Next on the Tee: Where Golf Legends Live & Your Game Gets Better

S12, Ep 57 Part 2: Hal Sutton: Perspective, Gratitude & the Game That Shaped Us

Season 12 Finale | Part 2

We close out Season 12 of Next on the Tee with the kind of conversation I always like to save for last — an honest, thoughtful, and heartfelt visit with Hal Sutton.

Hal is genuine, speaks from the heart, and is someone I’m proud to call a friend. We talk about the success of his design at The Darmoor Club outside of Houston, how course design, his podcast Be the Right Club Today, and work in the Instruction space have given him meaningful ways to give back to the game. I asked Hal how golf has been both a blessing and sometimes a burden throughout his life, and if good has always outweighed the bad.

We then dive deep into the Ryder Cup, including why Hal decided to add Jackie Burke Jr. as an Assistant Captain in 2004, how he handled leading a team with massive star power, and why the U.S. continues to struggle in team competition. Hal also shares his thoughts on what might need to change if we’re going to turn the tide.

Hal offers candid insight on the current state of the PGA Tour — shrinking fields, fewer Tour cards, and whether recent changes are about growing the game or overreacting to LIV. We also have some fun reminiscing about persimmon woods, blade irons, balata golf balls, and the artistry required to succeed in his era.

We wrap things up talking equipment, confidence on the greens, his partnership with Makefield Putters, and whether more course design projects might be ahead.

It’s a fitting way to end the season — filled with perspective, honesty, and appreciation for the game and the people who shape it, like Charlie Rymer, Suzy Whaley, and Hal Sutton. I’m incredibly grateful to each of them for their friendship and openness, and I’m truly thankful for you — the listeners — for spending another season with me. Thank you for pressing play and being part of the Next on the Tee family.

S12, Ep 57 Part 1: Gratitude, Greatness & the Game We Love with Charlie Rymer & Suzy Whaley

To close out Season 12 of Next on the Tee, I’m honored to welcome three wonderful friends who are also outstanding ambassadors of the game — Charlie Rymer, Suzy Whaley, and Hal Sutton — for a special year-end episode filled with gratitude, perspective, and great storytelling.

We kick things off with Charlie Rymer, who shares an update on his health following his victorious battle with Stage 3 colon cancer. Charlie reflects on the faith, family support, and world-class care that helped carry him through. Then he takes us inside an exciting new project he's involved with in Greenville, Tennessee, including a golf course he’s designing alongside Rees Jones — and yes, great food is part of the plan. Charlie also weighs in on the proposed changes to the PGA Tour and where he believes the game is headed.

Next up, Suzy Whaley joins me for a conversation filled with positivity and pride. Positivity is pervasive throughout the Whaley family, which is why Suzy always makes every segment she's a part of so much fun. Suzy talks about captaining the U.S. team to victory at this year’s Junior Ryder Cup, her nomination to the USGA Executive Committee, and her plans to compete in next summer’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open. We also discuss why the red, white, and blue suit her so well — and why her leadership future in American golf feels brighter than ever.

Be sure to return for Part 2, when we wrap up the season with Hal Sutton. Hal shares updates from The Darmoor Club outside of Houston, reflects on Ryder Cup leadership and his choice of Jackie Burke Jr. as an assistant captain in 2004, and takes us back to the era of persimmon woods, blade irons, and balata golf balls — when artistry and imagination mattered as much as power.

As we bring this season to a close, I want to say thank you — to all the wonderful guests for sharing their time, stories, and hearts throughout 2025… and to you, the listeners, for your loyalty, kindness, and support throughout the year. Next on the Tee exists because of the people who care about the game, its history, and one another. I’m deeply grateful you continue to press play, and I hope this episode sends you into the holidays feeling inspired, appreciative, and thankful for the many gifts this game — and this community — continue to give us.

Thank you for being part of the Next on the Tee family.

S12, Ep 56 Part 2: Championships, Carolina Blue, NIL & the Ebb and Flow of Golf with John Inman

Thank you for coming back for Part 2 of this week’s Next on the Tee, where I’m joined by our good friend John Inman for a conversation that’s equal parts insightful, nostalgic, and just plain fun.

John and I start off talking about the Bill Bellichick experiment at UNC, where John played his college golf, including winning the 1984 National Championship. You'll hear how he feels about the Tar Heels’ 4–8 season and what's happening with that program. From there, John shares his perspective on the impact NIL has had on college athletics, and how college sports have essentially become the minor leagues across the board.

We also rewind the clock to John’s victory at the 1993 Buick Southern Open, his brother Joe’s win at the 1976 Kemper Open, their collective success in the tournament, and the ever-changing nature of golf — those moments when you feel like you’ve cracked the code, followed by days when the game reminds you just how humbling it can be.

John is always a joy to talk with, and this segment is filled with great stories, honest opinions, and plenty of laughs. Thank you so much for pressing play and being a part of this week’s show — we’re going to have a great time.

S12, Ep 56 Part 1: Great Teachers, Honest Opinions & The Beautiful Frustration of Golf

This week on Next on the Tee, I welcome three outstanding guests for an episode filled with elite instruction, thoughtful perspective, and great storytelling.

Leading things off is the show’s Resident Director of Instruction, Tom Patri, who recently received one of the highest honors in the game — being named a Golf Magazine Top 100 Alumni Instructor. Tom reflects on what that recognition means and his journey through the game. From there we dive into Tom’s candid and passionate take on comments from new PGA Tour Commissioner Brian Rolapp and Tiger Woods regarding proposed changes to the Tour, including fewer tournaments, smaller fields, and scheduling adjustments to avoid competing with the NFL. Tom also shares insights on some of the top golf courses around his old stomping ground, New York City, several of which were named among Golf Digest’s 25 most beautiful courses in the country.

Next, making his Next on the Tee debut, is Stan Moore, one of Florida’s top instructors and a highly respected short game and putting coach. Stan walks us through his approach to putting, including stance, stroke length, and key fundamentals that help golfers become more consistent on the greens. He also shares feedback he’s received from students that reinforces why his methods are so effective.

In Part 2 of this week’s show, I'm joined by longtime friend John Inman, former PGA Tour professional and head coach at UNC. John reflects on winning a National Championship there in 1984, shares thoughts on Carolina football and the Bill Belichick experiment, and discusses how NIL has transformed college athletics into a minor league system. We also revisit John’s victory at the 1993 Buick Southern Open, his brother Joe’s win at the 1976 Kemper Open, and the constant ups and downs that make golf both maddening and magical.

It’s an episode packed with insight, honesty, and plenty of moments every golfer can relate to — so settle in and enjoy another great week on Next on the Tee, where golf legends live and your game gets better.

S12, Ep 55: Legends Never Fade: Eddie & the Cruisers, Seve & the Revival of Otey Putters with Matthew Laurance & Steve Strano

Welcome to this week’s edition of Next on the Tee — where golf legends live and your game gets better. I truly appreciate you being here and pressing play.

I’m really excited to share this episode with you because it features two wonderful friends—one who has been very dear to me for years and another new friend who I hope will be joining me many times going forward.

Leading things off is Matthew Laurance, a longtime favorite of this show and someone I’ve been blessed to call a close friend. Many of you know Matthew from his iconic role as Sal Amatto, the fictional bass player in Eddie & the Cruisers—easily one of my all-time favorite movies. What started as a social media connection grew into appearances on Thursday Night Tailgate, and those conversations eventually turned into a genuine friendship.

This time around, Matthew shares his thoughts on the direction the PGA Tour appears to be heading, which feels like a sharp turn away from the long-standing focus on “growing the game.” We also dive into why Seve became his all-time favorite player, his lingering disappointment from the 1986 Masters, and revisit stories from Eddie & the Cruisers—including what it’s like for him when On the Dark Side comes on the radio while he’s driving.

In Segment 2, I’m thrilled to welcome Steve Strano for his Next on the Tee debut. Steve is the son of my gumba Rob Strano, so you know right away he’s going to be a great guest. Steve is an entrepreneur who is helping to resurrect a legendary and nearly forgotten brand of putters.

That brand is Otey Putters, which helped legends like Jimmy Demaret, Dr. Cary Middlecoff, Jackie Burke Jr., and Doug Ford win five Masters between 1947 and 1957. Steve’s passion for Otey is contagious, and during our conversation, he had me completely fired up about these beautifully handcrafted putters, still made in their original factory in Selma, Alabama, by Otey Crisman III, the son of former PGA Tour pro Otey Crisman.

You’re going to love Steve’s energy, his respect for the history of the brand, and the care that goes into every putter. Be sure to check them out at OteyThree.com.

Thanks again for being here and for pressing play on this week’s show. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

S12, Ep 54 Part 2: The Doctors Are In: Fixing Your Mental Game, the PGA Tour & College Golf

The Doctors Are In to help fix what's ailing you, whether your mental game needs pumping up or the PGA Tour, college golf, and the NIL have you feeling sick.

We start things off with our monthly visit from The Confidence Doctor, Dr. Bob Winters, who shares updates on the success his players are having at the high school, college, and AJGA levels. Dr. Bob explains the concept of social loafing with respect to golf, offers candid thoughts on the PGA Tour doing the opposite of growing the game, and delivers a powerful tip for tournament golfers facing self-doubt—believing you truly belong. He also breaks down his memorable D.U.M.B. Golf acronym.

Then I welcome Doc Merrill, Head Golf Coach at the University of Maine at Augusta, for his Next on the Tee debut. A former medical physician for 37 years, Doc shares his journey into coaching, insights into his program, the impact of NIL on his roster, and stories from recent tournaments. He also recounts meeting Arnold Palmer at the 1975 U.S. Open and previews his upcoming book.

Insightful, honest, and engaging—sit back, relax, and enjoy this hour…because the doctors are in.

S12, Ep 54 Part 1: Brian Jacobs on The Lessons That Change Careers Plus Connor Lewis and the Wanamaker You Could Own & The GOAT Debate Gets Real...

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I'm joined by four outstanding guests who bring game-changing perspective from three very different corners of golf.

First, top New York instructor and a wonderful human being, Brian Jacobs returns to talk about his move from an elite Florida club back to Rochester, the lessons he learned, and the key questions every PGA Professional — or anyone considering a new job — should ask before saying yes. I also talk with him about the positive impact he’s made on players’ lives, and he shares the details about his upcoming trip to Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill, which anyone is free to join in on.

Next, Connor Lewis, Founder of the Society of Golf Historians and the new Antiquity Golf Company, makes an electric debut. Connor dives into the treasures of golf history, dives deep into the GOAT debate (Snead, Hogan, Jack, Tiger, Trevino, Bobby Locke), why he'd pick Lee Trevino to face anyone 1 on 1, and how the PGA Tour has copied almost everything from LIV short of the shotgun starts.

Then be sure to come back for Part 2, because the doctors are in. The Confidence Doctor Dr. Bob Winters returns with updates on his students’ successes, the meaning of “social loafing” in golf, his thoughts on the Tour’s direction, and a key reminder for competitive players: When doubt creeps in, believe you belong out there.

He's followed by Doc Merrill, Head Golf Coach at the University of Maine at Augusta. He's developed a lot of great young players. You're going to really enjoy his stories and insights.

Thank you as always for pressing play and being part of this week’s show.

S12, Episode 53: Greg Lloyd: The Standard Is No Longer the Standard

In this special bonus edition of Next on the Tee, I’m thrilled to welcome back my all-time favorite Pittsburgh Steeler, Greg Lloyd, for his 15th appearance on the show. As a proud Pittsburgh guy who grew up watching Greg dominate on Sundays, it’s always an honor to share time with him—whether here or during the years he joined Bob Lazzari and I on Thursday Night Tailgate.

If you’ve ever wondered what Greg Lloyd is like today, I can tell you this: he’s exactly the same man off the field that he was on it—intense, passionate, fiercely loyal to the black ’n gold, and never one to pull punches. That honesty is why we made him a member of our Thursday Night Tailgate Guest Hall of Fame.

In this conversation, Greg gives his unfiltered thoughts on the current state of the Steelers defense. He doesn’t sugarcoat a thing. He talks about the lost art of tackling, why “hoping” for success means you didn’t prepare, and what it meant when he buckled his chinstrap at practice—spoiler: somebody was about to get hit. He shares stories about how his defenses rallied to the ball, trying to get as many players to lay a hit on the ball carrier.

Greg has a standard for Steelers football, one forged by the Steel Curtain of the 70s, his own dominant 90s units, and the championship defenses of the early 2000s. And this year’s group? They’re not living up to it—and Greg doesn’t hesitate to say why.

If you bleed black and gold, this is a segment you’re going to absolutely love. Strap in… Greg Lloyd is back, and he’s bringing the fire.