Jack Bushman and Ross Baran are BACK to break down Andrew Novak & Ben Griffin winning the Zurich Classic over the Hojgaard twins and the Jake Knapp/Frankie Cap duo. The fellas also dive into Collin Morikawa hiring Joe Greiner to be his new caddie, updated Ryder Cup standings, and bets for this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] What’s going on everyone? Welcome back to another episode of Golf on Tap. I’m Jack Bushman here with Ross Baron. On today’s show, we’ll dive into Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin winning the Zurich Classic. Close call for our guys Frankie Sappin and Jake Knap. We’ll also talk about Colin Morawa switching caddies. Michael Block is back at the PGA Championship as well as our bets for this week’s CJ Cup. Byron Nelson. Ross, it’s been a little bit, you know, kind of a lull in the PGA Tour schedule. The Zurich and the Byron Nelson, not exactly uh the most star studded fields as following the Masters and the huge Florida swing, the players, RBC Heritage right after. Not a surprise. Most of the big names on tour want a two-eek break. We took a week off last week as well. I think it was kind of a natural by week for everyone. So, I don’t know about you, feel nice and rested, clear mind heading into the show here today. It’s kind of been enjoying the Stanley Cup playoffs these last couple of weeks. How you doing heading into the Byron week, my friend? Blockie’s back. So, we’re we’re so we got something to look forward to for once. We’re off to a hot start. Michael Block back in the PJ Championship. We’ll get there in just a moment, Ross. But uh before we do, let’s talk about last week’s Zurich Classic. I mentioned right off the jump, Andrew Novak, Ben Griffin, both finally breaking through for their maiden PGA Tour victories. I don’t know about you, little frustrating for me as someone that’s been on Novak and mostly Ben Griffin a ton over the last couple of years is he’s had a lot of close calls. Uh elected to take the Zurich off in terms of my bets last week. Just kind of wanted to relax as the NHL season came to a close. We were grinding hard for the Masters and the RBC Heritage, right? So, it was nice to take the week off, but to see Ben Griffin get it done without me having money on them is uh a little bit frustrating, but happy for those two guys. Both two real good lads. Glad to see them get some more airtime. I also saw they were on uh Matt Ganon and uh Adam Kirk’s podcast earlier on in the week leading to them getting a victory. So, big for the golf betting and golf community as a whole. What are your thoughts on Andrew Novak and uh Ben Griffin getting it done? I know it wasn’t your favorite having a Frankie Sappin and Jake Knap outright ticket. Like we already said for the last week I was talking uh Ryan French Monday Q and from last week on I was going I think this is a great matchup for for Frankie and Jake. Just Frankie and Jake just seem like that team that can come up and do it. And Frankie’s honestly needs to play well. Frankie has struggled making the adjustment from KFT. Just I think he’s played 11 events. He’s missed seven cuts. Just he’s not playing the way that we expected Frankie Sappman to play. Loved it. Loved it. But ultimately, you need to take into account that Andrew Novak has gone T3, T2 to a win now these past three weeks. And then you got Ben Griffin who just doesn’t take a week off and just grinding. Like for the love of God, just both of you just take a break for a little bit, please. Just appear for a while. I know. Ben Griffin, the former uh insurance insurance salesman who once quit the PGA Tour, now has a huge following on TikTok, of course, like I mentioned, has been featured on a couple of different golf podcasts I’ve seen, he’s actually in some commercials. Well, like this guy, not only does he play so often, he’s starting to get a little recognized, but starting to play pretty darn well, pretty consistently. So, happy to see a career grinder like Ben Griffin finally get it done. But yeah, I was pulling for not only you and of course Ryan French, our good friend Monday Q Info, who we’ve had on the show numerous times. Seems like every time he comes on, we talk about Frankie Sappin because he’s been high on that kid for a long time and covering him. Um, cool to see him though just get into contention, Ross, because like you mentioned, he’s been going through a lot of struggles in that transition from the Cornferryy Tour to the PGA Tour so far. And I feel like the Zurich is for a lot of these guys who have been struggling. Maybe guys who haven’t quite gotten the adjustment from the DP World Tour or some other guys coming from the KFT or even just PGA Tour guys whose start to their season hasn’t gone as ideal as they may have hoped. I feel like the Zurich, what it really serves as is just a good opportunity to go and play golf with your one of your boys for four days. It kind of takes the stress off your mind and makes the sport a little bit fun again. And sometimes I’ve heard a couple of different people in the golf community talk about this after the Zurich Classic just because it is that little bit of different type of tournament. Some guys who have been struggling early on can go and turn their seasons around after this. And I’m really hoping that’s the case for Frankie Sappin because we know he’s super talented. Ross, I believe he had a T12 at I know it’s not a strong field, but the American Express earlier on in the season. Unfortunately, wasn’t able to build off that, but we know he’s got the game. He performed well on the Cornferry tour last year to get to this point just looked like he wasn’t ready for some of the big shots down the gun on Sunday. like the nervous shot that he had on 17 obviously putting it into the water, but even the shot right before that, they were like he and Andrew Novak, I mean, Novak got away with a couple of poor shots down the stretch. Uh, but Sappin had that approach on 16 right before Novak basically hit the same shot that hung on the, you know, collar there just barely. He just looked, you know, a little uncomfortable. And I also was noticing him like stepping off shots a couple of different times and taking a little bit longer to execute out there. All just signs of a kid who was in that type of situation for the first time. I know it didn’t happen this week, Ross, and it’s frustrating for you, Ryan, and myself who was pulling for them, but you got to think bod well for him moving forward. It does bode well for him. And I’m just going to say right now, I actually forgave the ball in the water on 17 when Jake Knap chunked the out of that ball on 18. Dude, it was so funny, too, cuz the commentators are are like, “All right, Jake, show us some magic here.” And then he duffs it right into the bunker. I was like, “Oh, boy.” It it it went Oh, it went a whole 15 yards. And I mean it it was a pillow fest pillow fight down the stretch there, man. I mean it it wasn’t like Novak and Griffin were playing excellent there really up until 17 when Griffin hit that huge putt. Obviously uh Sappin and Nap wind up making bogey there. So they have that cushion. But down the back nine, Novak and Griffin weren’t playing great. They were playing like two guys who haven’t gotten across the finish line in first place so far. It was just who wasn’t going to make the big mistake. And unfortunately, it wound up being Frankie Sappin. You know who also made a big mistake while in contention during this tournament, Ross? It would be uh the Hoygards. I admittedly don’t know which damn one it was who duck hooked it left off the tea on the 72nd hole. But we got to talk about this for a moment, Ross, because the Hoygards, they wind up birdieing the 72nd hole, finishing one stroke back of Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin. And like I told you before we were hit before we hit record, the odds of Novak and Griffin making a six on that par five, like the easiest hole on the golf course, very unlikely still. But regardless, for a shot that is determining the tournament for the Hoyards to get the drop that they did on the 72nd hole was one of the worst that I’ve seen. And we talk about a bunch of them here on the show, Ross. But really up there with like the the Bobby Mack one is the one that came to my mind. You mentioned the Xander Schoffley one with the TV tower where he was in the woods a year ago. I I mean this is one where it’s like we got to go and do something about these drops. Man, there is no chance the Hoyards should have made anything better than five at best on that hole after that T- shot. I’m just going to say this really simple. They show you where the stick for complete out of bounds is as in go back to the te you do it repeat do it again where the ball is there’s like this much space in between the two of them and then you sit there like well it’s in bounds but like they’re dead and then they move it and they give them a little relief and then it hits oh but actually and they move it and then it turns into, oh, never mind. We’re fine. Just play play on. And I I think the most annoying thing about it, too, is now it gave them the opportunity to go and rip a 3-wood up around the green like at best. Now we’re now we’re talking potential eagle here. And never never mind never mind about just secure securing solo second in a nice payday. like actually no, they they might be able to force a playoff here if the next group comes through and absolutely duffs this hole. The only way Eagle should be in play is if they jar a shot from the middle of the fairway after laying up. And the only way birdie should have been in play is if they had to get up and down from like 120 to 150 yards because they a thousand% should have had to hit a punch out. And the strokes gained from where they were to where their drop was had to have been close to a full stroke. got to imagine a and that’s what you that’s what I think is most important to hit on that you just said is that they went for it off the tea. They they went for it. They went big drive absolutely mash as far down as they could and they did. They absolutely crushed that drive down there but they went so far left that that that it dead over and then they get rewarded and then they get rewarded again. And like you said, it the only way an eagle should be in play here is you’re absolutely jarring it from the middle of the fairway off of a decent This is like you’re hitting a decent drive and then you’re hitting a five or six iron in there and you and you jar it and it’s all of a sudden it’s oh no like this this lie ever this angle everything they have it takes the water out of play. You you play play it a little bit to the left towards the the grand stands. It’s going to run and feed down there. And you’re sitting there going, theoretically, if they hit the perfect shot from here, they actually have a perfect lie and line to go for the green and put it on in two. And let’s just think, let’s say, I mean, we could play the what if game with a thousand different things, of course, but what if Ben Griffin doesn’t sink the 40 foot putt on the 17th for birdie and the Hoyards wind up making birdie there, and now they have to go into a playoff. The Hoygards should they make a four to wind up getting in a playoff. That that would have been an absolute joke. it if if Ben Griffin doesn’t sink that putt. That’s Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak walking to the 18th T and going, “Wait, we’re down one.” Yeah, they’re toast. They’re And with the way they were going on the back nine, like I think they’re toast. If they wind up going into a playoff, the Hoyards were the ones with the momentum. Ross, I actually thought they were the ones that Frankie Sappin and Jake Knap should be worried about because they were the ones who were really shooting up the leaderboard on Sunday. I’m going to fully admit that at the end at the end of the day, I went into my book and I threw a couple bucks down that there was a parlay for the playoff on Lindy in the Chevron and the Hoyards in Zurich at like 36 to1 and I went nice. I mashed it for a couple free dollars. I just sat there was like, “Well, these are the two hottest on both right now. I don’t know why you’re giving me these numbers.” Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I was I was thinking the Hoy Guards were potentially going to steal that bad boy, but wasn’t to be for them. Wound up being Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin’s moment. Ross, I actually have a question for you. Does the Zurich Will this get them into the Masters next year or No, no, it won’t. Okay. I I wasn’t positive. It It counts. It counts for tour exemption only. Okay. I wasn’t positive. I knew obviously it count it counts is you check the box. You got you you do have an official career W. You have your exemption, your card extended, the invites from the big events and siggies and everything. You still have to earn it. It does not get you officially into anything. Good to know. It just extends your card. Good, good to know. Uh, quick question before we move on from the Zurich. Who wins by themselves first, Ben Griffin, Andrew Novak, or or neither? Do they never win individually on tour? They just run it back as a team every year and go nuclear. Oh, I am fully convinced I think Andrew Novak is probably going to win one or two events um going through this year. Really? I I’m the other way. I’m I’m Ben Griffin. I think this will be an interesting like show thing to go through the rest of the way since you’re team Novak and I’m team Griffin on this debate. Maybe we put like you want to put five bucks on it, 10 bucks on it. I I’m to I’m totally down to do it. I just look at the fields that Novak was playing in and how well he’s and how well he’s been playing. And I mean RBC you could see the moment was too big. I mean, he just hooked the out of that putt to to to win. He had it, dude. He should have had it. He He had He had it. That was not a That was not a big putt at all. That That That was a manageable putt and he hooked the out of it. It’s just cuz he’s never been really in that position before. Now, I think it doesn’t matter. It’s a Zurich. You’re a PGA Tour winner. You h you have a win. And I think this is just confidence boost, man. I honestly just think it keeps running. He went T3 solo solo two to a W in in backto backto back weeks. Um he’s well in contention on the RDER Cup now. I know like well well the past three weeks have put him that this it’s not just is Andrew Novak like captain. He’s ninth. Yes. Exactly. and this and he’s played himself so well into that that you can’t even say is Andrew Novak a captain’s pick right now. Andrew Novak is playing such good golf right now that Andrew Novak may just play himself into the top six. Well, we’ll get into the RDER Cup here in in just one second, but uh I do on top of this on the uh before we move on to a different conversation. My rebuttal on the Novak thing would be I think Ben Griffin was the one who kind of carried them to that win by playing better down the back nine Sunday. You are absolutely right. Novak has gotten there in better tournaments, but that should make a uh should make for fun little show one v one moving forward down the stretch of the season. Uh, what I wanted to get to next, here’s the domino effect. What if Andrew Novak makes that putt on the 72nd hole at the RBC Heritage. Justin Thomas winds up finishing runner up. Do you think Colin Morawa still goes on to hire Joe Grryer as his new caddy and replaces JJovic? I I do. Yeah, I think so, too. Um, I I do. And um honestly I was trying to listen in Takesman last night with all my technical difficulties. I couldn’t really join. Our friend of the program Tom and Marty’s had the be the best take I’ve ever heard in the five minutes that I was able to actually hear and listen. Tom and Marty’s fully believes it does not matter if that Colin Hires Joe Grer, nothing is going to change until Colin takes himself more seriously. Colin needs to stop just playing once every three weeks and only signature events. He just needs more reps, man. I really feel that way. I feel like he doesn’t give himself any opportunities in the non Scotty and Rory Fields and it’s just hard to win against those guys. Tom Marty said it very s very simple. Um, until you get Colin to be like Scotty or Rory in the gym every day, getting built, getting buff, fine-tuning, going to all these specialists, meet, you know, meeting with Bob Rotella, all the all this stuff. JJ Caddy’s ain’t going to do for you, man. It’s just what? It’s a new person to give you less gripe for a little bit because JJ JJ is just finally like, “We’ve been over this a thousand times, man. You need to do this, this, and this, and you’ll be perfect.” And Colin just doesn’t want to hear it anymore. So Joe Grinder’s on my back now, and I’m just going to fresh slate. I’m going to keep doing what I normally do. But until he goes to that next level of I’m in the gym, I’m talking to these specialists. I’m working. Basically, go Bryson mode. Until you’re in the lab grinding every single day, I I don’t think there’s going to be a difference. And honestly, I love Tom and Marty’s just pointing it out and being like, I could see that. I can see where that completely lines up that for the past year and a half, Colin has basically been the best golfer on the planet to not chalk a win. for sure. And it’s because he’s not changing anything, but his change is, well, I’m just going to get someone new on my bag and I’m going to restart the process. No, maybe you just need to dig a little deeper and grind a little harder because it is right there. Definitely right there. I thought it was an interesting move for sure because he’s had a lot of history with JJ. The timing couldn’t be funnier though. I mean, that was my initial reaction. I don’t know about you, but just like seeing Grryer go on uh JT’s bag for a week. me. Why can’t I remember this? I was at the goddamn tournament. Who did Grryer Caddy for? No. Who did Who did Grryer Caddy for at the API? Did he step in for Windam? Was it? Yeah. Yeah. Because Windham uh uh is it does he have big wave, Dave? No. What’s Windham’s John Ellis? John Ellis was out at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. So, Grryer went on Windham’s bag at the API. I think Windom made a push for first round leader. He might have even been first round leader that tournament, but I remember like we saw Grryer go and have success a little bit with Windom at API. Then he goes obviously and joins Justin Thomas. Justin breaks the wind drought at the RBC Heritage finally. And then and then like a week and a half later, Colin names him his full-time caddy. It’s like, how can you not laugh at that progression for a player who hasn’t won like a legitimate PGA Tour event? Not knocking the Zozo, but like Colin winning the Zozo. Come on now. Yeah, even though I I would give him like I would understand him not playing in a Zozo level event, but different type of events than just Siggies and major schedule moving forward, but for a player who hasn’t won as in as long as he has to go and make this type of move, my only reaction is that I could laugh. I don’t know ultimately if it’s going to make much of a difference. Maybe it gives Ken a little bit of a different mindset, but like you said, ultimately I don’t know like what it precisely in my opinion Colin needs to do, but I don’t think he’s like drastically far away. You know what I mean? I think you kind of feel the same way, too. Like he’s there. It’s just one day that he’s got to get over that final round hurdle. And maybe changing Caddy’s helps. I don’t know. I I I just like Tom and Marty’s hot take on it that I love it that this really doesn’t do much for him other than just reset the reset the clock of JJ’s been telling you all these things for so long that we need to work on and fix. And I think maybe it did it just hit the point where Colin’s like, “No, I’m just going to put Joe on the back and fresh start.” Because obviously Joe, incredible caddy has great career, great success, is carrying a bag, but Joe’s not going to go full in give you every single opinion right off the bat. Like Colin takes control of the situation again. For sure. Definitely. That that no, you adjust to me and you get to know my game. This is what I want to do. And it’s just Colin may have hit the point where he’s done hearing it from JJ the whole time that this ain’t working no more. Just clean slate. I’m going elsewhere. I’m going a different direction. And ultimately, it’s just resetting the clock that I can do what I want to do and and bu and build and build that up again when really I think Colin just needs to dig a little deeper, man. I I think he’s got to put on weight. I think he’s got to get bigger. I think grow into a man. Become a man. I I as stupid as it sounds, I do think like the gym, the fitness, all I do think that is a thing. I really do. I think that is something that holds him back. And and really like what it comes to in being a man is just like just clearing those mental hurdles really out there on the golf course because we’ve seen how good he can play through 54 holes. Hit the gym, put on Hit the gym, put on 10 pounds of muscle, and stop being a mental. Stop bitching in the media. Feel better about yourself physically and watch you go win the next goddamn tournament because you went and spent the time in the gym. I’ll tell you what, he hasn’t done himself any favors with how he’s been handling situations uh in the media. And I don’t think anyone despite I I believe uh Tom and Marty’s has a long-term bet with Tweath and he has Morawa in it. So like he’s got financial backing on Morawa this year, but nobody loves on that guy truly more than Tom and Marty’s and I’m always here for it because I think it’s the funniest golf Twitter account out there personally. I’m here for it always. I’m here for it always. and and we can uh give a shout out a little bit later because he’s riding heavy on our cards. We we have a lot lot lot in common this week. Love to hear that. We’re throwing bombs down the board this week. We’ll get there in a moment, but uh next thing I wanted to talk about real quick, Ross, we don’t got to spend a ton of time on this. Well, actually, I know there is something important that we do want to talk about on this topic as far as uh some reports coming out of Live Golf working with OWGR to get points for some of those tournaments. I know you were telling me a little about it before we jumped on air. Give me and uh everyone who’s tuning in a little bit of a rundown. So, it’s finally happening after the three. Don’t say it’s finally happening. We’ve said it too many times on this show and we’re still here. Oh, well f finally they’re going to sit down at the table with the OWGR and try to find a way to recognize points for the fields that they play in and be awarded OWGR points. And we have our LIV friends out there. So this is no no shots fired. This is being supportive. Um this is great for live. This is great moving forward to golf unification because one of the hardest things is how do you justify combined fields, combined events when you can’t score and award points appropriately, let alone RDER Cup, the Olympics, all these things all rely on this, right? This is a way to make it fair. My suspicion here is I do think this is one of the first times that the PGA Tour is secretly being a silent partner in this and telling the OWGR you need to give them their due if we are going to find a deal if we are going to find a way to unify and do whether it’s combi combined events cross fields whatever I think that there is PGA Tour backing on as a silent partner here telling telling the OWGR, get your together. They they have their own product. They have their own thing. They need to get something. You need to find a way to give them something. And it only makes sense with how far we’ve how much progress we’ve seen over the past six months with everything that all of a sudden this drops out of nowhere. I think the PGA Tour is a silent partner in this putting some pressure on the OWGR that we need to we need to figure this out. Like, come on. Yeah, I’m I’m sure the timing of it is probably not a coincidence. And I mean, dude, it’s been long enough, like you said, for three and a half years for Liv to get zero world ranking points, completely make a mockery basically of the OWGR, right? Like there are some guys who we know are not truly where the where that says they are ranked at. So hopefully I mean this sounds like it would be a big development obviously like you mentioned with the two sides really working in the same direction kind of to help and I and I’m fully on record that this is a suspicion. I have no source. I have nothing directly pointing this. I’m just saying all these things are pointing towards I think the PGA Tour is a silent partner in this and slowly pushing like like enough is enough. come on that you got to give them something if we’re going to get anywhere. And I hope that to be true. I mean, and it would make sense for them, like you said, like business-wise, long-term. If the goal of this thing is still to ultimately get a deal done, it’s not going to benefit anyone if just these Liv players continue to just freef fall through the rankings completely. And and I I will also speculate and top it off that if this works out, I would not expect a deal before 2028 for a very specific reason. 2028, what happens that year? What did we have this past year that did that did a lot for the game of golf in growth in reach? We’re bringing we’re we’re running back round two of the Olympics. Seems like a good fit that 2028 you have combined tours, combined events, world points, all these players playing to represent their countries, eligible to represent their countries as well as a women’s combined event. Yeah, seems like a really good time to just drop a deal would be 2028 and 26 27. everyone just kind of plays out their contracts and their money and 2028 is ready, set, go. That’s kind of where my my mind was going as well. So, we we’ll definitely see what’s uh what’s going on on that front. But what I wanted to talk about next with Liv Ross real quick, uh we Neman obviously getting his third win of the season. How do you register that in your brain? Do you care whatsoever that he’s won another tournament? The only reason I really ask is because now we’re two weeks removed from the PGA Championship obviously at Quail Hollow. I’ve said when Twe has been on the show and a couple of different times on the pod that I feel that’s a really good setup for Neman. Are you even thinking about him going into Quail and do you care about him having three wins already under his belt on live this season? Um so friend of the program Nick Deinsky. Um, we’ve had this debate off air multiple times where we came to a compromise where I gave Nick that I think Waco definitely currently and B it’s based off the lift schedules and everything. I gave Waco 11 through 15 in the world like for for sure 11 through 15 I will give you that. My only my only concern is the majors that when we obviously limited sample size, but when we come over to the majors, most of these world top 10s seem to show up and make a name for themselves and Waco kind of hangs in the middle of the pack. doesn’t doesn’t really come to the forefront with the performance he has put on this year so far in live. I am willing to now after this past week say I think Waco does have a spot probably in the world top 10. I I I I think it if I think if you’re going off progress, if you’re going off consistency, I would be willing to say that Waco is in the world top 10 right now. um regardless of the tour, regardless of the fields, I think just the performance is is there. Um was not in completely happy, intrigued, whatever word you want to use for the Masters, it it is what it is, but but but better than normal. But the overall performance that I’m seeing and that I’ve seen over the past 18 months, I after this past week, I will happily, you know, bite my tongue and say yes, I do think Waco is a world top 10 player right now. I don’t know if I’d put him in my top 10, but I’m I’d probably in that 11 to 15 bucket kind of like you were saying. I don’t really personally care about the victory on Liv necessarily. That’s not like what’s moved my needle for Coil Hollow. I do think that’s a good golf course. I don’t know if I’m actually going to like bet him out right there because without contending in a major ever in his career, no top 10s in a major. I don’t see him just popping up for the first time and taking the whole thing down. But I definitely the next two major championships should be pretty good spots for his game. And it just again if it feels like to me and I hate to say this type of statement on people, but I said it with Rory at the Masters this year, it kind of wound up working out okay. Feels like if Waco doesn’t pop up and contend at the major championships with how well he’s been playing on live the last two years, it’s just like what what the dude? Is it ever going to happen? like we know he’s talented, but it’s almost like he’s got Colin Morawa syndrome where it’s like the big stage is almost getting to him a little bit. And I also like I do wonder almost in a Morawa sense like how hard of a worker is Waco versus how uberly talented is Waco? That’s my question. So So here’s my here’s my only thing. Obviously the world ranking goes off of OGR, right? So right now our top 10 are Sheffler, Mroy, Schoffley, Morawa, Thomas, Oberg, Matsuyama, Henley, Havland, McNeely. But if you jump over to data golf, which a lot of people have started to track data golf way more for sure. We’re looking at Sheffller, Maroy, Rom, Dambo, Thomas, Morawa, Neman at seven. Okay, who’s after him? Give me through 12. Give me eight through 12. Henley, Schoffley, Hatton, Fleetwood, Canley. I’d probably have Waco somewhere right around Canlay. I think I I’m thinking I’m playing Waco at at nine or 10. I think I’m probably at 11ish. No way. I’m taking Hatton over over Neman, I think. Until he shows me it, I’m taking Hatton. Well, well, I’m going to go I I would justify Hatton over um I would justify Hatton based on his prior performances in in majors that he that he can show up he can show up there and play. But I I think you’re honestly I think Hatton is even lower than Hatton should be in in all these cases. I think you you’re tagging along that Hatton’s probably like 8 N and you’re looking at Waco at being a 910. You thinking a betting Waco at at the PGA? I know we still got two weeks. Obviously, no one’s on the Probably not at the PGA right now. I’m I’m the same way until I I got to see him mix somewhat before I pull the trig on a major. These live wins aren’t aren’t going to do it for me in terms of enough form to go and bet him outright at a major until I see him contend. Plus, let’s be honest, Rory is going to win Quail Hollow. Let’s would be very terrifying for the rest of the PGA tour if that goes and happens. Uh, last thing from Liv I wanted to talk about, Bryson. Sundays have not been his friend either here recently. He’s gagged away a couple of live tournaments now. obviously didn’t farewell on Sunday and the final pairing with Rory at the Masters. Are you concerned about Bryson going into Quail Hollow or or No, not really. I feel the same way. I I feel I feel like it’s peaks and valleys, man. I I think I think he’s a lot like Brooks where he’s over there, he’s having fun, he’s doing his thing, but let’s be honest, it’s like every other go it’s like every other true golfer out in the world. There’s four weeks a year that he’s really focused on right now. Yeah. Uh I’m not concerned whatsoever either. Honestly, I I’m not mad about Bryson struggling and like this narrative going around that people aren’t really happy with Bryson because of the comments he made about Rory, like not talking to him and whatever. People People are doing that thing where they’re turning on Bryson again. It’s a it’s a never- ending cycle. I know not everyone is, but uh honestly, that’s fine with me. Let his odds grow because I’m I’m going to bet him at at uh Coyle for sure. Well, I mean, we we already also talked about this that I think people just that quickly turned around and completely forgot what the past 25 years of Tiger were like that Tiger didn’t say a goddamn word to you, right? Like Tiger Tiger might might have nodded his head on the first te like good luck, but you’re going to need it. Bye. I I don’t even really like care about Bryson making those types of comments. Again, if people want to take it the wrong way and hate Bryson Gun, that’s fine with me. Give give me bigger odds for the future. I had no problem with it. I had no problem with it. And I don’t think that Bryson really had a problem with it. I think people kept I I think people kept digging and digging and being like, “Well, what did you think?” I didn’t I don’t think he really had a problem with it. I think he realized like, “Oh, he’s locked in.” Okay. Well, I I was going to be friendly and like I I normally am, but like if he’s locked in, I ain’t going to with it. It is what it is on. Let’s go play golf. And I think and I think it’s media and everything spinning it into a bigger thing than it really truly actually was. And I think it was a very simple, hey, in one of the biggest days m biggest moments of someone’s career, Rory decided to lock in and block everything else out. And I think Bryson got caught off guard with a comment be like, “He didn’t talk to me.” Yeah. And I think and then I think it just spiraled into, oh, he didn’t talk to him. No, he didn’t because he was locked in on the biggest day of his life in his opportunity. Yeah, it’s it’s funny. I feel the exact same way. I thought I think that’s very well said, Ross. And I totally believe that all these like people who believe that Bryson was like actually pissed that Rory didn’t talk to him actually have not watched the clip of Bryson saying it. They’ve just read the headlines and read the articles. They haven’t actually seen the clip because it was pretty apparent to me that like again like you said, Bryson didn’t really care. He was just pointing out a fact of the matter. Yeah, we we didn’t we didn’t we he didn’t say anything to me. We didn’t talk. Uh before we get to the CJ Cup, last thing, Ross, we got to give a freaking shout out to your guy Blocky, baby. He’s He’s back. Me? Michael Black is back. Give a shout out to the signed uh the signed visor up there, baby. Signed visor at the top as well as our flag from the year of the magic. The block party is back, baby. Tell me tell me about the excitement because you are one of the biggest blockheads that I know. Ross, hey, I I’m fair. I’m fair to be a blockhead. He’s been my aunt and uncle’s coach and pro for the past 15 years at a Royal Tribco. Uh, I have pictures, timestamp pictures of me pointing at Michael Block posters and stuff at this PGA like six hours before he even teed off to start that tournament. So, whatever people want to say, come at me. It’s fine. I got timestamps. I’ll show them. But, you know what? He’s back. Third year in a row. We’re doing it again. Had had an incredible PJ professional championship out there. Hit it from day hit it from day one. Ended ended up being what? T1 on day one, T2 on day three. Came in with the top three today to get make the cut. It’s block party. It’s back today. That had to be one of the wildest four days of your life considering you were, I’m sure, one of the few people who knew about Michael Black going into this tournament. Not only to be in contention, the final grouping with Rory, the hole-in-one on Sunday. How crazy was that, dude? Still like it the most surreal thing of all time because my aunt and uncle are te are texting us as we’re like showing up on site because I got like eight family members with me. I’m like, “Oh yeah, our pro Michael is playing in there. He qu he qualified. So if you get a chance, just say that Mayor and Eddie say hi.” And like my uncle saw him and like shouts at him. He’s like, “Mar and Eddie say hi.” And he like tips his cap like Yeah. He knows who they are. And then he just goes on and does this incredible fourday cinema that absolutely epic. Forget. So I’m I’m a blockhead. I I’m in for the block party. Great to see Michael Block back. We’re come we’re coming back for a repeat. Blocky faux life, baby. Absolutely epic ride that must have been. And we’ll see if Michael Block’s got some more uh magic. Maybe he’ll get the block party going at Quail Hollow here this year. But Ross, before we uh wrap things up here today, we got to get into these final bets for this week’s CG CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Truly one of the worst fields of the entire year. Uh Scott RIP Gary Woodland early, though. I know, dude. We’re going to get that out. I I really liked that one. I I did, too, because remember how popular he was going into Valero the next week coming off that T2. It was going to be tough for Gary to repeat that type of performance with all the energy and uh adrenaline and everything that he dealt with for the first time in a while, but this was like a a real good setup for him. A very similar setup to the Houston Open. And now no one wants anything to do with him at 100 to one. Me and you both jumped on him and then of course freaking withdraws. I haven’t uh made my replacement for Woodland yet on my card. So I got to talk through some things with you at the bottom of the board, but let’s start here at the top. Ross, we got Scotty, we got Spith. They’re the two big dogs in the tournament. Scotty at plus 280, Spe at 18, Benny on at 25, Sunj at 25, and then we got Sam Burns and Seiwoo at 30. I already know where you’re starting off your card, but let everyone know who’s kicking things off for you and the reasoning behind you tailing this man this week. So, I wasn’t going to do this, but then I had to go back I I had to go back with journal journalistic integrity that for almost two years now, I have been writing about Jordan. Go fix your goddamn problems. Jordan, go fix your goddamn problems. And he ignores and ignores and ignores. And then I say, well, Jordan’s really, really hurt and no one believes me. And then out of nowhere, we get this bomb drop that Jordan Speed has reconstructive wrist surgery. And I go, “I got you all. I told you. I told you it was a thing.” And then I of course my dumb ass follows it up with, “I think Jordan Smith is going to win an event this year.” I wasn’t going to do it, but then I realized that we’re playing in Dallas. We’re playing at a course that he has a great history at. And good lord, can I not be on it after after I previewed and preached that this is going to be a thing and a bounce back and a comeback. I I have Jordan at 18 because I just simply can’t do the Rory wins the Masters and then JT wins RBC. I can’t not have Jordan out there for when the comeback occurs. It t the season to end droughts. Even Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin last week put an end to their drought. So, something’s going on in the air right now, Ross. I certainly understand you for backing Jordan. You’ve been on the show saying he’s going to have a good 2025 once he gets that wrist right. And he has. He’s already popped up a couple of times this year, and you referenced the really good track record that he has there, uh, has on this course, excuse me. I ultimately couldn’t get to that number for Jordan, but I completely a thousand%. Listen, I’ve been there in like many FOMO situations with so many different golfers. I basically have bet Corey Connors everywhere and then I didn’t bet him at the Valero, the one place where he actually wins and then he won that thing a second time. So like I I have been nutlo of FOMO miss outs and I certainly understand you taking Jordan this week. So you’re not aboard that train. It it was it was high enough of a number that I could touch it, but I did go and space out my card after that to make up for it. Yeah. Uh there I mean so many names down the board. This bad boy just feels like it’s wide open, especially on this type of setup. Ross, grip it and rip it. It’s wide open. Big greens, wide fairways. What are you going to say? But there here’s the key. I I know what what you’re going to preview your card for our audience, but just remember that this is probably the last year we’re going to get this type of card at this event because next year they do switch to tiff tough Bermuda and they are going to even out the playing field. So everything we want to play this week and we are going to play this week, none of those games are going to add up here next year when they redo this course with the tiff tough. I have some uh we don’t have to get down this rabbit hole by the way. We we have to get to the card, but I do have some question marks around Lanny Watkins getting the job to revive this place. Former PGA Tour winner who like hasn’t really done anything with PGA Tour courses. I’m not saying I’m like expecting him to do a poor job here, but the PGA Tour historically like doesn’t know how to make golf courses actually tougher. They just usually lengthen them. So, I I hope they go about it the right way. I hope you’re correct, Ross. I have some concerns, though. This place is a dump, if I’m being honest. From from everything I’ve seen that they’re they’re going to make some changes, not a lot of changes, but they’re basically going to resod this whole thing, and they’re going to play the grass that only the elite players can play off of. So, this So, this event next year is going to look completely different than our cards look this year. Next year we’re going to be betting the top and only the top pro most likely. I mean, I hope you’re correct because they need to do something with this golf course. Quite honestly, I’m not not really sure how it’s hosting a PJ tour event minus 23 all four years. They’ve tried to make it tougher. They extended it this year. They grew out the rough to 3.25 in, but I I still think especially with all the rain they got, it’s going to be lift clean in place tomorrow, maybe even Friday. It’s going to be stopping wet. The balls are going to be stopping. I think mashers and good long iron players are just gonna eat this bad boy up. Hopefully some of these changes will make this a little bit more of an enticing golf course, but uh I didn’t get to anyone at the top of the board. My my card starts at 40 to1 and I think it starts with the the same guy that your next guy is Ross. Is it Mr. Steven Joerger Bombs or do you have someone in between? I do have Seawoo at 30 because I went really I went really early on Seawoo. He’s still out there at like 28ish. I went and I I got him at 30 only because let’s let’s be honest, we go down this route all the time that wow, Seaw plays this really well. Seaw plays this really well and Sew never plays well. But but we’re actually at a course where track record in history, holy Seaw plays here really well. I’m pretty sure he’s got one or two wins here and then the rest are all like top fives. Si actually has never won here. I think you’re uh confusing him with KH Lee unfortunately. But SE does sorry he does have a T and T13. He’s been great here. You are correct in that facet. KH Lee is the one who’s got the two wins though. Yeah. No, see SEU has has all the top fives top 10’s here in in his career. So just I’m I’m going to take a gamble that maybe we finally get the seawe that we’ve been looking for for a year and a half. Ta green monster on this golf course. I definitely understand it. And coming off an eighth at the RBC Heritage kind of the first time he’s popped up this year. Good spot for Seiwoo. Uh is next Mr. Steven Jagger bombs for you on your card? Uh this year you you myself and Tom and Marty’s on Stephen Jagger. It’s the week, baby. We might have to be drinking some Jagger some Jagger bombs if uh he gets the job done this week. I mean, who who can take down Scotty Sheffler in Texas? It’s Stephen Joerger, baby. Obviously, uh at the Houston Open last year, but these rip it and rip it golf courses, roser, they just scream Steven Joerger. And as I wrote up in my article, like four golf courses, the Houston Open, the Mexico Open, and Rocket Mortgage have like quite literally funded Stephen Jagger’s PGA Tour career quite hilariously. He’s got the win uh at the Houston Open. He’s got a T3 and a T6 at the Mexico in his last two trips. Uh two top 10s at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. All of those are driver heavy golf courses that I’m looking at this week. A wide open setup. We know even though the driver hasn’t been good for Jerger since the start of March, he’s only gained once in his last six starts. These setups are when he does his best work. He’s gained at least 4.9 strokes off the tea in both of his starts here. And he he’s been playing some sneaky good golf this season. and he’s got three top 12 finishes on the year. Uh, putts well usually in Texas. So, yeah, all aboard the Steven Joerger train this week, my man. It would be awesome if I could get Joerger at both his victories. Might be my favorite golfer of all time. Hey, we we like money in the bank, right? Absolutely. Uh, who else you got in this middle range, though? I don’t want to skip through any of your guys. And 40 40 to 60. Who else you got, Ross? Um, so 40 to 60. I do have three here. Um, I got Willie Z. I got Willie Z under the radar this week. I have Willie Z. And um, I don’t know why, but I keep leaning towards this theory that he’s sneakily starting to figure out and put it kind of all it’s every other week. One aspect of his game is good, the other is off. the next week it’s whatever was off the week before is coming around that I just I have this feeling that Willie Z is going to have a nice little rebound over these next several weeks and will not be surprised if we see a a dub from him in the next several as he works through the trials and tribulations and figures it out. I I think he’s close. I think it’s one week this is off, one week this is off. when we get all together, I think Willie Z is for sure in the winner circle. Um, but it was a fair enough number at 40 for me to touch and just with his strengths of what his game are if they’re on course lines up really well for him. I actually have bad news, man. Did Willie ZW WD from here? Did he today? I think he did. He did. I apologize to you. Oh, then then it’s out there and we’re open again. I apologize to you. Hate to do that to you live on the show, but I was like I think Willie ZWD today, man. At least I got it to you now before the tournament started and you like didn’t even realize. Oh, then we’re gonna we’re going to pivot real quick. We’re going to go Isaiah Celinda done. Let’s let’s rock and roll. Who else you got in this middle range though before uh I rattle off my next man? Um, so if we’re gonna if we’re going to keep going on down, um, after that, I do have, uh, at 55, I have Jacob Bridgeman. I bet him here last year at 110. He was on my mind, and he’s been he’s been getting getting himself in contention. So, we got Jacob Bridgeman has been playing really really good golf lat lately and 55 was a very fair number for me to go for me to go and tap on. Um, and then we jump in that middle range again. Uh, I believe I’ll let you I’ll let you give the deets, but I know myself and Tom and Marty’s again are in on this one. It’s nap time. coming right back. Yeah, it’s uh it’s nap time in the Dallas area for sure. I bet him here last year was one shot back of Taylor Pendr going into the final round and he I really expected him to win like considering how well he had played through the first three days. Obviously getting that experience a couple of months before in Mexico. Uh just didn’t have his best stuff on Sunday. Still wound up finishing eighth. Gained a ton of strokes from TA Green. hasn’t been like uber consistent in all facets of his game, but still is racking up high-end finishes, right? T6 at the Cognizant, T12 at the players, like for Jake Knap’s skill set, that’s super noteworthy. obviously got the third place finish with uh Frankie Sappin last week, but like Stephen Joerger, these are these are just the golf courses where I want Jake Knap on where he can mass driver, especially when it’s going to be wet and there’s not going to be a lot of roll out. Like those long hitters I believe are really going to have an advantage on the softer course. Uh and that just suits Jake Knap’s game and he’s got the putting upside to go along with it. Uh has gained 1.2 two strokes putting in six of his last eight starts. So yeah, Nap at I got him at uh 55 to one was kind of a no-brainer for me in this middle section. Ross, love to hear Tom and Marty’s is all aboard on Yags and Nap this week. Let’s ride. I got I got I got 55 and then just in the moment one is cat one is placed there in a reverse with Will Willie Z with WD. We do now have Isaiah Celinda at 65. Celinda is someone I wrote up this week. Uh I don’t have anyone until this deep. Are you ready to go down the board? I I got Well, I got one more after that and I will tell you I think you’ll be really happy. Um I because I believe we have a three pete rider again. Oh, I know. My last one is Alejandro Toasty. I have 85 and I believe Tom Marty’s is also riding again. Yeah, that’s perfect. That takes us right down into this range. Uh I have Jagger at 45, Nap at 60. After that, my cards at 90 and I am throwing darts at 90 and I’m right there with you with Isaiah Celinda. I got him at 90 over at uh Bet Rivers in their enhanced market. I wrote up Isaiah Celinda this week. um made sure to make note of his driving distance and long iron upside. Where have where has that setup been required this year? Also in a scrub event, the Mexico Open in the Houston Open. Celinda was third at the Mexico Open, 11th at Houston. And while he’s been going through like the normal rookie struggles that you’d expect for a first year player on tour, he’s shined with the driving. He’s gained a ton of strokes off the tea every single week in seven in a row. He’s gained strokes in that department. Uh and also his his long irons in those two events like I mentioned. Uh he gained 4.3 strokes with his irons. And most of those shots into the greens are coming from 200 yards out. And one thing I don’t know if you’ve noticed this Ross, but I feel like Celinda just like he kind of has that dog about him. He plays with I think a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. He’s got that swag. He can play to the crowd and I with that. So, I’m all aboard Isaiah Celinda 90 to1 this week. How could we not bet Alejandro Toasty on a Griid and Ripet golf course in Texas, bro? How could we not? And he truly has been awesome. I know the putter is a concern, but that that was literally what held him back here last year. I believe he gained six strokes from Ta Green and gave it all back with the putter in two rounds. if he’s if he’s, you know, field average, gaining one stroke with the putter, he just absolutely nukes the ball far enough and hits his long irons well enough and is such an aggressive player. If things are going well, he’s going to find himself in the mix. This is a perfect golf course for Alejandro Toasty. Probably the last good course we’ll get for Toasty for a long time. So, I’m definitely in at 90. Uh, I also got Austin Ecro at 90. He won the Black Desert Championship in the fall. And while I don’t think there’s like a lot of similarities between Craig Ranch and that golf course, it was a wideopen resort birdief fest and that’s basically what we get at this tournament this week. So 90 to1 feels good for Ecros’s upside and I believe before he won the Cognizant Classic, he really popped up out of nowhere to get the job done. So I don’t think it’s impossible for him to do that despite not being in good form this year. I got Rico Hoey at 90 to1 as well. He’s got two top 13s in his last four starts. dog putter except on bent grass and we’re back on bent grass this week. So, I’m hoping Rico Hoey can make those five-footers for now. Yeah, I I need Rico to be making those five footers. He has been horrible on the greens this year. Uh and then I got Henrik Norlander who legitimately might be my favorite long shot play. I I don’t think he’s I mean it would be sick if he won. Probably a better DFS play, top 10, top 20 bet. Uh, but Henrik Norlander at 110 to one. Ross was like eighth or ninth in my model this week. Super highly ranked, first on approach, eighth in putting over the last 24 rounds. And he’s got four top 20s over his last five starts. I have no confidence in him on Sunday, but he’s playing well, and this is a good spot for him. That sounds like a classic uh Uncle Twee hedge of he’ll play him play himself into the top 10 on Sunday and you just you just click the button that you oh I bet like five bucks on him and I’m getting 70 something dollars for me to leave right now. Thank you. Yeah, might not be the bad play with Norlander because like I said, I don’t trust him to play well on Sunday in contention, but like all his best finishes on the PGA Tour, driver heavy golf courses, uh, back-to-back T13s in Mexico, T12 in Detroit in 2020, three top fours in his last five starts at the Sanderson Farms Championship, another driver heavy golf course. She’s like a good spot for Henrik Norlander. Like I said, probably better DFS, top 10 or top 20 play. Those will all probably pay pretty good, but uh I’m a sicko and I go for the big bucks. So, I bet I’m at 110 to one. Ross, Toasty was the last guy on your card after you added Celinda, right? Yep. All right, talk through this with me before we wrap things up. We’re just about at an hour. Uh I got to find some monies to put down instead of Gary Woodland at 100 to one. Um I need your thoughts on this. I was thinking it’s my turn to go back to scumbag Nico or should should I just leave him alone? 110 to1 seems crazy crazy. Like does that not seem like crazy odds? I don’t like scumbag Nico, but he’s better than these guys. He’s got the same odds as Vince Why. That’s pathetic. Yeah, that that’s this is where it gets tough. I know. I hate putting money down on the guy, but the world is a cruel place. Yeah. No, I I’m glad we didn’t do a show last week because I didn’t have to speak it out into existence what I actually bet on. So So, so, so there’s no actual recording of what I bet on, which is great. Didn’t work. It not like it mattered anyway, but still. Um, I could go with potterer. He hasn’t been any good in a while. only pots just sitting out there. I’m looking on my end and seeing him at 120. So yeah, I see 125 for Pots. Uh 110 for Nico, 125 for Hayden Springer. Those are kind of three names that catch my eye actually. You want to know what? Give me your thoughts on this. Give me your thoughts on this guy. Do you think Joel Damon has the mental fortitude to go and win a golf tournament after what happened to him a couple weeks ago? He’s playing good and he pops at the Mexico Open. I’m I’m going to give you one that um I almost hit a couple weeks ago with Joel Damon and he was in there until the last minute and then I cut I cut him out. Um and then had a very very good week. Has had some very good weeks lately. Name has been popping up and at worst case this is a great hedge for you. They got Quaid Cummins out there at 150 and higher. Quaid, he’s been popping in some of the models, too. He doesn’t have a ton of reps, but his name I’ve seen his name thrown out there. That’s an interesting drop from you, man. I almost hit I almost hit him a couple weeks ago um with Joel’s meltdown and quite played himself well into the top 10 at that at that event um and has been on a hot streak. And I’m just saying, I know it’s not your favorite thing to do, but at that number, that’s a that’s a nice little hedger there for Sunday. And we play again next week. Oh, no. Did I lose it completely? Oh no, I have zero audio.
