257: Ryder Cup Captain's Picks with Kyle Porter + Previewing 2025 TOUR Champ & 2026 TOUR Schedule
Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme are joined on the latest episode of The Smylie Show by recurring guest Kyle Porter of "Normal Sport" - check his work out at normalsport.com!
Kyle, Smylie and Charlie review the biggest storylines a week ahead of Keegan Bradley picking the final six players who will represent Team USA in the 2026 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Kyle dives deep on season-long trends to identify why the Americans could be underestimated, and lists the six he'd be taking to Bethpage - along with answering whether he'd pick himself to be a player-captain if in Keegan's shoes.
Smylie and Charlie open the episode reviewing a 2026 PGA TOUR schedule that looks somewhat different from season's past, and look ahead to the 2025 playoff finale at East Lake, making their picks for the eventual TOUR Champion.
Thanks for tuning in, and as always, like and subscribe for more golf insights!
00:00 - Intro
01:30 - 2026 PGA Tour Schedule
10:00 - New Events
13:40 - Kyle Porter joins the show
18:45 - Keegan's Dilemma
24:00 - Team USA predictions
28:00 - Team Europe predictions
36:00 - The Ryder Cup excitement
49:00 - New TOUR Championship format?
53:00 - Future of the Playoffs
57:00 - Farewell
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #justinrose #jjspaun #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
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59:34
256: BMW Championship Recap & Playoff Storylines + Keegan Conversation
Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme recap the weekend in golf at the BMW Championship, discuss Fedex Cup standings and playoff storylines, and recap some interesting conversations Smylie had on-course at Caves Valley 👀 Tune in Wednesday for an in-depth Ryder Cup preview and US Am recap episode!
CHAPTERS
CHAPTERS
02:15 - Episode start
08:45 - Golf Recap
12:00 - Course Review
15:00 - Fairway Conditions
18:30 - Scheffler's Play
21:30 - Chris Gotterup Story
28:30 - Si Woo on TikTok
31:00 - Keegan Bradley Talk
34:00 - Scottie's Signature Moment
37:00 - Ryder Cup Team
40:00 - US Amateur
50:00 - Tour Championship Preview
55:00 - Final Wrap-Up
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #scottiescheffler #bmwchampionship #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup #keeganbradley
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
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1:05:37
255: Ian Baker-Finch: Reflections on a Remarkable Golf & Broadcasting Career
Smylie Kaufman is joined by Ian Baker-Finch - a beloved golf broadcaster who signed off on an emotional CBS broadcast for the final time at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Ian takes us through his golf journey - from an early TOUR win at Colonial, to his 1991 Open Championship triumph, the struggles that followed, and finding a fulfilling second act in the broadcast booth.
Smylie and Ian also trade thoughts on the modern game, from the progression in golf instruction and the way Ian used to create his own yardage books, to the complexity of the modern game - and whether some of that is unnecessary. Ian also shares his insights on the future of golf in Australia, emphasizing the importance of creating more global opportunities for players.
Check out his book, "Ian Baker-Finch: To Hell and Back," here: https://www.amazon.com/Ian-Baker-Finch-Hell-Geoff-Saunders/dp/1761451642/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
3:00 - Ian's broadcasting career and final sign-off
5:30 - Career Highlights
10:45 - Transition from playing to broadcasting
15:20 - The influence of Jack Nicklaus and early inspirations
20:00 - Evolution of golf instruction
25:40 - Challenges Ian's faced
30:15 - Reflections on the Open Championship win
35:50 - The mental and physical toll of professional golf
40:30 - Transition to broadcasting and finding new purpose
45:00 - The future of golf in Australia and global opportunities
50:20 - Closing thoughts and Ian's book release
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #justinrose #jjspaun #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
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254: St. Jude Recap: Dramatic Finish in Memphis + Fedex Cup Rankings Analysis
On this episode, Smylie and Charlie dive into the dramatic finish in the first round of the Fedex Cup playoffs. From unexpected leaderboard shifts to the intense playoff between Justin Rose and JJ Spaun, Smylie brings an insider look from a scorcher in Memphis. Plus, insights into the players' strategies and the impact of the new course conditions, analysis on FEC rankings heading into next week, and Ryder Cup implications.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:57 Justin Rose and JJ Spaun
06:06 JJ Spaun
10:08 Scottie Scheffler
13:02 Key Moments
16:01 Playoff Tension
21:49 Course Conditions and Challenges
35:30 Justin Rose's Resilience and Career Reflection
40:39 JJ Spaun's Breakthrough and Consistency
44:44 Tommy Fleetwood
51:10 Rickie Fowler
56:09 The FedEx Cup Bubble and Player Updates
#AHEADpartner #golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #justinrose #jjspaun #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smylie #fedexcup #rydercup
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
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1:02:41
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1:02:41
253: Chris Gotterup: Jersey Roots, Winning 🏆 On Tour, and Ryder Cup Goals 🇺🇸
Fresh off a trip abroad that saw him win the Scottish Open and place third at the Open Championship, Chris Gotterup joins Smylie Kaufman on the Smylie Show!
Chris details his journey from junior golfer in New Jersey to rising star on the PGA TOUR, discussing early influences, challenges faced during the COVID pandemic, and his transition from college golf at Rutgers to Oklahoma. Chris reflects on his stellar recent play, experiences at major tournaments, and his aspirations for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:50 Chris's Early Life and Golf Journey
05:34 Transitioning from Rutgers to Oklahoma
08:22 The Impact of COVID on Chris' Career
10:47 College Golf Experience and Development
13:36 Turning Pro and Early Challenges
16:30 The Importance of Mental Focus in Golf
19:11 US Open Experience and Performance
21:55 The Road to the Ryder Cup
24:35 Reflections on the PGA Tour and Future Goals
Big thanks to AHEAD for their support!
Check AHEAD out here: https://www.ahead.com/
#golf #pgatour #golfhighlights #golfrecap #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #rydercup
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.