259: Team USA Ryder Cup Captain's Picks Reaction: Keegan's Decision + Potential Pairings
Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme break down Wednesday's announcement of Team USA Ryder Cup captain's picks, starting with the stunning decision made by Keegan Bradley to not pick himself as a playing captain. Smylie and Charlie discuss why Keegan opted to go with Collin Morikawa instead of himself, and whether Rory McIlroy and other Europeans were playing mind games in the lead-up to Keegan's decision.
SK and CH also dive into potential pairings, and who they would roll out for the Friday foursomes session which will kick off the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Team Apparel Banter
03:09 Keegan Bradley's Captain's Picks Discussion
06:00 Analyzing the Team Composition and Rookies
09:09 Keegan's Decision Not to Play
11:57 The Dynamics of Team Selection
12:52 Press Conference Insights and Data Analysis
15:24 Ryder Cup Format and Strategy
18:15 Pairing Players for the Ryder Cup
21:26 Final Thoughts on Team Dynamics
28:32 Equipment and Pairing Strategies for Bryson
31:25 Exploring Team Dynamics and Player Compatibility
33:51 Experience vs. Form: Crafting the Best Lineup
38:10 Identifying Key Players for Five Sessions
47:20 Setting the Tone: Importance of the First Day
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #rydercupusa #keeganbradley #teamusa #golfhighlights #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercupÂ
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
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52:47
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52:47
258: Tommy Fleetwood's Breakthrough Win + Was This The Best PGA TOUR Season Ever?
Fresh off broadcasting Tommy Fleetwood's long-awaited first PGA TOUR win in 164 starts, Smylie Kaufman joins Charlie Hulme to break down all the action he observed at East Lake, and the massive narrative shift now that Fleetwood has notched win number one. Smylie and Charlie then move down the leaderboard to discuss Ryder Cup implications, and break down the developing four-for-three dilemma that Keegan Bradley faces as we look ahead to Wednesday's captain's picks.Â
Finally, SK and CH wrap the show with some truly mind-boggling Scottie Scheffler stats, and award their "Player of the Year Podium" - the gold is obvious, but who wins silver and bronze for Smylie?
Chapters
00:00 Intro
03:45 Tommy Fleetwood's Historic Win
12:04 Analyzing the Tour Championship Format
21:07 Ryder Cup Discussions and Player Selections
48:41 Reflections on the PGA Tour Season
59:02 Closing Thoughts and Future Expectations
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #tourchamp #eastlake #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercupÂ
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
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1:05:33
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1:05:33
257: Ryder Cup Captain's Picks with Kyle Porter + Previewing 2025 TOUR Champ & 2026 TOUR Schedule
Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme are joined on the latest episode of The Smylie Show by recurring guest Kyle Porter of "Normal Sport" - check his work out at normalsport.com!
Kyle, Smylie and Charlie review the biggest storylines a week ahead of Keegan Bradley picking the final six players who will represent Team USA in the 2026 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Kyle dives deep on season-long trends to identify why the Americans could be underestimated, and lists the six he'd be taking to Bethpage - along with answering whether he'd pick himself to be a player-captain if in Keegan's shoes.
Smylie and Charlie open the episode reviewing a 2026 PGA TOUR schedule that looks somewhat different from season's past, and look ahead to the 2025 playoff finale at East Lake, making their picks for the eventual TOUR Champion.
Thanks for tuning in, and as always, like and subscribe for more golf insights!
00:00 - Intro
01:30 - 2026 PGA Tour Schedule
10:00 - New Events
13:40 - Kyle Porter joins the show
18:45 - Keegan's Dilemma
24:00 - Team USA predictions
28:00 - Team Europe predictions
36:00 - The Ryder Cup excitement
49:00 - New TOUR Championship format?
53:00 - Future of the Playoffs
57:00 - Farewell
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #justinrose #jjspaun #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercupÂ
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
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59:34
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59:34
256: BMW Championship Recap & Playoff Storylines + Keegan Conversation
Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme recap the weekend in golf at the BMW Championship, discuss Fedex Cup standings and playoff storylines, and recap some interesting conversations Smylie had on-course at Caves Valley 👀 Tune in Wednesday for an in-depth Ryder Cup preview and US Am recap episode!
CHAPTERS
CHAPTERS
02:15 - Episode start
08:45 - Golf Recap
12:00 - Course Review
15:00 - Fairway Conditions
18:30 - Scheffler's Play
21:30 - Chris Gotterup Story
28:30 - Si Woo on TikTok
31:00 - Keegan Bradley Talk
34:00 - Scottie's Signature Moment
37:00 - Ryder Cup Team
40:00 - US Amateur
50:00 - Tour Championship Preview
55:00 - Final Wrap-Up
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #scottiescheffler #bmwchampionship #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup #keeganbradley
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
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1:05:37
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1:05:37
255: Ian Baker-Finch: Reflections on a Remarkable Golf & Broadcasting Career
Smylie Kaufman is joined by Ian Baker-Finch - a beloved golf broadcaster who signed off on an emotional CBS broadcast for the final time at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Ian takes us through his golf journey - from an early TOUR win at Colonial, to his 1991 Open Championship triumph, the struggles that followed, and finding a fulfilling second act in the broadcast booth.
Smylie and Ian also trade thoughts on the modern game, from the progression in golf instruction and the way Ian used to create his own yardage books, to the complexity of the modern game - and whether some of that is unnecessary. Ian also shares his insights on the future of golf in Australia, emphasizing the importance of creating more global opportunities for players.
Check out his book, "Ian Baker-Finch: To Hell and Back," here: https://www.amazon.com/Ian-Baker-Finch-Hell-Geoff-Saunders/dp/1761451642/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
3:00 - Ian's broadcasting career and final sign-off
5:30 - Career Highlights
10:45 - Transition from playing to broadcasting
15:20 - The influence of Jack Nicklaus and early inspirations
20:00 - Evolution of golf instructionÂ
25:40 - Challenges Ian's faced
30:15 - Reflections on the Open Championship win
35:50 - The mental and physical toll of professional golf
40:30 - Transition to broadcasting and finding new purpose
45:00 - The future of golf in Australia and global opportunities
50:20 - Closing thoughts and Ian's book release
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #justinrose #jjspaun #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercupÂ
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
Smylie Kaufman is a PGA Tour winner, pro golf broadcaster, and the host of "The Smylie Show". Every week, along with his producer and co-host Charlie Hulme, Smylie provides insights and analysis on the game of golf (along with a handful of other miscellaneous items), in addition to sharing long-form conversations with Tour pros and other celebrities who love the game.
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