All right guys welcome back to the rickshaws Golf Show podcast episode 191 back in the studio me and guy it's been an epic week yes it has it has been phenomenal. For many many many many many many many reasons which you can't wait to talk about in this week's podcast episode well this is we're gonna put this out today.
Tuesday can we do it Matt can you get this done in time he will he will. So we didn't record Monday uh which is when we normally record our podcast because Rick it was your birthday happy birthday. And everybody knows I go completely silent on my birthday yes I have a non-talking policy correct. So there's no way I could have done the podcast yesterday correct because I was completely silent all day are you not out of you're not grown out of the age we have a day off. For your birthday [Music] it's real you know truth be told as well it was quite a heavy weekend I can imagine there was a little bit of spillover Monday morning birthday thinking go on Rick treat yourself put the day off yeah it was good I uh not the birthday was wasn't great it was another year older I I had a bit of a real crisis yesterday what 1840. I'm at the age now where I generally feel like. For the first time in my entire life I'm now old hmm yes I'm going to caveat that in certain situations let me elaborate you walk into your field Clubhouse The Honorable company of Edinburgh golfers you young man in that situation I would say however. you walk into a bar on a Friday at half 11 10 o'clock whatever it might be evening time you're an old boy it's more do you know it's more than number the number it's not particularly how I feel it's a real. So I'm 37 now essentially I'm still in my mid-30s correct 37 I might oh that's it yeah I'm done I'm 40. do I mean yeah it's a big change in numbers it's a bit like 10 30 sorry 9 30 is the morning correct okay yeah 9 45. it feels like it's pretty much lunchtime well the worrying thing. For you now is we could have a listener who's 18 who is driving the car uh sit down the speedway I'll be very American down the motorway listen to this podcast you could be their father does that make you feel well there was that one time I went to America 18 years ago yeah I feel I don't know it's a weird age anyway thank you. For all the beautiful messages really nice comments uh so many people remembered really yeah weirdly remembered like loads of people commented oh Rick you know often it's because oh you have the same birthday as my dad. Or you have the same birthday as my brother or whatever you retweeted the famous birthdays tweet as well that was at 11 o'clock last night okay. And they're all coming fast before that wait honestly it's just a World Cup I was gonna do a story on Instagram. And say happy birthday but I didn't know how public you want it to be so I decided not to yeah to be honest I'm not really into all that no even like gone of the day is my even my wife said I'm not gonna do uh I was like God don't want you to I think just save it till your 40th now she said I want to say it to your face she said happy birthday I went great she went thank you card oh yeah of course. But as in like I was on social media oh yeah yeah Johnny Yes yes yeah. And she said sorry I'm not gonna post it all on social media. And I said okay fine yeah I'm gonna tell because how many times on a birthday did you see like oh happy birthday to my lovely husband. And I'm thinking Bear in real life they probably don't think that no. But that social bloody media for you it's all alive hey anyway first off I don't think we can continue without talking about the Epic victory friend of the show Ricky Fowler Sir Richard Fowler yeah he um has been knocking at the door of winning a event a lot recently. And I'm very chuffed and somewhat gutted let me elaborate onto why you filmed with Vicki Fowler at the back end of last year and I couldn't go because of family commitments and you met him you did a podcast with him it was insane that you did a 10 shot challenge with him which was insane. And you it's funny you say family commit your wife was heavily pregnant you made that sound really good dramatic your wife was heavily pregnant I couldn't come to see Ricky Fowler. And um you all came back yourself and the team and said what an amazingly nice friendly guy he was he was honestly he was phenomenal we spent a full day together at medalist his home Golf Course he he just turned up on his own Rock top was more than friendly we had lunch together we did a great podcast episode which is still available obviously on the podcast platforms I'm sure many of you in the clubhouse have already listened to that episode I don't you know what what was really interesting when I was recording that podcast I was looking at a man who wasn't deflated. But you could tell he wasn't quite his self you know he was at the back end of last year he just. And I mean very just started working with Butch Harman again who he'd had great success from the past. And you could just tell he was kind of going through this kind of transitional period this change. But he wasn't the Ricky Fowler now you see winning like and even in that window that five six month window he's changed enormously his confidence has gone through the roof yeah I think his last nine starts I'm pretty sure almost every single one of them was in the top 15. it's insane. And now he's obviously gone on to win the Rocket mortgage classic in Michigan USA with a three-man playoff against Murray cower and Adam hadwin um it's a birdie the 72nd hole to get into the playoff was pretty epic he stuffed it he then.
Hit away with t-shirt. And his playoff and then.
Stuck it really good iron shot into about 15-20 feet and then.
When he boxed that Port what what a lovely reaction yeah want to you could just tell it was like it was relief he's definitely been Trend. And the reason that's at the start of this competition I was gutted. And obviously I was good he won I was gonna get to meet him in the capacity that you have because I'd love to have met him as a guy that I was rooting. For I think a lot of people do there's something about Ricky Fowler that I think he's he's proven he's one of the best golfers in the world on his day he's been a likeable guy the last few weeks when he hasn't quite sealed the deal. And won he's been he's been seen spotted saying autographed and doing pictures till whenever you know even after that upset of not winning a tournament is still a fan favorite. And what what a great guy but yeah to do that on that 70 second holes watched it live I literally out a bit of a weird noise I did it I was cooking the tea I was like because I was just. So guilty done it and then.
He knocked the point in and what I deserve and win it it was it wasn't the strongest field in the world. But there was a few guys up there obviously when you're getting in the playoff against Colin Murray coward exactly there's huge amounts of talent there you know what was interesting as well I wonder Ricky if I I do generally believe he's a really really really lovely guy don't get me wrong I think there's a a bit of him when he when he was really in his darkest days. And he was. And he was struggling with his golf game Etc do you think he now appreciates it an awful lot more even if he's just getting top tens do you know what I mean by that you know what we were talking about how well he's been after some of these uh tournaments recently obviously he's had a baby girl recently I wonder if he's just his perspective of life you know he's just grateful he's competing again almost I think that's the thing if your golf has been in a bad place in a place where it shouldn't be. For your level of ability and you then.
Start to put the he's always been putting the work in but really put the work in and start to see progress and then.
Making those cuts making those top tens that must give you a good feeling inside that it's coming and just slightly off topic but also kind of on topic I was watching this quite cool uh Max Homer kind of documentary the PJ tour did the other day on on YouTube. And he um loves a quote that apparently um used to be framed by Kobe Bryant's Locker okay. And this quote I'm going to read it now it feels like something that I think massively aligns to where Ricky Fowler's been. So it says look at a stone cutter hammering away his Rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it yet the 101st blow it was split in two. And I know it was not the last blow that did it. But all had gone before Oh so that's somebody like Ricky no it's not that win that it's all those hours of grinding. And grinding I think we can always look quite a deep quo you know with our golf game it takes a long time to get it where you need to be. For it to click and once once it does click like I think it is. For Ricky Fowler now you said to me which will come on to in a moment where we were last week we were at somewhere very special I said who's gonna win the open. And you said Ricky Fowler. So that was before he won this event well slight flex. But also a non-flex okay um I do actually happen to have Ricky Val's number after meeting two. So last week Wednesday at 10 at 9 30 p.m our time just wanted to say keep smashing it mate you're trending and it's great to see do you text Ricky Fowler that yeah okay got no response [Music] okay I get yeah. But it was like that was Wednesday 9 30. he will take it well yeah listen he's been busy yeah been busy winning golf tournaments uh the three other texts I've texted him since that is also not replied to. But please reply please please please [Music] um but like half nine I went I just felt I I it just I've never seen a game almost take such an upward structure you know he's been he was knocking at the door of the US Open he's been doing obviously really really well yeah um yeah it honestly really really really great to see. And you know what also I think huge credit where it where it deserves Butch Harman yeah what a coach yeah I mean he's pretty much now at the point in his life where he's he's ready to hang up his coaching boost to some degree he's taking up he's taking Ricky Fowler back under his wing again we were very fortunate enough to be at the Floridian uh fairly recently when uh I just have to film with Ricky actually he was on the Range um when I was playing at The Floridian. And Butch Hardman was there coaching him. And everything else and Claude Harbor we had on on the podcast as well his son and you know it just it just his knowledge his Insight his Intel his his confidence he must instill in players is is huge. And I think I did tell it on the story almost one of my highlights ever was when I went into the Floridian golf club. And Butch Harman actually said he enjoyed the coaching videos that I did because I made it very simple. And I think often golf coaching is making it simple yeah it's not over complicating it saying to Ricky you need to do X Y. And Z off you go you've got the confidence you've got the game go and win yes. And you know we know another topic on this though that I feel a little almost a little bit sorry for and and don't it might be a bit of a of a silly point but I think I've got some um something on this Ricky Fowler winning was very very big. For Ricky Fowler obviously and it should be very big for Cobra Golf because Ricky Fowler is Cobra Golf poster boy. And now obviously not working with Bryson he really really is the poster boy he's been a cobra golfer. For a very very very long time Cobra Puma and um they kind of stuck with him if you like through thicker thing when he wasn't playing as well as he obviously is doing now. But Ricky Fowler also is a tailor-made athlete because obviously he's the TaylorMade golf ball. And he also and it's not a secret to a lot of people are into the golf equipment he is also using an Odyssey Jailbird putter. And the reason that such hot news is the last three winners on the uh on the PJ tour we had Windham Clark winning the US Open with Nelson jail bird then.
We had Keegan Bradley winning at The Travelers with an odyssey jail bird. And after this week we've had Ricky Fowler winning with an Odyssey Jailbird [Music] it was around a while ago I think that this continued if you guys have been thinking it's just been The Perfect Storm. For Odyssey but that has really been a hot story obviously as you would expect Taylor nade going to town with all the marketing promo around Ricky following him with a tailor-made golf ball it kind of feels like the last brand you're really thinking of with his win actually is Cobra. And I feel a little bit sorry for them in a way yeah they've yeah you're right it's certainly The Odyssey Jailbird what's it called um it's it's it's gone on a ridiculous run three wins by three different players. And Ricky second place in the US Open I mean what the hell that's unheard I've never known a putter to do that probably since maybe two ball days without the blue as well it feels like it's been around that Potter. But what happens now though is obviously the guy's on tour who may be are honestly players. Or guys who are in no contract will go we'll go on. And I'll try one of those because everyone's winning with it they'll try and go that's quite we'll try it this week if they don't have a good week which can happen that's more people. And it's almost this perfect Snowball Effect but I must admit I think like all golfers I now want to try one well of course I've just gone on eBay okay. And it'd be no surprise there's lots. And lots and lots on Ebay yeah. But ranging from a ridiculous amount of prices so you can pick one up now even like 99 that's not a jailbird um 81 pound okay right 100 quid I mean it looks a bit battered. But 100 quid all the way to a grand total of 3152 pound yeah well I think obviously re-releasing it aren't they. So I don't think those prices will stay that inflated very long that's ridiculous. But it just shows that as golfers that we look at that as being why they won we don't think the fact these guys have been practicing. For years and they've been really in the game into a great place and they've had the perfect week and everything's gone their way we think to use that Potter. So I need that putter now sorry what were you saying I've just um just put a bid you're the exact person just put a bid on this uh. So now it's a 3152 three pound of course you had well one thing you would need the obviously jailbird to do is you would need the obviously jail bird to roll puts fuse you could win the cleric jug. And as you've said already to me off record you think Ricky Fowler may win at Royal Liverpool I I believe he will I'll click that up now. So last last time the open was at Royal Liverpool when Rory McIlroy won who was second Richard Fowler Richard fowlerness Robbie Fowler Ricky Fowler when he it was at the time I think he was like maybe even when he first got introduced to wearing like orange pepper orange. And he him and him and I think Rory was quite a lot of shots ahead going to the final round. And Ricky Fowler was kind of fighting. And he put a good good fight up but obviously Rory won it we you me and a Mr James Robinson had the huge pleasure last week of playing royal Liverpool we didn't just before we come on to that I've got a challenge for you this would make my life tell you this so we know that Ricky Fowler is gonna be the Open Don't We yes we know that Vicky Shields is going to be open it's going to come on too there's also a good chance that Liverpool FC Legend. And golf fanatic Robbie Fowler will be at the open well last time I saw Robbie Fowler was at Augusta correct my challenge to you is to get a picture Ricky Shields Ricky Fowler Robbie Fowler if you can get that picture then.
I'll be very happy with you okay. So that's a challenge Robbie if you're listening Ricky listen so we already know that Rocky Rocky Rocky Balboa yeah okay that's your challenge Robbie Fowler. And Ricky fowl even just them two having a picture together pretty cool one you in the middle because it connects it all so it's Ricky Ricky Robbie and then.
Robbie Williams just goes on forever oh all right anyway so yeah you're right we well obviously you're right we played uh Royal Liverpool. And the grandstands are up. And my nerves were all over the place it with the Grand Royal Liverpool is a fantastic golf course. And um I think we've both almost admitted it to each other the more we've had chance to play Royal Liverpool the more we're fond of it. And actually enjoying it a lot more I really like it no word of a lie now this video will be dropping open week. So be be prepared for this where we did a break 75. For myself I break 80 for guy and I break 70 bringing on x-tor Pro Jane Robinson um it was it was really really impressive the golf course was spectacular yeah it was obviously I should imagine a few weeks before the open condition wise a plus with the grand stands up because the one criticism Royal Liverpool gets if you ever play it is that it can be a bit boring to almost look at if that makes sense which is a little bit flat yes I think the holes are interesting yeah visually there's not a lot to see correct there's not the big sand dunes the Birkdale. Or Hillside however. when you then.
Get the grandstands up and it almost frames the holes and your vision starts to look more down the hole and seeing what there is it was incredible I mean. For example the 18th hole is a far superior hole with the grandsons up in played it interestingly yes well I have a tradition now. So last year when we were fortunate to play. So Andrew the grand stands up I made sure that I shanked one into some of the infrastructure into into the hospitality and let's just say this year I also shanked one of his hospitality suite so if we're fortunate enough to play true next.
Year doesn't take a genius to work out what may happen um but honestly amazing condition we were very lucky to play it there um I think you only well I know you'll every single one of you listening. And watching will enjoy that video we also really like a bit like I managed to do with TPC Sawgrass releasing it open week just gives everybody who's not played that golf course just a bit of a better insight to the course itself yeah I think it shows you the holes obviously. But it also really gives you an intense of what more regular golfers would do. So we say this a lot I I'm a full handicapper-ish caveat Asterix I can shoot four over I've done it a few times on camera I can shoot 20 over because I'm going to different golf courses in different conditions bit of pressure of the cameras Etc. So I'm more like a guy you would see at your golf club that's fair to say yeah watching me of a decent ish ability around that place really again I won't ruin it. For people but highlight how tough it is. And even that grandstands obviously they're empty but they make you feel nervous yeah. And then.
Watching myself as a teaching pro who um you know I don't really know what my handicap is. But probably well I'm sure everyone watching listening have an opinion on my handicap but it's probably two yeah one. Or two sometimes I can play well sometimes I don't play. So well um so to see that kind of side of things as well and then.
To see x-tor Pro James Robinson who probably plays off about plus three or plus four yeah I'd say. So go and play around there as well so it was a fantastic video also today.
It's final qualifying they're open have you seen that Sergio Garcia Is that West Lance Golf Club as we speak right now the lineup the amount of major winners that are playing in final qualifying this year is ridiculous live golf does it is. So you got gray McDowell yep multiple major winner Sergio Garcia major winner um Charles schwartzell Major winner Brandon Grace who has current or match now with Tommy Fleetwood the lowest open score ever wow uh as in individual round um I'm trying to think who else is playing. And they're not made we've got Matt Wallace I've seen Mr Wallace Aaron Rye he's having Ryder yeah Michael block Michael block uh he's up at Dundonald um trying to think of what else I saw on the list today.
It's great uh David Howell um lots. And lots and lots and lots and lots of household names yeah I would say it's weird open qualifying in some regards because Aaron Rai is doing well in the PJ tour at the moment I'm kind of confused I'm sure it's quite simple to why it's not in it's obviously off world ranking. Or whatever it might be but I feel like he should be in the way he's been playing recently on the PJ tour and it you you might look at his running did he might have just missed out one. Or two times it might not even be that many you know close Cold close finishes it's not got him in um I'm just I'm just going to very quickly pull the qualification at the moment I feel like I've missed a few big names as well. But you're right with a lot of the Live players who aren't now eligible to be playing in the open you've got some big names also um friend of the channel Dan Gavin's oh yeah is is doing it as well um I think there's honestly everything I saw some pictures before at West lanks. And as you can imagine Sergio had some massive crowds there was obviously no fee to go he could just turn up there's obviously no rope. So that was if you ever want to go. And watch Elite golfers in a very different situation and see them Legend like Jamie Donaldson uh huge favorite to do well at West Langs Matthew Jordan yes who's actually a member at Royal Liverpool yeah pretty cool if he got through um anyway Alex Fitzpatrick yeah Matt's brother um anyways loads. And strong names I am surprised and maybe I kind of maybe wish I'd quizzed in on it a little bit more last week and by the way thank you for all the wonderful comments um I know there was mixed comments as well. For Mr pulta but he was fantastic with his time in the video the main video will be coming out that soon. But you haven't got names like Ian Poulter Lee Westwood um Henrik Stenson oh you were dead I asked him off camera I just said are you gonna go up. And qualifying and he said no in kind of a tone that I interpreted it to almost be a case of don't ask any more questions a little bit. But almost a case of like I don't say it he who he feels he should have to qualify and he doesn't want to go and Pitch up at West lanks and he'd rather have a week at home I guess so part of me was a little bit disappointed because regardless of the live stuff obviously I'm not interested in you know why I've got to live. And all that stuff I think we know all that now. But I would have liked to have seen him have that fire in his belly to go and qualify and still want to do well in the open being that it's you know our national open if you like. And he's a very proud kind of English British guy and European um I think Ian Poulter at the open makes it a better open. So I was almost a bit almost as I say upsell. And that strong on it but use that word upset that he hasn't gone just for that that reason because I think it's better with him in it well. And he has been through qualifying before right he qualified many years ago when he actually was at Woburn final qualifying. And that's where he one of the first times he actually played with Sam horsefield ah so remembering tweeting out so Ian had qualified and he's tweeted out saying wow Sam horsefield pleasure to play with star for the future coincidentally now they're on the same yeah team at live Majestics um. But yeah I would I would have definitely loved to have seen. But certainly Lee Westwood certainly Ian Poulter Henrik Stenson you know oh Henry stencil being of course he is because his previous winner sorry Henry Simpson isn't it that's sort of things to say before um. But like it is a shame that they're not they're not in it. And and fighting to to play in it like gray model is yeah Grandma dolls out there today.
Sergio Garcia is out there today.
I think that just proves her doesn't it that with us all live thing again back. And forth but um you know it it just shows that every golfer no matter what they've signed up to do with it we live. Or not whatever they've all still got their own personal Ambitions and their own personal values let's just say so it just proves that Sergio pitching up on a cold wet windy West lancs with all the money in the bank he's got a green jacket in the cupboard he still wants to play in the open yeah. And that's not he wants to win money that's not that he wants in it whatever that's because he wants to get his hands on the cleric jug and whether that's the Ian Poulter doesn't want to whether he doesn't feel like you're competitive enough I don't know I would we maybe should have pushed him a bit more on it really um well I've just very quickly read the uh Sergio Garcia's just birded three holes in a row and now he's full on the path he's playing pretty well you know I always think it's mad of these kind of things. But like often when you see these big names we're talking qualify and they do get through. And in some ways kind of expect it and he also think is that quite a lot of not. So much pressure but it just shows how good like a Sergio Garcia actually is that he can go to the events. And he'll probably cruise through and get into the open that like any given day these guys are insanely good at golf I think to some degree they probably look. And it's almost how Brooks kepka looks at major tournaments but you said it before where Brooke feels like he does well at major events because first off let's say there's 120 players realistically 50 of them are just not gonna win yeah are they no. So then.
You will down to 70. you take that 70 then..
And you work out who's going to have four good rounds in a row well that gets it down to 30 golfers. So really he's only going to try. And beat 30 golfers yeah that's his kind of mindset someone like Garcia going into this today.
Is like come on I'm like playing with assistant Pros no disrespect I'm just I'm more his own psychic. And listen we might be saying all this now and he might not get through I'm pretty confident he will do that's that's my thought anyway well come on to live yes a little bit later before that they're gonna go to this new review channel that you've been cooking up well first off genuinely genuinely genuinely. For everybody who watched comments thank you for all the amazing comments support and new subscribers for the new hit Channel yes. So if you've missed this I'm sure you've probably not if your podcast listener or a viewer but last week on the main Channel Rick unveil and I think the word unveil is is the right word. For this unveiled his new hits that's H dot I dot T hit golf Studio wow it's been a real journey one that I honestly didn't maybe anticipate so we teased this out back in December last year do you know we actually made the channel in November was it November we made the channel if you go on YouTube it was made in November have we ever told the actual story of it all possibly let's just quickly run through it again. So uh out of all the 11 years of making YouTube content reviewing equipment has always been a stable part of the channel always and pretty much to the point where now every single brand whenever a new product comes out we're very fortunate they'll send us the new product to review and we were filming we'd taken a load of new products a lot of new irons Woods Etc to the Marriott. And we were doing some One camera training if you remember with the lads yeah. And also we were doing close-ups of all the all the golf equipment. And we're all there the whole team were down there we're unboxing all the clubs. And we're doing close-ups but we started to ask ourselves well realistically which of these sets of clubs are actually going to make it onto the main Channel we're very protective about what goes on the main channel the main Channel's got 2.6 million followers. And we know that not all of those 2.6 million are obsessed with golf equipment it's fair to say they like a mixture of coaching content entertaining content. And also some Flagship reviews um of like let's say new TaylorMade driver colorway driver Etc and some even the wacky clubs like that seem that's what does. So well on the main Channel as you know I'm saying it to you but obviously yeah you know all this. But I'm saying it to you guys your business um so we started thinking well what about all these other sets of clubs though what about the the slightly mid-handed cap set from Cobra for argument's sake well you know that deserves a review so mean guy got thinking it was like let's why don't we set up a new channel that is only going to be. For reviews that's it so we've done all the close-ups we're like dead excited we went out. For lunch that afternoon we went to a lovely Pub in in Worsley the whole team and we all got our laptops out we're all that excited let's set up this new channel. And we'd return the logo to green and Rick Shields golf reviews and off we went we launched it and we did it in a way where we text it do you remember Howie yeah we kind of put on social media's like it was almost leaked don't tell anyone myself a new channel anyway people were thinking it was fake. And this and the other so we did all that. And then.
We started thinking hold on we kind of need to what happens now yeah we've got we've got this review Channel we've got all these clubs to review we've not really. For a while now not got a studio space that we use all the time and that's the big thing with this that we still do want to test some golf clubs outside. And that's just that's the case but so much testing and reviewing it can be done in a in inside it's better to do. So because you can close data the wind doesn't affected the rain the sun it's not too sunny to film. Or too dull to film having this nice closed place where you can basically smack golf clubs is what we needed. So and I've always had very fortunately a facility like this at my fingertips so even when I was at Trafford Golf Center when I moved out to London Golf Academy when I went to Prairie Sports Village when I built my home simulator through covid it's only these last kind of year. And a half or so um that we've not had this facility so it's like well let's build the best golf Studio we can possibly build. And what's what's complicated than this as well is that it's not just a golf simulator if we were just building a golf simulator it would have been up in no time yes it's the fact we're trying to build a studio which has cameras lighting it's good. For sound proofing it's it's got the best technology it's the best visual look for when we come to filming so uh Freddie Valente who is an ex professional golfer I think he might still be a piece. But he used to play on tour he works for a company called golf swing systems and Freddie builds golf simulate golf Studios Etc so Sports of Freddie is like I'd love to get part of this. So um and I'll put links in the description of this podcast as well to all the uh wonderful people who helped so it's like well where do we start. And I had some ideas of how I wanted the studio to look so he then.
Put me in contact with a with a design um graphic designer called Jack uh Broadway who we went through loads of iterations remember like when we first started he was. So talented he came back with all these versions and we settled then.
On the design which was what pretty much we got to now. So Freddie in his in his wonderful team started working working with the great team at foresight which is the golf simulator company as well that I use um to build this studio. And then.
It was like okay we'll be in the studio we also want a Zen put in green yes like a 24 moving Zen point in green not want need need. So I spoke to Andy Heisman from uh zenport and green who's actually if you remember listening to the um JCB golf Architects podcast with Robin Heisman Andy's Robin's brother so Andy runs all the Zen putting greens I was like you know we need one he's like we'd love to support you it's like great then.
While you have this putting green that moves there's also a product called pop view which is a projection which is unbelievably. So clever can work out the slope of the putting green. And actually tell you the perfect line for that Port it is you know sometimes every now. And again you see something you think we are living in the future every now. And again it sounds weird I will look up with this guy. And see like [Music] hear me out it sounds weird and look at airplanes right and you'll see a couple obviously with the new vision I just think that is quite weird that we are living in a world where people jump on this plane that somehow goes up in the air. And go to wherever you want in the world this is quite futuristic yeah. So there's that time let's think about it when I look at airplanes the only the time is in the studio you look at the ball moving. And it's getting trapped in real time telling you the break on this it's it's mad so Lucas from pop view looked after us there so a lot a lot of these conversations took place when I went out to the PGA Merchandise um event in January in Orlando so Luke was like brilliant we'd love to support you. So we got the put view installed and then.
It was all that Logistics of getting the TVs that were touch screen. So we can draw on the TVs the windows were a big issue in the background yeah. So I wanted these kind of fake windows so it made it look like there was you know with the side of a golf course Etc they were much harder to Source than we expected yeah. But we managed to get it over the line eventually they were really really good uh from accompanying Huddersfield. And then.
You also forgot quite a big key part cameras person had to employ Alex oh yeah sorry that takes time though I mean that's another reason what like people don't see. And we don't obviously communicate too much because people is not that important to people watching as such maybe. But we had to create a job role pop out interview people get CVS have first round of introduced second Avengers employed Alex he had to then.
Obviously give the place he was currently working at a notice period like that doesn't happen overnight does it. So Alex is our review channel manager. Or hit channel manager and he is going to be responsible. For um filming the content editing the content but also working closely with brands with guy and myself to take delivery of the new equipment to make sure we've got the best close-ups to make sure we've got the best information so we can make the best videos um. So yeah that's it's been his baby it's been quite stressful to get the last few bits over the line because the the amount of computer system in there is just crazy well we got it very close to been perfect. And we went in there to do a bit of practice we're not practicing us like hitting balls. But perhaps in how the studio kind of works as such and hitting a few balls didn't that and then.
We realized it was very very very very hot very very hot because we've got these also we've got these four incredible cameras these like 4K Canon cameras which rotate swivel can track they're all programmed to this kind of um switchboards a bit like how we do the podcast where Matt can switch between cameras. So he's on me right now it's on me now that was a bit too slow there's on wide awake oh he's. So slow he's really let himself down here right let's have one more round then.
One more ghost if you can do it right me wide me. So like that yeah we can switch between cameras not to me. So we needed to do all that that's taking time. And then.
Like the guy said we were in there ready to go we're like yes it's launch. And it's launching we were filming that Reveal video. And hit some shots and and I don't know if you can tell in that Reveal video I think you can a little bit it was sweltering I was. So bloody hot it was ridiculous. So over the weekend um a fan of the channel Danny Lilly messaged and he uh managed to Source some air conditioning we've now got air conditioner in there it's good it's like an igloo now attitude cold we also worked closely with vessel um and they supplied all these wonderful tour bags along the back these black how good are those toys you mentioned that initially you wanted these black tall bags because one thing you always noticed was if you got like firstly what branded TaylorMade. Or callaways you know we don't need that and also even if you did have TaylorMade. Or Callaway so quickly the bags date with a nice simple black tour bag just would never date and the quality ridiculous um believe it or not as well there's gonna be more technology going in that room I know teased it in the video. But we've got more things lined up as well um but long story short if it wasn't for Freddie if it wasn't for Alex if it wasn't for the wonderful team here like Sam who worked on all the cameras uh all the wonderful building um [Music] the building actual to build it the architect like a lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of hard work and effort and ours went into this project and that's why you know we kept talking about on the podcast like it's nearly ready because it felt nearly ready for so long you know what it was like when you watch Grand designs. And they start off and they go yeah we've got 1.2 million. And we want to build this by December and they're like yeah I could look with that. And then.
Three years down the last bit five million quitting on bankrupt that was kind of like what we've done. But the good news for everyone watching and listening is that literally once we finish this podcast the next.
10 minutes. Or so we are getting bit of food maybe. And then.
We will be in there testing some exciting gear we've got. So many clubs we haven't tested yet so many exciting products um and I think as well just to start on that lastly I think we have explained this several times. But if you just love the main Channel out how it currently is you like the podcast. And you're not that into a club so that's okay Nothing's Gonna Change. But if you want to see more content 10 and more golf clubs make sure you head over to hit And subscribe now because there will be helpful two three videos a week um. And it'll be maybe the clubs that you're looking to buy maybe it'll be clubs that you're not ever looking at Vibes you want to have a little kill 10 minutes and watch some cool videos I did a lot with tech channels I watch videos about like iPhones whatever I might be looking at buying I also watch random things of things I'm never gonna buy just because it's quite enjoy watching them. And also like it's not even just gonna be clubs it's golf balls yes um make training AIDS yes there are going to be a lot of anything that I can review effectively um. And as we're recording this podcast right now I mean this is crazy the Channel's got no videos not single videos on that channel. Yet we've managed to get a hundred and twenty one thousand subscribers great support thank you everybody so I am giving away a brand new set full clubs of your choice to one lucky winner who subscribes that channel and if you go onto the main Channel that I posted last week and leave a comment on there I'm gonna pick a winner very very soon um I did originally say 100. But we might just see if we can get to like on 31 40 150 subscribers before we do the giveaway either way um I might even give away two sets of clubs I've left 50 comments on that video now yeah I win um. So yeah it's it. And also you're going to see over the next.
Week. Or so a few new different logos and brands on the channel yeah. So the hit Channel that's its logo h.i.t um RS channel has gone more Sleek a little bit clean red and white design and the podcast channel the one that you you love and cherish this one right behind us here that is also having a little facelift uh nothing crazy. But just a little facelift through the backlash when we change the music a long time ago in a couple years ago yes. And people were like really annoyed about it. And now obviously everyone's forgotten that the old one ever existed how things change that you see a new logo see a new shape of a car and you're like oh it's rubbish that that new Audi Q7 shaped rubbish they're almost well better than like six months that I like how did it ever like the old exactly it's Madonna yeah um before we come on to live because we've got a little trip this week we're gonna come on to that I've got a couple of questions from Facebook just wanted to fire through um again if you still haven't joined our Facebook Community what are you doing at all I've got no time. For you you know what though how close are we getting to a hundred thousand we are it felt like it wasn't that long ago saying oh we're doing we're well we've got 40 000 Facebook fans you know in the group now yeah 91 000 members I think about it is it isn't just podcast Centric. So obviously I'd like to think the vast majority of people have um joined that group are fans of the podcast. But there's so much that gets shared and it's just nothing to do with the podcast people sharing the best scores. Or a hole in one or and again I said this before. And I'll say it again I love the fact it's not just everybody going I broke 80 I broke 70 I've got whatever it's like someone's saying a shot 105 my first round of golf I broke 100. And that those comments those posts get just as many likes as the people that have shot great scores yeah it's a really nice Community. But anyway a quick one that just aimed at me on it to address I saw a few comments on this from David zittabart what was Guy's new Potter. So a few people noticed in the new uh race 75 we did which was at uh field I had any putter in the bag gone. For an even roll a bit of a fan shape even or black one didn't work too well at me all field um I saw a few comments on that it's worked a bit better since um but I have said this before. And again I'll say I feel like I'm saying a lot of things I've said before. And I'll say again so one more thing I said before. And I'll say again I don't really swap my club too often but swapping report or something I don't mind because I've always been a huge fan of that spider TaylorMade Spider X or 10 whatever it was called love it a little bit of a smell wasn't quite feeling it. So I've gone in something else but I might then.
Dip back into the spider and fall back in love again just a little bit of a toy in experience bit of a mess a bit of a mess yeah yeah holiday romance yeah exactly exactly that play in a way um not that I would endorse that. But with the Potter it's fine I also sometimes play away with my Scotty as well so just switched it up a little bit why not I've recently installed a very small little putting green at home it's about eight foot long um I have my garden landscape so I asked my wife so I told my wife sorry sorry I told my wife I'm gonna put in green slash asked my wife very nicely so the end of the garden it's nothing massive it's nothing too fancy but what I do now in the evening is I go up with moscotti it's like a kind of heel toe blade Potter. And roll a few with that and I'm gonna go back to my normal whether it be the the spider or this new even though it's bigger it feels so much more stable nice yeah I think after Royal Liverpool I think I might be the best putter on the planet you have gone weirdly very good at putting I don't believe I've ever put it better in my entire life now than at Royal Liverpool yes genuinely you really it sounds obvious. But how much better your score is when you're holding pots I mean my score should have been horrendous yeah my putting saved me massively massively because I don't know if I hit the ball as worse in my life I don't give too much away. But [Applause] um yeah my putting was phenomenal just. For a quick one so I've just been distracted by something okay I've just been looking at the leaderboard. For West Lang's final qualifying today.
Yep Tiger might be playing in the open oh it's a different tiger you can you shut that down a bit quick yeah now it's in it tiger Christensen from Germany amateur is he from Germany that's the German flag um he's doing really well what score did he say he was he's three under five on this winning Matty Jordan's winning he's level with Sergio Garcia I'm never sure on when you massively hear of golfers now like 20s who are called tiger it feels like it's just too obviously named after tiger. And I'll be [Music] stand up the zoo um anyway I think that's why I shut it down. So quick because oh yeah I've seen in targets like you're not like I love Tiger's story behind why he was called tiger alive I think we should call this podcast tiger is playing in the open yeah okay. And ironically and as if you knew that which you genuinely didn't my next.
Question is from Dara Maguire would tiger in his pom pomp be as successful in today's world. And lead the world number one for 281 weeks it seems the standards have massively improved with the likes of ram Rory and Shuffle Etc he would still have dominated enormously I think yeah it doesn't even not even a doubt in my mind yeah no I'd agree I think what people sometimes neglect now when you look back is you think that the field was weak because tiger was. So good you look so good I mean I reel off a few. And obviously I'm sure you're Frozen but Phil Mickelson Vijay Singh Ernie Al's retief goose and Davis Love David Duval um you've got your Lee Westwoods you know you those kind of guys um who else is there well I'm just even if I looked at now the Phil Mickelson yeah like Sergio obviously was up. And coming the psome Adam Scott's like there's been so many elite elite elite guys [Music] I mean some of these are definitely more on their kind of even at that point was slightly on the older side even was it 96 that Faldo on the Masters. And then.
Tiger came 97 so it's not like they were done you don't go from winning the master to actually became retired like these guys were competitive I'm looking at the 97 Masters list like Tom Watson was fourth yeah. But I mean. So like Tom Kai you beat um I never knew this when tiger warning 97 the Masters record breaking score of 18 on the par the next.
Three players were all called Tom Tom Kai Tommy tolls. And Tom Watson well so there you go I think as well the what's what we sometimes do we look back at history is we have at the moment. But I just thought to myself then.
But I think he's he's definitely younger than that over older than that sorry Tommy Fleetwood yeah I was then.
Thinking that's right now sometimes it was born in 1990 I think like me um what I think we look back at sometimes with a bit. And we you know almost wrote into glasses or the reverse of that whatever that will be is that yeah at the minute we have got Ram Rory. And Scotty and I'll maybe just take Rory out of that conversation for a moment because he has been so good for so long if you look at RAM and scotsy they are doing really well. And again folks maybe more on Scotty but it's over a very short period of time and and within Tiger's dominance as we said then.
With all those names I had the were guys that came. And really kind of rivaled him and he just kind of managed to stay on top and some of them won some events and stuff and won some major so take it when every single event he played in obviously but I think yeah I think people forget how good Target was like I'm literally looking at a 2001 Masters it's some ridiculous names on that list like it's it's arguably stacked higher yeah back then.
Yeah I'd arguably say some of these the the amount of players very very good players I think what the difference is now the biggest difference is the is the variety of players that can win right now well I think that's the thing I was always a huge Tiger fan obviously as are you. But some people and I kind of hate it but they also kind of get it they didn't like Tiger's dominance because they want to see more people win which although I don't really like that because I love seeing tiger dominate I also understand the concept of two tuning to watch a golf event and not knowing who's gonna win I think that's where we're at more now aren't we you've got those three guys with mentioned who are super dominant. But you'll be surprised if Ricky Fowler wins or whoever it might be it's so many guys but back then.
It was kind of tiger. Or a couple of the guys really um okay two more uh before we get on to our last conversation bit um Tyson Parish quite a cool name. And he says the latest Trend seems to be getting fitted for a golf ball is there a real reference. For your game or just classic marketing tactics and genuinely now and maybe because I've got quite an acquired taste for for golf balls um I guess do you taste them as well yeah I can really sense a difference yeah quite massively I first off I think the biggest difference is feel. So if you're switching golf balls a lot I think trying to get distance control with putter is very very difficult because some are softer some are harder chipping around the green short shots you can feel loads. And even the flight of certain golf balls I can really tell when a ball is spinning up a little bit more. Or one's coming out a bit more knuckly I can definitely sense a huge difference. But I've tested a lot of golf balls for the last 11 years so I feel like I've got a bit more of an eye to it but if you are a recreational golf I wouldn't put too much emphasis on it. But I wouldn't I wouldn't completely dismiss it I don't think I personally don't think it's fully marketing now that's a good take I think it to me it's a bit of both I think you're right the golf ball can definitely make a difference 100 that's fact. And also it's the only part of your equipment that is the same every single shot obviously you use different clubs up around. But your ball is there all the time. So it's definitely something to explore but I also do believe that a part of it is marketing. And that sometimes gets I think people use marketing as a negative term nothing else Market it's just marketing ultimately all these golf brands are out there to make money that's what they're there to do. And they want to make sure that you spend every penny that you're going to spend on golf with their brand. So if titles to a experience are really a golf ball brand can fit you. For whatever golf ball and your friend for a different one but still Titleist and you've had a good experience and the ball kind of works for you they hope then.
Every time you buy golf balls you buy titleists yeah um having said that again a story I have mentioned many moons ago was you know I always use Pro V1 just a bit of a habit I always will. And I've tried others I've tried stricts and I've tried tailor-made all great golf balls but I always gravitate back to Pro V1 many moons ago a couple years ago now my mother-in-law had a work colleague who was leaving they moved onto another job. Or whatever and they had some bits left over at the desk they didn't want so you know do what you want with these. And within that whatever this stuff was was two dozen tireless golf balls quite old like I think it was DT Solo. Or pts Solo or something so mother-in-laws are all given to guy he obviously plays golf. So she gave them to me and I was oh thank you. And almost that was a bit thing I'll not prove you once I wouldn't use these I'll just put them to one side. And then.
Randomly I can't remember why they made it into the golf pack what they did. And I played around the golfer some friends playing properly keeping score shot my best ever score I think it was 300 power growth wasn't a [ __ ]. But three under par gross with one of these balls yeah. And I would never dream of using that ball now I don't know if that might be a lucky a lucky round who knows but anyway thank you maybe need to dig some out okay yeah maybe I do maybe maybe they're in the golf. But maybe if you to continue using Titleist pts solo whatever they were yeah you you could you could be winning the open you could be there if they open this year again what would you be like if you're an Open winner hold your Vibe be what do you mean well like if you were really really good at golf yeah would you be the kind of Ricky Fowler really nice guy sign autographs of fans would you be a bit of a kind of stuck up guy who's like I'm here to win would you be what type of Tour player yeah would be a quiet guy would you be a loud guy would you be someone that was funky clothes what would your whole Persona be a great question I feel like I would love to be The Lovable guy the family man that signed autographs. But also quite a bit fulfilling and be really cocky a bit like Nick kyrgios in tennis yeah a bit of a character were I could be leading the open. And this will never blow up snap all my clubs. And just walk off and then.
Everyone's like oh my gosh that's guy yeah mannerisms want to be I can't decide which way you would go whether you'd be the kind of nice guy who'd be a bit of a do you know where I feel like I'd say go on. And I think this is why we've clashed heads a few times now I think I feel like Brooks kepka okay elaborate ripped obviously I think I think I would have this mentality that I'd be almost like I'm gonna win. But it doesn't matter who how I'm doing it I'm just gonna win yeah because I get Visions I didn't know you obviously when you were a child I get visions of you your junior golf club when you were the best of a bad Bunch um being quite cocky yeah big time yeah I would definitely went through an ear. And that's why I was. So fascinated to talk to Paul to last week about fashion I definitely went through a phase of being quite outlandish a bit more with fashion and would be a bit more risque let's say in what I'd wear um I don't think that would have continued I think that would have been a phase. But you know what I like as well with your name you've got three options so you could be Richard Shields he's kind of the journeyman tour pro clean cut keeps himself to himself everything's Titleist [ __ ] Joy Echo correct echo shoes obviously um but like would be the stereotypical just yeah nice camera Pro you've then.
Got Rick Shields which is kind of sits a bit more bit more about him just found the guy at heart you know he's a nice guy because of Spader Spade um trust him nice bloke you've then.
Got Ricky Shields Ricky's a rebel he turned up in a Ferrari women left right. And Center I like this keep talking he's got you know a bit of a I'm gonna go with a bit of a pop visor on spiky hair I was a crafty [ __ ] on the golf course occasionally wow who cares um again he's been known topical beers after a round. And there's room oh Dave about Ricky sheels that's like what he went out till four in the morning till after eight ended up shooting 67 yeah that's what he does. But he quickly can miss a call 85 85 shoot 69 that's his favorite number nice um yeah I feel like I don't know that's a great question something I probably need to have a little bit more consideration over I'd like to think it wouldn't change who I am right now. But I don't know if I'd be as confident to say that well tonight when you get in you said you had a bad night's sleep last night before the camera. So tonight when you get into bed if you wanna have a little mind Palace you can think about great what you would be gonna keep me up all night yeah. And I wanna I want you to come back next.
Week I want to tell me which one you are if you're Ricky Rick. Or Richard then.
When you've got down to which one you're not Richard okay. So you're Rick or Ricky I'd like to know again sponsorships Vibe how many wins you've got what your amateur career was like I want the full story are you married are you single are you a Playboy well all this stuff I want to know it all I I like sound about all of it. But I could also see Ricky having a mild gamble addiction as well so he wins a lot we spends a lot no one quite knows his money he's got a house in Monaco. And he's he's really got a bit of issue with the mafia as well I don't know how that came about but yeah that's the risk of being Ricky. But then.
He's also go out in this world see he he travels around with a caddy slash security correct and then.
Two more security members with briefcases correct unarmed yeah. And then.
When he when he retires and you know he's blown it all he puts loads of weight on and he ends up on I'm a celebrity get me out of here and he's a bit of a you know a bit of a more people had to show on him and he's got really like really really really jet black hair Just For Men just gone too far definitely went to Turkey and got his hair done and his girlfriend's 18. he's 62 at this point brilliant laughs [Music] um right on that note this week I feel this this might be I feel like I feel like this is Ricky doing doing this on Friday yeah we I'm throwing you in there as well yeah I know you've done it before well we're going with this going to live on Friday yeah I don't know what to think I'm a bit I'm a bit like scared I Came Calling they offered me uh 50 Quid. So I said right I'll jump [ __ ] no we I went last year as you said. So go and see what Liv was about it was the first ever event well I think first off sorry quick one. And are you joking aside about 50 Quid. But we are just going off our own account yeah this is not anything that's official like when I've been to golf events in the past things like the open. Or or obviously I'm very lucky to go to the Masters this year it's often in a kind of work capacity this is almost going as as like a fan boost capacity I want to go I want to have experienced live yeah because I think you've we talk about it a lot on the podcast. And I don't believe now after it being going. For a year in a bit unless I've been to a tournament now a day at live I think now all all thoughts. And opinions need to be reserved correct I think one thing I'll say is I know you're quite cautious. And conscious about going which I understand because of the somewhat negative reputation it's got however. like you've just said then.
I think going to the event from almost a journalistic capacity. And getting a feel for it is great you might come back. And you might say you know what that was all right you might come back. And say no it's trash who knows I'm gonna come back. And this is what you're going to find out in next.
Week's podcast five positives. And five negatives like Matt Watson on Carlisle yeah I'm gonna I'm gonna go with very very open mind. And I'm going to come back next.
Week. And tell you what I enjoyed and what I didn't enjoy but yeah well I think um I went last year. And it was an eye-opener. And again I saw positives and negatives the positives and again I'm sure these will be similar ish. But you can get very close to the golfers because it just it felt smaller than like a PJ Tour event. Or an opener I want to go fresh okay don't don't it's all right I'm gonna go fresh. And Forge my own thoughts and and what what I think about going to live on Friday yes well we will report back um. And if you yeah um what's mad just on live news how much did Taylor Gooch made this year insane he's won now. For the third time 12 million dollars just in three events but this again comes back to the problem of not knowing like that win isn't as big in my eyes as Ricky following it's not so how do we in our own heads measure that it's I don't know I I'm confused by it. But we'll go we'll see what it's like are you gonna go Friday on Saturday. Or just Friday not decided yet definitely Friday 100 Friday okay on Thursday I know we spoke about it a while ago I'm getting my uh my graduation my fellowship college. So Thursday I'll be cap and gown I might put a little Instagram post on yeah Friday I'll be at live Centurion Salon cap. And gal leave the gal bring an account or wear the gown and think it's like a cape yeah I'm like a Superman superhero I could use it as like an invisibility Cape that's quite a good idea why just do like just WordPress sunglasses well I think if I if I would have gone without telling everyone I feel like this this is like me telling coming out. And saying I'm going to live everyone okay I am it's not like I'm not going like secret live secretly also that's good also everyone at that live is also at live I know. But then.
If very fortunate when I go to golf events get a few fans taking selfies that then.
Just get shared to the the next.
Thing you know it's on BBC News 6 p.m headline thanks for joining us tonight breaking news Rick Shields attended live in reality what what platform would that ever make it on I think it might make it on golf Magic yeah all right goodbye right anyway thanks. For listening thanks for watching I really appreciate it um looking forward to another fantastic week content coming out of our ears I would even tell you on Friday the video with me and Pete playing archfield enjoy until next.
Time I'll see you next.
Time until until next.
Time keep hitting it straight and syncing puts and just leave that there.
