In a recent appearance on the "Stick To Football" podcast, Rory McIlroy made hugely surprising comments on LIV Golf after spending the better part of the last year or two criticizing the tour. Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme listen and react to several key excerpts from Rory's appearance on STF, before previewing the 2024 PGA Tour season + what lies beyond for the Tour with expected changes coming in 2025.

Rory's surprising LIV comments + 2024 season preview

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.

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Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme run through a long list of items worth discussing from the weekend, including Robert MacIntyre's Canadian Open win, Yuka Saso's U.S. Open win, and a Smylie Show College World Series grudge match pitting Smylie's LSU Tigers against Charlie's UNC Tar Heels. After matching 64s in a Sunday pairing featuring Rory McIlroy and Tom Kim, Smylie and Charlie discuss both star players and whether their game is trending at the right time. On the women's side, SK and CH examine Lancaster Country Club - a course they both loved - and whether the test was too challenging after watching pre-tournament favorite Nelly Korda crash out early. Charlie's failure to advance to the shootout in the Hope Valley member-member tournament results in three incredible names that pique Smylie's interest.

Recapping two national opens, the LSU vs UNC regional, and a member-member

Harry Higgs joins Smylie Kaufman to cover a wide range of topics, starting with his heartfelt winner's speech at the Visit Knoxville Open honoring Grayson Murray's memory with a call for kindness. From there, SK and the Big Rig chart his journey from college - where he played alongside Bryson DeChambeau at SMU - to the pro ranks, and what he's learned along the way. Harry goes behind-the-scenes on the moment of the 2022 WM Phoenix Open - when he and Joel Dahmen removed their shirts on the 16th hole to the delight of the crowd - then recaps his two-win streak on the Korn Ferry Tour, and the four-item pre-shot checklist that has helped immensely with his mental approach. The episode concludes with Smylie and Charlie Hulme making their one-and-done picks for the RBC Canadian Open.

Harry Higgs on his speech in Grayson Murray's memory, his KFT win streak, and the WM shirt moment

We begin the show with a remembrance of Grayson Murray in the wake of his tragic passing, and read some words from his parents, who ask to honor Grayson's legacy with kindness for one another. Smylie shares parts of his relationship with Grayson, who was incredibly supportive of Smylie in tough professional times and would reach out to check on him frequently. Charlie joins the show from a cabin in Mullen, Nebraska, and gives a full rundown of his trip to Sand Hills Golf Club, which leads into a review of Smylie's recent golf trip to Streamsong Resort. Finally, SK and CH recap the play at Colonial, and Davis Riley's first solo Tour win at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Remembering Grayson Murray + Sand Hills & Streamsong trip recaps

After the final putt dropped in the 2023 Charles Schwab Challenge, Gil Hanse and his team began an ambitious project: a "historical restoration" of Colonial Country Club to prepare it in time for the 2024 playing of the tournament. Smylie Kaufman is joined by both Gil, and four-time PGA Tour winner + Colonial member Ryan Palmer to discuss all of the changes made to return the course to its more rugged and natural roots with the 1941 U.S. Open as a reference point. Smylie and Charlie Hulme then conclude the show with their one-and-done picks for the tourney.

In addition to photos provided by Gil, our YouTube episode features footage gathered by the @PGATOUR and @FriedEggGolf from two awesome videos worth watching to prepare for the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge. You can find those videos here:

TOTAL golf course transformation in less than a year! | Colonial CC | PGA TOUR Originals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNApY5dlMOI

Bringing Rugged Back | Renovating Colonial Country Club - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juwu1ZRdExk

Gil Hanse & Ryan Palmer on Colonial Country Club's "historical restoration"

The 106th PGA Championship is in the books, and we have a new first-time major winner: Xander Schauffele. Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme project where Xander goes from here now that he has a major win to go along with his stellar play this season, discuss a number of other big names that were both in and out of contention at Valhalla, address criticism of how the course played, and recap a fun week for the show in Louisville.

Rory's surprising LIV comments + 2024 season preview

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