I think that it was kind of peaceful and fun to be back in the same spot but also have a little bit of experience coming in. Is there a little bit of comfortability now just with this tournament, the format? Obviously, the golf course, it’s in your backyard. Now, you’ve played it in a professional setting, you know, for the second time. Do you feel a little more comfortable? Yeah, definitely. Definitely more comfortable, especially with uh three years as a pro under the belt. So, uh definitely a lot more comfortable than the first couple times. How cool is it having your brother on the back and your dad’s here walking? Got some other family members as well. And what’s that experience like for you? It’s awesome. Yeah, it means means the world to me to have uh everybody out here and cheer me on. Um Stevie keeps me relaxed out there and and keeps my numbers dialed. So, uh it’s been a lot of fun this week. Is it a harder challen We asked one of the other golfers like if it’s a tougher challenge for a caddy playing at elevation, playing in this like format. Do you find yourself like needing to work a little harder? Um Olly actually gave me a very detailed cheat sheet last night. So, he did all the homework. So, uh I think that I got it pretty easy. And then I think growing up here also um adjusting elevation tends to be a little bit quicker and a little bit easier. And then he’s here in the summertime. So, um I think he gets a little better gauge than maybe some people that are sealable all the time. All right. So, today again, I started this by saying you’ve had five birdies down the stretch of the course. Really kind of saved your opportunity going into tomorrow now. Really putting yourself at the time of this taping, you’re tied for 44th at at plus five. Um, when you got to 11 and you got that first birdie, what did that do to sort of like take the pressure off? Uh, at that at that point in time, I knew I needed to make a lot of birdies. So, uh, just kind of going at pins and firing, but to to actually see a putt roll in on 11 uh, helped me a lot. Just What did it take just kind of I guess on the mental side of the game to not go in the you five in a row where you’re bogey or doubling, right? like, but I guess maybe now that you’ve had more experience understanding how to kind of deal with that. Yeah, I in my head I was just kind of telling myself I’m being a big softy right now and um Stevie was there to help me. He’s like, let’s just go get some birdies and get it going. What were you seeing during that eight-hole stretch where he really was able to knock down five birdies? Um I just kept saying, you know, like counting down how many swings we had left. I was like, just go be tough for an hour and a half. And um I think uh I think I told him that on 13T after we had made a birdie in a par. But um I was like we don’t have that much longer to go and we’ll get it in the house, but just go out there and play tough um for these next few and he he went and did it. So props to him. I didn’t I didn’t have any part in that. Was there a highlight in those holes where you’re like, “Dang, that was maybe the the hole of the day for me.” Uh I played Sorry, I’m I’m so bad with the the nines reversed. I think it was 14. um that just hit a really good drive and then a pitching wedge in there to about eight feet and just harded the putt and and then just kind of rolled on uh from there. What’s the mentality now going into to Friday? You’ve played this tournament twice. Opportunity to to make a cut in a PGA Tour event would obviously be a huge boost for you. Uh what’s kind of the mindset going into tomorrow? Yeah, uh same mindset, just trying to make as many birdies as possible and staying as aggressive as I can. Um, I I think there’s uh a lot of things that could happen and um I need to make birdies in order to make them happen. So, all right, Stephen. Uh, so you’re here cattying now for your brother. Uh, you’ve kind of hung up maybe the professional side of your career, but we have to give you a shout out cuz you just won an amateur event in Dallas. Uh, so between the two of you, you’ve actually been hoisting more hardware lately than correct than you. I guess my Yeah, my last one’s a little more recent than yours, but a little bit smaller event. I got some shop credit for winning that one. Yeah, I know. He He’s the better player. You think so? Still now? Yeah. Take him in the money game. Do you guys How does that work when you guys get out on the golf course, too? Is there a little trash talk? Like, how does that There’s a lot. Yeah, I imagine. Yeah. Does dad You still got with dad, too? Oh, yeah. Yeah. There’s even more when he’s playing. Yeah. How many How many How much do you guys give each other strokes or you going playing straight up? Uh, I think I give them one aside. It’s kind of scary cuz he’ll fire like a 66 out of nowhere and you’re just like, “Oh man.” Yeah, I’ve gotten some complaints about getting shots, but then but then I’ll play around and everyone’s like how he needed more strokes. A little bit up and down. And you’ve had such an amazing journey. Uh again, we kind of started this with 2019 when you made the Barracuda Championship there and you almost made the cut, then you came back in 2022, but in between that you actually got to play in the US Amter uh and had a really strong run there, then played in the Masters that year. I mean to kind of look back now over what’s nearly a decade of golf. You’ve had some pretty incredible experiences. Is there one in that stands out more than others? I imagine playing in a Masters is something that you you can’t really take away. Yeah, I would probably put uh Masters as as the best uh takeaway the the last few years and had dad on the bag and whole family was there and that that one’s special. That’s a that’s a really cool tournament. But I I do love love coming here and playing in this one too. I know we talked about sharing this experience with your brother, but being able to do that with dad, I imagine it’s one of those kind of pinch me like been there for your entire golf journey and then be at the Masters together. So cool. So cool. Never never forget it. All right, so now that you’re back in town, uh is there anything that you have to hit like you got to get get to a food spot? Is there like a place that’s on the docket for this weekend? Maybe give give you a little juice. Um I I was in Canada the last two weeks and I went straight to Chipotle. I was pretty excited about that one. Um, as far in Reno, uh, I I just look forward to Dad Stakes at night. Dad Stakes. Ribeye. We going New York strip. We’ve had a ribeye and we did try tip last night. So, we we’re covering all the bases. We had Max Home on the show yesterday, I guess, sponsored by Chipotle. He gave us this Chipotle order. Do you have a go What is your go-to Do you have a go-to Chipotle order? I I do. It’s It’s really boring and it’s just all brown. It’s It’s just uh white rice. Uh, black beans. Uh, usually double chicken and just shredded cheese and that’s it. What’s What’s on your A lot of slack. I get the tacos there. Tacos. But I I they I don’t think they know how much meat to scoop in them. So if you get the tacos without the rice, you end up with almost like two scoops. There’s always a good strategy. Everyone’s got a good strategy. Strategy. Good strategy. I get a lot of slack for it. But then I’m like, watch them scoop this. And everyone’s like, you’re not wrong about that. So, um, that’s my strategy there. Love it, guys. Uh, so awesome to catch up with you both. Reno natives, Bishop and Ogra, Nevada, SMU, but playing in the Barracuda Championship for the third time. Good luck this weekend. Certainly be rooting for you to make the cut. Thank you. Appreciate it. More to come here on our special edition of NSN tonight from Old Greenwood right after this. Back at the Barracuda, hanging out here with Andrew Putnham, 2018 winner back at Montro. Nice 66 today. 12 points and you had to overcome a bit of an injury sustained here in Truckucky. Why don’t you tell us about that first? I know. Yeah. I uh was out just, you know, looking for frogs, my little boy, and ran into a bees nest. Looked down and I had some I don’t know how many bees bit me, but all over my ankle. So, it actually was weird. Yesterday, I played the proam. I actually played pickle ball and it felt totally fine. And then I woke up and it just was like I got a baseball just totally swollen. So, well, if you get the dub this weekend, it’ll be you’ll have to like thank the bees, I guess. All things considered, you’re feeling all right. You were able to walk 18 and you played all right. How was it out there? Yeah, it was good. I mean, I was limping around, but it’s funny. My wife actually had uh she packed like a B kit. I don’t know. She’s she packs it all, you know, with our kids. So, shout out to the wives out there. Grabbed the emergency B kit for the hubby though. Yeah. I don’t know if it helped with the swelling, but um yeah, limped my way around and played pretty good and very much in contention. Yeah. Take us back through just the memories you have of of 2018. obviously different golf course, but being able to win this tournament in Reno and and just kind of how that all played out. What what kind of stands out as you kind of think back on that moment? Yeah, it was a big moment in my career. Uh probably, you know, it was kind of the year that kind of got me off and running and uh had great memories. This is the, you know, we we got pregnant and this is the first week we told my parents we were having a kid and so felt like, you know, when we come here, I feel like it’s always like feels like a vacation a little bit. So, it’s very relaxed. takes the pressure off a little bit. Takes a little pressure off. I mean, I always bring the family out cuz it’s close to home and we love just hanging out, especially at we’re we’re staying close to the course and they got an awesome slide. So, been going up and down that a million times. Very much a destination out here. You’re a west side of Washington guy. Tacoma, beautiful in its own right. What do you like about our region though each and every year? I mean, I love coming to High Desert. We uh we go to Sun River, Bend, Oregon every year. So, it reminds me a lot of that. I love how far the ball goes. I don’t hit it very far, but this week, you know, I feel good about myself. So, um, that’s nice. And yeah, it’s just a great time to be here. Yeah. We talked to Ben Martin quickly and he said there is a lot of math that goes down when you come up here and you calculate distances. Can you take us inside that and how different this is based on everywhere else you play? Yeah, I mean it it definitely uh that’s kind of the biggest biggest thing out here is in the morning it’s very cold and ball plays about sea level and as the day warms up, you’re kind of constantly adjusting your yardage. So, I’ve always tracked every single shot I hit, exactly how far it flies. So, I’m pretty in tune with um my carry yardage and stuff, but the one thing about out here, if you miss the shot a little bit, it just falls out of the sky. So, it’s it’s important to hit the center of the club face. You look back at, you know, the fact that you won in 2018, 2021, which was one of the first years here uh at Old Greenwood, you finished as the runner up. So, you know what it takes to be in position to win or be amongst the winners in this thing. I guess what have you learned about playing the system, playing the elevation that you know kind of gives you that opportunity to draw from as you go into this weekend now being in in good shape as well. Yeah, I mean got to make a lot of putts, a lot of birdies. That’s the key. Um the other years I played well, I snuck in a couple eagles which really helps juice your scorecard out here. it it makes up for a lot of other bad golf. And uh yeah, I mean avoiding those big errant shots and making doubles is huge, too. But uh it’s just a fun format. You’re freed up a little bit, play a little more aggressive, and uh I love doing that. You were reminding us about how after you won in 2018, you got to make an appearance at the Reno Rodeo. I did. Yeah. Yeah. They brought me out for like a media a little skit, right? Media day. And they uh they’re like, “What what do you think about going in the middle of the rodeo and hitting golf balls into the stand?” I was like, “Let’s do it.” Why not? As long as there’s no bulls coming after. Do I got to put a clown mask on, you know? And that’s one of the best weeks of the year down in Reno. So, I’m glad you got a little taste of the Wildest Richest Rodeo West. Andrew, what’s the focus now going into Friday and uh and hopefully into the weekend. Um, probably going to go ice bath and try to get some swelling down on my my ankle and see if that calms down and I don’t know, just hang out, go to the pool. There’s a giant ice bath up the road by the name of Lake Tahoe. Love to see you over there. That too. That works. Take a take a dip. Andrew Putnham, best of luck to you, man. Thanks so much for the time. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. All right, we’re back after this. NSN tonight from the Barracuda Championship rolls on. Thrilled to be joined by Patrick Rogers moments after he finished his first round, nine points. You shot a 67. How’d it feel out there? Yeah, it’s it’s always great to be here in Truckucky. Um just an amazing place all all four seasons, but especially in the summertime, you know, just it’s a good feeling just just being here in this town. And obviously I enjoy this golf tournament. It’s a fun format. We got perfect weather and um it was nice to play really solid out there today. We were talking before we started taping. Yeah. Nine or 10 times to this tournament. You’ve experienced it at Montro and Old Greenwood. What keeps you coming back? Yeah, I mean of course we’re all aspiring to be in the majors at the Open Championship. Uh it’s a tough one tough one to crack, but this is uh to be honest with you, this is almost a better alternative. I watched the golf this morning and they looked pretty miserable over there. Um so yeah, I will definitely take it. And um yeah, with the Sableford format, it’s really fun. It’s a part of the country that my family and I love coming to. So yeah, there’s just great vibes around here. You’ve come so close uh to winning this thing. Actually even went to a sudden death playoff a couple years ago. Uh and I remember that whole it was just the way it all kind of set up. It was it was tough. I wish what do you remember about that situation and and what do you sort of like use as that to maybe inject some confidence into yourself to that maybe this weekend is the time to get done? That was an It’s an interesting experience playing this tournament with a lead because you really need to stay so offensive in this format. Like par obviously isn’t going to get you anywhere. Um it’s going to keep you, you know, in the same spot. And so um to stay to stay on the offensive, stay on the gas, keep trying to make birdies. I kind of stalled out my last nine holes and gave Oshay an opportunity to to come come back and chase me. Um but yeah, I’ve had had a lot of chances to win here, which has been fun. I really enjoy the format because I think um it naturally just makes me more aggressive, which is something that I try to implement throughout the whole year. Um but yeah, hopefully this week is my week. How have you been feeling so far this year? I know you’ve had a couple top 20 finishes. You finished in the top three at the Genesis. How’s the game kind of been so far? All Yeah, I got off to a nice start. Um was right there in the mix there at the Genesis. Um and I’ve kind of struggled the last month and a half or so. Um, just a few things that have creeped up in my ball striking, but I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work. Not really seeing a ton of results. Feeling like I’m close like every, you know, tour player says. Um, but I I feel like I’m starting to turn the corner. Today was really solid, so I need to need to put three more rounds together just like that. Well, you can look up Patrick’s career earnings. The game has treated him well, but you don’t need me to tell you. Over 300 events, still without a win. I believe it’s the most starts on the PGA Tour without a victory. Is that does that hang over your head or do you just kind of enjoy where you’re at and it’s going to come one of these days? It definitely hangs over my head because I’m competitive and I play to win. Um so I’ve played 300 and however many times and I haven’t got it done yet. So um you know as a golfer that’s 300 failures, but of course I’m I’m I have a growth mindset. I’m trying to get better. I’m trying to improve over the course of my career. I think I’m more served or better served now than I ever have been. Um, and so it the difficult part is wanting it to happen so badly, but needing to let it happen in order for it to it to become a reality. So that’s kind of where we’re at. Well, you certainly won a lot in college. Tied Tigers record with 11 wins at Stanford. I know that’s going back a few years now, but how much did that I mean, how enjoyable was that experience? Did you come out to this region at all when you played for the I love love being out on the West Coast? Um, yeah, it brings back a lot of great memories from my college days. Um, Tahoe is a place that’s really close to a lot of people uh that that went to Stanford and live out in the Bay Area now. Um, so yeah, this this feels super familiar. We really enjoy coming here. We try to turn this into like a little summer vacation and I think it brings out some good golf and and a really enjoyable week. When you look at this golf course, Old Greenwood, are there any holes in particular that you just really enjoy playing that kind of just stick out in your mind? I know they kind of flipped the nines and now like 7 8 and 9 used to be 16 17 18 obviously those are very scenic and just interesting. Uh but is there a part of the golf course that you like? Yeah, I just think in general this is a great venue for Stableford. Um because there’s so many riskreward shots. Um there’s there’s so many shots where you can hit a decent shot and be penalized whether it’s in a hazard or whatever, but the rewards are really good. There’s I think three or four par fours that you can drive. uh there’s three par five, so there’s a lot of opportunity to be aggressive and kind of try to take the reins. Um and so it’s fun to have a format that allows you to do that and kind of play loose and free. Um but yeah, that closing stretch is a lot of fun, but there’s there’s tons of stretches. Even getting off to a hot start, it feels like you’re always a few holes away from from really tipping the scales and and getting yourself near the top of the leaderboard. Take us into some of the extracurriculars. You find time to have some fun with the family out here. Yeah, I think we’re going to go to Donner Lake this afternoon. My family and I have all been a little under the weather so far this week. So, we’re looking forward to feeling good and getting back outside and enjoying enjoying outside here in Truckucky. Big Indiana guy, right? Pardon me. We of course cover Steve Offer down in Reno. That’s still a pretty big name around those parts, right? Yeah, absolutely. That’s an Indiana legend. That will always be heck of a year for your Pacers, too, man. They were right there. Oh, man. I I I still don’t know if I can talk about it. I’m so sorry. It’s uh it was the the most fun few months of of my life as a Pacers fan and then one of the the hardest things to watch. So, but uh I I I will live and die with with my Pacers, and they uh gave me a lot of great memories this year. They’re going to be in the mix again for sure. All right, we appreciate you joining us, Patrick. Uh we hope you can get it done this weekend, and uh good luck out there. Good luck. We’ll see you in that final group Sunday. Sounds good. Thanks. All right, NSN tonight from the Barracuda rolls on as Pat gets ready to jump in Donner Lake. We’ll be back. [Music] Back here at the Barracuda Championship hanging out with Cam Champ, fresh off a 13point round one. You shot a 66. How’d it feel out there, man? Yeah, you know, uh it was a very odd day. I I really felt like I did not hit it well. I was just kind of kind of just trying to just control my tempo all day. Just something didn’t feel right. But I was just scoring well. Um for the most part, you know, if if if I left myself, you know, 15 to 25 feet, I was able to capitalize today. So, I really think it was a little bit of ball striking with irons. Um, but I I made a lot of great putts today. That in that included a 31 on the back nine. What do you like about this event? Third time here at Old Greenwood. The Stableford system. It’s a very unique one for you guys, right? It is. Yeah, it’s it’s like you said, somebody can shoot, you know, um, you know, two under um with no bogeies versus somebody can shoot two under with four birdies and two two bogeies and beat that person. So, it is a little odd with that aspect. Um, obviously if you’re on the right side of that, it’s obviously beneficial. Uh, but it’s it’s it’s different. It’s fun. Um, you know, this event kind of feels kind of like a home event for me. I grew up not not too far from here. So, yeah, it’s uh always enjoyable. Yeah. So, you’re from the Sacramento area, kind of Roseville. Uh, did you get to play a lot of mountain golf up here in the the kind of Truckucky Tahoe area when you were growing up or even into like Auburn? I imagine this isn’t like an uncomfortable environment for you. No. Yeah. No. No. a lot, you know, was growing up, you know, there was Darkhorse, the Ridge. Um, we came up here a little bit, just occasionally, maybe maybe once or twice a year. Um, definitely some junior golf in Reno. So, yeah. Yeah, like I said, it’s this is very familiar for me. Um, my grandfather actually had a cab had a cabin when I was young in Truckucky, so we we come up all all the winters. Um, so yeah, like you said, this is uh kind of a little home away from home. So, you’ve actually won three times on the PGA Tour. One of those was at the Safeway Open, which might even more be more of like a homecoming as well, uh, being in Northern California. What did it mean to you, not only to win that event, but being the fact that it’s kind of right in your backyard as well? Yeah, I think uh just everything that was kind of going on that week and how I was playing. Um, yeah, that was definitely a special week. Um, one to remember. Um, everything went easy. It was just yeah, it was the best way I can explain it was just the very free flowing freedom just playing. Um, you know, I I didn’t make many mistakes at all that week. You know, I didn’t made make a ton of birdies, but I just didn’t make many mistakes and it just kind of kept me in there. Last win 2021 at the 3M. So, it’s been four years. Is that is that something that you think about like it’s been a while, but also man, some guys can go 300 plus events. just talked with Patrick Rogers and he’s still looking for that elusive first win, but is it one of those like I’d love to get back at the top one of these days here? For me, it’s just kind of one tournament at a time right now. Um, you know, this year was definitely it’s been a very odd slash positive year. Um, kind of how the start of the year went and the end of last year. So, um, you know, for me it’s just been trying to do the same things. Um, keep putting in the work that I’m doing. Um, and then on the flip side, just kind of working on myself. I feel like that’s the main key for me. So, um, like you said, with kind of how the last few years have gone for me, um, I know once I can take care of that, which I have been, and I’ve been getting better, I still I’m still human. I’m still going to make make mistakes and maybe overreact on a certain shot, but, you know, I’m still I’m heading in the right direction. And you’re still just 30 years old. You mentioned your grandpa, Mac, correct? I think we lost him about six years ago, but I think he was hugely influential for you, right? Can you just talk about your the origin and your golf story and just uh how it got going? Yeah. Yeah. Pops. Uh he started me I mean first time at a club I was probably 18 months two years old kind of when he introduced the game. Um you know my dad was an athlete back in the day baseball guy. So um obviously I knew probably initially he wanted me to play baseball. Um even at that time I think when I was born he was like what the hell’s golf? Like he had no idea about golf. Um but kind of as time went on you know my my parents worked a lot when I was younger. So my grandma and pops kind of half raised me. you know, my parents would work all the way till six o’clock and then they come pick me up. So, um yeah, so like you said, it was just every single day in the backyard hitting balls, hitting balls, and um just eventually when I got older, started playing events and it just kind of took off from there. Look at you now, man. Kind of a cool side story as well. Uh we saw that Marcus Bellen, University of Nevada, uh star, uh was out there following you on the golf course. What’s the story behind that? I definitely know who he is. Um, like you said, being kind of from this area and kind of following sports and all that. Yeah, it was uh it was it was nice to see and nice to just to see the support in general. So, um, like you said, it’s this is a a very comfortable week for me and and and to have have the have the support is great. All right, so you’re kind of known as a guy that can let it fly a little bit. Being up here at high elevation, I mean, what are we talking about when it comes to average drives here at Old Greenwood? Um, for me it’s here it varied. It it depends on the flight. Um, you can hit the same shot with two different flights and it go 10 yards difference. Like does that something have to be mindful of also? You have. Yeah. Picking the shot I want to hit. Like if I’m hitting a stock shot and I’m flighting it, it’s not going to go as far as if I’m hitting a stock shot normal height in the air. Um, kind of similar as drives, but you know, I’m playing around 10 to 12% for for altitude. So, um, like you said on on the range drivers were going 350ish, which for me normal back home is 315 to 325. So, it’s about about right on the about right on the percentage. Um, and kind of similar with irons, you know, 6 iron was going 230ish this week versus um normal conditions, it’s around 210 to 213. Okay. If you’re here like and you wanted to just crank it at high elevation, like what do you think you could max out at this elevation on your driver if you wanted to just rip it? I mean, yesterday I hit one with one of my buddies, Chandler. Um, I think that one flew 359. Um, but I was going at it. That one we were just joking around. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Let’s just see cuz we’re up there. He was the one. Yeah. For me, I like I kind of hate doing it, but he was just kind of messing with like ribb when we in Truckucky. Right. Yeah. Can you tell us about the Cameron Champ Foundation and some of the things you’re doing through the game? Yeah, so uh we started that um kind of when it when I first came on tour. Um and it kind of stems back to just kind of where I grew up. You know, I grew up uh the first golf course I ever played was a course called Foothill Farms um off Greenback in 80. Um they had a program there. It was maybe like 50 bucks for kids under eight for the year. And I’d just play there. Same thing with Pops at that time. You know, if my parents are working until the evenings, Pops would come pick me up. we go play pretty much as many holes as I wanted to. So, um, come for full circle. We took it over probably maybe three years ago, four years ago now. Um, and that’s kind of where we’re going to stem kind of our the foundation out of. You know, like I said, my dad has a lot of roots back home with the community. I mean, he’s been there since uh since Pops got stationed there at Mlullen. So, that was uh gosh, late 70s, early 80s. So, um, yeah. So, we’re we’re we’re golf is going to be the platform. Obviously, that’s not everything, but again, it’s using it as a platform to get the kids in. Um the ones that want to play golf, we’ll have all the everything you need um to kind of improve your game, but then also just the flip side of kind of where I grew up on, I guess it would be the east side of Highway 80 was a lot different than the west side. Um, so, um, it’s just it’s creating an environment for them, a comfortable environment, mentorship, um, help with books, studies, um, and just have a fun fun environment. So, like you said, golf golf is the main we’re using that as a platform, but that’s not everything. Does your little guy got a club in his hands yet? If the internet’s to believed, be believed. Son Beckham, two in a week from today, turning two. Yep. Yep. July July 24th. I promise I wasn’t creeping on you, but uh, I mean, he got a club in his hand yet. He he’s kind of he has it and he’s the odd thing is I think he watches me swing standing from this direction. So lately he’s been swinging lefty and I’m like I’m like well that one’s going to be a bit tough for me. Um so yeah, no he’s uh he is a little bit big for his age. But yeah, we’ll uh like you said even that you know I’m not going to force it on him. Obviously it it would be a lot of fun um if he were to play, but you know we’ll just kind of take things slowly and kind of see what he kind of falls into and kind of go from there. How has fatherhood changed your perspective? It definitely has. Yeah, it uh it can kind of bring you back in moments like even, you know, whether it be a tournament or if you know you’re kind of veering off, you know, um mentally out there. It kind of just pulls you back in in into the circle. So, um, it always reminds me, you know, what’s important. Um, you know, why I’m doing this, why I’m gone for I mean, I’ve been gone the last five weeks and I’m playing the next two and then, um, yeah. So, it’s it’s it’s it’s it makes it worth uh being gone that much. Word. You got anything else? Cuz I do got one more before almost run out. I did do a bit of a deep dive on the Instagram. I saw you played a couple rounds with Steph Curry like maybe like six or seven years ago. Yeah. On the on the web.com. We just got done covering the American Century Championship last week at Edgewood. Did you have your eyes on the Celeb tournament at all? And maybe who were you impressed by out there? I did. I did watch it a little bit. Um, yeah, you know, Steph definitely has game. I remember when we played there. I think the first day he struggled, but the second day I think he shot par one under. Yeah. So, I mean I mean again for the guy who’s what, 70% of the year, I mean he’s just locked in on basketball and obviously he’ll play I’m sure a couple maybe a day or two here and there in between schedules, but um it was definitely impressive. Um, and I did mess with Charles, um, Barkley. Um, he’s been a huge supporter of mine and kind of with that. So, um, I think what was it the first day? I think he hauled out once and then then a couple shots. Yeah. And then the following day there was a clip going around where he bladed one over the green. I’m not sure if you all saw that. Obviously, I’m not going to say what he said, but I think you were there for that, weren’t you? I was there for that. He had some choice words for himself. Yeah. I was that was dying laughing when Yep. It’s always great to see those guys go to Tahoe every year and act like professional golfers. Cam Champ, man, thanks so much for the time. 13 points in round one. Very much in contention. Good luck the rest of the way. Thank you. NSN tonight continues after this. [Music] Exploring our backyard is sponsored by LT Automotive. [Music] I desire better acquaintance. You mistake 19. A cost is to front her, horn her, woo her. This is genuinely one of the most beautiful outdoor theaters in the country. So, housed here at Sand Harbor State Park, there is a beautiful outdoor theater. And it’s sort of a secret. A lot of people, you’ll see folks walk by on the boardwalk here, they won’t realize that there’s actually an 1100 seat amphitheater right inside the park. Thou art so, sir. And I would thou never draw a sword again. But you part so, fair mistress, I would I might never draw a sword again. We produce here seven weeks every single summer, seven nights a week. I’m no good at these kick sh I can cut a caper and I can cut the right to it. This is a way to get out to get outside, be with your family, be with your friends, sit in one of the most beautiful places in the world and watch entertainment live right in front of you. And every performance that happens here, it’s rehearsed. We practice it a certain way, but every night it happens just that one way, that one time just for you. So, there’s no better way to make a memory as far as I’m concerned. Every year we drive from Nevada City to Shakespeare, Tahoe for our father and daughter uh tradition. And we’ve been coming since 2014. No, 2011. 2011. And actually 12th Night, which is we’re showing tonight, was the first one we saw in 2011 here. It’s our bonding time. my wounds. She will attend it better than my youth. I love Shakespeare. We both love Shakespeare. Grew up reading play Shakespeare plays in in school and um and this setting on the lake with the the play. It’s just it’s really amazing. And so it’s it’s one of our favorite things to do together. This particular troop also is just fantastic. I love that one. They’re fantastic. The acting is good and it’s all it’s very creative. Even though it’s in the original Shakespearean language, they set the scene at different times and it’s very easy to follow. So even for people that don’t like Shakespeare or aren’t really familiar with it, I think they can they can enjoy it. Exploring our backyard is brought to you by Maverick. Save 10 cents or more on every gallon of gas every day by signing up for a Nitro card today. A slight detour here from Truckucky as we explore our backyard at the Shakespeare Festival. You were out there at Sand Harbor. You took that all in and put that piece together. What was it like? Yeah, me and Zach Briggs got to go check that out. It’s amazing. I mean, you look at the venue. I can’t imagine a better place to take in a play. I mean, you’re right there on the water. You watch the sunset coming down in the pine trees, breathing the fresh air. It’s an amazing activity to do in the summer. You saw the the fatheraughter combo and what it means. How cool that you ran into those guys. That was epic. I mean, it was a great experience. There’s a reason that comes back each and every year because it is certainly a destination. Tough gigs for us the last few weeks. Shakespeare in Tahoe, ACC, then the Barracuda, and we’re just getting started. Coverage throughout the weekend as they get set to crown a winner on Sunday. But tomorrow, we’re back in the championship studio. There’s a reason why we call this place home. Got to take advantage of the incredible summers. It’s always great to get the perspective from the outsiders because then it helps give us a little more perspective on how great it is here. Shout out to our entire Nevada Sports Net crew. So much work being done behind the scenes. Our road shows at the CTE are done, but our coverage continues throughout the weekend. We’ll see you then.
