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Two friends – Dave Gerhardt (@davegerhardt) and Casey Ford (@fordpr) – share their love of golf in podcast form as they talk shop & chat with those who have made golf their long game.
00:01.62
dave_gerhardt
All right case. Um I'm using my green pen in honor of your boy Charlie Charlie Hoffman this week sorry about that.
00:09.93
Casey Ford
too soon. it's too soon still I'm still walking that one off from yesterday.
00:15.36
dave_gerhardt
So I I watched the first football game that I've watched all year and then I texted you or and you said I haven't even flipped over yet, you were just locked in to the Charlie Hoffman playoff did you feel like he was going to lose the whole time.
00:33.11
Casey Ford
Um, I felt like he was going to lose when Nick Taylor hit that shot on 16 to I don't know whatever it was close enough that he was he made that birdie and then he turned into you know 90 nine two thousand tiger woods for the remainder of the day. Yeah, it was quite a run.
00:40.51
dave_gerhardt
Twelve feet fifteen feet
00:50.81
Casey Ford
Um I didn't expect it obviously but my wife was like did you bet on this guy was like a little bit. Um but it doesn't I'm not even like I don't care about the money I want it for the pod which is either really sad or or really I don't know endearing.
01:03.45
dave_gerhardt
And was I didn't pay attention to much I didn't pay attention much. What was the was there internet chatter have you listened to any other podcasts you listen like shotgun start or anything was there any other Charlie like where where did he come from what just happened narrative that you've seen.
01:12.19
Casey Ford
Not yet. No. Now and to be honest, like so we recording on Monday morning after this happened Sunday night last night I think I went like right to the it was almost halftime at the super bowl I feel like when it ended or or close to that at least it passed the first quarter I had no energy for the super bowl.
01:31.49
dave_gerhardt
Um, yeah.
01:35.98
Casey Ford
And I had no energy for watching any of the you know post-game golf stuff and reaction. And yeah I should've known but I mean my god Nick Taylor turned into an incredible I mean he's a good golfer but he birdied what 5 of the last 6 holes he he had the birdie 18 I think 3 straight times. And he did and 2 of the 3 times he drove the ball into a bunker and it just rolled out twice and I'm just sitting there like oh yep.
02:04.35
dave_gerhardt
Casey texted me last night. He said if we ever play golf together I should bet on you and then I'll guarantee myself that I go shoot 58 that day hey real real quick so we're gonna make pics. But um, we are recording this intro quickly before our.
02:08.80
Casey Ford
Yeah I can move lines just by betting on stuff. So.
02:21.40
dave_gerhardt
Before an interview. Do you want to? do you want to intro our guests that we're going to have on today real quick since you since you're you're hosting today and you got a little bit of the the pregame nerves pregame jitters why don't you get some words out.
02:25.82
Casey Ford
Um, yeah, um.
02:32.50
Casey Ford
Yeah, the the podcast numbers have been good. So Dave thought how can we self-sabotage this so I'm gonna I'm going to screw this up today. Um, yeah, we get Brendan de young on the on the program today. Ah I recall him a journey man. He's ah he's a he played on the tour for I don't know 13 years um, he retired a few years ago and now he's kind of doing the media thing too so wanted to have him on have good perspective on just making the tour. We talk a lot about grinders here. He was I guess you you could put him in that status back in the day. Um, so it'll be fun, fun to fun to talk to someone who's actually teed up.
03:06.59
dave_gerhardt
Do you look up his career. Did you look up his career earnings you want to guess is that out of that out of respect it out of respect for him. You don't talk about money. Ah.
03:09.54
Casey Ford
I haven't yet now I don't and and ah, whatever it is he yet a great career good tell me I'm still hurting after this Charlie Hoffman thing I can't even look at a wallet or anything to do with money.
03:27.24
dave_gerhardt
Eleven Point Eleven yeah it's it's you've actually you've had a weird run a very weird run of gambling just the most random people we almost had a doug gim citing. Um.
03:27.28
Casey Ford
Hundred and fifty to one Dave I had them hundred and fifty to 1 yeah.
03:39.69
dave_gerhardt
But yeah, you've had some weird we you've had some ah just very random bets and then like these guys seem to be in the mix and then they like eject in the worst way. All Charlie didn't eject. He just didn't win which is a shame. Um Mr Deoug has ah earned ah eleven million five hundred and sixty eight thousand four hundred and eighty four dollars in his career.
03:57.10
Casey Ford
Pretty impressive and and we'll get into this with him. Yeah, we'll we'll get into this with him but um and we talked a few weeks ago about something similar. But how these these tour players from you know, ten fifteen years ago must feel now just watching signature events and live so we'll get his perspective on that. But.
03:58.23
dave_gerhardt
So over 10000000
04:15.67
Casey Ford
Pretty respectable for for when he played when Tiger was taken you know number one most of the time.
04:20.96
dave_gerhardt
Yeah I mean anybody that's made eleven and a half million bucks in their life doing anything playing golf as certainly much respect from us. Um all right? So we got we have the genesis this week formally the l a open um at riv that that's the northern trust that's what.
04:34.42
Casey Ford
Formerly the normal Northern Tr Trust formerly a million different things.
04:38.59
dave_gerhardt
That's what ah you know this is this as I've become more of a golf nerd. You know everybody talks about riv you know Riv that's like with the the tour the players on tour they talk about it like this is the place so and a lot of excitement Tiger Tigers in the field this week um I saw you're you're really excited about his new clothing.
04:45.89
Casey Ford
Yeah.
04:55.60
Casey Ford
Um.
04:56.90
dave_gerhardt
Um, it's not malbon and we have an awesome.
04:57.73
Casey Ford
Know and everything in the golf world happens on Monday when we record so by the time people hear this it will be have been out for three days but tiger apparently is releasing his new line today.
05:04.68
dave_gerhardt
Um, yeah, all right? So let's make our picks. Do you want to just go first and I'll give you I will I'm ah happy to give you the tiger pick just you can do the honors since you okay.
05:16.62
Casey Ford
Well I get first picked because last week I won and just a real re quick recap on that I've retaken the lead with my Charlie Hoffman pick I'm now up on you in our season long race. Um, ah yeah, and real quick I'll also just say.
05:23.98
dave_gerhardt
Congrats.
05:32.71
Casey Ford
We're only like two months into this picking guys outside the one fifty usually every week except for this week ah we've both picked Kevin Streillman and he's withdrawn on both of us so that he's kind of this is kind of our voodoo doll for Kevin Streillman here when we pick him and he immediately withdraws from tournament. So anyway I had a good week with ah with Charlie you had a good week with.
05:46.27
dave_gerhardt
Have some respect.
05:51.66
Casey Ford
Doug Gim but I've overtaken you I've got 4000000 for the year now you've got three and a half so that's right now first pick for the genesis I don't think we need to do a title sponsor challenge I think you understand you know what genesis is but if not raise your hand. Ah yeah, exactly exactly.
06:00.72
dave_gerhardt
Um, yeah, now it's a car. It's a car that I always think he's like a Bentley but it's not yeah.
06:11.23
Casey Ford
Ah, okay, so for first pick this week. Um I'm going to go with my boy Rory because I want him on the pod and I think he's played well here before rivier.
06:16.85
dave_gerhardt
Ah.
06:21.13
dave_gerhardt
Okay, shout out to you Rory um I'm going to pick I'm going to pick Victor I love victor I I want a reason to watch him this weekend so I'm going to pick Victor and do I get to go back to back. That's how this works snake.
06:32.32
Casey Ford
Of course we're going to get the we're going and hold of this one day. Yeah.
06:38.13
dave_gerhardt
Ah I'm going to pick the flusher Mr Ludwig
06:42.70
Casey Ford
I like that some unfinished business from ah Peple beach a few weeks ago are 2 in a row I love it I'm going to go cam young who has played well the last few years
06:44.65
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, I'm going. No Americans by the way, go ahead trending Cam is trending Cam's a guy that I love I would love to see Cam get be I would love to see Cam be a top 5 top 10 player. On in the world and when when pjtor events regularly.
07:06.94
Casey Ford
Yep, great I wouldn't say a great like textbook swing but an interesting swing. He's he's never won. He's never won so he's the next guy up and for my lot my so third and last I'm I'm going to take Patrick Cantley
07:09.14
dave_gerhardt
Great swing. No, he's got He's never won that's kind of that is that is crazy. Yeah.
07:22.73
Casey Ford
Just to stick it to you.
07:23.48
dave_gerhardt
What the heck man all right I'm gonna violate oh well I'm not gonna violate my non-us guys. Um I like ah I like my Matt Matt Fitzpatrick so I got I got the all world team this week I got Victor I got Matt Fitz and I got Mr.
07:38.44
Casey Ford
This is nice. We can. We can just relax and watch tiger we don't have to have a rooting interest that he'll win this week and I would have been staring at a you know, hundred and fifty to one again. So I'll get screwed somehow this week but thoughts and prayers to Rory Cam young and Patrick Cantley for the.
07:39.71
dave_gerhardt
Blood fig.
07:43.32
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, you won't be Relaxed. Do. Yeah.
07:57.64
Casey Ford
The jinx I just put on for this week
07:59.15
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, what? Ah so real will quick. Give me give me 1 or 2 minutes about what do you want to get out of this interview with Mr Dion
08:06.50
Casey Ford
I really want to just know what it's like to you played against tiger woods in the president cup in in 2013 actually beat him um, playing with Ernie Els so ah anyone who iss just squared off in the arena with tiger I want to know a lot about that but also just day-to- day um tour life.
08:23.61
dave_gerhardt
Ah.
08:23.93
Casey Ford
I'm fascinated by kind of the mundane aspect of getting from 1 place to the next. Um, if you're bunking up with friends or hotel life and especially coming from Zimbabwe where he grew up and learned how to play so that's for me how about you.
08:38.88
dave_gerhardt
Um, um, I'm I'm excited just come on come come along for the ride you have some great notes some great some great prep. Um I want to talk about just just the golf game like just what just his game where it's at today. Things he sees from from amateurs just overall golf philosophy. We. We often see this idea of like swing your swing. He doesn't have one of those textbook kind of cookie cutter swings. But he's got a nice little repeatable motion I'd love to talk to him about that. But um, hey real quick before we go I spent an hour this morning down at djaco's golf garage and he's become friends with this guy David Orr and David Orr is one of the top 50 golf instructors in the world. He was Justin Rose's putting coach and a couple other guys and they become friends and share a bond of like skiing and I guess he comes up here and they hang out. He's from the carolina area. And so I got an hour one on one with him this morning doing a putting lesson and it was amazing. He was like he gave me 3 really small tips about we got on like the the putting the putting lab to see all my my putting plane and path and where I'm hitting it and it's even in such a small thing like putting.
09:34.18
Casey Ford
Wow.
09:50.58
dave_gerhardt
Just within 10 minutes he's like nope nope nope and tightened me up really nice I posted a little video on on Instagram earlier but ah just a shout out to zko for becoming friends with him and bringing him in and just it cool to get that level of ah of knowledge about putting now all day I'm going to be under the table just kind of working on my. 1 little thing like just little ways you hold your wrist matter so much in the putting stroke and just made me think about how sideways you can go out on the course without even knowing it.
10:17.79
Casey Ford
Very cool. Yeah, you don't see many people doing that we talked before about catching people in public doing the swing motion but you don't see many people doing the putting motion at the grocery store. So careful.
10:25.83
dave_gerhardt
It's it's It's a little yeah all right? We got to hang up. We got to go on our other other line to to bring in our guests today and I'm excited I'm excited for this conversation. Alright.
10:34.21
Casey Ford
Me too and Rory come on the pod.
00:01.27
Casey Ford
All right? We get a very special guest this week ah you may know him as a is a pga tour veteran I host the waoo and file a podcast with Johnson Wagner at 5 clubs golf which is awesome. You should check it out but he's also the premieer stake enthusiasts I think in the world of golf. So. Please welcome to the program Brendan de young Brendan thanks and welcome to the long game.
00:23.21
Brendon de Jonge
Um, thanks for having me guys. Thanks for that intro.
00:24.92
Casey Ford
Is steak usually one of the first 3 things when people introduce you your huge stake fanatic where does that come from.
00:33.68
Brendon de Jonge
Ah, growing up in Africa you know chicken was considered a vegetable so steak was kind of that was the go to for us. Um, and I love it. We we got good meat in this country. So I've been lucky.
00:44.52
Casey Ford
Awesome! We'll get into that you spoke about growing up in Africa wanted to get just ah your background story to from about you're born in and raised in that in zi zimbabwe talk about just the Zimbabwe golf scene you getting into golf I assume Nick price probably had a lot to do with that. But how did you find the game and. And ah and grope um coming up in in a country. Maybe not known so much for golf.
01:09.79
Brendon de Jonge
Well I grew up in a big sporting family. My um, my older brother was was a good player himself. My dad was a very good rugby player. Um, and then took up golf sort of later in his later in his life. Um I say later pier's probably about thirty five forty when he took it up. Um, and I was kind of the the young one the young whippersnappper that would tag along go I go out with them and you know play as many holes as they would let me at first and then kind of as I got better and better tagging along sort of turned into playing games with them and then from there kind of. Turning a number where my dad would let me into their regular four and they in they had ah what was called the Wednesday club so I would play their Wednesday club with them and then that entaled maybe having a couple beers with the older guys off to the off the round which was always great something I'd certainly look forward to, um. Probably wasn't as of age where I should have been doing that but the laws were a little bit more relaxed and Zimbabwe than they are here. But yeah as I say grew up in a huge sporting family and um I actually had to make the choice between playing cricket and golf and went down the path of playing golf.
02:11.97
Casey Ford
Are there any anything that you can lean from one to the other that help but swing I guess but I have some friends that played close to professional baseball and their coaches would never let them play golf in the off season because they thought it messed up their swing is there any synergy there.
02:24.22
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, ah, no cricket was a little bit different because when you hit a cricket ball. It's a lot lower to the ground than a baseball is so it was obviously more more of a similarity there to the golf swing I don't think it rarely messed it up I know if i. If I'd been playing a lot of cricket and then went played golf. It maybe took a little bit of time to get into it. Um I don't think one helped the other or hurt the other. But yeah, there was a was definitely as I say a big choice that I had to make between the 2.
02:55.20
dave_gerhardt
Um, what was your what was your relationship with ah with golf and instruction were you self-taught did you get a teacher in there early on what was your? what's your backstory.
03:05.63
Brendon de Jonge
So there was ah a guy actually unfortunately passed away a couple years ago named named Roger Balis and Roger Balis grew up teaching nick price and then grew up teaching every successful junior golfer through there and you know Roger was one of those guys that you could. You could ask him for as much or as little information as you wanted. You know he didn't teach everybody the same way. Um, just just a great guy honestly would put him kind of obviously doesn't have the the history of a Butch Homan but that kind of guy you know would would talk to you more about life and golf with life than just the golf swing itself. So. Ah, super guy to be able to bend his ear and you know just pick his brain either. He'd been around a long time and it's seen a lot of good things.
03:47.10
dave_gerhardt
1 topic that I've become up so so I have later in life I've played golf my whole life but later in life like after having kids after having like a little bit of success business-wise I fell into a little bit more time have more time to play. I started going to this guy. We've had him on the podcast. He basically was like yeah man, you've been playing golf for 20 years the wrong way and and it's a it's a mate and and I got down to like a low so low single-digit handicap but like.
04:13.88
Casey Ford
Um, nice to hear.
04:19.77
dave_gerhardt
My grip was wrong. My swing direction was wrong over ah so many things and I think since then the last two years I've just become obsessed with like man I love this game so much I've peeled back all the layers of the the mechanical side of the swing and I'm starting to see like I know a lot of people talk about the. Mental side of this game but as a hobby it's so fun. How much technical mecha how much the mechanics matter where do you fall on that spectrum. Are you a tinkerer are you a feel player you obviously had this great guy that was influential in your life early on but where do you fall on that spectrum and. Maybe even with the lens of like what do you see from a lot of amateurs.
04:59.18
Brendon de Jonge
I fall very much into the feel side of it I um I hated the mechanical mechanical side of it. Um, deaf definitely a feel player and you know through through the times when I actually was playing well I think it was because I knew my golf swing and I knew the feels I had and you know it. Certainly was not what I would call the the everyday golf swing in it I had ah I had a unique move. No doubt about it. Um, it looked like I was slightly over the top. It really wasn't it was just that I sucked the club so far on the inside going back. Um, but no, it was definitely I I played by my feels and I knew if something was off then I needed to do this and I think that that's key that you kind of you need to know your own golf swing everybody swings a club slightly differently in one way or another um I think it's such a key to know your own golf swing. And you can fix it yourself. Something goes a little bit wrong. Okay I need to do this? Um, you know obviously with though with the pros out there. A lot of these guys there. They've got somebody there every single week that's watching every single shot they hit and they're hitting a lot of shots on camera so they can see that. But. Ah, would say the key for an amateur is definitely knowing your own golf swing.
06:06.82
dave_gerhardt
Have you seen guys kind of since since you come from that that field play player Camp is there anybody that you obviously don't have to name and name I'm just thinking like did you come up around someone who got so obsessed with the mechanics and didn't. Go out and play the game and you kind of saw them you kind of saw your your your path split differently.
06:28.29
Brendon de Jonge
Oh very much so very much. So um, a really good friend of mine. Um I will name his name. Ah Bruce Mcdonald he yeah was a wonderful guy. He's one of those guys that you walk down the range and you watch him hit golf balls and you'd think to yourself. There's no way that this guy won't succeed as a pro. And then you know you just he got obsessed. He got obsessed with swinging the club perfectly and you know just instead you know we we've heard it a thousand times started playing golf swing instead of playing golf and it's just it's the worst mistake you can make.
06:53.29
dave_gerhardt
Must.
06:58.97
Casey Ford
So coming through. Ah he came through q school and in zero seven was it right? and you're on tour. Can you talk just a little about like what what kind of a culture shock was that for you or or you know either going from finding a a caddy or. Um, figuring out week to week where you're are, you're renting with ah friends on tour are you sitting in hotels. What was kind of that transition like for you going from from Zimbabwe to the tour.
07:22.94
Brendon de Jonge
I did a little bit of both. Um, there were certainly times when we would get houses a lot of times when we would we would rent oh sorry excuse me stay in a hotel um a little bit of both I felt like if we were in hotels for three or four weeks in a row you needed to break it up and maybe maybe get a house. Um. As far as a Keddy goes. You know they kind of they seek you out. They yeah, they're looking for a job as well starting out and they're hoping to to catch the next big thing. Um, you know so you find find that guy that you're compatible with I would luckily enough found a couple guys that I was very compatible with and really had 2 2 caddies throughout my entire career guys that both worked for me for a long time. Um, but it's hard. You know you're spending so much time together with a caddy more time than you are with your wife so you better find somebody that you're really comfortable with and have a lot in common and a lot to talk about on the golf course.
08:05.90
Casey Ford
I.
08:09.34
dave_gerhardt
I was watching this interview with um speth and Greller the other day and they were talking about one of the biggest mistakes they made early on in their relationship was when Jordan first got on tour.
08:11.38
Casey Ford
Um, someone you love.
08:20.34
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, yeah.
08:20.73
dave_gerhardt
They would go stay together and they're like that was the biggest mistake like let's have our own space and like yeah I can see how that would be miserable.
08:25.83
Casey Ford
That's true.
08:28.37
Brendon de Jonge
You know I had I had a guy that worked for me for about 7 years Phil low and I think we had dinner together. Maybe once in 7 years um it was you know we needed our time I needed to be away from him. He needed to be away from me and it was just.
08:37.91
dave_gerhardt
Ah, yeah.
08:43.77
Brendon de Jonge
Was kind of understood. We would finish the round and if I'd go hit balls I'd go hit balls and then after that he'd go his separate way and I'd go my separate and it was necessary. You know it's you spending as I say so much time together and it's easy to fall into a bad rut when you're actually staying together as well.
08:59.13
Casey Ford
s going to say you you've got to find someone who likes steak but maybe that's not the case you need to you know, get a vegetarian caddy so you can spend a little more time apart at night. Yeah.
09:05.93
dave_gerhardt
Big chicken guy. You need a chicken guy.
09:10.49
Brendon de Jonge
Ah, yeah, exactly now we yeah, there's plenty of players that like steak we would go. Ah, we'd go find some good restaurants in the area. But yeah, it was ah it's necessary to get away from your caty. No doubt about it.
09:20.74
Casey Ford
Um, yeah I heard and.
09:22.34
dave_gerhardt
Kind of this This game is such a this game is such a mental I feel this as an amateur player. This is not even I have a real job. What I do on the golf course doesn't matter at um at all, but it's so easy to place my um.
09:27.98
Brendon de Jonge
Um, yeah.
09:38.76
dave_gerhardt
Self-worth into how I'm playing right? You did this for a living Very successfully did you have any mental tricks or mental. You know. Games to play with yourself. How do you?? How do you separate those things especially when this is your career when this is your full-time job.
09:57.50
Brendon de Jonge
It's some. It's not easy, but um I was pretty good at it I was probably I would I mean without blowing my own horn here I definitely better than most at leaving golf at the golf course and by the time I got home to see wife and kids whatever I was kind of away from it. Um. Of course there were times when things weren't going great and it's very very hard to you know, separate the 2 um, but I would I would say for the most part I was pretty good at leaving it there and I think probably because I had a lot of other interests off the golf course I think guys and especially this younger generation now they. They seem to have no other interests. It's just golf all the way and I think when you when you're like that. It's very very difficult to remove yourself. You kind of as you say you're basing yourself worth on your golf game and it's it's not a healthy place to be you know I ah. I would love to come home I was I was always a huge sports fan. So I would find what other sport was going on I loved fishing I'd do a bunch of that I love to cook. Um I'd do a bunch of that so it was there was always kind of an outlook for me which I think was a big help.
11:03.10
Casey Ford
So go back to just the mental state state of of golf and um I would assume that was never more tested than maybe the 2013 president's cup just being in kind of hostile soil um playing tiger woods what do you remember about that weekend.
11:12.80
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, yeah.
11:20.11
Casey Ford
Or that week really um and just how different it was from any other type of golf experience. You had.
11:25.85
Brendon de Jonge
Ah, you know and I've I've talked about this a lot. It was. It was certainly the highlight of my career I um I mentioned it earlier you guys I grew up playing a bunch of cricket and this was now this was my chance to get back involved in the team sport of stuff. Um. So the the team aspect was awesome. We we kind of got robbed of that team room atmosphere just because the weather was so bad it was it was a shocking weather week so we were at the golf course sort of until dark until nine o'clock every night and then we were back out there five o'clock so it kind of took away from a little bit of the of the team aspect in the room. But I you know I remember just even the small things. The bus ride. We had a 45 minute bus ride back into downtown Columbus from Dublin and you know sitting on the bus and the the first day we're going back and calcaberra yells up dosovesas please so you know somebody brings him 2 beers and and that was that was so cool just to see that. It was that laid-back atmosphere. We're playing one of the biggest tournaments that all of us have played but guys are willing to have a couple bears. Um, and it was it was awesome getting to know these guys a little bit better. You know obviously I knew everybody but just on the surface you're spending sort of an entire week with them. You're getting to know these guys really really well and. You make friendships that sort of sort of lost a lifetime I speak to a lot of those guys all the time now and it's all from that week
12:41.40
Casey Ford
When do you put something like that on your radar I know the first president's cup was early. Ninety s like 94 is that something you are aware of growing up and and when in at what point your career did you think that was a possibility that you could play.
12:56.43
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, no very aware of it. Um, because you know we we followed what Nick price did very closely and Nick was a big part of those all those early presidents cups I remember the one vividly that they actually won in 98 at Melbourne the only time the internationals have won. Remember watching a lot of that one. Um I was eighteen at the time. Um, and then as far as my radar you know I I got fairly close to making the team in 2011 I was a part of all the meetings I'm a part of some of the clothes fittings and that. But. I always felt like I was slightly on the on the outside there it would have been a huge shock to me to make that team but then 13 I had a nice year I played very very solid and I was kind of sort of right there or thereabouts around that sort of 10 11 twelve thirteen spot on the international list. And then played very well through the fedex cut playoffs. So then I knew then from there there was a very good possibility that I might get a nice phone call.
13:49.42
Casey Ford
I get I have a million questions about playing in that. But first I got to ask they fit you for the clothes before you make the team.
13:57.89
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, yeah, there's ah, there's a lot of a lot of fittings. They they want to make sure that everybody's very very prepared so you're you're getting fit for stuff kind of a month before and then if you if they don't need to make it for you then they just throw that away.
14:07.30
Casey Ford
Wow, shes interesting. So um, you got paired up with erniells that week how did that come about that pairing was that something going into the week you knew about or just kind of worked and you kept rolling with it.
14:13.46
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah.
14:20.94
Brendon de Jonge
Um, I was actually this came about after the fact I was very flattered that um I had played with Ernie the final round of the Deutsche bank which was our second round of the playoffs and after that round Ernie had gone to Nick price and said I found my partner I'm definitely playing with him all week as I say I was extremely flattered by ah by that from Ernie um, it was a great fit as well. He's a awesome guy. We are. We got on very very well on the golf course. Um and it was just it. You know it just added to what was what was a great week from the start.
14:54.20
Casey Ford
It's funny you so you you guys kind of fell in love in Boston like Dave and I we work together in Boston as well. So ah or or Norton which is like I don't know 45 minutes outside of Boston but yeah, well Greater Boston
14:59.10
dave_gerhardt
Ah I Love that is that that that takes a it takes a big man to say that? yeah.
14:59.72
Brendon de Jonge
That's right, everything good happens in Boston. Yeah that's right.
15:09.83
Casey Ford
So you got you got paired up against Tiger I think on Saturday of that week just talk about being in the arena with tiger woods in a competitive hostile environment like that.
15:16.55
Brendon de Jonge
You know it was that it was actually pretty funny because Nick let us know we were sitting then we had finished our third round match and he came over to Ernie and he said you and Brennan are playing tiger and cocher and Ernie was mad he was mad he was he was struggling with the putter at the time to the point not quite where he had the yips but he was definitely struggling with the butter and he he essentially said to nick how can you throw me into this cauldron. You know I'm struggling with the putter. So I'm thinking I'm standing there on the outside I'm like this is great this this big man's pissed off because we gotta to go play tiger woods and I'm his partner. Um, anyway, we we played really really good in the alternate shot. There. We had them. Um I think we were 3 up with 4 holes to go and Tiger hits one of his miraculous shots. He hits a 5 wood in there to about two feet on 15 and they make eagle there now. We're 2 up with 3 to go I bury 1 right in the middle of the lake on 16 so now one up with 2 to go um and then thankfully tiger missed a very makeable putt on 17 and then it came down to Ernie's putter yeah he made about a four or five footer on the lost hole for us to beat them one up and. You know what day he's got so much past ah past trauma with tiger I guess that you could see how much it meant to him actually making that putt and getting one over on tiger.
16:36.21
Casey Ford
Would you say that's the most nervous you've been on a golf course that day.
16:38.99
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, without a doubt I mean the I remember the first t shot on Thursday so starting out the week I had a 3 would in my hands and Ernie kind of looked at me and he shook his head and he said no no and you want to look go want to look down at something that's got a much bigger head than that. And sure enough I ah ah grabb the driver and thank goodness because I was shaking.
17:02.58
Casey Ford
It's it's a unique position right? because even I mean a lot of pros have played with tiger but the the competitive part about that. You know you're playing the whole field ah often and rarely are people in the same group with tiger playing you know in a tournament down the stretch against him. It's really those ryer cups in the president's cups where people are getting that 1 or on in your case, 2 verses 2 were there things you picked up from that or what was his intensity like could you feel it that it was he was kind of turning it on or was it I'm sure you've played with him in practice rounds or.
17:35.48
Brendon de Jonge
Um, yeah.
17:36.81
Casey Ford
Ah, rounds on tour before was it any different in that arena.
17:40.68
Brendon de Jonge
Honestly, yeah there there certainly was you could feel the intensity but he was he was Great. You know if you hit a good shot. He was very very willing to tell you good shot. Um, other there were a couple other guys that played on that American team that weren't exactly the same way. But. Yeah, you know he he gave credit where credit was due and you know after the match he he was couldn't have been more gentlemanly said you know you guys played Great. You deserve to win that match. Well done. Um, so I gained I always had a ton of respect for Tiger but I gained even more after that that match that we played.
18:12.23
Casey Ford
So now that you've kind of moved on from your playing career. Do you miss that kind of competition Still, how do you simulate It are you still playing Are you still keeping the game in shape.
18:24.00
Brendon de Jonge
Um, you know I don't think you can completely completely simulate it. Um, there was a stretch there when I was done playing when the last thing I wanted to do was play golf I was I was burnout I was absolutely hating it. Um I could go six months without touching a club and I'd be just fine.
18:35.87
dave_gerhardt
Yeah.
18:41.55
Brendon de Jonge
I'm now thankfully kind of coming around a little bit I'm still to enjoy playing again. I'm enjoying going on guys trips to play to play some cool places. Um, but yeah I was I was so burnt out that I removed myself from the game for a while um ah about 202017 2018 I just I wanted nothing to do with golf I um I wish I hadn't got to that place but you know it happens and as I say thankfully I'm back to where I'm starting to enjoy playing again.
19:10.36
dave_gerhardt
Um, and what what? what was like take us to the end of that place like the the end of your run on tour like what what was what was happening in that twenty Seventeen 2018 era that led you to be like I don't want to see these clubs forever.
19:23.68
Brendon de Jonge
So I am I dealt with a couple little injuries I tore some and intercostal muscles a couple times. Um I remember the second time that I did it I had been away from competition for five six months and the last thing I wanted to do was go and play an event I was I was so comfortable at home I was I was enjoying the the everyday life of ah of a typical dad and the last thing I wanted to do was go and play any kind of competitive event so something. Something obviously sparked in my head there I was like you know what? that's that's not the way I should be feeling I should be raring to go being six months removed from the game and you know just kind of kind of went from there. You know every time I did get into an event or went and played. I'd be through sort of 6 7 8 holes and I'd be thinking you know what this is not where I want to be. This is not what I want to do I'm missing a bunch of stuff at home. Um, and it just it was it wasn't a happy place at all at the time my kids would have been probably 12 and 10.
20:08.96
dave_gerhardt
How old were your kids at the time.
20:21.55
Brendon de Jonge
So just just getting into competitive sports as well. Um, yeah, it was. It was a nice time to be home. It really was and you know looking back I'm very thankful for it. But yeah I wish I hadn't got to that place where I hated the game as much as I did.
20:34.75
dave_gerhardt
Was it because that was it because you were hurt and you weren't able to play at the level that you wanted or was it just like your your kind of career had just run its course and you're like man I don't I've made and I've made enough money I don't have to worry this is but I'm not in the top 10 in the world like you're kind of. I Don't want to say no man's land but you have yeah if I think of it as a business right? You've like you've made a bunch of money you were very successful but you see life has other things and you're just going to put this away for a little bit.
21:02.49
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah I think it's a little bit of both and I think you are you are in? no man's Land. You know you you don't you don't want to put in the work that you know it takes to get back to where you were but you don't want to play the poor golf that you're playing So It's It's kind of ah a vicious cycle there. Um, but you do you find yourself kind of. Definitely in a little bit of no man's land. Um, and yeah, the the injury certainly added to it. Um I lost some speed. Um, it takes you a while to to get the truss back as Well. Um, but it was yeah I was ah I mean I certainly wouldn't say a dark place because I was I was never never got to that. But. So a point where I was not enjoying golf.
21:41.89
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, it seems to be I mean we don't we don't know you that well but but it seems to be that does seem to be your overall kind of personality like hey man this is a game I got a family. My life is good. It just it doesn't fill me up. It doesn't motivate me that and it and it is a grind may even even playing in a. 4 day tournament with your with your buddies somewhere Casey and I always talk about like man a very underrated thing is how much of a grind. It would be to be on tour. You know you have no days off during the week you're away from your family. You got to do the pro-am dance you got to go practice and you got to do Thursday friday you might not even make any money then you do make the cut and you're grinding just the mental burden of that is so. Underratedly, exhausting I can't imagine these guys who have had ten twenty you know 25 year careers out there just the grind of that and you know what does make sense why people would go take the money from an alternative tour to live a little bit of a more comfortable less stressful life.
22:37.78
Brendon de Jonge
Um, yeah, yeah, the the grind is hard and I tell you the thing is like the little things you know if you're if you're playing well and somebody screws up your hotel reservation. You don't think twice about it when you're hacking. You're struggling.
22:53.49
dave_gerhardt
Um, yeah.
22:54.00
Brendon de Jonge
You show up all you want to do is get in your hotel room. Go and chill for a little while and like oh sorry we don't have your reservation that pisses you off your flight gets delay a couple hours you know what I made 1000000 last week I'm not too worried about my flight being delayed when you're struggling that flight gets delayed and you're you're furious. It's just.
23:11.51
dave_gerhardt
Right.
23:12.82
Brendon de Jonge
You know and it just kind of adds up over time.
23:13.60
Casey Ford
Can you apply that to to as Dave mentioned like the program stuff you get to deal with during the week like if you're not playing well is that a worst day for that executive from wherever or yeah.
23:23.44
Brendon de Jonge
I certainly can be you know I I was one of those guys I actually enjoyed the programs I ah I enjoyed the getting out there and bsing with some guys where golf was secondary and I made some great relationships. Um I signed a deal with some guy because I out drove him off my knees. Um. You know I think guys kind of guys look at the proams wrong and and I think it's getting worse and worse I remember talking to um, Tim West as the guy on tour who runs all the all the proams throughout the year and Tim was saying that over the last two years he's had over two hundred complaints from. Guys playing in the pros with the pros and these guys are out there and they've either got their swing instructor with them or they're out on their phone the whole time you know Wednesdays about these guys. We can't can't play the tournaments without the sponsors and I feel as though guys have kind of they missed that memo at rookie orientation.
24:15.19
dave_gerhardt
All right hold on. We got it. We got to rewind that you you signed a deal with somebody because you out drove them on your knees tell me tell us that story please.
24:24.31
Brendon de Jonge
Well, this guy was was quite a character so we made the turn off the 9 holes and this guy disappeared he left for 30 minutes I have no idea where he went but I know that he went. It took a couple shots of something because he shows. Yeah, he shows up on the tenth t and we've been there waiting.
24:36.79
dave_gerhardt
A hundred percent
24:43.87
Brendon de Jonge
As I say 30 minutes we've let two groups play through and anyway so we gore about I think we're on number 14 at seaside playing the mcgladery and um, this guy says to me I guess this was his party trick. He's like you ever hit a ball off your knees and I I had hit a. Bunch of balls off my knees. But I said to him? No I never have I've never tried it. Whatever anyway, so this guy puts one down and he he hits it hits it off his knees and he hits it pretty good and he he said he looks at me, he's I gotta tell you what I will sign a deal with you on this t box right now if you outdrive me off your knees I was like. Done go for it I managed to hit it sort of twenty thirty yards passsum off my knees sure enough signed a signed a 1 year deal with the guy he honored it got my agent's details and and we were done but that this guy was yep corporate deal on my on left my left chest.
25:34.25
dave_gerhardt
Hold on like ah like a sponsored like a sponsorship deal like they paid you a sponsorship for a year because it's amazing.
25:42.12
Brendon de Jonge
But yeah this this guy was a character he was ah I mean I get to tell you some stories about him that I probably shouldn't But yeah, you are you know these these ah these programs can be a lot of fun if you get get paired with the right guys it can it can make for a cool day.
25:53.90
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, well you mentioned something as you said guys look at the pro-ams the wrong way now and I I hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it. But I guess if you if you treat yourself like ah. I'm my you are right? The the company of 1 your business. Your llc is you is Brendan right? And so if you're out there. Okay maybe golf isn't my going to be my whole life. What opportunities I have either to.
26:06.25
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah.
26:18.56
dave_gerhardt
Increase my value now or potentially something off the course is that what you mean when you talk about guys not the guys seeing it as ah as a Burden fuck this I don't want to have to go through this whole process where hold on there's an opportunity to surround yourself with a bunch of. The people that play in these programs are most often very successful business people. Entrepreneurs.
26:31.87
Casey Ford
Are.
26:33.67
Brendon de Jonge
Exactly right? Yep yes, a hundred percent you know and we we have given Tuesday is your day you go play a practice round you go grind on your game on Tuesdays Wednesdays about these guys. You're you're out there to make it the most enjoyable day you possibly can. The sponsors and and as I say I feel like a lot of these younger guys have missed the memo there and and as I say I signed a deal with that I talked to a lot of guys that I played proams with you know now that I'm done playing I'll go play corporate outings for these guys you know and it's it's ah a great way to make a little bit of income. All because you spent 5 hours with them and you actually made a good impression and you know did the right thing you know it. It doesn't take a lot to to be out there and go read a couple putts for a guy or to cut it up with him you know guy the amates love it when you give them shit if you do it in the right way you know and ah.
27:15.20
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, check.
27:20.65
dave_gerhardt
Total I mean that that's just that's just like golf that seems just like golf right? just same same way you play with your buddies whether you're a pro or not I would I would love that can you I've actually you're the you're the first tor pro that we've have on and us having this conversation reminded me of some we've talked before how does how does sponsorships.
27:26.25
Brendon de Jonge
Yep.
27:39.88
dave_gerhardt
Work like do you have free reign unlimited inventory on your shirt your bag your hat. Do you have a business partner. How do you? How do you think about that stuff. How do you just is it free rainin to maximize the the money that you want can you take us into that world a little bit I'm super interested in hearing.
27:54.30
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, typically typically it's something that your agent will handle and he'll try and find a sponsor. That's gonna that's gonna make sense for you. You know it would die. Sometimes it doesn't always work out like that you might have some guys that offer offer you a sponsorship and it it doesn't It's not something that you would really align yourself with. But.
28:11.30
dave_gerhardt
Like say maybe maybe Patrick Can'tlay and dewaltz tools.
28:18.10
Casey Ford
He prayed he outdrove the executive from dealt tools on his knees at a program for him.
28:19.20
Brendon de Jonge
Yes, exactly. But ah.
28:20.62
dave_gerhardt
Ah, no no No one no one says Dewalt tools and at my mind then like Parick Can'tley but it's this as a separate.
28:25.26
Brendon de Jonge
Ah I'm guessing that can't like.
28:31.19
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, I'm guessing can't lay's not hitting a lot of shots off his knees in proams. Um, he kind of does things a little bit differently but just happens to be a hell of a golfer and these guys know that they're going to get a lot of Tv time if you put your name on his hat. So that's a.
28:38.60
dave_gerhardt
Sure. But but you have a so so so you have an agent but but is it like is it typically like a bundle like hey we're going to are the the main thing is Brendan's bag and you know we're going to do the bag and the hat but also like and then we're going to pay him x but there's also a bunch of.
28:59.75
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, exactly So an an agent will approach will approach somebody and be like it's going to cost X for a sleeve or it's going to cost X for a chest or X for a hat and then you will probably get.
29:00.20
dave_gerhardt
Ah, there are other commitments that you have to do as part of that they try to bundle it together.
29:15.85
Brendon de Jonge
Most most companies you'll sign on for something and you'll give them 3 or 4 corporate days throughout the year where you go play with some of their biggest customers and you know where you're responsible for hosting those guys and making sure that they all enjoy the day. Um, but yeah, the the agent's host the agents excuse me will negotiate the majority of those deals. Um, every now and then you'll do one yourself.
29:33.36
dave_gerhardt
Did you have a brand did you have a club. Ah what? what club company were you with still today. What do you? What do you play now.
29:39.25
Brendon de Jonge
I played tiless through my whole career. no no I am playing sub 70 irons which are the nicest ironons I've ever hit. Um, small custom direct toconsumer group out of um. Sycamore Illinois and these these honestly these irons feel absolutely great I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys become a pretty big player in the market if they want to um and then I play a different driver every time I tear it up because I don't know where the ball's going.
30:10.49
dave_gerhardt
So are you going in the basement like in your old stash. You got like the nine seventy Five d and all the old models down there are.
30:18.17
Brendon de Jonge
Oh yeah, oh yeah, it's all come out I mean I've tried it all, um, some of them work some of them don't some of them I'm a little embarrassed to bring out. But yeah, anything that that goes forward and somewhat straight might stand the bag for a little while.
30:29.75
dave_gerhardt
How did these guys get on your radar. Yeah.
30:34.46
Brendon de Jonge
The sub 70 guys I actually did a I did a podcast for them. Um, as we wrapped it Up. He said to me would you mind if I sent you a set of irons and I I was very Frank with him I said I've never heard of you guys, but sure go ahead. Um, sent me a set of irons. And honestly the probably as I say the best feeling irons I'd hit and I made sure that I I got it out there to a lot of pros and they they were very willing to send a lot of sets to guys and I've got quite a few friends that are starting to play them in this area.
31:03.47
dave_gerhardt
Cool.
31:04.24
Casey Ford
Our our parting gift will be a t-shirt. Not a um, a set of clubs. So sorry to sorry to disappoint you talking about just sponsorship too and stuff on your shirt got me thinking something else Dave and I have talked a lot about recently fascinates us. Um, and it reminded me just looking at you right now.
31:10.70
Brendon de Jonge
Ah, hey it looks awesome I'll take it.
31:13.55
dave_gerhardt
Ah.
31:23.87
Casey Ford
How do the there be some guy on tour from us Austria or some or somewhere and they have this incredible journey to the tour and then it's like college some big 10 school or like you know or I don't know Alabama how do how do all these schools recruit like how did you find your way from Zimbabwe to Virginia tech.
31:40.91
Brendon de Jonge
So I was down in South Florida playing some junior golf I played I played a bunch of aga events down there. The Zimbabwe Junior Golf Association used to do a great job of sending their top 2 juniors at the time to play in the ledbetter junior the doral junior and the orange bowl.
31:47.34
Casey Ford
Tip.
31:58.93
Brendon de Jonge
Which are always kind of around Christmas time over here. Um, and that was sort of our opportunity to showcase our talents as it is in in front of which whichever coaches were out there watching um virginia tech for me was ah it made perfect sense. We obviously never. We didn't get to come on a visit but there were. 3 or 4 zimbabwean guys that had played at virginia tech before I did so that was kind of the I could pick their brains um, rely on word of mouth from those guys and they all had a wonderful time so it was it was a bit of a no brainer for me. Um, had some nice offers at some other places but certainly don't regret it at all.
32:33.71
Casey Ford
So what's the connection between Zimbabwe and Virginia tech as I know Scott Vincent who plays on live now is he was after you but he went to Virginia Virginia tech too. So is there a pipeline there a coach or.
32:41.40
Brendon de Jonge
Yep, yes, very much so very much so you know I think ah if you look at a lot of these college programs. Um I know augusta state always had a pipeline into the u k. Would always have a bunch of guys out of the u k playing there well and then Patrick Reed probably scared everybody else off but you know you you look at it like that and there's um, typically a pipeline into a certain a certain junior program and for for virginia tech it was Zimbabwe um, as I say. Couple guys played prior to me. Um, and then probably 6 or 7 after me actually played came came from Zimbabwe there.
33:21.68
Casey Ford
Interesting. Ah so wanted to take you get your take on on the current state of pro golf to Dave and I talked about this I think just last week when the ssg announcement got um, made and just everything changing with the tour we were saying to each other What what would guys that played on tour ten fifteen years ago think about this so we have you on what do you think about all the changes to the tour obviously live forced their hand a lot but it seems like an entirely different tour than when you were playing.
33:45.31
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, yeah, it is I mean I mean I think you you can't look back at it without having a little bit of envy I mean these guys are playing for so much money now and obviously it took a competitive or a competition coming in from somewhere else to. The tour to find all this money for them to to start playing for um listen I I want to start out by saying I feel. No I'm not mad at anybody that went over to live I fully understand it. It made perfect sense and I and I'll say it if somebody had come to me and offered me a bundle of cash I would have gone in an absolute heartbeat I ah. You know I was never under the illusion that I'm going to be 1 of those guys that's going to be playing for 19 majors or anything I I would have jumped on that ship and gone in a heartbeat. Um, and I'm not surprised at all to see Rory do one eighty he now fully understands that like listen not everybody's in my boat financially. This is a great opportunity for guys to set themselves up for the rest of their lives and generations to come. So don't don't feel any ill will towards any of those guys at all. Um, you know I I hate I hate where the game's at as far as that it's fractured I really do i. Ah, want nothing more than to seeing these see these guys playing against each other week in week out or as often as possible. Um, you know I have I've watched very little of live golf but I actually did turn it on the the other week. Um, when Sunday got rained out at pebble.
35:13.26
Brendon de Jonge
And the the product's going to would take a little bit of getting used to It's very very different I didn't hate it. Um, but I really do miss watching some of these guys play golf. You know I I love watching John Rom Play I love watching Sergio Play Sergio's a good friend of mine. We played a bunch of golf together growing up and junior golf. Um. I miss that kind of stuff. So I I need I would love to know what? what? the next move is I understand why you would align yourself with ssg that that money's great. It gives them a little bit of bargaining power. Um, but it doesn't move us any closer to reuniting everybody. Playing together that that's that's the problem I had with that move.
35:52.17
dave_gerhardt
Do you think that can happen like I guess as a fan on the sidelines I'm just kind of hoping I'm trying to be like you know what? I'm not even trying to read like whatever happens happens hopefully and at some point all these guys will be back playing together. Do you think we will get there is that where this ultimately leads.
36:07.75
Brendon de Jonge
Yes I Do I think listen I I'd be guessing as much as the next guy as far as a timeframe but I think we are going to end back up there and I I'm hoping that it's sooner than late I really am I I feel like. Perhaps all it would take is a couple moves from some really big names going over there now and where the tour would be forced to have to do something now. Um I I yeah.
36:35.15
dave_gerhardt
I mean it's it's gotten pretty damn close like right it it used to kind of be like oh like I could see why people went but like who's really over there if you kind of run those 2 teams right next to each other now. Obviously I think that you know you still have the the. Can't lay xander speed j t so we still have all those guys on tour but it's a lot closer than it was and I think to your point if 1 or 2 of those types of guys goes then it's like really just a coin flip.
37:02.20
Casey Ford
Well that that live event you're talking about that that Sunday was one of the iuned in I haven't watched a lot of live either. But that was one of the first times and that leaderboard kind of fell the right way for the day. The tor was rained out. It was like ah all of the marquee names that ah had defected to over there and it.
37:03.53
Brendon de Jonge
Um, yeah, you know obviously that.
37:21.49
Casey Ford
Really opened. Everyone's eyes I think to like Wow This is really a fractured game. It's no longer just just the it's the sum of the hole that's gone over there. It's it was impressive.
37:27.46
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, very much. Ah, you know and and I couldn't I couldn't help but feeling like as I watched that leaderboard scrolling up and down there. Whatever there there were guys that obviously I knew they had gone over there but hadn't even thought about how much actually really did miss them playing you know I think Wakin Nieman ended up winning that that week.
37:41.94
Casey Ford
Um, right.
37:45.67
Brendon de Jonge
That guy was that guy is a world beater. He's going to be a a young player. That's that's gonna I mean win so much. So yeah I hope that we're we're getting closer it. It does feel like it. Um, maybe a little bit delusional there but it does feel like we're moving in the right direction.
37:46.17
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, yeah.
38:02.72
Casey Ford
And speaking of the tour you've played in many waste. Management opens had a t six I think in in 2013, you've tweeted out a a great video from you tweeted out yesterday of a great shot you almost hold out 2 year so you've seen that kind of grow over the years it's obviously grown a lot since the tiger hole in 1 but just in like the ten years since you've started playing over there. How did? How did you see it change and what are your thoughts because they're getting a lot of shit today just for all the players. Yeah, kind of.
38:34.30
dave_gerhardt
It was a shit show. Ah.
38:36.21
Brendon de Jonge
It is. It's turning into an absolute shit show like listen and and we've we've talked about this a lot I was talking about it with Johnson Wagner um you know it's I have no problem with the chaos I really don't I just don't like when there's. Somebody that's influencing. Yeah a shot I don't like somebody yelling in someone's backsw swing where they're intentionally trying to be a distraction I don't care about the rest of it I really don't um, as long as nobody's getting hurt and it's not getting dangerous. Whatever um. You understand as a pro that you're going to deal with it for the week you might hear some personal abuse that's fine. It really doesn't matter. Um, you know you you hope that you're you're strong enough mentally to let it go I know there was ah a video out there of Zach Johnson I guess somebody was giving him shit about his rider cup captaincy and. He didn't take that very well in front of the guy got in his face I mean but you you kind of go into that week and you you accept it. You understand that it's going to happen. Um, but yes I don't like when it gets to the point where guys are directly trying to influence the outcome of a shot.
39:42.60
dave_gerhardt
Do you ever have anything like that in in your career where something felt personal on on the course or or you you know got into it with somebody heckling you.
39:44.38
Casey Ford
Um, and and.
39:54.91
Brendon de Jonge
Oh yeah, yeah, no definitely. Um I mean I remember at the president's cup I I hit one over there to the right on number 9 and I'm over there over my ball and some guy looks at me say diong. Why don't you go the fuck back to where you came from. and and I'm thinking to myself does he want me to go back to Charlotte does he want me to go back to Zimbabwe I I had't really didn't really register that much I'm just thank goodness my caddy wasn't over and there at the time because my caddy was a confrontational fellow and he you might have knocked this dude out.
40:13.50
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, yeah.
40:14.52
Casey Ford
Blacks burn.
40:22.61
Casey Ford
Well I before Dave asked that Goingnna ask similarly waste management. It's its own kind of beast but where there stops on tour. You knew like oh the crowd's gonna be a little bit more rowdy outside of president cups up just normal tour stuff like was the East Coast trip like go playing New York Boston was that.
40:37.73
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, all very much so I mean New New York you you hear some bad stuff actually like it's I I hate to think what that rider cup's going to be like it's that's gonna be tough.
40:39.97
Casey Ford
A little bit more intense than a Florida swing.
40:52.55
Brendon de Jonge
That's gonna be tough to manage I Think there's a very good chance of that might get a little bit out of hand. Um, but yeah, typical typically in the Northeast you'd you'd hear some stuff. Well I mean you you guys know all about that. Obviously any time that a fan base prides themselves on being dicks. You know that you're gonna hear some stuff.
41:01.87
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, right. And and I mean the the nature of this the nature of going to a golf event is.. We're going to walk around drink a bunch of beers walk and just explore and guess what happens.
41:08.47
Casey Ford
Of course well ah you know.
41:19.77
Casey Ford
Especially a region that doesn't get it that much right? like in emboss we come around once ah once a year
41:19.95
Brendon de Jonge
Yes, yeah, yeah, no, it's ah that those guys are going to be amped up and then obviously you know there was a little bit of ill feeling towards the end of this writerer cup in italy as well. So that's I think that's all going to be It's all gonna be part of it and yeah I hope they do a good job I hope it doesn't get too far out of hand. You know we're we're growing up in a time here with a little bit of 1 upmanship and you know what's next like you, you just don't want it to get 2 2 out of hand.
41:48.80
Casey Ford
Totally agree. So.
41:50.39
dave_gerhardt
We we make we make. Ah we make pics on our podcast every week but um, that we have the guard relevant we have to pick guys outside of the top one fifty just to make it more interesting and. Casey I have no idea why I think because Charlie is sponsored by waste management. He picked Charlie Hoffman last week and so he's texting me all week and are you watching sorry you watches like man. Ah Casey didn't watch half the super bowl because he's watching this damn playoff between Charlie Hoffman and Nick Taylor
42:13.44
Casey Ford
The guy Charlie hundred and fifty to one what a run.
42:17.81
Brendon de Jonge
I tell you what? that's a that's a hell of a pick Charlie hasn't been relevant for a long time so that's ah.
42:19.73
dave_gerhardt
No, it was. It was a complete like just clown clown show of a pick because he thinks he thought it's funny that he's sponsored by waste management. You know he always had the green hat and it worked out. This is a silly a silly game.
42:33.78
Casey Ford
Almost worked out well and Dave picked Doug Gimu is like top 5 though, almost all weekend. So um, yeah I'm sure we're not going to be as good this week um speaking of this week the tour rolls into riviera.
42:34.21
Brendon de Jonge
Um, it sounds like that sounds like deep research. That's not a clown pick That's deep research.
42:37.25
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, there's something off there. You're right? You're right? There's something that we got to. We don't know what we're talking about. Yeah.
42:41.91
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, that's pretty good too.
42:51.75
Casey Ford
Um, Dave and I we're talking about this before the show. Can you explain why players revere that place so much every every time they go you hear the players talk about how much they love Riviera what is it about the course that that players love.
43:05.32
Brendon de Jonge
It's it's old school there. Um, there are absolutely no tricks. Um, it's a great variety of holes. You know you've got long holes. You've got short holes. You've got unique holes. You've got a a part 3 with a bunker right in the middle of the green. Um, it's it's.
43:22.18
Brendon de Jonge
As I say it's It's right in front of you. There's not a single penalty area on the golf course. There's that barranca that runs through the eighth the middle of the eighth there that sort of feeds through the golf course but not an actual penalty area on the golf course. Um, and it's just it's ah as I say a wonderful variety of holes. It's got a great flow to it and it's. You know I Hope it's hard and fast I Don't think it's going to be.. It's been so wet on that West Coast Um, because when Riviera plays hard and fast. It's It's such so much fun to Watch. It was always one of my favorites.
43:52.34
Casey Ford
Speaking of just the soft conditions remind me how often when you were playing was there lift clean in place I feel like it's almost every week now. Of course this tour this swing is in a you know West Coast and there's been some bad weather. But.
44:01.34
Brendon de Jonge
It.
44:06.28
dave_gerhardt
Are you going to spin This are you goingnna spin this into into a climate change podcast right now case how deep do you want to go.
44:11.47
Casey Ford
I Just I think that I think the tour is getting a little easier on drops and lift clean and place in my opinion. But let's here.
44:17.33
Brendon de Jonge
So there was a rule. There was a rules official that was out on tour forever slugger white and slugger would do absolutely everything in his power to avoid playing lyft clean in place I remember actually I was a little substory. We're playing the world cup in China. And um, it was just wet everything it was past palum. It didn't drain real well and they'd had a ton of rain and slugger was driving around in the practice rounds just kind of watching shots and trying to get guys' opinions and he came up to me I was always friendly with slugger. He said you mind if I watch you hit your second shot into 18 and there was just a big clump of mud on my ball and as I hit this thing it just shot out dead right? and slugger he drove he drove away and he's like yeah, everything looks fine to me so he was just so anti playing live clean in place. And anyway since then slugger has retired from the tour. So I'm guessing that whoever is now the chief official is probably a little bit more willing to let these guys put their hands on it.
45:20.10
dave_gerhardt
Well, it's a weird time too. There's a delicate balance is like how hard are you going to push these guys on these rules because if they're not happy. They're going to go take money and go play somewhere else where life is a little bit easier.
45:22.17
Casey Ford
Um, yeah.
45:31.61
Brendon de Jonge
Hey I remember hearing Sergio bitching about that right before he went over. You know I don't have to deal with this anymore. Um, but yeah, it's ah it is. It's it's a fine line like you want you want these guys to you want them to play in the fairest conditions I hate when they.
45:37.45
dave_gerhardt
Ah, yeah.
45:42.93
dave_gerhardt
Yeah.
45:45.59
Brendon de Jonge
You know the ball's picking up mud in the middle of the fairway You shouldn't get penalized for driving it dead straight and you know.
45:48.31
dave_gerhardt
Alright, so what's a what's a rule. What's a rule in golf that you would love to see just not exist anymore. This is something that comes up on Twitter a lot as an example, 1 of them is like 1 of mine would be your balls in a divot in the middle of the fairway. You should get to move it and and go play. Do you have a do you have something like that.
46:10.40
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah I would think that's one but it's it's such a gray area then because you know who's to say how old the Div is you know you could look at it in this divot. That's somewhat grown over and still claim. Hey I'm in a divit. Um, it does does leave a little bit of a gray area. Ah, love the the rule change the only one that rarely made sense to me over the last few years was that you're allowed to tap down imperfections on the green the spike marks and stuff that made sense to me. Um, this this dropping from your knees I really don't understand that one that that did nothing for me. It still looks stupid.
46:41.40
dave_gerhardt
I think I'm worse at it I feel like I try to get more delicate with it.
46:42.32
Brendon de Jonge
Um, yeah I Really don't understand that one that that didn't make any sense. Um, you know Honestly, yeah, a shock clock would help I that that's the one I think.
46:49.74
Casey Ford
I Think a shot clock would help her now.
46:51.69
dave_gerhardt
A shot clock.
46:57.82
Brendon de Jonge
And I believe that maybe they're moving closer to this that you can single out a player in a group now. It always used to be that you would have to go and put the whole group on the clock Now you can single out a player in a group and say you know what we've we've identified that you're you're the slow guy in this group and you're holding everybody up. Um, I do like that change.
47:15.77
dave_gerhardt
Case Let's let's let's send him out here with a couple of the just the the quick Hitter quick hitter questions all right.
47:22.93
Casey Ford
Yeah, um, all right, We're gonna do some quick ones then we just want to hear a little bit about the podcast but just few word answers here. We'll go try to flow through some so greatest shot you ever hit.
47:34.82
Brendon de Jonge
Um I hit an 8 iron to about four feet knowing that I needed to make birdie on my last hole at the Green Briar and then I missed the putt that.
47:42.27
Casey Ford
All right? still counts though. Greatest shot you ever witnessed in person hit.
47:43.91
dave_gerhardt
Ah.
47:47.87
Brendon de Jonge
Back at that world cup. Actually my partner was Bruce Mcdonald at the time playing the alternate shot I drove him in a fairway bunker. He hit a rescue out of a fairway bunker to an island green to about three feet from the hole. Greatest shot I'd ever seen was I was walking down the fairway expecting him to lay it up and next thing I see his bulk over my head and.
47:59.17
dave_gerhardt
Say.
48:01.18
Casey Ford
File. Ah.
48:07.40
Casey Ford
Wow tell something about oh good good Dave.
48:07.11
Brendon de Jonge
About three feet for eagle.
48:09.96
dave_gerhardt
Um I got some I got I got I got 2 um, are you a 3 iron guy or a 7 wood hybrid guy. You love that three iron.
48:18.33
Brendon de Jonge
I'm a 3 iron guy I like I like the 3 and I'm old school. Yep.
48:22.31
dave_gerhardt
Okay I like that and then um shot shape wise what was your I've this a 2 parter. What was your shot shape or is.
48:26.75
Brendon de Jonge
I was I was a fade I hit everything left or right I liked seeing the ball fall that way.
48:32.70
dave_gerhardt
Um, and as general advise. Do you believe in teaching. Do you believe in having people stick to 1 shot jabe like if you're a fader we got to get you just to play that fade.
48:43.90
Brendon de Jonge
Um, yes I do I like the I like that you should be able to eliminate one side of the golf course. Obviously you need to be able to move it the other way. Um, but I feel like under pressure you want to have that fallback shot.
48:53.61
dave_gerhardt
Our 1 more case and I'll flip it back to you? What's your what's your preferred go to what's your preferred wedge setup.
49:02.42
Brendon de Jonge
I'm always just 3 wedges 48 54 sixty I have messed around with 4 wedges for a little while I went 48 52 56 60 um I just didn't like it I felt like I was always kind of I felt like I was in between I probably shouldn't have been.
49:16.10
dave_gerhardt
Um, so is that is that 48 your gap wedge or you have a pitching wedge. That's like a 44 42 okay nice case.
49:19.74
Brendon de Jonge
Not pitch pitching wedge 48 gap gap wedge at 54 and then carry out sixty degree lob wedge.
49:27.40
Casey Ford
Our tolsson but playing against the national We wouldn't know them will and we'll never know.
49:32.63
Brendon de Jonge
Ah, um, the one that everybody talks about is how hilly it is the one for me was even though you're in the masters. You're walking on egg shells. They they they wanted to kind of feel that way. Um I'll tell you a very quick story I was I was on the range.
49:46.69
dave_gerhardt
Like as like as a player as a play you're in this tournament and you're walking on eggshells.
49:52.66
Brendon de Jonge
Yep, very much. so so I was I was hitting balls on the range and um I was talking to a guy that I was working with he was sort of a stats guy and we we were talking and my college my college coach coach came over there and watched me at balls for 5 minutes and honestly within 5 minutes 1 of the green jackets came up to me and said you know Mr Deong you know what our policy is yeah 1 person at a time on the range with you please make sure that you take care of this right away. So I had to ask my college coach to to move along and. Just 1 guy at a time so they they make sure that you know that you're still fortunate to be playing in their event. That's right? Yep, that's exactly right.
50:29.22
Casey Ford
Well yeah, it's an invitational right? I mean you qualifielify to get in there. But it's an they're an inviting you to come. It's not exactly that's funny. Um, was there a course a course on tour that fit your eye better than others where just one that you'd only play once a year be like I can't wait to get back there. It it just fits my game.
50:44.84
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah I had a couple I um quell hollow was one for me and thank goodness that was at home I always always looked forward to playingquell hollow um, that was a golf course that fit my and then Hilton head I I loved harbortown harbor town felt like a golf course that I could always perform well i.
50:59.29
Casey Ford
Speaking yeah.
50:59.37
dave_gerhardt
What about the flip side of that one. What a course that you're like man I got to play this event but I always play bad I Hate this place I don't play Well here.
51:09.10
Brendon de Jonge
Bay Hill I hated Bay Hill I never played well there it was ah I used to like moving the ball as I said left to right and you had to aim over top of so many of those hazards when you played ah when you played Bayhi that was one that sucked I never played well there it was just it was a hard golf course as well.
51:24.39
Casey Ford
s gonna say with Quill Hollow you once shot in eighty and a 62 on consecutive days there correct.
51:31.70
Brendon de Jonge
I did yeah I shot um I shot eighty 62 and then third round I'm playing with Michelson and oh Micholson just in a twosome and we're going down number 3 and he number 3 and he looks at me and he's like would you shoot yesterday.
51:40.84
dave_gerhardt
So like.
51:47.47
Brendon de Jonge
Like I shot 62 and you you didn't say good round didn't say anything he was 9 under through 11 and I could tell all he wanted to do was was beat 62 thank goodness he missed a bunch of short parts coming in but it was I mean typical Phil.
52:04.60
dave_gerhardt
What you shoot yesterday. It's unbelievable. Ah.
52:05.30
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah.
52:05.92
Casey Ford
That must have been an education though just spending 18 holes with Phil what show you play with him the presence cut too. But what do you take away from his his game playing and in in person Dave's a huge fan.
52:10.93
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, yeah I mean I did a huge fan of false. Um.
52:17.29
dave_gerhardt
I it in the same way that I love Bryson like just the two of those I forgot maybe it was in shipnucks book but it was like ask Phil what time it is and he'll tell you how to build a watch.
52:31.83
Brendon de Jonge
Ah I mean that's that's spot on he yeah, he listen I liked Phil I thought it was educational I mean you, you'd kind of ask him a question and then you just sit back and listen and you you take it for what it is.
52:43.20
dave_gerhardt
Well well Brendan the leading edge. You can't have the leading edge dig because deleting edge did you like come on man I just was asking what clo.
52:51.50
Brendon de Jonge
Yep yeah I mean ah, that's there's a lot of bullshit that you've got to are that you've got to weave through with Phil but I always thought it was pretty fun and I mean like I was so talented I I watched him hit like a 7 on from two hundred and twenty yards and just hook this thing. And get it running back down the green. Whatever but just extremely extremely talented. But yeah, he's ah he's he's different.
53:17.67
Casey Ford
All yeah, 1 more quick one then we'll wrap up real quick ah exercising with or without headphones would you ever exercise without headphones. This is a long standing debate on the show. Okay, that's the right answers. No you you win the t-shirt I showed you earlier.
53:25.30
Brendon de Jonge
No.
53:27.27
dave_gerhardt
All right? Casey you proved your point.
53:32.90
Brendon de Jonge
Um.
53:33.29
Casey Ford
Dave Dave runs without headphones and it's become a lightning rod topic on this on this.
53:34.67
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, nobody nobody does that Dave you got to change that.
53:37.98
dave_gerhardt
Come on man. Well what I'm going to love you. You don't want to see how I cook a steak then I'm going to need some tips man this is not I'm not better be rare. Yeah hey let's wrap up and talk about your.
53:45.58
Brendon de Jonge
Um, it better be rare. Yeah.
53:52.23
dave_gerhardt
Your new life where we're fellow podcasters you're in the media game. What's been um, how did that come together and what's been your experience so far you I will say that between you and Johnson the the the double edge sword of both your facial hairs together on one podcast is is electric.
54:08.83
Brendon de Jonge
But ah yeah, we've got a great logo coming out pretty soon. Um, now you know we we sat around so many times drinking Baer just bullshitting with each other and and finally ah, it came to a point where Gary Williams at 5 clubs approached Johnson and and said hey would you have any interest. Getting involved with us being a contributor and Johnson thank goodness said to gary. Yeah I'd love to could we bring Brendan along as well and gary said. Yeah, absolutely so Gary Williams and the 5 clubs guys Steve Hall James Mccoy they ah they brought us aboard and kind of gave us a nice little start. There. It's been it's been fun It's been it's been very educational Johnson and I didn't know the first thing about social media probably still don't we're we're figuring it out as we go along. You know I'm I'm the world's biggest hypocrite I used to give my kids shit and my wife shit for being on. Instagram or Facebook or Twitter or whatever it is and now I find myself having to do that all the time but it's.
55:04.77
dave_gerhardt
Yeah, you're out, you're out there posting but you know Bunker tips you got these? you got these? ah these beef tips now like you know they can't You can't criticize them anymore.
55:10.60
Brendon de Jonge
Yeah, no seriously if I do I could get it thrown back in my face pretty quickly. So it's it's been fun and then you know obviously my nickname on tour was file a for the longest time because it was Brendan de young for a mignon was what I was told or because I'm a big piece of meat. Was was the other the other reason and then he was that wags which turned into waoo so wago fileacio was was born like that.
55:38.48
Casey Ford
It's perfect.
55:38.61
dave_gerhardt
It's great I think you I don't know yeah I see some interesting sponsors in that in that realm ah ahead I could see you on social media with like a a slow cooker Traeger Traeger reach out to Brendan and Johnson if you haven't yet I see a lot of good things in your future.
55:53.34
Casey Ford
Um, and Dave and I used to do this thing where for every tour stop. We'd give a restaurant review for wherever the tour was going having not been there at all just kind of pick one off yelp but maybe you can be our official meat correspondent for every stop so you have a riverviera ah tip for anyone in the area this week
56:02.68
Brendon de Jonge
Ah.
56:09.47
Brendon de Jonge
You know honestly I avoided going out in that traffic in l a it was. It was one of those where we would rent a house every year and we would go to a grocery store at the beginning of the week and we would hunker down it. It sucked trying to leave the golf course and get anywhere in that traffic. Um.
56:10.11
Casey Ford
Restaurant.
56:25.94
Brendon de Jonge
So yeah riviera is not a good one I mean I definitely got some reviews for when you guys come to Charlotte so we'll we'll talk about it then.
56:29.37
Casey Ford
All right? Yep, we'll hit you up then.
56:32.38
dave_gerhardt
All right? that sounds good Brendan this has been a blast man. Thank you, thank you for coming on I got a bunch of notes casing never message in on the side you were ah we had a feeling this would be a fun fun to chat with you I feel like we could. We could hang out have a. Have a fillet and a beer and and keep this thing going. We will support your show. We'll share it with all of our listeners and everything and thanks for coming in hanging out with us on the long game pod. All right man. Thank you thanks.
56:51.23
Brendon de Jonge
You got it. Thanks Very much guys I was a lot of fun. Thanks for having me you got to take care.
56:54.91
Casey Ford
Appreciate. Thank you.