Holyduffer: Hello and welcome to the Holy Duffer podcast. In this week's fantastic episode, we go with Tiger II John Daly Zero. Who would have thought that was gonna happen? What's in the bag for me, the Holy Duffer? And before we get too far down the fairway, let's introduce my partner in crime, Strollen. Strollen, buddy, how's it going?

Strolan: Mark, what is happening? You're fresh off the golf course. You're just like, you got the you still have the grass on your pants and you're sitting in your seat, just like actually relishing in your victory over our little Sicilian friend. Two in one, right? Two in one unit.

Holyduffer: Yes, yes, close it out two and one. He so I was one up on the front, which was the back nine. And then he got it even. And then I pulled away in arguably is one of the harder stretches of that course, which was cool. ⁓ Yes, I was at Metal Arc, a great ⁓ shorter course, but very like has a lot of like nuance and coolness to it. And Huntington

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. You're at Metal Art. So let's get that out of the way. Yeah, totally. Yeah, I love how funky it is. I love it, you know, it's it's way tougher than it looks.

Holyduffer: beach. ⁓ Well, percentages with challenges, can't, it isn't a course. Like it's 5,500 yards from the blues. It's not a long course, but you can't just blast driver all the time. Like it puts stuff in your way. You have to make choices. And actually like some of the holes I won, I hit a nine iron on par fours. Like I just went, no. And it was, it is part of that.

Strolan: No, you cannot. Yeah. Yeah.

Holyduffer: Once or twice I think I pulled back too far. I could have been more aggressive, but generally speaking, that's why I won. That's what happened.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's how you have to play that course. I've gotten in trouble. Now you played it. This is really interesting. You said before we came on that you played it in reverse. That is hot.

Holyduffer: Yeah, they're sanding the greens. Yeah, they're sanding the greens. So you started out on the back nine, which after playing it, even though I didn't play it well, I think it might be the easier nine. ⁓

Strolan: I think so. The most challenging hole for me on that back nine is that par three that goes straight uphill and the green sitting up on top of the hill like like a turtle turtle shell up there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Then I don't know if you had any wind. We had wind last time he played it and I was on the wrong side. was on the wrong side of it. So I was on the east, you know, the north side of the green and the wind was blowing from the south. That was fun. Yeah. And it was blowing pretty good. And I was down below the green and it's like, well,

Holyduffer: Yeah, like fall holler and yeah. Yeah. a little bit. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Strolan: It's a 30 yard shot, but what swing is it? You know, it was like that type of thing. It was like, I don't know how to handle the elevation plus the wind. I don't know what that is. So I think, you know, typical came up short. That's what I do.

Holyduffer: right. Yeah, it's part of like so on. So I had three, ⁓ three, putts and three double chips. Now the double chips were a little bit of me getting used to the new wedge setup, a little bit of me going, I haven't hit out of three inch kukuya in a while. So right.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Welcome to the Kikuyu this time of year right now. After the rain, is every course has it all of a sudden. And it's just like, ⁓ my God, dude, it's no fun at all.

Holyduffer: Right. It's no joke. And if you haven't hit out of it for a while, it's something you have to get adjusted to. you know, on the second nine I did, I hit some really good chips. I hit some bunker shots. The bunkers there don't have a lot of sand. They're firm. ⁓ And they definitely were wet.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yes, yes, you have to have that t grind. You have to have that 60.

Holyduffer: Well, I hit two short-sighted bunker shots to within kick in with the 62 ⁓ grunt.

Strolan: Yes, that's your that's an even better club for that that situation that is your get all get out of jail free, you know, and that's actually of course where you're end up using that club more often.

Holyduffer: Yes, yeah, like that. use it. Those two were great. Like they were just like nearly going in perfect bunker shots. One was like a teed up lie. It's the worst. Like you can get hit in a, a, in in a hard bunker is like just somebody's footprint made a nice divot up and it's right. Resting teed up. And I'm like, okay, this is fun. This is super fun. This is super fun. Like

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Sick. ⁓ no. No, it's not fun. It's not fun. You're like you fucking prick.

Holyduffer: I know how I'm supposed to hit this, but I'm like, okay, so it's a driver bunker shot? And nailed it, but that 62 is just like, know, high lip bunkers, don't have to hit it hard, just have to get into it, and it just popped right out.

Strolan: Yeah. No one makes that club intriguing to me. And here I am now with a 60 in my hand, I haven't had a 60 in my club bag since ⁓ early 2000s. I literally that long. I tell you to swore them off because I was using them incorrectly, right? So the intriguing thing to me with that 62 is like, even with the on green side bunkers, when I'm short-sided or with a high lip or both.

Holyduffer: Yeah.

Strolan: I still have to open that club up a little bit and I'm not super comfortable with that because it presents Hazel and I'm now coming in out really in my short game. So we all know what happens if you come too far in doubt with Hazel first. having like a 62. So having like, don't say it. If you say it, you manifest it. But yeah, exactly. It is exactly like Beetlejuice.

Holyduffer: Don't say it yeah, yeah, don't say it three times like Beetlejuice

Strolan: So, you know, basically having a 62 where you just have to just square it up and have that much loft is really kind of really sounds intriguing. Sounds like fun.

Holyduffer: It was that thing where I had that extra slot. I was like, what am I gonna do? I can put something on top of the bag. I'm like, how about just doing another four degrees out at 62. And yeah, I go 50, 54, 58, 62. And at least in this round, it's why I won. Those are two.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Because you go 58, 62, correct?

Holyduffer: where I was out of position and I either pushed or won a hole because of that. And yeah, I mean, they just, they popped up beautifully exactly what it's supposed to do. It gets a lot of spin, it doesn't go long way. It's just meant to save you. That's literally what it is. And if you think, like the very cool, if you don't know how to get out of a bunker, bunker club that Ping makes, what are you called? A bunker club?

Strolan: Nice. That's awesome. Yeah, that's awesome. Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: is a 64. yeah, it's like a really high lofted thing. So you don't have to do anything. It's the same concept. Yeah, totally the same contest.

Strolan: ⁓ okay. Yeah, that's why, again, the same concept. You don't have to open it up, you can just take it, and as long as you know how to hit a booker shot correctly and you're not slapping at it or trying to just pick it or whatever the hell people do, yeah, no, it just works. So.

Holyduffer: So, so I will say this. So we were playing with a couple other guys, very cool, a little older, having a great time. so in the first time I first bunker I got in, this one that's teed up, I didn't realize how much fun it was because I was watching my playing, know, my other partner on the other side, Steve, who we're playing with just.

Strolan: Okay.

Holyduffer: could not get out of the bunker. Like he was slapping at it. It's the wrong technique for that hard of bunker. Probably didn't have a a low lofted, a low bounce wedge. And so he was just like slapping it in and just blading it, blading it, blading it. He did like three times and he just, know, mercy ruling got out. And I'm like, great, I could probably do that with this because this is a really difficult shot. Like no pressure. Yeah, thanks. Thanks for setting the stage.

Strolan: Mm. Mm-hmm. Is this wrong? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, you're like perfect. Thanks, guy.

Holyduffer: So, but, yeah.

Strolan: It's like it's like it's like when I was playing up a sandpiper and there's like this double force carry a hole the 13th and I'm going up and I'm driving in front of it. You know, after this, the guy goes first because he actually be part of the hole beforehand and he just tops it right into the brinca. And I'm just like, thanks, dude. That is so awesome. That's exactly what I was looking for. Exactly. ⁓ man. Yeah, exactly. This just makes me thrilled. So ⁓ my God, so annoying. So anyways.

Holyduffer: This makes me happy, so happy for this.

Strolan: You're good in the bunkers. You played well. I love the comeback on the second half and turning it around and breaking 40. That's awesome. That's really, really good.

Holyduffer: Yeah. And that was a lot of the scoring method, just like, okay, okay, you've gotten a lot out of it. Just the first round of the year, haven't played with this. I haven't played around with this full set of clubs, right? The irons I have, but I haven't played with everything. So I was just feeling it out.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah.

Holyduffer: And scoring method, just in short, is like, look, get, depending on your ability, get, if you're a high handicapper, get within 100 yards of the green in two shots and get it, and then get down in three. And then as you get better, it's 50 and 25 or, you know, so on and so forth. It makes it simple. So it's like, okay, just, and it keeps you, the whole point of it is to keep you from taking hero shots.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Holyduffer: taking shots and this was it. And kind of basically it's supposed to be, look, if you can't do this eight out of 10 times, like every time you don't, you know, don't execute this shot, you owe somebody a thousand dollars, which is that the shot you, if you would say, yeah, okay, I get, I get eight, you get two, I'll take that, right? Well, if that's not the shot you're hitting, stop. And that's the point of it. And that's how I. That's how I cleaned up the back nine.

Strolan: That's a great, I like that method. It's awesome. It's well thought out and keeps you in the moment. Keeps you in the moment, which is the most important part that people don't understand about golf, which brings me into my next topic about this round. I sent you some homework.

Holyduffer: Yeah, it was. Yes. Yes. Yes, sir.

Strolan: Do remember what the homework was?

Holyduffer: Well, the homework was to see how many ways our Sicilian friend could get distracted. Now, I think this, he did pretty good.

Strolan: Yes. How did you do? I'm just I'm checking up with you because I already tasked him with working on it. So you're basically you know, this was my teaching moment with him as a teacher. In this instance, this was my piece of advice with him. So I want to know, you know, from the outside to see how he's doing.

Holyduffer: He did better. He definitely did better. He, ⁓ from what you've said, like he didn't get that frustrated. Also, we were pretty close. I don't know if that has something to do with it. I didn't run away with it.

Strolan: Okay. Yeah, I know I was beating up on him, especially then we'll get a little bit into my last round last week with him and we were playing match play and I really kind of I kind of let him week back into the at the end, you know, you know, whatever, you know, and it wasn't like I was trying to I wasn't trying to be like, oh man, I feel bad for him. He's a little upset. I'll give him a couple. I actually had a couple poor holes. I played the backside not very well. But yeah, it seems like when he's down a little bit or he's a competitive guy.

Holyduffer: Yeah. ⁓ yeah.

Strolan: That's the thing. He's super competitive, which is fine. And I love playing with them and I and I love competing with them. Actually, I don't know. There's another thing I want to talk to you about. How fun is that? Because now all these putts matter. And I felt like I feel like my game is getting better going out and playing with him. So but I do I was just I just, you know, and I'll get into the things that happened in my round with him because I was beaten up and pretty good. But I want to finish with yours first. So but anyways, was there anything in particular? So but it sounds like he was pretty good.

Holyduffer: ⁓ totally fun. ⁓ totally. Yeah He was pretty good. we also like the guys we were playing with were great. They were having fun. They were joking around, definitely made it a great round. So there wasn't a lot to get annoyed with. That doesn't mean he didn't. He got annoyed with things, like random things. And I can't remember what it was. I was like, okay, so that has nothing to do with what's going on right now. But generally speaking, I think he did a lot better from what you've said.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Okay, cool.

Holyduffer: He did so, and like there was ⁓ somebody, know, there's ⁓ houses all around the place. Someone like shut their screen door and it freaked him out. Like when he was on the tee, but other than that, mean, nothing too bad. was, yeah, generally he did get upset with me because we were, you know, we're getting into the round and ⁓ I had hit a, so someone on the par fives with water.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: I hit like a hybrid, didn't hit it well. Then I hit a five wood and I just like, it goes in the drink and get it around. And I thought I was at six. I totally, I completely blanked out on the first shot and just thought at the drop, that's where I was doing my math from. And he's about to putt. I go, wait a minute, I'm pretty close in. I'm probably gonna make this putt. And I'm like, well, know. And the guys were like, yeah, can give it to me. He's like, I don't know. We got a little money on the line. I don't think he likes me that much. I said, so where are you? I said, I'm six. He goes, wait a minute. And he starts doing the math. and and and like and and it was a it was a it was a five foot putt. It wasn't a particularly it wasn't curling or anything. It a five foot putt. And so he's going back and forth like, oh, yeah, you're right. Yeah. So this mine's for seven. So yours is for six. If you make this.

Strolan: Hehehehehe

Holyduffer: you got it, otherwise, you know, we'll push." And he misses the putt. So he complained about how like, doing my math, I'm like, ⁓ wow, I didn't know that that was that was a way to get it. ⁓

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Well, like I said, he's a competitive guy and you got to remember now I've played. I can't I've played. I probably close to 10 matches we've probably played. We're in the eight to 10 matches range since we started doing this. We're playing every couple of weeks together and we always play match play. And then we also always play when we play in the same group at men's club. We play something. And I won the last time we did that was the whole group. I smoked all of them. It wasn't close. I shot 82. It was like just they were. And we're that was a handicapped.

Holyduffer: Okay. Nice.

Strolan: part of it, part two, because we were playing skins that was related to the overall format of the tournament. So, so you just beat him and I've beat him every time I've played him and he's competitive. So how do you think he's feeling right about now?

Holyduffer: ⁓ You know, yeah, and I'll tell you what, actually, he was generally hitting it well, but he was blaming chips at first and ⁓ just, know, it's around the greens is where you can make the difference a lot of ways. And I think he had, but then he had some amazing shots, by the way, like his pitches that he's hitting with those Mizuno wedges outstanding. Like he drops.

Strolan: No, he... Is he still playing the Taylor Maids or did he get his Mizuno's? He would have told... Oh no, but he didn't get his Mizuno clubs.

Holyduffer: He got the Mizuno wedges, yeah. He doesn't have the forge yet, So another thing we're going over too is like, as we're going on the course, I think it was one of the part threes that's over water.

Strolan: Okay. Yeah, you told me that.

Holyduffer: It was sitting at about 150 back. Yeah, yeah. so, I mean, so in my sim, you know, I can hit a seven iron, like between 145, 155. Like I can hit that. And that's great and all, but I know that I don't do that on the course. And that literally like, I can go from hitting on the same mat.

Strolan: I don't think I know the whole. Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: on just a range and then go immediately to a virtual course and I do not hit my irons as far. There's something about that and I know that so I'm like, okay, forget about that 50 number because that's not a seven. There's water. Take the six. Yeah, right? Yeah, and if I flush it,

Strolan: Mm-hmm. I do the same thing. I do the same exact thing. Yeah, absolutely.

Holyduffer: I'm at the back. There's nothing really back there. It's not a big deal. There's it's better than this better than the water. Let's take that. And I hit it OK. It was a little cold, a little bit of wind, you know, pushed pin high and to put it. And that's one of the reasons I I want if I hadn't done that.

Strolan: Exactly. Yeah, that's so smart. It's exactly what I do. I actually had in this same round we were playing the ⁓ on the front side at Penn Valley, which I played last week with her buddy. And it was a par three. It was like. Probably 115 to the pin and it was a middle pin, but to the right closer to the bunkers and I was like. I'm going to. I'm going to hit a knockdown nine. We had a little bit of headwind.

Holyduffer: Okay.

Strolan: And I'm going to like just make it nice and easy, hit something kind of punchy and just like get it up there. And I was pin high left to putt it in par. Same exact thing. It was like and I was taking the count, the headwind, but I was like, you know, it's a lot easier to punch a nine than try to fly to pitching wedge all the way there and then miss it and end up with a big bunker in front of the green. You know what I mean?

Holyduffer: Well, that's, yeah, well, that's it. Like I have to hit the perfect shot. Like, and, I hit some good shots, but I don't know them all that good. So, and that's what I did with the six. I like, took an 80 % six is what I call it. Like I wasn't trying to get all the way all of it, but I was trying to, yeah, I'm trying to have a nice firm 80%. This is getting over the water and hopefully it's close, but whatever. And you know, that's golf. That's the golf.

Strolan: Perfect.

Holyduffer: That's the thing that you don't get on a range. Like we talked about like, hey, watching people on the range and watching, and I'm guilty of it. I think we've all done it. Like trying to hit a seven iron as hard as you can or whatever, as hard as you can. And not realizing that you hit three out of five or three out of eight or three out of 10 well, instead of carrying down.

Strolan: Yeah, or an SM. Everybody's done it. Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: and focusing on all I wanna do is make sure I have really good contact with this and understanding it'll go less and then use that. Like just like that shot, I get that eight out of 10 times. You know?

Strolan: Yeah, exactly. And like you said, you may flush it one time and it's gonna be a little long and maybe it rolls a little further. Your descent angle is not what you want it to be. But you know what? We're playing golf here. We're playing live golf. And there's a lot of other things going on. The sim is a great way for measuring. I'm not gonna be like the guys that, you know, on the fellowship, Adam and Ryan, who are like, yeah, that's the blow up doll of golf. Like, no, it's not. The blow up doll of golf. That's a terrible joke. I tell you, I you that has a purpose.

Holyduffer: Right. No, it has a purpose. By the way, by the way, a blow up doll does too. If you're lonely, a blow up doll works.

Strolan: ⁓ my god. She's so smart. She always has that expression.

Holyduffer: She's so surprised. I was so surprised. ⁓

Strolan: So anyways, the wrap up, know, it sounds great. I'm glad you really liked the chorus. I kind of fell in love with that place. I the conditioning is good. It's not super great, but I'm into the layouts, dude. I'm really kind of into funky layouts. It just reminds me of Los Serranos North. It reminds me of Sandpiper by Big.

Holyduffer: Alright, so let's talk about your route. So that was mine. I had a good time. I played well. I do, I play there at Heartbeat. Yeah, I get that.

Strolan: Like when Sam Piper is like the big version of that, you have big boy holes, but I have all of these funky, like scary ass looking shit. So yeah, yeah, I love it.

Holyduffer: makes you think like you can't like you can't you really have to choose like I said like I there was a shot of like look nine iron I can't get in trouble with the nine iron and it leaves me a pitching wedge ⁓ done like all day but they gave you an egg like hey you could go over here and Ryan did and and he didn't have the greatest angle like he went too far like it it kind of like makes you go in a direction like if you go that way

Strolan: Yeah, dude, I didn't know it.

Holyduffer: you had more trouble to worry to different kind of trouble to worry about kind of thing.

Strolan: Yeah, yeah, you end up some more trouble you think okay you hit the good shot and thought you found a great landing area. So you hit your hybrid or whatever it was but you didn't realize man a pitching wedge from 100 yards out with nothing but you know nothing no trouble in your way just get it if you hit 80 yards you'll make over the water and you have another 20 yards to work with. That's usually a better deal. Exactly.

Holyduffer: Exactly. Yeah, makes it easy. Make it easy, boyfriend. Make it easy.

Strolan: You know that last thing about metal arc that I really kind of does make me jealous is I'd love to play that routing backwards because I'd love to play those three holes as like I guess that yeah, I really would. I think that the ninth hole is really the proper finishing hole, especially when it finishes that right up there by the clubhouse right where the bar is and it has that stadium seating. If you're in a little mini tournament, man, I'd be like, yeah, if we're having a tournament, we're we're reversing this routing.

Holyduffer: as the finishing. Yeah. Yeah? That you would totally do it that way. ⁓ yeah, but because that shot, like there's a lot in your way. I ended up going out to the, know what fairway it is, but went right. just pushed it right and then hit it, like hybrid up in the air near the area, hit a 54 kind of on there about eight, 10 feet and you know, two potted. Yeah.

Strolan: Perfect. But yeah, that's a fun, that'd be really cool to have that A, main, quarter, B, or 17, 18, 19. I don't know why they don't do that. That seems like what the routing should be. So anyways.

Holyduffer: I'd be surprised it wasn't, to be honest, the way that sets up because I was like, this worked out really good. I got used to the course and by the time I was on the back, when I got to those holes, I was like, ⁓ I gotta imagine being like, what, three or four holes in and you gotta deal with those things?

Strolan: And those, if you look at those first four holes, they're handshake holes. I came out of there two over and I was dumb for, I think one of them was a dumb three putt on the fourth hole. No, fifth hole, whatever it was. So I started off great and then I got to that corner, it was like seven double, eight double, with the water on both of them, you know? And it just like.

Holyduffer: ⁓ yeah.

Strolan: made a totally mess of my score. No, actually, eight I part, even though I went in the water because I made a great chip in a great pot. But yeah, I love that little course. So yeah, I'm glad you loved it. And I'm glad that you beat our little Sicilian, probably very angry man right now.

Holyduffer: ⁓ nice. Yeah, it's awesome. Well, our little summer sausage tried and failed.

Strolan: and failed. ⁓ God. So, yeah, I played Hidden Valley with him last week and obviously I beat him because he's never beat me. But I beat him three and two. But I like went out on him, dude. I was like five or six up within like eight holes. I just went out and just that included shaking one up into the rocks and almost hitting him. He was sitting in the cart, by the way, and I thought he hit a good shot. I actually hit a really good drive. I popped it up a little bit, but actually, actually, I popped it up a lot, but it ended up. landing on this hill up in the dirt and rolled all the way down the hill back to the fairway. Ryan's like, you're the biggest asshole. I also had a par three in this round where I pulled it off into the rocks and, know, to the left of the hole and it could have ricocheted anywhere and it ricocheted directly to the right ended up behind the hole like by 10, 10 feet off, like pin high. Because this is ridiculous, dude. How do you, and I'm like, and I yelled hit it when the balls got on the rocks, like hit them! They hit them and they ricocheting right at the hole. was like, dude, the guys who were playing were dying.

Holyduffer: Nice. Hahaha! so good. That's so good.

Strolan: So I just had some, but I one of those rounds where I had some good luck and you know, I 40 on the front and then kind of fell apart in the back and shot 88, but I beat him three and two, so that was cool. And I really love Hidden Valley Bound. That chorus, you've been out, I don't think you have been out there.

Holyduffer: Nice. I haven't been out there, it's one of the next time I list. I know you played there a couple of times. It looks amazing from whatever.

Strolan: Yeah. It would have been on my, if I'd known more about it and I'd remembered, I think we've covered what this course is all about. Yeah, then, well, that won't even get into the car, girl. But anyways.

Holyduffer: It has a history.

Strolan: Yes, it has a history, but I knew more about that than I did the actual chorus. And the chorus is just fantastic. It's beautiful. I think we played Monday and teed off at 10.10 for like 54 bucks. No, it was $71 for that. And I would put the caliber of that chorus with O'Quarrie. I really would. And like the quality, the difficulty, and the views. It's great, dude. It's kind of like a...

Holyduffer: Not for that, for that course. for like half the price of Okori. Okori's insane.

Strolan: Yeah, yeah, our Sicilian buddies going there with his father-in-law and playing on Monday invited me out and he sent me a screen grab. He goes, can you play on Monday? And I had it off like maybe and he sends me a screen grab with a tee times 151 on a Monday. I was like, dude, have fun.

Holyduffer: I know. Yeah, that's good. Go with God. Not happening. And here's the problem. I think it's a great course. Don't get me wrong. I just remember playing it for like 55 and 75. And here's the thing. Okay, it's great and all, but you can still go to Sierra Lakes and play for 40. And that's a great course too. It's not as scenic, but it's great course. it's impeccable.

Strolan: Yeah. Me too. Me too.

Holyduffer: conditions. And I think it's some in some ways more fun to play. So that's the problem. But you know, 75. Okay. I could see it.

Strolan: Yeah, no, I'll do it. What course is that price, especially during the week and Friday Golf has a, they have it on their Instagram with pictures they took of it, flyovers they took of it, and they wrote an article of it on its website for its value, how nice it is, Rustic Canyon.

Holyduffer: Yes. Yeah. Yeah, that thing that that looks amazing. That's definitely on the list. That is on our list.

Strolan: Yeah, I'm looking at Instagram at lunch and here comes fried egg with a profile on Rustic Canyon. And I'm just like, God damn, I got to get out there. And it's even on my bucket list. And we've aborted on that trip twice.

Holyduffer: I know. I know, it would have been nice. ⁓ We were waylaid by our, ⁓ you know, masters. But we do. We do, we do, do.

Strolan: Hmm Yeah. Got to get it done. Got to get it done. So OK, but I'm going to go back to our Sicilian friend because the reason let's let's talk about the reason I brought up about the fact that, you know, I gave you some homework and I'm glad he's improved because. You know, when we played. Yes, like there was the first thing to say before we even started while we were on the chipping green at Hidden Valley, he almost got in a fight with an Asian guy. Now, the Asian guy did try to steal his Pro V1.

Holyduffer: ⁓ yeah, let's go back to summer sausage. So first of all, no fights.

Strolan: off the green with his like little pick, you know, those little pickup things. I have one of my backyard used to pick up the balls. He just like rock walked right by Ryan's ball went, boop. And Ryan's like, hey, hey, hey. And I'm like, it is a total dick move. And then the guy was a total dick about it. Like started this like, I mean, he was egging, egging him on for sure. I mean, it was, it was pretty egregious, but it was also really, really fucking funny. I was like, I'm sitting here just chipping away. He's over there like.

Holyduffer: Yeah. which is a dick move. Let's face it. Okay.

Strolan: Fuck you. And he goes, you're a fucking loser. they're doing all this. That's gross. The Asian dude's like, well, you shouldn't be hitting into me. And he's like, dude, I didn't get close to you. But the ball landed like 15 feet short and it roll up to you at all. Fuck you, you fucking loser. Well, fuck you. it's like, I'm like, great. He's going be very mellow on the first tee, right? We're teeing off in five minutes. And he's over here fucking.

Holyduffer: Sweet cage match on the putting green. Ha ha ha ha! Okay, right.

Strolan: It was a total dick move by this Asian guy. He was like camped out. He was camped out in this bunker and he hit like like 15 balls on the practice. Chipping green that's used for the people teeing off the first hole. It's like, you know, he's doing this full blown practice. And what's the matter with you, So, And then. So, yeah, then he was like, he's getting really agitated, like in the first nine holes and he started getting agitated with like our playing partners that were kind of at one point on the ninth hole, really.

Holyduffer: ⁓ yeah. Wow. It's all about him, apparently.

Strolan: I hit like one of the best shots of my life and he talked me into it. He was like, hey dude, you should go for this. Cause I had popped up my drive and I was 210 yards out. And I think I showed you a picture of this, but this greens, it may as well be an Island green. It's like protected all around forest carry, Baranca right in front of it. You know, like really with a false front, they'll roll you into it. Then you got the, you got bunkers, three bunkers, two, one on each side and one in the back. And it's kind of sitting up and I'm at 210 yards out and it's a little downhill. And he's like,

Holyduffer: ⁓ yeah.

Strolan: You should go for it, man. was like me and Lucas at Sandpiper, right? You know, or he's telling me I should go for it. I'm like, I'm not doing that shit. I'm laying up right in front of it I'll hit a wedge over there and, you know, hopefully get a par because you've been hitting that five wood all day, 200. You should go for it. I'm like, fucking fine. So I just mashed it right. And so he's in your trying to talk me into it. I think it was a little bit out of like. He'll top it, maybe. Yeah, a lot more risk.

Holyduffer: Nice. Well, it's more risk. Like a lot of bad things can happen too.

Strolan: But I absolutely just ripped it. It's probably one of the nicest five and I hit that five wood really well and I've hit a lot of nice shots with it, but it got so fucking high. It was like really just got, I just launched it and it carried the 200 yard force carrying was like right like 20 feet from the, from the, from the hole. It's like one of the nicest shots I've hit of the year for sure. You know, by, by far and yes, thank you. Thank you. you. And then, so Ryan goes and hit his shot and he tops it right into the bronca.

Holyduffer: Nice. That's so awesome.

Strolan: You know, then he's like, he's like, fuck it. Fine. I'm out. I'm out, you know. And so I'm like, OK, whatever. So and then the other two guys had hit into the bronco, too. And they're looking for their balls. And so I'm like waiting, waiting. I'm like, fuck it. I just go and I'm Ryan was going to go up and pick up my food. So I just went and and rolled around and and put it. I was like, fine. I to put it, got out of there, got my cart, went, picked him up.

Holyduffer: ⁓

Strolan: And all of a he's all like Mr. Chipper, right? He's like, hey, what's going on, dude? Here's your food. This is great. Let's go kick this thing. Did you get a part on that? Fuck yeah, man. Let's go eat. I'm like, cool, dude. He's like, fuck yeah. He goes, I feel much better. goes, I was kind of freaking out a little bit there. I'm like, well, what's up? He goes, well, you know, I'm a little hyperchondriac. And I just wasn't feeling right. on my feed, on social media, all this information about colon cancer keeps coming up. And I'm like, what if it's detecting I have colon cancer? And I'm like, OK.

Holyduffer: Ha

Strolan: Do you talk about it a lot? And he goes, no, not really, but dude, that's the weird thing about it. And I'm like, OK. And he goes, but you know what? I think I feel it. I know what the problem was. I felt like that. And he goes, oh, dude, I just fucking took a giant deuce. I feel so much better. I'm like, that's great, dude. That's fantastic. Great.

Holyduffer: That's awesome. That's awesome. So in case you are out there thinking you might have colon cancer, just plop a stinky and you'll be fine.

Strolan: I like, oh wow. No wonder why he was so agitated. Because the reason he walked off, I forgot to put that part in, is because he was going to hit and the reason he topped is the guy that we were playing with drove the cart right behind him, right up, right in his peripherals. And you can tell he was on his downswing. And then he's like, god damn it, these fucking guys know our manners fucking shit. And he's storming off. I'm like, all right, bye. I guess he had to take a poop.

Holyduffer: Take the browns to the Super Bowl, you'll be just fine. Ugh. Hahaha! ⁓

Strolan: Poopy.

Holyduffer: Well, now that we're clear.

Strolan: That's the closest I have to that sound.

Holyduffer: Well, yeah, it works.

Strolan: So then I have one more tidbit from that round involving our little friend. So we have this group of guys in front of us. May I say they were Korean.

Holyduffer: Alright. ⁓ yes you may.

Strolan: Actually, I saw one of the most amazing swings of my life with this one Korean guy. I swear he got into 11 different positions like a robot. He looked like a robot. I thought he was a robot. He literally had a move at the end where he moved his head back like this. And then the whole thing would come down together. He had to see where his hands were. And then he'd bring the whole thing down like a cage in one big move. And he'd somehow hit the ball. And it was amazing. But this whole process.

Holyduffer: Ha ha ha ha! Wow.

Strolan: took a long, long time. At one point, I was like, he's running out of oil. He's going to lock up on 12 and we're all gonna be done for the day. It's like the robot's going to shut down the whole backside of the course. So they're going impossibly slow. So we get to like one of the signature holes on this course is got is a super elevated, I want to say it's 14 super elevated T. Even the guy we were playing the whites, but the guy that he was live streaming it, which I'd love to find people I think is private, it was on Instagram, but me and Ryan can't find him. So

Holyduffer: right? That's all that is.

Strolan: He was live streaming this and we're like way up. it's like, it's like Goose Creek up, you know, like, or no, is it not? No, it's not Goose Creek. No, no, 18th hole at, ⁓ what is it that over there? It's over there by Tom's Farms. God damn it. I'll remember the name of the course in a minute. But anyways, it's super duper elevated, right? You're 100 plus feet up.

Holyduffer: Mmm. Yeah, I know what you're saying. Goose or is it strawberry or is goose? Okay.

Strolan: The guy we were playing with actually want to play from the blues. He's like, we're playing for the whites, but the blues are actually higher. So actually the ball will go further. I'm like, actually you're not wrong. So let's do that. So meanwhile, it's a big dogleg left in or dogleg right. I'm sorry. And if you aim a little right, you can actually it's like 250 yards to clear it, but you're so high up. if you get a little bit of tailwind, which you usually have, you can make it. So you want to go like really far right. Well, all these there's a series of bunkers down the left hand side. About 200 yards out and all the Asians guys are in this bunker complex, right? All these Korean dudes. And they're all like looking for their balls and taking forever. And we're standing there. Ryan's like, fuck it. He goes, I'm I'm not hitting at them. I'm going over there anyway, so I'm not going to go near them. Cool. So this dude's live streaming it. I'm standing next to it. Ryan lines up his shot and he takes dead fucking aim at these Korean dudes. Like, like, no, no.

Holyduffer: Not intentionally everyone he would this is not intentional. He's not that guy, but he was dead aimed at these people.

Strolan: Pointed right at him and I'm like this I'm like, like my mouth covered I'm like, I'm not saying jack shit.

Holyduffer: because then we'll never know.

Strolan: ⁓ dude, and he fires one off. It was like right out of the movie that scene from ⁓ falling down where the old dude just tries to rip like Michael was Michael Douglas's head off the golf ball from like 30 yards. It was exactly that. This thing's a Piss missile going right at the middle of the group. And I just start dying. I'm laughing so hard. He goes, I most of pulled it. And I like I'm trying to say out loud, no, you were aimed at him, but I couldn't.

Holyduffer: Ha ha ha ha ha! Bug Douglas, yeah. Yeah. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Strolan: So the guy filming is like, nah, bro, you're aimed right at him, man. And then you guys video this, right? So he's like, going four, four. The ball landed dead in the middle of their group, like right between their two cards, right in like if those four guys were standing on first, second, third and home plate, the ball landed on the pitcher's mound. It was incredible, dude. And they didn't say one word. They didn't wave. They're like, yeah, we suck. But it was awesome.

Holyduffer: Hahaha! ⁓ wow. Wow. ⁓ they were like, you know, what are you gonna do? Yeah. That's so good.

Strolan: So, you know, that kind of rattled him and then, you know, he kind of fell apart in that hole. But, you know, but I'm glad that was the whole, I'm glad I sent you out for that homework because it sounds like he's working on it. So, excellent, excellent.

Holyduffer: A lot better, definitely a lot better. Allowed himself to let go of it. He didn't get too worked up. to be fair, we were pretty close. It wasn't like a done deal early. And the people we playing with were cool. And there wasn't anybody, I'll say this, and because the greens were being punched and sanded, really no one on the course. No one in front of us. We played them four hours. No one behind us. So I think a lot of that, there wasn't a lot of

Strolan: OK. Nice. ⁓ that's cool.

Holyduffer: extra input too. So, but he did, yeah, he was cool. Totally cool. I mean...

Strolan: Okay. There was no, he didn't ask Jack your ass because the greens were punched.

Holyduffer: No, no, I was like, yeah, you know, we're all, ⁓ but by the way, he was, we're all the same boat. That was his attitude. ⁓ All the thing I said is that generally speaking, you know, there, you know, less, there's less curve, like there's a lot more straight putts. He putted very well with it, by the way. Only a couple of times, only a couple of times, you know, you got jacked up with the, ⁓ you know, it bobbled off where it probably would have gone in, but he had some really good putts.

Strolan: Hmm, okay. Fair enough. You're both, yeah, we're all in the same boat. Yeah, you can just bang away at it. Okay, cool.

Holyduffer: to. Yeah. I mean, not enough to win, but you know.

Strolan: Cool, good. Well, man, it's a great weekend. No. Yeah, them's are the break. But hey, good on you, man. Good job. Good with your victory. I'd to touch on it real quick before we move on to the Tigers and his issues. But again, being able to play golf like that, think match play excels in two ways. A, it keeps you more focused and adds a little juice to it so that you're actually

Holyduffer: Just saying.

Strolan: focusing and trying to actually play better and be a raise, it raises your seal or your floor. I mean, the more you do that, the better, the better you get all around it playing golf. And actually there's three parts to it. think it's, match play is fun as fuck. I think it's the way you should play golf. If you can, that's what you should be doing.

Holyduffer: Oh, it is. Oh, it should be. Also, no one is out like you can have a 14 on a hole and it's just one point like you don't you don't you can't shoot yourself out of the round in the same way you can in stroke play. And so that for that, I mean, yes, I think it's great. It was made a lot of fun. I, by the way, but here's the great thing.

Strolan: Yep. It's just here.

Holyduffer: Ryan was keeping track of everything. I was just which is great because all I did was like, I'm you keep track. I was just inputting my stuff on my phone. I was using tangent today. Just like, OK, that's what that is. And going and I wasn't too concerned about that. My thought was if I just keep doing what I'm supposed to be doing, it'll take care of itself. And it ended up which kept me in the moment, too. I wasn't like, ⁓ this means something.

Strolan: Yes, I'd love it. Mm-hmm, exactly.

Holyduffer: I mean, I missed one putt should have. Other than that, ⁓ it made it easier too.

Strolan: Yeah, I really love him keeping the score. It does make it easier. I since I've gone to a total hands off approach with my Arcos is and I fire it up. I turn it on. I get the round started and I look at it after every hole just to double check to make sure the shots make sense or to add a penalty if that ever happens. And that's it. I don't. And I've turned off Arcos as a great feature where you turn off scoring as in his scores, but it won't show you the score on screen. I don't want to see it. I just get done with the hole. I say when the ball goes in the hole when I'm playing, I say that's a bogey. That's a double bogey. That's a par. Whatever it is. I say it out loud. It's something I've learned in tournaments because now when I've said balls gone in the hole, I'm pulling the ball out. I have announced what my score is. It's filed. It's done. And I'm walking onto the next hole. And it really makes me stay in the moment. And I'm playing better golf because of it. It really, really helps. It's a huge piece of advice I point to that a lot of people have you can find a system that works for you like that.

Holyduffer: It's huge.

Strolan: You know, like you're talking about your scoring system earlier. I'm talking about, you know, way to play the game and not be so focused on score. Just be focused on being in the moment. You'll play better golf. Hands down.

Holyduffer: ⁓ you totally will. And so, yeah, I, so I have used tangent right now. I'm going to try something else later in the year, tangent. It's on my eye, my eye watch, right? So I just, you know, go, okay. I put it in and then the next thing it does is tell me that, you know, we go right to yardages. Like it doesn't, I don't know what that adds up to. You know, I know I had some, you know, I know I had doubles on doubles.

Strolan: Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: doubles and trebles on the front, you know, and I know that was playing better on the back, but I didn't realize I was, you know, shooting a sub 40 back until I was done. Yeah, that's perfect. All right, so yeah, so ⁓ Tiger 2, John Daly zero, Mr. ⁓ but

Strolan: That's awesome, perfect. All right, cool. So you wanna take us on to our next topic? It's tough to be laughing at this, that just tickled me pink because...

Holyduffer: It's delightful because you would think ⁓ Mr. Daily, why don't we do you eyes then tiger, but he has a driver. He has somebody, you know, that that big that big RV he has that cruises around somebody, somebody drives it.

Strolan: Mm-hmm, yes. He ain't driving it. He doesn't drive his golf cart when he's when he's playing, when he's like at Red, when he's at Red Hill, I saw a picture. He was at Red Hill. He stays there for the month because all they have all there's, you know, the whole classics this weekend in Newport Beach. So they stay here locally. He stays here locally and just has his RV parked at Red Hill in Upland. And he's a member there and he just stays there the whole month.

Holyduffer: He doesn't drive, he drives nothing! Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Strolan: and I've seen pictures of him playing there. And he's in his cart, he brings his cart with him, and he's in the passenger seat. There's some other guy driving it. You pop the hood on that thing, you pop that hood on the thing, and it's full of the seltzers that have his face on it. It's fucking awesome. So he doesn't drive, but Tiger, you and you say, you would think with his billions of dollars, he would have a driver. But the guys on Fried Egg were talking about this. And one of them were saying,

Holyduffer: ⁓ yeah, he doesn't do any of that. Ha ha ha! It is.

Strolan: actually, Brandon was saying that, you know, there's things that you report, the things that you don't report when it comes to like being in the business and being a journalist. And sometimes, you know, colloquial stories or, you know, hearsay or that type of stuff, that doesn't make a true story is still relevant when you get to another story. And his point was like, you know, it's been known for a while that Tiger is very much a guy that wants to be in control at all time. He has a big ego about it. he's been very much, know, like people have suggested to him this before for what has been said. And he's like, no, I drive my car. I drive my car. And it has to do with him growing up and not being in control of everything because of Earl. So now he really wants to be in control. And you know.

Holyduffer: Well, the problem is he drive his car, he crash his car.

Strolan: It's like that thing, it's like, you know, he's known as one of the greatest black golfers at all time, but every 10 years he reminds you he's Asian. Oh my God, it's like, this is it.

Holyduffer: Right? It's great because, okay, those of you playing at home, Asian people generally aren't known as great drivers. I'm sure there's some people that are race car drivers. I'm just not saying a lot of them. That's all.

Strolan: In this So it's a trope, but know, sometimes stereotypes are real or stereotypes are funny because they're true. But this situation, this situation, I mean, it's easy to joke about because no one was hurt. But, know, at some point, you know, when you've been got racked over two DUIs and you've had two other separate racks, one over there in Riviera that they didn't test his blood either.

Holyduffer: Occasionally they come they come to life. Yes

Strolan: And he had very well been in this same situation. But a lot of people are saying they gave him the benefit of the doubt in that on that wreck because he almost lost his leg in his life and he's famous. So it's like, you know, OK, we'll take it easy on him. The only person he hurt was himself. But at what point does he hurt someone else? I mean, for what I've heard, for what I've heard about this accident, he was literally in one of the things in the police statement came out today is he said he was on his phone and literally he was going 80 miles per hour through this.

Holyduffer: What's matter with time?

Strolan: know, ⁓ neighborhood, this really rich and fancy residential neighborhood that the guys I know laying up are saying it's like it boggles your mind to get up to 80 mile per hour on these streets. They're like residential wide 25 mile or streets where kids play and he was going over 75 plus. And then he comes out. He also said he was looking at his phone. and looked up and saw the saw the trailer and then moved over it clipped the back of the trailer where there's like kind of a ramp and it flipped the car and then it comes out that he had pills in his pocket, OxyContin's. So this is all come out today out of the police report. And now it's like, OK, he was never a driver. He wants to be in control. Well, once you step out the door and on the street, your private life is over and you're in the public. And what you do in the public matters. And what if there's some kids playing in that?

Holyduffer: Wow.

Strolan: know, street where he ended up sliding through and he wipes out a couple of kids. And you think it easily can happen. So now we're getting to a situation with him where it's getting a little scary because he's like the face of the franchise with with the PGA. He's really involved with that. And and you know, how does all this look?

Holyduffer: easily could have happened. Right. Well, it's starting to look really bad because, like you said, I think we all gave Tiger Woods the doubt, especially when he like, you know, almost lost his leg. OK, no one's really worried about that. I mean, if you've been up around Reviera, it's it's not that hard to have an accident. really isn't. ⁓ This is 100 percent different. ⁓ I remember Keeshaun Johnson.

Strolan: Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: lives in LA in a fancy private ⁓ area. That's a lot like that where it's just like small residential streets. They're not meant for people to go blaring through it. And Justin Bieber had just gotten a Ferrari, was ripping around in it. And Kishon Johnson ran him down and got out of his car to go beat his ass to let him understand you don't do that in this neighborhood that my kids play here. And that's because that's it. Like, don't care. He's like, do that somewhere else. Don't do that around my family. And that's what, you know, come on. He got lucky. We all got lucky that nothing worse happened here.

Strolan: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And it's funny, leading into that, story is perfect for like this next point that they brought up on Friday. He's like, well, why don't those around him advise him better? Why don't they, you know, and the thing is, is Tiger controls the relationship because of his fame. You know, he decides whether whether you're in or out. And if you come to him and you start, unless you're his kids, which would probably be able to reach him, which I think did because also a report came out today that he is stepping away from golf completely and going and.

Holyduffer: Yeah.

Strolan: seek help for this issue, which is the good news. I don't wanna bury the lead, because that is the newest story. Right before I came on, we came on, I read that. But other than that, who's gonna say that to him? Because look at Hughes Norton, his first agent that got him his Nike deal and got him his deal with Titleist. He was his very first agent. He got him that deal when he was an amateur. was worth $100 million. Within one year of Tiger,

Holyduffer: Yeah.

Strolan: winning the Masters, he vaporized that relationship. He refuses these days to talk to Norton. Won't talk to him, refuses. And all because he started advising, well you should do this, now you should do that, now you won the Masters, and he's like, no, you're done. And like, that's it. So it's like, that's the cards he holds, so he's not gonna listen to anyone when they say, hey, you should have a driver, ⁓ that's what you think, get the fuck out of here.

Holyduffer: Right. Well, how about this? Even another good example is Butch Harmon. Butch Harmon, you know, started started, you know, saying, hey, you know, I'm coaching the greatest, the greatest golfer there ever was. And Tiger didn't like that. Now we can talk revisionist history a little bit. I think everyone agrees that when he was with Butch, he played his best golf. I think he.

Strolan: Yeah, absolutely. 100%. Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: is at least well, he could have gotten closer. You don't know, but could have gotten closer had he just not blown up up that relationship and started redoing his swing. Now, he's such a good athlete and has so much natural talent that he was able to redo his swing three times and still win. But in 2007, right, six and seven, he won in an insane amount of tournaments. won major after major. There was no stopping him. And yet, because Butch Harmon got a little too, I don't know what, big for his britches or something, like made it about him and not Tiger. Same thing. He just like blew it up. Totally did. Absolutely did. And, you know, nothing against any other coach that he's that he's had. Butch Harmon

Strolan: be. Mm hmm. Yeah, vaporize them, like, eliminate them.

Holyduffer: is the goat. He is. So yeah, it's a trip.

Strolan: I mean, and on top of that, too, I mean, if you look at all the all the swing changes he went through, this is what, you know, led to his injuries is where it all started was these different type of forces he was changing around and putting more pressure on his back, putting more pressure on his knees. I was going to kick. You ever see like right now, Sean Foley right now he's he's advertising some like launch monitor and it's like former coach of Tiger Woods. It's like, dude, yeah, for five minutes and you fucked up this.

Holyduffer: for five minutes. How many majors buddy? How many majors did he win with you?

Strolan: And he fucked up his swing and he's still fucking jacking around that. It's like, dude, that is fucking hilarious. But, know, there's there's that there's the injuries, there's the wreck where he almost lost his leg. You know, all these things can lead to that. And there's also a lot of pressure on him. Get another point the guy's a fried egg made as they were talking about, like, you know, is there a possibility that he's just being squeezed dry by the PGA?

Holyduffer: Right?

Strolan: You know, they have them on the competition committee. They have them everywhere. It was really funny on a previous Shotgun Start episode that relates to this. They were talking about how if Tiger like went to the senior US senior open and played how that would suck the vac the air right out of the room for the PGA because everybody would go, ⁓ Tigers over here.

Holyduffer: Right.

Strolan: You know, Tigers over here and that's how the media covers it. It's all about what's Tiger doing, what's Tiger doing, what's Tiger doing? You know, how much is it at is culpable as well. It's like, why should so much pressure? mean, the guy revolutionized the sport and brought a ton of money into it. But like we've been riding Tiger's dick for fucking 20 plus years now. And at what point is it like, you know, we got to build different stories. And this guy is like really being put through the wringer at this point. And at what point do we sit there and go, you know, is this really with this type of

Holyduffer: Right.

Strolan: eyes being put on the PGA tour in this fashion, which isn't a good fashion. Is this the best guy like to be representative of us? Or like he said, I'm he's stepping away right now to go get right. Maybe that was what the PGA told him is like, you know, Brian roll up comes from the fucking NFL mark. How do they handle this stuff?

Holyduffer: You get your shit together and then you come back. If you come back, you come back with your shit together.

Strolan: Yeah, I mean, there is none of this. I mean, they'll be like, hey, if it's Tom Brady, we're going to be a little kind to him. But there's another reason why you've never seen a Tom Brady in the world in this type of situation.

Holyduffer: Well, it's not, they just say no. But what they do also say, ⁓ right, well, you are valuable to us, but you can't be valuable like this. So let's get you help. Like they do do that. And it's in their best interest of the NFL and the player. Like everybody wins if we take care of this. Then I'll look the other way.

Strolan: And well, that looks like, like I said, but yeah, no. And I think that's kind of like, it sounds like that's how this is being handled because that's exactly right before he came on, I just, I wanted to pull up a story on Tiger. So I had my, you know, peezing cues in line and I kind of knew what I was, I kind of knew what I was gonna talk about. I wanted to make sure I had the names and places correct. But yeah, he's stepping away. mean. He was supposed to play in the Masters. He was in golf clothes during the rec. He was standing there in his golf. He came from practice because he wanted to play in the Masters. And also, they're opening up the nine hole course, the executive course that he designed for Augusta National called The Loop. It opens next week. They're having opening ceremonies. He's supposed to be there. I think he ain't going to be fucking there. There's no way. And so what does this mean? Yeah.

Holyduffer: Yeah. No, he's not there. There'll be a cut out of him. Hi, I'm Tiger Woods.

Strolan: I got a TGL. So, my God. I mean, this kind of really changes his trajectory. Because I think the media really needs to stop pushing Tiger the player, what are we gonna do with Tiger the player? What's going on with Tiger the player? Is he coming back again? That stuff needs to go away. He's done as a player, it's over. If he wants to play some senior tour events,

Holyduffer: Don't get in the car with me. Yeah.

Strolan: If he wants to try to go after that USGA senior championship to get all the USGA defined, go get your shit right and we'll look at that. we need to start taking, the media needs to take a hard look at themselves. The PGA needs to take a hard look at themselves and say, hey, are we gonna move on and start building stories about now? Instead of writing this poor guy who did so much for the game, who's now obviously lost, in trouble, and he's got kids. Let him go get right and let him come back in a more graceful manner. Does that make sense or am I being like a little crazy?

Holyduffer: No, it totally does. And it's what's right for him. And at some point, golf has to move on and should move on. I don't think here's the thing. The PGA doesn't want to because, well, it moves the needle. And Tiger Woods doesn't want to because that's all he's been doing for most of his life. So it's totally.

Strolan: Yeah, that's the tough part for it's gonna be for him to make this decision.

Holyduffer: Well, you just saw like a story about ⁓ Tom Brady, like, you know, dipping his toe in the water about coming back. And then if I was like, no, we don't think so. Yeah, there's like, you know, that'll be a distraction. You know, you you're great in the booth. Stay where you do what you do now there. And that's just him. Like he misses it. Like he.

Strolan: Yeah, your story is done here. Right. Yeah.

Holyduffer: He's been doing that at a high level for so long. That's really tough to walk away from. So I don't think, I'm not saying it's easy. I think that when you've been that good at something and just it goes away and time just takes it from you. It's not like you anything else. That's rough. That's not an easy thing. So.

Strolan: Yeah. I mean, you can tell that, you know, if you look at Tiger and other than him really not looking right, like face wise, really poofy, bleary eyed, slurring his language, it's been going on. Everyone's been noticing on the TGL. This is getting back to the thing that Brendan was talking about on Shotgun Star. It's like, you know, these we'd wag our tongues. We talk about it, you know, but no one's running out to go to a report on it because it's disrespectful. know, it's it's it's Tiger Woods. You know, OK, that's way he is. That's what he's doing now. He's dealing with things. But then again,

Holyduffer: Right, he's still Tiger fucking Woods.

Strolan: Kevin von Valkenburg on the shock and the start is one that made the point. It's like, yeah, but the second you walk out the door and you get in the car and you're in the public and you're doing shit like that, then people have to talk about it because now it's defining your decision making process and the type of person you are. you know, it's like he needs to look it looks like he has hopefully looked hard in the mirror. And but, you know, I'd like to see, like I said, a new era tiger and something else that doesn't involve like, you know, this idea he's going to make some miraculous come back because that's done.

Holyduffer: ⁓ yeah. ⁓ I you know, I mean he doesn't want to hear that and it'd be an amazing thing if he did it, but he should. You know, take a patient with Nicholas Playbook. Make courses, be an ambassador, go do other things. Or do nothing with golf. Just play with your kids. Support your kids do that. ⁓ Open a course every once in awhile. Live your life. Don't well.

Strolan: It's over. Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: Don't drive a car, but live your life. Just don't, just don't do it. But yeah, do that. ⁓ Because unfortunately he's had too many injuries and he's in actually incredible shape for his age. But the reality is that he's not gonna beat Scheffler, Rahm,

Strolan: Don't drink. Yeah, just don't do it.

Holyduffer: D. Shambo. I'm not sure he can beat Mickelson right now. Do you know what I mean?

Strolan: And I think the story that I really would like to see if there's a comeback story is like I was saying, him coming back, USGA, senior open, winning that, winning the trophy. But here's the kicker with the senior tour. They get to drive carts. Are they going to let him drive his cart?

Holyduffer: right ⁓ if you could well no he just i think he needs a driver like no no no tire tire we got it we got it we got it we'll get you a

Strolan: The caddy can't drive, the caddy's gotta walk. who's gonna drive? Should he get like a midget?

Holyduffer: I think a midget works. Yeah. But with the whole thing, with like the whole outfit, like the Alfred outfit.

Strolan: Yeah, we get the longer pedals and... Yeah, they were mad. They they can. No, no, no. I think we're matching outfits. That would be sick. Yeah, like many times we need a black semi bald midget. Where can you find me?

Holyduffer: ⁓ like, MIDI tiger? That'd be awesome. Dude, that'd be awesome. That looks jacked.

Strolan: ⁓

Holyduffer: Just grrr. All right. Like just popping steroids, like right there, just like candy. Right? Awesome.

Strolan: This is good. It's so good. All right, off a tiger. Let's get off tiger's jock. I put empathy in there. I put a little sadness. I ripped on him. A little anger for his behavior. So we've covered all the bases.

Holyduffer: Alright. Yeah, that's enough. mean, I'm glad he's getting help. Yeah, mean, you you can't do that shit, man. I don't care who you are.

Strolan: Yeah, you know exactly. can't do that shit. So Mark, let's get to the main topic. We are exactly one hour in and we've done nothing but jaw jack about what even is the main topic. So let's get to the main topic because I found this. Now hold on before you introduce us to the main topic. did. Mark did write a really good article on this topic. It's on our Holy Duffer podcast or Holy Duffer website. Holy Duffer dot com. And I will be putting out there on the social media with the promotion for this website as well or for this

Holyduffer: Yeah.

Strolan: podcast as well. But yeah, what did you do? Come on, tell us.

Holyduffer: Yeah, so I have been a perpetual ⁓ golf club hoe. have never like, like they know me better as the at the golf store than my wife knows me like this is like it's they do they do know it literally is like that I'm like norm I like the norm of the golf shop. Yeah. Everyone knows your name.

Strolan: What? What? What is this? Do you walk into Roger Dunn and they go, Mark.

Holyduffer: because you're there so much. I, know, part of this is all the technology is available and you can have launch monitors. You can like tweak and do all this stuff. It's really cool, except it doesn't really give you a ⁓ really solid base to get better because you're adjusting to things. You're trying to fix things with technology, which I think can only go so far. So what I've done is said as of this,

Strolan: Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: taping. The bag is locked for 12 months. I'm not changing the thing besides maybe grips like, you know, something durable, but the clubs are going to be the same. I might change the settings. That's why when I did this, like set like they're set like this, this might evolve. And so that'll be something interesting.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that was a nice thing about about your articles. You were pretty in depth, like your lie angles in your shafts and all that, which is that's a cool thing about the article. You'll touch on, I'm sure a little bit here in explanation. But but that was it was kind of neat because I was like, ⁓ I didn't think about that because it really gives you an idea of exactly what you're trying to accomplish with this bag. So I thought that was cool.

Holyduffer: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So I started off thinking about it and doing this like, all right, well, so everybody starts off with a bag for various reasons. Maybe you have a club championship, maybe you're a pro trying to win a tournament, or maybe you're like, you know, 25 handicap trying to break 90, whatever it is, you're trying to do something with it, right? You're picking, you're picking, you know, your arrows to do this, picking what you want. And I figured out it's like, all right, so everybody needs a driver.

Strolan: Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: a putter and a sandwich, full stop. Every bag, I don't care what you do, you need those. I'm like, okay, so what else do need? Well, you need to cover your average yardages and your approach yardages. And it turns out, Ping did this great thing. I don't have it in front of me, but at every level, at every distance and speed, ⁓ approach shots and ⁓ wedge shots cluster in the same way. It's about 150. And but the average is right around summer, you know, north of 100. So 105 110, something like that to like 170 175.

Strolan: That sounds totally right.

Holyduffer: Yeah. So, and then you need, you know, you need something for long par threes, which I agree with Justin Thomas should be banned, but whatever you run into, even if you're playing off like the whites like you and I do, you run into like 190 or 200 yard par three.

Strolan: Well, then also you have your par fives where, you know, I'm a big guy. go at par five for me. If it's a generic setup where there's nothing forced carry or, you know, so we're going to lay up is driver five wood, driver five wood, driver five wood. So I know I can cover I can cover minimum 225 with my driver and then I'm going to cover another 200 with my five with my with my five wood, maybe more if I really get a hold of it. Bam. You got you got this.

Holyduffer: Right. Solid. Yeah. Right. Yeah, and that's, you gotta have.

Strolan: 430 yards, knocked off the hole, hit two good shots straight. And now you're looking at usually on most white tees that we play from them, what'd you say about 6,000 yards, 6,100, whatever it is. So you're gonna end up with about what you just said. If it's a long one, about 140 yards. If it's a normal one, maybe, or even a shorter one, maybe you're like 70 to 100 yards. So what you're saying is exactly 100%.

Holyduffer: Yeah, it's easy what it's easy to do, Yeah. Yeah. So in those those numbers will track, honestly, if you're playing the right teas pretty closely, they might be different actual clubs, but that yardage you're trying to cover is going to be what that's going to be. And so, you know, then, know, like, all right, so I have a sandwich. You should have gap wedge. You should tighten up your gaps because ⁓ this is interesting thing about dispersion, as I found out. And it makes sense once you hear it. But dispersions. from the top of the bag going down are mostly left to right. The biggest variance is left to right. you you're trying to keep it within a fairway or whatever. As you get down to your wedges, it starts being back to front. Most people hit their wedges pretty straight, but it's actually, you know, getting the north-south yardage. So having a tighter...

Strolan: Mm-hmm. I blade my wedge. It's fucking laser straight. Fucking like a piss missile.

Holyduffer: Yeah, ⁓ yeah, totally do. Right? And so, right, so as you should. And so ⁓ that means like having tighter gaps down there make more sense to me, right? So four degree gaps, so we go, know, 46, 50, 54, and then you need a lob wedge, 58, you need to, you know, get out of jail club. And that kind of... puts you right, now you're, that's 13 clubs. You have an extra club. And so here's a really interesting thing to think about. Like, what is it that you want? Do you want another club up towards the top so that tightens up those yardages? Are you concerned about being, you know, in between that, say I have a five hybrid, I turned down to 24 and a half, so it's like a four and a half hybrid, right? I can hit that thing about, 175, 180. I hit the five wood, like 200, maybe 210. So it's about 20 yards. It's not as tight. So do you need that, do you wanna stretch those numbers out? Or do you want an extra club down low? And I went with a 62 degree. And as we talked about at top of this, like it paid off. Like if you are...

Strolan: It paid off.

Holyduffer: It is one of those clubs that makes being short-sighted, if you have a good lie, you feel like, I got this. Because it's super simple to use. It's just let the wedge do what it's supposed to do, right? It just pops it up softly and lands it where you want it. It's really cool. ⁓

Strolan: Yeah, and I like that, because I mean, really at the top of your bag, the only thing I can imagine putting up there in replacement of that club, and I wouldn't do it, I think your idea of putting an extra wedge in is fucking spot on, would be an extra tee club, Mini Driver 3 would. And that's great, and that's where I would look at that.

Holyduffer: Yeah. Well, I have a mini driver. I do.

Strolan: So then you were kind of making the choice between a three wood and another wedge. And know, because you have a mini driver. it's another wedge all the way. What are you gonna do with a three wood? know, most people don't have the swing speed to get it in the air. You know what mean?

Holyduffer: I could put another, yeah, I could. Well, that's why it's the mini driver, right? The mini driver, like I hit it a bunch today because it was tight and it hit, I hit it like, you know, two 15, two 20. And it's just lazy. It's just a tighter dispersion.

Strolan: And on that course, which is short, how far were your approaches? 80 yards.

Holyduffer: 100 to 80, like I don't think I hit, on my approaches, I don't think I hit more than like an eight. Most times I hit one on the last hole we played, which was nine, I hit a hybrid, I my hybrid, which I flared otherwise it would have been right on the green. ⁓ But yeah, so that's the thing. It's like, I could, all right, so I could put another hybrid in, I could have like moved, you know, I could make the,

Strolan: Perfect.

Holyduffer: If I were a little stronger, right, and I could have like tightened up that top end and that there's you could do that. That's fine. I just looked at like statistically speaking. I'm really unlikely to be in that situation. And here's the other thing talking about like scoring method and things. You have to also think of it this way. ⁓ If you have that extra club.

Strolan: Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: you need it because you didn't hit a good drive or you got in some kind of trouble, like you got out of position in some way. Is it better to have a club that tempts you to take on more risk or is it better to have a club that helps you get out of the thing, you know, get out of trouble? Like that's kind of how I looked at it. You know what I mean? Like, okay, that's enough to cover everything. But I think if I had that club, I'd be like, I think I can get there.

Strolan: Right. That's smart. I like that.

Holyduffer: And that's, the reality is that the longer I get away from the green, the less likely I am to hit a green anyway. And I'm like, yeah, I just felt like it was asking for more risk.

Strolan: See? That's why that, yeah, no, that's, and that's the risk I took on when I hit that whole shot on nine that Ryan talked me into, because he's talking to me because we were playing match play, and he's like, yeah, he's going to fuck this up. And then I absolutely, that's probably one of the reasons why, other than the guy walking in his back, you know, is, you know, out of the corner of his eye, where he's hitting his shot, he's probably also steamed because I just absolutely just torched his five wood and just launched it in the air. I mean, usually I hit that thing about 65, 70 yards in the air or 70 feet.

Holyduffer: Yeah. Yeah.

Strolan: It was at least 80, 85 feet in the air. It was way up there and came in on a descent angle and came down there. I couldn't find the pitch mark. It was on the green, but I think it landed right in front of it and just kind of hop forward and popped on. There was no pitch mark. And, you know, that was not the correct shot. What I was thinking in my head was the correct shot because I knew I could just take a seven iron, throw it down there. 100 is would have gone 160, 165 and right in front of bronca. Big giant green. Take a wedge.

Holyduffer: Nice. Wow. It just popped on, yeah. Right.

Strolan: Lippin up over there and have still have the same as a par putt. You know, I got a tag left it like it was a 20 foot putt that I left. I think three inches away and tapped in because I am a good lag putter, but it's still I could have had a longish putt in the same situation. Play would have led to a bogey, but it definitely would took all the bad numbers out of play to hitting that five would put all the bad numbers in the play. There was nothing but trouble other than hitting the shot I did. If I had done anything else other than hit that shot.

Holyduffer: Right.

Strolan: which is one of the top shots I hit in 2026 by far. think it was actually rated, you know, Arcos does a rating thing, it rates out, it gets a PGA Pro. I think it was in the top 72%. It's like up there, like this is like from that distance, there's no way, you know, most pros are, you know, they're, of course, you know, they're hitting an eight iron that far, seven iron, but I mean, for me, hit a five wood and get it on the green is pretty accomplished, but it's still a stupid fucking shot.

Holyduffer: Well, yeah, so that's that, right? It's like the most, it's not, the stats tell you that if we play that hole 100 times both ways, you will score better with the seven-iron play. You will, overall. Like if you just like attack, that's how that's gonna work. Now it worked out this time, and that's what happens. You you do take, you have to know the risk and then know the rules and then know when to break them. Like, okay, you know what?

Strolan: is still a stupid shot.

Holyduffer: You had room, you had room, you were doing well in your match too. That makes a difference. Like if you were tight...

Strolan: Yeah, no, had I was, you know, at that point, it's going to the nine. I think it was five up.

Holyduffer: Yeah, five up, I would take that, I would be willing to take that chance at like one up, I'm like, no, the seven and I'm gonna just, I'm gonna take what I can get, yeah. And that's why.

Strolan: Right All right, so let's do, let's go through the more, now we know what clubs, but what clubs? So what's your driver right now? Let's go into.

Holyduffer: My driver is the Cobra Optum X. It's ⁓ Cobra. So I did, and I do like the GT2. ⁓ The Optum X, now they did something really interesting with this. They talk about something called POI, which is taking into account ⁓ all axis of rotation as opposed to just a twist, the normal phase twist.

Strolan: Mmm, Cobra, really? I thought you had a titleist. Okay. You're talking about, you know, hitting up, hitting down, hitting up, also hitting down, hitting left, hitting right. Other than twisting it, which way you are presenting the face? Okay.

Holyduffer: ammo is about how it goes Yeah, so... Well, how it reacts. it's a more complete ⁓ calculation of stability. essentially, with MOI, you want a high number. With POI, you want close to zero, like as close as you can get. So these have this. And I tell you, I just hit it straight. Like straight, it goes where I want to. I don't have to. Right now, it has a slight flare. I'm like, I can fix that with my grip. just have to work on that. But it just goes where I want it to go. Like super easy, I don't have to worry about it. It just goes. And in fact, I wasn't used to that. So I probably could have hit it couple more times and I didn't. So I have that.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Perfect. That's you're being a little cautious on a new course that you can get in trouble down down range real quick. So that's fine. We're good with that.

Holyduffer: Yeah, so yeah, so we do that then we go to a like for the target woods ⁓ Layup off the tee taking less less off the tee. I have a mini driver with ⁓ the Cobra. It's the Cobra mini driver off the same line and the and yeah and Dude they that that line so I watched and it's a great if you're into equipment if

Strolan: Wow, Cobra,

Holyduffer: If this is your jam fully equipped on YouTube, it is the Golf Channels series. They did what five full fittings. They went to every major manufacturer. They went to Ping, they went to Titleist, Callaway, Cobra and Strixon. And they do full fittings and some and they focus on different people in the fitting, but

Strolan: Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: when they got to Cobra, they'd already been to Ping and they'd already been to Callaway. And they were like, this is the straightest driver I've hit. And that's saying something because the Ping 440K is an absolute beast. And they still were really impressed with it. And I hit it and I'm like, yeah, I see what you mean. Like it's so hard to hit offline. It's just amazing. And.

Strolan: That's crazy.

Holyduffer: They're outside, I have the five wood, the Optima X five wood, which I love. Like I I hit that thing amazing.

Strolan: So your whole wood line is all OptiMax.

Holyduffer: All Automex, all new Cobra. It is pretty sexy. And then we, it is pretty sexy. And then we go down to a ⁓ Ping 430 Hybrid. It's a five, I turned down to 24 and a half degrees. like, it's a week four is what it is. And then I go, and I have the, I have the, ⁓

Strolan: sexy. That is pretty sexy. Love me the 430. Okay. Okay.

Holyduffer: the Chrome Tour Stiff, which is a pretty beastie shaft in it. So you can just feel like you can rip on it, you know? And it's actually so stout that I tend to fade it in it. And I like that because I know I'm never gonna hit a hard hook with it. Does that make sense?

Strolan: Okay. Yeah, that's a hybrid problem. That's why I play fairy woods, because I just cannot. I just I just I just fucking hook the fuck out of it. And it got and it got worse when I started hitting a draw. It's like, you know, I'm still trying to get over the PTSD of aiming more right. And then it's like, you know, then I put a hybrid in my hands and it's like. Like, yeah, no. And I've always been a fair way with a guy since I was a kid. I my favorite club has always been my five wood.

Holyduffer: Right, right. And this is the only one I could hit like that. Like, it's, I'm with you, like, it's just... Right. Right. Okay.

Strolan: I had a five wood, I had a seven wood as a kid. My first set had driver three, five, seven, all persimmon. But I loved my fairway woods, I just always have. So, this is where I live.

Holyduffer: Yeah, and that's a good thing to point out. There are people that are hybrid people and there people that are fairway people. 100%. He is. He totally is. Oh, he does. And this is the only hybrid I've had where can, it doesn't go left. And you can make it flatter and I don't because it already kind of never wants to go left on me. Yeah.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. I totally agree. Ryan's a hybrid guy. Ryan's a hybrid guy. And he hits the fuck out of it. Hand up. That's cool. Cool. So you're now you're into your irons. Your irons. Irons.

Holyduffer: Yeah, so I go six, I runs six through hybrid. We do the ping I 240s, which we talked offline about how they are. If you want launch and spin, you want control.

Strolan: Well, got your you wedge right here.

Holyduffer: You want control, there isn't much, this is the place to go. Like it's hard to beat. It's a cavity back, but it gives you a lot of control. And so I really love them a lot. It's a.

Strolan: I'm hitting this, you gave me the U-Edge to borrow and I'm gonna replace it with a Mizuno of similar loft. And I know I'm gonna take a hit on spin because this thing spins almost 10K, this fucking U-Edge. It's like insane. So I know I'm gonna go, the descending angle is like 50 degrees, like 48.5, it's like, just stupid. It's like, yeah.

Holyduffer: Yeah. Yeah. It's a beast. It's totally a beast. It is so automatic, dude. That thing is so automatic.

Strolan: But you know, it's for me and the gapping I have in my particular bag, it's about five yards short of what I want. So I'm to give up a little spin to get my five yards back to make my gapping right and give you your club back this time. This time you get a club back. This time. So, but anyways, yeah, did this. It's the only 240 I've hit and it is fantastic. What a great set of clubs.

Holyduffer: time. This just this time just this time. So yeah so Yeah, and that's why you see them, they're on tour, a bunch of players are using them, they're a legit set, can't say enough. Right? So then we do ping wedges in the 50 degree gap, a 54 E grind, which is the like I2 grind. So it's got, it's like, if you ever, we don't get into it a lot, but have I ever get into some fluffy sand?

Strolan: Yeah, they're they're chefs, chef, chef, chef, chef, Mm hmm. Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: This is the club for it'll just move in perfectly and be great. ⁓ Yeah, I would all day.

Strolan: It's Glendore Country Club, you'd love that. That's when I'm at Glendore Country Club, it's 56M and just poof, poof, poof, all day long, all day long. It's fun as hell.

Holyduffer: Right. All day. Oh, it totally is. then we go into the 54 and then we go into a 50. They're all the ping 159s and it's a 58 T grind, which is a little a little more bounce than the title this one. It's six, not four, but it's the same like the back of it shaved off like it just has nothing keeping you from getting it out of the out of the turf wherever you want to go.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. I love it. Know what I really like about the T grind? I got the 60 in the the Vokey is is tight lies and get the when you're doing, you know, the Joe Mayo thing with the shaft leaning forward and the ball that can just stands and you can just pick these balls off these tight lies and send in little low spinners. Oh, it's so fun. It's so fun. Once I learned that shot, I was like, I almost want to do it all. I almost try to do it too much. I did I did I did one from San Dimas from 56 yards out.

Holyduffer: ⁓ yeah. Okay. Right.

Strolan: As like, because it was downhill. like, I'm taking it too, but I did my 50 and I was like, I'm gonna hit a little one of these little spitters and see what happens, dude. I ended up like 12 feet past the hole, which was unfortunately above the hole. Missed the putt. Yeah. Yeah. First hole, Sandy. Missed. Can't get, can't get above it. Don't work. Don't work. So all right. What do you finish off with?

Holyduffer: Hahaha! ⁓ too bad Yes. No, no, no, no, no, no. That's never a good idea in San Dimas. Well, we finish off with the Vokey SM962 in an M grind. It's another six degree, it has a little more flan, a little more, like it's six degrees, but it's a little flatter out. has a little more beat on it than the T grind. So I like it because if you're, that's playing around with like, do I need a little, would I like a little more effective bounce?

Strolan: Okay. Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: you know it'll work out well but it's you can hit a lot of shots with it. Save my bacon today so I love that club it's already paying dividends.

Strolan: Yeah, That thing's already in the bag and not coming out even after a year.

Holyduffer: No, this, this, this, which that I'm actually really happy with. So, but our putter. So the putter is the Cobra 3DP Tour, Jera RS, which is, it's a 3D printed.

Strolan: Nice. Cobra again. That's what I was gonna ask, is it 3D printed? Look at you.

Holyduffer: It is. Now, what they do, like the inserts, so it's a milled, it's got a, no, it's a milled body, and then, milled body, ⁓ and then it has a 3D printed ⁓ insert in the middle to, ⁓ that gives it where the alignment is, and it's meant so that,

Strolan: Mm-hmm. ⁓ mild insert. Got it. a mild body.

Holyduffer: The way they do it, it provides structure, it gives everything you need, but it makes it really, really high MLI because the weight's really at the parameters for it, right? It's also got descending loft technology. And this is the LA Golf thing that ⁓ Bryson DeChambeau uses.

Strolan: Okay, okay. No, he doesn't. He left LA golf.

Holyduffer: He still has the putter though. Yeah, he still has the putter. So yeah, that's what he was playing with. I was clocking that as an LA Gulf putter, but it's... ⁓

Strolan: Does he? Okay, he kept the powder but he left it and he divorced them.

Holyduffer: He divorced them, but he definitely kept the putter. And so basically the idea is that no matter what, how you, you can change the way you deliver the club every time and you'll get the same lunch. Which that consistency, so that's all that. So we talked, I've talked in the articles, like look, with pros it's 10 feet, with amateurs it's more like six feet, where your make percentage drops off a cliff. After, look, if you're eight feet away from the hole, to be generous, that's probably six, let's say eight, your only thought, and we've talked about this, should be, Get it as close to the hole as possible.

Strolan: without going in.

Holyduffer: Distance control. I don't want to make it like when I when I practice putting I do an edge drill where I like I want the speed of the putt approaching the hole to be able to Actually aim at the edge and go it's going to be going just fast enough So it just catches the edge and comes in I don't want to go any faster than that go a little slower than that It can it can not get there, but when it gets the hole it has to it's a speed where if it caught the edge, would go in instead of past. It wouldn't do anything. And if you can get that speed, and the farther you get away, less, you know, that's like six to eight. After that, I don't care. I just want it to be near the hole. I want to be within a grip. Or better.

Strolan: Yeah. I don't want my second putt to be anything more than just a foot long foot long putt. It's ever. I hate it. I hate it. And the funniest thing is when I play with everybody.

Holyduffer: I don't want to, who wants a four or five footer? I don't care how straight it is. Yeah.

Strolan: I guess we'll just say Ryan, because we said it like 30 times already in the podcast. We're going to avoid that. Sorry, Ryan. But anyways, I play with him. He was like, I don't know why you get so upset when you like roll them past. make all the three footers anyways. I'm like, I don't want to be sitting there making. I don't want to be. It's too stressful. I'm like, OK, I miss that. I miss that 15, 16 footer. I just want to tap it in and move on with my day. He goes, well, exactly. Yeah, I'm not upset.

Holyduffer: What happens? Right, well, because I'm not supposed to make the 15 footer. don't I would it's it's I'm OK with it. I mean, I am aiming so that it that if everything goes right, it will. But I'm not trying that. I want to get it there. I want to be nice and close. And if it goes in fine, but I'm not trying to I'm not making sure it gets there that that never in never up. Never in is the one of the worst fallacies ever to be put into the golf line. It isn't right.

Strolan: No, no, I want to get there and. No. But if.

Holyduffer: Statistically speaking, you're just adding strokes. You just are.

Strolan: Yeah, because that makes you do is be like, well, never up, never end. I got to bang at this and you like fucking tons of guys I'm paired with. can't I don't understand why so many people hit the ball so far by the hole. It drives me nuts. I watch it. I'm like, what are we doing here?

Holyduffer: Right. Well, it's that. It's because they've been told you have to give it a chance. No, you don't. Look, if it's...

Strolan: Do they jam it like six feet past all the time? And I'm just like. I'm like, are you watching me putt? And they are because they're like sometimes they'll come in. I'm doing heads up putting and then sometimes I'll come and say, wow, you to putt a lot. I'm like, yeah, because my second putt's four inches away from the whole bud. You just launched yours like from 10 feet, four feet past. And then you launch another one a foot past and then you pretend to tap it and miss that one too and say, I'll just take a whatever. And it's like, what the fuck is going on here?

Holyduffer: You're not Tom Watson. Ha ha ha ha ha! Yeah, so that was the reason that putter was picked. It's like, OK, it is, you know, from a design standpoint, it should be the most consistent putter that I could put in the bag. Now, it has to make sense to you. know, putting. think, well, it is it's super personal and, know, zero torque like any other torque works for a percentage of people. You have to know who you are.

Strolan: So anyways, cool. Mm-hmm. is personal. Budding is personal.

Holyduffer: know what works for you and don't fight it. Like for me, I've tried zero torque. Zero torque, I just pull. Like I'll get online, but if I'm miss, it's gonna pull. And here's the thing about this, back to distance control. If I pull a putt, it's gonna go longer, right? It's gonna go farther. I don't want that. I'd like, if I'm gonna have a miss, I want to miss right. I want it to be shorter, not.

Strolan: Mm hmm. Right. Yes. Short, right.

Holyduffer: Short right, not long left. That's what I want. And that's why that literally why I don't don't have it because and then I have to focus a lot on my stroke as opposed to focusing on the target. I had some putts, so I don't want to have to look down because I can't. If I look down at the the at the the like shot window like most putters, people do, I can stroke that thing beautifully. But then I've lost my distance control. Right. And I can't. So, yeah, I can't do that.

Strolan: Mm-hmm. Mm hmm. For a micro factional grain gain of hitting a center strike because a putter is not a driver. It doesn't make unless you really tow it or stub it. Heel shot strikes are even just fine with the putter. But as long as you don't tow it or stub it, there's not much to be gained by hitting it right in the middle of the button on a putter. Yeah, it's the read in the speed.

Holyduffer: Right. Yeah. Have you read it reasonably well? Do you have a speed that matches that line? Okay, now you need to focus on that speed and everything else takes care of itself. So yeah, so that's why I don't do that. That's why I have, this is a face balance butter. works for me though. And mainly because it goes where I want it to go.

Strolan: Mm-hmm.

Holyduffer: is a very consistent putter. I've tried it and like I hit really consistent distances. Yeah, and that's, know, so that's why I have that putter and that's, ⁓ you know, now today was tough because I've been practicing on pretty fast greens and it was slow greens. I headed just to that. So the front the front was like, you know, wasn't bad, but on the back, I, you know, to put it or made everything I was looking

Strolan: That's all that matters. Yeah, they're saying it agrees. Nice. Nice, dude. Well, that's what's in Mark's bag, dude. What's in the bag? Maybe we'll roll this back around and I'll do my what's in the bag.

Holyduffer: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, how many, how many of my clubs are in your bag?

Strolan: Just one at the, oh no. Just two at the moment. I paid you for one of them. What the fuck are you talking about? Get out of here. Yeah, I paid for that. Well shit, Mark, that is coming in an hour and a half, three topics, half hour each. I love it. It was fantastic. Yeah, that was good. It was real good. I like chopping it up and we don't do it enough, well we do it a lot actually, but we don't do it enough on our podcast.

Holyduffer: Fair enough. Yeah, that's right. That's right. That's yours now. Okay, that doesn't count anymore. It doesn't count anymore. That was good. We don't do enough on the podcast. This podcast happens a lot, just you never hear it.

Strolan: Yeah, you never hear it. We practice it all the time. man, I think I'm gonna check out. I'm good after an hour and a half. I gotta go check in on my very sick doggy, my sick doggo, Waggo. Yeah, but she had a good day. She was eight. I'm gonna go feed her some more. We did have another segment we were gonna cover on this. I was gonna go in a little bit, you know, because I'm getting hyped up for the US Women's Open at Riviera, and I was gonna talk a little bit about the LL. Yeah.

Holyduffer: you Aww. Awesome. Yeah, well I have to do that another one. It's gonna be, that looks a lot of fun. I'm kind of jazzed about that too. So we'll make that for another one. That's gonna be fun.

Strolan: Yeah, we'll make that for another one for sure. And it was part of it was part about like, you know, one of the big things is they're like really upping the broadcast and, getting more women's golf on TV and adding to it. And I wanted to talk about that, but I just watched the first two broadcasts. I got a good portion of them at work. You know, I was able to flip it on so far so good, but not enough to talk about yet. So I knew that would take up more time. And I knew these three topics were going to be more important.

Holyduffer: Okay.

Strolan: Tiger flipping his car bumped my LPGA segment. So we'll roll that we'll roll it around the next pod.

Holyduffer: Well, what? Right? We'll flip that over next.

Strolan: Ooh, nice. I love it. I love it. OK. Useful. That was good. I like that. So I will bid you adieu. Thanks for having me on. What a great night and great podcast. This great talking about these are topics we wanted to cover and we nailed them. So awesome, man. I am out. Thank you, Mark.

Holyduffer: sir useful useful all right yes all right All right. Well, thank you, everyone, for hanging out with us for this long. We had a blast. I hope you did, too. You can ⁓ find us on all platforms, including Spotify and iTunes. You can watch us on our YouTube channel, the Holy Duffer Podcast. You can follow us on Instagram at Holy Duffer. And as always, the links to all the social media and the content we cover will be found in the show notes. Thanks for listening and As always, we'll see you down the fairway.