Show Notes
Show Notes is a weekly summary of what went down on the Sunday edition of the No Laying Up podcast. Want the TLDR and every reason to listen? A recap of the recap, if you will! Words and research by Jordan Perez.
What went down:
Hats off to Brian Harman! The hot-dog-eating, apple pie-loving Americans Soly, D.J., Randy and Neil all show the 2023 Open Champion kudos. The weekend leader hardly faltered, and any blemish quickly showed quick resilience, especially with his fiery putter and precision. Maybe it isn’t the sexiest final round 70 you’ve ever seen, but Harman had more of that DAWG in him than anyone else to win by six shots. Breaking the conventions of what we expect a modern men’s golf champion – doing it with long iron play and a world-class short game instead of a long-distance driver – makes for a compelling winner.
(10:05): D.J. reminisces on Brian Harman’s dominant amateur career, and how he struggled to replicate the same success. Some of his highlights include playing two Walker Cups, winning the U.S. Junior Amateur and a host of prestigious college and amateur events.
(12:50): Tron’s last-minute Tommy Fleetwood rally resuscitated the tournament. Some pre-TC roasting before he joins the show. Randy points out Fleetwood played Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a combined 1-over. Ouch.
(27:00): RE: Ryder Cup hopefuls – who is the most bummed out that Harman won?
(30:00): The boys play the O/U game regarding total PGA Tour wins for Brian Harman. Neil sets it at 5. D.J. says this major sets up better for Harman than your normal week-to-week events on the PGA Tour.
(33:30): KVV drops in and is painfully reminded that TC made it to Hoylake far quicker than KVV’s own golf clubs, which remain stranded somewhere in England. KVV adds some insight regarding the Harman naysayers and his culture-shocking revelations to the English media. It appears these people do not think Harman’s tractor is sexy.
(37:30): TC SNEAKS INTO THE MEDIA CENTER?! How did the post-round pic with Tommy-lad come about? And more details on the dream that drove his trip! The Vision Fund remains extremely bullish on Tommy (shocking)…and sees a FedExCup in Fleetwood’s future? Bold words from a man who only lasted alongside Tommy until the 14th hole. Nevertheless, his belief remains bigger than your doubt.
(50:30): LIMPGATE? Did Tom Kim limp harder for the Netflix cameras?! TC hopes to see less thirst.
(1:01:45): Now that TC’s gone……an objective Tommy Fleetwood post-mortem. He finished T10 after tying for the first-round lead. This influences the boys into a discussion about the best modern players to have never won a major. That said, two top-10s in a major for everyone’s favorite Austrian and second-favorite Dawg, Sepp Straka – is he a lock for Team Europe?
Neil and Soly throw Ryder Cup haymakers again!
(1:15:15) Now that men’s major championship season is over, let’s reflect. Best major of the season, biggest letdowns…and let’s bring some nuance to the “Can LIV guys compete at majors?” discussion. Where did they go? Play aside, we didn’t get the soap opera drama between tours we might have hoped for, but this year established Brooks is That Dude again.
(1:27:00): YETI Coldest Moment of the Week Nominations. Hint: Most nominations go to stone-cold killer Brian Harman, sans resident camper Neil.
(1:43:45): Eulogizing the Linksmaster (Jordan Spieth’s) legitimate chances at major championship golf.
(1:48:00): Shoutouts in order for: Alex Fitzpatrick’s top-20 in his first major, Matthew Jordan, low amateur Christo Lamprecht (only amateur to make the cut) and Tom Kim.
(1:52:00): A little Hamsterdam because NBC deserves it for a lukewarm major championship presentation. Get rid of Playing Through. NBC weekends are becoming dreadful.
Best take: (1:32:18) D.J. files it under obvious takes, but 18 holes is a lot of golf. We’re constantly reminded of it every time Rory comes out guns blazing and we think it will continue for another 3+ hours. But a full round of golf is a journey of ebbs and flows, as we learned again Sunday.
Also, how CAN we explain the crazy 20+ top-10s with no dubs since Rory’s last major? Is it time to start thinking of Rory as two totally different players (pre-2014 and post-2014)? Possibly!
Worst take: (19:00) Brian Harman to Rome? Soly says NO! Are we not selecting off of merit anymore? He plays well across the pond, Soly. He hits fairways and greens! He’s a match play killer! Soly continues to advocate for the points system to change – in hopes of choosing the 12 best players for the team. Claims Harman has been “just a guy!” up until this week. Come on.
Mea culpas: (1:48:00) Small but sincere apologies to Tom Kim from D.J. for two top-10s in majors in 2023 and Soly apologizes to D.J. for some bet they made about Padraig and Adrian Meronk after a big-time 67 in the final round from D.J.’s fellow Pole.
Quotables:
“Try that in a small town, F*CKS!” -Neil’s message to Brian Harman’s hecklers (35:40)
“‘Tommy, I apologize to you. I should have been here earlier.’” (38:25) -Tron
“It turns out the R&A isn’t very friendly toward journalists who show up on the morning of the final round.” – TC
“I’m proud of TC referring to himself as a journalist. We’ve come a long way.” – KVV (39:30)
“I think us absolutely riding for Brian Harman in the preview pod absolves us of any bad takes.”
“Would encourage everybody to go seek that out. I wouldn’t look at who we actually bet on.”
-Soly, D.J. flexing their pre-tournament prognostication. (1:47:00)
“It’s a good spot to be in that our best hope is that maybe the kingdom of Saudi Arabia swoops in to provide some commercial-free golf.” -D.J. (1:54:55)
Referenced works:
(18:00) @JustinRayGolf: Americans to win @TheOpen by 6+ shots
(19:00) Soly’s article: How the Ryder Cup points system overrates winning
(38:40) @NoLayingUp: TC x Tommy
Ads:
Live from the Kill House is presented by our friends at High Noon. For a limited time, pick up a Pool Pack on Drizly for the summer or wherever you buy High Noons.
Thanks to Titleist, the choice of the Champion Golfer of the Year Brian Harman. From his Pro V1 golf ball to his fairway finding TSi driver to his CB irons and SM9 Vokey design wedges he used to scramble his way around Royal Liverpool, it’s clear there was no better choice.
Shoutout to our friends at Rhoback! These guys understand quality – and there’s only one way to describe them: Best fit, best feel. Summer is in full swing, and it’s time to load up on the best gear we own. Visit Rhoback.com and use the code NLU for 20 percent off your first order.
Shoutout to YETI for sponsoring our Coldest Moment of the Week segment. Head to Yeti.com to shop their complete product line.