In this episode, I am excited to be joined by Champions Tour Pros John Cook, Tim Simpson, and Olin Browne plus former Actor now Backspin Golf Host Matthew Laurance joining me. John Cook shares his thoughts on the Ryder Cup and the new World Champions Cup that will be coming to the Champions Tour in November of 2022. We also hear about his work with Patrick Cantlay, how John was successfully able to transition to the broadcast booth, and for those of us north of 50 years of age, John provides a tip for how to keep your swing long and fluid. Tim Simpson talks about how lyme disease took away his opportunity to be a member of the US Ryder Cup team in 1991. We also hear about his relationship with Sam and JC Snead, the things that Sam taught him, and tips for how to consistently make center clubface contact. Olin Browne shares his thoughts on the wrap-around Tour season, the importance of accuracy off the tee for those of us who can't drive it 300+ yards, Bernhard Langer the prankster, what Phil Mickelson brings to the Champions Tour, and his thoughts on the new World Champions Cup. Matthew Laurance shares his thoughts on the Ryder Cup as well and what it's done for Bryson DeChambeau's personal brand. We also hear about his friendship with long-time Billy Joel band drummer Liberty DeVito, and Matthew's award from the Kentucky Section of the PGA of America for his contributions to the game.  

Next On The Tee with Chris Mascaro

Champions Tour Pros John Cook, Tim Simpson, Olin Browne Plus Matthew Laurance...

What a privilege to spend time last night on Next on the Tee talking with a pair of Top 100 Instructors in Tom Patri and Kellie Stenzel plus former Tour Pro Donnie Hammond, and the President of the Golf Heritage Society Dr. Bern Bernacki. On this episode, my guests are a pair of Top 100 Instructors Tom Patri and Kellie Stenzel plus former Tour Pro Donnie Hammond and the President of the Golf Heritage Society Dr. Bern Bernacki. Tom celebrates his birthday with us by sharing his thoughts on the Ryder Cup, Bryson DeChambeau's image transformation, missing the old silly season, plus what we need to change when the fairway and greens get harder as the temperature gets lower. Donnie Hammond shares his insights on the Ryder Cup and the recent rash of player/caddie breakups. We also hear about the less glamorous side of life on Tour and memories from his victory at the 1986 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Dr. Bern Bernacki is the President of the Golf Heritage Society. He gave insights into some of the historic golf courses in and around the Pittsburgh & Northeast Ohio areas, including the Clearview Golf Club which is the first golf course designed and built by an African American, William Powell. We also hear about the Bob O'Connor Golf Course which dates back to 1897, the recent Golf Heritage Society 50th Anniversary Convention, and some of the cool pieces of golf memorabilia that were on display there. Kellie Stenzel has been named a Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor every year since 2009. She talked about the growth of the game on the women's side thanks to great events like the Solheim Cup and the truly international leaderboard at the Olympics. She also talked about why most of us should switch to wedges with a high degree of bounce, tips for choosing the right clubs to chip around the green, plus a tip for how to get it close to the hole when your ball is embedded in deep rough just off the green.

Remembering Silly Season, the Ryder Cup, & Tips To Help You Tee To Green

Talking Ryder Cups past and present with Scott Verplank and Damon Hack, plus Jr. Solheim Cup with Top ranked AJGA player Avery Zweig. We also hear about the amazing summer golf adventures of Wayne Talsky and his Next on the Tee hat.

Talking Ryder Cup, Jr. Solheim Cup, & the Amazing Golf Summer for Wayne Talsky

We're talking Cups, Solheim & Ryder, with LPGA Legend Jane Blalock, Top Instructors Tom Patri & Nancy Quarcelino, plus Swing U CEO Charles Cox. TP shares his thoughts on the Tour Championship, Patrick Cantlay vs. Jon Rahm for Player of the Year, why the US Ryder Cup players just can't seem to play as a team, plus a tip for how to escape when we've hit one into the trees. Jane Blalock adds her two cents for why team camaraderie is the issue preventing the US teams from winning the Solheim and Ryder Cups. We also hear about why she enjoyed playing over in Japan and winning back-to-back World Ladies Championships there, what life on the LPGA Tour was like off the course during the 1970s & 80s, what it was like being the subject of one of LeRoy Nieman's famous sports paintings and being appointed by President Bush to the President's Council for Sports and Physical Fitness. Top 100 Instructor Nancy Quarcelino talks about the advice she would give Team USA to help them be victorious. We also get tips for when to hit a hard iron shot versus taking one less club and hitting it softer, her 3 ups to gain more distance off the tee, and proper foot alignment to help get a better turn. Charles Cox is the CEO of Swing U, a great app that provides GPS distances for every course. You can also get wind speed and elevation data, the ability to track your scores, strokes gained analysis, your handicap, and get access to on-demand tips and playing lessons. Charles tells us how their technology gathers all of that plus will recommend what club to hit as well. Check them out online at www.swingu.com

Jane Blalock, Tom Patri, Nancy Quarcelino, & Charles Cox Join Me...

In this episode I'm joined by Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor Tim Cusick, 1979 Bay Hill Classic Champion Bob Byman, Cherry Hills Director of Instruction Shane LeBaron, and 1977 US Amateur Champion John Fought. Tim Cusick is now a member of the Education Faculty of the PGA of America at their new headquarters in Frisco, Texas. Tim updates us on how their new facility and two championship golf courses that will host major championships are coming along. He also shares tips for how to read greens, dial in our distance control from 100 yards in, and fix it your swing if you're struggling with coming over the top. Bob Byman shares stories from his college golf days at Wake Forest and how Arnold Palmer encouraged him to go there following a practice round they played together at Pebble Beach when Bob qualified to play in the US Open at age 17. We also hear about how he teamed with Curtis Strange and Jay Haas while at Wake Forest to win back-to-back National Championships in 1974 & '75. Things would come full circle with Mr. Palmer when Bob won the 1979 Bay Hill Invitational, which was the first year Mr. Palmer took over as tournament Host. Shane LeBaron recently became the first Director of Instruction at Cherry Hills Golf Club which has been the site of many major championships. We all remember Arnold Palmer's charge in the final round to win the 1960 US Open there. Its also seen Andy North win a US Open, Phil Mickelson win a US Amateur, and Jack Nicklaus win a US Senior Open. Shane takes us around the course plus shares the best putting tip I've heard in the 8 years of doing this show. John Fought shares stories from his college days at BYU and their rich golf history. We also hear how he captured the 1977 US Amateur championship, his time being a part of the victorious US Walker Cup team, his 5th place finish in the 1983 PGA Championship plus his golf course design work.

Top 100 Instructors Tim Cusick & Shane LeBaron + Bob Byman & John Fought Join Me

This week on the Next on the Tee podcast it's 6 Degrees of Keith Hirshland as my guests are two Legends of the game, Dottie Pepper & John Mahaffey. Dottie Pepper talks about the sports household she grew up in. Her father played professional baseball with the Detroit Tigers organization and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in March of 1968. We also hear her stories about: Winning the New York State Amateur Championship when she was 15, her college golf days at Furman, finishing low amateur at the 1984 US Open, her two major championship victories both coming at the ANA Inspiration, formerly the Dinah Shore Classic, being a part of 6 Solheim Cup teams and what the US has to do in order to win the Cup back., the bear that came charging towards her was she was covering the 2008 US Senior Open, and her new book "Letters to a Future Champion" that you can find on her Web site www.dottiepepper.net John Mahaffey shares stories from his college days at the University of Houston. John won the individual National Championship in 1970 and helped the Cougars to back-to-back team titles in 1969 & '70. We hear about his relationship with Ben Hogan and how he became known as "Hogan's Boy". We also hear about his victory at the 1978 PGA Championship, backing up that win the very next week at Pleasant Valley Country Club, being a member of the 1979 Ryder Cup team, and his transition to broadcasting the game.

Tour Legends Dottie Pepper & John Mahaffey Join Me...

We'll look ahead to the Tour Championship and Ryder Cup with Tom Patri & Frank Nobilo, plus why I'd put my money on Scott McCarron even on one leg, and the artistry of the game with Golf Course Landscape Artist Linda Hartough...

Talking Northern Trust, Ryder Cup, Plus Improving Your Drives & Bunker Play

My guests this week are: one of the best ball strikers of all-time Tim Simpson, Tour Caddie Kip Henley, former Arizona State All-American Tom Stankowski, and World Golf Hall of Famer Dennis Walters. Tim Simpson and Tom Stankowski talk about their college golf days at Georgia and Arizona State. Tour Caddie Kim Henley shares his picks for the Ryder Cup and life out on Tour. World Golf Hall of Famer Dennis Walters talks about his college days at North Texas State, the accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, and how he overcame it to play again.

Ryder Cup, College Golf, and Inside the Mind of a Tour Caddie

Top Instructors Tom Patri & Nick Bradley plus Tour Championship with Executive Direct Allison Fillmore, and former Tour Player and now wonderful TV Show Host Charlie Rymer all join me. Tom Patri shares his insights on the Covid vaccination issue, dealing with pressure at the Tour level, Bryson calling out his equipment, Jay Monahan stepping in to end Brooks & Bryson taking jabs at each other, and the potential issues within the US Ryder Cup team. Allison Fillmore takes us inside the Tour Championship. We hear about what it's like putting together an event of this magnitude, what you can expect when you walk through the gates, the awesome responsibility it is to manage an event on the home course of Bobby Jones, and how they give back to the community. Nick Bradley talks about taking Justin Rose from #125 to #5 in the World Golf Rankings, the importance of visualization in your career and the next shot plus, what stoicism is and why it's important. Charlie Rymer was on the ground of Augusta National for the final round of the 1986 Masters. He shares that story and the feel it had. We also hear about his interviews with our friend from The Golf Channel Damon Hack, who were the most intense interviews he's ever had, what's going on at The McLemore Club, the Myrtle Beach course that we need to play. 

Inside the Tour Championship, Improve Your Mental Approach, & So Much More...

In this episode, I'm joined by former PGA Champions Hal Sutton and Shaun Micheel plus Top Instructors Jason Hase and Eric Johnson. Hal Sutton shares his thoughts on golf in the Olympics, Xander Schauffele's gold medal performance, how that victory might propel him to winning his first major, Louis Oosthuizen's summer, and how to develop an attitude for winning. I also get his thoughts on how US Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker can prevent the team room from becoming a circus with Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed all on the team. Shaun Micheel catches us up on his performances at the Sr. PGA Championship and Sr. Open Championship that he just arrived back from. We also hear about trying to prepare for playing links golf, and whatever became of the 7 iron he hit to 2 inches on the last hole of the 2003 PGA Championship, which may be the best approach shot in major championship history. Top Instructor Jason Hase takes us around his home course Buffalo Dunes which Golf Magazine ranked #8 among the best municipal courses in the country. He also gives us a tip for how to stop hitting our wedges fat. Eric Johnson is a Golf Digest Top 100 Instructor. He takes us inside his new home course, Yellowstone Golf Club in Big Sky Montana. Eric also weighs in on the upcoming US Ryder Cup team, and how we can be mentally strong when we're faced with those 2-5 foot knee knockers.

Hal Sutton & Shaun Micheel + Top Instructors Jason Hase & Eric Johnson Join Me

This week my guests are Top Instructor Tom Patri, PGA Hall of Famer Bob Ford, PGA Tour Legend Tom Purtzer, and the Founder of FarmLinks at Pursell Farms named Best Public Course in Alabama, David Pursell. Tom Patri shares his thoughts on the similarities between the first two years of Collin Morikawa's career and Tigers'. We also talk about Patrick Reed replacing Bryson DeChambeau on the US Olympic team and if Reed wins the gold, could he repair some of his tarnished reputation? Bob Ford takes us inside Seminole Golf Club and lets us know why, after decades of secrecy, we finally got to see the course during the TaylorMade Driving Relief match and this year's Walker Cup matches. He also takes us back to the 1983 US Open played at his home course, Oakmont, and the legends he got to play with during the practice round and the tournament. He shares what it was like playing with Nicklaus, Palmer, Weiskopf, Crenshaw, Miller Barber, Hubert Green, Lou Graham, and Bob Gilder. Tom Purtzer made one of the most incredible birdies in Tour history on his way to winning the 1991 Colonial Invitational. He made it from a downhill lie in the back lip of the bunker. He takes us inside that shot and how it lead to a complete redesign of that trap. We also hear about his T4 finish at the 1982 Open Championship at Royal Troon, what it's like trying to hit the green at the Postage Stamp hole, and his victory at the 1991 World Series of Golf. David Pursell joins me in the last segment and talks about his course FarmLinks at Pursell Farms. The course has been named the Best Public Course in the state of Alabama by Golf Advisor, GolfAlabama.com, and Golfweek Magazine. Hear what makes it such a fun course to play, the research and development they're doing right there on the course, and the incredible amenities they have there as well.

The Golden Age of Golf

Joining me this week at Top Instructors Tom Patri and Bob Grissett plus Golf Writer Jay Revel. We recap The Open Championship plus hear thoughts on Morikawa winning in his first Open debut, Jordan's 3rd round, Bryson throwing Cobra under the bus, and whether Louie's season is a success or one of missed opportunities. We also look ahead to the Olympics plus get some tips for what we can learn from Morikawa's deliberate backswing and how to make better decisions out on the course so we don't ruin our round due to poor decision making.

Talking The Open, Morikawa, Bryson, Jordan, Louie, the Olympics and Much More...

In this episode of Next on the Tee my guest are: 2013 Sr. Open Champion Mark Wiebe, former Tour Caddies Andy Lano and Russ Holden, plus Callaway Content Manager John Wunder. Mark Wiebe shares his insights on preparing to play in an Open Championship. We hear about how mentally challenging links golf is over in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland due to the frequent weather changes and undulations in the fairways and greens. Mark also shares what he was looking for from his caddie and some of the answers may surprise you. Andy Lano was out in Big Sky, Montana, and visited The Reserve at Moonlight Basin where The Match was played this week. He talks about the course and his opinion on whether these types of events have run their course. We also hear about his experience caddying in the 2004 Ryder Cup plus his business, Golf Mastery, which helps us with course management and decision making. Check out how you can tap into Andy's wisdom from 25 years as a Tour caddie online at www.golfmastery.net. Callaway Content Manager John Wunder talks about the evolution of golf equipment and why we don't need to roll the ball back. John points out that the bombers aren't dominating tournaments plus course designers can combat distance through course conditions and layout. Former Tour Caddie Russ Holden was on the bag for over a decade for Bernhard Langer. He also served as Caddie Captain on the 2004 European Ryder Cup team. He shares his insights from that experience and the great work he's doing now for our Military Veterans through his organization Caddy For A Cure.

The Match, the Open Championship, & Life as a Tour Caddie

Travelers Championship Tournament Direct Nathan Grube plus my Thursday Night Tailgate Co-Host Bob Lazzari join me. We talk with Nathan about how the tournament gives back to local charities, the finishing 4 holes at TPC River Highland, and the day the earth shook...when Jordan Spieth holed out from the bunker to win the 2017 tournament.

Talking Travelers Championship with Tournament Director Nathan Grube

Hear stories and insights from two of the game's great Legends in 1989 Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia and 27-time winner on the LPGA Tour Jane Blalock plus one of the all-time great Instructors Jim McLean. Mark Calcavecchia shares his thoughts on Phil Mickelson's win at the PGA Championship plus if we could see more 50+ year old players doing the same going forward. He shares his thoughts on Jon Rahm having to withdraw from The Memorial, his experience playing in the 1989 and 1991 Ryder Cups, the gamesmanship that went from Seve during his matches, and if playing this year's Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits isn't much of a home course advantage. Jane Blalock shares stories from her great LPGA career including her wins over legends like Carol Mann, Kathy Whitworth, and Judy Rankin. We also hear about Dinah Shores' impact on the LPGA Tour, and how Jane helped get the LPGA Legends Tour off the ground. Jim McLean tells stories from his great college career at the University of Houston and getting to play alongside legends like Bruce Lietzke, John Mahaffey, Bobby Wadkins, Bill Rogers, and Tom Jenkins. We also hear about the work he's done as an Instructor with dozens of the greatest players of all time, and the over 400 Teachers that have been certified through his instructional schools.

Mark Calcavecchia, Jane Blalock, & Jim McLean Join Me...

Join Chris Mascaro year round as he talks with PGA & LPGA Tour Legends, Players and Top Instructors. Hear their stories, insights and playing lessons that not only will you enjoy listening to, but you'll also take strokes off your score.