The Golf Insiders 09-23-2015

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Holly G is in the studio in the studio on the eve of the Tour Championship with special co host Mike Jamison from the International Network of Golf and the Examiner.com. 

Mike just returned from Chicago  fundraiser the Freedom Golf Association. The organization that works with special needs golfers and was started  by amputee EQ Sylvester. The event was at Cog Hill. After that event there was a Wounded Warriors Project with special guest Rory McIlroy. After the events, Mike came away with a lot of respect for Rory and both organizations

After recapping the BMW Championship, Mike and Holly talk about Player of the Year. Jordan Spieth or Jason Day?

Although Day has been on a hot streak, Holly thinks it should be Spieth. Mike said that today people have a short memory so that factors in to the decision. He feels if Day doesn't win the Tour Championship that it should be Spieth hands down. The two talk about the whole season as a body of work. 

Holly mentions how the season started for Spieth and then his run in the 4 major championships and what he has accomplished throughout the season that started in the fall of 2014.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, is the show's first guest and starts the Tour Championship conversation with The Golf Insiders .The final event is down to 29 Players now that Jim Furyk had to withdraw for a wrist injury.

Holly asks Bob about Jason Day’s response he made in the press conference recently about what he'd do with the $10 million FedEx Cup check? Day said he'd buy a few V-necks from Target. Bob said it’s "funny money" now for him, given that Day has won 4 times recently and has probably over $5 million in winnings.

Holly brings up Jason Day's life story. Day said he's a simple man. Bob said that Jason said he used to think about the money at first because he didn’t have much money before and it was important for him to make money.  But Bob said once Day stopped thinking about the money, golf seemed to become more easier.
You have to come to a point where you don’t think about money," Harig said. "Just perform and the money will come."

Mike, who was in Chicago and watched the players on Wednesday, said that it was very windy but Jason Day has played some incredible golf this past week and made it look so easy. He asks Bob if he recalls anyone having this kind of run recently? 

"It’s reminiscent of Tiger and the rolls he has been on ... 2007 or 2009," Harig said. We have sort have been waiting on this type of play from Jason for the past couple of years. 

Holly asks if Jason has a big advantage because of the points lead?

Bob said "No." He feels that Day has a lot of confidence and is a very, very good situation heading into the final FedEx Cup event.

Holly asks Bob about Daniel Berger a rookie who is now 9th in the standings. Bob pointed out that Berger got  to the Tour Championship in his first year and that means a lot, more than just the money. Bob said Berger is also is "playing with House money and should have a nice FedEx Cup bonus no matter where he finishes in the Top 30.

Holly asks Bob about a long shot coming out of the pack. Bob said that the FedEx Cup is set up so everyone can win, but those out of the Top 5 would need a lot of things to happen. 

The Tour's nightmare scenario is if Henrik Stenson wins the FedEx Cup without winning a tournament all year ... but would need Jason Day to finish no better than 11th and need other guys to fall off.

Holly, Mike and Bob then discuss Player of the Year.

Jordan Spieth has had 3rd best year in the modern year of the majors. Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods ... no one else has won 3 majors in the modern era. Jordan won two and came close to in the two others this year.  If you throw in his play throughout the season it's hard not to pick Spieth. 

Bob said that this year there is an odd occurrence in the POY discussion with Jason Day having an historic year. Bob said that 5 wins in one year is a rarity. Day is the only the 5th guy recently even though Tiger won 5 in one year 10 times 

In the second segment, Todd Lewis, the Golf Channel, joins Holly and Mike in the second segment of the show. Calls in from East Lake. Holly talks to Todd about Golf Channel’s amazing wall to wall coverage. 

Todd says that the Golf Channel is working for the fans and want them to get what they need from the game of golf.

Recently Golf Channel aired the Payne Stewart Award show which was awarded this year to Ernie Els. Todd has worked with the Els foundation over the years with Autism. Their son Vin has it. Raised awareness and funds. Ernie Els center for excellence. Todd said that the  happiest he has seen Ernie is when he is with his son.

Mike asks Todd about the final event and the playoffs.

Todd says that he's looking at Zach Johnson as his potential pick to win the Tour Championship. Johnson won the Open Championship and is playing consistently. He’s in sixth place in the FedEx Cup Standings.  Johnson doesn’t have to win the Tour Championship and can still win the FedEx Cup.

Todd also talks Player of the Year. Spieth and Day

Todd said that he asked 20 of the players in the field of 30 ... "If Jason Day wins the tour Championship who do you take for POY -- Spieth and Day?

Four players said that they’d vote for Day, 6 said Spieth and 10 said have to think about it. Todd said that there is definitely pause for these players in picking the player of the year. Several players feel that co-players of the year, if ever there was a case this year is it.

 Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, calls in to wrap up the show talking the great Solheim Cup finish in Germany where the USA came back to beat Europe by one point. Mike said it was one of the most exciting 4-5 hours of golf he has watched in a long time.

Holly asks Steve about the controversy with Suzanne Pettersen and the "conceded putt" with Allison Lee.

Steve said that Charlie Hull turned and walked away and the crowd erupted. Allison picked her ball up and headed to the 18th tee. Then Pettersen said that it wasn’t conceded. "It was the catalyst that sparked the USA, Eubanks said. "The USA team was so fired up." Steve said that team USA had 3 separate meetings before the singles matches and he feels that it was such an emotional turn around.  

Angela Stanford who was 0-9 in Solheim Cup competition before she played her singles match against Suzanne Pettersen was concerned about her record heading into the final singles matches. Steve said that Angela had played well but was just getting beaten. When she found out she drew Pettersen’s name she told her coach, the streak ends now.

Mike, Holly and Steve talk about the fallout from Pettersen’s decision to say that the putt wasn’t conceded. Steve said he was there and felt that there was no one, European fan or American, that seemed to support Pettersen’s decision.

Steve and Holly talk about the official’s call not to have them play the shot over.

Mike said that what was lost in all of it was Gerina Piller’s putt on 18 that was one of the gutsiest putts ever.

This team was a reflection of their captain Juli Inkster. Great all around. This has done more for women’s golf and the Solheim