Apple Podcasts: NLU Podcast, Episode 815: Valero + ANWA Recap
Spotify: NLU Podcast, Episode 815: Valero + ANWA Recap
What went down: We’re live from AUGUSTA!!!! Sorta. KVV, TC and Soly and maybe myself chime in on a big past week in golf!
Akshay Bhatia wins the Valero in a playoff over Denny McCarthy
(4:00) Lee Harvey Oswald–I mean, Denny McCarthy was on a tear (a back nine 28!) until Akshay Bhatia forced a playoff after coming into the final round with a lead. Apparently tore his shoulder in the middle of…then he got to take a timeout in a playoff? KVV makes a good tennis comp where Akshay could have stalled it. Kind of a diabolical move.
But uh – Akshay and LHO were 9 shots clear of a decent field.
Data boy roundup: Akshay led the field in SG approach.
TC alleges we haven’t seen anything as courageous since Tom Kim at Hoylake – and uses it as a chance to shoehorn some Tom Kim slander into this conversation, saying Akshay will have more wins! How dare he pit young rising stars against one another!
Akshay always had a promising junior career – and years later, he’s finally pulling it together.
(Sorry guys – TC will not be able to fulfill his Waffle House obligation.)
We’re having the RORY conversation now. KVV is answering the “You up?” calls. Don’t fall for it!
(20:30) We saw a very ugly side from Spieth. In Spiethian fashion, he went batshit at Valero.
On 18, he tries to hit a big cut and went into the penalty area. The only swing he had was to hit on the roof of the clubhouse left – to get TIO!
Equipment malfunctions! Between Ludvig’s driver head breaking and Jimmy Walker putter snap was sick.
Nelly Korda defeats Leona Maguire to win the T-Mobile Match Play
(33:00) Does Nelly want to be the face of golf? KVV weighs in.
There were some big names that came up big this week at match play between Leona, Rose, Sei Young Kim, and Angel Yin. It setup really nicely and demanded some legitimate golf. Aiming for larger courses and stars playing like stars.
How do we platform women’s golf, especially at a time when it’s got more juice? Men’s golf has such an interest issue – but women’s basketball has become so conversationally driven and access-driven.
Carlota went from 67-85.
NELLY CAN PUTT NOW GUYS IT’S OK
(45:00) It’s been a while since I’ve been on a Sunday pod. It’s time for a meta moment!
I spent my past week at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, my favorite week of the year. Following Rose up last year was never gonna be an easy task, but Lottie Woad managed to assemble one of the coolest weeks in recent memory. She absolutely dominated the toughest day at Champions Retreat on Thursday and slept on a final-round lead for 36 hours. Though Bailey Shoemaker put together the round of her life at Augusta National and shot a 66, Lottie Woad hit the ball unbelievably well and clutched out some enormous back-to-back birdies to win by a shot.
We talk about that epic final round, the state of the tournament, Anna Davis’ slow play controversy, coverage and how to pronounce ANWA.
(1:10:00) Gary Player is seen giving the DCP kids a weird pep talk. Soly and KVV go over their early ANGC observations and then restrain themselves from discussing more because we have a Masters preview pod coming out come on guys!!!!!
(1:16:00) They try to talk LIV Miami, but TC keeps deflecting. First, the guys weigh in on the Bones split. What’s behind it? TC is spreading conspiracies about JT being under a conservatorship.
Uh, let’s talk about the NY Post article. Maybe Tiger is on his Jake Paul sh*t? Also, how did he not NDA the heck out of that guy?
TC needs to answer for The Cleeks, despite his frequent accountability found on his Twitter page. But answer for Blandy, dawg.
Martin Kaymer hasn’t done anything all year
This might be the most h-word pod ever! Bringing up Greg Norman’s…y’know.
Please let us know if you think TC should ask these hard questions IRL, because we’re not sure if his Cleeks investment is a bit anymore. He’s the only media member holding them accountable!
Classic Bryson is back re: Looking for the guy who fractured the game of golf?
We NEED LIV pressers. Let’s keep platforming these delulu kooks!
Speaking of quotes, Anthony Kim’s time travel was revealed this week:
(1:38:00) Housekeeping items:
Congrats to the winners of the Chunks at the Chuck! Get involved in our events at events.nolayingup.com.
The guys played the Old Course in reverse and loved it…and more Scotland fun! Slated for a mid-summer release.
We got a Tourist Sauce premiere date – Wednesday, April 17th!!!!
Soly will be doing a Twitter Spaces with the Masters on Wednesday!
TC has been having some weird dreams about golf, between Tom Doak demanding an apology from TC and encountering Bryson at Tree Farm…
Best take: (33:00) I loved KVV’s insight on Nelly’s reluctance to be the face of the LPGA. In some ways, I can understand shyness, not wanting to overload yourself, etc. etc. But it’s hard to see someone talk the talk and not entirely walk the walk. Being perceived in any capacity is tough and scary! I struggle with it too. I respect her for wanting to go about her business and play good golf. But it would be nice to have a better understanding of who that person playing golf is.
Worst take: (45:00) Ok, this was in the middle of the ANWA segment and we were running pretty long on time so I’ll just say this – the coverage was great, it’s an awesome product, but down to push more in the name of widening the coverage window, which TC and Soly didn’t fully agree on so I’m just gonna slap them with worst take.
Mea culpas: (24:30) KVV apologizes for erroneously referring to Ian Baker-Finch as an Englishman.
Soly apologizes for claiming Tiger had not led a major since the scandal in the 2011 segment of the Masters Deep Dive pod.
Quotables:
(5:20) “Shots, fired, dead, Texas…you need to be careful.” -TC
(41:43) “Lack of blowers.”
“No one wants to work these days in this country, TC.” -KVV
(1:14:00) KVV Gary Player impression
(1:17:30) “Quote tweet me, b*tch!” -KVV
(1:28:00) “I’m sorry, you’re gonna question chess move number 7?” -Soly
Referenced works:
(1:16:00) ESPN Feature on Gary Woodland
Ads:
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(44:30) At AT&T, connecting changes everything. Afterall, connecting people is what AT&T does best and each connection leads to greater possibility. Connecting changes everything.