Victor Hovland Wins. Nelly Misses Her Three-Peat. Players React to the New PGA Tour.

Matt Fitzpatrick Might Be Built for Royal Birkdale

Matt Fitzpatrick Might Be Built for Royal Birkdale Go to https://kachava.com and use code WINGO for 15% off your first order. Golf Live continues its Open Championship preview with a closer look at Royal Birkdale, the history of champions there, and the players Trey Wingo and Justin Ray trust most this week. Royal Birkdale may not always get talked about like St. Andrews, Carnoustie or Muirfield, but the winner’s list says plenty. Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Mark O’Meara, Padraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth have all won Opens there. As Trey puts it, Birkdale produces real major champions. The History at Birkdale Trey and Justin go through the names that have won at Royal Birkdale and why the course has a habit of finding elite players. There is also the strange history. Mark O’Meara beat Brian Watts in a playoff in 1998. Ian Baker-Finch won there in 1991 before his game unraveled years later. And Jordan Spieth’s 2017 win became one of the most chaotic masterpieces of his career, complete with the wild miss, the long ruling and the “go get that” eagle putt. Birkdale does not always look like the most famous course in the Open rota, but it has created plenty of memorable Open moments. Experience Matters at the Open Justin brings one of the biggest stats of the segment: over the last 15 years, Open Championship winners have averaged their 38th career major start at the time of victory. That is higher than the Masters, PGA Championship and U.S. Open. The point is simple: experience matters at the Open. Playing links golf, handling the schedule, accepting bad breaks and staying patient all matter more this week than they might at other majors. That is why Trey keeps coming back to mental strength. At Birkdale, players are going to get bad bounces. They are going to end up in spots that feel unfair. The winner has to be able to absorb that and keep going. Why Fitzpatrick Makes Sense Justin’s pick to win is Matt Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has rebuilt his approach game in a massive way, going from 127th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach a few years ago to first this season. Justin compares that improvement to the way Fitzpatrick added speed and power before winning the U.S. Open. Trey agrees with the pick. For Trey, Fitzpatrick’s biggest edge is how cerebral he is. He takes notes, studies everything and approaches the game with a level of preparation that fits this kind of course. If Birkdale requires discipline, patience and problem-solving, Fitzpatrick checks a lot of boxes. The Other Picks Justin also likes Russell Henley for a top-five finish. Henley is accurate, controls his ball flight and could benefit from firm conditions that reduce the gap between him and longer hitters. Min Woo Lee is Justin’s top-ten pick. He finished second at the Scottish Open, has shown stronger ball-striking this season and tends to get hot in bunches. Trey also likes Collin Morikawa, who has already won an Open at Royal St. George’s and knows how to handle a quirky links setup. His other pick is Justin Rose, partly because of the story. Rose first became known at Royal Birkdale in 1998 as a 17-year-old amateur, and winning the Open there now would be a full-circle moment. At Royal Birkdale, the best pick may not be the loudest name. It may be the player built for the test. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Brandt Explains Why Sports Business Has Never Been Bigger

Andrew Brandt Explains Why Sports Business Has Never Been Bigger Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINGO for an exclusive 20% off. Andrew Brandt joins Trey Wingo for a wide-ranging conversation on the business of sports, the NFL’s financial power, media rights, franchise valuations, league ownership and the behind-the-scenes stories that shaped his career. Brandt spent years as an agent, worked in the Green Bay Packers front office, became one of ESPN’s most trusted sports business voices, and now has a new book out called Smarter About Sports. Why Sports Business Is Everywhere Trey opens with the idea that 2026 has become the year of sports business. Andrew explains why the business side is no longer a niche part of sports coverage. Media deals, salary caps, ownership structures, franchise sales and private equity now shape almost everything fans see. They discuss the NBA tripling its media revenue, why the NFL may reopen its own media deals, and how the league’s next rights package could climb even higher. The NFL Money Machine Andrew and Trey break down the massive rise in NFL franchise values and what it says about the league’s power. They talk about the Seahawks sale, private equity entering the NFL, why team valuations keep climbing, and why past threats to the league’s dominance have not slowed it down. Trey also asks whether the NFL risks pushing too far by adding more games across more days of the week. Media Rights and Streaming The conversation also looks at the future of television. Traditional networks need the NFL. Tech companies like Apple, Amazon, Google and YouTube can afford to chase live sports in a completely different way. Andrew and Trey discuss what that could mean for the next era of sports media. Green Bay, Favre and Rodgers Andrew shares stories from his time with the Packers, including what it was like managing the transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers. He explains how difficult those years were inside the building and why the team eventually knew it was time to move forward. Stories From Inside Sports The interview also includes Andrew’s stories about Ricky Williams and Master P, the undrafted free agent who misunderstood a signing bonus, Daniel Snyder, stadium deals, LIV Golf, the World Cup and why sports business keeps getting bigger. This is a conversation about money, power, media and the decisions behind the games fans watch every week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Royal Birkdale Is Firm, Fast and Wide Open

Royal Birkdale Is Firm, Fast and Wide Open Go to https://kachava.com and use code WINGO for 15% off your first order. The Open Championship is here, and Royal Birkdale already looks like it is going to have a huge say in who wins. Trey Wingo and Justin Ray start this Golf Live breakout by talking about why the Open has become their favorite major. The history, the links golf, the global feel, the old venues — all of it makes this week feel different. And this year, the golf course itself may be the biggest story. Royal Birkdale Is Already Running Justin is on site in Liverpool and says he has never been at an Open Championship on a Tuesday where the fairways looked this brown. The course is firm, fast and already running. Trey compares it to Muirfield in 2013, when the conditions were so dry that Tiger Woods hit a five-iron from 290 yards and watched it run over the green. That is the kind of setup this could become. Why That Changes Everything When the course plays this firm, power does not mean the same thing. Trey and Justin explain why these conditions could bring more players into the mix. Bombers may have to throttle back. Accurate players who can control their ball flight may suddenly have a bigger edge. The shorter guys are not automatically behind if the ball is running like this. That is why this Open feels so open. The Bounces Will Matter Royal Birkdale is also going to ask players to live with some uncertainty. Balls are going to run out. Good shots may end up in bad spots. Bad shots may catch a break. Trey says players hate that kind of vagary, but Justin points out that for fans, it adds to the drama. At a course like this, one bounce can change a hole. One big number can change a championship. Why Birkdale Is So Interesting Royal Birkdale may not have the instant signature identity of St. Andrews or Carnoustie, but it has plenty going on. Justin points to the dunes that frame the holes, the changes to the fifth, the new green on seven and the straightened 18th hole bringing more bunkers into play. It is a course that is going to ask a lot of questions. And if the forecast stays calm, scoring might be there. But that does not mean this place will be easy. At Royal Birkdale, the winner may not be the guy who overpowers the course. It may be the guy who handles it best when Birkdale bites back. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Open Championship Preview: Royal Birkdale, Final Picks, Scottie Scheffler, Nelly Korda and Mailbag

Open Championship Preview: Royal Birkdale, Final Picks, Scottie Scheffler, Nelly Korda and Mailbag Go to https://kachava.com and use code WINGO for 15% off your first order. Golf Live is back for Open Championship week. Trey Wingo is in California after surviving the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe. Justin Ray is in Liverpool getting ready for the Open at Royal Birkdale. Naturally, the show starts with a missing rental car key fob, European ice issues, Bucky’s, and why the Open Championship has become the favorite major for both of them. Then it gets to the real point: Royal Birkdale, firm and fast conditions, and the final men’s major of the year. The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Trey and Justin break down why this Open feels especially wide open. Royal Birkdale is already firm, brown and running fast. Justin says he has never been to an Open on a Tuesday where the fairways looked this brown. Trey compares it to Muirfield in 2013, when Tiger Woods hit a five-iron from 290 yards and watched it run over the green. That kind of setup changes everything. Bombers do not have the same advantage. Accurate drivers and elite ball-strikers come back into the mix. The rub of the green matters. Bad bounces are coming. And whoever wins will need the patience to survive the chaos. Final Picks for the Open Justin is looking past the obvious Rory and Scottie answers and lands on Matt Fitzpatrick as his winner. Fitzpatrick has completely rebuilt his approach play, going from 127th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach a few years ago to first this season. Justin also likes Russell Henley for a top-five finish and Min Woo Lee for a top-ten finish. Trey also picks Matt Fitzpatrick, largely because of how cerebral and mentally strong he is. If Royal Birkdale gets unpredictable, Trey trusts Fitzpatrick’s ability to stay disciplined and think his way around the golf course. Trey also likes Collin Morikawa, who has already won an Open on a quirky links setup, and Justin Rose, whose Open Championship story began at Royal Birkdale in 1998 when he holed out on 18 as a 17-year-old amateur. Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda Miss the Cut The show also gets into a wild week across golf: Scottie Scheffler missed the cut at the Scottish Open and Nelly Korda missed the cut at the Evian Championship. Justin notes that it is the first time the reigning men’s world No. 1 and women’s world No. 1 both missed the cut in the same week. Evian still delivered its usual chaos, with Brooke Henderson making six eagles for the week and three on Sunday alone. For Scottie, Trey and Justin are not worried. Statistically, he is still elite across the board. But the missed cut did bring up another reminder of how absurd Tiger Woods’ 142-cut streak really was. Tom Kim Gets Back in the Winner’s Circle Tom Kim winning the Scottish Open was another major topic. Trey and Justin talk about how quickly Kim arrived, how hard the game pushed back, and why this win could matter going forward. He was the youngest two-time and three-time PGA Tour winner since Tiger Woods, then hit a difficult stretch. Now, after contending at the US Open and winning in Scotland, his game looks like it is trending again. For a player with that much talent and personality, that is good news for golf. Mailbag The episode wraps with your questions. Trey and Justin answer who benefits most from Royal Birkdale’s firm conditions, whether the major setups have been good this year, whether Scottie’s season would be a failure without another major, and which non-mainstream Open winner would create the best story. They also get into Tom Kim’s ceiling, the future of the DP World Tour, and whether it has become more entertaining than the PGA Tour in certain weeks. Plus, Trey shares what it was actually like playing competitive golf at the American Century Championship, why Steve Young wanted to leave after one tee shot, and why a six-foot par putt in a celebrity event can suddenly feel like the biggest putt in the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is It Put Up or Shut Up Time for Jordan Spieth? Plus Early Open Championship Picks | Mailbag

Is It Put Up or Shut Up Time for Jordan Spieth? Plus Early Open Championship Picks | Mailbag Go to https://kachava.com and use code WINGO for 15% off your first order. Golf Live mailbag is back. Trey Wingo and Justin Ray answer your questions this week on Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, early Open Championship picks, Sergio Garcia missing the field, US Open setups, dream courses and why Justin somehow has not played golf yet this year. Duncan is also back from paternity leave, which means the disembodied voice has officially returned. Jordan Spieth and Sponsor Exemptions The first question gets right to it. If sponsor exemptions are going away, what does that mean for Jordan Spieth? Trey’s answer: play better and stop hitting it crooked. Justin’s answer is basically the same. If the PGA Tour is leaning harder into meritocracy, even someone as accomplished and popular as Spieth cannot just be a famous name and expect to get into events. At some point, it becomes put up or shut up. Trey also points out the stat that still feels hard to believe: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have both won majors more recently than Jordan Spieth has won on the PGA Tour. Where Is Justin Rose’s Game? Justin Rose came out hot this year, but the bigger point is where his focus is now. Justin Ray says Rose’s best weeks are still coming in the events he cares about most. Third at the Masters. Top ten at the PGA. Tied for 11th at the US Open. He is gearing everything toward the biggest championships because, at this stage of his career, those are the weeks that matter. Trey compares it to the veteran mindset. The majors, the old courses, the events with history. That is where the energy comes from. Early Open Championship Picks The mailbag then turns to Royal Birkdale. Justin starts with Scottie Scheffler. Everyone keeps asking what is wrong with him because he only has one win this year, but statistically he is still almost exactly where he was at this point last season. Trey brings up Rory McIlroy, who has only one Open Championship win, back at Hoylake in 2014. If Rory is going to keep chasing the second leg of a double career grand slam, this is another real opportunity. Matt Fitzpatrick also gets mentioned as a strong fit because Birkdale is not only about power. It is about avoiding the right trouble, managing the bunkers and playing smart. And then there is Jon Rahm. A strong Scottish Open week could send him right back up the Open odds board. Sergio Garcia Missing the Open The biggest surprise non-qualifier? Sergio Garcia. Justin says it first, and Trey agrees immediately. Sergio has played the Open Championship 26 times, with ten top-ten finishes and two runner-up finishes. For a generation of golf fans, he has always been part of this championship. For European players, the Open is different. It is their championship. And with Seve Ballesteros as Sergio’s idol, never winning it is probably going to stick with him more than anything else. US Open Setups and Bad Breaks One viewer was tired of “tricked up” US Open courses, where good shots can roll away and bad misses sometimes get better breaks. Trey gets the frustration, but he is fine with the US Open making players suffer a little. There are plenty of weeks where the PGA Tour sets up for low scores. The US Open is supposed to be different. Justin’s view is simple: you cannot please everybody. Some of the bad breaks, good breaks and strange bounces are part of what makes the US Open unique. The One Course Question One course for the rest of your life turned into about 30 answers, which feels right. Trey loves links golf, but if he had to play one course forever, he wants something fun. Cabot Cliffs is near the top of his list. He also mentions Lanai, Pinehurst No. 4 and Pinehurst No. 10. Justin refuses to pick something he has not played, so Augusta is out for now. He considers Carnoustie, Pebble Beach and Kapalua, then lands on Pebble because of the balance of beauty, shot-making and fun. Why Justin Has Not Played Golf This Year Finally, the question everyone needed answered: how has Justin Ray not played golf yet this year? His answer: business building, young family, too many jobs and Dallas heat. Trey’s answer: because Justin has 74 jobs. Justin takes the L, but he does have rounds planned during his upcoming UK trip, including Formby. Trey, meanwhile, is headed to the American Century Championship in Tahoe, where his goal is simple: enjoy the weekend and not hurt anyone. Low bar. Clear it first. Then reassess. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.