Irish Golfer Podcast
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91 episodes
On this week’s edition of the podcast there was only one show in town as Rory McIlroy out-duelled Patrick Reed in the desert. From Tee-Gate to Tree-Gate, Reed’s name wasn’t far from controversy all week but it was the man who sidestepped his advances on Tuesday that proved elusive once more as McIlroy captured the Dubai Desert Classic crown. We have all the talking points from a wild week in golf and look ahead to another busy week on the calendar as the Challenge Tour and MENA Tour return for Ireland’s next tier of tour stars. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we recap the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship where Pádraig Harrington led a stellar Irish challenge that ultimately fell just short in the desert. The Dubliner is eyeing a history-making victory on the DP World Tour and few would bet against him after last week’s showing. It wasn’t to be either for Shane Lowry despite a brilliant ball-striking display from tee to green. We asses Lowry’s week that came unstuck at the finish and what Séamus Power can take from his fortnight in the UAE as he returned to Vegas as focus shifts to the PGA Tour. That’s where Jon Rahm continues to dominate after cashing in at the AmEx. We look at Rahmbo's reign and also recap Leona Maguire's return to action at the LPGA’s Tournament of Champions. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we discuss Golf Ireland’s changes to its Championship Qualification criteria and also reflect on Europe’s victory over GB&I at the Hero Cup, and the implications, if any, it will have for the Ryder Cup in September. It wasn’t the week Séamus Power and Shane Lowry were hoping for but strong performances from the likes of Italian duo Francesco Molinari and Guido Migliozzi certainly give European Captain Luke Donald food for thought. Also in Abu Dhabi, Brendan Lawlor dials in to discuss his first podium finish of the new G4D year, while elsewhere it was victory for Si Woo Kim at a sub-par Sony Open and the Netflix ‘Full Swing’ trailer officially dropped ahead of the documentary’s February release. We’ll have all the latest there and as ever, if you like what you hear, don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we look back at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, and a Sunday meltdown Collin Morikawa won’t be forgetting any time soon. Kapalua produced a worthy champion in Jon Rahm who took aim at the official world golf rankings where he sits unmoved in fifth spot despite winning three of his last five starts. 2022 was an unprecedented year for Irish golf and Galway’s Liam Nolan ensured 2023 got off to a flier too with victory at the South American Amateur. We reflect on his significant win in a Walker Cup year and look ahead to this week’s Hero Cup. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we were delighted to be joined by 2022 Irish PGA Region Order of Merit winner Richard Kilpatrick. The Banbridge pro explains how finding the right balance off the course produced what he describes as his best ever season on it. Kilpatrick’s money-list victory now opens doors to the PGA Play-Offs, which in turn provide DP World Tour playing opportunities should he perform at Aphrodite Hills. Kilpatrick predicts how his game will hold up should such opportunities present themselves, and he also discusses the likes of Gary Hurley and Tom McKibbin’s promotion to the Main Tour, and shares a great story about Shane Lowry’s short game genius. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we were delighted to be joined by Leona Maguire to reflect on a breakthrough season for the Cavan star. Maguire’s maiden LPGA victory last February feels like a long time ago now but it wasn’t just a first ‘W’ that satisfied the now world number 11 who also points to Major improvement at golf’s biggest events as a big reason for optimism ahead of 2023. The Solheim Cup hero also gave her assessment of a new date for the Women’s Irish Open, while looking ahead to the new season which will kick off for Maguire at the Tournament of Champions in January. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we were delighted to be joined by one of Ireland’s latest DP World Tour stars, John Murphy. Back home in Kinsale after a whirlwind year, Murphy reflects on a season of firsts, from teeing up on the PGA Tour to earning his European Tour card and his initial impressions of life on the main tour. Murphy details the nerves he felt during that life-changing week at Q-School and also looks back on brilliant experiences at the JP McManus Pro-Am, the Irish Challenge, and even not so brilliant experiences, like doing his best Pierce Purcell impression more recently in Mauritius. He even chats chance encounters with George W Bush and Macklemore. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think
On this week’s edition of the podcast we look back on the talking points from a busy week of global golf, from Viktor Hovland’s successful Hero defence to a home favourite filling his boots in South Africa, and an Adrian Meronk mauling Down Under. Tournament host Tiger Woods served up plenty of talking points from behind his Bahamas microphone, while Conor Purcell enjoyed a career-best week in Australia. There were also strong showings by ace in the hole, Tom McKibbin, and Gary Hurley in South Africa, and we also discuss Golf Ireland’s new tournament schedule for 2023. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we enter golf’s silly season where we sit down and chat about the trending topics in golf. As Ireland’s tour pros continue to punch well above their weight, we look back on a magical month of golf, shining the spotlight on Séamus Power, Tom McKibbin, Leona Maguire, Gary Hurley and many more. Tiger Month stumbled to a disappointing start with news of 15-time Major winner Woods’ withdrawal from the Hero World Challenge. We ask the hard question, is it the end of the road for the wounded Woods?, and also touch on subjects ranging from a new Irish Open date, to WHS worries, a relentless schedule, G4D shortcomings and a faulty Official World Golf Ranking system. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
DURING COVID A STATE OF THE ART SHORT GAME FACILITY OPENED UP IN CAVAN AT THE PGA NATIONAL SLIEVE RUSSELL. THE ACADEMY IS CALLED THE RAFLEWSKI GOLF ACADEMY AFTER THE WORLD RENOWNED SHORT GAME COACH GARETH RAFLEWSKI WHO HAS JOINED FORCES WITH PGA PROFESSIONAL GORDON SMYTH. WITH THE SEASON CLOSING OUT WE MADE OUR WAY UP TO CAVAN TO CHECK IT OUT AND CHAT TO THE TWO COACHES BEHIND IT.
As we bask in Seamus Power’s second PGA Tour title in 15 months we also take a look at the new date for the Horizon Irish Open, review the end of the first LIV Golf season, preview the lads looking to progress at DP World Tour School and Alps Tour Q-School. Tom Mckibbin and John Murphy are vying for DP World Tour promotion at the Challenge Tour Grand Final while we also discuss a glaring omission from Golf Ireland’s High Performance panel. And of course Rory is top of the world again.
As the first major domino has fallen in golf's ecosystem we are joined by Dan Godding the CEO of the PGA EuroPro Tour. As the final day of the Tour was playing out Dan joined us to discuss why the EuroPro Tour has ended after 20 years and the tough situation professional golf finds itself in post pandemic. As always we hope you enjoy the listen.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we were delighted to be joined by Jonathan Yates, fresh off his maiden professional win on the Alps Tour. The Naas star has secured some Challenge Tour status for 2023 with more opportunity to come this year at Stage Two Q-School. It was double joy for Ireland as Gary Hurley claimed one of five cards to Europe’s secondary tour via the season-long Order of Merit. We recap a brilliant season for Gary and round-up the rest of the news from an action-packed week in the wonderful world of golf. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we had a lot to get through, from recapping the triumphant return of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open to reacting to news of the PGA EuroPro Tour’s demise. Leona Maguire’s weekend heroics ensured massive crowds descended on Dromoland Castle and while the Cavan star’s performance will no doubt inspire a new generation, the next generation of male golfers were hit with news that their platform on the EuroPro Tour had been pulled from under their feet. We chat the impact of both stories and look ahead to this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links where Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are all in action. We also look back at a surprisingly enjoyable Presidents Cup, an event that added to an encouraging week all round for Team Europe’s Rome Ryder Cup bid. We hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast there was only one place to start as Matthew McClean came out on top of an All-Ireland Final against Hugh Foley at the prestigious U.S. Mid-Amateur. Major dates at the US Open and the Masters now await the Malone man in 2023 after he ended a run of near-misses in fine style against his Irish international teammate. There was also plenty to cover on the pro scene, from Robert MacIntyre’s Italian job to Danny Willett’s horror three-putt to where a Cam Smith win in Chicago stands in golf’s pecking order. And last but by no means least, we also look ahead to this week’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Dromoland Castle where home hero Leona Maguire is the pre-tournament favourite. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we had three global wins to celebrate as this little island of ours continued to punch well above its weight on golf’s world stage. Shane Lowry’s victory at the DP World Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth will live long in the memory as he got the better of Rory McIlroy down the stretch to claim another mega win. Not to be outdone and clearly inspired, Lowry’s great friend Pádraig Harrington picked up his hat-trick of PGA Champions Tour wins on Sunday night while a weekend of unprecedented celebrations began with Stuart Grehan claiming a maiden EuroPro win after a seven-hole epic playoff battle against Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy. There was plenty to recap at home too, including a magnificent course-record win for Liam Grehan at Millicent and the latest from the AIG Cups and Shields. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week's edition of the podcast we recap a jam-packed week of golf from the worlds of competition with consequence to the latest LIV Golf event in Boston. We go deep on what was a social media storm for the pro and anti-LIV brigade over the weekend and look ahead to how the so-called Saudi defectors will be greeted back on the DP World Tour at this week's Flagship event at Wentworth. We also discuss another top-10 for Leona Maguire as she shows form ahead of the eagerly-anticipated Women's Irish Open. There was a big week for Tom McKibbin on the Challenge Tour, pennants won and hearts broken at the AIG Cups and Shields at Tramore, and an emotional victory for Oliver Wilson in HimmerLand. We hope you enjoy the listen. Don't forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we recap the FedEx Cup finale where Rory McIlroy completed his hat-trick of PGA Tour Championship titles. The PGA Tour spokesman let his clubs do the talking at East Lake, at least prior to his winning press conference where he released both barrels on LIV Golf. With Cam Smith amongst the latest recruits to the Saudi-backed series, we also discuss the state of the golf nation, the direction the game is headed and where it leaves the DP World Tour. We also have Ryder Cup news, and more on Leona Maguire’s commitment to the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
We catch up with KPMG brand ambassador Leona Maguire as she confirmed her participation in this years KPMG Women's Irish Open taking place on 22nd-25th of September at Dromoland Castle. Visit www.kpmgwomensirishopen.ie for tickets and information.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we were delighted to catch up with the winner of the 112th Irish PGA Championship and now three-time Irish PGA Champion, Damien McGrane. The former European Tour winner turned Head Pro at Carlow showed plenty of retained ability to put the field to the sword at Carne Golf Links. Not only does McGrane reflect on the week that was, but he also looks back on his own playing career and explains how the playing side of golf has taken a back seat of late as he looks to give back to the game. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don't forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we recap a glut of golf at home and abroad, from another successful World Invitational renewal to Will Zalatoris’ maiden PGA Tour win. Barriers were once again broken down at Galgorm Castle and Massereene where Ewen Ferguson and Maja Stark collected the men’s and women’s prizes while Zalatoris came through an unforgettable playoff battle to capture an important win for the PGA Tour at the FedEx St Jude. We also discuss a hectic amateur schedule, reflect on an emotional near-miss for Annabel Wilson at the U.S. Women’s Amateur and look ahead to another frantic week on the fairways near and far. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we were delighted to be joined by the K Club’s own Liam Grehan on the eve of his first appearance on the Challenge Tour. The Irish Challenge tees off on the K Club’s Palmer South course on Thursday where Grehan recorded a sizzling 66 to claim second place at the K Club PGA Pro-Am earlier this month. We have all the latest from the Straffan venue, including a chat with one of the form home players, Gary Hurley. We also recap an eventful weekend for Irish golf as the island secured another Major winner in Darren Clarke, while Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley followed in the Northern Irishman’s footsteps with a North-South double on the amateur scene. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we recap a memorable week at The Open where Cam Smith stole the show from Rory McIlroy with a remarkable 64 to win his first Major title. We discuss a tale of two putters at St Andrews and what the result means for the main protagonists, with Smith rumoured to be LIV-bound and McIlroy major-less for another year despite an incredible season of near-misses. As ever, we cover the Irish angle from The Open and beyond, with another tour ‘W’ in the bag for the island courtesy of Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy on the EuroPro Tour, and a home win for Hugh Foley at the North of Ireland Championship. We hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On the eve of this week’s historic 150th Open, we dive deep into all things St Andrews, from the six-strong Irish contingent chasing the Claret Jug, to Tiger’s chances, our own idea of the winner and the Old Course itself. Much has been made about how St Andrews will cope with this new breed of golfer and although the wind isn’t forecast as strong as we’d like, there’s enough nuance to ensure a would-be champion will be well and truly tested come Sunday evening. We also run through the latest golf news from elsewhere, highlighted by Stuart Grehan outgunning a local favourite in Straffan to capture the K Club Pro-Am. As always, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast there was no shortage of talking points, from the future of the Irish Open to the JP McManus Pro-Am and the Open at St Andrews. Mount Juliet was an undoubted success but would a date change appeal to the game’s best players given how they lapped up all things Irish in Adare? JP’s Pro-Am set the world alight, not least because of Tiger Woods’ return to Ireland. We wonder if this year’s Open Championship might be his last? And we round-up all the action elsewhere too, including a first on the island – the inaugural Irish Open for Golfers with a Disability at Roganstown. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast there was only one place to start as Padraig Harrington collected a fourth Major title of his career at the U.S. Senior Open. Harrington held off a strong Steve Stricker challenge to win his first USGA title by a single stroke, making it two Irish wins on the weekend after a first pro win for West Waterford’s Gary Hurley on the Alps Tour. There was also a top-10 for Stephanie Meadow at the KPMG Women’s PGA where slow play and Lexi Thompson was the talk of the weekend despite In Gee Chun’s victory. We also chat a near miss for Ruaidhri McGee on the Alps Tour and look ahead to this week’s Irish Open at Mount Juliet. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week's edition of the podcast we analyse the PGA Tour's response to the LIV Golf threat and wonder where men's golf goes from here. As prize money increases, the rich are about the get richer but at what cost to those at the base of golf's earning pyramid? Speaking of money, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship announced a significant prize bump, doubling its purse to $9m ahead of this week's action at Congressional. We discuss the chances of Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow as Major opportunity knocks once more. As ever, there was plenty of lively debate. We hope you enjoy the listen, subscribe, and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we recap a wild one for golf. A week that began with those defecting to the controversial LIV series and facing the wrath of the media, ended with Rory McIlroy delighting in eclipsing Greg Norman’s 20 PGA Tour career wins at the Canadian Open. There was also a monumental win for Sweden’s Linn Grant at the Scandinavian Mixed; the 22-year old beating Henrik Stenson into second place by a whopping 9 shots. But while golf showed up Sunday in all its glory, major questions remain due to the bottomless pockets of LIV. We don’t claim to have the answers, but we do our best to pick apart the madness and plot a way forward for the game we all love. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week's edition of the podcast we were delighted to have Leona Maguire on the phone ahead of this week's $10m U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles. Back in North Carolina, where she enjoyed a remarkable collegiate career at Duke University, Maguire is hoping a return to a happy hunting ground might trigger an upturn in fortunates following three missed cuts heading into this week's event. Maguire is joined by Stephanie Meadow who will also look to shine at women's golf's richest tournament having finished third at the tournament on her pro debut in 2014. Away from golf's main event this week, the JP McManus Pro-Am is shaping up to be a major in itself. We chat more big announcements with Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth among those set to tee up at Adare Manor. There's Ryder Cup news, no news from LIV Golf which is news in itself, and much, much more. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don't forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
On this week’s edition of the podcast we recap an eventful US PGA Championship where Justin Thomas captured his second Wanamaker Trophy at Southern Hills. From JT’s playoff win over Will Zalatoris to agony for Mito Pereira, and another top-10 for Rory McIlroy, we dive deep on everything from Tulsa, including what a tied-ninth finish means for the ever-improving Seamus Power and Shane Lowry coming to the defence of a certain Olympic teammate. Elsewhere, we roundup all the Irish action from at home and abroad on the pro and amateur scene. As ever, we hope you enjoy the listen. Don’t forget to subscribe and let us know what you think.
