Apple Podcasts: NLU Podcast, Episode 807: Sunday Players Recap
Spotify: NLU Podcast, Episode 807: Sunday Players Recap
What went down: Soly recruits TC and D.J. to figure out how TF did Scottie Scheffler do THAT?!
Scottie Scheffler does the damn thing
Totally believable but unbelievable how Scottie not only became the first player to defend at the Players Championship — but did it on an injured B-game. Wyndham and Xander entered the day tied, but Scottie emerged for his Sunday and tore TPC Sawgrass up with his ball-striking fiesta. A Sunday 64 to spend some time as the clubhouse leader while everyone else fails to catch up crowns Scottie the champion.
(16:50) Soly does the Tiger-ish math: 36 out of 115 starts for Scottie? (Tiger, for reference, was 56)
It’s easy to feel like this is all hyperbolic: Setup, weakest Players field in years…but Scottie has elevated himself from killer to downright annihilator.
(25:00) We’re 25 minutes in and I can’t remember the last time we went down the leaderboard this late into the show! But the top between Schauffele, Wyndham, Harman and Sahith etc. was electrifying.
(35:00) TC says the putt not dropping on 18 was karma for the Blow Pig. (BTW, if you don’t understand why Wyndham is being referred to as the BP, try typing Wind Ham into your emoji bar.) It’s time to cancel Wyndham for his golf: 4-iron, pitching wedge into 18? He’s just offended by Wyndham’s entire golf game. Yes, his game is valid – but it’s hard to trust. And the mashing of the rough two weeks in a row. Also, if you like Wyndham, it’s fine. If you don’t like Wyndham, that’s fine too.
Wyndham is probably still cursing his putter as I write this.
(43:00) Xander is allergic to making the putts that he needs to. More so than Wyndham, but kind of in a similar vein here.
(47:45) Scottie and Wyndham both made history by finishing first and second in back-to-back weeks. Ted Scott says Scottie was in so much pain, he almost didn’t play the weekend?
(49:00) This was a highlight week for the PGA Tour – and it feels like it’s unique to the Tour, not LIV.
(51:00) Thanks to ianfrittsshow for the question: The guys offer their own personal ranking of the best players in the world.
(1:00:00) SERVPRO Mulligan Segment time!
- D.J. would like to lower the Rory banner after his Thursday 65. Nothing like Rory burning out early.
- TC’s using his on Austin Eckroat, who was penalized for loitering, and if Scottie won the Masters in hindsight, it would instead be the best thing for golf.
- Soly: The tournament was on another level this year – though the fifth major talk and LIV poaching dimmed his perception, it managed to survive all of that.
(1:11:50) How would a shotgun start go at The Players? There were some speedy finishes, but if we’re keeping a huge field, the beginning of the week should move a little faster. At least some things are still sacred.
(1:18:00) TC has shown up to defend his Cleeks from the scathing criticism of Peter Malnati. It’s okay, TGL also catches a stray.
(1:22:00) Cody brings us a flight tracking report for Yasir and Tiger Woods. Oooooh.
(1:26:00) Joel Dahmen joins to talk a bit about his game of recent, The Players, witnessing the Austin Eckroat penalty and his hair.
Best take: (16:50) I think in the post-Tiger era, it’s more important than ever to kind of celebrate what we’ve got. Tiger isn’t the standard; he’s the exception – but to see how everyone is measuring up to contextualize Scottie’s greatness is helpful. Scottie’s unreal, and I’m glad we’re amplifying that. Shoutout to Data Boy Soly for backing it up so well on these recent pods.
Worst take: (1:18:00) Since we played the Peter Malnati audio, I think worst take should go to him. I don’t think we should throw away the idea of team golf because it’s failing hard in one interpretation (LIV). Look at the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Walker Cup, college golf, etc. (and this is just men’s golf) – all compelling versions of team golf. It can be done!
Quotables:
(49:20) “Soly, I don’t have a d-rider hat, but I have d-rider chains.” -TC
53:00 “I’m not learning anything from LIV Hong Kong.” -TC
“The first thing I texted you after I watched Full Swing is ‘Dude, dope kitchen, love what you’re doing with the kitchen,’ which means in my late 30s, my priorities have changed in life.” -Soly
“Well, this event does have an asterisk on it because Talor Gooch isn’t here.” -Joel Dahmen
Featured guest(s):
(1:26:24) Welcoming Joel Dahmen!
Referenced works:
(47:45) Justin Ray on Scottie/Wyndham and Will Gray’s video on Ted Scott
Ads: (2:30) Bring the fiesta anywhere you go with the all-new High Noon Tequila Seltzer Fiesta Pack. This variety 8-pack features two new tequila flavors: Blood Orange and Prickly Pear, alongside two long standing favorites, Grapefruit and Lime. All are made with real tequila and real juice, perfect for any fiesta under the sun. Find the all new High Noon Tequila Seltzer Fiesta Pack nearest you at highnoonspirits.com.
(3:15) Brought to you by Titleist - the #1 Ball at The Players and the overwhelming #1 choice of the world’s best… Sentry. Sony. AmEx. Farmers. Pebble. Phoenix. Mexico. Cognizant. Bay Hill. Puerto Rico. And now we can add – The Players. 11 of the first 12 events played this season on the PGA TOUR have been won with a Titleist golf ball. In total, 101 players this week at TPC Sawgrass teed up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x model, more than five times the nearest competitor – including four of the top 5 finishers. Head over to Titleist.com to start the golf ball fitting process and find out which Pro V1 or Pro V1x model is best for your game.
Soly and Sahith paired up for a collab on the Titleist YouTube channel – check it out here!
(1:00:00) Thanks to SERVPRO for sponsoring our new segment, the Mulligan. SERVPRO is the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration. And they do construction too. SERVPRO has 50 years of experience helping people recover from disasters. They specialize in cleaning and restoration due to floods, storms, fires, mold and more. SERVPRO is here to help 24/7 – just call 1-800-SERVPRO.