

The Smylie Show
The Smylie Show
Smylie Kaufman is a PGA Tour winner, pro golf broadcaster, and the host of "The Smylie Show". Every week, along with his producer and co-host Charlie Hulme, Smylie provides insights and analysis on the game of golf (along with a handful of other miscellaneous items), in addition to sharing long-form conversations with Tour pros and other celebrities who love the game.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 9, 2025 • 1h 26min
280: Aussie Open Champ Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen Joins The Show! + Hero World Challenge Recap
Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme are back for a packed episode featuring a guest appearance from 2025 Australian Open champion Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen - fresh off his win at Royal Melbourne!
Charlie opens and closes the show with some heartfelt reflections following his father’s passing. The guys then jump into all the action from the Bahamas - Hideki Matsuyama’s outrageous short game and putter collection, grading Scottie Scheffler's first year with a new putting grip, Wyndham Clark’s viral “turf conditions” quote, and a behind-the-scenes look at Smylie's pro-am round in Albany.
Then Rasmus joins the show — jet-lagged, honest, and riding high. He walks Smylie through:
• The intense crowds in Australia
• Playing head-to-head with Cameron Smith
• How firm Royal Melbourne truly played
• The near-impossible chip on 18
• The pressure of closing out a win overseas
• How he processed the moment on a 20+ hour flight home
Thanks for watching — subscribe for more episodes, interviews, and weekly golf breakdowns!
CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Welcome Back
4:00 – Smylie’s Airline Disaster
10:00 – Hero World Challenge Reactions
15:00 – Hideki’s Iron Game & Short-Game Brilliance
20:00 – Why Hideki Tinkers With 400 Putters
26:00 – Alex Noren’s Rise & Unique Swing Rehearsal
32:00 – Shot Shape Trends & Modern Fade-Dominance
38:00 – Smylie’s Pro-Am Stories + Albany Short-Game Test
44:00 – Wyndham Clark’s Turf Comments & Course Debate
50:00 – Q-School Controversy: Weather, Contracts, and Fairness
56:00 – Rasmus Interview Begins
1:00:00 – Royal Melbourne Conditions & Massive Crowds
1:06:00 – The 18th Hole: Rasmus Breaks Down the Chip
1:12:00 – Fastest Greens? Comparing Sandbelt to Augusta
1:16:30 – Remembering Charlie's Dad
#golf #smylieshow #pgatour #golfhighlights

Dec 2, 2025 • 1h 1min
279: Rick Gehman on Modern Golf: Distance, Data & the New Way to Win
Smylie Kaufman is joined by golf analytics authority Rick Gehman, the creator of RickRunGood.com and host of CBS Sports’ First Cut Podcast, for a deep dive into the world of golf data, modeling, betting edges, and modern player strategy.
Rick breaks down how the PGA TOUR is evolving through analytics, why driving is more valuable than ever, how players misinterpret ShotLink data, and where fans can actually find a meaningful betting advantage.
Smylie and Rick also get into:
- Why baseball analytics paved the way for golf
- How players should interpret their own ShotLink stats
- Why proximity is one of the most misunderstood metrics
- What really wins under pressure
- The biggest Ryder Cup mistakes made by Team USA
- Why the European model works — and how the U.S. can fix it
- Which rising players are primed for breakout seasons
- And the surprising ways modern players use (and misuse) data
This episode is packed with insight for golf fans, bettors, stat nerds, and players alike.
Don't forget to like, comment & subscribe to support the show!
CHAPTERS:
00:32 Rick’s background: baseball → data → golf
02:08 Building the golf database
03:27 Baseball analytics ⇄ golf analytics
04:38 How data changed modern golf
05:30 ShotLink: what players misunderstand
06:32 How younger players use tech + data
08:12 Why hitting driver is more valuable than ever
10:08 Misleading stats: Proximity explained
12:26 Real strategy: Driver vs. iron off the tee
14:06 Modeling golf courses & comp-course analysis
16:22 What pros ask Rick for (custom reports)
17:31 Predicting performance on new / unfamiliar courses
19:34 Ryder Cup breakdown: U.S. vs Europe strategy
21:03 Where Team USA went wrong
22:49 Pairing mistakes explained (Scheffler/Bryson, etc.)
24:59 Why Europe trusts data more effectively
27:15 If Rick ran Team USA strategy
29:20 Presidents Cup → How USA should use it better
31:36 Shot-shape & trajectory analytics (new radar data)
33:31 “Go-to shots” under pressure
35:02 Darts, proximity, and scoring insights
36:27 NEW stat idea: Strokes Gained Under Pressure
38:41 Bonus Putting metric
40:14 Rising talents who will break out
42:03 Players who maximize limited skillsets
45:06 The importance of speed in the modern game
49:05 Ben Griffin’s leap explained
51:28 The Jordan Spieth question
54:11 Chris Gotterup’s ceiling
56:00 Outro + In memoriam for Scott Hulme
#TheSmylieShow #RickGehman #GolfAnalytics #PGATour #GolfBetting #GolfStats #RickRunGood #GolfPodcast #DataGolf #ShotLink #GolfStrategy

Nov 24, 2025 • 1h 2min
278: Brad Dalke: PGA Tour Dreams, Driver Yips, Good Good, & Beef’s Legacy
Brad Dalke joins Smylie Kaufman following his victory at the Internet Invitational — an event that shattered YouTube golf records and introduced millions to one of the most talented ball-strikers in the creator space.
Brad breaks down:
• What the week was really like
• The emotion of winning alongside Francis and the late Cody “Beef” Franke
• How the million-dollar pressure exposed every golfer
• His unbelievable junior/amateur career (Thunderbird win at 13, 5 Wyndham Cups, U.S. Am finalist)
• Arm-wrestling Rory McIlroy at 13
• Battling driver issues through college & pro golf
• His unexpected transition into Good Good & YouTube stardom
• The future of creator golf, Big Break returning, and where he sees golf content headed
• Building the “perfect YouTube golfer”
Chapters below ↓
#TheSmylieShow #BradDalke #InternetInvitational #GoodGoodGolf #BobDoesSports #YouTubeGolf
⏱️ FULL CHAPTERS
00:00 – Brad Dalke Joins the Show
01:00 – Keeping the Win Secret (NDAs, wives, chaos)
03:00 – What the Internet Invitational Did for YouTube Golf
04:30 – How Brad Got Invited (Bob reaching out)
06:00 – Why the Format Worked Perfectly
07:10 – Draft Strategy & Riggs’ Captain Decisions
08:20 – Frankie’s Heartbreak
10:00 – The Pink Jacket + Champions Dinner
11:30 – Francis’ Food Rituals
13:00 – Luke Kwon
14:45 – Transition to Brad’s Junior/Amateur Greatness
15:30 – Starting Golf at 11 Months Old
17:00 – Junior Tour Battles with Scottie Scheffler
18:40 – AJGA Majors & Thunderbird Win at Age 13
19:50 – Committing to Oklahoma at 12 (!!)
22:00 – How Coach Hybl Shaped His Game
23:45 – Rory McIlroy Arm-Wrestling Story
27:30 – Pressure of Expectations vs. Pro Golf Reality
29:00 – Battling Driver Issues & the Low-Point Miss
31:30 – Finally Finding the Technical Fix
33:20 – Running Out of Money on the Mini Tours
35:00 – The God-Moment That Brought Him to Good Good
37:00 – What YouTube Golf Gave Him Back
38:20 – Behind the Scenes of Good Good Production
49:00 – Kids & Amateurs Asking Brad for Advice
51:20 – Building the Perfect YouTube Golfer
55:15 – The Return of Big Break & Brad’s Involvement
56:20 – Closing Thoughts

Nov 18, 2025 • 1h 7min
277: We're headed to GOLF CHANNEL! + Breaking down big changes in 2026 for the PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is changing — but is it changing for the better?
With the fall PGA TOUR season headed towards a close, Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme take a look some big category and card changes on the way for the 2026 PGA TOUR season. Smylie and Charlie take a look back at the 2025 season to examine how differences in points for signature and full-field events played out, and whether certain players benefited more than others in that structure.
PLUS — huge news: The Smylie Show is heading to GOLF CHANNEL beginning January 2026, airing Wednesdays at 9 AM Eastern. Smylie and Charlie reflect on the journey, what the TV version of the show will look like, and how the audience helped get the show here.
Tune in, subscribe, and stick around for more golf storytelling and behind-the-scenes insight!
Chapters ↓
00:55 — The Smylie Show is heading to the Golf Channel!
01:36 — Reflecting on the three-year journey of the show
03:06 — Show changes to look for in 2026
06:05 — Setting the Table: 2026 PGA Tour Rules & Categories
06:45 — Are PGA Points Fair? Full-Field vs Signature Debate
07:18 — The Maverick McNealy Case Study
08:22 — Is Winning a Full-Field Event Actually Harder?
10:13 — What the Data Says About Difficulty
11:45 — The 200-Point Problem
13:11 — Why Signature Events Give Huge Built-In Advantages
14:06 — Should a Top-10 Be Worth More in Full-Fields?
15:16 — How Signature Starts Create Long-Term Inequality
16:05 — Reviewing the Signature Event Chart (Audio Notes)
17:14 — Case Study: Kurt Kitayama vs Hideki Matsuyama
19:24 — Do Signature Events Artificially Inflate Some Players?
20:32 — Chris Gotterup & the “Late Season Unfairness” Issue
23:16 — Signature Events vs Full-Field: Who Really Benefits?
24:12 — How Players Ride Momentum — or Don’t
25:18 — Why You MUST Play Well Early on Today’s PGA Tour
26:21 — Low Full-Field Point Earners: Morikawa, Aberg, More
27:33 — The No-Cut Advantage Problem
29:06 — What the Tour Actually Wants: Star Protection
29:26 — Tony Finau vs Gary Woodland Breakdown
31:43 — Can You Play Your Way Off Tour With Signature Starts?
32:35 — Adam Scott & Max Homa Examples
34:51 — Rickie Fowler’s Special Case
36:23 — Why Sponsors Will Always Influence Signature Events
37:14 — Golf Is Niche — And That Shapes the Entire System
38:18 — What the Top-100 Cut Means for Journeymen
39:04 — The New 2026 Rules: Field Sizes, 120-Player Players, Q-School
41:23 — DP World Tour vs Korn Ferry: Who Deserves More Spots?
44:41 — Should the DPWT Really Get 10 Cards?
47:55 — The DPWT’s Crossroads: PGA Tour vs LIV
49:45 — Reviewing This Year’s DPWT Grads
52:02 — The Challenge of Jumping from Europe to the PGA Tour
54:07 — Breaking Down the 101–150 Conditional Groups
56:14 — Past Champion Category & Where Smylie Would Slot In
57:31 — Tiger Woods Leading the Competition Committee
#smylieshow #pgatour #golfchannel #golfnews #golfpodcast #golf

Nov 11, 2025 • 1h 4min
276: LIV’s 72-hole pivot, DP World Tour crossroads, and Smylie’s dad-back disaster
Before Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme get to golf’s biggest news of the past week - LIV Golf moving from 54 to 72 holes - we begin by detailing Smylie’s brutal onset of “dad back” that left him crawling around the house. Charlie then recounts his cathartic return to golf at Hidden Creek - from a rain-soaked finish to a well-deserved steam shower.
From there, the guys dig into LIV’s move to 72-hole events: does it help majors performance, OWGR hopes, or brand identity? They hit fan reactions, Rory’s take, player pathways, and why 72 holes might help some stars while blurring what made LIV different.
In the back half of the episode, they tackle the DP World Tour dilemma: Rahm and Hatton’s appeals, Ryder Cup eligibility, the PGA Tour partnership, TV product realities, and whether “home games,” nations, or mixed-gender teams could make team golf click.
Chapters:
00:00 On the road; off-season check-in
00:28 “Dad-back” hits: stairs, stroller, and full-body spasms
04:59 Crawling the house, bathroom saga, and the recovery plan
07:24 Dry needling, PT, and week-to-week swing timeline
07:50 Hidden Creek trip: first rounds back after surgery
09:51 Birdies in a downpour, finishing 18, and the steam-shower reward
12:50 News segue: DP World Tour wrap, Ben Griffin’s win, LIV headlines
13:31 Main topic: LIV moves from 54 to 72—first reactions
14:16 OWGR reality vs format; the closed-shop and pathways problem
15:38 Preparing for majors versus blurring LIV’s brand identity
17:02 Rory’s comments and field-strength implications
18:05 What would actually move the needle: tee times, relegation, field size
18:49 Why 54 could create different winners vs 72’s “truer” leaderboard
19:29 Shotgun starts, sleeping on leads, and pressure differences
21:22 Everyone backtracks sometimes: gear, coaches, and sports takes
25:06 “54” spin vs holes played; player-lens view on 72 vs 54
26:21 The game-within-the-game over 72 holes; form building before majors
27:16 Major-exemption math and why results at the majors are the judge
33:13 Expectation-setting for LIV at the Masters and beyond
34:19 Shift to DP World Tour: Rahm/Hatton appeals, fines, and Ryder Cup stakes
35:36 DPWT’s position in the ecosystem: partner with PGA Tour or pivot toward LIV?
40:03 Funding realities, TV product challenges, and sustainability questions
41:12 What if DPWT had been the Saudi-backed “strong international tour”?
42:42 US TV windows vs international schedules; business trade-offs
45:20 Team-golf ideas: legends + current pros + LPGA, or nations-based squads
46:47 Nations/home-game model and why fans might care more
47:35 Make it a fun product, not an OWGR product; formats beyond 72-hole stroke play
50:05 Borrowing from what works in modern golf content without breaking broadcast logic
51:26 Tape delay vs betting/live; what matters for engagement and sponsors
53:14 Bottom line: does the 72-hole shift simply aim at better major results?
53:41 Has LIV created a star? Tom McKibbin as a possible homegrown example
55:16 DPWT cards via top-10 pathway; late-season stakes and names to watch (closing)
#Golf #SmylieShow #LIVGolf #PGATour #DPWorldTour #OWGR #RyderCup #JonRahm #TyrrellHatton #HiddenCreek #GolfPodcast

Nov 3, 2025 • 53min
275: From PGA Tour Americas heartbreak to PGA Tour win: Michael Brennan on his journey to victory in Utah
Michael Brennan, a recent PGA TOUR winner and former Wake Forest standout, shares his journey from heartache to triumph. He discusses the importance of resetting after his victory and the training that boosted his clubhead speed to an impressive 135 mph. Michael opens up about lessons learned from a devastating collapse in Toronto and how analytics now guide his course strategy. Plus, he recounts a wild near-abduction story during his travels in PGA TOUR Americas, adding a touch of drama to his incredible golf narrative.

Oct 28, 2025 • 1h 34min
274: 18-Year-Old U.S. Am Champ Mason Howell On Walker Cup at Cypress Point + Masters Invitation
Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme kick off this week’s episode catching up on dad life, bedtime chaos, and a wild rant about Brian Kelly’s LSU exit before diving deep into the rise of sports gambling in professional golf — and whether it could ever impact the PGA Tour.
Then, Smylie sits down with Mason Howell, the 18-year-old phenom who won the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship — making him the third-youngest champion in history. Mason opens up about:
• His emotional journey from small-town Georgia to golf’s biggest stage
• What it felt like to qualify for the U.S. Open and earn a Masters invite
• Competing against top amateurs like Tommy Morrison and Ben James
• The pressures of high school life after winning one of golf’s biggest titles
A can’t-miss conversation about the next great name in golf.
00:00 Dad life updates and bedtime chaos
04:30 LSU, Brian Kelly, and college football chaos
11:15 Gambling scandals
19:10 Could golf ever face a gambling crisis?
27:10 How betting affects players and fans
31:40 Mason Howell Interview
32:00 Life after winning the U.S. Am — back to high school reality
33:40 Growing up in Thomasville and discovering golf
36:20 Qualifying for the U.S. Open at 18 years old
39:10 Competing at Oakmont and learning from the pros
43:15 The grind of the U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club
47:45 Facing Tommy Morrison and Ben James in match play
49:50 Taking down John Daly in a thriller
51:00 Securing Masters and Walker Cup spots
54:00 What’s next for Mason Howell
1:12:10 Smylie’s thoughts on the next wave of young golf talent
1:16:25 Comparing today’s amateur game to the PGA Tour
1:20:00 Charlie’s take: what makes great golfers stand out early
1:24:10 Smylie shares his Masters memories
1:29:00 Wrapping up — offseason plans and what’s next on The Smylie Show
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📺 Watch full episodes weekly here on The Smylie Show
#golf #TheSmylieShow #SmylieKaufman #MasonHowell #USAmateur #GolfPodcast #GolfLife #PGA #Masters #GeorgiaGolf #AmateurGolf #NextGenGolf #GolfInterview #GolfContent #GolfTalk

Oct 21, 2025 • 1h 8min
273: Golf's NEW BIG 3? Tommy Fleetwood's Incredible Run + Life Updates + Ryder Cup Look-back
Smylie and Charlie are back for a jam-packed episode that mixes life updates, heartfelt moments, and golf talk. Smylie shares stories about welcoming his new baby boy, and juggling dad life, while Charlie opens up about his recent cancer scare and recovery.
Then the guys dive into the Ryder Cup — from behind-the-scenes chaos at Bethpage to fan behavior, pairings, and why Europe got everything right. They close out with a deep look at Tommy Fleetwood’s incredible year and whether he belongs in golf’s next “big three.”
📺 Watch full episodes + clips every week on The Smylie Show YouTube channel.
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Back in the studio after Ryder Cup
01:10 – Why we’re down to one episode a week
02:10 – Smylie welcomes his new baby boy
04:30 – Parenting two kids and full-time dad life
06:00 – Smylie joins the Birmingham mom gossip circuit
08:00 – The pumpkin patch and Halloween debates
12:50 – Halloween costumes for the Kaufmans and Hulmes
15:00 – Family birthdays and dad milestones
15:50 – Charlie opens up about cancer scare
21:10 – Transitioning into Ryder Cup talk
22:00 – Ryder Cup reflections: chaos, fans, and respect
26:40 – How Europe got everything right
29:10 – Course setup mistakes for Team USA
33:50 – Stats, pairings, and the Luke Donald effect
36:40 – Europe’s attention to detail vs. Team USA
38:30 – Tommy Fleetwood’s hot streak
40:10 – Tommy’s year, stats, and emotional win with son Frankie
44:10 – Where Tommy ranks among the world’s best
46:10 – Is there a new “big three” forming?
49:00 – Which 2026 major fits Tommy best?
52:00 – Tommy’s ceiling and next chapter
53:10 – Wrapping up: lessons, laughs, and what’s next
#golf #pgatour #tommyfleetwood #dpwt #smylie #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #golfpodcast

Oct 14, 2025 • 54min
272: Fix Your Swing: Smylie Kaufman's Lesson with Tony Ruggiero aka "The Dewsweeper"
Smylie Kaufman teams up with legendary golf coach Tony Ruggiero — a.k.a. The Dewsweeper — for a lesson that’ll have golfers both laughing and learning. Tony and Smylie dig in to the details (telling a story or two along the way), giving great insight for golfers looking to refine their practice and preparation.
Then, Tony turns his eyes to Charlie for part two, locating some problem areas that just might give him the extra gear ⚙️
Packed with great golf instruction, hilarious moments, and real progress — this one’s a must-watch for anyone trying to level up their game. ⛳️🔥
👉 Subscribe for more lessons, conversations, and behind-the-scenes looks with the best coaches and players in the game.
0:00 – Meet Tony “The Dewsweeper” Ruggiero
2:10 – Smylie’s First Swings (Initial Impressions)
5:35 – Tony Diagnoses the Main Issues
9:20 – “You’re Fighting Your Body, Not Your Swing”
12:45 – The First Simple Adjustment
20:05 – Tempo and Sequence
23:40 – Smylie Starts to Click
31:10 – Real Progress in Smylie’s Swing
35:55 – The Difference a Few Tweaks Make
40:10 – Smylie Reflects on the Lesson
44:25 – Transition: Time for Charlie’s Turn
45:15 – Charlie’s First Swing Analysis
47:05 – Common Amateur Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)
49:30 – Tony’s Quick Tips for Consistency
53:45 – Final Takeaways & Wrap-Up
#Golf #GolfLesson #SmylieKaufman #TonyRuggiero #GolfSwing #GolfTips #GolfInstruction #GolfCoach #TheSmylieShow #GolfImprovement #PGA #GolfDigest #Dewsweeper

Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 6min
271: Tony Ruggiero on Building Champions & Fixing Smylie’s Swing | The DEWSWEEPER Interview
Smylie Kaufman catches up with his longtime swing coach and one of golf’s most respected teachers, Tony Ruggiero — known across the game as The Dew Sweeper.
They revisit how their partnership began back in college, swap hilarious “Jingle Bell” tournament stories, and dig into what makes a great coach. Tony shares his journey from broke instructor at the Flora-Bama to a Top 50 Coach in America, plus lessons learned from legends like Butch Harmon, Hank Johnson, and Cam McCormick.
The two break down how to actually change your golf swing, the importance of the pivot, and why simple is usually better. Stick around for live swing breakdowns and plenty of laughs along the way.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Smylie & Tony catch up over steak, wine, and Saints football
02:45 – How Smylie met Tony and the origins of “TPC Sunkist”
06:30 – The Jingle Bell stories & early lessons that shaped Smylie’s swing
11:00 – Tony’s coaching roots and what Hank Johnson taught him
17:00 – From broke teacher to Top 50 coach: life lessons from Flora-Bama
25:00 – Teaching tour pros vs. amateurs: what really matters
32:00 – Lessons from Butch Harmon & why confidence beats mechanics
40:00 – How to actually change a motor pattern in your golf swing
53:00 – Smylie, Charlie & Tony break down viewer swings
1:03:00 – Final thoughts: practice smarter, play freer, and have fun


