Five Clubs

Billy Horschel is an 8-time winner on the PGA Tour and former FedEx Cup Champion. In this wide ranging conversation with Gary Williams, he discusses his 2024 season, having a real chance to win a major, finding friendship with Rory McIlroy, and what might the PGA Tour and LIV look like a year from now. Horschel also dives into why being a global player has made him better. And there is some non-golf stuff as well as Billy explains all about the Horschel Halloween candy and how memorable his senior prom was, all in this 5 Clubs conversation.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Rich Lerner and Gary Williams, the long time host of Live From on Golf Channel explores the ascent of Scottie Scheffler and why he believes he’s headed toward immortality. Rich also discusses the current televised product, the impact of content creators and shares his list of the greatest broadcasters of all time.

Rich Lerner is the anchor of the most valuable television franchise in golf commentary, “Live From”. In the first of a two part conversation, Lerner takes Gary Williams back to his beginnings in broadcasting and also talks about the broadcasters who are the best and why. This is a deep and wide ranging discussion about golf on TV then, now and in the future.

Andrew Green has become the leader in high profile Donald Ross restorations and East Lake is his latest. The long time site of the Tour Championship has been restored in the last 12 months by Andrew and his team and this conversation goes into detail on how he earned the responsibility, all the changes to the golf course and thoughts on the misconceptions and principals of Donald Ross designs. Andrew has become a star in the industry and his thoughtfulness and view of his own journey is inspiring.

Our preview of the final men’s major, the 152nd Open at Royal Troon is here. It begins with a healthy reflection on Pinehurst and what it means for Bryson DeChambeau to how Rory McIlroy reacts after his gutting. Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner, Brendon de Jonge and Taylor Zarzour preview Royal Troon as a site, it’s past winners, what makes it memorable and are the majors going by way too quickly with the championship calendar. The team also discusses who of the three major winners in 2024 can double dip, the lost season of Jon Rahm in the biggest events and we identify a star who will miss the cut. Plus, what’s up with the wondering Americans, players who the guys have a good feeling about, longshots and who wins. A lively preview of the final and oldest of championship in our Open Championship preview show.

It was an eventful week at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 and Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge were in the thick of it with their media roles for NBC, the Golf Channel and PGATour Radio on SiriusXM. In this episode of The Wagyu Filet Show they touch on all of it all Johnson re-creating and hitting the winning bunker shot post-round with Bryson DeChambeau watching on with trophy in hand and having a drink with him afterwards, they talked the disappointment for Rory McIlroy and his snubbing of the media post-round and the finish as a whole and how the USGA got it spot on. Finally they take a quick look forward to the last major of the year as both will be back in media roles for the Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Keith Stewart, from "Read the Line", is a class A member of the PGA of America and he’s also a leader in the golf wagering space. He joined Gary Williams to explain his approach to handicapping the best fields in golf. This is our first show on wagering and a major and Keith takes us through the best and most effective way to bet the U.S. Open.

The 2024 U.S. Open marks the 4th time in 25 years for Pinehurst No. 2 to play as the host venue. Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner and Taylor Zarzour discuss Pinehurst as an anchor site, the approach of the USGA to tighten the U.S. Open rotation, the identity of the championship and how it will stand up this year.The guys also discuss styles that are rewarded at No. 2, plus Scottie Scheffler’s place as a favorite, Xander Schauffele’s chances to go back-to-back, Rory McIlroy's strengths being rewarded and his weaknesses being exposed by this venerable course . Plus, players who need a week, Bryson DeChambeau’s outlook, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm trying to save the major season and what to expect of and from Tiger Woods. Also, the tournament long shots, hunches, winners and where does Pinehurst’s first U.S. Open in 1999 rank all time in Open history.

Emma Carpenter was joined by her University of Minnesota golf teammate Bella McCauley and the Golden Gophers duo discussed their time together as well as the path that has led to Bella to becoming one of the top collegiate players in the country. McCauley was an accomplished junior player in the state of Minnesota and has qualified for the NCAA Tournament the last two years as an individual.Other topics the two discussed were McCauley's recruiting process which occurred during Covid restrictions, what led her to stay in her home state, playing in the cold, the early success that lead to getting hooked on golf, how she grew up more as a "feel" player versus diving into the analytics, her devotion to her short game, her ability to perform and go low in pressure situations, winning the Big 10 Championship, and some fun questions to close it out.

What is an Ivy League educated guy spending his days moving dirt around? Beau Welling saw Augusta National and Cypress Point as a kid and both places got to him. After years working and learning from Tom Fazio, Welling has established his own design firm among the best in the industry. This conversation is about Beau’s background and experiences, the state of the design industry and is the cash influx sustainable. Plus, his favorite holes, why he loves curling and Alistair Mackenzie as a drinking buddy. It’s all in this 5 Clubs conversation with Gary Williams.

Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge are back with a new episode of The 'Wagyu Filet Show' after a historic PGA Championship at Valhalla. They dive into that as well a look into the recreations that Johnson has been doing for The Players and PGA Championship that have become fan favorites. They talk about how these came about and what kind of planning goes into them and might mention how terrible some of the chipping has been on live TV. They also discuss what a mess of a situation Friday morning was with the tragic accident and the Scheffler situation and finish with rating top players major performances so far this season and give a look ahead to the final two majors of the year.

Taylor Moore dropped by the 5 Clubs studio to join Gary Williams in person in advance of the Wells Fargo Championship to talk about his career to date. They dove into his lifelong love of sports and baseball, his Arkansas Razorbacks and about his contemporaries on tour. They talked in length about his experience on the Canadian Tour and his more recent success on the PGA Tour including his work with coach Josh Gregory and the improvement in his mental game since working with Sarah Taylor. Moore also shared the scary story of his collapsed lung and the impact that made on him as he continued to chase his professional golf career.

Part 2 of our 2024 PGA Championship Preview Show assesses the form and chances of Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and other LIV challengers, Ludvig Aberg and the return appearance of Michael Block. The crew of Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner, Brendon de Jonge and Taylor Zarzour also take aim at their long shots, missed cuts, contenders and ultimate winners of the Wanamaker Trophy.

The 2024 PGA Championship gets underway at Valhalla Golf Club starting May 16 and Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner, Brendon de Jonge and Taylor Zarzour dive deep in this two-part tournament preview.Part 1 includes a deep discussion on World #1 Scottie Scheffler and the heater he is on, his personality and if it drives viewership, his under the radar show of emotions and more. We also go deep on Rory McIlroy who last won a major at Valhalla and what he has to do to get over the hump and end his major drought and how maybe teaming with Shane Lowry at the Zurich may provide a bump. We also look at the history of Valhalla and who has competed well there and whether or not it has a future as a major championship course. We conclude Part 1 with a dive into the course set up for the PGA versus the USGA in recent years as well as some future sites on the upcoming PGA Championship schedule.Plenty of topics still to cover in Part 2 of our 2024 PGA Championship Preview Show which will launch in the coming days.

Mark Blackburn was the 2020 PGA of America teacher of the year and was just bestowed the Butch Harmon award by Golf Digest as the best instructor in golf. Mark has worked with Max Homa and Justin Rose for several years and last fall Colin Morikawa became a client. In this wide ranging and in-depth conversation and Masters preview, Mark and Gary Williams discuss the approach, mindset and game plan for each player at Augusta National. The key shots, the team blue print and the belief system each player must have to be successful at the first major of 2024. One of the worlds best golf instructors prepping some of the best golfers in the world, to try to become a Masters champion.

Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge go in-depth in this 2024 Masters preview show. They examine Augusta National and all the top players that will be in the hunt for the elusive green jacket - Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Keopka, Tiger Woods and more. They make their predictions and discuss who some of the potential flyers might be that could be last man standing. This Masters Preview is one you will want to watch to be all set for the first Major of the season.Editor's Note: This preview show was recorded prior to final determination of whether Mackenzie Hughes would be in the tournament field.

World renowned golf course designer, and 5 Clubs contributor, Gil Hanse joined Gary Williams to take a close look at Augusta National through the eyes of a designer. They dive deep into a number of the holes including No.'s 3, 12 and 13 and talk about how important it is to play to the right sides of the fairways to have the right angles into tricky greens. Hanse walks the viewer and listener through the mindset needed for the top golfers in the world to perform and shoot a low score at the Masters. Hanse has done restoration projects on Alistair Mackenzie courses, who was a co-designer on Augusta National.

Long-time golf super agent Hughes Norton has just released a book, "Rainmaker", detailing his history with some of the big names in the history of golf. Working with IMG, and founder Mark McCormack, he was the first agent for Tiger Woods, worked with Greg Norman, and many others. The book and conversation touches on the idea of LIV before LIV that McCormack had back in the 1960's. A lot of the conversation touches on what drove Tiger and Norman in particular, their similarities and differences, and the balance an agent must play in the lives of those they represent. You won't want to miss this golf podcast with Gary Williams.

Akshay Bhatia joined "The Wagyu Filet Show" to talk about his career thus far in golf including getting his temporary membership on Tour last season, his shot-shaping ability, decision to skip college, outside interest and how he slid into his now fiancé's DM's. All of that and more with Johnson Wagner & Brendon de Jonge.

The latest edition of "The Wagyu Filet Show" had a lot of topics to dive into with the Monday finish and win by Austin Eckroat at the Cognizant, another strong showing by Jake Knapp, the return for Anthony Kim on the LIV tour as well as the win by Joaquin Niemann and a look ahead to Arnie's Bay Hill. Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge touch it all.

Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge were on the coverage this week, and it was a big week at Riviera Country Club for the Genesis Invitational with Hideki Matsuyama winning for the 9th time on the PGA Tour with a record-setting final round. They discuss that performance as well as Tiger Woods being back on the golf course (at least temporarily), Will Zalatoris in contention, scorecard issues for Jordan Spieth and an illness that seemed to hit a number of players including Patrick Cantlay. They also look ahead to the Mexico Open as the tour heads away from the west coast.

There is a lot to unpack in this episode of "The Wagyu Filet Show" as they tackle the Waste Management Phoenix Open both on and off the course with Nick Taylor's finish, Charley Hoffman's week, Scottie Scheffler's putting and some fan behavior and reactions to it that will be a topic of conversation moving forward for the Tour and some of their own interactions with fans over the years at the WM. They also dive into the second LIV event of the year in Las Vegas, the upcoming Genesis Invitational and return of Tiger Woods... and of course immediate regret in picking against Patrick Mahomes.

Joe Ogilvie was a PGA Tour member from 1999-2014. He contributed as a member of the player advisory council and always remained well versed on the business of the PGA Tour. Today he works for Wallace Capital Management and has a thorough understanding of the world of private equity. He penned an open letter last fall to the members of the PGA Tour regarding their current state and the road ahead. This is a wide-ranging conversation on the new private equity deal with the Strategic Sports Group, what's next with the Private Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, the value of competition, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and a global schedule. It’s all here in this conversation with Gary Williams.

Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge dive into Wyndham Clark’s Pebble Beach victory in a 54-hole shortened event, talk about how bad the weather was, the softness of the courses all week and the impact of the smaller field size, the Pro Am and how the "buzz" was there. They also take a deeper look into the leaderboard at the AT&T with Ludvig Aberg and Mathieu Pavon. The duo also looks ahead to the Wate Management and Super Bowl this week as well as talk about The Park in West Palm, a new Gil Hanse & Jim Wagner course that opened last year.

Hally Ledbetter has a lot going on in and around the world off golf and Emma Carpenter asks her about all of it. Born into a golf family, the daughter of two professionals, she didn't start really getting into the game until an early teen but she quickly got very good and played collegiately at Arkansas and Rollins College. Despite being a highly-ranked amateur, her interests in the game became more than just playing competitively and she currently produces a high volume of golf content with her "On the Tee" series, "Better off with Hally Ledbetter", a podcast with long-time friend Michelle Wie and one about to launch with her brother. This conversation is a great look at how golf can be utilized as a vehicle off the course as well as on.

The journey of Grayson Murray has been turbulent and filled with regrettable moments which makes his victory at the Sony Open all the more miraculous. Grayson emotionally reveals the depths of his alcoholism and his road to finding sobriety and ultimately this discussion is between two people who share a disease, and their willingness to share their personal challenges is worth everyone’s time.

Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge are back at it talking the week that was and the week ahead. Nick Dunlap makes history on the PGA Tour. Sam Burns a had a meltdown on 17 & 18 and Justin Thomas with a strong showing. The duo will also share some stories from their past AMEX experiences, talk about Rory McIlroy’s 4th win in Dubai, and look ahead to the Farmers Insurance Open.

The guys are back at it discussing the Grayson Murray playoff win over Keegan Bradley and Ben An at the Sony Open as well as his past and how he seems to have truly changed his life. And where and why Bradley and An missed their chance to hoist the trophy. Plus they'll look ahead to the first full field tournament of the season for the AMEX and share some story time as Johnson and Brendon reflect on their first tour event in 2007 at Sony Open and Brendon tells a hilarious story from one of his Sony Opens in the past that is colorful to say the least.

Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge dove into a lot of topics during the 2024 debut of "The Wagyu Filet Show". They touched on Chris Kirk and his big win, Scheffler's putting woes, what this season could look like for Jordan Spieth, Rory's position change on LIV, the ongoing caddie carousel, breaking a driver in anger and they take a shot at Panthers owner David Tepper. A great show that includes a look ahead to next week's Sony Open.

The team dives into the season that was and season ahead for of a number of key players on tour from Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Max Homa, Viktor Hovland, Tiger Woods and more. We discuss the golf ball rollback, the role and value of "The Mules" and we couldn't help but take a quick look ahead and the 2024 majors. All that and what the game has given each of us in Part 2 of our season recap with Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge.

In the most turbulent and unpredictable year in men’s professional golf history our team of Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge take a comprehensive look back on the biggest stories, greatest triumphs and most impactful players of 2023. Our look back also examines the departure of Jon Rahm to LIV and what it means going forward. It’s the first of a two part examination and review of men’s professional golf in 2023.

Frank Nobilo turned pro as a teenager. He learned the harsh lessons of the cutthroat nature of professional qualifying school. He embraced the torment of major championship golf and played his way onto a Presidents Cup team and then injury abruptly ended his career. In a wide-ranging conversation with Gary Williams, Nobilo talks about his own journey and finding a new path in television. Additionally, he discusses his concerns for the game, Phil Mickelson’s future, what happens to LIV and how he became a dog person. A robust hour and golf interview with one of the truly elite analysts in the game.

Brittany and Billy Horschel met at a junior golf tournament almost 20 years ago. They were married in 2010 and Billy knew Brittany better than anyone. What he didn’t know was the Brittany would soon struggle and become addicted to alcohol. Now seven years sober, Brittany joined Gary Williams as they both talk openly and with total candor about their alcoholism and their roads to recovery. A riveting hour of understanding and hope about the disease of alcoholism and what it takes from you and how finding sobriety can restore so many things that were lost. This is not our typical golf podcast though it does overlap with the world of golf.

Alan Shipnuck joined Gary Williams to talk about his new book, "LIV and Let Die". Alan has earned his reputation as a generational talent writing about the game and this book gives an inside look at the "Battle" for control of men’s professional golf. Alan examines and discusses the roles of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and more. Plus, what were the biggest mistakes made by Jay Monahan and what will happen to Greg Norman now. It’s an in depth look at giving a history lesson while telling a story that’s evolving in real time.

The legendary Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam joined Emma Carpenter to touch on a variety of topics from the work being done with the Annika Foundation, who she looked up to when getting into the game, how she mapped out goals for achievement, how she spends her time now and of course some highlights of her professional career.

Paul McGinley was the victorious European Ryder Cup captain in 2014 and he remains a vital cog in the European Ryder Cup apparatus including being part of the five-person committee that selected Luke Donald to captain the team in 2023.  As a lead analyst for Sky Sports and on “Live From” on Golf Channel, Paul had a front row seat to the event on the broadcast side while maintaining a back bench position for Team Europe in Rome.  Paul only did one interview in the immediate aftermath of this year’s Ryder Cup and its with our Gary Williams.  You will hear Paul’s thoughts on why Europe succeeded, will Luke return as captain, will players get compensated going forward and will LIV players return to team Europe in 2025.  Plus, the secret sauce that makes the culture of the European Team what is.  Enjoy this hour conversation with one of the essential voices in the game.

Special guest Webb Simpson joined Gary Williams, Johnson Wager & Brendon de Jonge to preview the upcoming 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone in Rome, Italy. They dive into the teams, the match-ups, the players, the pressure, the analytics and much more for the anticipated showdown between Team USA and Team Europe.

Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner & Brendon de Jonge talk about the 2023 PGA Season in review and a look ahead to the 2024 season. They look back at this year's majors, the moments of the year, Player of the Year, Comeback Player and Rookie of the Year and what lies ahead with some names that may become household in the very near future. The professional game is in the midst of a lot of change and the team talks about what we might expect as viewers and fans of the game.

The mental side of golf has been examined for decades and individuals like Bob Rotella, Dick Coop, and Gia Valiante have worked with countless elite players on maximizing the mental edge. Now, Dr. Raymond Prior has authored a book for all levels on enriching your relationship with the game. Golf Beneath the Surface explains why we think the way we do and Prior offers methods to change how you approach the game of golf. Prior works with great players but he doesn’t disclose his relationships, instead he focuses on explaining our minds and how flow states are rare and how to maximize those moments. Golf Beneath the Surface is not only for people who want better results, it's a fascinating study in the power of thought. Acceptance, mindfulness, and the being mode of mind can make you better. This conversation goes deep on golf and the mind.

Armen Keteyian wrote the most comprehensive book on the life of Tiger Woods and now he’s authored the definitive book, "Gambler", on the most famous gambler in American history - Billy Walters. The discussion includes Walters' relationship and gambling partnership with Phil Mickelson, Phil’s unwillingness to testify on Billy’s behalf that could have kept him out of jail as well as the details of the proposed Ryder Cup wager, Phil performing brilliantly on the heels of huge gambling losses, and Billy’s unwillingness to delve into Phil’s personal life. Keteyian also offered reflective thoughts on writing about Tiger and Phil, the two most significant figures in golf in the last 50 years.

UCLA's Zoe Campos joined Emma Carpenter to talk about her early golf career which includes success as a junior golfer, becoming an all-American at her dream school, UCLA, and her most recent experience qualifying for, and competing in the U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach.

The Hall of Fame and eight-time Major Champion, Tom Watson, sat down with Gary Williams. They spend the first part of the conversation on his new passions, competitive horse cutting and Watson Links, an initiative to get more kids into the game. From there the two go deep into the game of golf from his recent "open letter" to Jay Monahan, his feeling on the size of fields and the importance of the cut. They discuss the 1993 Ryder Cup, the last time the American side won on Eurpoean soil, the impact of Seve Ballesteros and his one dream match.

The Hall of Fame broadcaster Chris "Mad Dog" Russo joined Gary Williams this week and talked about when golf started to break through on his radar within the overall sports world that he discussed daily on-air. He discussed the impact Tiger Woods had on the casual sports fan and how he could dominate the airwaves and how finally taking up the sport and playing personally made a big difference in how he studied, learned and discussed the game, even sharing his personal golfing stories on the air with his listeners.

Andy Johnson of The Fried Egg joined Gary Williams to talk shop. Among topics discussed was the impact of Tiger not just on the future generations of players but on those that got into golf in other avenues, how The Fried Egg came about, discussion around design and much more.

Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge dive deep into this year's Open at Royal Liverpool. Topics discussed include the resurgence of Rickie Fowler, a look at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, closing a Major with a Par 5, venue conditions, winning predictions, how the Open could affect Ryder Cup teams, will Rory McIlroy end his Major drought and much more.

Adam Hayes, caddie for Jon Rahm, joined Johnson Wagner & Brendon de Jonge to talk about his life on the bag, how he got started in the profession, how he came to work with the current Masters champion, Rahm's loyalty, how they handle the pressure of the final nine holes in a tournament and how he is preparing for this year's Open Championship plus an amazing hole-in-one story.

Wake Forest head women's golf coach Kim Lewellen joined Emma Carpenter fresh off the Demon Deacons NCAA Championship. They dove into her squad and their depth and how they took aim at the season and trying to win a national title. Kim shared some of her coaching and recruiting philosophies that have taken shape over a long career as a player and now coach and has one simple mantra, "be kind".

Hall of Famer Joe Buck joined host Gary Williams, Gil Hanse and Jay Bilas in this episode of "The Scramble". They talked about his career in broadcasting which included his time at Fox when they aired the USGA package and five showings of the U.S. Open. They discussed the challenges at the start and the in-roads they made as a team and network that are now commonplace in the game on the air. They also touched on the Damar Hamlin situation from last season on Monday Night Football and what it is like to be in the booth at that moment and plenty of other topics, jokes and stories.

Johnson Wagner and Brendon de Jonge dove into the season that has been thus far with some of the great finishes, stories and players as we close out June. Plus they look ahead to what remains on the calendar with The Open, the FedEx Cup playoffs and their first stab at potential Ryder Cup rosters.

This is a two-part episode from the Intown Golf Club in Charlotte, N.C. with the latest breaking news between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf partnering up. Our team of Gary Williams, Johnson Wagner, Brendon de Jonge & Taylor Zarzour all chimed in with their immediate thoughts on the surprising news and what lies ahead. Jay Bilas also joined the group to talk about the upcoming 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. They dive deep into the course itself, the set up, the uniqueness of the five Par 3's, the bunkering complexes, the field, the front-runners, the Los Angeles market and much more.