275: From PGA Tour Americas heartbreak to PGA Tour win: Michael Brennan on his journey to victory in Utah
Smylie Kaufman catches up with newly-minted PGA TOUR winner (and card recipient!) Michael Brennan about the whirlwind since his Bank of Utah Championship win: a week off to reset, the celebration at River Creek in Leesburg, and how a painful late collapse in Canada shaped his Sunday mindset in Utah.
Michael also breaks down the training he did to reach 135 mph of clubhead speed, the detailed tracking app he uses to strategize at golf courses he's never played before, and tells a wild near-abduction story while traveling to a PGA TOUR Americas event.
This is a must-watch for anyone chasing the dream — from junior golfers to aspiring pros.
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#Golf #PGATour #TheSmylieShow #MichaelBrennan #GolfPodcast #SmylieKaufman
00:00 – Smylie welcomes PGA TOUR winner Michael Brennan
01:00 – Processing the win and fan support at home
03:00 – Learning to reset after victory
04:00 – Early recruitment and choosing Wake Forest
06:00 – Building speed and power in college
09:00 – Lessons from Rory and Scotty’s swings
10:00 – From average junior to 190 mph ball speeds
12:00 – Winning eight times in college — and the ups & downs
15:00 – Managing expectations and burnout as a young golfer
17:00 – Missing Korn Ferry status by one spot
19:00 – Crushing disappointment in Toronto and how it shaped him
22:00 – The collapse: five-shot lead turned nightmare
25:00 – What he learned — and how it fueled his next season
26:00 – Deep dive: Using “UpGame” analytics to train smarter
30:00 – How data changed his golf strategy
32:00 – Working with his caddie Jeff and modern prep for PGA TOUR
33:00 – Nightmare travel story: “I thought I was being abducted in Rio”
41:00 – How playing at elevation prepared him for Utah
43:00 – Meeting his caddie and building trust on the road
45:00 – Getting a last-minute sponsor’s exemption to Utah
47:00 – Closing it out under pressure — redemption for Toronto
50:00 – Lessons from Smylie’s own first win
51:00 – Michael’s next steps — moving to Jacksonville, prepping for 2025
52:30 – Smylie’s final thoughts & Brennan’s message to fans
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274: 18-Year-Old U.S. Am Champ Mason Howell On Walker Cup at Cypress Point + Masters Invitation
Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme kick off this week’s episode catching up on dad life, bedtime chaos, and a wild rant about Brian Kelly’s LSU exit before diving deep into the rise of sports gambling in professional golf — and whether it could ever impact the PGA Tour.
Then, Smylie sits down with Mason Howell, the 18-year-old phenom who won the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship — making him the third-youngest champion in history. Mason opens up about:
• His emotional journey from small-town Georgia to golf’s biggest stage
• What it felt like to qualify for the U.S. Open and earn a Masters invite
• Competing against top amateurs like Tommy Morrison and Ben James
• The pressures of high school life after winning one of golf’s biggest titles
A can’t-miss conversation about the next great name in golf.
00:00 Dad life updates and bedtime chaos
04:30 LSU, Brian Kelly, and college football chaos
11:15 Gambling scandals
19:10 Could golf ever face a gambling crisis?
27:10 How betting affects players and fans
31:40 Mason Howell Interview
32:00 Life after winning the U.S. Am — back to high school reality
33:40 Growing up in Thomasville and discovering golf
36:20 Qualifying for the U.S. Open at 18 years old
39:10 Competing at Oakmont and learning from the pros
43:15 The grind of the U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club
47:45 Facing Tommy Morrison and Ben James in match play
49:50 Taking down John Daly in a thriller
51:00 Securing Masters and Walker Cup spots
54:00 What’s next for Mason Howell
1:12:10 Smylie’s thoughts on the next wave of young golf talent
1:16:25 Comparing today’s amateur game to the PGA Tour
1:20:00 Charlie’s take: what makes great golfers stand out early
1:24:10 Smylie shares his Masters memories
1:29:00 Wrapping up — offseason plans and what’s next on The Smylie Show
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📺 Watch full episodes weekly here on The Smylie Show
#golf #TheSmylieShow #SmylieKaufman #MasonHowell #USAmateur #GolfPodcast #GolfLife #PGA #Masters #GeorgiaGolf #AmateurGolf #NextGenGolf #GolfInterview #GolfContent #GolfTalk
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273: Golf's NEW BIG 3? Tommy Fleetwood's Incredible Run + Life Updates + Ryder Cup Look-back
Smylie and Charlie are back for a jam-packed episode that mixes life updates, heartfelt moments, and golf talk. Smylie shares stories about welcoming his new baby boy, and juggling dad life, while Charlie opens up about his recent cancer scare and recovery.
Then the guys dive into the Ryder Cup — from behind-the-scenes chaos at Bethpage to fan behavior, pairings, and why Europe got everything right. They close out with a deep look at Tommy Fleetwood’s incredible year and whether he belongs in golf’s next “big three.”
📺 Watch full episodes + clips every week on The Smylie Show YouTube channel.
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Back in the studio after Ryder Cup
01:10 – Why we’re down to one episode a week
02:10 – Smylie welcomes his new baby boy
04:30 – Parenting two kids and full-time dad life
06:00 – Smylie joins the Birmingham mom gossip circuit
08:00 – The pumpkin patch and Halloween debates
12:50 – Halloween costumes for the Kaufmans and Hulmes
15:00 – Family birthdays and dad milestones
15:50 – Charlie opens up about cancer scare
21:10 – Transitioning into Ryder Cup talk
22:00 – Ryder Cup reflections: chaos, fans, and respect
26:40 – How Europe got everything right
29:10 – Course setup mistakes for Team USA
33:50 – Stats, pairings, and the Luke Donald effect
36:40 – Europe’s attention to detail vs. Team USA
38:30 – Tommy Fleetwood’s hot streak
40:10 – Tommy’s year, stats, and emotional win with son Frankie
44:10 – Where Tommy ranks among the world’s best
46:10 – Is there a new “big three” forming?
49:00 – Which 2026 major fits Tommy best?
52:00 – Tommy’s ceiling and next chapter
53:10 – Wrapping up: lessons, laughs, and what’s next
#golf #pgatour #tommyfleetwood #dpwt #smylie #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #golfpodcastÂ
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272: Fix Your Swing: Smylie Kaufman's Lesson with Tony Ruggiero aka "The Dewsweeper"
Smylie Kaufman teams up with legendary golf coach Tony Ruggiero — a.k.a. The Dewsweeper — for a lesson that’ll have golfers both laughing and learning. Tony and Smylie dig in to the details (telling a story or two along the way), giving great insight for golfers looking to refine their practice and preparation.
Then, Tony turns his eyes to Charlie for part two, locating some problem areas that just might give him the extra gear ⚙️
Packed with great golf instruction, hilarious moments, and real progress — this one’s a must-watch for anyone trying to level up their game. ⛳️🔥
👉 Subscribe for more lessons, conversations, and behind-the-scenes looks with the best coaches and players in the game.
0:00 – Meet Tony “The Dewsweeper” Ruggiero
2:10 – Smylie’s First Swings (Initial Impressions)
5:35 – Tony Diagnoses the Main Issues
9:20 – “You’re Fighting Your Body, Not Your Swing”
12:45 – The First Simple Adjustment
20:05 – Tempo and Sequence
23:40 – Smylie Starts to Click
31:10 – Real Progress in Smylie’s Swing
35:55 – The Difference a Few Tweaks Make
40:10 – Smylie Reflects on the Lesson
44:25 – Transition: Time for Charlie’s Turn
45:15 – Charlie’s First Swing Analysis
47:05 – Common Amateur Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)
49:30 – Tony’s Quick Tips for Consistency
53:45 – Final Takeaways & Wrap-Up
#Golf #GolfLesson #SmylieKaufman #TonyRuggiero #GolfSwing #GolfTips #GolfInstruction #GolfCoach #TheSmylieShow #GolfImprovement #PGA #GolfDigest #Dewsweeper
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271: Tony Ruggiero on Building Champions & Fixing Smylie’s Swing | The DEWSWEEPER Interview
Smylie Kaufman catches up with his longtime swing coach and one of golf’s most respected teachers, Tony Ruggiero — known across the game as The Dew Sweeper.
They revisit how their partnership began back in college, swap hilarious “Jingle Bell” tournament stories, and dig into what makes a great coach. Tony shares his journey from broke instructor at the Flora-Bama to a Top 50 Coach in America, plus lessons learned from legends like Butch Harmon, Hank Johnson, and Cam McCormick.
The two break down how to actually change your golf swing, the importance of the pivot, and why simple is usually better. Stick around for live swing breakdowns and plenty of laughs along the way.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Smylie & Tony catch up over steak, wine, and Saints football
02:45 – How Smylie met Tony and the origins of “TPC Sunkist”
06:30 – The Jingle Bell stories & early lessons that shaped Smylie’s swing
11:00 – Tony’s coaching roots and what Hank Johnson taught him
17:00 – From broke teacher to Top 50 coach: life lessons from Flora-Bama
25:00 – Teaching tour pros vs. amateurs: what really matters
32:00 – Lessons from Butch Harmon & why confidence beats mechanics
40:00 – How to actually change a motor pattern in your golf swing
53:00 – Smylie, Charlie & Tony break down viewer swings
1:03:00 – Final thoughts: practice smarter, play freer, and have fun
Smylie Kaufman is a PGA Tour winner, pro golf broadcaster, and the host of "The Smylie Show". Every week, along with his producer and co-host Charlie Hulme, Smylie provides insights and analysis on the game of golf (along with a handful of other miscellaneous items), in addition to sharing long-form conversations with Tour pros and other celebrities who love the game.