Talk Birdie To Me

Welcome to this weeks Main Talk Birdie To Me, and as usual there are plenty of things to discuss in the world of golf.

01:00Mark raises Cam Davis' form, he really has fallen off a cliff, and Nick and Mark discuss what is happening with Cam.
02:00Lots 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.
07:00We touch on next weeks Claude Harmon 3rd chat, which we recorded this week and will publish next Tuesday....it's a ripper!
09:00The next LIV events
10:30Nick was in New Zealand last week and bumped into Elvis Smylie in Queenstown.
11:30The Fedex Cup, we discuss a few of the players who missed out, and do a deeper dive on Jason Day.
15:00This week our Hostplus 'Plus for Golf' goes to Brooks Koepka, for an unusual reason. Nick explains.
17:00Nick 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.
20:00Our 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:

23:30Nick's Top 5 for Betr is the Top 5 players that he'd like to see turn their form around.
28:00Feedback 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.
38:00Nick talks about he has never played golf in Tasmania, Mark shares some memories of playing there.
40:00Feedback on the Cathedral Invitational, there's been plenty of positives, and a couple of negatives - we deal with the negatives front on.
43:00Nick takes us through the global result highlights from the last week or so.
47:30There's been another 59! Mark rates it on his 'patent pending official Talk Birdie To Me 59 ranker'.
49:00We look at, and discuss, an hilarious premature 'anti-celebration'.
51:00And 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!

We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:

Hostplus, Talk Birdie To Me's official retirement partner
BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;
Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;
FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;
Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;
Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;
The Find My Player app - follow every player on every tour;
And Southern Golf Club.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Monday Mini today, with a question from wolfpacker David.

01:00First 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.
02:00We read David's question which is essentially about how to maximise distance relative to swing speed when playing a cut.
03:00We talk about Scottie Scheffler and how he does it.
04:00Mark 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.
06:00Mark uses Viktor Hovland as an example and explains what he does
07:00Nick 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 do
09:30Nick 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.

We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:

Hostplus, Talk Birdie To Me's official retirement partner
BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;
Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;
FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;
Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;
Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;
The Find My Player app - follow every player on every tour;
And Southern Golf Club.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday Feedback show today and Nick is still enjoying the show in Queenstown with the family, so we're all remote today, rather than being from Titleist and FootJoy HQ....back there next Wednesday. Onto the show...

01:00Question from Paul about Lucas Herberts putting, specifically his short putting. We discuss.
03:00Nick talks about something he has noticed with Lucas' putting style.
04:00Mark says Lucas' preparation is as professional as you will see from anyone.
05:00Nick names one of the players who prepared exceptionally when he was on tour, particularly regarding his short game. This player was a World #1 so it obviously worked.
07:00What is the most 'unsexy' thing about being a golfer? Nick reveals it.
08:00Oh dear....Mark has bought a new gadget. Not from Temu this time...
09:00This week Kevin Kisner made some comments about trenching, Nick didn't see them, Mark did, we chat about trenching and whether it qualifies for the 'watch list'

After the turn:

15:00We put our third entrant into the draw to win a trip to The Cliffs at Kangaroo Island to play the course with a friend, and Mark Allen and Course architect Darius Oliver. If you want to enter, there's about 4-weeks to go: enter here.
18:00A question from Mitch about Nicks reflective learning technique that he spoke about on a Monday Mini recently.
19:30Nick talks about, as part of reflective thinking, how he'd capture his thoughts and use them to improve his game...how he would use reflective thinking.
20:30There was one aspect of his game that Mark always did when he made a cut, and when he missed a cut he didn't do, he explains.
24:00And a fun question from Tim leads to Mark revealing his pickup technique form when he was young and single. Awkward.

Have a great weekend !!


We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:

Hostplus, Talk Birdie To Me's official retirement partner
BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;
Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;
FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;
Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;
Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;
The Find My Player app - follow every player on every tour;
And Southern Golf Club.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Slightly different episode today as Nick is in New Zealand on holidays for a week or so with the family, so it sounds a tad different to usual, but plenty to discuss as always!

01:00Nick is in Millbrook, near Queenstown in New Zealand and gives us a snapshot of what he's doing and how it looks (hint: it is beautiful!)
02:00Royal Lytham hosted the WOmens Open, and Shiho Kuwaiti had a stunning playoff win to claim the title. Nick talks about what he loves about Royal Lytham, what a course.
04:00On the Open, more specifically Mens and Womens majors, Nick feels they're too close together and explains why. Mark has a different view.
05:00Yesterday we confirmed in a bonus news pod that Rory McIlroy would be staying in Australia after the AO to play the Cathedal Invitational, Nick is likely to play the tournament as well....can he take Rory?
06:00Massive news on golf architects OCM - they have been appointed to redo one of the worlds greatest golf courses. Mark reveals the news that he has heard from a member at the actual club.
08:00We discuss Cypress Point. Mark calls it a 'sacred place', Nick says arguably the best parcel of land that a golf course is on anywhere in the world. They discuss their experiences playing the course, and what they'd love to see improved.
12:00Nick talks about playing Cypress with surfer Kelly Slater.
14:00Plenty of LIV news. We discuss their search for sponsorships, and Mark is doubtful that the eyeballs will be enough for the money they want given LIV 'only worked in 2 or 3 markets'.
20:00LIV's player payments are reportedly unpaid, which does not bode well
22:00Nick awards our BMW Touch of Class to Donald Trump for his 'humility' in 'winning' the Club Championship at Bedminster. If you missed his comments, Nick reads them out. And for clarity, we are being sarcastic over 1) him winning and 2) him showing any humility.
23.30Mark awards our Hostplus Plus for Golf to Nelly Korda for her gift to a young fan in the UK, a real plus for golf from a superstar.
25:00We discuss the winner of the Rocket Classic in Michigan, Michael rocket classic winner Michael Thorbjornsen, a very talented young pro who we love.
27:00Nick found some great stats this week - average numbers from PGA Tour Pros, they make for sobering reading for aspiring pros, and Mark points out a couple of stats that if you are aspiring, or know someone who is, to turn pro that you need to be all over.

After the turn:

34:00Our Top 5 for Betr, Mark lists the Top 5 golf course renovations at clubs he has seen, and why. He also defines great renovations in a slightly ususual way....
37:00Okay - during the Turn we saw some breaking news from our mates at Flushing It Golf about LIV, specifically that they have given a number of employees and contractors notice that their employment will end in September. We discuss this evolving story which will develop further over the coming days.
39:00Nick runs through the Global results highlights.
42:30Feedback for Southern Golf Club....phew okay....last weeks Top 5 swings got a mountain of feedback, and we run through some of the names you said should be there. One was mentioned above all others. Do Nick and Mark double down on their list or do they amend the 'indisputable' list, rendering the name completely ironic?
50:00 Few more bits of feedback on Lucas Glover's spikes video, Cam Smiths 9 birdies in a row, and we discuss if we can claim South Korea's Jenny Shin as an Aussie?
53.00And we wrap on a masterclass for the Golf Clearance Outlet from Nick live from Queenstown where he discusses Michael Thorbjornsen's 10-finger grip. Note: audio on the masterclass is a touch dodgy this week, it's listenable, but not as good as we'd like - apologies.

Big show today !!!

We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:

Hostplus, Talk Birdie To Me's official retirement partner
BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;
Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;
FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;
Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;
Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;
The Find My Player app - follow every player on every tour;
And Southern Golf Club.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There have been rumours for a week or so, but today Nick O'Hern and Mark Allen can confirm that Rory McIlroy has been confirmed to play the Cathedral Invitational in December following The Australian Open. It's big news and very exciting.

Nick explains to Mark how it came about and the role Adam Scott played in getting Rory to come on this bonus Talk Birdie To Me pod today.

We're live from Titleist and FootJoy HQ thanks to our great partners:

Hostplus, Talk Birdie To Me's official retirement partner
BMW, luxury and comfort for the 19th hole;
Titleist, the #1 ball in golf;
FootJoy, the #1 shoe and glove in golf;
Golf Clearance Outlet, they beat everyone's prices;
Betr, the fastest and easiest betting app in Australia;
The Find My Player app - follow every player on every tour;
And Southern Golf Club.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.