Akshay Bhatia joins Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme for his third appearance on the show (rising up the all-time leaderboard - watch out Justin Thomas and James Nitties!).

Fresh off his third straight Tour Championship, Akshay opens up on why he's calling his 2026 season "mediocre," the exact swing changes he's targeting this off-season to fix his driver, and what it would mean to finally crack the top 20 in strokes gained off the tee.

Plus: his partnership with caddie Joe Greiner after their first year together, his cross-handed chipping technique and elite bunker play, the mind-blowing way he uses ball speed as a distance control mechanism with his irons, and with a childhood spent in North Carolina - his go-to Cook Out order.

Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow!

Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:00 Magic Shoes?
7:07 Ground rules for the dogs at home
8:19 NC golf courses & Cook Out order
11:38 2026 season reflection
14:05 Marriage & life at 24
16:22 Tour friend group & housing
18:33 Tuesday money games
20:39 Three straight Tour Championships
23:04 Caddie Joe Greiner
25:33 Driver rebuild for 2027
33:00 Playing golf with Joe
34:44 Cross-handed chipping technique
40:49 Ball-speed feel for distance
43:28 Best bunker player on tour?
46:54 Lining up the golf ball
51:30 Sign-off & Japan trip

#golf #pgatour #akshaybhatia #smylieshow

Brandt Snedeker and Geoff Ogilvy have set their 2026 Presidents Cup rosters, and Smylie and Charlie break down every pick — starting with the headline move: 21-year-old Jackson Koivun, who was outside the top 40 on points and only a few months into his pro career, getting the nod for Team USA over veterans with far bigger resumes. They get into why the pick makes sense, and what it means for Koivun's career.

Plus: the full US and International rosters for Medinah, the stat-driven case for why Ryan Gerard should've made the team, dream-pairing predictions for both sides, and why Team USA's depth might make this one lopsided on paper. From there, Smylie and Charlie shift into a full 2026 PGA Tour season review — favorite events and storylines, the "old guys" who had big years, feel-good stories, and players who took steps forward and back.

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Chapters

0:00 Presidents Cup picks are in — the Jackson Koivun reaction
2:03 Comparing Koivun's pick to Jordan Spieth's in 2013
4:40 Full rosters: all 12 players on both teams
5:40 J.J. Spaun's injury and the roster fallout
9:16 The stat case for Ryan Gerard
13:17 Data Golf's rankings & the match format explained
16:36 Bezuidenhout's surprise pick & Medinah's conditions
18:35 International team culture under Ogilvy and Immelman
20:17 Nico Echavarria, the most underrated pick
20:53 Dream pairings: Team USA
25:07 Dream pairings: the International side
26:09 USA's depth advantage, on paper
28:57 2026 season review begins: favorite storylines
31:31 Theme: the old guys had a year
33:00 Feel-good stories of the season
34:36 No-cut fields and Doral's flat comeback
36:44 Previewing the 2027 Florida Swing shuffle
37:31 Guessing the 7 elevated Challenger Series events
42:15 Valspar's sponsor dilemma & the confirmed Championship Series lineup
43:37 Phoenix Open's Super Bowl date standoff
48:12 Theme: the young guns' breakout stretch
48:49 The Fitzpatrick brothers' year
53:15 Marco Penge: a rookie year bigger than the scorecard
56:14 Steps forward: Burns, Si Woo Kim, Fitzpatrick & Gotterup
58:55 Made it back: Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa
1:03:41 2027 outlook: Jordan Spieth's redemption year?

#golf #pgatour #smylieshow #presidentscup

Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme preview the 2026 Walker Cup at Lahinch Golf Club with three guests: Team USA's Ryder Cowan, US Amateur champion Jack Whaley - whose victory at Merion earned him a GB&I roster spot, and Lahinch operations manager TJ Ford, who walks us through some truly stunning flyovers.

Ryder discusses matching Jackson Koivun for low-amateur honors at the US Open, what he learned studying Koivun's game, and the golf balls he forgot before his Round of 64 win over Miles Russell. Jack recaps his US Amateur run at Merion — wasp sting included — and the major exemptions that came with it. TJ takes them through Lahinch's Old Tom Morris and Alister MacKenzie design, the club's famous roaming goats, and tells an incredible stories about some caddie shenanigans on the 5th hole. Charlie and Smylie close it out with the full team rosters and their own final score picks.

Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow!

Chapters

0:00 Intro: Walker Cup broadcast schedule & preview
8:20 Ryder Cowan joins: earning his Walker Cup spot
10:20 Tying Jackson Koivun for low-amateur honors
13:21 What Ryder learned studying Koivun's game
19:09 Forgetting his golf balls before facing Miles Russell
23:20 Beating Miles Russell & Walker Cup teammates
28:39 Jack Whaley joins: US Am win & major exemptions
29:49 Merion's brutal, back-loaded finish
31:19 Wasp sting, a storm, and battling back
36:00 Walker Cup matchups & English course roots
39:10 FSU's pipeline, airport rankings & sign-off
41:40 TJ Ford joins: his game & Lahinch's history
43:50 Course design history: Old Tom Morris & MacKenzie
45:44 Flyovers begin
53:18 2019 Irish Open flashback: Rahm's 62
56:55 MacKenzie's design philosophy & the toughest holes
59:17 Lahinch's famous roaming goats & Jordan Spieth
1:03:12 New clubhouse & TJ's prediction
1:06:14 Walker Cup rosters & matchup breakdown
1:12:09 Final score predictions

#golf #pgatour #walkercup #lahinch #smylieshow #smyliekaufman

Smylie and Charlie are back to break down Scottie Scheffler's win at the Tour Championship — his second FedEx Cup, his third title of the year, and the moment he passed Tiger Woods for the all-time PGA Tour money record. They dig into the stats, his Jack Nicklaus comparison, and his pointed press-conference comments on East Lake's pin positions and setup.

Plus: the full breakdown of Brian Rolapp's 2028 PGA Tour overhaul — the Championship Series schedule taking shape around GO by Raymond James and 14 sponsors chasing the final four spots, the new two-week match play finale format, Rory McIlroy's 15-event rule likely going away, LIV players' return conditions, whether East Lake stays in the Tour Championship rotation, and the wishlist of historic clubs (Olympic Club, Baltusrol, Cypress Point) that could host a reimagined postseason.

Lastly, SK and Charlie dive into the Presidents Cup discussion as we look ahead to Medinah.

Before all that: Charlie makes his first-ever albatross on Saturday — and discovers a fan who shares his name made one on the very same day.

Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow!

Chapters

0:00 Intro & toasting the 2026 PGA Tour season's end
2:05 Charlie's albatross and the "other Charlie Hume"
6:15 Ryan Gerard's murky tour status
6:37 Scottie's FedEx Cup playoff run
10:39 Scottie's loose press-room mood & the Brandel Chamblee shoutout
12:36 Scottie's 2026 season in review: near-misses & the Nicklaus comparison
16:24 By the numbers: strokes gained, scoring records & passing Tiger on the money list
18:21 The two stats behind the leap: proximity and putts made from 25+ feet
23:53 Scottie's East Lake pin-position rant, in his own words
26:14 Course architecture debate: this year's setup vs. old East Lake
31:34 Should East Lake stay in the Tour Championship rotation?
35:13 Brian Rolapp's leadership style & the state of the 2028 overhaul
38:19 Championship Series update: GO by Raymond James and the chase for the final 4 events
40:21 Scarcity by design: how the new model out-leverages LIV on star power
42:29 Board meetings, FedEx's sponsorship future & criteria for the last 4 spots
43:27 LIV return conditions, Rory's 15-event rule going away & a fall "world tour"
47:43 Inside the new 2-week match play finale format
49:59 The "no winner after week one" problem & the TV coverage challenge
52:29 Group of death, tournament luck, and the case for match play
54:19 Separating the season-long trophy from the finale spectacle
57:19 Venue wishlist: Olympic Club, Baltusrol & golf's most exclusive clubs
59:29 Smaller crowds, bigger engagement — the Cypress Point/Walker Cup comparison
1:01:56 "What is amateur golf in 2026?" — why the top clubs are still cautious
1:11:40 Presidents Cup discussion

#golf #pgatour #scottiescheffler #tourchampionship #golfrecap #golfhighlights #smylieshow

Smylie and Charlie are joined by defending TOUR Champion Tommy Fleetwood on the latest episode of The Smylie Show! Tommy reflects on his breakthrough win - his first on the PGA TOUR - in 2025 at East Lake a year later, the near-misses at the Travelers Championship and FedEx St. Jude that preceded it, the "instant gratification" he felt on the flight home, and how that mindset has carried into this season.

Plus: His work with Butch Harmon and the power of simplicity, his love for the nine wood and mini driver, an emotional week playing the Open Championship at home in Southport, and his "fatherhood foursome" featuring Oscar, Murray, and Frankie (and the antics that usually ensue during and after). We also get a highly entertaining behind-the-scenes look at Frankie's prep process ahead of the 2025 Masters Par Three Contest.

Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow!

Chapters

1:00 "Tommy, Tommy Tommy"
3:23 The road to his first PGA Tour win
10:29 Winning his first event on the PGA TOUR at East Lake
12:15 Life in Dubai, London & the PGA Tour travel grind
16:10 Staying consistent on a condensed schedule
19:37 DP World Tour cards & the new Championship/Challenger Series
23:35 Butch Harmon and the power of simplicity
26:45 Practice habits — slow-motion swings, staying disciplined
29:20 Learning to trust the fade
34:41 The shoulder-to-shoulder swing
37:18 Why the nine wood & mini driver are must-haves
41:20 Playing the Open Championship at home in Birkdale
47:04 Premier League preview — Everton, Tottenham & old grudges
50:12 Golf merch, logos & the return of pleats
54:05 Underrated English golf courses for a trip
57:01 Fatherhood & the boys' Masters Par Three tradition
1:04:12 Sign-off

#golf #pgatour #tommyfleetwood #smylieshow #smyliekaufman

BMW Championship Recap: Wyndham Clark or Scottie Scheffler For Player of the Year?

Smylie Kaufman heads straight from the airport (with an update to his airlines Big Board!) to the studio to join Charlie Hulme for a recap of the BMW Championship, where he broadcasted the action from Bellerive Country Club all week long. Smylie and Charlie discuss Wyndham Clark's third win of the 2026 season, and where that places him in an increasingly interesting Player of the Year race that also includes Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Gotterup.

SK and CH also recap a disappointing ending - but a much improved week - for Rory McIlroy. A discussion about a "flat cat" putting grip that Rory has been using as a training aid leads to a conversation about the most unique aids that Smylie has seen while playing on Tour.

Also in this episode: Smylie puts together his most likely Presidents Cup team with six USA players now automatically qualified, and Scottie's week dealing with hand, foot and mouth - a familiar experience for fathers of young children.

Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow!

Chapters

0:00 Intro: late-night taping & two dad topics
2:19 Smylie's dad-neck injury
6:22 Movie review: Smylie watches The Odyssey
10:48 Scottie Scheffler's hand, foot and mouth battle at Bellerive
16:54 Wyndham Clark wins the BMW Championship over Rory McIlroy
21:33 Rory's "flat cat" putter grip + training aids on Tour
28:30 Player of the Year race: Scheffler vs. Wyndham Clark?
39:15 FedEx Cup playoff points cut & this year's muted bubble drama
44:32 Should the Tour Championship go to match play?
53:39 Bellerive, St. Louis & should host cities rotate?
59:56 Presidents Cup team predictions: Smylie's 6 picks
1:05:54 Presidents Cup: youth development & the Ryder Cup comparison
1:13:39 Airlines Big Board: Southwest Airlines review
1:19:02 Charlie's putter update: the blade movement returns
1:20:46 Sign-off: tennis racket meltdown, Tree of the Week & Tommy Fleetwood next week

#golf #pgatour #BMW #WyndhamClark #ScottieScheffler #SmylieKaufman #golfhighlights #golfrecap

Smylie welcomes Robert "Bobby Mac" MacIntyre to the show (filmed ahead of the FedEx St. Jude Championship) for a deep dive into what makes Bob tick. Bob opens up on some close calls in 2025 — Scottie Scheffler's stunning chip-in at the BMW Championship and J.J. Spaun's dramatic birdie putt at the U.S. Open — and what those near-misses taught him about handling major championship pressure. He also talks candidly about becoming a father to son Finlay, why home in Scotland means so much to him, and his dream of winning a major.

Plus: what Shinty (Scotland's Highland stick-and-ball sport) is actually like, the scholarship that took him to McNeese State, life inside the European Ryder Cup team room (including a prank-call story), three hidden-gem Scottish links courses to add to your must-play list, and his surprisingly strong feelings on private jets.

Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow!

Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:00 Bob, Robert, or "Bobby Mac"?
3:09 FedEx St. Jude & Memphis heat
4:47 Adjusting his ball flight for American golf
7:03 McNeese State: the scholarship story & Cajun culture shock
12:04 Shinty 101
22:31 Playing with an edge
25:32 Defining happiness: chasing tour success vs. being home
29:37 The BMW Championship battle with Scottie Scheffler
34:44 U.S. Open pressure & J.J. Spaun's stunning finish
36:11 Two Ryder Cup wins, the Scottish Open, and chasing a major
39:21 Inside the European Ryder Cup team room (the prank-call story)
43:04 Scotland's college golf pipeline
46:01 Fatherhood: son Finlay's arrival
50:14 Three hidden-gem Scottish links courses
54:40 Scottish football & Premier League predictions
57:23 Private jets vs. Ryanair

Smylie Kaufman is back home after broadcasting the U.S. Amateur at Merion, and he and Charlie Hulme spend the front half of the show breaking down the course — its unusual routing, the brutal 14-18 closing stretch, the debate over how much green-complex slope can survive modern speeds, and why it's such a compelling preview for the 2030 U.S. Open there. Jack Whaley beat Jay Leng Jr. for the title, with Ryder Cowan and Carter Loflin standing out as names to know.

From there, the guys run their favorite trees in golf — a loose, hilarious countdown through Merion, Pebble Beach, The Renaissance Club, Cypress Point, TPC Sawgrass, Panmure (where Ben Hogan prepped for the 1953 Open), Prairie Dunes, Seminole, Monterey Peninsula, and the tree at Augusta National.

Plus: the case for Scottie Scheffler as the clear Player of the Year after his 8-shot win at TPC Southwind, what the PGA Tour's new playoff points structure means for players fighting to stay inside the top 50, and the fallout from Jon Rahm's reported LIV Golf exit — including what it means for the DP World Tour, the Challenger Series, and the sport's shifting global landscape heading into 2027.

Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on socials @thesmylieshow!

Chapters

0:00 Intro & catch-up: fresh off the U.S. Amateur at Merion
2:59 Merion's unique routing and standout holes
7:47 Tangent: the Bobby Jones cinematic universe
11:33 Merion's brutal closing stretch and the 17th green debate
12:49 Setting up Merion for a 2030 U.S. Open
18:46 The story behind Merion's wicker-basket logo
22:27 Merion trivia: director-of-golf tenure & clubhouse details
27:05 Best trees in golf: the debate begins (Merion's 8th)
29:03 Pebble Beach's 18th hole cypress
31:58 The Renaissance Club's 11th hole
33:16 Cypress Point: Walker Cup picnics & the 17th tree
36:47 TPC Sawgrass's tree-lined holes
38:29 Panmure: where Hogan prepped for the 1953 Open
40:08 Prairie Dunes' "The Shoot" at 15
42:15 Seminole's 16th hole palms
43:42 Monterey Peninsula's 11th hole
45:54 The Tree at Augusta National & honorable mentions
48:10 U.S. Amateur standouts: Ryder Cowan & Carter Loflin
50:26 The case for Scottie Scheffler as Player of the Year
59:07 PGA Tour playoff points shakeup & the scramble for top 50
1:04:41 Jon Rahm, LIV Golf, and the DP World Tour's shifting landscape
1:19:11 Sign-off: Bob McIntyre preview, Ryder Cup to the South & JT's Firestone flashback

#golf #pgatour #smylieshow #scottiescheffler #Merion