Ep88: Hilarious Moments from Q School, Phoenix Goes Back to Back in Qld, and Mark: 'The Aust Open Date is Poison'

Talk Birdie To Me

A big pod this week, plenty going on as always, and we start with the news that Adam Scott will not return for the Australian Open, Nick and Mark discuss. And we get onto the date, and if moving it would make it easier for players to come home for the Open, and to get the big international names. Mark calls the Australian Open date 'poison' for the tournament and says it has to change.

We chat about Tigers tournament, which Mark says is less about results, and more about Tiger.

We chat about getting the legendary Ian Baker-Finch on the pod to outline his masterplan for Australian golf. How it will look over the next decade, how to get more Aussies on the DP World Tour, and Mark reckons IBF could pick up the phone and call Yasir at The PIF and get things done.

Nick talks about the 23 page memo that the PAC have sent to members re: proposed 2026 changes, one proposed change Nick and Mark are blown away by, which has to do with pace of play. We discuss the proposal to move from 125 to 100 players, and Mark believes that we will lose some 'poster boys' if that change goes through.

A great win by Phoenix Campbell over Jak Carter in Queensland at the weekend in a playoff, the tournament was a cracker and Nick and Mark saw it all as they were commenting on Kayo, and discuss the playoff and how it went. They raise a ruling about relief for Phoenix on the 9th hole which they believe the rules official got wrong, so we call our rules guy Stu McPhee to explain the rule. Stu hadn't seen the incident itself, so can't comment on that, but he does explain to us how the rule is applied.

Last week Mark predicted 65, Nick 69, for themselves in the Box Hill ProAm. What went wrong? We discuss.

And we have a chat to the Director of Golf at the Warragul Country Club, Heath Jones, about their fantastic junior program. It should be replicated, it's wonderful and getting results.

A hilarious Top 5 from Nick today - the Top 5 moments from Q School. Some brilliant stories!

Plenty of feedback this week, so much that we'll do a bonus feedback pod later in the week.

Nick takes us around the world in the PING Global results, and Mark's masterclass is on playing in 'swirly' conditions, just as Nudgee was at the weekend.

• PING will help you play your best, like they have for Nick O'Hern. See your local golf shop or professional for a PING club fitting;
• The new watchMynumbers app, the most powerful data based golf app in the world, download from the App Store or Google Play;
• Golf Clearance Outlet, join GCO Live for great member benefits and comps. They're in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and the Sunshine Coast, or online here.
• Southern Golf Club - Home of the Australian Master of the Amateurs in January 2025, entry is free!
• Flinders Golf Club, an historical treasure!

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