2026 Episode 28 - The President's Cup Becomes Team USA's Labratory

0:00The 2026 golf season is here at Golfdom and worldwide golf winter is a distant memory The grass is green and the trees are full. Are you ready for your best summer of golf ever? Better yet as your equipment ready. Maybe you've been putting off a new set of irons for a few seasons Well, the new blades that are out from the leading manufacturers are some of the best ball striking implements on earth Get into one of the fitting studios at Golfdom and see for yourself the numbers don't lie and Golfdom's expert fitters will work with getting your swing and your game matched up for optimal performance No upsells, no brand bias just what's best for your game when it comes to a parallel and footwear My guy Monty is the all-knowing guru of the latest fashions materials and styles plus proper ammunition is always essential And golfdom has just about every single golf ball made under the sun Available by the dozen you can even ask about getting some sweep custom orders with your name printed on them

1:02Your game deserves the best and no place can match golfdom for quality selection price and most importantly Expertise so just like the new season of the capital golf gang is in full swing So too is golf season at golfdom get into any location in the DMV Tyson's Rockville and Annapolis or shop online at golfdom golf dot com or wherever you go Look for the worldwide golf logo and get the best for your game In the shadow of the most powerful city in the world the capital golf gang is on the air With instructor John Ronis from Beacon Hill Golf Club Executive director of the middle Atlantic PGA John Gull and Worldwide Golf Executive and former owner of golfdom buddy Christensen and now your host sports radio legend in the DMV Steve Zaben

2:05A virtual edition of the capital golf gang presented by golfdom and worldwide golf the gang is all here Quote here technically together in far-flung places. We start far-out west Buddy Christensen of worldwide golf is in Los Angeles, California Where it's like a different world cool and sunny 70s It's wild isn't it be beautiful 75 people were complaining about the humidity last week You could feel it on your skin. I'm like no you couldn't there's no possible way you even have any idea What it's like right now Summer back here in DC John Ronis of Beacon Hill. How is the golf course handling this late first of mid 90s? Oh good. Yeah, it's you know, I mean it's It's it's ready to get a breather. That's for sure now We're getting some thunderstorms for sure though, so we're still getting rain I would say the grass around here in the DMV is greener going into September

3:07Then most the crap grass the crap grass is outstanding this time. Yeah crap grass is poop And John go former executive director of the middle lane pga. How are you my friend? What's shaking in your world? Your team on us five a week and a half from surgery. Yeah What eight nine days yeah nine days Played golf yesterday the country club of Fairfax Great time the heat. I don't know. I mean they're used to the heat or it didn't bother me And this guy you've all played with me. I made three birdies including a chip in on 18 from like 20 yards So wow Bro Katie was happy My ankle on a bum ankle on the summer of ghoul with warm weather still lasting a little bit in the September I can't see the surgery. I see our our round next week. It's gonna be 81 is a high Oh, yes, we're playing Wednesday at TPC Avonnell the wilder on his come on in the otherwise notice TPC Potomac and Avonnell farm The actual name

4:09Ghoul you and I are committed who else buddies committed body Because TV series I can't speak on air Come on Well, we have aeration next week. So in theory I'm I don't have to show up Call it call it and I could we could stop on 15 to get a snack at my brothers. Yeah There you go. Okay, and it's our last chance before I go into the knife. I'm gonna miss the uh the one who putty's gonna host Yeah, yeah, we'll do I have to do it We'll have to get CJ and get John to ride around with us on his bottom. I'm good at air. Thanks. Ape knows that Okay, all right Presidents cup teams are set the captains picks have been made and people are now Shooting their shots of anger and disappointment some people saying actually I don't mind the picks On social media and in the golf bloggo and pato sphere Let's go ahead and take our crack at a team USA

5:11Your top six qualifiers Scotty chef LeCam young windom clerk Sam Burns Russell Henley Colin Moore cahua the captains picks Chris got her up Justin Thomas Zander Shoffley Patrick Cantlay Jackson Coivan and Jacob Bridgeman The only two that were outside of what would have been auto qualifiers were Cantlay and Coivan Who wants to take the first crack at uh captain sneed occurs six captains picks So who are the two who are the two that were out that would do again Griffin Griffin and spawn Yes, spawn that's right and They are hurt Griffith is slumping Yeah, I mean and spawn was slumping too spawn was not doing anything special. I think Um, you know the Coivan thing

6:12Um, it's interesting, you know, I like the representation of a young buck in there um, but you could have picked you could have picked Michael Brennan you could have picked Michael Thorborne Jarpson and Either them one our young buck is what we're saying we have a young buck and pick him Michael The both the michaels were actually playing a little bit better towards the end of the year Now they both got one extra tournament Um also, but look I think it's great that they did that I think it's um, you know Cantlay is the one that I would say is he kind of the old weathered guy that we would say if he was in he's in if he's out no big deal Um, but other than that, I think the the picks are fine and I think it It lends itself to Zayb as you always say a little bit of the exhibition part of this and that they're putting someone younger in there to possibly get them experience for what they perceive is going to be an eventual rider cover So you know, I hand it to snettaker also in that

7:13uh You know like we said this person wants to win, you know, it's a captain. You never want to lose the president's cup I mean that's a one thing you never want to lose But and it's getting a little tighter as they go long, but um, I handed to him for Going out there and picking a young guy and and changing up just a little bit. Uh goal your thoughts Yeah, Zayb. So you're a pick the 12 guys on the points list kind of guy and I think this is why it's exist right spawn is slumping and hurt and Griffin hasn't done anything since last year all those points were from basically from last year So I think this is why it exists I don't have too much problem. I would do the same thing as ronus. I love koeven off the board You know, maybe you pick somebody other than can't lay one be one of the other guys that's hot What's the kid that went over to sweeten the play Deraard yeah, did the red out your jarars jarard god you know completely screwed Chris or Ryan Gerard I've got Ryan's cars and Ryan's cars and so you know, I mean that would be my one quibble Mainly because I don't think can't lay is a good guy

8:15But he's like the best buddy partner with chaffley So you know when you're building a team you want to have a team that chaffley plays well with and everybody plays At the at the president's cups. You can't hide anything like that. So I did want to talk about the international team though They to them and us. Okay, but anyway, what's your quick point about the internationals? For John cool. Yeah, good. You said buddy It's just that you know It's not new that They had to reach really far down the list to get their 12th player, you know what their world ranking is What is new is their number one players you should always be Greg Norman or you know big-time players and now their number one players are You know outside the top 10 so it's just but a few of their guys are coming in high Like Tom kid I don't know if I'm playing well I'm gonna be for a second. I need buddy on the board here buddy your thoughts on team USA For the president's cup coming up here in two weeks at Medina in illa noise

9:19Yeah, the first thing I thought of what does they think about this with his top 12 guys are set and and I agree with John like I think that we mixed it up. I think snettaker mixed it up in the right way I had a buddy mind text me and say hey, I wish they had used this a little more for the rider cup and gotten Brennan in there and and forbidenshin since some um, but You know other than that I I mean I'm not a big can't lay fan I'd think you can defend the fact that he's there and and koi then I think so a great pick anyway cut it So I'm okay with it But I do think that this works against your theory say because those other two needed to go listen I love you guys. I respect you guys but This coven pick is a complete mistake and a joke and an affront To what golf is supposed to be all about and I'm gonna cut right to the chase as to why

10:24So I guess coven's made the rider cup team too Oh, no, you're getting ahead of yourself. Oh, oh, am I am I you put them on the team With Wet behind the years very little experience just cut out of college because we want to build guys up For the rider cup because we have to win the rider cup Which is another notion that I fucking despise you don't have to win this thing Yes, when the ball is on the tee and for three days you should try as hard as you can to win it But this whole notion that's evolved that it's somehow an embarrassment that the USA Can't win the rider cup. This is bullshit people Not only does all a team Europe live in Orlando or like known uh to begin with But there was never this impetus like we have to win So that bothers me right there. This notion of we're gonna use the president's cup as some kind of incubator for our future stars

11:27Nobody I've heard has said well, I guess we're taking him for the rider cup Because he would have to play so shitty To not be on the rider cup team if he's anywhere sniffing the top 12 for the rider cup next cycle They're gonna have to put them on the team and I hate that and I also just don't like the way that captains picks have evolved I believe early on In the rider cup there was one two captains think to right Yeah, and I'm not sure what year that started Because I don't know Did was it always? They get they put two picks in the captains pocket. I'm pretty sure it was 10 with two for a very long time I can't swear my life on it, but okay Two is at least moderately defensible However, and that would only account for a guy like let's say Scotty Sheffler Went skiing in the offseason and broke his leg and he was coming back from a broken leg

12:28And he played half a schedule this year and he once again started dominating like Scotty Sheffler does He just didn't have enough points because of his stupid skiing accident There's an excuse for having a captain's pick, but that's pretty rare First and foremost the thing about golf is supposed to be a Objective meritocracy your score is the score the ball doesn't know How much is in the bank account of the guy hitting it? If the points are good enough for one through six They should be good enough for seven through 12 I just reject this mentality out and out because All these differences in between the players beyond say the top three I'll give you the top three and then there's a shelf Everyone from four to 12 the differences in them as players. They're all world class Is too finite to be humanly rationally measured you can concoct reasons to go well. He's a good putter Jacob Bridgman by the way number one

13:33Putter on tour based on Stroke's gain Okay, well can he make a ten-footer with a match on the line? I guess we're gonna find out their different things all together The difference between four through 12 is so thin It's dumb and once you start letting the captain put his hand on the ball for half the pocket team Then you're gonna get bullshit can't lay on the team is bullshit. He's the Toby flenderson of the PGA tour Nobody likes him. Why are you the way you are? But he's on the team because well he and Zander play well together and he's got to No, they don't They don't even you know, it's interesting I thought that was the big pair. I mean it is the big carrot, but they've been beaten quite a Beating right so that's even worse. So the perception is there this essential team And yet they're not exactly they're not the these these are not unbeatable They're not the Spanish Armada of Sergio and Sevy back in the day, okay? So there's that Jose Maria

14:38Thank you very much for that so I'm wrapping up my rant here just because I got to get this off my chest. Okay This is an Exhibition it is meant to bring out the best qualities in the game of golf sportsmanship and comradery You picked the 12 based on your point system According to how you've laid out the points let the chips fall stop trying to play Well, we want this guy because it could be good for the rider cup Who knows if Coivan's gonna go in the shitter for the next year. Oh, we want this guy because is a good putter Oh statistically good putter, but he shits his pants over a 10 footer when the matches on the line You don't know. I don't know use the point system pick the team have an exhibition play with sportsmanship in class Put it on TV and we'll see in two years at the rider cup Hallelujah holy shit worth the child. No, okay All right, say over It may be an exhibition But it's also entertainment and entertainment needs drama and this is one of the ways that they can provide some drama

15:44I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm just saying it's one of the ways that they can provide the job. You worked up It's got right. I have a little issue here though because what you were saying I think is absolutely right now You're team this guy up for the rider cup And he's got a harder route to go than Michael Brennan and Michael Thorough with Jacke and Rockerson Because he did not get into the top 50 he is not in the elevated events So their point values are going to be much greater. So he's going to have to play Even better to get it there to kind of let's just say they all play the same to leap frog those two because their point About that in the elevated so Mike is in the in the elevated track Right and so is and Michael we it's not quite yet, but he's going to get it to the so all that's have better points for the rider cup. Yeah, well, it's the elevated events the eight He's in all the elevated events so they get more points to the get more points in the elevated in addition to more money

16:45I didn't know about yes. Yeah, okay. Yeah, so He's really sticking his neck out there too and not picking because those will be I would think those would be the three And there could be someone else The exemption coming out that says all presidents cut mep team members get into the elevated events or something Oh, yeah, there could be that as well, but this is where it's going to fuck our guy Mike even more because if a Mikey is close or even ahead of And they're the last choice Then of course they're going to take coven because well we didn't put him on the president's cup right see he went Three one and one of the presidents cup. He was great and you're well He was like two and two in the ACC's last year and like one and two in the final so he in the NCAA so like he Look, he's a great player. He also doesn't have a superpower. I mean he's a good putter and everything But he doesn't have a 320-yard drive or another superpower that that those other two do he is long

17:46He's not as long as our boy Mikey. No, no, so but I just interesting. I don't I don't begrudge them giving it to coven I was told by a good source that this decision was made a month ago Well, that's a that's a problem and that's a problem That's a problem So when Thoroughby jormison won and Michael Brennan won they didn't kind of it was already kind of that was the hot ticket that we had to take right that it feels like Coivans the anointed one that there are correct shadowy forces agents players of Manufacturers television executives who have chosen him as the precious Yeah, so I guess he's on the writer cup team buddy. That's cool. You made you You threw a lot you threw a lot of teams buddy. He made two teams with very little accomplishment That fucking work right you threw a lot out But one thing you did say that I was a little surprised to hear you don't get embarrassed when we get our asses kicked by the Europeans

18:51Did did I hear that part right you're just okay with this? I'm sorry you broke up coming down the line repeat that I heard it. Yeah, so Your statement of not being embarrassed by losing to the Europeans. That was one I was very curious to hear No because um rational It's it's I was embarrassed the way michaelson threw Watson under the bus because they couldn't get their favorite pairings Like it was a fucking buddy's golf trip that embarrassed Tiger Woods being completely not into the event by going out for practice rounds at six a.m To play nine holes to avoid the media that embarrassed me But the winning in the losing I don't doubt that anyone who teased it up in a writer cup or a president's cup is trying to win Because they're golfers and it's a match and you want to win. I don't doubt that But the the format of match play and team golf where it's half point half point half point half point

19:51It just teeter is on a little razor's edge It's as random as it can be and they're all world-class players So I don't get embarrassed that we're losing the writer cup It happens a number of these cups that were lost were lost by flukeish razor thin margins It happened I look at the longer run of Give me 30 years of data. Don't give me the last 10 It feels like it's 30 years of data that we feel so you feel like we should be winning it more and you feel like there's a pride of yeah USA don't we have the better team every year on paper and but we still can't like and don't we know that you got to have some camaraderie team Deal and yet we can't figure that out. Yeah, we just did that We have the guys like the corporations like when Tiger was I think look I think it's well understood that Tiger was going off at 6 a.m. Because there was far less traffic on the road So he gets

20:51about Tigers There was tiger corporation and all other corporations. So I think it's a little less of that now um, but the camaraderie's overblown and just they played better we set up the course for them That's the embarrassing part. We set up the course for them last year right the last year Okay, we could go through what I am embarrassed about regarding the US and the writer cup And we'll start with last year's course setup where for no reason that can anyone can explain they cut the rough at the last second Literally at the last and the greens were the greens were soaking wet. I mean, it's just Right, okay, so that that was dumb right there How Sutton by doppelganger pairing tiger and fill together because he felt like the world was owed that pairing and the two of them Barely shared a TV screen together much less ready to other spots or give each other advice. That was embarrassing Cory pavons wife deciding to stitch letters and numbers into the rain suits and whales and the leaf like a sieve

21:51That was embarrassing Uh, the peach of America executive who got booted by being a complete clown last year at Beth page Goll, I forgot his name already Don Ray Don Ray that guy was embarrassing The fact we might not have won a few of these we probably should have like the year that Rory McAroy slept in At Medina by the way going back to the scene of the crime That was that's kind of embarrassing like bro where he met his wife Where he met his wife drove him Yeah, well help get police escort to get him there like Like he can rally you couldn't beat that guy. He literally showed up five minutes before his teeth. I But it's called easy back to the Yeah, golf. I mean, I don't prescribe to your theory that he makes this team. He's on the next team Oh the biggest part of it being two different organizations, right pg tour on one side pg of America now You're gonna say well the that the cabal the the captains and all those people are very similar

22:55Uh, you know that that share it but I just don't think it's true. It you know It should be that way the person's cup should be the minor leagues for the rider cup team, but they're not why did he take them Because he had a five week tryout and he was awesome in five weeks and they tried to if they they want to extrapolate that over What how much what he would have done over a year and they said he would have made this team? Okay. Oh extrapolate you know She had very good. I made two weeks in the first three holes put me down for a 65 Right I mean, you know like that So you can say I he's not guaranteed for the rider cup and maybe you're right I don't know how far down the points list till after B to be left off my guess is if he's top 16 He's in Beyond that and get dicey and it depends on whether he does exciting things that show up on TV That they can say look at this guy's box off. Yeah, I got to win win a couple of events. Yeah, right

23:56Okay, well plus he's got to win his matches in the presence cup right well, but here's the thing So if he doesn't make the rider cup then what did we do here We threw away a deserving spot for a guy like to guard on a flyer for a chosen one who honestly is not Distinguishable from Thor Bayard Adonis and Don or Michael Brennan And now we're not even using him in the rider cup. Does anyone do the math on how dumb this pick was no So they saw over do this and they said that's what we want overg was awesome He killed the US we want to do that. That's all it is There's probably no there's no math. There's no way to prove it. How far down was over and if he sucks They made a bad decision if he's great. They made an awesome decision plain and simple. Okay, so how far down was over when they plucked him He wasn't even on the list. He hadn't he hadn't played on it. He had played a single tour of no, yeah, I guess a single major no majors. Yeah They said we want that we want young electric players in this event

24:57Okay, well, I mean as Brennan would have been a good choice too I must have missed all the great oberg highlights from the rider cup. How he's kicking ass now because he's He's smoked all right. He did And and Zayn again, we're replacing at that point Ben Griffin and JJ spawn Right because those are those in the two that you would have in so Gerard Gerard is the one Gerard was below No, no Gerard was out of the top 12. Yeah, right. So Coivan is bumping Gerard Well, he leapfrog he leapfrog Gerard, but he's not bumping. I mean it was he 13. I don't even know if he was 13 I don't think he was like 14 than 16 hold on a second I believe he was I believe he was 13 Gerard Gerard said the reason that Gerard by the way got on a plane To yeah to Sweden right after a top four at the FedEx Cup championship Because he wanted to play some more saying Hopefully I'll come into the president's cup playing in good form. I want to keep playing

26:02Because he thought he would get the call by the time he landed pretty much in Europe Old Sneet occurs like sorry bud You're not on the he did say if I make the president's cup. He didn't say if so I make the he was he was that close Here's what I'm a fan Yeah, here's what I'm sympathetic to okay These guys like Gerard otherwise Nondescript who is this dude guys get fucked at 13 14 15 and the points routinely Oh sometimes at 11 and 12. Yeah, and sometimes I see 12 and I hate that I had him at 16 16 behind Maverick McNeely and Betilla Maverick McNeely must have an issue because he never gets picked for anything He wouldn't even in the conversation right Maverick McNeely could deliver a peach to the my front door And I would not recognize yeah, and when you recognize Ryan Gerard Probably not Okay, but what are we arguing about okay my what I'm arguing about is where's the meritocracy

27:02There should be a meritocracy If you don't if you don't think picks Seven through 12 should be left up to the formula Then don't make one through six formulaic either either want 12 captains picks or none That's by stands that's fair Pick one and I think this is a good mix because you get the people who really earn it and then you let the people We have we have two guys who clearly We're in the top 12 points that are not playing well and or hurt that can't be on the team And if you if you make a hard and You cannot go I pass number 12 then you're out who said I like it It's good to put more than one of the the rising if you're gonna put Coivan in there I would have put well I would have put all three of them in there and say hopefully one of them will be in the rider cup next year And then we just gave him experience. I just think they still haven't figured out a way to get the points to represent Who's hot in the last six months, you know, it's all almost There's waited two years out and it's heavily waited for the most recent year

28:04But it doesn't wait, you know second half of the season or any of that Which is what they should start to do with the presence cup They should start to experiment with all these different things to try to make our rider cup better So next time it should be a one-year cycle for the president's cup and see how that goes The only problem is you're playing such a A terrible You're not European an international team that you can't really judge it on that based on the rider cup But I think it should be a one-year cycle and probably at that point if it's one year cycle You can certainly go back to just two captains picks because everyone on the one-year cycle has got to be somewhat Hot to being that top 12. I Still going to run into injuries, you know the guy misses the whole first year and you know It's just crazy. They will then make the points the last six months leading up to the event Get who's hot I mean, yeah or like you said 12 12 captains picks. What does anyone understand does anyone hear of my goal and crazy Does anyone not understand how fucking variable this sport is the ups and the downs and the highs and the lows and why is this guy not good anymore

29:09What are having a Tony Fienau right? Yeah, stinks. It's just unbelievable. All right So that said let's talk about the internationals. I've called up this graphic you guys could take a look at it The general consensus is that the internationals are the weakest cup of coffee for this event ever and event that the internationals have gone one and eleven in actually one eleven and one they did have that one in South Africa Where it ran out of time ran out of time and they didn't want to come back Monday because Tiger is going off to get engaged At the time to ill and Nordiger and at some swank resort and they're like sorry Tiger's not available tomorrow He's got a deposit on a room at this resort That was literally the reason they didn't come back. It's like okay fine. You can tie this time It's a weak team on paper I'm also Fine with that because it's not like these guys are not world-class players They're probably gonna lose their minus four the USA is minus four hundred favorites. That's heavy four to one favorites to win this thing

30:13Um, but let's just see it's not like these guys suck see who Kim Hadekimatsuyama Ryan Fox your open winner Tom Kim Minwulee Adam Scott blesses heart 46 years old sungjay Nico etchivaria Cory Conner's nictaler Christian bazaid and whoot row Heissatee Hushatani Rio hits his hot tune tune now Hit tonight. Yeah Naila your thoughts boys on the international's They are not good. I thought bazaidin who it was on the europe team I didn't know he was on he switched Oh, he's switched over to international he's German or South African. I should know hey well to your point save They are all good enough where they could be hot for a weekend and they could play very well You know seawoo has been really I mean all of I could go one through one or one by one You're right. They are all good enough to get hot

31:13It's just the likelihood that 12 of them all get hot at the same time. Not so good. Their top six are very legit And they also are coming into the tournament But I don't think any of them are in the top 10 in the world and we've got like six or seven of them You know that's and and if you said two years ago Okay, you're gonna head into the international into the president's cup and you're your top two guys You mean seawoo Kim and and Ryan Fox There's no chance you'd be worried about that So I mean seawoo's had a great year. Ryan Fox had a great tournament. I guess he had a good enough year outside of that But I agree. I don't see how those guys can come together To even make it close No, this doesn't look good Done I all but to say it's point. It's all right Yeah, it's okay. It's gonna be entertaining Listen, it is what it is You know people we're now in a culture goal where people want everything to be amazing

32:13And the best all the time And every episode. Yeah, correct everyone we social media has conditioned us To only want to showcase our highlights in life Not What is real about life which includes a lot of boring stuff Down times and barricading times So people now want that in their sports entertainment There are ebbs and flows the European team in the president's cup used to have Some really big names That were seemingly on paper much Nick Price Well, yeah Nick Price and Ernie L's the South Africans the Aussies Adam Scott Um, you know, Greg Norman. Greg Norman ever played or maybe he played just what he did early on yeah It's like Apple B and Alan Apple B and Alan B and Alan E and OO Oostase and you know Did Jason day in his prime by the way day was one of the prime it was out of line a notable

33:15Leavoffs by the internationals the snubs. Yeah, but we're you know, so we're in a cycle Of an event that is still young It's uh 30 years now or 32 years who is 94 the first one I believe So 2026 do the math on that 32 years Um, we're it's a young event There are cycles The game is evolving we don't seem to have the kind of influx of Aussies and South Africans we once had we're having more Koreans and Koreans from America and Australia in the mix That's fine. Let's see how it goes. I'm gonna watch That's my main point on that I like it. I think in five I think in five years you're gonna see almost an entirely Asian international team Because the men's game the Asian yeah that make the Asian men's take game is finally catching up towards should be I mean, it's it to the catching up to the Asian women. It's what you say. Yeah to the to yeah, so

34:21Yeah, it's good to see action. I have a question for you buddy because you have traveled over there to the far east and you have You you know the culture is a bit Why hasn't Japan Produced pound for pound the numbers not one or two but the numbers of Korean men's players I'd you know, I don't know the answer that I know the Koreans are In fact, I think that they need to be champions and when not that the the Japanese guys having I mean they've had Um Ayoki right back in the day Jumbo Zaki and but they've had some some world-class guys, but it was And then obviously Matayama now, but Um, it just seems like the Koreans are more you know Dedicated to a cutthroat to it. Hey, but about the game you probably know the answer this question But I I think I heard and then obviously it's not fat, you know straight from a book or I think is I don't remember where it was

35:24That Japan really doesn't have the number of golf courses perhaps per capita that that Korea does and if they do It's very we had to be very wealthy to belong I thought there was something to do with access That created this issue that's That accurate Korea's tough. I don't know that I would guess Korea is actually tougher Okay, is there a military service required military service for either Korea or Japan? Korea. Yeah, Japan I really have a military because of you know, I mean Yeah, forgot about that Korea they have guys who are members of driving ranges that never see a golf course they hit balls. So I know that it's very scarce there. Who was the They Korea had a guy that was like world top 20 who had to go um Do military service? How to go into his mill who was that like five years ago? Really good player and now he can't get back he's trying to get come back Okay, I think it was one of the Kim's

36:25Not not the local not the Kim's that are on there now, right? I'm not trying to make a joke Last name was Kim. It's like Jones and in some of the States the Kim's Sun Jm You know, Sun Jm only Diverted it by When it coming in the winning the Olympics. Yeah, they went up three in the Olympics. Yeah. Yeah Here's what's interesting. It was looked this up population size What do you think? South Korea has roughly 51 million people. What do you think Japan's population is Half How many how many how many million for South Korea South Korea only 51 million Japan. Yeah, so Japan is 19 million. Okay, uh body No, I have no idea. I was born there and I have no idea you have to guess I'm gonna guess 69 I'm gonna guess more okay Body you're the winner, but we're all very embarrassed. I would have been way off on this

37:29Japan has a population of 123 million wow and they're all in two more than double landmass Japan is 3.8 times larger than South Korea by landmass now It's probably more rugged mountainous maybe less areas to develop golf courses I don't know how that in fact But that kind of blows me away anyway. Uh here's the thing about and I I feel you Ronus about you know the international team becoming more and more Asian over the coming years. There's one factor you gotta keep an eye on The birth rate in Korea is a crisis Their fertility rate is 0.8 The replacement level of fertility is 2.1 So once you dip below that you're now on a generational slide Towards deep population and there's been a lot of talk about that in South Korea

38:30Japan's a little bit better at 1.2 But they are also Below the replacement level so Enough of the demographics. Um, I'm looking forward to the president's cup I wish I was going to be there the weather usually in late September in the Chicago area is absolutely minty But dying is a great place. It'll be on TV. I like the format where they play just about everybody. They've got five Four ball mat. They got five matches So only two guys sit out In the first couple of days they had a period. I looked this up where Everybody played The first two rounds Yes, because they only did one round a day so they had all day. Yeah. Yeah, because we're losing daylight So I like the fact that more guys play and yeah, we're in the middle of football season middle of NFL Sunday for singles But I always reserve one of my three screens for The president's cup, but I'm looking forward to it made the best team win

39:30I do hate the international's logo though whoever designed that should be shot And and because Adam Scott's on the team you can count on a all khaki uniform one of the days right different shades of tan Exactly. And by the way sang moon bay was the name. Yeah, I just looked it up and it also Sun jm and sebu kim because they came in the Asian games. They won medals They were reduced to a couple weeks of military service. I think was this summer All right, I mean this winter and also they had soon you'll know which was a great name Do you know him yet? No, but soon You'll know Just so you know what I'm talking about Look at this logo here that they rolled out for the international's a couple cycles ago It looks like Gary players black night. Yes, I agree But it's like what is it has no three dimensionality to it? It doesn't seem to instantly pop to your eye like okay, what does it mean?

40:30I could not hate it even more than I do But there you go good as he Jeff Ogle be still around I like that guy. Yeah nice He's beginning to course architecture now of course development. Yeah. Oh, yeah, he did the renovation of Medina Right. Oh one more thing about sneaker This guy This guy shaved his head buddy by choice you and I as proud bald Americans We do it because we're just not going to cling to what's not there anymore Sneaker said he he started shaving his head because he liked the feel of it It's crazy. He didn't need to I just did he has lost that he had big I remember when he did like locks Yeah, was asked Hey, what's going on here? Are you battling something? Is there something going on? He's like no I just like the look of it here and his right there New clear call that's crazy rants need a career shaved his head in the sporting a bald look says basically just like

41:31Can swim faster he's got to have some sort of bald. He's got to be bald. Yeah, I he had Just shave your head for no I imagine I can't shave my you would know reason you with the best head of hair I've ever seen runes you would never I'm not you. I'm not the only thing I got all right Let's pivot to the story that just emerged in the last 24 hours tiger woods pleading guilty to reckless driving in florida Which was able to help him avoid a more serious charge of another driving while in toxicated or under the influence Of medications He was also hit with a refusal to submit to a legally appropriate Blood test about what happened on that roll over crash that happened just before the masters down in florida as a Consequence he will avoid jail time, but he will lose his driver's license for five years Is this if it was you that couldn't drive for five years?

42:31How would you feel about it? Well, a tiger had not driven for the last five years his life would be a lot better order right now um and and and if we have the financial Wherewithal that tiger has that makes it a lot easier too. So I Now the big thing is I guess the controversy is can you drive a golf cart on the golf course? That's been talked about where the courts the the DA's office was asked does this apply to golf courts and the initial answer was Well, we don't know we have to look into that Then uh, former governor ronda santis said or is he still the governor down there ronda santis still now? Yeah, he said Tiger should be able to drive a golf court on the golf course now in florida as you guys know There are street legal golf carts all over correct Can't drive that go to the villages belts right they have seat belts and lights and learn signals and everything else He can't drive he there's no way he should be able to drive it out That's also a great you you have to have a license to drive a golf cart on most rules of a golf club

43:36So therefore they theoretically could say I'm sorry you have no license so you can't you gotta walk Now the second half yeah, of course, they've your specific question was how would that affect us? Yeah, of course without You know the wherewithal is as buddy was saying to have a driver where he I mean that would That would just be very rough for the for the four of us right you couldn't get around couldn't probably play golf unless someone came and picked you up every time But to to buddy's point it is a great move for tiger I he's very fortunate he avoids jail time he avoids any further You know criminal charges and they force him to hire a driver Hopefully he gets used to it over the next five years and then when he's got a license back says I don't want it I've got to have this guy take me around hopefully There's a bit of a lifestyle change in this too because now he has someone that has to drive them to all these places And hopefully he doesn't make some of maybe the possible poor decisions that he was making by driving him driving himself to You know he was driving himself to pick up

44:40Pills and all the other stuff and you know, I don't want to blaspheme anyone But you know he was doing stuff like that as well as Things in his past would would lead us to believe that there are other places that we'd drive into where a driver would have known that information Whether they said it or not or now he has to be held accountable. I think it's very tough I think it's appropriate. I think he's lucky. He's got good lawyers and he's lucky He refused that blood draw because it would have shown all kinds of stuff in his system Um, and jail is worse than losing your license But I wouldn't minimize the losing your license and not being able to drive for five years Because you know people say oh he's so rich you just have a driver sitting there at his back and call It's still another point of friction of freedom and it is it's just a pain in the ass Hey, I need to go. Okay, hold on. I gotta go get my sunglasses. Okay Yeah, just give me a second. I gotta go pee like it's just another little thing This is the best post I saw about it from Len Hockberg

45:41On Twitter roto wire senior golf writer he says Not being able to drive for five years even if you have the means to have 24-7 drivers the rest of your life is a severe penalty That he surely did not want to agree to especially if you love to drive which it appears Tiger Woods does it limits ones independence It's humiliating it's embarrassing it brings shame and it's hard and embarrassing on his kids That last one is a tough one for any parent would deserve to be convicted and penalized is not what we would have gotten But it's not a slap on the wrist either. It's not nothing I agree entirely I agree with that too now. I do have a A conspiracy theory of one of the reasons that he did not submit to a blood test Was because I believe there are other substances in that blood that would have come out P.e.d.s Subtracts yeah, yeah, and then there would have been the question were you using them when you were playing when they weren't legal

46:45You know now I don't think it's a big deal. I don't know if it's a big deal. I don't even know if they test for them anymore But it would have been something that they whether they were supposed to test for them or not they would have Made it would have come out who amongst us Hasn't pulled into a Arbis at some hour of the day maybe after a round of golf loaded up on some delicious pressed shaved beef sandwiches and maybe a dessert and Curly fries in curly fries and then pulled the car around the corner to a parking spot in the shade And just sat there and eat in some Arbis That's the kind of freedom you do that with a driver now. It's like Hey, I need to go to Arbis. Okay. Which one do you want to go to? Okay, then you go and then you got to ask the driver. Well, do you want anything? You know if you want something to order it and then he's gonna take the bag give it to you either Anaconda beat or hand it back to you Yeah, but it's still a lot more freedom than being in jail and asking somebody

47:45But I'm telling you it's the independence of the solitude. I'll never forget one of the weirdest things ever was After Tigers tournament at congressional one year the couple was at two years. It was there briefly at congressional No, it was a little bit longer than that. Was it okay? Yeah, and it skipped then it skipped it was a five-year six-year window Okay, yeah, the first year it was there I distinctly remember Leaving the tournament getting on to River Road Pulling up to the first stoplight looking over at the courtesy car the courtesy is it was not a Buick Was something else who was a nicer might have been a BMW whatever And I see Tiger Woods behind the wheel. I'm like oh I then followed him responsibly and Non-threateningly, but I followed him across the American Legion bridge Around the beltway just Flummoxed. I can't believe I'm driving behind the world's number one golf. It was just him. It was nobody else So where'd he go?

48:46Yeah, and I'm going to dollars Perkins. Well, I didn't keep following my I think it all You didn't keep following that's the that would have been the best part of the story you you follow him to see where he pulls in Is he going to the hotels you go into the air? I'm always amazed when I do see a celebrity driving their own car Yeah, it does it's just like it's kind of weird. I think it makes no sense really for them to drive So I mean I say by I agree with you there, but in the end it's partial Restriction of your freedom. Yes, but it's better than total restriction of your freedom So you just got to deal. Yeah, it's the best I'm good. I'm not gonna be earned This little But that he's got to deal with so when I was I think he's lucky when I was recapping his crashes I was like, okay, well, there's this flip over he had here where he was on the phone claiming to talk to Trump Yeah, the one where he was sideways tire all jacked up on his way to this stupid restaurant in Florida

49:48There's the one on Thanksgiving. I'm like this guy's a bad driver forgot about the one that nearly killed him There's actually a kid one there nearly killed. Yeah, I mean he's he's when they busted up his leg Yeah, I mean he's mr. McGuil while we saw him We saw him the day before Pock in the gym nants and he looked loaded and not Yes, yeah, good place. He uh, but those videos of the one at night Who yeah the walk in the line that one he was the white Mercedes and whatever. Yeah, he was banged up All right, let me end with you guys tonight on a really difficult etiquette conundrum I ran into In the game of golf and I'm not sure if this has happened to you before and I want to be At play Augusta. Yeah, that's that's the answer play Augusta. Okay I had a chance to play one of the elite courses in the DMV We won't say what it is because you know, it's kind of club that doesn't like people talking about playing there played this club with one of my best friends ever won't name him either

50:52Okay, but he and I go way back. He's been so good to me inviting me out to this very nice club, okay And we were there to You know, just because we had not played in a long time, but also I had somebody in his family pass recently and it was it was a time for us to come together or remember The times that we played with this family member of his so it was all Good karma. I say that as preamble And I'm being transparent about this because I don't want to try to be sneaky where it's like it leaks out and gets back to him Because I'm not mad at him at all. I just don't quite know how to process what happened here At these nice clubs you of course usually have caddies and the caddies are usually quite good And I was told by my buddy that oh, we got so and so he's really good I noticed along the way he was one of these caddies that Eh kind of doesn't have a use for head covers

51:52driver or putter I had cover guy I'm not going to be ashamed to admit it. I like to keep my Toys and as good a pristine condition as possible especially the driver and the putter On the back nine I noticed the putter was riding naked in the bag for a couple holes And I asked him planking around. Yeah, I said to him. I go hey, do you do you have that putter cover? Any kind of said yeah, yeah, no, I got it. I got it. You know kind of I want to say you blew me off, but it was like don't worry. I got I asked him my pouch. Yeah, it might have been his pouch whatever turns out. It was actually in the cart that the other caddy was using Well sure enough once I got done with the round and here is my beautiful spider putter the Tailor-age spider with version is this buddy right there. This is the one of the newer version small head

52:54Okay, yes, I'm a Turex small head. Okay. Yep. Uh with the uh what they call this the slant neck believe That's what neck will line on top or no line. Where are we looking at it? Got it from golf got it Yes, it's a line on top. I got it from golf to wherever one should go shop. All right. I have my 75 pound which translates into almost a hundred dollars genuine leather royal Dornock putter cover. I love this putter cover so much and when my putter is not in my hands It goes like this Yeah, what do you think I noticed the next time big ding in the shaft or on the top of the putter? Uh Yeah, I'm with you Thousand percent and the problem is that wolf off and you can't fix it the problem is they the driver and the putter are the two clubs You care about the most right and those are the two that they're not doing it with I drive because you use it every hole

53:59And he doesn't want to take it off and on 18 times correct so that's lazy And he was telling you because he knew you were worried about losing that For in his head you were worried about losing the head cover not about protecting the the putter Hey, I got it. I got it. I got it But I'm I'm with you 1000 percent it bothers me too and That's a tough one, but I mean it should be covering that well yeah, and so it's like okay Uh, by the way, I did not even have to go out of pocket for the caddy which I have before caddy fees Ronus you're aware of where caddy fees are going at the high-end elite clubs It's not a hot box even of a guy's double ag It's what I think it's more than right it's something a lot more like 175 plus tip or something like that Yeah, they're pretty right and so I would have been even more cheese If I had to pay $200 for a caddy who was like too lazy to put my cut putter cover on and now there's a ding that I see I see it every

55:03time I line up putt but somebody paid that right Jade? Yeah, I believe that was my host and I So it's again the guy still got pain To do you got paid to done premium dollars and didn't do a great job now I look at it is I didn't pay for the round of golf and I didn't pay for the caddy I'm still way ahead in life And so I'm trying to be philosophical about this but and I don't want to be a baby either okay You know we're talking you know coming together with a family member passing that's way more important than my stupid fucking putter I get it get it. I get it. I get it but I Can't I can't keep putting with this It's it's gonna go to golf dumb and you're gonna give me a fair price Someone is gonna happily buy another another trade in buddy some of No, and say say But again, I know this father's a more than most because the aesthetics of it are part of it and I get And aesthetics guy 1000%

56:04By the way, Ronus has not moved like his screen is frozen But he's either you're just soaking this all in waiting to pounce like a leopard When your first opportunity comes along which I'm gonna let you come along in a second. So You know here's a deal um I'm going to replace it. It's going to cost me money several hundred dollars I'm gonna accept it in life as just one of those expenses I'm not complaining. I swear to god. I'm just saying this is a dicey situation And I want some tips on how you would deal with it In the future because I hope to this will happen again. I'll be somewhere where there's a caddy Either at a nice club or maybe at a upscale public place whistling straights or something like this How do you mitigate against this Ronus jump in there? Well, I mean, you know You're dealing with caddy's Abe. There's a reason they're a caddy You know, I hate to say it, but there's a reason there was you know, you know, you know, you know There's not it's not a CEO that's carrying your bag

57:05So some of them are really good and wouldn't not saying they're not good and they're good people and everything But you're dealing with a caddy who when you said Do you have my head cover? He thought that you lost he lost his head cover and no, no, no It's in the bag. I took it off What we have to do like everything else in life when we deal with people that you know, I deal with high school kids You know, that's that's what I deal with all day long. I don't have a bunch of you know Eight-year degree guys working for me. They're high school kids. You set the parameters early You set the parameters often and you tell them exactly what you want You see that head cover comes off once and you hear that clanking you turn right to them and you say I don't care where it is Okay, what golf course it is you say hey Do me favor could you keep the head covers on there? I just I'm very particular about the way my clubs are and I need the head cover Put on there and if he doesn't do that then you say I'll tell you what I'll take my bag That's the way it is what other choice do you have? I don't know about the second part there

58:07But he I a hundred percent agree that you know you had the opportunity You didn't want to take it too far you were a guest I get it But I would have said when he said yeah, I got it said well then put it on I wanted on yeah I mean even the first part Ronis which I agree that's a solid plan to say hey I want to see that putter cover on there it for those of us that don't want to rock the boat I know people are going to say use Abe Exactly, let's get worried about believe it or not there are situations where I don't want to rock the boat Um, it affects now your internal vibe That that's what rocks a boat's name when we when I invite you to my club to play And I'm taking care of the fees and I'm taking care of the the caddies and everything The only reason I invited you there is because I like you and I want you to have a good time So if your internal mechanism goes haywire because a head cover isn't on the putter Then you're gonna ruin that part of that for me of you having the good time

59:10So I need you to do whatever it takes for you to have a good time I know if they have point is me asking the guy can you please put it on there? It's there's nothing wrong with that Absolutely nothing wrong. I know there's nothing wrong with that. I'm saying it upsets my internal vibe And I will not play as well Because if you had asked him to put it on yes, yes, because I don't want to you got to get over that well I don't want to be perceived as a Todd And a guy like yeah, you better put this on like I want to be regularly and I think here's what complicated things My my good friend who has done so well in life on every front with his family his kids His work life He is so humble his clubs are old blades and his putter is got battle scars on it so His caddy that he knew like the way he rolls is shit just make sure you don't snap the shaft that's fine I'm different. I want it

1:00:11pristine. I like it pristine. I'm just the way I it is. So here's the way I think I've settled on how I'm gonna handle it going forward and that is Right before we launch off on the first tee when things are still good. There's no friction for you know, there's no tension for anything that might happen right a bad yardage or whatever Just say to your guy your caddy. Hey look I'm gonna make your job easier When you hand me my driver or my putter leave the leave the head cover on I'll take it off and I'll put it back on because that's easy to do. It's easy to just say here Give me the putter with the cover on every time I'll take it off flip it on the green when I'm done I'll slip it back on we got plenty of time as I'm waiting for other people to put Same thing when people are there driving makes the caddy's job easier and from the outset it establishes Hey, I'll be in charge of making sure the putter and driver cutter cover is on how's that for a solution? In the good caddy and the good caddy's not gonna let you do it and say and get it that like I will keep your driver covered

1:01:14I'll keep your putter covered because they don't want you Taking that off setting it down and makes them look bad at that point You say oh really you think the good caddy will say no no no I got it Yeah, I think they I think they would take but if you ask at the beginning They'll make sure it gets done. That's some yeah, well say look I'm real but you pull them to the side You don't have to say it in front of anyone else. Hey, hey, but I'm real particular about the way my clubs looking stuff And it'll drive me crazy if you don't have the head covers on after and before every shot So just do me favor and do that today. So I don't go insane and then he'll laugh Yeah, and then we'll be done or use the example that it got dinged up last time And I just would prefer to avoid it. I would not be surprised if our round next Wednesday We're gonna have a four caddy they usually grab the four putters and carry them In their hand while they're running ahead Yeah, they're gonna take the head covers off and those four putters are gonna beat each other up Yeah, so you're gonna have a good opportunity to practice. Well, leave them on yeah, no, they're not Mine's gonna have a cover on it you guys can ride dirty for a lot and see and I don't care my new

1:02:18Mine could be crushed and it doesn't matter to me. I just it doesn't matter to me. So it's not a thing right But I'm also the kind of guy. I don't like pickles on my hamburger McDonald's. Do you think I tell him? I tell him I never tell him why I pick him off when I get him oh my god That's insane. I know it. I am the king of Making sure pickles never come near my plate in fact I go to a restaurant where I know there's a dish that likely has a pickle on it Which leaves the disgusting pickle juice when the spear is sitting there next to your cheeseburger I will tell the waitress. I'll say no pickles and I don't mean no pickles on it I mean, I don't want one within a county mile of this cheeseburger you hear and I'm with you But I take them off because I don't want the confrontation of saying I will know pickles on my McDonald's hamburger Welcome to make you want to wait you don't they're gonna spit in your food when they're because you're we wait for the extra That's and it's that's not the same kind of thing

1:03:18But you have to set the exp unless you're gonna set the expectations You can't Complain about the ramifications. Yeah exactly you either you either speak up in the beginning or you just deal with it Yeah, always the can't complain about always a slow and from Burton. That's getting hold the pickles hold the lettuce special Don't upset us. I guess what is Ronis making a special order of McDonald's does upset him not the franchise But Ronis that you know what that's the same in that in that analogy you're right It sets me just like it may have set you that you had to tell him that but both of us should be setting the expectations early There's nothing wrong with what you want to do that's you're talking about expensive stuff I'm all for the the caddies banging up putters and people coming back and buying new putters That's right. That's part of the business plan. That's right Body's gonna find the caddies name send them a thank you card It's uh, it's all silly stuff. I

1:04:20Absolutely I'm thankful I'm alive on this earth living in this country and and invited to places this nice I want that to be loud and clear It's just one of these things that there's certain little Things about the stuff you own that you're particular about that's all you're not out of line Nobody wants that to happen to their clubs when they are some people don't Don't be enjoying it some people don't care some people have putter. Well, they don't care but battle-scored gamers But but you know what those nice clubs they they want you to have a great experience and that's not out of line to ask for that and they would rather know in most cases then Know that you're upset quietly without knowing for sure. Yeah, look we're way over I know that but you're playing it a course with no caddies It's it's loud and okay, you're playing your home course save and you bring a guest out there and he hits the first Wedge shot and he leaves the divot What do we do? What do we do? You got to tell him right then but for the rest of the day we got to replace these divots Just you know

1:05:20Whatever you want to say it's small golf course. We can't afford to do this kind of stuff. It's not like it's right You know We have to set the expectations because that one that one to me a ball marker a divot Smoke starts coming out of top of my head. I think the problem was all my iron covers were starting to get tangled up And I forgot to tell you that detail of my yeah My my tubes in my bag and And the beads hanging from the side of the bag. I mean his counter they all start to add up All right boys anything else you want to add. I thank you for your time on this Wednesday night. Anything else cooking I'm good good. No, we're kind of done with with golf or low-wow right to our golf. I mean we got Pres cup coming up Well three weeks all right And then silly season right? Silly season anymore the fall series whatever they call him yeah listen There's a lot of pent up topics and or generic stuff that I've been looking to get into on this show

1:06:26We just having that time because of the tempo of the PGA tour schedule. So we'll have fun Yeah, we'll get Michael on here too. He'll talk in he's gonna be playing in Utah and Japan I'm not out. So um, you know, we'll do some interesting things and let's face it We all know that this is the best time to play golf as soon as this weather's turns and the erration heel It's a great time to to play golf and to get ready for your Santa equipment. There you go It'll be coming good and brownis that's why I brought it off because it is the best time to play So let's get out there and play we're gonna play next week you run this we're gonna see you over there I'm gonna I'm gonna make it yeah, I'm gonna make it all right boys Another edition of the capital golf gang presented by golf to men worldwide golf make sure to get in golf to Mentaisons corner rockville and anapolis for all your golfing needs in the DMV and all of the affiliated worldwide golf stores Around the country as well as on the interwebs buddy safe travels back from the west coast Boys will see you next Wednesday at avinel thanks for listening everybody. We will see you next time

1:07:26This has been the capital golf gang if you'd like the gang to visit your home course send your inquiries to Zabe at yahoo dot com that CZ a be at yahoo dot com and for free swag We're all in extra large So yeah thanks for the shirts The 2026 golf season is here at golfdom and worldwide golf winter is a distant memory the grasses green and the trees are full Are you ready for your best summer of golf ever? Better yet as your equipment ready Maybe you've been putting off a new set of irons for a few seasons Well the new blades that are out from the leading manufacturers are some of the best ball striking implements On earth Get into one of the fitting studios at golfdom and see for yourself the numbers don't lie And golfdom's expert fitters will work with getting your swing and your game matched up for optimal performance

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