The Fried Egg Golf Podcast

Trevor Immelman on the West Coast Swing, Slow Play, & Equipment

<p>Andy is joined by 2008 Masters winner and CBS analyst Trevor Immelman for a wide-ranging conversation about the PGA Tour's first events of 2025. Andy and Trevor discuss a standout performance from Rory McIlroy at Pebble Beach, Xander Schauffele's injury, and Scottie Scheffler's return to play. They then get into the pace-of-play issues on the PGA Tour and the best ways to penalize those violating the Tour's policy. Trevor also discusses his thoughts on the proposed rollback and how it could benefit players at both the professional and amateur levels. Finally, the two briefly preview this week's Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines South.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Checking In on Brooks Koepka

<p>Ahead of Brooks Koepka's 2025 season debut on LIV, Andy Johnson takes stock of one of the most accomplished players of his generation. Joined by Golf Channel's Brentley Romine and Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna, the three deep dive into Brooks Koepka's career, from his amateur career and unconventional route to the PGA Tour through his current status as one of golf's greatest major champions. They discuss his many major championship successes, revisit some of his best quotes, and offer predictions about the remainder of Brooks' career.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The Tiger Slam, Designing Golf, and In-Person TGL Thoughts

<p>Andy Johnson returns to the Fried Egg Golf feed after a visit to the SoFi Center for his first in-person TGL match. This episode begins with some observations from Monday night's festivities featuring Boston Common GC and Jupiter Links. Andy then introduces Garrett Morrison's new podcast, Designing Golf, and throws to Garrett's sitdown with Geoff Ogilvy. You can find more <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designing-golf/id1792221791">Designing Golf</a> wherever you get podcasts. Andy is then joined by Kevin Cook, author of <em>The Tiger Slam: The Inside Story of the Greatest Golf Ever Played.</em> The two discuss Tiger's historic run in 2000 and 2001, holding all four major championships following the 2001 Masters.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Davis Love III &amp; Scot Sherman on TPC Sawgrass, Harbour Town, &amp; More

<p>On the latest episode of The Fried Egg Golf Podcast, Andy Johnson is joined by Davis Love III and Scot Sherman of Love Golf Design. Before their conversation, Andy starts the show with commentary on the state of PGA Tour broadcasts following the marathon final round of The American Express and memo sent to players by Justin Thomas regarding broadcast improvements. From there, Andy, Davis, and Scot have a wide-ranging conversation covering Love Golf Design's ongoing projects, their experience restoring Pete Dye courses, and Davis Love III's playing career.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Designing Golf with No Limits &amp; Northwood's Restoration Efforts

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by two golf architects on this week's Fried Egg Golf Podcast. Before the architecture conversations, Andy shares his thoughts on Eugenio Chacarra's comments regarding his experience playing on the LIV Golf Tour and his interest in obtaining a PGA Tour card. From there, Andy first chats with Agustin Piza of Piza Golf, one of the three designers of the holes for the first season of TGL. Augie and Andy discuss what it was like designing holes in a virtual landscape, how the TGL's one green hampered some designs, and what Augie's learned from his experience in the metaverse that he's now applying to his designs in reality. To close this episode, Andy sits down with William Carlson, a freshman at Cal Poly who helped lead a restoration effort tat Northwood Golf Club in Sonoma County, California. Will spent his summer restoring a bunker at the Alister MacKenzie course and plans on making a career in golf course architecture.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Has Modern Golf Passed Kapalua By? Plus, Golf Architecture with Jaeger Kovich

<p>In this two-part podcast, Andy Johnson is first joined by Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna to discuss the first PGA Tour stop of the 2025 season, Hideki Matsuyama's record-breaking win at The Sentry. With Matsuyama taking down the PGA Tour's 72-hole record for score-to-par, Andy and Joseph discuss whether the game has moved past the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort. The two debate whether changing the course to a par 72 as opposed to the current par 73 iteration would make things any better and how the PGA Tour could possibly add some teeth to a course that lacks defense when the wind isn't blowing. For the second part of this show, Andy chats with golf architect Jaeger Kovich about the most pressing issues for the golf course industry in 2025, such as rising building costs and the continued growth of resort golf.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Top Pro Golf Storylines for 2025 &amp; TGL Preview

<p>Andy Johnson kicks off 2025 an episode looking at the year to come in professional golf, both virtually and on actual courses. To start, he's joined by Gabby Herzig of The Athletic to talk through some major storylines for the game in the new year. Andy and Gabby discuss the potential PIF-PGA Tour deal, the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, how the LPGA can grow under new leadership, and more. With TGL kicking off next Tuesday, Andy brings on Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna and PJ Clark for a preview of the simulator league. The three share thoughts on the league's TV deal with ESPN, the gameplay, and the lackluster design of most of the holes found in the metaverse. Check back next Wednesday for a new episode as the Fried Egg Golf Podcast shifts to a new schedule in 2025.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The Best Events of 2024

<p>On the final Fried Egg Golf Podcast of 2024, Andy Johnson is joined by Fried Egg Golf's Brendan Porath and The Quadrilateral's Geoff Shackelford to rank the best events in golf this year. The trio pick their five favorite events of the year and discuss each at length, covering tournaments such as the men's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the Women's Open Championship at the Old Course, and the men's Olympic competition at Le Golf National. Andy, Brendan, and Geoff also cover some architectural trends that took shape in 2024 before ending the episode with what they're looking forward to in 2025.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The Year of Scottie and Garrett Goes to Australia

<p>In another two-part podcast, Andy Johnson is first joined by the PGA Tour's Sean Martin to discuss the upcoming documentary, "Scottie 24." Sean discusses his role as a producer on the project, which documents Scottie Scheffler's historic 2024 season and premieres on the PGA Tour's YouTube channel on December 23. For the second half of the show, Fried Egg Golf's Garrett Morrison calls in from "Down Under" as he takes the trip of a lifetime to see courses throughout the Melbourne Sandbelt. Andy and Garrett discuss cultural differences between American golf and Australian golf before Garrett shares his top memories from his trip so far. To close things out, the two chat about the Sandbelt Invitational tournament being played across four top courses in the Melbourne area.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Where Does Jordan Spieth Go From Here?

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by Joseph LaMagna and Normal Sport's Kyle Porter for an in-depth conversation about Jordan Spieth's career to date and his future after undergoing wrist surgery this fall. The three look back at Spieth's arrival on the PGA Tour, his unprecedented early success at major championships, his collapse at the 2016 Masters, and his sparse win total since his last major championship in 2017. They debate if Spieth will ever contend at a major again and project his future performance against peers like Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Playing Persimmon and the Secrets of Pebble Beach

<p>Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison team up for a two-part episode for this Thursday release. To start, Andy chats with Todd Demsey, a former professional golfer who now hand-makes persimmon clubs. Andy and Todd discuss Todd's All-American college golf career at Arizona State, his experience playing with persimmon clubs on the PGA Tour Champions, and why persimmons are special to him. In the second half of this episode, Garrett is joined by Chris Millard, author of the book <em>The Shot: Watson, Nicklaus, Pebble Beach, and the Chip That Changed Everything</em>, to discuss the new release and the long history of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Garrett and Chris dive into the early days of Pebble Beach, the 1982 U.S. Open, and how television helped popularize the sport across America.</p><p><br></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

The State of Modern Golf Architecture

<p>Andy Johnson sits down with Bob Crosby, Chairman of the USGA's Museum Committee, for a wide-ranging conversation about the golf architecture trends of today. Bob shares his view on what he sees as a turning point in the industry, as the next generation of golf architects need to distinguish themselves from the minimalism trend developed by the likes of Tom Doak and Coore &amp; Crenshaw. Andy and Bob discuss the uptick in new courses being built during the 2020s, as fresh faces in the golf architecture world now have an opportunity to build their own projects. They also discuss the place of traditional clubs in today's game and why many golfers may opt for a different type of playing experience. </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Predicting Breakout Players for 2025

<p>Andy Johnson and Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna are back to discuss ten breakout candidates for 2025. The two select five men's professional golfers each and dive into why they believe these golfers could be positioned for success next year. Could a PGA Tour rookie like Rasmus Hojgaard or Tom McKibbin make a splash now playing in America? Is there still room to grow for Davis Thompson after a successful 2024 season? And what's next for a high-profile golfer who's dealt with a litany of injuries? Andy and Joseph run through these players and more as they begin to look ahead to next year's pro golf slate.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

What's Next for the LPGA?

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by Fried Egg Golf's Meg Adkins for a look back at the 2024 LPGA season and a conversation about where the tour goes from here after the resignation of commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan on Monday. Andy and Meg debate the Player of the Year race between Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko, how the LPGA's media rights deal may be hampering the tour's growth, and discuss the need for a transformational figure to break through on a national stage, much like Caitlin Clark for women's basketball. Meg shares her favorite moments from the 2024 season and provides ideas for bold moves the next LPGA commissioner must make in order to capitalize on the tour's 75th season in 2025.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Takeaways from the PGA Tour Fall Swing

<p>With the PGA Tour's FedEx Fall wrapped up, Andy Johnson is joined by Joseph LaMagna and Sean Martin to discuss their key takeaways from the last eight tournaments of 2024. The three discuss the standout play of amateur Luke Clanton and how PGA Tour U may create new stars in the game with an accelerated path to tour cards, the successful first-ever Black Desert Championship in Utah, and Daniel Berger's resurgence on his way back from years of injuries. Additionally, they talk through the ongoing changes facing PGA Tour membership and Andy once again pleads a free-flowing mega-tour with a constant churn of promotion and relegation.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Golf Architecture Mailbag: College Golf Courses, Value Golf Trips, and More

<p>Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison are back to empty out the mailbag and answer golf architecture questions submitted on social media. They discuss their favorite university-owned golf courses and the continued evolution of college golf facilities as the game grows with NIL value for players. Andy and Garrett also touch on the best value golf trips in the United States, mentioning places such as Grand Rapids, Michigan and Ventura County, California. The two talk through the ongoing Poa invasion at Bandon Dunes and what the resort can do to keep up the courses before debating some of the worst holes in premier golf courses worldwide.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

2025 Fried Egg Events, Top 100 Course Reactions, and Listener Questions

<p>Garrett Morrison and Andy Johnson are back with another architecture-centric podcast. To start, they run through the just-announced schedule of 2025 Fried Egg Golf events, sharing their excitement for courses such as Moraine Country Club, Mid Ocean Club, Kingsley Club, and more. From there, Garrett and Andy react to Golf.com's recent ranking of the Top 100 Courses in America, with The Lido, Old Barnwell, Interlachen, and Medinah No. 3 as some of the new entries on the 2024 list. They discuss the trends in modern golf course architecture and how the mentality of "keeping up" impacts these rankings moving forward. To finish this episode, Garrett and Andy answer some listener-submitted questions through social media about par-3 courses, the future of shorter courses, and more. Stay tuned for another golf architecture mailbag podcast later this week.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Courses You Think About and Places You Want to Go

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by a variety of Fried Egg Golf staff members at the company offsite for a discussion about what courses they're currently thinking about and where they're looking to go in 2025, as well as their favorite moment from pro golf in 2024. In this wide ranging episode, Matt Rouches, Garrett Morrison, Will Knights, Cameron Hurdus, PJ Clark, and Joseph LaMagna touch on courses such as Hay Harbor Club, TPC Sawgrass, and Talking Stick, travel locations including Yosemite National Park, northern Michigan, and Japan, pro golf moments from Todd Hamilton, Si Woo Kim, Bryson DeChambeau, and more.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Golf Architecture and Life with Mike Koprowski

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by Mike Koprowski, architect of Broomsedge Golf Club in Lee County, South Carolina. The two initially discuss the process of building Broomsedge and making the most on a smaller plot of land. Andy asks Mike about his background and how he went from serving in the Air Force and working in politics to now designing golf courses. Mike shares stories from his time as a caddie at The Country Club in Brookline, re-igniting his passion for golf, and the <a href="https://www.golfdigest.com/gallery/photos-backyard-golf-holes">par 3 he built in the front yard of his old home in Nashville.</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Trevor Dormer on Joining King-Collins Golf Course Design

<p>Fried Egg Golf's Garrett Morrison sits down with golf architect Trevor Dormer to discuss his recent partnership with King-Collins Golf Course Design, now known as King Collins Dormer. The two talk about Trevor's new role as a partner at King Collins Dormer and what appealed to him about joining the firm. Garrett and Trevor then discuss Trevor's ongoing project, his first solo course in the United States, a rebuild of Old Dane in Nebraska. Trevor details his process in making memorable golf experiences, how his experience with Coore &amp; Crenshaw influences his work, and the evolution of the golf architecture profession.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Golf President Campaigns and Coul Links

<p>Andy Johnson is back with another two-part show in this episode of The Fried Egg Golf Podcast. To start, Andy is joined by Fried Egg Golf's Garrett Morrison and Joseph LaMagna, as the three discuss their platforms in a hypothetical campaign for "President of Golf." They describe policies for men's pro golf, women's pro golf, the amateur game, equipment regulation, and the golf course industry. After listening to campaign speeches on shrinking the driver head and creating an exclusive streaming platform for the LPGA, Andy is then joined by Ru Macdonald for an update on the Coul Links development in Scotland. Ru provides insight into where the development currently stands, the potential economic impact it would bring to the Highlands area, and more.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Debating the Proposed PGA Tour Changes

<p>Earlier this week, the PGA Tour emailed players a list of proposed changes set to be voted on by the PGA Tour Policy Board. If approved, these changes would take effect for the 2026 season. Andy Johnson is joined by Joseph LaMagna and Monday Q's Ryan French for a roundtable discussion on these proposed changes. The three debate whether the removal of 25 guaranteed cards and reducing field sizes are substantive enough to improve the product, whether Monday qualifiers should remain part of the PGA Tour schedule, the new pace-of-play policy, and more.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Election Impact on PGA Tour-PIF Deal, Plus College Golf in the NIL Era

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by Gabby Herzig and Brentley Romine in this two-part episode. To start, Andy and Gabby discuss her recent article in The Athletic about the impact of the 2024 U.S. Presidential election on a potential PGA Tour-PIF agreement. Gabby details the role of the Department of Justice as part of the executive branch when it comes to antitrust laws and how each possible administration's DOJ may react to a deal regarding men's professional golf. The two also discuss the continuing evolution of YouTube golf and how the platform is changing how golf is consumed. Andy is then joined by Golf Channel's Brentley Romine, as the two chat about the state of college golf in the ever-changing NIL era of college athletics. They talk through the impact of conference realignment on the college golf landscape, the development of new facilities at schools across the country, and how the new PGA Tour U system has changed the development path for top college golfers.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Trying to Revive a Hometown Nine-Holer

<p>Garrett Morrison is joined by Tom Schwab, superintendent at Napoleon Golf Club, a nine-hole course in Napoleon, Ohio. Tom began working at Napoleon, his hometown course, in 2021 after working at private clubs such as Merion and Aronimink. The two discuss what it means to Tom to work at the course he grew up playing and the history of Napoleon Golf Club. Tom details the challenges of maintaining a public nine-holer in a small town and talks about his plans for improving the course.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Taking Stock of Justin Thomas’s Career and Future

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by Joseph LaMagna for an episode focusing on 15-time PGA Tour winner Justin Thomas. The two begin the show with and they are In and Out on during the early stages of the FedEx Fall, as the PGA Tour's fall events have become more competitive this year while the TV coverage continues to lag behind. Andy and Joseph discuss the uptick in televised college golf and consider the broadcasting future of the sport. From there, the two take a dive into the career of Justin Thomas heading into 2025. They recap the quick start to Thomas' PGA Tour career, his performance in 2017 and 2018, and the advantages his ball speed and iron play initially provided him on Tour. Andy and Joseph analyze his recent putting woes and lack of driving ability, questioning if Thomas can ever be a top-five player in the world again. To wrap up the episode, Andy and Joseph share some Recommendations on how to use screen time for both kids and adults.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Golf Architecture Mailbag: Walkability, 2025 Course Openings, and More

<p>Fried Egg Golf's Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison answer questions from Club TFE members in this golf architecture mailbag episode. The two discuss how the walkability of a course impacts their thoughts on a design, share their thoughts on how to assess a course's architecture while playing it, and debate how re-designs of historic courses should be handled. Andy and Garrett look ahead to some exciting projects finishing in 2025 and wrap the episode with one new hole that stood out to them during their travels this year.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 45: Listener Questions and Building on Rocky Land

<p>Golf architect Tom Doak sits down with Andy Johnson for another mailbag-focused episode of "Yolk with Doak." Thanks to questions from Club TFE members, Tom discusses what motivates him to continue in his career, how he helps develop the careers of his associates, and learning to appreciate his own work. Andy and Tom go back and forth about what a Doak-designed major championship course would look like and why modern golf courses may not be the best hosts for majors. To end this episode, the two take a deep dive into Tom's experience building Stone Eagle in Palm Desert, California. Tom details the initial routing for the course, the struggles of building on rocky land, and how the elevation changes impact building a golf course.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Life On and Off the Golf Course with Jason Meersman

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by The Patterson Club's Jason Meersman for a conversation touching on life, golf courses, golf course maintenance, and even the Chicago Bears. To start, the two discuss Jason's upbringing in a family of golf superintendents and how this shaped his own career path and desire to work in the sport. Jason speaks to what he learned from his father and grandfather, as well as the importance of building relationships with club members as a way to improve the golf courses he's worked at. After that, the conversation shifts to some Robert Trent Jones history, as The Patterson Club is an early RTJ design located in Fairfield, Connecticut. Andy and Jason discuss the importance of work-life balance as a golf superintendent and what Jason does away from the course to keep him grounded. To wrap things up, Andy discloses some gripes he has with golf in the northeast, specifically surrounding green speeds.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

A Conversation with Dodo Molinari, Vice Captain for Ryder Cup Europe

<p>Edoardo ("Dodo") Molinari, DP World Tour member and Chief Data Strategist for Ryder Cup Team Europe, joins the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion. First, Andy Johnson and Joseph LaMagna kick off the episode with what they are In and Out on this week in the golf world. Then Joseph brings on Dodo to discuss his background, Augusta National, hot-button topics in the golf analytics community, Ryder Cup strategy, and much more. The episode wraps up with a couple of music Recommendations from Andy and Joseph.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Yolk with Doak 44: Links Travel, Analytics in Golf, and Short Par 4s

<p>Andy Johnson sits down with Tom Doak for the first of two October Yolk with Doak episodes. To start, Tom shares travel tips for golfers headed to Australia, New Zealand, and links courses throughout Ireland and the U.K. Andy and Tom then talk through Tom's first round at Sedge Valley and his experiences playing his own design for the first time. They then discuss the strategy around designing and playing short par fours, debating on whether longer hitters should resist temptations to reach the green in one. This leads into a conversation about the prevalence of analytics in golf, as younger golfers now have access to more data and information about their own games and swings than prior generations. This episode wraps with Tom talking through the pros and cons of working on private or resort courses and more accessible public courses, and how the feedback he'll receive is different based on how often golfers play a course.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>