Show Notes
As we head into links golf season, Smylie Kaufman catches up with 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry, fresh off a golf trip spanning England and Ireland. The two cover Shane's 16-year run with Srixon, the tech behind his elite iron play, and his amazing run of holes-in-one (including this year's Masters ace). Plus: the buzz around Portmarnock possibly joining the Open Championship rota, Shane reliving the putt that helped Europe seal the 2025 Ryder Cup, and whether Luke Donald will captain the European side beyond 2027. Charlie then joins to help build the "ultimate 9 holes" of Open Championship golf and some fun rapid-fire questions — everything from a hot-mic moment at St. Andrews to where to find the best pint of Guinness. Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow! 0:00 Intro & Shane's round in Ireland 1:45 Irish Open venue debates: Portmarnock & Royal County Down 3:51 Playing with Rory & Luke Donald 5:13 Smylie's own Ireland golf trip flashback 7:44 Shane's 16-year journey with Srixon 10:24 How equipment & tech have evolved since 2009 12:06 Testing the new Srixon RKT driver 16:14 Driving accuracy, tee height & the mini driver debate 20:50 Shane's ELITE iron play 24:18 The absurd list of hole-in-ones 26:15 Feel over mechanics: Shane's short-game philosophy 30:33 Reliving the Ryder Cup-clinching putt 34:18 Will Luke Donald captain again after 2027 at Adare Manor? 35:09 Why Europe keeps winning the Ryder Cup 38:46 Building the ultimate 9-holes of Open Championship golf 45:51 Hot mic moment at St. Andrews 47:32 More Q&A #golf #pgatour #shanelowry #openchampionship #smylieshow #smyliekaufman
More from The Smylie Show
Smylie Kaufman is joined by Auburn men's golf coach Nick Clinard to discuss winning two national championships in three years ... and somehow, neither of those was the best team he's coached! Clinard tells the story of a phone call from Jackson Koivun about the Presidents Cup, and answers a question from senior Tiger - and recent guest on the show - Josiah Gilbert. Plus: the handwritten letters that nearly got Smylie to UCF, building Auburn's culture, and why roster limits are squeezing out late bloomers. Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow! Chapters 0:00 Welcome Coach Clinard 2:03 Recruiting Smylie at UCF 5:44 Building Auburn golf 7:19 Culture & Blayne Barber 9:01 Roster limits & House settlement 14:06 Koivun's work ethic 17:21 Koivun's Presidents Cup leap 21:56 Josiah's question: best team 24:03 Chris Williams & Buddy Alexander #Auburn #Golf #pgatour #JacksonKoivun #smylieshow #smyliekaufman
Stay tuned for part 2 with Auburn Men's Golf HC Nick Clinard, dropping Wednesday morning! Our college golf tour continues as Smylie Kaufman is joined by Auburn senior Josiah Gilbert! Josiah grew up in an Outback mining town where the only golf course used red dirt for fairways, and didn't take golf seriously until he was 12. Three months after his family moved to Alabama, he was committed to Auburn. Josiah tells Smylie how one casual round with the team changed everything. Plus: junior golf alongside Aldrich Potgieter, living with Brendan Valdes through his cancer fight, and why he switched his flag from Australia to the USA. Josiah also leaves a question for Coach Nick Clinard, who joins the show Wednesday. Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow! Chapters 0:00 Welcome Josiah Gilbert 1:19 Mount Isa upbringing 7:53 How Auburn found him 12:18 Learning from Auburn's leaders 14:47 Brendan Valdes' cancer battle 17:19 Cracking the lineup 25:30 Auburn's best team 27:48 Choosing Team USA 31:25 Question for Coach Clinard #Auburn #Golf #PGATour #AuburnGolf #smylieshow #smyliekaufman
We are checking in on the world of collegiate golf with a bonus episode this week! Charlie Hulme sits down with UNC sophomore Carson Bertagnole ahead of the Williams Cup at Eagle Point (Oct. 18–20) - a course that both Carson and Charlie love. Carson takes us inside the four-man playoff that punched his ticket to the Puerto Rico Open, what two PGA TOUR starts showed him about the gap between college and tour golf, and the importance of "process" and using certain triggers to reset during a round. Plus: his first college win at the Fighting Irish Classic, the best hole at Eagle Point, NIL in college golf, a course-record 61 at Atlanta Athletic Club, and the perfect Chapel Hill day. Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow! Chapters 0:00 Williams Cup preview 1:01 Fighting Irish Classic win 4:11 Eagle Point favorite holes 6:40 Playoff for Puerto Rico Open 9:00 Lessons from PGA TOUR starts 15:00 NIL and college golf 17:29 Record 61, Walker Cup snub 19:29 Perfect Chapel Hill day #golf #UNC #WilliamsCup #thesmylieshow #collegegolf
With Jon Rahm's announcement that he will not participate in LIV 2.0 - and a number of other LIV players looking to follow suit in breaking their contracts - Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme discuss the current state of LIV Golf, what to make of the years that Rahm spent on that tour, and which pathways should be available to Rahm should he want to come back to the PGA Tour. Also: Will Bryson DeChambeau participate in LIV 2.0, or do something else entirely? How many LIV 1.0 players will we see on the DP World Tour next year, and how many cards will be available as the PGA Tour changes its competitive structure in 2028? And why is Charlie broadcasting from a golf cart in his garage? Plus: A shoutout to Austin Hitt as he wins the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, and Smylie laments the state of LSU football. Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow! CHAPTERS: 0:00 Golf cart garage studio 4:22 Jon Rahm leaves LIV 2.0 12:44 LIV exodus to DP World Tour 15:48 DP World Tour cards 17:18 Rahm's road back 26:09 Championship Series exemptions 31:14 LIV 2.0 deadline & Bryson 35:54 LIV postmortem 41:29 Merit & Challenger Series 48:25 Going global like the NFL 1:00:40 Austin Hitt & UNC on tour 1:02:55 Lane Kiffin's punt 1:06:09 Sign-off
This week on the show - we are taking a deep dive into all of the incredible work happening at the Cobbs Creek campus in West Philadelphia! Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme are joined by Jim Wagner of Hanse Golf Course Design, who alongside Gil Hanse and a team of "cavemen," are bringing a historic canvas for golf back to life: the Olde Course, originally established in 1916. Jim walks Smylie and Charlie through the history of the property, its connection to other historic Philadelphia golf clubs, holes and green complexes that are coming to life, and the future of the Cobbs Creek campus - including the potential to host a PGA Tour event. If you'd like to support the Cobbs Creek Foundation - a mission which includes a classroom impact for the youth of West Philly, in addition to making golf accessible to that neighborhood - you can do so here: https://cobbscreek.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate