McKellar Golf Podcast #71 Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with guest, Nick O’Hern

In the latest episode our intrepid hosts discuss this week’s big events in golf – the demise of the World Matchplay, belt tightening at LIVGolf , the changing face of golf’s “media establishment”, and Rory McIlroy’s ability to identify and ride that wave, plus his frankly stunning (and smart) intervention in the ball rollback debate. Friend of the Pod is Nick O’Hern, matchplay conqueror of Tiger Woods and one of shortest hitters to ever make a serious living on the PGA Tour.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #70 Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with extra special guest, author Geoff Shackelford.

This week our intrepid hosts wander through the thick undergrowth of the week in golf, celebrating the wonders of state and local golf associations and berating the conspicuous capitalism of college golf team that fly private. What are we teaching these kids? We look back at the Players and ahead to Scottie Scheffler’s Masters champions’ dinner. Our Friend of the Pod is Geoff Shackelford, author of 2004 “classic” (it says here) The Future of Golf which looked forward to the day when  USGA and R&A would take steps to rein in modern equipment.  Geoff  gives his  views on this week’s epochal (it says here) announcement that the governing bodies are about to do exactly that.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #69 Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with guest, former PGA Tour pro Joe Ogilvie

This week Geoff and Lawrence are joined by Friend of the Pod, Joe Ogilvie, one of the smartest, most thoughtful guys to ever play in the professional ranks. Joe, once touted as a future PGA Tour commissioner, gives us his thoughts on the tour’s proposed schedule changes  for 2024, both the good and the baffling, and what one version of the future might hold for LIV.  It is definitely an “elevated” discussion. Before that, our co-hosts talk women’s college golf, NBC’s coverage, and this week’s Players championship. We give Jay Monahan’s press-Players press conference the Rotten Tomatoes treatment (look away now, Jay!)

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McKellar Golf Podcast #68 Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with guest, James Corrigan of the Telegraph newspaper

This week Geoff and Lawrence discuss the PGA Tour’s proposed schedule  for the 2024 season. Elevated events! No cuts! Limited Fields!  Does it all sound a little familiar?  We break down….sorry … we break it all down.  In our irregular USGA segment, we look at the organisation’s new “national development” plan, and at its proposal to allow rich old dudes to run amok at the Walker… (correction: endow the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup for future generations) . Friend of the pod this week is James Corrigan of the Telegraph, who  takes a look back at his trip to Mexico for last week’s LIV event and looks ahead to what’s next for the “renegade” golf  tour. It’s a bumper show, especially for  anyone who enjoys a good “Donald Trump going into the dressing rooms at the Miss Universe pageant” metaphor.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #67: Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with guest, LIV caddy Craig Connolly.

This week Geoff and Lawrence discuss a great 2023 Genesis Invitational at Riviera – Tiger’s appearance (and performance), a compelling Sunday climax,  and they dissect the golf course, its genius and its flaws. They also chat about the Netflix documentary and the sad death of long-time rules official John Paramore. Long-time European and PGA Tour caddy Craig “The Weeman” Connolly  joins Lawrence to discuss his new life  working with Martin Kaymer on the LIV Tour, which starts  its 2nd season this week. Don’t ever say we’re not fair and balanced.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #66: Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with guest David Dusek of Golfweek

On this week’s podcast Lawrence and Geoff discuss the great Swilcan Bridge fiasco and what it says about the Old Course and the Links Trust. They look back at Peeble Beach and ahead to this week’s millennial major, aka the Waste Management Open.  Friend of the Pod is David Dusek, senior writer at Golfweek, who brings his insight into forthcoming announcement from the governing bodies on how they aim to rein in distance in elite golf.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #65:Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with guest Brian Keogh

On this week’s podcast Lawrence and Geoff discuss what’s going on in the world of golf – Rory, Reed, the advent (finally) of decent TV coverage of the PGA Tour, the telling shift in the marketing priorities of equipment manufacturers. They are joined by Brian Keogh of the Irish Independent, who talks about his experiences covering the teenage McIlory and takes a wider look at Irish golf in general.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #64: Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with guest Iain Carter

This week Shackelford and Donegan get down in the dirt with everyone else and discuss the Dubai drive range free-for-all  (eyes rolling) between Rory McIlroy and P Reed. They also take a stroll through the biography of Reed’s lawyer and  look back at exciting Sunday finishes in Abu Dhabi and Palm Springs. Friend of the Pod Iain Carter of the BBC checks in from Dubai and reports on the mood in and  around the Europea…sorry… DP World Tour.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #63:Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan, with guest Bob Harig.

Our latest podcast with Shackelford and Donegan. This week they are joined  by Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated to discuss LIV Golf’s new TV deal in the US with The CW Network, as well as Bob’s book, “Tiger and Phil: Golf’s Most Fascinating Rivalry”.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #62:

A weekly podcast. Geoff Shackelford and Lawrence Donegan discuss the main events of the week in golf.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #61: A Review of the 2022 Season

Lawrence Donegan and the great Geoff Shackelford look back on a tremendous (and tumultuous) year in the world of golf, from the major championships to the major bust-up between the PGA Tour and  LIV golf. Be warned – we only had an hour so we couldn’t get round to everything, just highlights (and the lowlights), but  as always we had an entertaining, informed conversation.

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McKellar Gold Podcast #60: Jamie Corrigan and Geoff Shackford on LIV Golf.

This week host Lawrence Donegan is joined by Geoff Shackelford and James Corrigan, whose work at the Telegraph newspaper on LIV Golf has dominated the coverage of what is golf’s biggest story since the emergence of Tiger in the mid-1990s. It’s a great discussion, full of insight and little nuggets of new information.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #59. The McKellar Golf Podcast – the Lazarus of Golf Podcasts.

The podcast is back. This week our man in the big chair Lawrence Donegan is joined by legendary BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter and author of the smash hit “The Quadrilateral” substack newsletter (subscribe if you don’t already) Geoff Shackelford. We tried not to spend too much time talking about LIV but failed miserably. But before that, we discuss the Old Course and its genius.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #58: “The Phil Mickelson Affair”

We are back! In a new episode, host Lawrence Donegan is joined by Mark Cannizarro of the New York Post and Geoff Shackelford of The Quadrilateral newsletter to discuss Phil Mickelson, the ethics of journalism, the limitless supplies of hypocrisy in professional golf and the corporate world, the Saudi golf league and where does the professional game go from here. Big stuff. Smart chat.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #57 The Future of Professional Golf (Is the PGA Tour the next FC Barcelona?)

Big infection points demand “emergency” podcasts. Lawrence Donegan is joined this week by Geoff Shackelford of The Quadrilateral newsletter and Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post to discuss the potential upheaval in the landscape of the professional golf and the PGA Tour’s self-defeating silence when confronted by the existential threat of Saudi billions.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #56 Geoff Shackelford on Torrey Pines

This week Lawrence Donegan is joined by Geoff Shackelford to discuss, amongst other things, the South Course at Torrey Pines, site of the 2021 US Open. In his story in the new edition of McKellar Magazine (mckellarmagazine.com/shop) Geoff describes Ress Jones’  2019 redo of his 2001 redo  of the San Diego muni as one of golf’s biggest missed opportunites. In the podcast, he explains why.

This podcast was sponsored by our friends at Sounder Golf. Find them at www.Soundergolf.com

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McKellar Golf Podcast #55 The 2021 PGA Championship‬

An all-star major championship deserves all-star guests. This week Lawrence Donegan is joined by Iain Carter of the BBC and Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post to discuss Phil Mickelson’s victory at Kiawah Island. But first, we discuss the feud between  Brooks and Bryson and what it means for Team USA…

This podcast was sponsored by our friends at Sounder Golf. Find them at www.Soundergolf.com

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McKellar Golf Podcast #54 Special Guest Andrew ‘Chubby” Chandler‬

This week Lawrence Donegan flies solo and talks to  golf agent Chubby Chandler about the political and business machinations in the world of professional golf. Chubby takes us on a tour through the money mountains and comes to some startling conclusions about where the game is heading.

Please note: we have a brand new edition of McKellar magazine out now. You can buy your copy at McKellarmagazine.com/shop .

This podcast was sponsored by our friends at Sounder Golf. Find them at www.Soundergolf.com

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McKellar Golf Podcast #53 USGA/R&A finally move on Equipment‪.‬

This week Lawrence Donegan and Mark Cannizzaro are joined by friend of the pod, Iain Carter of the BBC, to discuss a tsunami of news in the world of golf – golf equipment rollbacks (proposed), Patrick “handsy” Reed, awkward press conferences we have known, and a whole lot more. Really fun show this week. Lots of laughs.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #52 Trump and Turnberry

This week Lawrence Donegan and Mark Cannizzaro are joined by  Martin McLaughlin, investigations editor of the Scotsman newspaper and the foremost chronicler of Donald Trump’s star-crossed ownership of Turnberry golf course in Scotland.  Martin guides us through the former President’s hapless stewardship of the one-time Open Championship venue, describing in eye-popping detail the uses and abuses of US taxpayer’s money to line the pockets of the Trump family businessman. It’s an unmissable show. It will make you laugh, it’ll make you cry. But most of all it’ll make you say to yourself, “Thank f*** he’s gone.”

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McKellar Golf Podcast #51 Iain Carter, the BBC’s Golf Correspondent

A brand new show with Lawrence Donegan and Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post are joined by  legendary BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter to discuss the announcement of a “strategic partnership” between the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and the implications for the future of the professional game worldwide.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #50 The Masters Preview

The McKellar golf podcast is back. This week Lawrence Donegan and Mark Cannizzaro are joined by the great Robert Lusetich to discuss the 2020 Masters.  We  talk about – who else? – Bryson and what he might (or might not) do the course.  We chat two-tee starts,  no fans,  the special privileges the media has this week. And so much more. Enjoy.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #49 The 2020 PGA Championship

This week co-hosts Lawrence Donegan and Mark Cannizzaro are joined by Evan Priest of the Australian Associated Press to discuss the thrilling final day of the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park. Collin Morikawa won the first major championship of the year with one of the best shots of this or any other year, making eagle on the 70th hole to cement a winning lead. History made, history dissected.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #48 Tommy Fleetwood

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by one of the best (and most popular) players in the world, Tommy Fleetwood, to discuss his life and career. We talked about his amateur career and his development as a golfer , his dad, and his move into the pro game.  He spoke about the importance of environment and the people you surround yourself,  and about finding his game, losing it and finding it again. It’s a brilliant insight into the mind of a world-class golfer.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #47 Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by the legendary New York Post reporter Mark Cannizzaro. Mark was one of the few reporters allowed inside the PGA Tour ‘bubble” in Fort Worth to report on the Charles Schwab Challenge. He talked to us about the surreal experience.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #46 Peter Kostis

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Peter Kostis, leading swing coach and one of the most famous voices in modern television coverage of the PGA Tour. We talked to Peter about returning to his beginnings in the game, his career with the CBS network in the US and returning to his roots.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #45 Keith Pelley

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour for a wide-ranging discussion about the future of golf in Europe and beyond. We talk Ryder Cup, closer relations with the PGA Tour, “no thanks” to the Premier Golf League and the bouncing back from the financial tsunami of COVID-19.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #44 Darren Clarke

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Darren Clarke, 2011 Open Champion and one of the greatest ball-strikers of the modern era. We talk Ryder Cup, major championships and the pursuit of perfection.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #43 Rory McIlroy

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by world no1 Rory McIlroy for a wide-ranging discussion – Seminole, golf course architecture,  the balance between power and artistry, golf development, his amateur career, the pros, and his interests and views on the world beyond golf.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #42 Jamie Diaz

This week John Huggan and Lawrence Donegan are joined by Golf Channel analyst Jaime Diaz, considered by most of peers in the media tent to be the best golf writer of his generation. We talked to him about golf in these turbulent times – the sport’s imminent return, and its future. But we start in happier, more innocent times,  with Jaime’s recollections of playing golf with the 14-year-old Tiger Woods.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #42 James Corrigan

In a special news podcast,  Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan speak to James Corrigan of the Telegraph about the prospects for the Ryder Cup and the financial landscape facing the European Tour. (Spoiler; it ain’t good).

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McKellar Golf Podcast #41 Pete Cowen

This week Lawrence  Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Pete Cowen, considered by most of the savvy people around the upper echelons of professional golf to be the best swing coach in world. Pete doesn’t chase publicity or attention so it was an absolute privilege to spend an hour talking to him about his career and ideas about coaching.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #40 Curtis Strange

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Curtis Strange for a wide-ranging discussion about his life in golf – his US Open victories, the Ryder cup, his love of the Old Course, his development as a player, Seve and the other members of the “Big Five”. A captivating guest. Thx Curtis.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #39 Denis Pugh

This week John Huggan and Lawrence Donegan are joined by Denis Pugh, who discusses his work with many of the top class players he has coached through years – Seve, Monty, Molinari and many others.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #38 Lee Westwood

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Lee Westwood,

winner of 44 professional tournaments around the world. We discuss Lee’s story –

a late starter in junior golf who became the world’s number one player.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #37 Padraig Harrington

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Padraig Harrington. We discuss his social media coaching career, his majors, the golf coaches he has worked with – Torrance, Cowen, Gankas, his Ryder Cup captaincy and how he sees his career post-Ryder Cup.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #36

This week John Huggan and Lawrence Donegan are joined by Geoff Ogilvy. Amongst other things we discuss Geoff’s move home to Australia and how it has made him a better golfer,

the “art of scoring”, and how much he enjoyed vice-captaincy enjoyed the Presidents Cup.

Plus much more.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #35

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by legendary agent Chubby Chandler to discuss golf in a Coronavirus world – how will the pandemic impact the game and what does he see for the future.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #34

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined Meg MacLaren, professional golfer and five-star writer/blogger,  to discuss her life on tour. We also talk about Bay Hill, The Players and Saudi sportswashing.  NOTE: we lost the last 30 seconds of the recording. Hopefully, that won’t spoil your enjoyment of the podcast. thanks.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #33

The week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Mark Cannizzaro to discuss Paul Azinger, the Honda “Classic”, gambling in golf, and the preponderance of mediocre golf courses on the PGA Tour’s Flordia swing..

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McKellar Golf Podcast #32

Back after a short holiday/trip to Australia, the hosts of Moaning Drive Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are back to discuss the week’s events in golf.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #31

A busy week in golf deserves a bumper podcast. Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan discuss everything from the BBC’s relationship with golf to the proposed. We discuss the PR effort on behalf of Saudi Arabia, Rory at Torrey Pines and Course set-up in Dubai. And more.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #30

We’re back! Lawrence Donegan catches up with John Huggan in Dubai to discuss the European Tour’s desert swing, the proposed world tour for golf,  knee-high rough and Tiger’s first tournament start of 2020 in San Diego.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #29

Here’s to 2020. To mark the beginning of the year (if not the golf calendar) Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by the great Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post to look ahead to the majors and more. Be warned: the chat goes long and deep!

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McKellar Golf Podcast #28

This week Lawrence Donegan is joined by the most controversial man in golf, John ‘The Fossil’ Huggan, and Mike Clayton to discuss Royal Melbourne, and the President’s Cup, plus the enablers who have set Patrick Reed free to do whatever, dude.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #27

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by the great Mike Clayton to discuss events in the world of golf. Aussie Open, Patrick Reed,  Presidents Cup, Royal Melbourne. Plenty to talk about!

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McKellar Golf Podcast Special Edition

You can buy Issue #3 of McKellar right now! Podcast host Lawrence Donegan gives listeners a guided tour of the brand new edition of the world best’ literary golf journal. Available at mckellarmagazine.com . thanks

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McKellar Golf Podcast #26

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan discuss Phil Mickelson’s response to criticism over his announced participation in a golf tournament in Saudi Arabia. The chaps also chat about why Rory McIlroy > Jon Rahm, the Australian Open, and next week’s Presidents Cup.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #25

Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan discuss the week in golf – Dubai, Nedbank, the prospect of a world tour, McIlroy, Fleetwood, Q school and much else besides.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #24

A brand new episode of Moaning Drive with John Huggan and Lawrence Donegan. Special guest Denis Push discusses his work with Francesco Molinari and his life on Twitter, and joins in on our regular discussion of the week’s events in golf. One of the smartest guys in the game. Denis, that is. Not Huggan or Donegan.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #23

The latest edition of Moaning Drive. Huggy and Donegan discuss Robert Rock, the HSBC and Christina Kim. Plus, Huggy does the Golf.com PGA Tour players survey (until he gets bored and gives up)

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McKellar Golf Podcast #22

Bumper show this week as regulars John Huggan and Lawrence Donegan offer their Moaning Drive ‘hot takes’ on the Skins game, Nicolas Colsaerts’ win in France, the brilliance of Justin Thomas and the uselessness of golf’s drugs testing policies.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #21

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan discuss the European Tour’s announcement of a new tournament, the Scandinavian Mixed, in which men and women will compete head to head. Brilliant idea. We also discuss the Italian Open on the ET, Ryder Cup venues and the two things you say to yourself after every shot.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #20

This week Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan are joined by Mike Clayton to discuss Jon Rahm’s win in Spain, Kevin Na and the use of stats in golf. Plus, a bonus 10 minutes on the coming era of bifurcation.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #19

This week on Moaning Drive ….John Huggan and Lawrence Donegan discuss Rory McIlroy’s comments about golf course set-ups on the European Tour + a whole lot else besides.

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McKellar Golf Podcast #18

The band is back together! In the first of their new weekly episodes on the wide world of golf, Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan discuss the BMW Championship and Sanderson Farms

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