Inside The Ropes

This week on Inside The Ropes, Andy Maher and Mike Clayton have taken the reins and one of them has been well and truly global and trending in the world of social media this week!They discuss the online discussion between Clayts, Brandel Chamblee and many others as we approach next week's Masters at Augusta National.We also welcome friend of the show Ben Everill of the PGA Tour back, before a well overdue catch up with Australian golf legend Lyndsay Stephen.

With the final men’s major rapidly approaching, we go direct to Augusta to chat with the man who has his finger on the Masters pulse, Scott Michaux.We chat with rising Perth star Hayden Hopewell about his recent WA Open triumph and his aspirations, which may or may not include bulk protein shakes at Scarborough.Hosts Andy Maher and Mark Hayes chat through the Northern Territory PGA, plus bring a range of other extraordinary golf achievements to light.

This Week, the PGA of Australia’s Nick Dastey takes us inside the decision to cancel three of our biggest tournaments of the summer because of Covid-19.We talk to Owen Wells about his remarkable feat of acing all four holes at Gunnedah Golf Club in NSW.And Elvis… Smylie that is, is in the building after his unbelievable week at the Keperra Bowl in Queensland.Andy Maher and Martin Blake are in charge this week.

It’s a special moment for an ITR regular as Jed Morgan becomes the first golfer to ever win a full Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship. (18:30)But it’s even better that we’re on the spot when Jed meets his mentor as part of his prize, the legendary Ricky Ponting, who’s almost as adept at golf as he is cricket.We then cross to Perth to chat with GolfWA boss Gary Thomas in the middle of the WA swing on the PGA Tour of Australasia, plus regular hosts Andy Maher and Mark Hayes return to normal service about the game’s other big issues.

We’ve had many great weeks for Aussie golf this year and this week featured a whole raft of great stories from tours around the world.But it’s primarily a local focus for ITR this week with Geoff Ogilvy, Karen Lunn and Nick Dastey joining us to chat details about the Players Series events going ahead on the PGA and ALPG Tours.We hear from Hannah Green and Minjee Lee before this week’s Women’s PGA Championship in Philadelphia, plus an extraordinary achievement among many in the golfing life of Steve Prior, who joins us before the NSW Amputee Championship this week.All this and a whole lot more from hosts Mark Hayes and Martin Blake.

It’s been a tumultuous week in golf politics and one of Australia’s most respected playing voices, Matt Griffin, joins us to talk through the minefield.We’re joined by Liz Broderick, the power behind the Male Champions of Change program that’s not only modernising golf, but having a huge impact on sport and society in general. And we learn from GA interim boss Rob Armour exactly the roll that Male Champions of Change is playing in the golf industry.Plus all the other news and views with hosts Mark Hayes and Martin Blake.

It was a potentially game-changing week as Bryson DeChambeau saluted at the US Open, so hosts Andy Maher and Mark Hayes assess what it means to golf at both the elite and amateur levels.Plus we chat to Aussie Rhy Waddington, the head chef at Winged Foot, for an insider’s view on the tournament and all that goes on behind the scenes.And, in #ThankASuper week, we chat to Brett Robinson about all the great work out superintendents and their staffs are doing to keep golf afloat in this most challenging of years.All that and the usual news and views from around the world!

Another massive week on the golf calendar, so we make three trips across the Pacific to keep you up to speed.Direct from Winged Foot, we chat with Lukas Michel on the eve of his major championship debut and then to the ever-entertaining Scott Hend, who’s no stranger to the US Open, even though he hasn’t been in a while.Then it’s time to reflect on a great ANA Inspiration for the Aussie women, with Karrie Webb’s long-time caddie Mikey Paterson joining us from Portland to chat through his first time on the bag of the rapidly emerging Gabi Ruffels last week.All that and a heap more, including a couple of customary bakes from host Andy Maher and his cohorts Mark Hayes and Stacey Peters.

Another week, another Australian champion! We are joined by our latest international winner Brett Drewitt today, who has a great tale of the adversities he has conquered to win in the USA.Martin Blake has a chat with Katherine Kirk before this week’s ANA Inspiration, plus we chat with Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills about the Australian golf industry’s new mindfulness campaign, Tee Your Mind.Hosts Andy Maher and Mark Hayes also chat #DoingItForJarrod and how you can work with us at Golf Australia.

Plenty transpired in global and local golf this week, but there’s no better perspective to put on the big issues than that of Mike Clayton, our resident guru. From miracle putts to Sophia Popov and the burning issue of Royal Sydney’s redevelopment, Clayts has it all covered.We’re also joined by Steph Kyriacou from Prague after her stellar result on the LET, sharing her thoughts with Stacey Peters about the lessons she’s learnt in an incredible season.And closer to home, we catch up with new Royal Fremantle course-record holder Maddison Hinson-Tolchard to discuss her epic achievement.Hosts Andy Maher and Mark Hayes have that and much more.

On an epic weekend for Australian golf, we talk to two of the people right in the thick of the action.Curtis Luck joins us after his breakthrough victory with a brilliant and emotional recount of his battle. (12:35)Then Minjee Lee calls in to tell us about her love affair with Royal Troon and the front-row seat she had for one of the great golf stories this year at the AIG Women’s Open. (38:45) Hosts Andy Maher and Mark Hayes wrap up the rest of the week’s big news from round the corner and around the globe.

Whatever you call it, the Women's Open Championship has become a genuinely large feature on the golfing calendar. Today, we chat with former champion Karen Lunn about not only her storied involvement, but how the event has progressed and the huge Aussie charge at Troon this week.We also catch up with Lucas Herbert who's now officially "between majors". Herbert played the PGA Championship recently and is staying stateside to prepare for the US Open as part of his crazy 2020 campaign.All this and more as hosts Andy Maher and Mark Hayes bring you up to date on all things golf around the world.

Jason Day was one of a number of Aussies to put up a brave fight this week and we cover his brilliant effort at the PGA Championship, as well as the historic performance of young Collin Morikawa.We were so close to a double delight on Monday morning but win, lose or draw it's always a treat to chat with Aussie superstar Gabi Ruffels. We cover the 20-year-old's spectacular title defence at the US Women's Am and what's in store for the weeks ahead.Plus, we look back at another incredible week on the LPGA Tour as the women's pro season ramps up – starting with the return of major golf at the AIG Women's British Open!Andy Maher is joined by Mark Hayes and Stacey Peters.

The Aussies found their collective mojo on the world’s tours this week, so we catch up with the one who took us on a thrill ride on Monday morning. Ryan Ruffels, as always, gives us great insight into this, his narrowest of misses.We spend some time with Briony Lyle, wife of the late, great Jarrod, as the Challenge charity so dear to their hearts plots #DoingItForJarrod fundraisers around the country.And as the golf world’s focus falls on San Francisco, hosts Andy Maher and Mark Hayes run the rule over the contenders at the year’s first major, the US PGA Championship.

GA's General Manager of Golf Operations Simon Brookhouse is back on the show to discuss Tuesday's double announcements regarding the postponement of the 2020 Australian Open and the overhaul of some of our top amateur events, including some exciting changes for the Interstate Series and Aus Am.There's few more exciting things to wake up to on a Monday morning than one of our Aussie young guns killing it on the PGA Tour – and this week we welcome Sydney's Cam Davis back to the show after he did just that!And the LPGA is back this week, so who better to call upon than our own Stacey Peters, who also runs us through some stunning results in the inaugural State Challenge.As always, Andy Maher and Mark Hayes are socially distanced - but aligned all the same!

It has been a long time between drinks for the women of the LPGA Tour, so we chat with Sarah Kemp who’s been locked down in Florida for months awaiting the grand return next week. It’s a chat of safety, careful planning … and the usual banter about her rugby league leanings!Continuing the girl power, we chat with 11-year-old Olive Spitty after she set a course record with a 73 at Kerang Golf Club, then marvel at the achievements of Issy Taylor, Kirsten Rudgeley and Karis Davidson to boot.Then Bushnell boss Paul McLean joins us to chat about the revolutionary product changing the way we hear golf … yes, hear! This brings a chat about some of our hosts’ musical leanings on the golf course and, as usual, Andy Maher and Mark Hayes get a bit carried away.All this and more on episode #173!And to enter the competition to win a Bushnell Wingman, CLICK HERE!Using the competition guidelines, as promised, here are a few of our hosts’ song lists to pump into the Wingman...Stacey PetersCan’t Stop The Feeling – Justin Timb

We cover all corners of the game again this week, first looking back at the action in the US and an instantly classic PGA Tour playoff.Then, we welcome Aussie legend Bob Tuohy, including an epic story about Nigel Mansell and Greg Norman.Next, Ali Whitaker catches up with familiar face Iona Stephen to discuss The R&A's 'Open For The Ages' and more, before we welcome Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills from the University of Southern Queensland to explain the study she's conducting into why women aged 40-59 are more prone to suicide and the impact of sport and menopause.Andy Maher is back in the host's chair with Mark Hayes by his side.

We begin this week with Queensland pro and one of golf's good guys Matt Guyatt, who's experienced a serious health scare in recent days.Then WA's Jarryd Felton returns to the show after teeing it up in Sunday's Birdies For Breast Cancer at The Cut - and to provide an update on how he's travelling in these troubling times.Queensland young gun Issy Taylor and her coach Michael Jones are on the line to talk about US collegiate golf after Issy was made an All-American scholar last week.And to finish off, we welcome Mike Clayton to give his take on all things PGA Tour, namely Bryson DeChambeau and his stunning performance in Detroit, among other things.Mark Hayes and Ali Whitaker share the host's chair this week.

There's a whole lot happening in the world of golf and we begin this week by wrapping the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours... including a moment to forget involving Greg Chalmers and more importantly, Ian Poulter!Straight off the course, reigning US Women's Amateur champ Gabi Ruffels joins us from Nevada where she's playing in another Cactus Tour event, just days after knocking off the pros and taking home the silverware.Glenelg GC's Robert Vincekovic joins the show to discuss an influx of new members in recent times and how the Adelaide golf clubs are working together to ensure they're stronger than ever.Reigning Tasmanian Open champ Kathryn Norris joins us to chat about an amazing upcoming event she's pulled together at The Cut in WA this weekend, all to raise funds for a cause near to her heart.And we wrap by shouting out one of our own, who has turned into a tournament director in recent days! Mark Hayes is joined by Justin Falconer and Stacey Peters.

Another week in the books and safe to say there was plenty happening on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour. Our special co-host for the week, Zach Murray, joins Andy Maher and Mark Hayes in running over all the action from the US, including Webb Simpson, Abe Ancer, Jason Day, Brett Coletta, Nick Watney and more.We get Zach to explain what the situation is regarding the European Tour and how a potentially life-changing year for him has been thrown into chaos.We hear from Scott McLean from Gosnells GC in WA about an extremely exciting event at the club last week and to broadly discuss WA's influence on the #GoldenEra.Then, we're joined by Jack Mackenzie, the eldest of three brothers who all made an eagle on the same hole, on the same day at Medway GC.