Nobody knows Oakmont like Bob Ford. From living off the 18th green to becoming the last club pro to qualify for a U.S. Open at his home course, Ford has been part of American championship golf for more than five decades—and now serves as the tournament’s starter. On this episode of the TGJ Podcast, he joins Tom Coyne to preview the 2025 U.S. Open and reflect on a career that stretches from furrowed bunkers in the ’70s to the first tee in 2025. Ford shares stories of tanking to avoid breaking Arnold Palmer’s course record, making more money in the U.S. Open than the champion, navigating the politics of the course’s tree removal and what it’s like to announce names with the world listening. For a deep dive into how Oakmont has evolved—much to the chagrin of Nicklaus, Trevino and Player—this one’s for you.

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The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

He didn’t set out to become one of the most recognizable caddies on the PGA Tour, but Geno Bonnalie isn’t hiding from the spotlight. He joins host Tom Coyne to share the behind-the-scenes realities of life on the bag, including his raw reaction to Joel Dahmen’s heartbreaker in Punta Cana. Bonnalie then gets into his surprising stardom and how far he and Dahmen have come since dinners at Waffle House. He also details the pranks he plays on his friend, the need for work-life balance and why cartwheels with his daughter matter more than any leaderboard.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Rory McIlroy contains multitudes: child prodigy, global superstar, outspoken critic, Ryder Cup anchor, Grand Slam winner. In his upcoming biography Rory Land, Pulitzer-nominated author Timothy Gay tries to make sense of them all. In this episode, he joins host Tom Coyne to unpack McIlroy’s career: the youthful dominance, the swing admired by Tiger Woods, the decade-long major drought and the emotional weight of being golf’s unofficial spokesman during its most divisive era. Gay shares what he learned from early interviews, tournament deep dives and the decisions—public and private—that have shaped one of golf’s most watched players.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Nearly 30 years ago, Tom Pashley mailed a box of grass seed and sand to the Pinehurst resort in the hopes of landing an internship. Today, he sits in the president’s office at the cradle of American golf. His mission is to steer one of golf’s most storied properties into an ambitious future—without losing sight of its roots. On this episode, Pashley sits down with host Casey Bannon at The Cradle during a Broken Tee Society Tour stop to talk about the making of Pinehurst No. 10, how No. 2 will keep testing the best even in the 2047 U.S. Open, and just how many courses the resort might have by then. Get the inside scoop on building a Pinehurst itinerary from the man who knows it best—where to play, what to eat, and why you’ll probably start planning your return before you leave.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

Today, we’re not chasing great. We’re chasing all-time, pantheon, tell-your-grandkids-about-it great. But how do you decide who belongs in that rare air? In this episode, author and golf writer Michael Arkush joins Tom Coyne to unpack The Golf 100, his bold new book ranking the game’s greatest players. From icons like Jack and Tiger to overlooked names like John Ball and Joyce Wethered, Arkush details the scoring system he created and the questions he wrestled with—like how to compare Old Tom Morris to Tiger, or Mickey Wright to Annika. Arkush also shares some of the book’s most surprising stories: a brash teenage U.S. Open champ vanishes into obscurity, a woman leaves the game at her peak (then comes back to duel Bobby Jones) and the time Walter Hagen became a coldblooded killer in the 1919 U.S. Open.

The Golfer's Journal and this podcast are made possible by reader support. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

The Golfer’s Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist.

This is part five of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters.

Part 5: As its founders begin to decline, the mythology around The Masters only grows stronger

The Masters is paused and Augusta National is forced to become self-sufficient in the wake of World War II. In the 1970s, the club must endure the passing of Bobby Jones and the shocking suicide of Clifford Roberts. But the club and tournament move on, going to untold lengths to preserve their legacies that still reverberate today.

⁠A transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠

The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist

The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: ⁠https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT⁠

This is part four of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters.

Part 4: The evolution of the Masters broadcast 

In the mid-1950s, the Masters innovates by partnering with CBS to broadcast the tournament on national television. As is the case with everything at Augusta, chairman Clifford Roberts has his fingerprints all over it as he works with legendary producer Frank Chirkinian to elevate the commentary, pacing, visuals and commercial load. The modern golf telecast is born.

⁠A transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠

The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist

The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part three of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters.

Part 3: The Augusta National Invitational Tournament is formed

By 1934, Augusta National is struggling to attract new members and raise the necessary funds to execute the club’s vision. With this in mind, the first annual Augusta National Invitational Tournament is held, and Clifford Roberts must convince Bobby Jones to play in it. In an effort to boost ticket revenue, the traditional three-day event is stretched to four, and Roberts has some strong opinions on how to improve the fan experience. 

A ⁠transcript of this episode can be found here.⁠

The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist

The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part two of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters.

Part 2: A deep dive into the design and strategy of Augusta National’s routing

Thanks to his renowned designs at Cypress Point and Pasatiempo, Dr. Alister MacKenzie is hired to build Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts a golf course in Augusta, Georgia. The spectacular success of the project means that every hump, bump and contour is scrutinized. But as the course changes to adapt with modern championship golf, not every tweak is immediately embraced.

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist

The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT

This is part one of a five-part TGJ Podcast series which chronicles the origin, evolution and inner-workings of The Masters. The series is voiced by David Owen and based on his best-selling book, The Making of the Masters.

Part 1: Clifford Roberts’ rise to power at Augusta National

Until he met Bobby Jones, Clifford Roberts was a former traveling suit salesman and modest investor who was still grappling with the tragic loss of his mother. Part 1 tells the remarkable story of his unlikely rise to become the first chairman at Augusta National and one of the most feared and influential executives in sports history. 

A transcript of this episode can be found here.

The Golfer's Journal Podcast is presented by Titleist

The Golfer's Journal is made possible thanks to our members. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member here: https://glfrsj.nl/MembershipsYT