The Fried Egg Golf Podcast

Golf Architecture Mailbag: Manufacturing, Mitigating Technology, & More

<p>Garrett Morrison returns to the feed as he joins Andy Johnson for a golf architecture mailbag episode! Andy and Garrett answer questions submitted by Fried Egg Golf Club members using FEGC's new discussion forum. The two discuss the future course ownership models, the process of rating nine-hole courses, and how artificial intelligence will impact the golf design business moving forward.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Big Thoughts on Golf with Kevin Van Valkenburg

<p>Andy Johnson sits down with Fried Egg Golf's Kevin Van Valkenburg to discuss some of the biggest questions facing the game of golf. The two dive into their thoughts on the future of the game, touching on Artificial Intelligence, the impending rollback, and how professional golf will handle its first gambling scandal. Andy and Kevin also debate the future of golf media and how the content landscape will continue to evolve in the coming years.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Five Players from the Fall and Golf in England

<p>With the PGA Tour's FedEx Fall almost done, Andy Johnson is joined by Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna to discuss five standout players from the fall swing. The two discuss the emergence of Michael Brennan and his stunning off-the-tee performance at the Bank of Utah Championship, Rico Hoey's move to a broomstick putter, a former top college player that seems to be rounding into form as a pro, and more. Andy then chats with team members Garrett Morrison and Matt Rouches following their Fried Egg Golf Club trip to England. Garrett and Matt recap their trip to courses like Royal St. George's, Woking Golf Club, and more. The two also share their thoughts on experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime trip with a group of FEGC members and what they're looking forward to creating using footage captured overseas.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Old Clubs, New Courses, &amp; Stephen Curry’s Future in Golf

<p>Following "The Vintage" at Brambles, Andy Johnson sits down with former Stanford golfer Henry Shimp to discuss playing a modern course with 20-year-old (or older!) clubs. Andy and Henry talk about how the change in equipment impacted match play strategy and break down Henry's first time using these types of clubs. Henry then shares three of his hottest takes with Andy, turning the conversation to the future of golf course architecture, Stephen Curry's golf career, and the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

How to Play Your Best Golf with U.S. Women's Mid-Am Champ Ina Kim-Schaad

<p>Fresh off her second U.S. Women's Mid-Am win, Ina Kim-Schaad joins Andy Johnson on this episode of The Fried Egg Golf Podcast. Andy and Ina discuss the 2025 U.S. Women's Mid-Am at Monterey Peninsula Country Club and Ina's golf journey. Ina details why she decided to take a hiatus from playing and what led her back to the sport before sharing more about her work as a mental coach for golfers. Ina provides tips for improving your own golf game and insight into what has helped her become one of the top mid-ams in the world. Andy also asks about Ina's outfits from MPCC which made the rounds on social media throughout the week ahead of her latest win.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Kapalua, Sand Hills, &amp; 35 Years at Skokie Country Club

<p>Andy Johnson begins this episode by sitting down with golf's "Mr. Hawaii," Mark Rolfing. Mark, a longtime NBC broadcaster, provides firsthand insight on the state of the golf courses at Kapalua amid a historic drought. With the PGA Tour moving The Sentry away from Kapalua's Plantation Course, Andy and Mark discuss the future of professional golf in Hawaii. Mark also shares stories from his time covering the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black and his work with Coore &amp; Crenshaw at Sand Hills in Nebraska. On the back half of this episode, Andy chats with Don Cross, the longtime superintendent at Skokie Country Club. Don discusses how his job has changed over his 50-year career working turf and how new technology has helped golf course management at Skokie.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Match Play Setups &amp; U.S. Mid-Am Champ Brandon Holtz

<p>On this two-part episode, Andy Johnson is first joined by Joseph LaMagna and Garrett Morrison to look back at how Bethpage Black fared as a Ryder Cup venue. The three discuss the various issues with the course setup before looking at future Ryder Cup host sites. Andy, Joseph, and Garrett also pitch some of their own ideas for where to host one of golf's biggest events. Andy then sits down with 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur winner Brandon Holtz to discuss his win at Troon Country Club. They recap Brandon's week at his first-ever USGA event and also dive into the topic of reinstated amateur status in golf.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

How the U.S. Has Lost Its Way at the Ryder Cup with Johnson Wagner

<p>Following Team Europe's win on American soil at the 2025 Ryder Cup, Andy Johnson chats with Golf Channel's Johnson Wagner about the event and where Team USA goes from here. The two trade notes from their on-the-ground experience at Bethpage Black, highlighting standout players like Tommy Fleetwood and Cameron Young before moving to a bigger discussion on the state of the American side. Andy and Johnson dive into why they believe Team USA has struggled in recent Ryder Cups and throw out names for potential future captains in 2027 and beyond. They also discuss the behavior of the fans at Bethpage Black and how the crowd impacted the tournament, especially on Saturday afternoon.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Five Things About the 2025 Ryder Cup with Kevin Van Valkenburg

<p>It's finally Ryder Cup week and Andy Johnson is joined by Fried Egg Golf's Kevin Van Valkenburg for a traditional "Five Things" preview episode. The two discuss the biggest storylines ahead of the 45th playing of the Ryder Cup, including Rory McIlroy's insistence that Team Europe will win on the road and how Keegan Bradley will deploy Bryson DeChambeau for Team USA. Andy and Kevin also highlight individuals such as Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, and Matt Fitzpatrick as players they're watching at Bethpage Black. Stay tuned for continued coverage of the 2025 Ryder Cup across all Fried Egg Golf platforms.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Introducing Fried Egg Guides

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by three Fried Egg Golf staffers to discuss the first-ever <a href="https://www.thefriedegg.com/guides">Fried Egg Guides</a>! These guides are a new feature on <a href="https://www.thefriedegg.com/">thefriedegg.com</a> and will feature in-depth breakdowns of golf courses and surrounding activities that can be used to plan your next golf trip. First, Andy chats with Brendan Porath about his guide covering Northern Ireland following their Eggsplorations trip overseas last year. Will Knights then shares his thoughts on Sand Valley and includes some other activities for those traveling to Wisconsin. Lastly, Andy and Pinehurst local Abby Liebenthal run through the Fried Egg Guide to the North Carolina Sandhills.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Walker Cup Wrap-Up &amp; Bethpage Black Thoughts

<p>Andy Johnson chats with Designing Golf host Garrett Morrison about two golf courses hosting team events in September - Cypress Point and Bethpage Black. First, the two recap the Walker Cup at Cypress Point Club, with Andy sharing on-site observations and Garrett commenting on what he saw on the broadcast from home. They commend Golf Channel's coverage of the event and use of drones to show off the unique aesthetics of the course's ocean holes. Andy and Garrett also discuss how the course held up against elite players using modern technology, especially in a match play format. They then transition to an early preview of Bethpage Black, host of the 2025 Ryder Cup later this month. Garrett shares his takeaways from his first visit to the course and highlights some holes to watch as the Americans look to win back the Ryder Cup from Team Europe.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point with Geoff Shackelford

<p>Ahead of this week's Walker Cup at Cypress Point, Andy Johnson is joined by Geoff Shackelford for a comprehensive preview of the 50th playing of the event. The two discuss the highly anticipated exhibition featuring some of the world's best amateur golfers at perhaps the world's greatest golf course. Andy and Geoff unpack some of the architecture of Cypress Point and highlight a few holes that may stand out in this weekend's matches. They then point out a few players to watch on each side, as well as give some viewing advice for those attending the matches as spectators.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

U.S. Ryder Cup Roster Reactions &amp; PGA Tour Season Recap

<p>After this morning's Ryder Cup roster announcement, Andy Johnson is joined by The Athletic's Gabby Herzig to react to Keegan Bradley's captain's picks for Bethpage. The two unpack the six selections and Bradley's choice to not participate as a player, instead opting to select Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, and Sam Burns from the group on the roster bubble. Andy and Gabby discuss potential pairings for the Americans at Bethpage Black, including who plays with Bryson DeChambeau in his return to the Ryder Cup. They then transition into some Tour Championship cleanup as Gabby shares on-the-ground insight from Tommy Fleetwood's first PGA Tour win. Andy and Gabby close things out by wrapping up the 2025 PGA Tour season and choosing their favorite events and winners from this year.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Recapping the U.S. Amateur with Winner Mason Howell &amp; Mid-Am Andrew Bailey

<p>Andy Johnson is back with a look back at the 2025 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California. He is first joined by the 2025 champion, Mason Howell, to discuss his week of play. Mason is a high school senior who will play golf at the University of Georgia next fall. Andy and Mason touch on Mason's impressive summer, his plans for the Walker Cup, and look forward to some professional starts Mason has earned by way of his U.S. Am victory. Andy then chats with Mid-Am Andrew Bailey to get a sense of the course setup at Olympic Club and how the event compared to past USGA events Andrew played in.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Catching Up with Bones

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by NBC on-course reporter Jim "Bones" Mackay for a wide-ranging conversation about the 2025 PGA Tour season and what's still to come this year. The two discuss Scottie Scheffler's two major wins and historical comparisons to Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus before hitting on two upcoming team events. Andy and Bones start with the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point, Bones's favorite course in the world. They then dive into the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Bones shares his experiences as a caddie in the Ryder Cup and looks ahead to some pivotal holes that will determine who takes home the trophy in September. For more, check out Bones on Aon's Bethpage Course Insights, live on the Ryder Cup YouTube channel and <a href="http://rydercup.com/aon">RyderCup.com/aon</a> on Monday, August 18th.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club &amp; Chris Tritabaugh from Hazeltine

<p>On this two-part episode, Andy Johnson first previews the upcoming U.S. Amateur Golf Championship, taking place at The Olympic Club in San Francisco next week. Andy provides insight into the golf course and recent changes made by architect Gil Hanse before diving into four players to watch as next week's tournament progresses. Andy then sits down with Hazeltine National Golf Club superintendent Chris Tritabaugh to discuss the new short course at the club, setting up championships for both the USGA and PGA of America, and his career in turf management.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

2025 Majors Recap with Joseph LaMagna

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna for a comprehensive look at the 2025 men's major season following the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. The two share takeaways from each of the four major championships in 2025 and discuss storylines such as the ups and downs of Rory McIlroy's Masters, Scottie Scheffler's struggles on the front nine of Sunday at Quail Hollow, and a U.S. Open that was anyone's to win until the final putt dropped. After going through all four majors, Andy and Joseph highlight players who had disappointing years and make their picks for the best 2025 major seasons without a win.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Takeaways from the 2025 Open Championship with Trevor Immelman

<p>2008 Masters champion and CBS Golf analyst Trevor Immelman joins Andy Johnson to discuss the Open Championship and wrap up the 2025 men's majors. The two unpack Scottie Scheffler's resounding win at Royal Portrush and the historical context of his fourth major championship before turning 30. Andy and Trevor also talk through Scheffler's comments about the place golf has in his life that made headlines earlier last week. After closing out the Scottie discussion, the two then move on to a brief Ryder Cup preview after strong performances from Chris Gotterup and United States Captain Keegan Bradley overseas.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Eggsplorations: Rory McIlroy discusses golf and growing up in Northern Ireland

<p>As a special bonus episode ahead of the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, enjoy an interview with Rory McIlroy from our Eggsplorations feed in March 2024. The greatest golfer in the history of Northern Ireland discusses his roots there, his favorite golf memories growing up, and his favorite courses and earliest memories of Royal Portrush and Royal County Down. Rory fields questions from TPC Sawgrass as he prepped for The Players while Andy Johnson and Brendan Porath were across the Atlantic in his home country acquainting themselves with the golf culture and a few of the world class courses that Rory came to know in his earliest days as a junior standout. He also explains this golden age of pro golf success for the island, which boasts five different major winners since 2007 after a 60-year drought. There’s also plenty of banter and insight into what it was like growing up at Holywood, how different it is now as a big shot on the PGA Tour, and much more.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

2025 Open Championship Preview with Billy Horschel

<p>It's time for the final men's major championship of 2025 as the 153rd Open Championship heads to Royal Portrush. To preview this week's tournament, Andy Johnson is first joined by Fried Egg Golf producer PJ Clark to run through the top storylines to watch. They discuss the course setup at Royal Portrush, the 2025 Player of the Year race between Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa's recent struggles, and more. Andy then chats with 2024 Open Championship runner-up Billy Horschel (42:31) about his thoughts on the field at Portrush and his first-hand experience playing in The Open. The two also touch on Billy's rehab as he works to return to play after hip surgery, his thoughts on television coverage of the PGA Tour, and the importance of continuity in a tour pro's life.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

2025 Ryder Cup Check-In

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna and Sean Martin of the PGA Tour for a Ryder Cup discussion ahead of the final men's major of 2025. The three discuss storylines they're watching as the season wraps up and give their rosters for both Team Europe and Team USA as things stand today. Andy, Joseph, and Sean also debate the impact of course setup at Bethpage Black and wonder how the Americans will change things up in order to gain in advantage in September.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Fairness, Championship Design, and Fields Ranch East

<p>Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison open up the mailbag and answer golf architecture questions from Fried Egg Golf Club members. The two discuss the Gil Hanse-designed Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco following the KPMG Women's PGA in June and the impact of "fairness" on designs hosting major championships. Andy and Garrett also talk through factors such as spectator experience and other limitations that architects have when building championship venues. They then discuss the influence of Scottish courses on American architects who built some of the best courses in the United States after spending time overseas. To wrap things up, Andy and Garrett look ahead at future major championship venues on the men's side, sharing some insights on future PGA Championship host sites in particular.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Future of the PGA Tour, Ranking U.S. Open Venues, and Who Needs a Strong Open Championship Performance?

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna to discuss the PGA Tour's hire of Brian Rolapp as its first ever CEO. The two look toward the future of the Tour and professional golf as a whole, wondering what Rolapp will bring to the sport after a career in NFL leadership. From there, Andy questions Joseph's about his ranking of U.S. Open venues featured in his last column on TheFriedEgg.com. To close out their conversation, Andy and Joseph list five players that need a strong showing at Royal Portrush in order to not have a lost season of majors.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Takeaways from the 2025 U.S. Open with Trevor Immelman

<p>With another men's major championship wrapped up, Andy Johnson is once again joined by 2008 Masters champion and CBS lead analyst Trevor Immelman to recap J.J. Spaun's victory at the U.S. Open. The two dive into Spaun's winning performance at Oakmont, his golf swing, and his continuing development as a player in his mid-30s. Andy and Trevor also discuss the Sunday rain delay and the impact that it had on the contenders during the final round. The USGA's setup at Oakmont is covered at length with some comparisons to what may happen next year at Shinnecock Hills. To wrap things up, Andy and Trevor run through some players who did not win at Oakmont, including Bob MacIntyre, Cameron Young, Adam Scott, and Sam Burns.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

2025 U.S. Open Preview with Geoff Ogilvy

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy to preview the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Andy and Geoff discuss the setup at Oakmont as the club prepares to host the U.S. Open for a record 10th time. Geoff shares insights from his experience playing at the 2007 U.S. Open as the defending champion and emphasizes the unique challenges that Oakmont presents. The two discuss the mental strategy needed to contend for 72 holes at one of the toughest courses in America and focus on players such as Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, and Xander Schauffele as potential winners.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

All About Oakmont, Host of the 2025 U.S. Open

<p>Andy Johnson gets a head start on U.S. Open week with a two-part look at Oakmont Country Club. First, Andy chats with Gil Hanse, consulting architect at Oakmont, about his recent work on the course and his expectations for how it will play for the pros next week. The two discuss possible pin placements for the tournament and the history that guided Gil's renovation. Andy is then joined by Oakmont superintendent Mike McCormick to discuss the turf management at the club and how his team is preparing for the U.S. Open. Mike shares details about the culture at Oakmont and the daily challenges of maintaining one of the toughest courses in America.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Three Pro Golf Questions with Joseph LaMagna

<p>Halfway through men's major season, Andy Johnson has Joseph LaMagna stop by and trade questions about the current state of the pro game. They discuss a potential "golden-era" of major championships, Patrick Cantlay's puzzling career, and a potential Team Europe victory on the road at this year's Ryder Cup. To close, Andy and Joseph go down the Ryder Cup points lists and debate what the back half of each team may look like for this year's event at Bethpage Black.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Takeaways from the 2025 PGA Championship with Trevor Immelman

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by 2008 Masters champion and CBS lead analyst Trevor Immelman to recap Scottie Scheffler's win at the 2025 PGA Championship. The two discuss Scottie's closing stretch to the tournament, his putting improvement in 2025, and the historical context surrounding his third major victory. Andy and Trevor also talk about contenders Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, how Quail Hollow played as a major venue, and Rory McIlroy's disappointing week at a one of his favorite courses. They close the episode with a small preview of next month's U.S. Open at Oakmont.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Five Things About the 2025 PGA Championship with Johnson Wagner

<p>Andy Johnson is joined by former PGA Tour winner and current Golf Channel star Johnson Wagner to preview the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The two run through our traditional "five things" ahead of this major championship, discussing major storylines such as Rory McIlroy's dominance at Quail Hollow, Bryson DeChambeau's continued success at majors, and Jordan Spieth's latest attempt at the career slam. Andy and Johnson also discuss the golf course and some of the changes that Quail Hollow has made in order to become a better venue for major golf events.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Oakmont Reactions and Andy’s Scottish Journey

<p>Immediately following U.S. Open Media Day at Oakmont Country Club, Andy Johnson is joined by Garrett Morrison to discuss some initial takeaways from their first time at the course. The two discuss their favorite holes, the challenging greens, and the minimalistic design of Oakmont just hours after playing a full round. On the back half of this episode, Andy recaps his recent weeklong trip to Scotland with Fried Egg Golf Club members.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>