Brendan Lawlor

One of golf’s greatest assets, especially when compared to other sports, is the range of people who can enjoy it.Age, gender and even disability can all be accounted for in golf and in that last category one of the best in the world is recent inaugural G4D Open winner Brendan Lawlor.The Irishman captured the title at Woburn in May and in this wide ranging chat with Rod Morri delves into the fascinating — and frankly underrated world — of disability golf.

One of golf’s greatest assets, especially when compared to other sports, is the range of people who can enjoy it.Age, gender and even disability can all be accounted for in golf and in that last category one of the best in the world is recent inaugural G4D Open winner Brendan Lawlor.The Irishman captured the title at Woburn in May and in this wide ranging chat with Rod Morri delves into the fascinating — and frankly underrated world — of disability golf.

The Thing About Golf #98: Brendan Lawlor

It's not often you get an insider’s perspective on one of the game’s most important championships but that’s exactly what David Begg, former press officer for The Open Championship, gives us in this lengthy chat with John Huggan.From Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino to Greg Norman and Nick Faldo, Begg had a front row seat for some of golf’s most memorable moments.

It's not often you get an insider’s perspective on one of the game’s most important championships but that’s exactly what David Begg, former press officer for The Open Championship, gives us in this lengthy chat with John Huggan.From Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino to Greg Norman and Nick Faldo, Begg had a front row seat for some of golf’s most memorable moments.

The Thing About Golf Podcast #97: David Begg

Hannah Brown

Rare is the person who swings from indifference, or even dislike of the game, to becoming a committed and passionate golfer but that has been the journey for our guest Dr Hannah Brown.An accomplished and highly regarded scientist, Hannah found the game later in life and brings a perspective that we in golf rarely get to hear.From what makes the game so addictive to the things we do that look so silly to the outside world, Hannah has some fascinating takes on what golf gets right — and wrong.

Rare is the person who swings from indifference, or even dislike of the game, to becoming a committed and passionate golfer but that has been the journey for our guest Dr Hannah Brown.An accomplished and highly regarded scientist, Hannah found the game later in life and brings a perspective that we in golf rarely get to hear.From what makes the game so addictive to the things we do that look so silly to the outside world, Hannah has some fascinating takes on what golf gets right — and wrong.

The Thing About Golf #96: Dr. Hannah Brown

About the only people in golf who attract more criticism than the players are those who commentate on the game on TV. But not Judy Rankin.The 26-time LPGA Tour winner and former Solheim Cup Captain is universally regarded as one of the best to ever pick up a microphone and in this broad ranging chat with John Huggan she covers everything from her beginnings in the game to the future of the LPGA Tour.

About the only people in golf who attract more criticism than the players are those who commentate on the game on TV. But not Judy Rankin.The 26-time LPGA Tour winner and former Solheim Cup Captain is universally regarded as one of the best to ever pick up a microphone and in this broad ranging chat with John Huggan she covers everything from her beginnings in the game to the future of the LPGA Tour.

The Thing About Golf #95: Judy Rankin

Jim Furyk

Jim Furyk occupies an unusual place in the professional game.Without the profile and attention of the likes of Tiger or Phil or Rory, he more than comfortably held his own in that company for the best part of 20 years.A Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stalwart, Furyk has some fascinating insights into the game and the people who play it as you will hear in this compelling chat with John Huggan.

Jim Furyk occupies an unusual place in the professional game.Without the profile and attention of the likes of Tiger or Phil or Rory, he more than comfortably held his own in that company for the best part of 20 years.A Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stalwart, Furyk has some fascinating insights into the game and the people who play it as you will hear in this compelling chat with John Huggan.

The Thing About Golf #94: Jim Furyk

Tomas Mezera

Lots of professional golfers like fast cars but none can quite match PGA Tour of Australasia Legends Tour player Tomas Mezera.Mezera spent most of his life as a professional car racer including winning Australia’s prestigious Bathurst 1000 in 1988. But at 50, his career took a different turn when he signed up for — and succeeded — at the Legends Tour Q-School.Mezera's is a remarkable story about much more than just golf and in this wide ranging chat with Rod Morri he talks about escaping communism in Czechoslovakia at 20, discovering golf at the age of 30, playing with Greg Norman as an amateur and now life on the over 50s circuit.

Lots of professional golfers like fast cars but none can quite match PGA Tour of Australasia Legends Tour player Tomas Mezera.Mezera spent most of his life as a professional car racer including winning Australia’s prestigious Bathurst 1000 in 1988. But at 50, his career took a different turn when he signed up for — and succeeded — at the Legends Tour Q-School.Mezera's is a remarkable story about much more than just golf and in this wide ranging chat with Rod Morri he talks about escaping communism in Czechoslovakia at 20, discovering golf at the age of 30, playing with Greg Norman as an amateur and now life on the over 50s circuit.

The Thing About Golf #93: Tomas Mezera

Geoff Ogilvy

Winner of the 2006 US Open, Geoff Ogilvy is known as one of professional golf’s best interview subjects and in this wide ranging chat with John Huggan he shows why.From growing up in Melbourne where being a caddie at Royal Melbourne gave him access to the course to playing and winning on the biggest stages in world golf alongside the likes of Tiger Woods and Seve Ballesteros, Ogilvy has done it all with a critical eye and an active mind.In this chat we find out where his love of golf architecture was born and how three months at the start of the century set up an entire career.

Winner of the 2006 US Open, Geoff Ogilvy is known as one of professional golf’s best interview subjects and in this wide ranging chat with John Huggan he shows why.From growing up in Melbourne where being a caddie at Royal Melbourne gave him access to the course to playing and winning on the biggest stages in world golf alongside the likes of Tiger Woods and Seve Ballesteros, Ogilvy has done it all with a critical eye and an active mind.In this chat we find out where his love of golf architecture was born and how three months at the start of the century set up an entire career.

The Thing About Golf #92: Geoff Ogilvy

Among the most unique perspectives in professional golf is that of the on course reporter.Unlike the rest of the commentary team or the viewers on TV, those who walk with the players get to see everything, not just what the director chooses. For many years in Australia that voice belonged to Chanel 7’s Pat Welsh, a Brisbane sports TV icon and one of the industry’s most likeable characters.Welsh had a front row seat to some of Australian golf’s greatest moments and relives many of them in this wide ranging chat with Rod Morri.

Among the most unique perspectives in professional golf is that of the on course reporter.Unlike the rest of the commentary team or the viewers on TV, those who walk with the players get to see everything, not just what the director chooses. For many years in Australia that voice belonged to Chanel 7’s Pat Welsh, a Brisbane sports TV icon and one of the industry’s most likeable characters.Welsh had a front row seat to some of Australian golf’s greatest moments and relives many of them in this wide ranging chat with Rod Morri.

The Thing About Golf #91: Pat Welsh

Peter Dawson

Peter Dawson has been as influential an administrator of the game as anyone in history.Appointed Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1999 it was Dawson who oversaw the creation of The R&amp;A in 2004 to take care of the club’s commercial operations, including The Open, through one of its biggest growth periods.Among the highlights of his tenure were announcing Tiger Woods four times as the Champion Golfer of the Year and several years refereeing at The Masters.Dawson and John Huggan have known each other many years and while they share a love of the game there is much they don’t agree on which makes for a fascinating discussion.

Peter Dawson has been as influential an administrator of the game as anyone in history.Appointed Secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1999 it was Dawson who oversaw the creation of The R&amp;A in 2004 to take care of the club’s commercial operations, including The Open, through one of its biggest growth periods.Among the highlights of his tenure were announcing Tiger Woods four times as the Champion Golfer of the Year and several years refereeing at The Masters.Dawson and John Huggan have known each other many years and while they share a love of the game there is much they don’t agree on which makes for a fascinating discussion.

The Thing About Golf #90: Peter Dawson

Ian Woosnam

It’s a long way from Wales to Augusta National and the Ryder Cup captaincy but it’s been quite the loaf journey for 1991 Maters champion Ian Woosnam.In a special Masters week edition of The Thing About Golf the former World No.1 sits down with John Huggan to reflect on his career.From starting in the shadow of fellow Masters winner Sandy Lyle to eventually going all the way to the very top echelons of the game.

It’s a long way from Wales to Augusta National and the Ryder Cup captaincy but it’s been quite the loaf journey for 1991 Maters champion Ian Woosnam.In a special Masters week edition of The Thing About Golf the former World No.1 sits down with John Huggan to reflect on his career.From starting in the shadow of fellow Masters winner Sandy Lyle to eventually going all the way to the very top echelons of the game.

The Thing About Golf #89: Ian Woosnam

Estimates say there are as many as 60 million golfers in the world and we all know at least some of them who are completely addicted. The question is why? Join us as we try to discover the answer to that burning question, interviewing golfers both famous - and not - on a monthly quest to solve the riddle of this maddening game.

It’s been 25 years since Mark O’Meara slipped on the green jacket after a tense final round battle with Fred Couples and David Duval.In this sit down chat for a Masters week special of The Thing About Golf with John Huggan the two time major winner (and Australian Masters champion) reflects not only on that week and but a rich, full life in golf.He touches on Augusta, Tiger and so much more.

It’s been 25 years since Mark O’Meara slipped on the green jacket after a tense final round battle with Fred Couples and David Duval.In this sit down chat for a Masters week special of The Thing About Golf with John Huggan the two time major winner (and Australian Masters champion) reflects not only on that week and but a rich, full life in golf.He touches on Augusta, Tiger and so much more.

The Thing About Golf #88: Mark O'Meara

Charlie Earp

Charlie Earp is an Australian golf icon.He’s best known for his work with Greg Norman and Wayne Grady early in their careers but his influence on the game reaches far wider than just the professional ranks.The Head Professional at Royal Queensland for 45 years, Earp was also a dedicated PGA administrator and has worked with countless club members along the way.He is of an era and generation we hear too little from as will become clear in this chat with Rod Morri.

Charlie Earp is an Australian golf icon.He’s best known for his work with Greg Norman and Wayne Grady early in their careers but his influence on the game reaches far wider than just the professional ranks.The Head Professional at Royal Queensland for 45 years, Earp was also a dedicated PGA administrator and has worked with countless club members along the way.He is of an era and generation we hear too little from as will become clear in this chat with Rod Morri.

The Thing About Golf #87: Charlie Earp

Playing professional golf is a dream for millions but not everyone who has the skill to pursue it ends up enjoying it.Elaine Farquharson-Black is just such a player.In the latest episode of The Thing About Golf podcast, the two time Curtis Cup captain and standout Scottish amateur talks to fellow Scot John Huggan about her life in – and out of – golf.

Playing professional golf is a dream for millions but not everyone who has the skill to pursue it ends up enjoying it.Elaine Farquharson-Black is just such a player.In the latest episode of The Thing About Golf podcast, the two time Curtis Cup captain and standout Scottish amateur talks to fellow Scot John Huggan about her life in – and out of – golf.

The Thing About Golf #86: Elaine Farquharson-Black

There are few in golf whose contribution to the game could be compared to that of Sir Michael Bonallack. Unquestionably one of Britain’s greatest amateur players he has also been a long-time administrator of the game serving as both Secretary of the Royal &amp; Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and later Captain of the R&amp;A.As a player, he enjoyed great success but few years were as glorious as the summer of 1968 when the then 33-year-old won the third of his five Amateur championships, his fifth English Amateur, the Brabazon Trophy and was the leading amateur at The Open Championship.In this lengthy chat with The Thing About Golf host John Huggan, Bonallack reflects on that wonderful summer and his extraordinary life and career in the game.

There are few in golf whose contribution to the game could be compared to that of Sir Michael Bonallack. Unquestionably one of Britain’s greatest amateur players he has also been a long-time administrator of the game serving as both Secretary of the Royal &amp; Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and later Captain of the R&amp;A.As a player, he enjoyed great success but few years were as glorious as the summer of 1968 when the then 33-year-old won the third of his five Amateur championships, his fifth English Amateur, the Brabazon Trophy and was the leading amateur at The Open Championship.In this lengthy chat with The Thing About Golf host John Huggan, Bonallack reflects on that wonderful summer and his extraordinary life and career in the game.

The Thing About Golf #85: Sir Michael Bonallack OBE

Christine Fraser

Christine Fraser is one of only a few women in the golf course design business but the Canadian native is one of the most eloquent speakers and broad thinkers about what golf course design can and should be. While understanding the importance of how golf holes are laid out, Christine has a unique ability to consider design through a much broader prism than simply the shape of golf holes. She’s an eloquent speaker and out of the box thinker and covers a lot of territory in this in depth chat with Rod Morri.

Christine Fraser is one of only a few women in the golf course design business but the Canadian native is one of the most eloquent speakers and broad thinkers about what golf course design can and should be. While understanding the importance of how golf holes are laid out, Christine has a unique ability to consider design through a much broader prism than simply the shape of golf holes. She’s an eloquent speaker and out of the box thinker and covers a lot of territory in this in depth chat with Rod Morri.

The Thing About Golf #84: Christine Fraser

Like many TV analysts it’s easy to forget Sky Sports’ Ewen Murray was a player long before he ever sat behind a microphone.In this wide-ranging interview with The Thing About Golf host, John Huggan, he looks back on his playing career on the European Tour, the putting yips, how he got into television, his fallout with Tiger Woods and what he thinks of the current LIV Golf controversy. It’s a broad and rambling discussion from a man whose life has been immersed in the game and it’s well worth a listen.

Like many TV analysts it’s easy to forget Sky Sports’ Ewen Murray was a player long before he ever sat behind a microphone.In this wide-ranging interview with The Thing About Golf host, John Huggan, he looks back on his playing career on the European Tour, the putting yips, how he got into television, his fallout with Tiger Woods and what he thinks of the current LIV Golf controversy. It’s a broad and rambling discussion from a man whose life has been immersed in the game and it’s well worth a listen.

The Thing About Golf #83: Ewen Murray

Mary Thomson

The name Thomson is synonymous with golf, not only in Australia but globally. Five times Open Champion Peter is, of course, one of the game’s greats but ask his wife Mary and she’ll tell you that you never would have known it. The Peter Thomson the public saw, listened to and read his words was the same Peter Thomson Mary saw at home and the couple enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage, which remained strong from the day they met in the 1960’s to Peter’s passing in 2018.Mary Thomson is a remarkable woman and in this detailed chat with host Rod Morri, she gives an insight into life with one of golf’s greats that few got to see.

The name Thomson is synonymous with golf, not only in Australia but globally. Five times Open Champion Peter is, of course, one of the game’s greats but ask his wife Mary and she’ll tell you that you never would have known it.  The Peter Thomson the public saw, listened to and read his words was the same Peter Thomson Mary saw at home and the couple enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage, which remained strong from the day they met in the 1960’s to Peter’s passing in 2018. Mary Thomson is a remarkable woman and in this detailed chat with host Rod Morri, she gives an insight into life with one of golf’s greats that few got to see.

The Thing About Golf #82: Mary Thomson

Rich Lerner

The voice will be familiar but there is much more to Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner than most golf fans would ever guess. From humble beginnings growing up on a family-owned driving range and miniature golf course in a tough part of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Lerner fell in love with the game. A by-product of his time working the range, is a single figure handicap and a couple of club championship trophies from the 1980s.After years of working in the media, he finally achieved his dream job – one of the most sought-after seats in golf television. Here, Lerner shares some fabulous stories with John Huggan in another excellent episode of The Thing About Golf.

The voice will be familiar but there is much more to Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner than most golf fans would ever guess. From humble beginnings growing up on a family-owned driving range and miniature golf course in a tough part of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Lerner fell in love with the game. A by-product of his time working the range, is a single figure handicap and a couple of club championship trophies from the 1980s.After years of working in the media, he finally achieved his dream job – one of the most sought-after seats in golf television. Here, Lerner shares some fabulous stories with John Huggan in another excellent episode of The Thing About Golf.

The Thing About Golf #81: Rich Lerner

Stephen Allan

A golfer can only beat the field assembled on any given week under whatever conditions are present at the time and that’s exactly what Stephen Allan did at the 2002 Australian Open at Victoria Golf Club. Allan joins The Thing About Golf host Rod Morri to look back on what was not only one of the most controversial tournaments in recent memory but also the highlight of the Victorian’s lengthy career.

A golfer can only beat the field assembled on any given week under whatever conditions are present at the time and that’s exactly what Stephen Allan did at the 2002 Australian Open at Victoria Golf Club. Allan joins The Thing About Golf host Rod Morri to look back on what was not only one of the most controversial tournaments in recent memory but also the highlight of the Victorian’s lengthy career.

The Thing About Golf #80: Stephen Allan

Tony Blackburn

Can golf be more than just a game? 100 percent yes, according to our guest on Episode 79 of The Thing About Golf. Tony Blackburn is the founder of Golf in Society UK, an organisation whose goal is to help – through golf – those afflicted by dementia, Parkinson’s Disease and other chronic illnesses.Tony joins host Rod Morri for a fascinating and powerful discussion on the therapeutic power of the game for patients and carers alike.

Can golf be more than just a game? 100 percent yes, according to our guest on Episode 79 of The Thing About Golf. Tony Blackburn is the founder of Golf in Society UK, an organisation whose goal is to help – through golf – those afflicted by dementia, Parkinson’s Disease and other chronic illnesses.Tony joins host Rod Morri for a fascinating and powerful discussion on the therapeutic power of the game for patients and carers alike.

The Thing About Golf #79: Tony Blackburn

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