Talk Birdie To Me

Big show today, and a massive story out of a LIV insider that we reveal for the first time. We'll get to that in about 15 minutes or so.01:00 Mark is 'heartbroken' over the US Amateur Championship from the weekend at Merion. He explains why.02:00 Nick and Mark discuss the player in that tournament whose putting technique breaks all the rules.04:00 Why Merion was rivetting.05:00 We discuss the Australian amateur tournament, from back in its hey day when it was huge.09:00 If the US Amateur can plot their courses for the next ten years, why can't we, Mark speculates about the kind of courses it would be great at. Mark says that what the US has done is a plus for golf, thanks to Hostplus.14:00 Nick talks about how good the Master of the Amateurs at Southern Golf Club15:00 Massive LIV rumour from someone in the know. To do with this weekends tournament in Indianapolis. This is news that even the LIV players have not been informed of yet.17:00 Have LIV players been paid following Bedminster?19:00 Is the investment that has been talked about with LIV from an investor, or from someone providing a loan. Two quite different scenarios.20:30 The two biggest LIV names are obviously Rahm and Bryson. Nick and Mark discuss where Rahm, should he leave, might end up. 25:00 Nick and Mark call it, saying Rahm will play the DPWT next year, and that will be the end of LIV.27:00 Scottie Schefflers performance at the weekend. Nick wants to get Jonathan Yarwood on to discuss Schefflers' swing.31:00 Our BMW Touch of Class goes to Whitney Hillier for her words about Jessica Bang who passed away suddenly last week.After the turn33:00 The Top 5 things that Golf Australia has gotten wrong over the years, according to Mark. Which ones does Nick agree with?41:00 Nick runs through the Global Results highlights46:00 Feedback starting with a possible serious copyright infringement from Kmart. We consider calling Denis Denuto to advise.47:30 Rakepod update following a scathing critique of the rakes at a club particularly close to Mark's heart. Awkward.48:30 Does AI have a role in golf coaching? And can it work?51:00 Slow play and officials. Nick and Mark name a couple of the slowest players that they played with. Mark reiterates his view that officials should targeting slow players.54:00 We discuss a slow play hypothetical sent in by a wolfpacker in NZ.55:00 A couple of messages regarding the recent passing of Nick McCormack.57:00 And a great masterclass from Nick on the 'fairway finder'.A massive show today, we had fun, hope you enjoy it as well !

Well this is a bit exciting. Earlier this year Cameron Smith joined with Claude Harmon III to turn his performances around, and since doing so there have been some significant changes. Today, for Hostplus, we speak with Claude about his career, some of the great players he has worked with and been around his famous Dad working with, and how the relationship with Cam came about and what they're working on.01:00 Nick and Mark give a background to how Cam got to the point of deciding to look at a new coach.02:00 We welcome Claude and get his background, surprisingly he was never a golfer, however with his family pedigree he feels that he has been on tour since he was 2-weeks old!03:00 His approach to golf coaching given he was not a player.04:00 Claude talks about whether golf is a simple game (or not?)06:00 He chats about his family history and some of the huge golfing names that the family has worked with, and he has been around08:00 Claude tells us why his Dad was 'brutal' about Claude's early coaching sessions09:00 How he video'd his Dad working with Tiger and what he learned from it.10:00 Nick talks about what he witnessed when he saw Butch Harmon, Claude's Dad, working with players11:30 How Claude disconnects from golf and how he uses that in his coaching12:30 Claude explains his 'domino' theory.13.30 Does golf coaching have something in common with the TV Show The Bear....you'd be surprised. Claude explains.15:00 Why he focuses on 'quality of strike', the contact, and why he feels it is the main ingredient. Mark asks if that applies to all golfers Claude has worked with?18:30 Claude says that golf coaching is similar to training a dog.20:00 On working with Ernie Els, how it came about and what he said to Ernie when first asked for a critique of his swing22:00 The one thing for all golfers to focus on for the rest of the year.After the Turn:27:00 He explains how it came about that Cam asked him for some swing thoughts.29:00 Claude credits Cam's prior coach Grant Field with getting Cam to such a high level.speaking of cams old coach grant fields30:00 Mark shows some stills of Cams' swing and what he is seeing.31:00 Claude talks about Cams' driving.31:00 He says that all great players have a superpower32:00 Adam Scotts' putting35:00 His Dad working with Tiger and what he learned from that37:00 The one thing that he and Cam have worked on since mid April, and the drills they've been doing.39:00 Cam has a short window to take advantage of40:00 On watching his Dad work with The Shark41:00 The surprising thing that he and Cam used as a training aid in the rain in Korea42:00 The drill that his Dad would do with Tiger, and Claude's role in it, that he now gets Cam to do. (Tiger hated it)43:30 The 3 phases of the golf swing, and the 1 phase that he believes everyone ignores46:00 What he and Cam did prior to the PGA47:00 Nick on Cams' swing development, swing positions, and why giving advice in different ways helps49:00 The moment Claude says was a huge one for Cam in their relationship51:00 Numbers vs Feel, and how Claude uses data.53:00 Cams' short game is ridiculously good56:00 Why the ceiling is really high for Cam58:00 What's next for Claude, where does he see himself in a few years?59:00 Claude bumped into Nick's old caddy Wilbur recently!A fantastic chat with Claude Harmon ||| for Hostplus, Claude certainly is a plus for golf, and we loved this conversation.If you've not had a listen to Claude's podcast Son of a Butch, it's a ripper, you can listen to it wherever you get your podcasts, Spotify and Apple links here:Listen to Son of a Butch on Spotify.Listen to Son of a Butch on Apple.

A Monday Mini today and today Nick and Mark are looking at a wolfpackers swing, he is having some issues and is keen for some input from the boys. So although the swings are on video and therefore visual, on the pod Nick and Mark talk through what they're seeing, and what some areas to look at are, so whilst it's visual, the audio version of the show is very easy to follow and get some takeaways from.Aaron from Perth is having issues with his swing, he's just finished up with his coach, who has left coaching, and hasn't found a new one yet. Nick and Mark analysis 4 swings of Aaron's and give their insights into what they like, and what can be worked on.And Mark talks about the importance of practising the way you play.A short Monday Mini, about 10-minutes today so a quick listen !

A big Friday Feedback pod today, lots of questions, comments and stories, and Nick 'names names' on a dodgy activity that some Tour Pros are doing.01:00 We start with a question about our upcoming Claude Harmon 3rd interview, and a suggestion for another guest.01:30 Mark is annoyed with an Australian Tour Pro - who is it and why?02:30 This is somewhat surprising, a message from wolfpacker Stash who does not believe Keegan Bradley's putting time is too slow and we are too harsh on him.05:00 David has a question on trenching, and Nick names two current Tour Pros who he believes 'trench'.06:00 Andrew from New Zealand has a comment, and a question, about Kiwi golfer Michael Campbell.07:00 Nick tells a story about getting towelled up by Cambo in WA08:00 And Mark recalls when he led the NZ Open, and was playing with Cambo until the course commentator said something over the loudspeakers that was very unhelpful.09:00 Last week we spoke about a new pace of play rule that they've put in place, Josh from Port has written in to clarify the interpretation of the rule.11:00 Mark muses over a different system for teeing off, different to the 7 minute / 8 minute intervals which he feels puts too much pressure on golfers.After the turn:12:00 We put our fourth Kangaroo Island winner in the draw to win a trip the play The Cliffs at Kangaroo Island with Mark and course architect Darius Oliver. If you're yet to enter, the link is here. 15:30 A question about on Shiho Kuwacki's putting technique, which is somewhat unusual.17:30 Mark talks about the Sharks putting.18:00 Comment from John about Tour Pro Scott Werne who we spoke about recently on the show. Mark tells a story about Scott and the lengths he went to afford to be on the tour.19:00 Billy has a comment about Nick's masterclass from last week on the 10-finger grip.A fun friday feedback pod, keep your comments and questions coming in, and have a ripper weekend....hit em well !

Welcome to this weeks Main Talk Birdie To Me, and as usual there are plenty of things to discuss in the world of golf.01:00 Mark raises Cam Davis' form, he really has fallen off a cliff, and Nick and Mark discuss what is happening with Cam.02:00 Lots of LIV news, and it really seems to change almost daily. What to make of it? Nick and Mark discuss the latest news on the LIV funding situation, and the criteria around said funding - specifically that it appears contingent on the key players re-signing with LIV.07:00 We touch on next weeks Claude Harmon 3rd chat, which we recorded this week and will publish next Tuesday....it's a ripper!09:00 The next LIV events10:30 Nick was in New Zealand last week and bumped into Elvis Smylie in Queenstown.11:30 The Fedex Cup, we discuss a few of the players who missed out, and do a deeper dive on Jason Day.15:00 This week our Hostplus 'Plus for Golf' goes to Brooks Koepka, for an unusual reason. Nick explains.17:00 Nick says Tiger was the master of never making excuses when he played poorly, and we discuss Jack's consistent position that he never 3-putted in a tournament, or something along those lines.20:00 Our BMW Touch of Class goes to a legendary figure in South Australian golf who we lost this last week - Nick McCormack OAM.After the turn:23:30 Nick's Top 5 for Betr is the Top 5 players that he'd like to see turn their form around.28:00 Feedback for Southern Golf Club, we have comments and questions on LIV and the player departures, OCM and Cypress Point, Marks comments about the Cypress bunkers, and some suggestions for Nick and Mark's bespoke designed golf course.38:00 Nick talks about he has never played golf in Tasmania, Mark shares some memories of playing there.40:00 Feedback on the Cathedral Invitational, there's been plenty of positives, and a couple of negatives - we deal with the negatives front on.43:00 Nick takes us through the global result highlights from the last week or so.47:30 There's been another 59! Mark rates it on his 'patent pending official Talk Birdie To Me 59 ranker'.49:00 We look at, and discuss, an hilarious premature 'anti-celebration'.51:00 And for the Golf Clearance Outlet, todays masterclass from Mark is on playing bunker shots out of thick, wet, sand.Big show, love your input in the comments, and if you're enjoying the show we'd love you to share the pod with a friend!

A Monday Mini today, with a question from wolfpacker David.01:00 First a reminder of our competition where you could win a trip for you and a friend to play The Cliffs at Kangaroo Island before it opens, playing 18 holes with Mark and course designer Darius Oliver. A great prize. All flights, accommodation and meals included.02:00 We read David's question which is essentially about how to maximise distance relative to swing speed when playing a cut.03:00 We talk about Scottie Scheffler and how he does it.04:00 Mark explains how he advises golfers who struggle for length when hitting a fade, and what he sees in their swing. When someone can't get their sequencing right, Mark says what he advises them to do.06:00 Mark uses Viktor Hovland as an example and explains what he does07:00 Nick talks about giving lessons to a guy who wanted more distance but didn't have the time to practise any changes, and what Nick advised him to do09:30 Nick outlines the 'easiest way to lower your scores'10:00 Mark talks about how getting fitted can add distance to your drives and why. That's our Monday Mini, see you on Wednesday for the main show when Nick is back from New Zealand, hopefully presents in hand for Mark and Dan.