On this episode, I’m joined by Top Instructor Tom Patri, Pittsburgh Sports Talk Radio Host Paul Alexander, Wisconsin Golf Hall of Famer Gary D’Amoto, and US Kids Top 50 Master Professional Chris Knobloch.
Tom Patri and I talk golf conspiracy theories like Jon Rahm leaving for LIV, why Rory resigned from the PGA Tour Policy Board and looking at moving back to England, why NBC Sports let Paul Azinger and 15-year Producer Brandt Packer go, and what happens if the LIV/PGA Tour merger doesn’t go through.
Paul Alexander can be heard on 93.7 The Fan up in Pittsburgh. He is an expert on not only Pittsburgh sports, but also Western PA golf. I get his thoughts on the Steelers now that Matt Canada is gone plus if the Penguins can make to the post season. Paul recently emceed the Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony and we hear about that night and in particular Mke McGee, Annika Sorenstam’s husband, inducting his father Jerry McGee. Jerry was a 4-time winner on Tour and a part of the victorious 1977 Ryder Cup team. Paul also shares a great story of how he went from caddying for Arnold Palmer at a Pro-Am to teaming with Hale Irwin to beat Arnie and his partner.
Gary D’Amoto is an Officer for the Golf Writer’s Association of America and is also a member of the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame. He’s written several books one of which is autobiographical titled, A Perfect Childhood, Growing up in the 1960s with Baseball, the Beatles, and Beaver Cleaver. He shares his stories about what it was like growing up in the 60s, stories many of us can related to. We also talk Wisconsin golf, the 2017 US Open at Erin Hills, and the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. Gary has covered every Masters since 1993 and we hear about his chance meeting with a young Tiger Woods in 1996 and what it was like watching Jack Nicklaus make a run at a 7th Green Jacket at age 58 in 1998.
Chris Knobloch is a US Kids Top 50 Master Professional. He takes us inside his junior golf school and how he gets kids excited to play golf at a young age. We also get some advice for us as parents on how to allow our kids to enjoy the game without the pressure of our expectations for them.