Well this is very special. Dottie Pepper is a legend in the golfing world, a wonderful player with a stellar record, and a groundbreaking commentator and today for Hostplus, we're hosting Dottie on Talk Birdie To Me.
We start with Nick and Mark asking Dottie to tell us how she got into golf as a youngster, and her story about how it started, given her Dad's background as a Pro Baseball Player is fantastic. Her setup at home was pretty helpful!
Nick asks her about being the leading player on her high school team with one very important detail that makes it even more impressive. And Mark has always been interested to watch the leading amateurs in tournaments, and is keen to hear what that was like for Dottie as that amateur.
Dottie tells a great story about playing qualifying and making a significant error in the 9-holes she played....and why her sister contributed significantly to Dottie's 'breakthrough moment'.
Nick and Mark have said for some time that the Women should probably have only 4 majors, and they ask Dottie her view. She agrees - and names the tournament that she believes should be dropped as a Womens Major.
Mark observes that the womens game is so strong at the moment with the depths of fields fantastic, and asks Dottie if she agrees and if so why the womens' game is so strong these days. She highlights one particularly player who she feels is particularly impressive.
After the turn, we chat about her commentary. Dottie explains how she developed her commentary approach and skills, and shares the advice she received from Mike Tirico and Judy Rankin which helped her.
Recently Aaron Rai wowed the world with his performance to win the PGA Championship, particularly on the final day, and Mark asks Dottie where that ranks in terms of the greatest golf she has seen played. She tells us....but.....she also tells an amazing story that we were unaware of about Aaron Rai's Dad on the final day of that tournament!!!
Back to commentary. She was given some advice once about what never to do when commentating Tiger Woods....she shares that with us. Dottie also tells us a couple of great Tiger stories from her experiences with him, and she talks to us about what it was like being the first on course commentator at the 2020 Masters - quite the achievement!
And we wrap up a wonderful conversation with Dottie, for Hostplus, by finding out what her plans are for the next stage of life, whenever that may be. When the time comes to retire, what does she hope to do.
We are quite sure we speak for everyone when we say that we hope Dottie Pepper retiring is a long way off yet!!!