The Golf Insiders 05-18-2016

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Holly G is in the studio with co host Kevin Sternett, assistant pro at Golden Bear Club at Keene's Point and Will Perry, social media guru EVVUS. The trio kickoff the show talking about Jason Day's wire-to-wire win at the Players Championship as well as the hole in one by Will Wilcox as well as some of the other high and low lights. They also discuss Tiger Woods' return to the course at the Quicken Loans media day where he put three balls in the water. Holly said it wasn't a good idea for him to go from the media event straight to the tee.

Holly asks Kevin about Jordan Spieth missing the cut at The Players.  Kevin said that he thinks Spieth will be better this upcoming week on his home turf at the event in Texas.

It's National Golf Day. WE ARE GOLF, a coalition of golf’s leading organizations, hosted its ninth annual National Golf Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. where top individuals and organizations in the game met with Congressional leaders to discuss the many benefits of golf to the economy, environmental, charitable and fitness benefits.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com, starts off the show talking to the team about Day's win at the Players. Bob picked Henrik Stenson to win and he missed the cut.  Bob said that just speaks of the play of Day and his ability to set a scoring record and someone like Stenson or Jordan Spieth not making the cut.

The Players never favors any certain type of player and that was reflected in the scores over the four days and the different styles of play each have from long ball hitters to short game gurus, to course technicians.

Holly asks Bob about the comments made by Tour players about the course's set up on Saturday. Bob said the players had a point. ... The greens are in need of replacement and they couldn't let the greens get too hard and fast on the first two days or they would lose the greens. Then from what he understands the greens were rolled more than once for Saturday's play. It was supposed to be lower winds and higher humidity which would help the condition of the greens. Those environmental factors didn't happen the way they were expected to and the tournament officials also set up the course with trickier pin placements. Day shot a 73 on Saturday but that was a good score for the day.

Bob felt that when the tournament got down to a 2-shot lead, there was an opportunity for more seasoned players to take advantage. But the young players who were trailing at the time were dealing with their own nerves.

Holly and Bob talk about Rory McIlroy and his play. Most put it on his putting. Bob thinks that Rory isn't playing that well from 120 yards in. His stats in that yardage are way down in the PGA standings. He's hitting those shots and leaving himself 30 yards to make the putt for birdie and most players try to leave 6 out of 7 shots inside the 10 yard range.  Bob feels that Rory is having a bad hole in each round or a series of bad holes. 

Todd Lewis, The Golf Channel, calls in to the show and talks to Holly about Jason Day's play over the past couple of years. It was McIlroy's year two years ago, and last year was Spieth's year last year and this year it seems like it's Day's turn. Todd said that it is interesting that the "power" has shifted each year. Day has 7 wins in his last 17 events. Todd talks about Day's caddie and Tiger Woods having direct and indirect affects on Jason Day. Todd feels that Day's winning at Whistling Straits has really turned Day's career in the right direction.

Holly asks Todd about comparing the overall game of Spieth, McIlroy and Day who is the better player? If they all had their A game, Todd feels Day is the more complete player. Todd also discuss how Day's juggling of family and playing is ahead of the curve of Rory who is engaged and Spieth who has a girlfriend. It's also tough for the players who have to go out and earn their paycheck each week and not have guaranteed pay check.

Lance Ringler, Golfweek, calls in to wrap up the final hour of intelligent golf talk talking about the NCAA women's and Men's Championship Div 1 starts soon.  Holly and Lance talk about BYU women's team playing on Thursday instead of Sunday due to religious reasons. Holly and Lance talk about the Florida Gators who Lance gives a good chance to win it all.

Lance feels that the West Coast teams like USC and UCLA are going to play fairly well in this year's tournament. 

Holly asks Lance about the Men's teams who will start play in the next couple of weeks. Lance said that all the teams in the top 15 made it into the tournament and most of the top 20. Lance said that it is a tough draw when you have so many great programs that could win it all.

UCLA is one of the top favorites on the women's side. Alabama, Duke, Southern California. Lance said that once the tournament gets into the top 8 it's match play. The winner of the scratch play tournament has not won the overall title. When it comes to match play it's hard to predict. Holly and Lance talk about the talent at the collegiate level.