Bald Guys On The Bench
Bald Guys On The Bench
Keegan Bradley's Comeback: A Deep Dive into the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Recorded March 9th, 2025
Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco blend personal misadventures with sharp sports analysis in this laughter-filled episode. Graham shares his wild night babysitting a friend in Vegas that turned into a 45-minute downtown search mission after losing both the friend's phone and eventually the friend himself. The story sets the perfect tone for their trademark unfiltered commentary.
The conversation hits its stride discussing the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where their golf betting expertise shines. Scott's uncanny ability to pick profitable top-20 finishers continues as Keegan Bradley delivers a stunning Sunday performance, shooting an incredible 29 on the front nine. The hosts break down Russell Henley's victory while analyzing what made this tournament particularly challenging for even the world's best players.
Ryder Cup discussions dominate the middle segment as they examine whether Bradley, the current U.S. team captain, might qualify to play on his own team. Their candid breakdown of the current standings reveals surprising names in contention, with passionate debate about who deserves spots on the final roster for Bethpage. This leads to an unfiltered analysis of Phil Mickelson's controversial claims comparing LIV Golf's importance to major championships and the Ryder Cup itself.
The episode showcases why listeners return weekly – honest sports commentary wrapped in genuine friendship and humor. From celebrating Michael Kim's remarkable consistency to previewing The Players Championship, Graham and Scott deliver expert insights without pretension. Their natural chemistry makes complex sporting discussions accessible while never sacrificing authenticity or entertainment value.
Ready for more unfiltered sports talk? Subscribe to Bald Guys on the Bench and join the conversation with Graham and Scott as they tackle next week's Players Championship and the upcoming NFL free agency frenzy!
#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #pgatour #arnoldpalmerinvitational #keeganbradley #rydercup #livtour #philmickelson #nfl #nflfreeagency
Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast, with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco.
Graham:What's up everyone? Welcome back to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench. You know who it is I'm Graham. I got my boy Scott here. What's up, brother? Everyone? Welcome back to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench. You know who it is, I'm Graham. I got my boy Scott here. What's up, brother?
Scott:Well, graham it's Sunday night, getting a little late start tonight it's about 11 o'clock, thought we were going to have a little golf episode, you know talking about the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Yeah, we are going to talk a little bit about that, but then all hell hit the fan about 6 o'clock my time and the NFL. Let's go. But before we get started, you know we're starting talking about sports. You know we got to go, we got to grab it, we got to crack it. Let's do it.
Beatin The Bookie:I mean, wish I could say this is my first one tonight, but it's not so let's go, love it.
Scott:I could say this is my first one tonight, but it's not so let's go. So you know, like we always start off the episode talking about the weekend Graham, what'd you do? Hopefully we're not even going to get into that story Thursday night with you and your boy. Oh yeah, no, we'll just bypass that. But if you like losing your phone in Vegas and Graham babysitting, you're going to love this story.
Graham:But we'll just If you really want to know, send us an email at baldguysonthebench at gmail and I'll tell you.
Scott:And by wanting to know, you don't want to know.
Graham:Week was good. My quote-unquote weekend was a couple days ago. Ran into a new friend, or a friend that I made through a close friend. You know, my boy Chad, back from Buffalo. One of his friends was in town, met up, we hung out for a little bit, a little bit, I was pretty much it. Oh well, I'm not going into the whole story, bro, we're just it's. It was crazy. I met him out late already, had way too many drinks we had a lot more drinks that night went downtown, lost his phone. I tried to help him retrace his steps and find it. Within doing that, I lost him. Didn't find him for 20 minutes, then finally found him and then more time looking for the phone. I was like, screw it, it's too late, I gotta work in 6 hours I need to go, so we leave. And then he's like bro.
Announcer:I can't walk anymore.
Graham:He's like just go get the car and come back for me. I'm like, alright, so I go get the car, come back. He gone. And when I mean he gone, bro, I drove around for 45 minutes going up and down these streets didn't find him.
Scott:And yes, folks, he definitely drove around for 45 minutes because my boy, graham, called me on my way to work and we talked about it.
Graham:For a solid 25 of it being like what the bleep is this dude doing? Wow, I just and folks it's not like I'm talking smack, but this guy, he wasn't some young kid, he wasn't even someone my age. He wasn't someone Scott's age. This is someone in his mid-50s who was tying one off and was just like hey, man, I'm the mayor and the mayor does what the day, what the mayor wants. So, and boy, he did whatever facts um other than that.
Graham:Um, yeah, right, but the actual weekend this this past Saturday and Sunday just worked. But a lot of the excitement of the week was, praise the Lord, the golf bets came through this week, unlike last week. We'll get into that later. I'm happy. What about you, scott? How was your weekend Same?
Scott:thing, dude, you know obviously woke up Friday morning knew you were going to meet somebody. I woke up Friday morning knew you were going to meet somebody.
Scott:Woke up to a text from you that you sent at like 7 o'clock my time, so that's like 4 o'clock your time and it was like all it said was FML and I'm like, oh boy, literally getting ready to get in the shower, and I get a phone call from you and I'm like, yeah, I'm not even answering this and you're like my bad, dude didn't mean to call. And then I called you on my way to work. Listen to all that drama on Friday. It was hilarious, felt bad for you the whole deal. But anyhow, you know, work Friday, work Saturday.
Scott:We had a, a tournament at the club and went out to dinner with the family last night. A little Mexican crushed some tacos, ooh, you know. Came home, watched some sports, watched Carolina tickle me for the first half when Flag was in foul trouble, and what did I tell you? What did I tell you at halftime? I'm like dude, I'm about to crush Duke minus six and a half in the second half. I knew what was coming, you know, and it came and it happened. Duke won and, like I told everybody earlier in the year, I took Duke back in on November 1st. I looked at it last night. I was telling Kristen I took Duke to win it all at plus 1,200. Okay, if you look at it right now, win it all at plus 1200. Okay, if you look at it right now, it's like plus 250, you know.
Graham:Yeah, I remember.
Scott:But I remember Anyhow, watch some golf, watch some basketball, watch some UFC. Thanks to you, last night we're FaceTiming the main event. Yeah, Crushed some bets yesterday. Dude, let's go. Our boy BT was on fire yesterday. I think we lost one bet and that was the main event, but whatever.
Announcer:Yeah.
Scott:Still is 9-1 good.
Graham:I mean Last time I checked it was pretty damn good. You ain't wrong, bro, you ain't wrong.
Scott:Man going into the final round on the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Your boy has been crushing some top 20 bets the last three or four weeks and I told Graham and our other boy, buckeye, you know, this week Keegan Bradley top 20 plus money, shane Lowry top 20 plus money. It got a little scary after Keegan lit it up on Thursday and then played pretty bad on Friday, but the course was playing tough, you know, let's don't forget about that part. Yeah, of course, and like I told you last night, keegan's going out early before the wind. Relax, dude. And by relaxing my boy goes out and throws up a 29 on the front. Nine what? And I texted you. I'm like are you seeing what's going on right now?
Graham:Bro, the best part of that was last night, when we were on the phone. What did we say to each other? I was like, bro, all I care about for my happiness today, on Sunday, and before we talk about it on the podcast is look, I'm not asking for a miracle. Before we talk about it on the podcast is look, I'm not asking for a miracle, I'm not asking him to go out, shoot six, seven under and, you know, come back, try to get back in the top five where he was on Thursday. I'm not asking for that. I'm just like, hey, can we just get like a little measly three under, you know nothing, something that could at least get us back into, potentially, the top 20. I took your advice and did the top 20, but then I also double dipped and saw what his odds were for making even just the top 30. And I was like, oh, I like that too. You know, just a little insurance. What was his number on top 30? Minus 125.
Scott:Okay, it's been not bad. Yeah, not crazy.
Graham:That's what I'm saying. I'm like the difference. And well, the main reason was because the week prior with burger, when he was what like in between second and 15, all three days until the last five last week last, five holes.
Graham:He, he finishes at 25th and I'm like, uh, so like that was the main reason. But when we spoke last night, I'm like, bro, if you go out and shoot one or two under, that ain't doing nothing for us. Yeah, you got to go deep. You got to at least shoot three. I'm not greedy, I won't ask for six and I won't ask for anything more than that. I get into work today and turn on the TV and I'm like not paying attention really for a little for the first hour. And then I look up at the board and I'm like, wait what? I see Bradley's name and he's already at five under and I'm like, wait a minute, how are you five under? And you're on hole seven already and you started the day at plus one, like what. Like what is going on right now? And, to my disbelief, there he was and let's just say it made the rest of my day, or the rest of my shift, much happier.
Scott:I was like ever.
Graham:The confidence.
Scott:He was plus 150 top 20. Lowry plus 135 top 20. Yeah, if you like, winning.
Graham:Watch for Domus hashtag.
Scott:I mean Buckeye texted me because I gave him to Buckeye and he was like dude, what a time for Keegan Huge day to climb up the leaderboard. I'm like hell yeah, Buckeye's like show me the money. Day to climb up the leaderboard. I'm like hell yeah, buck. I was like show me the money. I'm like bro, you do realize. You're like six and one, five and one with my top 20 picks the last three or four weeks. I'm like I'm gonna start charging you for this shit. And he's like I'll pay royalty on winners I'll pay, but anyhow yeah we'll hold you to that, yeah right.
Scott:Anyhow, Henley gets the dub. Played his ass off last week and fell apart at the end. Got the win Him against Morikawa. As it came down the stretch. Henley hit the shots when he needed to. What can you say? The guy's a stud. Yeah, he played his dick off, but Keegan shooting 64 today. The real question to me is is he going to play his way onto the Ryder Cup team that he's the captain for?
Graham:All right, let me ask you this question first Would you want that to happen.
Scott:Well, if he doesn't, are the people on the team going to make him pick himself as a captain's pick? I mean, if you go back to Tiger being the captain of the President's Cup when we were all in Vegas, remember Me, you and Badger yeah yeah, he was a playing captain, did all right? I personally don't.
Graham:He's also Tiger fucking.
Scott:Woods, I know. So not to I personally don't think Keegan will pick himself because of I don't think he would. Yeah, if he qualifies for the team, I think he'll play, but do I want him to do it? Do I not want him to do it? I don't know, dude. There's nobody in golf more fired up for the United States Ryder Cup team than this guy.
Graham:Bro, the clip that they showed on Full Swing where he gets picked to be the captain, that speech that he gave blew me away.
Scott:That speech was not supposed to be aired.
Graham:Because of infanity.
Scott:No, it was in the President's Cup celebration. When he was talking about it, he didn't think it was going to be aired. Oh, oh, oh. And he actually came out and said something after that. But dude, keegan, he's a Northeast guy, yeah, playing at.
Graham:Bethpage in the Northeast, yeah, but he also said he wants the six best guys, no matter what.
Scott:You know, the top six are automatic on the team and then he gets six picks.
Graham:Yeah, yeah. Well, DeChambeau is not going to be in the top six. No, he is. I was looking at it. How is he still in the top six?
Scott:I was looking at it earlier. Tp and I were talking about it and I'm just going to pull it up. How was that possible? I'm going to pull it up because he won the US Open last year oh.
Scott:Fair One through six. Dude Scottie, obviously. Shoffley, morikawa. Russell Henley at four. Bryson's number five. Number six is going to blow your mind Maverick McNeely, who At number six? Cantley at seven yeah, he won't be there. Cantley at seven. Finau at eight. Brian Harmon at nine. Horschel at 10. Justin Thomas at 11. Harris English at 12. Keegan's sitting at 15.
Graham:Well, I'll tell you one thing I'd much rather have Keegan than Brian Harmon, that's for damn sure. Just for pace of play. And also the distance of Bethpage. Yeah, brian Harmon can't hit it 250 yards. I mean he hits it straight.
Scott:Something TP and I were talking about this Michael Kim guy sitting there at 14 for us. Dude, my guy has been straight golfing his ball.
Graham:Yeah, wow, I've been noticing you, dude, yeah.
Scott:Golfing his ball. But what can you do? What can you say? We got a while to go before all this happens, but it's fun to talk about it now. Of course, just the heartbreak of Keegan Everybody if you've watched Full Swing they showed it again when he got the call last year when he didn't make this game Was crushing. And then when he got the call to be the captain, people questioned it and people that know golf and people that know Keegan know that was the best decision made for him to be the captain.
Graham:I agree.
Scott:My guy is young, he's fired up, he wants to get the dub His wife's a smoke show, so we get to see more of her. Shut the front door, am I wrong?
Graham:You're not Exactly. You're definitely not.
Scott:We only state facts here on the ball, guys on the bench. It's once again. The only problem to me is the pressure for our team.
Graham:Okay, I know where you're going with this, but let me tell you something. If they don't know this, going into it already, what rock are they under? They know it, no, I trust me. I know they know it but I'm just saying like all right, well, I'm sure I asked, we've asked this before, but I mean, is it more pressure than coming down the back nine of on Sunday of a major?
Scott:It's hard to say You're representing your country.
Graham:I know Some players prefer it more. I mean, when they were talking about Rory and how he feels about the Ryder Cup, I mean you would think that he thinks that's more important.
Scott:But then if you talk to Phil Mickelson about the Ryder Cup, he had a little statement.
Scott:Oh God, I saw two things come out this week about Liv and I just had to bring it up. I guess he was one or two shots back going into the Hong Kong Liv tournament or whatnot Two shots back behind Sergio. I saw it the other night and somebody said on the official Liv Twitter feed I saw it the other night and somebody said on the official live Twitter feed if Phil wins this live event at age 55, it's more impressive than tiger winning the masters in 2019. And I literally, before you even say anything, I can see the look on your face. I literally had to read it like three or four times to make sure I was reading it correctly and I was just like, oh my God, this is one of the dumbest things I've ever read in my life. Phil's playing against a limited field in three rounds. It doesn't even compare to Phil winning the PGA Championship At Kiowa Island when he was in his 50s. Like that's more impressive than a live tour win.
Scott:And then I see a quote last night, and it quotes Phil a live team win would mean a little more than a Ryder cup, when everyone knows the Ryder cup is an exhibition. Live is real golf. I'm just going to go out and say this Would he be saying that if he didn't go to live? Because everybody knew the captain of the US, Ryder? I'm hearing you say these things.
Graham:just the only thing that I can say that's going on in my brain is this Whoever is running the social media account over at Liv is literally just being like fuck. It is literally just being like fuck it. I'm not gonna have a job in a few months. So I'm literally gonna say, whatever the fuck I want, I'm gonna throw shit up against the wall. See what sticks. And that's the only thing that can be said, because look if bryson goes and if uh kepka goes, live golf is bubba. So that's my only reasoning.
Graham:Like you have to just say stuff just to get people's attention. There is no way, phil, I understand, after all the BS and you leaving the tour and your credibility pretty much going from top three active golfers or golfers are even alive and pop just for popularity, to go from that to the basement where you are now. Like there's no way you could think this then and say this now and be of right mind. Like there's just no way. Like you can't be a rational person then all of a sudden just say something that makes absolutely no fucking sense and back it up none, zero, zilch. Like, like. That's why I'm like is this? I mean I I hate using this word but like is this fake news? Dude? Ai is getting so good did they get hacked? Something is an issue here.
Graham:You know the old saying any kind of news is good news and it makes the people yeah I mean, bro, that shit live is not going to be Liv in a year, A year they're not going to be Liv by the Ryder Cup. Who knows? If those two guys leave, they're done. Who knows? No one. I mean, how many weeks now of episodes we be bashing? How many viewers watch Liv If the two main people go like there's?
Scott:no, TP, just literally before we got on air, asked me a question and I was like, oh my God, he goes and this wasn't even planned for me to bring up. He goes. What draws more crowds Chicago White Sox game or a live event?
Graham:Dude, I just said yes but, dude. Women's basketball is getting more play than these dudes speaking of women's basketball, the wmba.
Scott:Oh my gosh, I'm so mad I didn't send you this before the episode. This is amazing, dude, amazing, and hopefully the copyright world doesn't screw us right now because I'm going to just play it on air, my boy beating the bookie that I blasted during the Stanley Cup finals for being a Panthers fan and this, and that he had one of the greatest reels ever today. And I sent it to my golf shop manager because she's like all about the WNBA. I get it. She's got a girl that plays basketball. She loves Caitlin Clark.
Announcer:Yeah.
Scott:You know the whole deal. Are you ready for this? Because this is amazing. This is literally amazing and it hits the nail on the head. Ready?
Beatin The Bookie:Oh God, hear it, angel reese, if y'all don't give us what we want, we sit now on upcoming cva negotiations with the wnba. I don't know if angel took a economics class at lsu, but I seriously doubt it. Second time this week she said something stupid. First they should get paid like NBA players and now they're going to sit out if they don't get what they want. I don't know if anybody here knows, but the WNBA got subsidized by the NBA.
Beatin The Bookie:Last year they still lost $50 million, and that's with Kaitlyn Clark and Andrew Reese playing in it. If they sat out for a season, it's a WNBA one-on-strike. That would be the end of this shitty league to begin with. Angel, if you want to make more money, you're going to have to get another job. All right, you're going to have to try out for the NBA. Let's see how you do. But I advise you to do what many WNBA stars do just play overseas, get a bigger paycheck, because WNBA ain't it, and they certainly cannot afford to pay you guys any more, or they will be bankrupt and lose more money than they already lose. It's already a charity. Just be lucky for what you have, because WNBA cannot pay more.
Graham:That's why they started the Rivals League, the three-on-three girls tournament, during the summer.
Scott:You're losing $50 million and homegirls asking for more money. Yeah, Not happening, but anyhow, it's just. I think second or third time we've talked.
Graham:WNBA on our show. I know that's a slap yourself moment. Hold on. Let's go Same time what? Anyhow, sorry folks, we won't do it again, or at least not for a few more months.
Scott:Anyhow, hit the nail on the head right, these two guys, these assholes. Hit the nail on the head, though.
Graham:We've all been saying it Like oh yeah, okay, if you redo the, it all comes down to the TV contracts. That's where all the money comes from. If you can't be on television, it all comes from advertising If you can't be on TV, so the advertisers can spend money for the time slots. That's where it comes from people Like it's not rocket science, it's not like we don. It comes from people. It's not rocket science. It's not like we don't want you to succeed. It's the consumer Right. If the consumer doesn't want it, we can't shove it down your throat.
Scott:Even with Caitlin Clark entering the league. Yeah, it's still not doing it. Yeah, but anyhow it's like I don't know. Exactly. So, real quick as we get off the air, we brought this guy up on the PGA tour talking about Michael Kim. Okay, I just looked on my phone and it says Michael Kim's last five starts waste management tied for second Genesis. Tied for 13, mexico open T 13, cogn for second Genesis. Tied for 13. Mexico Open T13. Cognizant. T6. Arnold Palmer fourth my guy's golfing his ball, I mean that ain't bad, yep.
Graham:What's net weeks?
Announcer:Ooh, it's next week, the players yeah bro, oh, yeah, wow.
Scott:Wow, so you were getting ready to ask who do I like in the players? Oh yeah, wow, so you were getting ready to ask who do I like in the players?
Graham:Yeah.
Scott:It's too early to how about this? What were you going to say?
Graham:Rest on it, think about it. What were you going to say? No, I was just going to say rest on it, think about it and we'll get back to it. That's all I'm saying.
Scott:Yeah, as long as this top 20 streak continues, let's go, baby.
Graham:I'm loving it.
Scott:Yeah, I bet you are. I'm about to start charging you too for Scotty's hot picks. Yeah, I got it, let's go, baby. I mean, I made you some cash last night. Well, bt made us some cash with some UFC and I told you to take Duke.
Graham:Hey, I broke even last week. Well, actually I didn't break even last week, but I made up for last week with this week. So you know, I'm like even All our listeners be prepared.
Scott:You're about to hear a bald guys on the bench betting site. Pay us $100 a week and we'll give you Scotty's hot picks. With that being said, let's go, baby. Get us out of here. It's been a fun week. Free agency is about to start. Let's go. I don't even know what's going to happen. Neither do you, but I do know this Place that bet on Ricky Fowler making the cut at the players this week.
Graham:Ooh, I like that. I like that. Well, I'll get the popcorn ready because there's going to be some action. I cannot wait, Scott, it's always a pleasure doing the podcast with you and, as the best homie always says, buh-bye.
Scott:Good night friends. Rob, back away from the bridge, I love you too much. Trust the process. Graham, love you too. Buh-bye, buh-bye.
Announcer:This episode of the Ball Guys on the Bench podcast is brought to you by our friends at Northstar Credit Union and Southern Auto, located in Southeast Virginia.
