Episode 27: The PGA Championship and the Myrtle Beach Classic!

In this episode of Tee'd Off, Ben and Aaron talk about the year's second major at Aronimink, the PGA Championship! Both agree that it is Scottie Scheffler's moment to capture his first win of the year and reestablish his dominance of today's game, but their sleeper picks may surprise you! They also talk about the most recent details in the downfall odf LIV Golf, as funding goes dry and star players begin planning their exit from the controversial golf league. 

The world of golf also graced the beautiful Myrtle Beach coastline, as the One Flight Myrtle Beach Classic completed it's third tournament at the Dunes Club. Tee'd Off was in attendance this year, and what an incredible tournament it was! Ben and Aaron discuss Brooks Koepka return to form, and Brandt Snedeker capturing his 10th victory, all in Myrtle Beach! The most noteworthy detail from the tournament was the attendance. Ben thinks it outshone the Truist Championship, the elevated PGA Tour event that took place during the same weekend. Tee'd Off thinks the Myrtle Beach Classic should have its own weekend on the PGA Tour someday- and if it doesn't happen soon, Ben is going to be Tee'd Off!

The Myrtle Beach Golf Package of the episode is the Trailblazer Package from The Myrtle Beach Golf Trail, which includes discounted tee times, welcome gifts, and free replays for more than 25 of the Myrtle Beach's top courses. The accommodation of the episode was the Bahama Sands. The Bahama Sands in North Myrtle Beach is a golfer's dream; offering 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom luxurious oceanfront and ocean view condos that are full of amenities such as fully equipped kitchens, spacious floor plans, and private balconies. Consider both when planning your next Myrtle Beach Golf Trip!

Transcript

EPISODE 27

[INTRODUCTION]

[0:00:07] ANNOUNCER: It’s time for the Tee’d Off Podcast.

[EPISODE]

[0:00:18] BC: Okay, it is episode 27 of the Tee’d Off Podcast. I'm Ben Clyburn. I'm here with my co-host, Aaron Thomas. Aaron, how's it going?

[0:00:25] AT: Good, Ben. How you doing today?

[0:00:26] BC: We've had some golf.

[0:00:28] AT: We've got a lot going on in the golf world lately, locally, too.

[0:00:31] BC: Locally, yeah. We've had amateurs flooding the beach per usual during the spring. Just wrapped up some professionals. We'll talk about that. The agenda of this show today, Myrtle Beach Classic Recap, what an awesome weekend it was. You and I were both there on different days, so we can talk all about that. Let's talk briefly about the funeral that is LIV golf.

[0:00:55] AT: Does anyone care?

[0:00:56] BC: Yeah. Well, I care enough to mention it. There's been a little bit of news since our Master's episode. So, we won't be talking about it much more, unless we're going to be surprised.

[0:01:07] AT: No. I mean, obviously, the guys that are still on LIV, they don't seem too concerned about it, which I find interesting, but I don't know.

[0:01:16] BC: Yes. We'll chat about it.

[0:01:17] AT: Yeah.

[0:01:19] BC: It's what we thought was going to happen. PGA Championship week, let's pick our sleepers, let's pick our favorites. That's going to be an awesome tournament. Then we'll hit the back nine. We'll talk about the package of the episode, talk about some Myrtle Beach rounds updates and what the spring is shaking out to be and fall golf looking ahead, then the accommodations of the episode and what tees us off.

[0:01:42] AT: Sounds good.

[0:01:43] BC: Let's jump in.

[0:01:48] ANNOUNCER: The front nine.

[0:01:51] BC: Okay, the front nine. I am still buzzing off of how great the Myrtle Beach Classic was.

[0:01:58] AT: It was a great finish. Great setup. I mean, if you were there in person, the course looked great. It looked great on TV. Everything was set up good. Seemed like everybody had a good time. They avoided any real major weather, like a little rain delay on the first day, Thursday, which was the day I was there. But other than that, great weather weekend for it and big names on the leaderboard, too.

[0:02:24] BC: I would not want to see the Dunes Club's water bill. We have not had significant rain in the Myrtle Beach area in about a hundred and sixty days. That place was lush. What a golf course, the Dunes Club is, and to host a tournament like that. You were there Thursday. I went Saturday. Enjoyed it so much, went back Sunday.

[0:02:46] AT: Nice.

[0:02:47] BC: Followed Brooks Koepka's fiery 29 on the back on Saturday. Putter went cold on Sunday, but the gallery that followed him was amazing.

[0:02:57] AT: You could see it on Thursday when I was there, because we've – which I was lucky enough to be in the suites on 18 green. He had tee’d off earlier in the morning. I was like, by the time I got there, I was like, “We’ll hang until he comes through.” I even said, you're going to know when his group's coming up, because he'll have a gallery. Sure enough, when they rounded the corner from 17 to 18, you could just see all the people filtering down. He had a big following.

[0:03:25] BC: He did.

[0:03:26] AT: He played well. I know he's been struggling a little bit, but that he's found something.

[0:03:31] BC: He's excited about it. It's so cool that he found his passion at Myrtle Beach. We're really lucky to have a player of that caliber at this tournament, given the circumstances of why he was playing. It was amazing and it was great to see him play well. I was a little concerned before that he was struggling a bit. If he didn't make the cut, that would – selfishly, I wanted him to be there for the weekend, so that I could see him, and so that the patrons could see him. It worked out perfectly. Brandt Snedeker, I mean, to cap off, what, a seven-year drought?

[0:04:09] AT: Hey, I think eight, all years drowsing it.

[0:04:10] BC: Eight-year drought? Yeah.

[0:04:11] AT: Yeah, something like that.

[0:04:12] BC: To get his 10th win. He loved the course, too.

[0:04:15] AT: Yeah. Did you hear what he said after the –

[0:04:17] BC: He said, “I want to be a member.”

[0:04:18] AT: Yeah. He said, he wished that the win came with a lifetime membership, like the Masters, because he loves the golf course. I was like, “That's great.”

[0:04:24] BC: I saw they put a blue jacket on him. I have that same jacket. Next tournament, next year, I'm just going to wear it and walk around and see if people let me through into some restricted areas.

[0:04:38] AT: Past champion. I'm sure we can get you hooked up with a one flight logo to go put on there, and we can meet.

[0:04:43] BC: There we go. If you could come out of the crowd and I'll sign a fake autograph for you.

[0:04:48] AT: We know a few people.

[0:04:49] BC: We’ll set it up. To see the people out there and the meadow in between 18 and around 17 area.

[0:05:01] AT: Oh, the fan zone?

[0:05:02] BC: Yeah. The fan zone.

[0:05:03] AT: Zone 17 is fantastic. I walked up and checked that out on Thursday when I was there and really enjoyed it. Bigger merchandise tent than they've had in previous years. Courses, tournament continues to get bigger. I’m sure that will, too.

[0:05:15] BC: The Beach Boys playing on the ocean front.

[0:05:16] AT: Yeah. John Stamos.

[0:05:18] BC: Yeah. Salty Golfer on 13, on Waterloo was amazing. He was on the ocean front last year, which is great. Every time somebody went, you made it on in two, he threw T-shirts and people were going crazy. It was like a rock concert on 13.

[0:05:34] AT: I didn't see how many people made it on in two, but I figure it's doable with that bunch.

[0:05:38] BC: Yeah. I mean, if the pin was in a good spot, it was, why not go for it? Then if you get in the bunkers and that pin is further back, you still got a good birdie shot. So, why not? Yeah. A lot of people tried, which I'm glad. The win wasn't a massive factor this week. Had some breezy moments and when it's breezy, 13 is definitely a challenge. Those guys handled it great. I mean, the course length isn't huge, but it's still a challenge that there's more elevation than you think at the Dunes Club and they're so – those greens are so guarded by bunkers.

[0:06:12] AT: It played, I think just shy of 7,400 is what I saw, something like that.

[0:06:16] BC: Yeah. This was certainly long enough. But Brandt Snedeker, who's not a bomber, he had to play with touch.

[0:06:22] AT: His putter. His putters what did it for him.

[0:06:24] BC: That shot on 16. Yeah, the scramble? Yeah. I mean, Koepka’s putter, like I said, went cold, or he could have really been in contention.

[0:06:33] AT: I thought he was going to make a bigger run on Sunday than he did.

[0:06:37] BC: I thought so, too.

[0:06:38] AT: I mean, even so, he still played good golf.

[0:06:39] BC: I ran home after the round Sunday, because there were still some golf left to be played at Quail Hollow. I’ll be honest with you, there was more people at the Myrtle Beach Classic.

[0:06:49] AT: Yeah?

[0:06:51] BC: I mean, I know I was there and the energy was there, but I thought, to me, I would have rather been at the Dunes Club this weekend than at Quail Hollow.

[0:06:59] AT: Yeah. I mean, did meet –

[0:07:01] BC: As a fan. I know there's points and money. Yeah, we are totally. But I think last year I went on Saturday, complete washout. Can't control mother nature.

[0:07:11] AT: Yeah, yeah. That's right. I was out of town last year for –

[0:07:13] BC: It stunk, because I didn't get to see a bunch of fans there. The golfers, nor the fans really got that experience, at least on Saturday. I mean, the turf crew had to work their tail off to keep that thing playable. I mean, that's how much it dumped rain.

[0:07:28] AT: Yeah. There was a really good story about that too, Horry-Georgetown. They had, I guess, their turf management class or whatever, they were helping.

[0:07:36] BC: Yeah, one of the best in the country.

[0:07:38] AT: Yeah, they were helping with this, I guess, in the lead-up, enduring with it. There was a lot of good stories on local news about it that I followed, so it was good to watch.

[0:07:48] BC: Well, MB Golf and Condo World were in the parking lot.

[0:07:50] AT: We were represented, yes. Uh-huh.

[0:07:52] BC: Yeah. We threw away some free swag, if anybody got some that attended. Enjoy. We gave some towels away, koozies and some ball markers. That was pretty neat.

[0:08:03] AT: It was funny, Thursday, when I went, my friends, they're all jumping into the tent to get the swag and stuff, and they're like, “You don't want any.” I'm like, “I already have it.”

[0:08:10] BC: Yeah. It's like, “It’s my swag. I’m giving it to you.”

[0:08:14] AT: I was like, “I have it. I don't need it.”

[0:08:15] BC: I refilled. When I came Sunday, I had 40 golf towels left. I was walking up with it, and somebody’s like, “Man, is it just no minimum? You can just take as many as you want?” I was like, “No, no.” I'm refilling. Because I put free. It's like, thank, God.

[0:08:30] AT: Oh, yeah. The parking. I mean, they do a great job on the parking, even though you got to shuttle to the course, it's smooth.

[0:08:36] BC: Logistics are nailed. The food was great. The fan zone was great. The merch was cool. I mean, you can't get better than the Dunes Club logo.

[0:08:44] AT: I did come away with some merch. It's funny, because I was just at the Masters and I'm like, I'm going to have to cut my merch budget down. I was like, I'm spending way too much money on golf course stuff.

[0:08:55] BC: I bought a very expensive rain jacket that I don't need, but just it was so good looking and I bought a cool T-shirt and wore last year's hat. I did refrain.

[0:09:06] AT: Footjoy hoodie.

[0:09:08] BC: Oh. Well, you spent some money, too.

[0:09:10] AT: Yeah. That was mine. Because I looked around and I was like, when something really grabs my eye. Now I did like, and I regretted not getting it, but I was like, you only need so many hoodies when you live in Myrtle Beach, because we only wear them a couple months out of the year. Hey had a really neat one that was green that had an alligator that was popping out and waving, or something. I can't remember the exact, or what it was, but it was like a T-shirt hoodie. I really liked it. But I was like, yeah. I was like, the one good thing for me with Footjoy is I know my size and I don't have to try it on, where sometimes you got to try stuff on if you're not sure.

[0:09:48] BC: Yeah. Footjoy runs big, too. If you get it wrong. Yeah. That tent's not there this morning to return it.

[0:09:56] AT: No. But I know Footjoy and I know my size and I was like, I could just pick that right off the rack and I'm good. I had some friends, they bought a bunch of stuff. But like I said, just being at the Masters and spending money on merch there, it was like yeah, you got to dial it in a little bit. Yeah.

[0:10:12] BC: Well, hats off to the Dunes Club.

[0:10:14] AT: Great job.

[0:10:15] BC: Hats off to the PGA tour. Hats off to the Myrtle Beach Chamber. Hats off to ONEflight. Great tournament. Cannot wait for next year. If we keep getting weather like this, this tournament is here to stay for a long time.

[0:10:30] AT: Oh, yeah. Here, we’ll will be in year four. It does sound like it is catching a little buzz on tour with some of the guys, because they really like the course, they like the location. I think we got a long ways to go with this stuff.

[0:10:45] BC: Yeah. I can't say anything else. It was a great weekend. I'm still buzzing from it. I really am. I mean, it was just so much fun. Then, I had to pinch myself, because I'm like, man, I've played this course.

[0:10:56] AT: Yeah, me too.

[0:10:57] BC: I drove 10 minutes from home to come see this. I mean, it's just amazing.

[0:11:02] AT: The most amazing thing to me is when you're actually out there on a course you've played, but you see what they do, like you know where you end up with a drive and you know how you play a whole and you see how much further pass they are from where your ball would be, it's impressive.

[0:11:20] BC: I have a great slo-mo and I posted it on Instagram of Brooks on 18 from Saturday when he was just steaming.

[0:11:27] AT: Tearing it up.

[0:11:28] BC: Just perfect contact, full extension and stuff, but in real time, it doesn't even look like he swung. I mean, it was like a practice swing. Their tempo is amazing. Smooth as fast.

[0:11:41] AT: Man, the power that comes with it, because I stood on, I think it was five tee-box at Augusta and we were right at the tee markers. We got to see some drives. I was right at the ropes and he got to see some really up-close swings. Man, just the power that is in their swings, it's impressive.

[0:12:01] BC: Yeah. It is. I mean, they're pros for a reason.

[0:12:04] AT: Exactly. Yeah.

[0:12:05] BC: We're not for a reason.

[0:12:06] AT: Brooks will work his way back. I mean, he's an athlete. He's going to get himself back into form and what better time when we get ready to preview the PGA, because it's one of his best.

[0:12:17] BC: Well, let's talk about back from where, back from LIV. Brooks is one of the first guys to come back. Patrick Reed will be back soon. In between the last episode and now, LIV has lost their funding that – originally, they had funding through 2032, or something. Now they have funding through the end of the year and the PIF and Yasser are pulling out. They're desperately looking for funding. They're looking in investment banking, in some VC people to see if they can get some funding. If they do, I think LIV is going to look a heck of a lot different than it already does. They're canceled some June events. The CEO is being awfully cagey with some remarks, which he's in a tough situation. I don't know what you can say that's going to calm anybody down. Rahm has struck a deal with the DP World Tour. His pathway back has set. Bryson DeChambeau's mentioning stuff about YouTube.

[0:13:11] AT: Which is hilarious because he was initially against that earlier in the year for the World Golf rankings, or whatever. He thought he felt they asked him to play in too many events, or something like that. But now that he needs it.

[0:13:22] BC: Funding through 2032 during that criticism. Yeah. There's word that Rahm and DeChambeau's people were reaching out to the PGA during the Masters to see how they could come back. We will see what happens. To me, I think LIV closes up shop.

[0:13:41] AT: It's almost going to have to. I mean, I can't see it. I mean, are those guys going to – even if they don't, or the guys that all went over to LIV, are they going to be content playing for smaller purses now? I mean, that's why they went there –

[0:13:56] BC: To be big renegotiations. Bryson has a lot of leverage, but you can't – the blood out of a turnup, figure of speech comes into play here. You can't pay him that, because they don't have it. I mean, he can be the only star, but he's saying that he'll be a YouTube golfer, or something. His people are trying to find him a way back.

[0:14:19] AT: Yeah. I mean, obviously, if you've heard Rory say about Brooks coming back and Rory even said, it's like, he can't believe that Brooks has gone through what they've asked him to do, and the amount of money that he sacrificed to come back to the tour. Is it going to continue to be, which I hate to say it, Brooks has done it. He set the precedent now. The guys that come back should have to do the same exact thing. I guess, pay their money and pay their dues. I mean, that's just because you are Bryson, or you are John Rahm, you shouldn't get any free passes out of it. Brooks doing it right. I mean, look, Brooks was just playing here this weekend, trying to resubmit himself back on tour.

[0:15:02] BC: Yeah. Paid 5 million dollars to chaired organizations. I mean, so he's earned his way back.

[0:15:07] AT: But they do say it could be stiffer penalty to come back for these guys, because this was, Brooks did it during an open negotiation period, or something. Or an open window, whatever they called it. It could be worse for them.

[0:15:20] BC: Well, if you're the only gig in town, why would the PGA Tour lay down?

[0:15:25] AT: Yeah. PGA tour wants the names. We go to that.

[0:15:27] BC: They do. They do. The point is valid. What you said. It’s like, why be easier?

[0:15:35] AT: The tour could really, they can kick back and say, “We're doing just fine without you. If you want to come back, these are the terms.” I mean, they can play hard ball, because they are doing just fine without them.

[0:15:46] BC: You got me jumping back and forth over the fence. Rahm left when he was at the top of the game. DeChambeau has –

[0:15:53] AT: Hasn't played great since.

[0:15:55] BC: No.

[0:15:57] AT: Of course, I don't watch enough LIV to see how he’s playing, but –

[0:15:58] BC: Interestingly enough, he an albatross the last round a little bit.

[0:16:02] AT: I heard that.

[0:16:03] BC: And they didn’t film it.

[0:16:03] AT: They missed it. Yeah.

[0:16:04] BC: And he didn't talk about it. He's like, they're enemy now, because he's struck a deal and defected to go back the other way. But you got to jump off the Titanic if you know it’s sinking, and it's sinking. To me, I think Dustin's just waiting to see what happens, and Bryson and Rahm are trying to find ways in the background to get out of there. Brooks Koepka said something interesting. I mean, obviously remember from Full Swing, he left because his injury status was in question. His future was in question. He took the money. He really wasn't too afraid of saying, he never jumped in and said, it's to grow the game, like some people said and stuff like that. It was the security of the money, because he didn't know if he could get back to the top again. After that Saturday round in Myrtle Beach, he said, “This is the first time I've really been passionate about the game in years.” He's had a tough time.

[0:16:58] AT: Yeah. He's got to work back to the elite status he was at. I mean –

[0:17:04] BC: I think he will.

[0:17:06] AT: I mean, he's an athlete. He's a grinder, I think. I think what it is too, when he shot, what was it, 29 on, was it the front nine, back nine, whichever it was?

[0:17:16] BC: That was the back.

[0:17:16] AT: Back nine on Saturday.

[0:17:18] BC: Yeah.

[0:17:18] AT: I mean, we all know as golfers, you hit a little streak like that, you find something and you can work with it.

[0:17:24] BC: The putter was so hot. I followed him on Sunday and it just, it went cold. I mean, he was hitting fairways and hitting greens. He just couldn't make putts.

[0:17:31] AT: Yeah. They had different pin plates on Sunday, too. I saw a few of those weren't easy.

[0:17:35] BC: Yeah. No. But anyway, I think LIV, it's not even the beginning of the end. This is the end of the end to me.

[0:17:44] AT: Yeah. I mean, there's all kinds of talk about, who is going to come back, what's going to be allowed. I mean, think about the name, so there probably you aren't going to be welcome back.

[0:17:53] BC: No. Sergio.

[0:17:54] AT: Phil.

[0:17:55] BC: Phil. Well, Phil has a lifetime exemption. No. We'll see. Phil, he's dealing with some family issues. I hope nobody's sick.

[0:18:05] AT: Yeah. I don't know nothing about it. There's nothing released. Whatever it is, I do hope everything's okay. I know he withdrew from the PGA. I mean, obviously there's –

[0:18:15] BC: Didn’t play the Masters.

[0:18:16] AT: Yeah. There's obviously something going on, so I hope everything's okay there.

[0:18:19] BC: I think he's, ironically, I think, welcome back or not, he has the easiest way back, because of his lifetime exemption. Without somebody named Tiger Woods, he may be one of the best ever. I mean, he certainly is in this generation. But he could be the best ever, at least in this generation of golfer. He's won a lot.

[0:18:41] AT: I mean, he could always play the, I still call it the Senior Tour, the Champions Tour. I still call it.

[0:18:46] BC: Oh, man. He'd rip him apart.

[0:18:48] AT: Yeah. I mean, if he wants to. I think that's another thing. Does he want to?

[0:18:53] BC: I don’t know. I think he still loves to play.

[0:18:56] AT: He likes to play, but he probably rather just gamble with his friends and make money that way.

[0:19:00] BC: Oh, you got to make. Yeah. Make some money for what he gambles at, although I think that's quieted down quite a bit. If he hasn't gambled it away, he certainly has plenty to play with, so maybe he will just take it easy and just play Augusta.

[0:19:14] AT: Yeah. I think he can pretty much play. I don't know what his status is for the other majors. I know PGA is a lifetime.

[0:19:24] BC: Is it?

[0:19:25] AT: Oh, yeah. Yeah, he’s a got a life –

[0:19:26] BC: The PGA championship?

[0:19:27] AT: Mm-hmm.

[0:19:28] BC: Okay. Well, US Open and Open Championships, five years, I think. This is, I think, the last year of his exemptions. Well, two, three, four, five, six. Yeah.

[0:19:37] AT: Yeah. Cause I mean, there are players that are playing in the PGA. I just saw it, because I remember when he's –

[0:19:43] BC: Oh, because Daly plays in every day.

[0:19:44] AT: Daly does. Jason Duffner's playing. A lot of the guys that have only – I mean, Rich Beam still plays in every year.

[0:19:51] BC: Yeah. He sometimes plays good.

[0:19:53] AT: Yeah.

[0:19:55] BC: Beam. I mean, he will have his moments filled and willed.

[0:19:58] BC: Yeah. Well, I hope everything's okay. That's the best important part. Cause he's certainly entertaining.

[0:20:04] AT: Mm-hmm.

[0:20:04] BC: Well, let's talk about the PGA. It's going to be great. I'm excited for it. It is upon us. I'm still not used to the schedule change. I know it's been a few years now. I honestly prefer it at the end of the summer. I love calling it Glory's Last Shot. I understand that they want to make the FedEx Cup playoffs more glorified. That's not Glory's Last Shot. I get it. PGA is coming up. The odds are very similar to the last five, or six majors. Who is your favorite for the PGA championship?

[0:20:36] AT: I mean, I say it every time, I mean, but Scottie Scheffler hasn't won. He's got a bunch of second places, but he hasn't had a lot of wins.

[0:20:49] BC: Who’s your favorite?

[0:20:52] AT: I'm still going to say, Scottie Scheffler. I am. I think he's so close and he's lost his – The rounds that he's finished second, or the tournaments he's finished second in, he's been so close and I still think he's putting one together.

[0:21:10] BC: I agree. He is my favorite as well. He was not at Quail Hollow. He was in Pennsylvania practicing this week, doing what Rory did.

[0:21:18] AT: Did the Augusta. Mm-hmm.

[0:21:20] BC: I think it's his tournament to lose.

[0:21:22] AT: Well, and I think, too, I think Scottie has said, he likes to take the week off leading into a major, if he can. I think I heard too, he's got a fairly busy schedule after the PGA. He just wanted to get that weekend. I mean, coincidentally, work it off and go play some practice rounds.

[0:21:43] BC: Yeah. Not to get into it on this episode, but where do you draw the line there? Because Rory practiced a lot at Augusta, and now Scottie's practicing at the host course. Is there a limit that – I mean, because not everybody can do that.

[0:21:59] AT: No, it's not. It's not fair to – I mean, there are some guys in the field that don't have that. They have to play their way into it, maybe the weekend before. Not a lot of practice time. I mean, I think that's something that should be maybe regulated. Keep it fair for everybody. I think he's going to do it. I mean, but there are a lot of, which I think is what shapes up for this weekend to be phenomenal. There are a lot of hot golfers right now. I mean, Cam Young. I mean, well, McIlroy, I think just played his first. Didn't he just play his first since the Masters? We'll see. He didn't play bad this weekend. I think he finished five under, or something like that. Matt Fitzpatrick is playing as good as anybody right now. I'm obviously team Europe. I'm not all about that. But yeah. I mean, there's a lot of great players that are playing well right now that could shape up for a great finish this weekend. I think it'll be good.

[0:23:00] BC: Yeah, it is going to be a solid week. A lot of solid names. Fitzpatrick might have been my favorite. He's played really well this year. I just think it’s Scottie’s to win. I mean, he's still the best player in the world, even without winning this year. But he did win, at the end of last year, which I think counts toward this year, or was it the last tournament of last year?

[0:23:22] AT: Yes. I'm more calendar year. I mean, I know how the season goes, but I look at it as more calendar year than anything.

[0:23:31] BC: I feel like, his game hasn't been all the way together and he's still contended.

[0:23:35] AT: Yeah. He's not played as best and he's right there. He's in the mix of every stinking tournament in place. I mean, I love it.

[0:23:43] BC: Wouldn't be surprised if he won and it wasn't very close.

[0:23:46] AT: That's an interesting take. I think it's going to be tight. I think it's going to be a loaded leaderboard on Sunday, and it's just going to be a fun watch.

[0:23:56] BC: I think it's going to be a bomber's tournament. I really do.

[0:23:59] AT: Well, I think the course plays fairly long, too.

[0:24:01] BC: Yeah. That's why I think it's not going to be close. I mean, I just think that it's going to be who can hit it long and straight. We'll see.

[0:24:09] AT: Everybody bombs it on tour anyway.

[0:24:11] BC: I can't wait.

[0:24:12] AT: Ricky just had a good weekend, too.

[0:24:13] BC: He did. That was awesome. He got his first win there at Quail Hollow. Always great to have him up on a leaderboard, and he like you was having fun. Justin Thomas played well, so that's good coming in.

[0:24:26] AT: I think JT's just getting readjust, because he a back surgery. I think it's just, he's getting himself work back into form. It does take time from stuff like that.

[0:24:35] BC: Who's your sleeper pick for the PGA?

[0:24:37] AT: Sleeper pick. I which is funny. I didn't even think about it until I saw the name, and I don't know how much of a sleeper it is based on the odds. Jason Day has been playing some pretty good golf lately and he is a previous PGA champion.

[0:24:55] BC: 2015. I can't believe those 11 years ago.

[0:25:00] AT: It doesn't feel like it's that long ago. I was talking about Jason Duffner earlier. That was one of my favorite PGA champions.

[0:25:05] BC: 2013. Yeah. He and Keegan battled it out.

[0:25:09] AT: Yeah. Well, then he lost to Keegan and then won the next year.

[0:25:13] BC: Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. You’re right.

[0:25:14] AT: Yeah. Keegan beat him. Yeah. But he had that little – Duffner had that little stretch and where he was playing some really good golf. I remember that year for some reason.

[0:25:25] BC: My sleeper and it's a roll of the dice, really. Jordan Spieth led the field in putting this week. I think that was what really led him down in the past few weeks. The rest of it is being held together maybe by scotch tape. I think Jordan Spieth's got a shot and I know he's not a bomber.

[0:25:50] AT: Not a bomber. No.

[0:25:52] BC: That hurts what I was saying earlier.

[0:25:54] AT: That’s why he's a sleeper.

[0:25:55] BC: Yeah. I think maybe he gets the career grand slam.

[0:25:58] AT: I hope he does. I mean, I'm pulling for him to do it. I mean, even from when he got three legs of it. They've always said the PGA was going to be the toughest one for him to win for his game. Hopefully, it's not elusive. But I'd like to see him get it one day, because I'm a fan.

[0:26:16] BC: Plus 7,000. It's a good sleeper.

[0:26:18] AT: Okay.

[0:26:19] BC: We'll see. Either way, can't wait.

[0:26:20] AT: Going to be a good weekend.

[0:26:23] BC: Yeah. Why don’t we hit the back nine, talk some more Myrtle Beach golf?

[0:26:27] AT: Okay.

[0:26:28] BC: And what tees us off.

[0:26:30] AT: All right. Sounds good.

[0:26:30] BC: Let's do it.

[SPONSOR MESSAGE]

[0:26:33] ANNOUNCER: From tee to green, sun to sand, and the laughs in between, Myrtle Beach is the ultimate golf destination with tee times deals for nearly 80 premium courses and exclusive access to the best accommodations. Plan your next golf trip at mbgolf.com.

[EPISODE CONTINUED]

[0:27:02] ANNOUNCER: The back nine.

[0:27:06] BC: Okay, the back nine. We haven't had rain in a long time, but the courses have kept up with it. Even if they didn't all look like as lush as the Dunes Club, I know that we've gotten some great feedback on a really good spring season.

[0:27:22] AT: We have. I'll be honest, I mean, even with drought conditions, the courses are still in good shape. I mean, you're going to get some brown spots and stuff but that, but greens, tee boxes, everything seems to be good. We get some rain, and to go pick back up real quick anyway. But yeah, it's been a great spring season. Probably one of the busier ones on record from everybody I've been talking to. As spring starts to wind down here as we get into the middle of May and start focusing more towards summer vacations. But it's been a good spring season.

[0:27:57] BC: It's a good sign of a good spring when you get a lot of rebooking for next spring, while people are still here. I've been seeing a lot of that. That's great. Everyone's had a good experience. The repeat business, they want to make sure that they get the tee times and the accommodations that they are used to.

[0:28:17] AT: And pricing. It changes as the tee time availability changes.

[0:28:22] BC: Newcomers want to make sure they can do it again. It's never too early to book your golf trip whenever you want to come.

[0:28:28] AT: Tee sheets are open generally over, I mean, more than a year out anymore. I think the all of 2027 is open. Even next fall is already open.

[0:28:40] BC: I've done some quotes for next fall. I had to check with the golf specialist downstairs. He’s like, “You know this is September of next year.” Yeah, these people are planning now. He’s like, “Well, great.” Yeah, go to mbgolf.com. It's never too early to plan your Myrtle Beach golf vacation.

[0:28:55] AT: It is not. No.

[0:28:57] BC: What's the package of the episode, Aaron?

[0:29:00] AT: Well, the package for the episode is the Myrtle Beach golf trailblazer package. It's actually been one of the more popular packages we've had since it came out. It's got a lot of offers in it. You get a free gift from Myrtle Beach golf trail and tailor made. It's your first round. It includes lunch and two beers, or so does with every round you play. Includes range balls. I mean, it's just got everything you need. And replays. Gives you a replay discount, if you want to play more golf while you're here. I think it's $25 replay, available that day at the course. Yeah, a lot of stuff included with that. It's a great value package. It's got everything in it you need. It's been real popular. We've had a lot of groups that have booked it and rebooked it, because the golf trail has got 20-plus courses here in the area.

[0:29:53] BC: Yeah. Over 25, up and down south, central, and on the north strand. There is a ton of variety of premium courses. Consider the trailblazer package for some great deals and some great goodies when you are trying to fill your itinerary for your next Myrtle Beach golf vacation. The accommodations of the episode fits perfectly with the trailblazer package are the Bahamas Sands. That is right on the ocean front and north Myrtle Beach, in the middle of north Myrtle Beach, great location, short drive from almost any golf course in Myrtle Beach. It's very close to the highway network and everything. These are some really spacious two and three-bedroom ocean front and ocean view condos that have the amenities of home. I mean, you've got fully equipped kitchens. This is not a hotel kitchen. This is a full kitchen.

[0:30:46] AT: Full on. Yeah.

[0:30:48] BC: You have dishwashers and full fridge, stove range, dining area, big private balconies, in-room laundry. The Bahamas Sands has been a favorite. Not a new favorite, but I'd say, it's becoming more and more popular with our golf groups.

[0:31:04] AT: It is. We've actually had some groups that are rebooking as we were talking about those early re-bookings that we've got that's where they want to stay. You mentioned kitchens. It reminds me of a post I saw a while back that a group had literally had cooked a huge dinner in their condo for the whole group. It was a champions type dinner. It was just a great picture to see what you can do and how you can enjoy those amenities in the condos.

[0:31:32] BC: It really is. At a time when the economy might be a little shaky and you're planning your trip, but you want to be a little bit more on a budget. I mean, there's amazing things after the round to do a Myrtle Beach and one of them is dining. The dining options are endless.

[0:31:48] AT: Utilize the beach and cook in your room.

[0:31:50] BC: Cook in your room. At least, it’s nice.

[0:31:52] AT: It doesn't cost a lot. Yeah.

[0:31:53] BC: Yeah. I mean, I know some of the big groups they'll say, “Hey, listen. So and so is going to do dinner this night. So and so is going to do dinner this night. Then we'll go out the last night, or something of that sort.” That's really something to consider that I don't think everybody knows how capable these kitchens are, and they're fully equipped. They've got pots. They've got pans. If you need something, you just call us.

[0:32:16] AT: You got to have capable group members that can cook, though.

[0:32:19] BC: Yeah, that's true.

[0:32:20] AT: Certainly, some of my friends, I would not want them cooking for me on a vacation.

[0:32:24] BC: Well, listen. If a significant other can help you prepare some great meals on the way down, the fridges will hold that food and you can reheat it in the oven. If you can't figure that out, then yeah, maybe go out to eat. But the Bahamas Sands pairs well with the trailblazer package. Those are the accommodations and packages of the episode.

Last, but certainly not least, teed off.

[0:32:48] AT: Yeah.

[0:32:49] BC: I'll go first. Mine's an anticipatory teed off, if it doesn't happen. I'm so excited about the Myrtle Beach classic. I think it needs its own week. I really do.

[0:33:00] AT: Okay. Okay.

[0:33:01] BC: If they don't do it in the next year or two, I don't know what the contract’s like for the time period. They need their own week. I'd like to see more talent. I'd like to see more Brooks Koepkas play in this thing. Myrtle Beach has got everything. If we can get more stars to come play, I think the sky's the limit for this tournament. The winning score wasn't 30 under and the conditions were great.

[0:33:32] AT: The course holds up just fine. Yeah.

[0:33:33] BC: Yeah. I would like to see more names. There was plenty of people. Certainly, could hold more. We've got accommodations galore up and down the beach. Great restaurants. It's a destination for a tournament. The first year was proof of concept. Now, one flight is the title sponsor. Let's keep it going. Let's get our own week. I don't know when that decision has to be made after this run, whatever their contract is.

[0:34:05] AT: Yeah. I think a lot of it has to do with other contracts, too, so I don't know the ins and outs of that. I've heard some snippets of some things, but I won't speak on those, because I'm not familiar enough. I think the initial setup was to see how the tournament would do, which I mean, the tour speaks real highly of attendance, how everything's handled. I think they're happy with what they've got. But I think it's a matter of shuffling, probably some contracts, and plus, there's other tournaments too that I don't necessarily know how long their sponsors are going to stay on. The truest that was just the same weekend as a Myrtle Beach classic, I don't know that that's going to remain one of the elevated events, or not. I think there's a lot of questions and things that move around that happened.

[0:34:56] BC: I understand there's moving parts, logistics, time period, if they got their own week, do they have to move a week? Who gets screwed here? I'm just saying, this is a winner. It really, really is.

[0:35:07] AT: Just keep it in May. I think May is the perfect month to have it here.

[0:35:12] BC: I know elevated event. I'm not saying that, but it's not – and I don't want to talk down on other tournaments. It's not the Barber Saul. It's not the Puerto Rico open. I mean, it’s already been the most successful non – it was the most successful inaugural non-elevated event. I know it's a mouthful. That's a pretty big deal. You don't get new tournaments on the PGA a lot. But they're going through a schedule change now. They're not going to be doing the Hawaii swing. The Florida swing is in a bit of a shake-up. The time to put it together, or to lay the runway for Myrtle Beach Classic to have their own week is now to me. If they don't do it, it's going to tee me off.

[0:35:56] AT: Yeah. I think we're going to see it. I do, just because of how well it is doing. I think we will see it. I just don't know when. If I hear any inside information, I'll let you know, but I probably won't.

[0:36:10] BC: Well, putting it out there. PGA, get it done. Myrtle Beach is ready to for its own week.

[0:36:15] AT: It is.

[0:36:16] BC: What tees you off, Aaron?

[0:36:18] AT: Well, and you know something that I didn't talk about earlier too, was the all of the wildlife in nature that was actually seen on TV during the Myrtle Beach Classic was aggressive.

[0:36:31] BC: The squirrels.

[0:36:32] AT: The squirrels, the alligators. I mean, it was the alligators took front and center on a few things, which was comical.

[0:36:38] BC: I knew they were going to be out there.

[0:36:40] AT: Yeah. Well, the weather's perfect for them. Coincidentally, I played over the weekend myself and I had a run in with some animals and the geese. A whole family of geese were having, I don't know if it was dinner time, or snack time, but they were just a pecking away where my ball was in the fairway. Yeah, I was in the fairway, which made it even worse. They couldn't be off somewhere else. Because they had little ones, you couldn't get close, man. They would start flapping and give the little, yes, give the little charge towards you. I was like, yeah, I'm not about to be one of those people on, that's on – somebody, my buddy takes a video of it and puts it up on Instagram. I'm like, no, I'm not messing with these geese. Those geese need to go.

[0:37:24] BC: Did you retrieve your ball?

[0:37:25] AT: No, I left it. But it had an MB golf logo on it, so it's good there.

[0:37:29] BC: Okay. There you go.

[0:37:29] AT: Yeah, it’s good there.

[0:37:30] BC: Advertising.

[0:37:31] AT: Yeah. I was like, that would be okay for somebody to find.

[0:37:34] BC: Oh, that's funny.

[0:37:35] AT: Yeah. I actually, because they wouldn't move. I just had to drop back and hit up over them. It was like, it’s all went away.

[0:37:44] BC: Geese are arrogant.

[0:37:45] AT: They are. They're mean.

[0:37:46] BC: They just are. When a duck crosses the road, it's cute. I don't know how to describe it. They're expedient getting across the road. When geese cross the road, they're like –

[0:37:59] AT: Yeah. You wait for them.

[0:37:59] BC: It's like, they don't care.

[0:38:01] AT: It's funny, too. When I would approach the ball, the little geese would – they would take off, because they were scared. But the adult geese, they would start – they would like, “You stay right there. We'll take care of this.” I'm like, man. I was like, you're lucky, I don't play golf with a gun. You didn’t miss right know. Actually, I can't say that, because I don't think you can even shoot a Canadian geese, or a Canadian goose anyway.

[0:38:25] BC: Probably not. Or we'd see a lot of dead ones. I mean, because a lot of people feel the same way about it. Yeah. Geese are mean. That does tee me off, too. It's a good tee’d off.

[0:38:37] AT: Oh, man. Yeah. It did not make my day. That's for sure.

[0:38:40] BC: Well, it's a great episode. Looking forward to the PGA championship. Looking forward to some more Myrtle Beach golf to finish the spring. Some great golf opportunities in the summer and all the way into the fall.

[0:38:52] AT: Yeah. Book your fall if you haven't, because fall is booking up quick.

[0:38:56] BC: It sure is. Next time we'll be on, we'll be talking US Open.

[0:39:00] AT: Yeah. My favorite. No disrespect to the others. I mean, obviously, we all love the Masters, but the US Open is my favorite.

[0:39:07] BC: I like seeing golfers play like me sometimes, and the US Open delivers normally and it's at Shinnecock, right?

[0:39:15] AT: It is. Yeah.

[0:39:15] BC: We'll do that again.

[0:39:17] AT: I have a buddy of mine, his favorite saying about the US Open is he likes the course to show its teeth. That's what he wants.

[0:39:23] BC: That's what it's for. That tournament. Can't wait. Can't wait for this coming week with the PGA. Thank you guys so much for listening. Go to mbgolf.com to plan your next Myrtle Beach golf trip, and we'll see you next time.

[END OF EPISODE]

[0:39:41] ANNOUNCER: Thanks for listening to Tee’d Off. Visit mbgolf.com and follow us on Instagram @TeedOffPodcast for the latest episodes and news.

[END]