Wyndham Clark Recent Success

Welcome to the second cut. As you can tell already Rick and Mina are not here. So Mark and I are in the controls and we are running the asylum. We botched the intro Well, u Thank you for joining everybody. Mark, great to see you. We are covering the fourth round of the Travelers Championship, which in this case is not the conclusion to play There's a playoff that'll take place tomorrow after a rain delay earlier in this Sunday They were unable to finish after the completion of regulation. So Mark were're headed to a playoff Here at the Travelers. Hey, Greg me how much I like playoffs. Mark, how much do you like playoffs? You don't like them at all. Ask me how happy I am that CBS had this week off. Yeah, because for a long time, you didn't. This would have been you Yeah, we'll have it back next year. This was just the NBC we' covering because they did the US Open just down the way in Chhinocooqu Hill. So Um, us folks at CBS u You know, so have had it. So it was a great event. I thought they put on a great show. But gosh coming back tomorrow morning now for potentially maybe just one hole is a pain in the you know what. So more power two them. But I was it was fun to watch it on TV, Greg, I must be honest You know, this tournament, it always delivers. And I think if you're watching on TV, playoffs are interesting. much more so than if you're getting stuck there and you got to change your travel arrangements. Yes, let me go further, right. So like this event for hum youran sakeses, I don't know how long ago it was. we did eight extra holes. It was during COVID. Yeah everything in Connecticut. closed at like seven PM in the evening. So we got done basically at dark And then You get to the hotel and there was no like room service or anything. So I'm looking for food up and down the road then in Crumell and there was nothing And then you got a six AM flight the following morning. it just throws everything off. I mean, it's fun, donon't get me wrong. It's fun to be a part of But gosh going over time they things that just upset one's apppple cart a little bit. I completely understand. Crom especially with the finding food late at night. Cromwell is it's not Hartford. It's hardlyose to Hartford. It's hardly a bustling metropolis. Let's go Yes. Yes. it's a it's a sleepy farm town that happens to have a great golf course And the fans come out in droves for this event and they were again today. I mean, people are swimming in puddles doing snow angels in the puddles out there. It was incredible. And then what I thought was also really cool as we're going to take a look at this leaderboard right now because he had Scottty Scheffler and Victor Hovand. in the final group And Scottty Scheffler and Victor Hoobveland had Obviously he had a lot of Scotty support And then you had a lot of Victor Hoand support as well because there was like a a crew of Norwegians. Literally a crew. Yeah. Yes. I mean they and they gave him a lot of support. So I thought that was very cool And it it created a great atmosphere I would say so. I mean, look, I have to be honest every year' at this event, the folks at travelers startarting from Andy Basset, the chairman of Travelers, they just welcome people with open arms the players get treated great us in the media get treated great. The fans love coming out. It's the kind of golf course where it's easy to watch, you know, because as you've been there, you played there. A lot of holes they like elevated areas so you can see around the golf course very easily It's a comfy war temperatures normally, you know, it's hot, but it's not like oppressive. So it's fun and those final few holes there always produce drama I heard Kiz say the thing at the end and he said something to the effect of It always seems to come down to the eighteenth hole and it truly does And the eighteenth is such a cool hole because when you're walking down the fairway, you see that big embankment of people around there and they pack them in there And then the fans, obviously, I mean, they are top notch. I would say Of all the events I get to go to in the year These fans up there in Cromwell and in Hartford are the best And yes, it was a little jingoistic today with the USA chance and the Norwegians and stuff but that's to be expected. And I think maybe it's a little It's a little hangover from what happened at Shincock Hills some. But man, it was great it was great to watching the vibe there was always so high It felt to me like the USA chants were for Scottty Scheuffler Yes, not against Victor Hoin likeike we've seen that with Rory. they chat USA at Rory. There's not an American in the group That is just Anti Rory or anti whoever. It didn't feel like that this week, which I thought was great. Yeah. Well if well here's the reality quick if I don't care where you're from. If you don't like Victor Holand, the problem is with you. So I would I think even the most patriotic of fans would find it really hard ull against Vic because he's just such a good guy Now Victor Holin and Scottty Schffler were in the final group today. and it was Victor Hoin at twenty under with the one stroke lead over Scottty Schffler who was at nineteen under. There was a two shot swing on Saturday night on the eighteenth hole. Scottty made a boogie and Victor made a Birdie to put the leaderboard in that check. So what we'll do now, we'll take a look at these players, some of the other notables on the board and then we'll get you set up for what's going to take place tomorrow morning at nine o'clock for the playoff Mark, let's start with Wor number one, Scottty Scheffler. probablyably not surprising to you that I start with him. But but he played some pretty solid golf. although I do think this weekend was a little slower than I expected Rick and I were talking about it on Friday night. We're thinking twenty four under is probably the number and he gets to twenty one under was surprising to me Yeah, I'm look, I'm with you I was on that show with you guys and I was like, okay, it's plane sailing now because he's going to shoot I don't know, a few rounds sort of sixty six or so four five under and probably get to about twenty eight or so, you know, and and it was going to be tickets for the rest of them. But but it did sort of look subdued and something I've been saying a little bit and And I feel people may take Umbridge with it and I hope Scottty doesn't call me out too badly. but But like I saw, I met some incredible shots today And then I saw him like that drive up eighteen. that he was so stuck on that downswing You couldn't get the club face around and that thing was whiffed up the right hand side. And when Scottty was dominant, he didn't do that stuff like on seventeen for your mistakes Um it's a long iron for him and with that driving three iron, he's like reliable as clockwor And he's missed the fareware on the left. Now it's a sensational approach shot from there and sort of pulls rabbits out of hats a little bit. But it sort of speaks to a guy who's not really there. and then They're on fifteen Okay. Well well first off the sccty that I've seen when he's playing his best He never misses on the dangerous side of the hole Even if it's at five feet, it's on the safe side of the hole Then I'm sixteen there and I'm backing up. forgive me because I'm getting to fifteen sixteen, the flags cut just a few paces off the left hand edge. The left bunker is no dice. And he's hit the thing long and left So essentially the fade was shut down The bigiggie was when he' standing there with Fairway Middle on ' fifteen And he's been hitting these carved slasses Jim Fury called when a crop duster on Saturday because it was certain, right He stands then If it was usual travelers' conditions and we hadn't had the downpour That thing was in the middle of the lake T with a fairy middle. So he's double crossed that fade shot of his. So it sort of speaks to me of a guy who It sort of seems like it's there, but it's not really there pressure gets up, it gets exposed some And maybe that happened over the weekend But I'll tell you what, if there's something that I'm boyed buoyed about when I watch Scottish Cfle play Hutted it beautifully which is something that you know, when you're not hitting the ball as well, you have to do to remain competitive. And I still believe that despite having these Not his best stuff from Teta Green The way he's putting has kept him in this thing with a shock to win tomorrow It's a really good point because you look at what happened the rain delay. So they they have to go in Scottty's in the middle of the fairway on fourteen to go in. So he comes back out hits a shot short of the green on fourteen and leaves himself with a seven footer and and he makes it then fifteen, which you mentioned the T shot. He ends up hitting that chip shot over the green And now he's long right of a back right. whole location and it's a really I mean, the edges If you go stand on that green, the edges are very sharp. It's very tricky It's very sharp edges He's got seven feet eight inches. He makes it. And then you look at what he does on eighteen and he hits his Birdie put to win eight feet, eight inches past the hole And he makes it big fist pump to get into the playoffs. So Can I want to cut over you there. You know Scotty the US. Open pre tournament that he became philosophical Scoti And he was giving the whole thing about, you know If I win this and I get the grand slam in a week's time, everyone's going to forget it and they're going to worry about, you know and this and that. And so this was the guy that L year at the open Championship won the open easily when he was philosophical guy saying You know, if I win it's great, but it doesn't really mean anything very much to me So I was like, well, here we go Scottty's back, kind of thing And then he plays well but doesn't win when he knocked that power p on eighteen That is the most emppt I've seen Scottty Scheffler in a long, long time So what I'm saying basically is fks. Everything is feeding you in the media center Those are just the right words to say because it's burning inside of him right now. because if you could see the fire when he knocked that butt down, that is a guy who wants to win. That's the competitor in the heat of the moment who's just itching for this thing and it was really cool to see Yeah, it is u It's probably the most underrated skill set or aspect of Scottty Schuffler is how competitive he is And when you get to see it, it doesn't happen often But when it when it comes out, it's really fun to watch. and and he's now in his second playoff in the last three years at the Travelers. Remember he beat Tom Kim in a playoff two years ago between the Keegan Bradley victories and now he'll find himself in another playoff Tomorrow with this man The Norwegian The Viking, Victor Hovand. And I kind of like what you said earlier in the week, Mark. I don't remember if it was Friday or it must have been Friday. It was Friday. You talked about how you know, he's kind of defending his territory against Chris Rayon Well, here he is. He had plenty of opportunities to today. You see four bogeies in his first ten holes. plenty of opportunities for Victor Hobin to let this thing get away. It looked like he was out of the picture and then He comes back with three straight birdies, even though there was a rain delay in the middle And he's only got one guy to beat tomorrow Yeah he's Yeah, I said the point I made for the folks who didn't Yo I was like You know, ordinarilyict Victor is a really cerebral guy and he thinks about everything and he thinks through things thoroughly And he'd kind of gotten that way with his game But you can see now when Witon has come along and he's now kind of the top dog arguably in Norwegian Glf and all the fans are there. You could see Victor playing with pride today. Brad Faxon actually said something on ' fifteen that I was like, No, that's Smart And Fs basically said, mechanics go out the window right now. He said it about Scottty, but the truth is it's for anyone who's in the mix and in the heat of battle. And you could see Vector It's like he was going to get himself into a playoff or win by hooker by Crook. Man at Birdie Patero eighteen This thing melted over the bottom edge and You could almost see when he shook Scottty's hand He was being very polite. He was like, nice playing, man, nice playing. But you could see he was like, ah, man, I missed a beat there Um So yeah, I think this is Victor, the competitor who's come back now. And the reality is, I don't know if he's found something in any swing tune because that's likely to change in a few weeks time to shots see it coming down the stretch were all right on the button. A that rain delay there Well, the four ine in the rin into the p five. that was Y Okay. Perfect. And u Then after rend delay, it's a beautiful wedge to fourteen, beautiful T shot on fifteen with a great pitch Really smart T shirt on sixteen seventeen down the fairw on the green, eighteen down the f on the gen. It looked like he was really feeling it and And' to a place where If you had ask me for one and done farging Ss You know, where are you on Victor? bling yet because I just wasn't convinced kindind of beginning to become convinced a little bit by watching him play under pressure you could see something happening maybe at the open championship with Victor Holand. I know that's in my mind. Last time we were at Royal Berkdale Jordan Speetith won and he also won the players the start before. So there's there's a lot on the line tomorrow. You mentioned did he find something in his swing I find this to be rather interesting. The one thing, the reason why You know, at least I hadn't played him and wanted done or wouldn't really consider him. O most courses, I'm concerned with his driver But he seems to have figured something out there. He hit nine fairways in round one, eleven in round two, eleven in round three and twelve of fourteen fairways in round four. eight in driving accuracy for the week He's definitely got a better idea where the ball's going. And I think that's what allows Victor Hoand, the competitor to come out Yeah because he's not figuring anything out. Yeah, I'd agree with that. just kind of a strange cat because I've talked to him about it. And you know, it hits this fade, but the fade become quite wipey. It's almost like the Scheffler fade in for a while Marakawa as well with a fade shot. didn't have the spack behind it that it normally does And then when Victor was hidding this wippey short rightright fade Th then square one off and hadit a pull And it was the poll that he hated But I feel like it was the weak right fed that hurt him more. And he kept on getting so ate with the pull where I was like, you know what? unless instead of going swing reconstructionist, If you just A well right and hit that pull cut like many great faders of the golf ball have, You can hit this s on the button all day long And I have noticed If you look at some of the positions that he's in when he's aiming He's aiming significantly right of the target and hitting just a little bit of a fade, not this big stuff anymore where when he was aiming straight, that feade was kind of blocked came out weekly. So I'm I don't know what it is. It looks good. I just hope he stays in the same mindset where he is where it's like Man, I'm a great golfer. I don't have to have my best stuff to still compete with these guys And you and you tied Scottty Scheffler for seventy two holes and you got a chance to take them down. in a playoff tomorrow. So Victor Hoand definitely in a good position. and has he's one of two left with a chance to win the travelers. You mention Columor cawa Mark. That's a perfect transition. because Morakawo almost did something really special today He was well back earlier this year in February. He was eight shots back through thirty six holes and went on to win the ATT Pebble Beach program. He shot sixty two sixty seven over the weekend. And he was also well back in this tournament heading into the final two days. he was Let's see. Colm Mkaa shot. Rounds of sixty four, sixty one over the weekend And So he was at five under He was eleven shots back through thirty six holes And this was a very impressive weekend. Look at all the birdies, nine birdies No bogies This was this was vintage callum workout. Well, it looks like his evil twin showed up there in round three when he made the one burger was that in the f? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, what happened there? number two nonetheless Oh get two bogeies. I would say this Look, he looks like hes fit, which is to me the most important thing because he'd rare been struggling I' And I'm happy about that because, you know he when I saw the injury at the players, I was like, really, you injured yourself with a practice swing. Clearly it was a big deal played hurt for a while and I grew big admiration for him. Not that I didn't That's when kind of the legend grew with me because he found a way to compete differently And now he's back at full speed and Pter looks great and the ball striking looks on point. But I'll tell you one thing I I know for a fact withith these guys finishing one strike ahead of them He would have loved to see them play in the rain just a little bit longer. Oh yeah. Okay. L see them at least play fourteen, fifteen and maybe sixteen Let them place seventeen, eighteen in the sunshiny perfect weather they had, with receptor greens at the end of the day 'use I feel like if that was the case Be he's your winner as simple as that. it was retty close. I mean, even the way that it unfolded, Scottty had a eight footer for p on the seventy second hole And I mean, you're one h away at some point. Um you something could you never know what's going to happen But he is very scary when he gets like this. and the thing is that's so impressive to me. I actually like Colin Morakau heading into this week quite a bit I was disappointed after the first two rounds. like, man, maybe he just doesn't like this golf course But the thing that had been impressing me about him is the improvement in his putting. It's like three weeks in a row. He's had great putting performances And he comes out And it's kind of a slow start in the first three rounds with the putter And today he just fills it up. He makes one hundred and thirty five feet of putts, gains three point eight strokes put in and leads the field. And it turns a average or you know, pretty poor putting week into a Excellent one with one hot round. When Columorakkawa can put You got to watch out. I mean he's second off the team, Mark. He's second approaching the green for the week just struggled around the greens and finally got the putter going Sunday It's good to see. I mean, golf is Golf is good when Cullin's around because If we look at the landscape right now It's sort of Scottty and Rory And then you've got these folks that sort of fire and fall back. It's now it's a Windndam clark And you know a little while ago, it was a Ben Griffin. And Arha had been making noise and Cameron Young, you know, this these pretenders to these top two come and in they sort of go a little bit If you look at guys that really have like major championship pedigree and staying power Colin Marika was one of those So you know, when he's around, I feel like It kind of changes the landscape a little bit. so it's good to see him coming back to his best I completely agree. Some of these other Oh Cenders So look at these other guys that you mentioned, they're all right here. all these pretenders Matt Fitzpatrick Shoot six under today gets to nineteen under Windham Clark, what a title defense for him. A Batia. right there. JJ Spawn He's he's pretended for a little bit seventeen under Alex Fitzpatrick I don't think he's pretending, but he is definitely making He's validating his PGA tour card in a big way right now Any of these guys catch your interest markark Yeah, Alex. and I heard a statistic Friday. Ter Terry Gannon shared it where he was like Of all the rounds, Alex and Matt played in the same tournament. I think they were tired tired like in a head to head round battle. This is kudos to Alex because I' got to tell you When I watched him play in college He had a little something special about him And I remember way back in the down PGA to live when They were still advertising the PGA T you And he was he wasn't leading, but he waside the top ten or whatever it was and And I'm like Watch that boy, he's good And then he kind of went away, played in Europe and kind of really didn't fulfill the potential But since he's gotten a beat on the driver because he's wedge playing and he's putting is just so good And he's kind of one of those He kind of junky yard a little bit but you know, he finds a way to score but now so reliable off the te and the short game's great I said something recently that I would have taken a lot of heat for But I'm like Matt is great Fitzpatrick. He's a major champion. He is great But he's got to work hard to beat this kid because Alex is younger than him And afraid, I love his game. It is a solid game and those things you mentioned backed up this weekit forty six of fifty six fairways. that's tied fifth fififty nine of seventy two greens. I believe three players hit sixty greens. F. because Scotti hit the last two greines. So he hit sixty. not many players hit sixty greens in a week. He's ten to thirteen scrambling. I mean, this was really well put together performance and you know, one thing to think about you go play well at the Cadillac and you go play well at the PGA and some of these harder golf courses. But now you come out and do it in a Birdie fest like this and go shoot sixty four, sixty four on the weekend. this he's just flat out good I don't think there's any other way to explain it W watchatch for the Rada Cup. You're going to see two Fitzpatricks take on some American team. guarantee you guuarantee here. Yeah. I think it'd be the right thing to do as well. I mean, looking at his brother Matt here. Alex's brother, Matt He shot a sixty four of his own today Re impressive, you know, the Bogie at fourteen was a little sloppy And he was probably ruining that one, but another another great showing for Matt Fitzpatrick who's keeping this Excellent season going You know what I was down on a call in the Zurich cllassic in New Orleans when the Fitzpatricks won. and I had their group and it was so fun to watch because Their games look so different, yet they so similar Alex hits the ball higher than Matt, but they both at cuts off the tea They're both decent iron players again, the trajectory is the variant. around the Greens, they both really good, but Patrick hits the flashy Alex hits the flashy shots and Matt hits the basic stuff well And then they both putt well and they make putts when they need to. So you watch them and you're like, man I guess they're brothers in name only because their personalities couldn't be farther apart. Yeah But when you look at kind of the nuts and bolts of their game, they play the same sort of a game too So it's real it's really fun to watch them play and they're going to be a dynamite combination in the future I think you're unfortunately for an American fan like me. I think you're right on the button there there I just they they're so consistently good and they're so well rounded. It's impressive to watch U, But maybe the hottest player on the PGA tour right now, Mark. This is the last guy I want to talk about tonight. Wyndham Clark U I mean, look at this, sixty five on Sunday, sixty four on Saturday. reallyally impressive performance out of Windham who really I mean one flaw on Thursday made a triple boggeie at number twelve Other than that, he He shot sixty eight, sixty four, sixty five, sixty five Just an incredible, incredible play from Wyndham Clark the week after a win at the US openpen. Yeah. Yes and you have to just tip your captone U And any of the haters are going to turn around and watch this performance go guysy all guts because he could have easily checked out I mean, he could have Every he could have withdrawn from the event on Monday after the US open But he honored the commitment, came here and competed. and the most telling thing that he did because I didn't see a lot of his play on Thursday and Friday But I watch someone on the weekend The fact that he would grind as hard to get it up and down on the P five thirteenth after rinsing a te shot That tells me that this guy is like he's all up for it And I'm here for it And I'm You know, he had that stretcher golf. A few seasons ago when you won Hallown, won the US openp and stuff and He was a bit of a star in the making. and then the live rumors started swirling and The game kind of went in the tank a little bit Winam's back And u the way he's chipping and putting and the way he drives it. Garee, I mean, he's all guts and I love the performance this week. I love the way he grinded. and it's like he He wasn't just playing for Windam And I Don't get this take this wrong. t timimes I felt like he was all about Windam The fact that he showed up for these fans over here after they heckled him just a week ago dogue Kudos to you, my boy. I'm proud of you This good golf continues because I'm on board for it the tripping and putting is spectacular. Yeah led to feelld. I mean, this is the kind of thing that we talk about all the time you get really hot with the putter like he was at the US Open and that kind of thing can wear off, But he gained eight point seven strokes putting this week you know, he finishes at eighteen under because of his put in this week and It was it was highlighted to me. I felt like it was I was watching the US open again. He hits the first put after coming out of the rain delay on fifteen and leaves it like eight feet short. makes that And then he buries the next one, rattles it in the back and it's like, okay, this It's everything you just said. He's So feisty. And I got to think he's winning a lot of fans back or winning over a lot of new fans And I think he gained a lot of respect with the way that he handled the U. S. open, the things that he said afterwards. And the way that he performed this week as well You know That is a really good take there, Greg, in my opinion. and I'll put a bow on it by saying this. many, many moons ago A very wise old professional said to me, He goes, M You need to let your clubs do the talking You need to stop the talking and let your clubs do the talking And we're watching this in real time with Wyndam Clark Be he was never short of an opinion a ways back But now he's very demure in front of the camera. He says all the right things He's got a handle on his emotions, which is fantastic news And his clubs are talking And all fourteen clubs are Be there's been days when he hasn't putted well, but he's headed great. Pter when it gets working, man. Garlly he's frail. I mean, he's proved it over the last few weeks You know what they say? You got you only got one mouth, but you got fourteen clubs I don't think that's actually what they say But I think it works in this case because he is he is definitely letting those Those fourteen clubs do the talking Mark, great catching up. Thanks for bearying with me on my on my producing my poor attempt at producing tonight There is a playoff tomorrow. Yes. Victor Hooband, Scottty Scheffler, nine o'clock. that'll be on golf channel We will probably recap that on Tuesday. Next week's John Deer week We'll be with you Tuesday, Friday, Sunday U So hey, but we we roll on here Rickamin are out. We're rolling on without them, but they'll be back Tuesday with us. So really Okaykay, first off, who did you have in one and done Justin Thomas How do you finish Justin Thomas finished at fourteen under, which was tied fourteenth Okay Big tie for fourteenth. Yeah He played great sixty eight, sixty six, sixty five, sixty seven. Tied four. Thanks for coming out. Well, I had Fleetwood and I think it was a little worse than that after a bad Saturday. They tied. He's he shoot sixty five on Sunday Tied fourteenth. Didn't mean I have C could have yamo orone Yes who's tied twenty fifth And Rick slate one. He had Fleetwood as well. All right So yeah No, no real movement We'll check out the maybe we'll review the bets U on Tuesday. Tuesday I know I have Scotty in there somewhere. Me too. But we'll fill in on all that. R get on if I if if my memory serves I think Rick might have had Victor as an outright Okay. so we may we're going to be putting some green on the board. We'll have to show that grid on Tuesday All right I Any final thoughts No, Happy Sunday. It's nine o'clock and spend some time with your family buddy. It is u it's bedtime. bedtime for me for everybody around here. Well this has been the secondecond Cp podcast. Thank you so much for listening. again we'll be back Tuesday. That is Mark Eman. He's at Mark underscore Eman. I'm Greg Ducharm at the Real GFD. Thanks so much for watching. We'll see again on Tuesday. And now I got to play the outro and then the stream I'll talk you through this. hopefully I don't mess this one up.