The Golf Insiders 12-02-2015

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Holly G is in the studio with special guest host Brendan Sweeney, Director of Golf Media and Player Relations at French Lick Resort, Ind., recapping the last couple weeks of golf. 

Kevin Kisner won the RSM Championship for his first PGA Tour victory.

Holly and Brendan talk about Tiger's announcement that he is not close to being rehabilitated to start another comeback.

Lydia Ko won the  Race to CME Globe for the second year in a row and the final event of the season, the CME Group Tour Championship was won by Christie Kerr.

Todd Lewis, Golf Channels, calls in to talk to the duo from the Bahamas about the Hero World Challenge as well as Tiger Woods' announcement about his health. Tiger's career is not over, but he has a different attitude about if his career ended today would he be satisfied. 

Todd said that Tiger has been hinting at the fact that his career is in a valley right now but is hanging on to hope that they can get his body and his game back to where he wants to be, competing for a tournament win.

Holly talks about the fact that Tiger can't even play soccer or pick up his kids and so far all Tiger can do is walk and take one step at a time. Todd mentions that there have been plenty of back surgeries and have come back. Look at Davis Love III, at the age of 51, with a fused neck Love won a PGA Tour event. Todd says that Tiger may take time off and is dejected but it is going to take some time, but Tiger can come back. He's only 39.

Holly and Todd talk about Jordan Spieth and how his year has gone winning two majors and coming close to two others as well as the FedEx Cup championship. Rory McIlroy closes the year out winning the European Tour's Race to Dubai Championship. 

With Tiger's back surgery at the top of the news, Holly welcomes Dr Mitchell Suppler from the NeuroSpine Institute here in the Orlando area to the show and talks with him about Tiger's condition, the surgery he had and what his outlook may be. 

Dr Suppler talks with Holly about the importance of stretching.  If they are strong and flexible you will be able to maximize what you can do with your spine. Can't be one and not the other. Even someone as fit as Tiger can have these injuries. 

Brendan asks Dr Suppler about the long term effects of having three surgeries in a row. Dr. Suppler said there is a psychological impact when you have been through the surgery and have rehabbed and expect to get back to your normal life and then boom it happens again.

Tiger's issue is not such an issue that he would be paralyzed but it could become a degenerative disc injure. If he had another injury in the same spot the doctors would probably recommend a fusion of he two vertebrae. Dr Mitchell thinks that Tiger can come back and be competitive. But he feels that Tiger needs to modify his work habit, just like a typical non professional golfer would have to do. 

Tiger has to dial back his powerful swing and be in more control to be successful. Dr Suppler said he doesn't see Tiger being the player he was, but it will take some time.

Steve Eubanks, Global Golf Post, calls in to talk to Holly about the incredible Lydia Ko and her second Race to the CME Globe title. Steve talks about how mature Lydia is.

Steve also talks about the catalyst of the Hero World Challenge win in 2014 that catapulted his success on the PGA Tour all season long in 2015.

Holly also Steve about the recent USGA Rules of Golf changes, especially the one about not being able to post your own score if you play alone and be able to maintain a handicap.

Some other new rules, that PGA Tour players must add new events they've never played before in 2016-2017 season.