The Business Behind the 2026 U.S. Open

Speaker A: Foreign.

Speaker B: Hey, everybody. Welcome to this week's episode of Making Sense of It all with Jesse Stakes. Today I have Mike Pedrone, Wes altus from the 10 cup club, and we are talking everything. US Open 20, 26. Guys, thank you so much for joining me.

Speaker C: Great to be here. Let's go with the US Open. This is exciting, especially at Shinnecock.

Speaker A: Appreciate it, Jesse.

Speaker B: Yeah, man, my pleasure. Tell you what, this feels like this year is flying by. I was thinking about it. It's like, you got this major and one more left, and we're done for the year. Like, it's insane.

Speaker A: I was really doing that with the picks. When I was going through the picks, uh, before we got on, I'm like, that's it, man. We got two more, and we can. That's it. I'm just like, this is. This is kind of sad, but we're closer to next year's Masters, uh, and players, so I guess there's that. There you go.

Speaker B: Amen. All right, so before we get started, guys, what you drinking? I'll start with you, Wes.

Speaker C: I got a little. Trusty, little Buffalo Trace,

Speaker B: Mikey.

Speaker A: I've got a straight bourbon whiskey called Oki, and Oki stands for Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana.

Speaker B: Interesting.

Speaker A: It's, uh, actually distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. It's actually very, very good. Um, Oki bourbon bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky. Very, um, very good.

Speaker B: I feel like they owe you something for that one. I'm drinking. I'm drinking Angels Envy. Boy, boys. So. Cheers.

Speaker C: Cheers.

Speaker A: Cheers.

Speaker B: So US Open, first thing that I wanted to talk a little bit about was kind of the business of the U.S. open. I mean, the USGA, this is kind of. This is their baby. This is. This is kind of the. Their flagship event. It's the way that they make money as far as for the. You know, that kind of supports the rest of the stuff that they do for the year. What do you guys think about, you know, kind of the. Not just. Not just the US Open itself, but just the USGA in general and what they do for golf, what they do for. You know, what that looks like for. For golfers like. Like us and then also professionals.

Speaker C: Yeah, they're kind of the. The keepers of the game for. In the United States, especially with the rna. So, like I said, this is their. This is their money cow right here. Like, if this doesn't go off, you know, they're. They're in trouble. But they promote a lot. You know, rules of the game, handicapping, agronomy. They. I mean, they're pretty heavy in the agronomy recently too. So this is definitely something that they, uh, take pride in and choosing the proper places and the merchandise. So this is, this is it for them until maybe one day they get a bigger event. But, man, this is. This is it.

Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, it's. I think it's the. I think it's the biggest thing, obviously, for them. I mean, you grow up. I mean, as the little kids and stuff, that's all you see is everything is little, little clubs and everything. All you see is USJ this, USG that, from the tiny little, you know, sets of clubs that you have at the store. Um, everything is sponsored by usga and they do a great job of growing the game. And obviously this one tournament every year just brings in, you know, over $100 million just from this one tournament that can sponsor all that stuff and bring all this revenue. It's just, I mean, it's the big daddy for them. And, um, it's, you know, every year it just keeps growing, it seems like. And you don't think it's, you know, this year is going to be bigger than last year, but it just keeps, it keeps getting bigger. The, you know, even though they kind of go to the same places every once in a while. When you go to some place like this where you haven't been in a while, it's just, uh, it kind of reinvigorates, you know, the hype and everything. And it just, it's cool how they can do that and just kind of get everything started back up, you know.

Speaker B: One of the things I always think about, like, when you see majors on television or you see, like, professional tournaments, I always think about travel. I think about like, oh, this would be a cool place to play, you see. But like, a lot of these USGA courses that they pick for the men's US Open, they're private. I mean, uh, they make a big deal out of it when they've picked a couple of public courses that, that other people can play. But, but really, I mean, the only thing you can do is look at them on television. Unless you know somebody.

Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. And I think, uh, there's plus and minuses to it. I like it because you don't get to see it. And they're, you know, they do go to the historic clubs, you know, this being one of them. And this is like one of the, what, one of the first five in the USGA recognized club. So, I mean, this is, this is kind of one of the flagship. And I, I like knowing that a Shinnecock is, you know, in the rota and it's coming up and these other private courses, it's cool to see, but I think the. The problem is people can't relate to it. Most of the time. They don't understand the history behind the clubs and the architecture for most of the casual fans. But being able to put the spotlight on and be like, hey, this is kind of. This architecture has spurred on other architects to come in and restore and get it back to the original. And that history behind the club that way, I think, is pretty cool for the, uh, the casual golf in no doubt.

Speaker B: But. All right, Mike, if I. If I told you, you know, for X number of dollars, they had a certain, like a limited amount of, you know, know, available, um, US Open tee times, quote unquote, to wherever. Wherever the venue was. Even if they did a raffle, kind of like what they do with the Masters with tickets, but if they did something to where people could play it and they said, you know, a day, pick a day, let's say 200 rounds or something like that, to where people could win around, I mean, how much would you pay for that? If, like, if you could go to Shanna, you know, within the next six months that you won, you won the raffle or whatever, what would that, you know, that's another. It's. To me, I would think that'd be a cool revenue driver and something really neat that people would get super engaged with.

Speaker A: Absolutely. I mean, I. I'd pay more than I'm probably publicly allowed to say on this podcast.

Speaker B: But listen.

Speaker A: No, actually, I can say whatever I want.

Speaker C: This would be the one time. Yeah, yeah, exactly.

Speaker A: Um, no, I think that, that. Yeah, that kind of.

Speaker B: That.

Speaker A: That would also. The mystique of being able to play it. Um, obviously they have the members that play it all the time, but, you know, that would be actually a really cool thing for them to do, you know, and keep it rare enough to where you get enough money for it. That's actually a really cool idea. I mean, they do a good job of mixing in some public stuff that we can play, um, in future courses. But, you know, something like this. And I think we've had talks about some of the courses in the past that we can't ever go get to play.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker A: Um, other podcasts. But it's like, yeah, if we can get to play something like this, I don't know what that number is, but it's, you know, it's like, willing. It's at least four digits. You know, it is Like a golden ticket.

Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, yeah, it is.

Speaker A: It's. You know, it's. You know, I got. I got. I bought a shirt of it. I've never even been there, you know, and it's just so I can wear it, you know, and that's probably one of my pet peeves is people wearing stuff in places they haven't been. But, um, I have it. But, you know, it's, um. It would be really, really cool to play. I. I 100 agree with that. I paid a lot of money for it.

Speaker B: Well, do you guys remember NBC, I think it was, that did that. It was probably 15, 10 or 15 years ago now. And it was back when. Back when Speed won the US Open, um, out west. Yep. They had that on Wednesday or whatever it was, or Tuesday of that week. Somebody won the opportunity to play with. And it was like they had celebrities, they had some other athletes out there. And. And from what I understand, it was a kind of a shit show just because they were hitting it so poorly. It was like. It was just. The coverage was taking forever.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: And unfortunately, I actually kind of want them to go back to Chambers Bay because that was not a great showing for the golf course. The greens were absolute horrendous. Like, it was like putting on broccoli. Um, it was just. I was like, man, what. What a bummer because the course looked amazing until you got up on the greens. I'd like to see him get another shot. I don't think it's going to happen because of the spectator, and they can't put up a ton of, uh, hospitality areas just because it kind of sits down in that bowl. But, um, I wish they would give that place another shot for U.S. open.

Speaker B: Yeah, no, I mean, I thought it was really cool. I mean, any of that stuff out on the west coast, like, that. That looks, you know, kind of links. Links. Ish. Ish. Um, I think it's cool. I think it's. I think it's, you know, it's. It. I. I wouldn't mind seeing it. And I mean, honestly, again, I. And I said this to you guys before we even started recording. I like it when you see a little bit of a car crash, when you see a little bit of those guys having to. Having to deal with things that are tough for a professional golfer to deal with. To me, that's what makes the US Open a little bit different. I mean, it's not like they're going to go out there and shoot 15 under. They're going to. They're Going to fight for bar.

Speaker C: Yeah, it's. I'm always just.

Speaker B: I'm, um.

Speaker C: Like you. I like to see them really have to play real good golf. It just. Unfortunately, USGA has had a couple whoopses out here at Shinnecock, so, yeah, hopefully that doesn't happen again.

Speaker B: I don't. Have you guys. Have you guys looked at any of the merchandise that they're doing for this year's U.S. open? And I. The reason why I bring it up is. I mean, everything right now is about the 250th anniversary of our country. And so I would think that they would have an enormous opportunity to sell some pretty unique merchandise this year.

Speaker A: I have not. I've only seen the. Actually, I was just about to jump on their site to look at some of that stuff. Um, I've seen some of the stuff that. That the club makers and the, you know, Strix island list and stuff dropped. And, um, those are really cool. Um, but I have not seen exactly what, um, what the actual US Open has dropped. But the US Open stuff, that's. That's one thing that their merchandise, I think, out of anybody, obviously, the Masters is on a league of its own just because it's so rare, so we ought to go get it. Um, but the US Open, I think, has the opportunity, just because of the patriotism of it all, has the opportunity of just killing it with merchandise. Um, just the red, uh, white and blue, the, you know, all. All that stuff that they have, no matter where they play it. Um, and Shinnecock Hills is going to be no different. Um, especially when we just had the Ryder cup up there in the Northeast. I mean, now you follow that up with. With, you know, the U.S. open up there, I mean, it's just going to be red, white, and blue everywhere. Um, I'm actually gonna. I'm looking at it right now. I'm gonna start shopping as we speak.

Speaker B: There's not a ton. So I've looked at it. There's not. There's not a ton that kind of focuses on that 250th anniversary. Uh, and I figured they would take advantage of it. But I thought you said, I mean, a huge mess. I think so.

Speaker A: I mean, there was UFC fight that focused on it. I mean, I can't imagine there's not

Speaker C: a. Yeah, I'm actually very surprised they didn't lean into that just a little bit more.

Speaker A: Uh.

Speaker C: Um, I've seen some of the manufacturers they have. But as far as, you know, with, you know, the logo for the US Open and Shinnecock, like they have essentially done zero that I can see. Unless there's some special stuff on site that they're not putting up online. Let's hope so. But man, I think this is a massive miss for the usga. Not trying to lean into that.

Speaker A: Yeah, even the volition stuff, which usually is kind of more over, more over the top with their, with their red, white and blue and all that stuff there, there's just a normal, yeah, normal stuff with the logo. Um, there's nothing kind of extra.

Speaker B: No, I feel like it's a, I mean it's a tremendous opportunity. You see, like you said, you see like some of the club manufacturers, like I think, uh, Callaway and Odyssey, I mean they did some really cool stuff with a, with their, with the, instead of a jailbird putter, they called it a free bird putter. Yeah, like, and I thought that was, I was like, if they made it left handed, I'd probably buy it.

Speaker C: That's, that's what know, especially this, this year. I mean that any manufacturer should be doing something and leaning into it. So I mean, it's good to see some are. But man, for the US Gen, that's

Speaker A: uh, I mean you're just talking a Japanese company and they have it. Yep, there you go.

Speaker B: You're talking about colorways, for God's sakes.

Speaker C: That's all it is, simple red, white and blue. I mean, people gonna buy it.

Speaker B: No doubt, no doubt. Uh, you know, it's kind of interesting. I always, I always wonder like, with a private club you can talk about like, kind of the impact on the local community. Like, like, I mean, I. People always talk about the economic impact and like how it's going to, you know, it's going to create jobs, it's going to create tourism because you're going to have a lot of people come into the area that want to watch the tournament. So it's, I mean like, hotels are going to make money, restaurants are going to make money, obviously. But like, let's, like, let's talk about the negatives for a second. Like the, the infrastructure strain. Like as far as when you're talking about a private club that does not have parking for thousands and thousands and thousands of people to be on their ground. So it's, you know, to me, I mean, I think that that's. And we, we experienced that like in Jacksonville when they had um, when Jim Fury has his event over in Tim Aquana, there's no parking there. Like, you got to park all over the city to get There. Yeah. Like.

Speaker C: Yep. Shuttle. It looks like a big event.

Speaker A: Yeah. And it looks like just from. I mean, obviously I've never been up in that. In that Southampton area or, you know, actually Long island at all. But I mean, it looks like it's kind of just tucked out there. So I don't know where people would stay. I don't know if you're coming in from the city and, and heading out that way or where you're staying. And like, it's got to be a logistics nightmare, um, for this place. Um, just from looking at it as a, you know, bird's eye view of the place, um, I can imagine everybody

Speaker C: going out there, in and out, kind of like Kiowa. There's only a one. One. We're out. So Hampton's is.

Speaker A: That's kind of what it reminded me of. Just looking at it from an overhead view is. Is kind of looking at the Kiowa, like right there on the coast. And it's got a lot of similarities. Just looking at it as a course, uh, to Kiawah.

Speaker B: Um, think about that though. Probably, you can probably name your price. Like, either whether you're renting out your home, you probably think you probably have a ton doing that.

Speaker C: Yeah, no problem there.

Speaker A: If you're living in Shinnecock, I don't think you really worried about running out your house for money fair.

Speaker C: Unless you're one of those guys. Like, well, it's going to be a. A cluster. I'm going to get out of town, but I'll throw my. Yeah, uh, and I'm like, I'm m going to make money as I leave town. Cool, let's do it.

Speaker B: No doubt. You guys ever thought about volunteering? Like, at a usga? I mean, USGA event. Because, I mean, like that stuff they put out on their website and it's like you have the opportunity wherever you're at in the United States, you could volunteer. Has that ever been something you guys have looked at?

Speaker C: Honestly, no. I don't know. Like it to me, to be at a golf tournament like that and just stuck kind of in one spot. I know you get to your breaks or whatever, but, man, I'd have a really hard time not wandering off and watch some golf.

Speaker A: Yeah, I've thought about it for the players only because it's local, but I've never thought about it because we've never been really anywhere near U.S. open. Um, down here.

Speaker C: I guess you could make a mini vacation out of it. Like, I mean, what's volunteer a couple days and then what's up gets here.

Speaker A: I mean, Pinehurst is probably the closest thing that gets to us. Yeah. I mean. Yeah, I never even. Yeah, I've never even thought about it, honestly. Um, but that would be. That would be kind of cool to just. Because, I mean. Well, actually, I don't even. That's a question. Do you get to play like you do in the master. Do you get to play if you're a volunteer the Tuesday after. Because I'm volunteering every year. That's the case.

Speaker C: May I? I guess it would really depend on the club. So I have a feeling the members want to get back on their golf course, like the day after a major championship and see. See that beast in action. So that. That'd be something you'd have to pull threat pass through the membership.

Speaker A: So unfortunately, open volunteers are not granted privileges.

Speaker C: Well, that makes that decision super easy.

Speaker B: Looks like you get access to the property for all seven days. You get a uniform package, a water bottle, some lunch, and a hospitality tent to hang out in. That's about it, folks.

Speaker C: I guess. What. How much you got to pay for your, uh, your uniforms? I guess is the real question. Because I know at the players, you got to pay for them.

Speaker B: That is true. Ah, I find it interesting because I've talking, like, talk to some of the volunteers at the, like, Players Championship, and there are people that, like, almost like, that's what they do. They go around to multiple events and volunteer at a ton of PGA Tour events because that's their fun. Like. And so they get into all these events by volunteering, and them and their spouse or whoever travel around and. And they hang out and watch golf.

Speaker C: Good on them.

Speaker A: That'd be really cool. I just. I gotta play after that if I'm gonna do that all weekend.

Speaker B: I. I have. I've got to agree with you 100%. 100%. So let's talk about the tournament itself, like, first off. Well, before we get to that, I'd like to throw. Throw a question out to both of you. Whoever knows, please answer. How. How. How do you bring new courses into the US Open rota? Or like, as far as, like, to you. You guys just said it like, we don't get them down here ever. Like, there's nothing. I mean, I don't think. Have we ever. I don't think we've ever had a US Open even considered in Florida. So

Speaker C: I don't know the exact bidding process, but I know you have to kind of host, uh, a US AM M. And you kind of have to move through the Ranks a little bit as far as, you know, what you can host. So it's kind of like if you host like a USM M or a four ball or something like that, you kind of get put on the radar. But, um, I truly think, unless it's just an absolute, just gem of a new course or something that they've redone. The private clubs are kind of. And your iconic courses are just. They're always going to be there. It's rare. I mean, the Aaron Hills getting in was kind of a surprise, to be honest with you. That was shocking. Um, but I think it has to be something like that where they're going to say, hey, this is public, it's new, it's grand. It's all this before you, uh, get to actually host a U.S. open.

Speaker A: You know what I just realized? I didn't. I was looking up the courses, and I'm sitting there, I'm just trying to figure out the next, you know, five, 10 years. And then I'm like, I wonder how far out they go. And I just kept scrolling and scrolling, scrolling. They go to. They. They already have their courses picked out to 2051. Yeah.

Speaker B: Oh, wow.

Speaker A: Y. I. Yeah, I'm with.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker A: I'm like, it's ridiculous. That's 20. What? That's 25 years. My math is right. Yeah, that's ridiculous. I mean, they're going to pebble four times in that time. They go to Shinnecock again in 2036. Finst a few times, Pokemon a couple times. Uh, Oakland Hills. I mean, it's just. It's. I mean, the only. The only odd one in there is Riviera. They go in 2031. Um, but everything else gonna be a good one. Yeah. The only thing else is all the same old kind of courses that they always kind of go back to and just keep going back to.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker A: Um, so I don't know, to answer your question, I'm not sure exactly how you get yourself into that rotation. Um. Ah, I don't know what they use to qualify themselves as a U.S. open course, because we know how the PGA does it. I mean, you got to be part of the PGA of America. Um, I mean, I'm assuming, obviously. Um, so that's an easy one. But I don't know if there's a USGA course. There are no such things as USGA courses. Correct. If. No. Right.

Speaker B: As long as they're rated and they have a slope. I mean, that's what they get.

Speaker A: Exactly.

Speaker B: Sga. Correct. No.

Speaker C: Correct.

Speaker A: So, you know, so there's no way to really. That can. It can be basically any course they want, technically.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker A: So, yeah. Um, and it seems to always be either, you know, the west coast or, you know, the Northeast. Um, from what then? They just keep bouncing back and forth.

Speaker C: I just don't think you're ever going to see something in the Southeast in June. I just think it's too damn hot. You're transitioning out of, you know, winter grass into summer grass. And that timing's off. Plus, as we know right now it's thunderstorming pretty much starting right at 2:00', clock, anywhere from 2 to 5. So I, I think there's more. I think it's a weather thing. I think we might have a couple courses that could actually host one down here in Florida. But I think it's a weather situation.

Speaker B: I get it. I mean, it's a fair, uh. They're all fair points and it's the only thing. And this is just like one of those like, just probably pie in the sky ideas. You call it that. I mean, it's called. You call it the US Open. It'd be pretty cool if they touched all 50 states at one point in time.

Speaker C: Like, that would be awesome.

Speaker B: I mean, and it wouldn't. I mean, you would almost have to change the time of year, like, if you were to do something like that. But that would be kind of cool, like if you said, okay, over the next 50 years, we're never going to repeat. It's going to be in a different place and it's going to be in a different state every single year. That'd be. I think that'd kind of be badass.

Speaker C: That would be incredible if they could do that.

Speaker A: So they started in, uh, Fun fact here. They started in 1895. Right. M. And they've only been to 52 venues.

Speaker B: Interesting.

Speaker A: And 22 states. And 22 states have been represented. Yeah, you know, that's, that's crazy. You start in 1895 and you only been to 52 courses. Yeah, that's crazy.

Speaker B: It's a pretty, it's a pretty select group. I mean, like, it's kind of a close, like you said, with the, with the, with the. Off examples of some of the private or, excuse me, the public courses that have got in. It's a pretty, pretty select group of courses that actually host these events. Think about the, think about the British Open, though, or the Open, whatever you want to call it. I mean, that one. I mean, it's, uh, an even tighter rota of courses that actually Hooked it. And they'll.

Speaker C: They'll kick you out of a road of quick, too.

Speaker B: So let's. Let's transition here to, like. Like, as far as actually talking about the event, like, like, course setup in the philosophy of the usga, like, they always say that they want to be tough but fair. I think sometimes people have had the argument that that's not the case. And then, like, also, you've talked about it, Wes. I mean, you kind of touched on agronomy as far as, like, how they're, you know, how they're trying to shape the game of golf at the public level and everywhere else. And this is really their opportunity to kind of displ their. You know what they're, um, kind of. Kind of the direction that they want to go, and then just kind of how they're, you know, how they make renovations and design tweaks to these courses as they go to try to. To match up to the professional game. Throw it out to you guys. Just hear your thoughts on it. I'll start with you, Wes.

Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's, uh, you know, they. They tiptoe the line of, uh, Razor's Edge, you know, getting it to the point where. I don't know why you tiptoe that line to make it almost unplayable for these. I mean, it is a national championship. It's a major. I don't like when the course and course setup becomes the theme of the event instead of the players. I think that that's probably the part that frustrates me the most. Um, I don't mind them if they were like, hey, Thursday, it's going to be this. And then, hey, it's going to get progressively harder. And being out at Shinnecock with the. I mean, the place is wide open. If we've. Anyone watched any videos of anyone playing this course right now, that's on YouTube. It is wide open. It is a wind tunnel. If that wind gets blowing, which it does, all those greens are exposed, and if you take a look at them, there's not a big, effective playing area on those greens. They slope off. They're so. It's like you can lose that place super fast. And I just don't want a course like this or any of the courses to come down because the USGA wanted to push the limits, and they screw it up, which they have a reputation of doing. So, uh, I want it to be about the players more. I love the course, the history, talking about the renovations, getting it back to the original design, how was intended. I Love all that. I just hate when the USGA makes it about how tough they can make it and try and not lose the course.

Speaker A: Yeah, I did. I, I saw this stat on this course in particular, and I, I, I for sure thought this guy got it wrong. There is zero percent chance it was right. I went straight to the house on my computer. I'm like, that is no way. Since the Open in 1986, they've played there four times. Three players have finished under par.

Speaker C: Mhm. Yep.

Speaker A: Raymond. Raymond Floyd in 1986. Phil Mickelson and Retief Goose and both finished under par in 2004. And that is it. Two in the same year. Everybody else. Paven finished even 95. Brooks kept it one with a plus one. 20, 18, all in that course. That is, uh, that's just mind blowing to me when you see how good these guys are and, and that is generations of great players. That's not just like, oh, in the last two years, you know, it's played, it's just played tougher because, you know, I think the courses have gotten tougher over the years because the players have gotten better. But in 86, I can't imagine that Shinnecock and 95 even played like it does now. There is a zero percent chance. And those players were pretty damn good back then. And even then they were still playing tough enough where these guys couldn't even break par over four. Four rounds.

Speaker C: 95 was paving. Yeah, and I think that was on like the razors that show. I think there's a couple instances there where they almost lost a green or something like that. So it, it's in there. It's in their MO to do that to this place. And man, I just hope they don't do it again because this place just looks incredible. I want to see these guys play the course. Best player win, but not to the point where it becomes just goofy golf.

Speaker A: Yeah, there was somebody on the 11th today. I saw it on Instagram. That was putting from the back of the 11th green. Um, and he just put it up towards a cup. And as soon as it missed the cup, he just followed the ball with his camera and he's like, there it goes. And went right off the green. I mean, and this is on a, what's that? Monday. This is on a Monday.

Speaker C: I mean, Monday. It's Monday. And, uh, they got a problem.

Speaker A: Yeah. So I'm hoping that, you know, it's, I don't know if they're supposed to get any rain this week. I haven't looked at the weather. But, you know, I hope they. They can control it. You know, we're smart enough now with agronomy that we can, you know, control some of these greens. But even then, you know, I. Some of these holes, this like the 7th and the 11th, like we've mentioned. I don't know if, you know, you can water them enough to keep a ball on those greens. I don't care what you do. Um.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker A: What is it?

Speaker C: Let's put it this way. No wind Tuesday or Wednesday or no rain Tuesday. Wednesday and Tuesday you got 8 to 18 mile an hour gusts 12, 4 to 12 sustained. Wednesday, exact same thing. So they better be watering these damn greens. I take that much because that's not. And Thursday, they're at 40% chance. And Thursday looks like an absolute ball Buster wins. 18 to 22, Gust at 16 to 33. They might lose it up high Thursday.

Speaker A: I mean, if that's the case, nobody, your leader will be plus two or plus three on third. I mean.

Speaker B: Yeah, see, I don't hate that, though.

Speaker A: Like, I, like, I don't hate it. I'm just.

Speaker C: The only thing doesn't want the course lost. That's where.

Speaker B: I agree with that.

Speaker C: Back to.

Speaker B: I agree with that. Like, to where if they can't. If they execute a shot and that shot turns into an absolute failure, like, whether it, you know, no matter what hole it is, that to me, like, that's where. That's where they lose me. Because it's like, okay, this guy just. Just did his job perfectly.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: And it still didn't hold a green. Or it's still like, like, then I, I do have an issue with that. But when it's just absolutely tough and it's like, you know, like you said a ball button.

Speaker C: I'm.

Speaker B: I'm great with that. If the win. If the winning score is five over par, as long as on the back nine on Sunday, there is an ability to win it. If it is, uh, if. If it is set up so impossibly that nobody can actually come from behind and win. If they hit, you know, if they go out and hit, you know, perfect shots on 10 through 18 and they can't. They cannot physically go out and win the tournament, then that's where it takes the fun out of it. It takes the viewing fun out of it.

Speaker A: Well, I think you're winning it by pouring. That's the thing is you're winning it by keeping the big numbers out rather than. Rather than going out there and. And going on a birdie run. I Mean, it's just, it's a different mentality

Speaker C: most of the time. Like a good par there is usually like, man, that kind of picked up a half a shot on that hole by just making a park. But again, like, uh, Jesse said it great. Like I, I want to see the good shots rewarded. That doesn't mean it. It's a birdie, you know, a tap in birdie by any stretch. But it's like, all right, the only play well you can get close to this pain is going to be maybe 15ft in this area. And if you execute it, that's your reward.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: But if it's just like, hey, no one can do it, then it's like, why are we, what are we doing? Like, it's not even testing skill at that point.

Speaker B: Yeah, I agree. All right, so that being said about the course, uh, is there any players or anything that you guys are looking forward to, to watching this week? Is there any storylines or, or, you know, I know Pedrone's probably looking forward to seeing Aaron Rye play this week.

Speaker A: Absolutely. Man. That's the one storyline I'm always rooting for that guy, honestly. That's my boy.

Speaker C: I think, I think this is a, um, controlling kind of approaches into the Cranes.

Speaker A: Man, I'm trying to talk something else into existence. I don't know. I mean, that was the craziest thing ever. That's the craziest thing I've ever done in my life. I just, that pulled that out of my ass that day. I don't even know how that happened.

Speaker C: That was fantastic. But I think, I think it's going to be approaches into the greens. I think is going to be, uh, a big one because they did widen the fairways. I know they're kind of the reverse camber on the fairways a little bit, so dog leg left, it slopes a little, you know, left to right on some of those fairways. So your fairways are a little bit play narrower, but they are bigger. And yeah, with those crown greens, it's going to have to be approach play. And I, I, by the sounds of it, it looks like once you get off the fairways, since they are wider, the rough doesn't seem like it's, um, going to be favorable for the players.

Speaker B: You're probably right.

Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, it's.

Speaker A: Yeah. I think also I want to see, I want to see how Bryson bounces back. Um, man, it's been a rough two majors for him. I don't know.

Speaker C: He's got a new driver, he's got a New driver. Does he, uh, New tail. New Taylor made. It was on the conforming list, a 7 degree and it popped up. I just saw, I saw him hitting it on the range on. I think it was Instagram. He had it out. Wow, that's interesting. Now, does it put it in play? That's another thing. But whenever he starts testing stuff like this, I'm. I get concerned.

Speaker B: I think he's put something new in play almost every major since the last two years. Yeah.

Speaker C: Wedges. Yeah.

Speaker A: That's crazy.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker A: I mean, he's got the game for it, obviously. Um, he's done very, very well historically in US Opens. I just mean I can't imagine him after his last two majors doing anything here. But again.

Speaker B: Well, I think he's trying to be surprised me. He's taken a business development role with Liv. Now basically he's out trying to. Trying to sell live to investors. So, I mean, I don't know. I don't know how much that's eating into his day job, but I gotta imagine that's a big distraction.

Speaker A: Hey, he.

Speaker C: He seems distracted. Like, uh, he doesn't seem like he's all in on golf right now, which, I mean, maybe there's something in his live contract that he's not gonna get all of his money if he doesn't produce something. So who knows? Because he is all in on it right now. So there. It's interesting.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: I also think on, um, on the, on the player, on the players for this, for this course, I do think, all joking aside, on the Aaron Rye thing, you. The, this is gonna, this is gonna separate a certain type of player because, you know, these guys have a certain mentality obviously, to get to where they are in the pga, period. But the caliber of player that is going to survive these four days of the grueling through this, through Shinnecock is a completely different mentality. You got to have the patience to get through these four days. And you know, some of these guys have the game to win on every, any, any day. Uh, obviously we saw it. We saw it at the pga, but the, this course is different. This is going to bring out, I think, the, the top of the top guys. I mean, this is going to bring out the best of the best. I don't. I do not. I'm gonna say it again. I do not see. I do not see. I do not see a, uh. I'm not gonna say a name. I'm not gonna do it.

Speaker C: I was about to say Jesse, time stamp this right now.

Speaker A: All right, I'M gonna say it. I do not see a Bud Collie winning this tournament.

Speaker C: Come on, the guy won last week. Of course he's gonna win the next week.

Speaker A: There you go. I feel pretty confident about that.

Speaker C: I guess what's going to be interesting is, is Brooks gonna play with that hand, wrist, elbow, whatever the heck is going on with him?

Speaker B: I don't know. He, I, I saw he pulled out of last week's. Last week's event, like, after. After the third round, but didn't really look at any details on what was going on with him.

Speaker C: He said he couldn't hold on to the club. He's having difficulty. And I was like, that's exactly not what you want to hear coming into the US Open, because I actually had him underlining two, uh, weeks ago. I'm like, I kind of like Brooks going back to shiny and doing something. You know, his game was trending nicely. He's got the mentality, honestly, that you talked about. Pedrone and I, I had him underlined. And I have a, uh, big no right now, so timestamp. This one, Jesse. This one might be the one that gets me. This one might get me right here. But I had him. I wanted him in our picks, and I got a big no next to him right now.

Speaker A: Yeah, he's got the mentality for it, for sure. That's the kind of.

Speaker C: Yep.

Speaker A: That's the kind of person that you. That you want going through these days. Um, you know, somebody. Somebody. Ice cold, no pun intended, with Patty Ice, but that's another one, too.

Speaker B: All right, boys. Well, I think that brings us to it. Let's go ahead and get to our picks, Mike.

Speaker A: All right, little update with the standings. Um, Shoot. Hold on. I gotta pull them up. Um, I am still in the lead even though Bryson did not make the cut.

Speaker B: Um, pretty impressive doing it with one person.

Speaker C: Impressive.

Speaker A: Yeah. Uh, J.T. man, J.T. pulled through.

Speaker C: He made a run.

Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. Ah, I'm at three, a little over 3.7 million. Jesse in second with a little over 2.7 million. Blakely in third at 2.35. All just at, ah, 1.6, basically, and Shelton at 1.1. Probably the closest we've been after two in this. Nobody has got. Nobody's picked a winner yet. So that's why it's kind of kept everybody pretty close. Um, and last and last on the pga. Everybody but two players. Everybody but, um, Bryson and Fleetwood made the cut, which was actually pretty impressive of us, too.

Speaker B: All right.

Speaker A: For me and Blake, except for me and Blakely. But, um, so it'll be. It'll be in reverse order. I got Shelton and Blakely's picks who are not, uh, on the podcast, obviously, with us. So Shelton's first pick. He cannot go with, uh, Oberg, Fleetwood, Cam, or Xander. So he's going with Scotty.

Speaker C: Saw that one coming. And I actually played him, I think, put in a bet in the beginning of the year for him to complete the grand slam here.

Speaker A: I think Scotty, um, just off top by going back to the course thing. He. You need somebody that's going to be. Control his distances with irons and wedges on this course, especially with these greens. I think he's. I think he's prime for something like this. I think that's a great pick. Obviously, he's always a good pick, but especially here, I think it's a good one. So, uh, what if you're up next? You can't go with, uh, Rom, Xander, Fitz or God.

Speaker B: Her up.

Speaker C: Uh, I am going to go with, uh, Cam Young.

Speaker A: Love it. I can scratch that off my list. Cam was gone there, and Shelton didn't have many ways. So Blakely is next. Scotty's gone off his list, so his next pick is. Make sure he didn't already pick him. And he did not. So Rory is gone, and Jesse, you are next.

Speaker B: All right. So I was thinking about Kepka as well.

Speaker A: Did Wes talk you out of it or he talk you into it?

Speaker B: No, I'm. Look, I'm just thinking of it as far as, like, I. I haven't seen anything. I was trying to look and see is he. Has he said anything about playing or not playing?

Speaker C: He hasn't, but I. Yeah, it was just more of going out. And there's probably a good reason he went out after the third round, uh, to prepare for the US Open, but I haven't seen anything that he's.

Speaker A: W. Here. I can do a. Since I'm the commissioner of this pick league, if you're. If you could before they tee off, if somebody. You can pick somebody new. That obviously was not picked fair.

Speaker B: I'm taking Capka then.

Speaker A: Okay. I'm fine with that. Unless Wes, you're. You're against that because you were.

Speaker C: That's fine.

Speaker A: I think that's only fair because we don't know anything. We don't know anything on a Monday.

Speaker C: So he hasn't said anything. And I think, um, yeah, I mean, that's completely fine.

Speaker B: He's due.

Speaker C: He's. He is due, man. And if he's in the Hunt. I'll. I'm going to root hard for him, to be honest. Yeah.

Speaker A: So Brooks good there. So we're to me now. And I'm actually gonna go. Uh, I got back to back picks here. I'm gonna go john rom.

Speaker C: Uh.

Speaker A: Oh, man.

Speaker C: The second one's gonna pick another live guy. Got Joaquin high rail. Hatton go all live.

Speaker A: No, I'm between these two guys, and I'm gonna save one of them, I think. Let's go. Uh, second here. I'm gonna go Oberg. I'm gonna go Ludovig.

Speaker C: Strong approach game right there.

Speaker A: All right, so I went Ludwig and John Rom. Now we're back to Jesse.

Speaker B: I'm taking Terrell Haddon.

Speaker A: There we go. Speaking of.

Speaker C: You're welcome.

Speaker B: He was already on my list, buddy. That dude's been so solid in every major he's played in. Like, I mean, I agree.

Speaker C: Dude.

Speaker A: That'd be so good.

Speaker C: Such a solid pick.

Speaker B: Uh, he just looks like he's got something to prove. Every time. Every time. Like, it's almost like he is like. Like he's the. The little. The little guy who's just trying to prove himself to everybody else. And maybe he doesn't feel that way at all, but that's what he looks like out there.

Speaker C: Yeah, I agree.

Speaker A: I. I like very well.

Speaker C: As long as he doesn't lose his, he's gonna be fine.

Speaker B: Fair.

Speaker A: So that goes back to Blakely, who ended up getting two of his first three somehow.

Speaker C: And he gets Xander Zander, which you

Speaker A: couldn't have gotten Anyways, Wes, so it's back to you. Who are you pairing with? Cam? Um,

Speaker C: Give me Tommy Lad.

Speaker A: Yeah, that was who I was. That's who I was between. I think he is very good for this course, by the way. So Tommy and the final pick, and I gotta go in his order. So he's getting fits, and I'm gonna give him. I'm gonna give him Alex Fitzpatrick, but he probably. He probably meant M. Matthew Fitzpatrick. So although Alex is probably playing better right now. Uh,

Speaker C: a little bit of a heater.

Speaker A: So you got Shelton with Scotty, uh, Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Wes with Cam Young and Tommy Fleetwood. Blakely with Rory and Xander, Jesse with Brooks and Hatton and Pedrone. I've got Rom and Oberg. Perfect. Love it. I'll just extend my lead then.

Speaker B: Nice.

Speaker C: Shall see yes, you show. We shall see. This is the fun part because this. This is kind of wide open. I mean, look at last year. Who would have thought JJ Spawn was gonna win at Oakmont. Who would have thought?

Speaker A: Last week or two weeks ago last

Speaker B: month

Speaker A: I apparently did.

Speaker B: All right, I got a final question for you guys. It'll be good before we wrap this up. Wes, if you were in charge, if you ran the US Open, what's one thing that you would change and then what's one thing that you would never change about the way that these events are run?

Speaker C: One thing I would change. Where do I start this one? I could go on a tangent. I would probably say the only thing I'd want to change is give the, you know, make the course play difficult, but don't lose it. Like that's all I want from these us. Because these courses are too good. They can hold their own. I mean, Oakmont's one of the toughest courses in the planet and they don't need to trick it up on a day to day basis. This is another one, in my opinion, that is very difficult. And member conditions. Yeah, you need to tweak it up a little bit. I'm all for that, but let's let the players decide the championship, not the uh, the conditions of the course, getting away from them.

Speaker B: What's one, what's one thing you'd never change?

Speaker C: I love that anyone with a certain ah, index can try and qualify for this thing. You get, you know, amateurs, you get pros. I think you get people there probably typically playing their best golf when they come in from qualifying. Um, so it's good because you never know, you might get that story of the, you know, the journeyman club pro that has played, you know, in all the section events or whatnot, and he qualifies or you know, the, the 40 year old accountant that plays all the time and, and he gets a shot and he pops himself on the leaderboard. There's a cool story. So that's always a fun one for me when the US Open is seeing the uh, the other guys get a chance to go out and play out here and also showcase how good the best players really are.

Speaker B: No doubt. Mike, what's one thing that you would change and what's one thing you would never change?

Speaker A: I would definitely change the way they pick the course. I, I don't know. I honestly don't like that until I saw that today that they're, you know, out to 20, 51 on courses like, I don't know, man, I, I think, I think I like the fact that they announced every three or four years, hey, we're going here in five years and be like, hell yeah, that's awesome. Like Man, I mean, I don't even 2051, like, there was a fun in that, you know?

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Um, you know, um. And then the one thing like.

Speaker C: Like.

Speaker A: Like Wes said, I. You know, the one thing I definitely would not change is, like, the ode to tin Cup. Roy McEvoy said the most democratic of all majors. No, um, that's. That's how Roy McEvoy got in, man. You know? Uh, that's right. Driving range. Driving range pro from west Texas. That's right. And he got in, and, you know, everybody's gonna remember his 12 because of it.

Speaker B: Very true. I kind of feel like if I could change anything. I think I agree with you, Mike, that the thing that I would change is the way that they select the courses. I literally would figure out a way to rotate it to multiple venues throughout the United States. Even if you use the golf digest top 100 or if you use however you decided to do it, I would have so many venues and so many states showcased. That would be. That would be kind of one of my. One of my goals of the event is to just say, look at the great gulf that's all around the United States. Like, I think that would be something that I would do. The other thing that I like, as far as something that I would not change is I agree with you, Wes, is the fact that if you're good enough, you get to play in this event. Like, you can find a way to play in this event if you. If you can play well enough to qualify. And I think that that's fantastic.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker C: Right on, boys.

Speaker B: I enjoyed it. I appreciate it, and I hope we all have a good time watching it this week. Cheers. Catch you guys down the road.

Speaker A: Sam,