The Smylie Show

Smylie Kaufman sits down with two elite perspectives in golf:
First, recent Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Akshay Bhatia joins to break down his victory at Bay Hill, his evolving game, and how confidence, putting, and mindset fueled his breakthrough.
Then, sports psychologist Dr. Bhrett McCabe joins to unpack the mental side of elite performance—highlighting Cam Young’s Players Championship win, pressure, confidence, and why perfection is the biggest myth in golf.
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CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro & Akshay Bhatia on Winning Bay Hill
 0:48 Joe Greiner Partnership & Lefty Advantage
 3:40 Cross-Handed Chipping & Short Game Feel
 6:25 Leading vs Chasing on the PGA Tour
 8:55 Putting Breakthrough & Routine Changes
 11:10 Ball Striking DNA & Shot Shaping
 13:25 Driver Options & Shot Patterns
 16:05 Augusta Strategy & Preparation
 19:00 Confidence from Winning & Major Outlook
 21:35 Tour Life, India Trip & Season Momentum
23:40 Bhrett McCabe Interview Begins – Cam Young & Players Championship
 25:10 Understanding Elite Confidence & Self-Belief
 30:40 Why “Perfect Golf” is a Myth
 34:20 Handling Swing Breakdowns Under Pressure
 38:40 Winning Without Your Best Stuff
 41:45 Ryder Cup Experience & Competitive Edge
45:15 Chris Gotterup Conversation & Development Arc
 47:30 Confidence Growth & Learning to Win
 50:00 Mental Toughness vs Technical Perfection
 52:30 What Separates Good Players from Great Ones
 55:00 Closing Thoughts on Mindset & Performance 
#golf #pgatour #smylieshow #akshaybhatia #golfpodcast #smyliekaufman #golflesson #camyoung

A week after coming up one shot short at the PLAYERS, Matt Fitzpatrick got right back to work and won the Valspar Championship. Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme break down the swing work he's done with Mark Blackburn, what stood out most about his mentality after the near miss at Sawgrass, and whether his current form should have people paying closer attention heading into Augusta. They also dive into the pace-of-play controversy on Sunday, with Smylie offering perspective from inside the ropes on what actually frustrates players and how those situations can throw contenders out of rhythm.
The episode also looks at the bigger trends coming out of the Florida Swing, including why so many 54-hole leaders have struggled to close this season, what happened to Sungjae Im on Sunday, and why Copperhead continues to be one of the best non-signature tests on the PGA TOUR. Smylie and Charlie also assess where Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth stand as the Masters approaches, including why Brooks’ recent iron play is so notable and why Spieth feels closer than his results might suggest.
The show wraps with a look at the inaugural success that LIV's South Africa event was, and what it means for golf on a global stage. Plus, are Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm in better form that anyone else as we look ahead to Augusta?
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
3:15 Matt Fitzpatrick’s Valspar win
9:09 Can Fitzpatrick contend at Augusta?
12:53 Pace-of-play controversy on Sunday
22:00 The challenge Copperhead provides
30:23 Why it's so difficult to close a 54-hole lead
38:17 Breaking down Brooks Koepka's week
49:22 Bryson DeChambeau & Jon Rahm ... Masters favorites?
#pgatour #golf #valspar #fitzpatrick #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #rorymcilroy #bryson #jonrahm #golfpodcast #golfpreview #golfchannel #masters #augusta

Fresh off his first PGA Tour win at the Genesis Invitational, Jacob Bridgeman sat down with Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme to break down the week that changed his career.
Topics Covered
• Bridgeman’s breakthrough win at Riviera
• Playing Sunday with Rory McIlroy
• Tiger Woods reacting to his ball-striking
• Surviving pressure on the back nine
• The new wave of young American PGA Tour stars
• Growing up in South Carolina with Masters dreams
• "Short-Sided" lightning round
Jacob dives into the surreal experience of winning at Riviera, the messages that flooded his phone after the victory, and the confidence he felt holding a six-shot lead on Sunday. He shares stories from the final round playing alongside Rory McIlroy, how a mud ball nearly derailed his finish, and the incredible moment of shaking Tiger Woods’ hand after the win.
The conversation also explores Bridgeman’s rise through the Korn Ferry Tour, the impact of his veteran caddie, and the growing crop of young American stars on the PGA Tour. 
Jacob discusses his unique ten-finger grip, the swing work that transformed his iron play, and the putting routine that has made him one of the best on tour. Plus, the episode wraps with Charlie’s lightning-round "Short-Sided" segment.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 — Jacob Bridgeman joins TSS
02:46 — Riviera prep & first impressions
06:55 — Ball-striking clinic & Tiger Woods’ reaction
09:06 — Holding the lead Sunday with Rory McIlroy
20:48 — The caddie who believed in him
25:50 — Young American stars on Tour
29:45 — Augusta National & Masters dreams
33:14 — Ten-finger grip, swing changes & elite putting routine
41:18 — Short-Sided with Charlie
#pgatour #golf #PLAYERS #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #rorymcilroy #JacobBridgeman #rorymcilroy #scottiescheffler #golfpodcast #golfpreview #golfchannel #ludvigaberg

The 2026 PLAYERS Championship delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the season, with Cam Young emerging victorious from a group including Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele, and Robert MacIntyre.
Smylie Kaufman walked inside the ropes with the final group, and breaks down exactly how Young pulled it off, from a clutch birdie on 17 to one of the longest drives ever recorded on the 18th hole at Sawgrass.
Smylie and Charlie Hulme dive into the duel between Cam Young and Matt Fitzpatrick, the key swing and strategy adjustments that changed the tournament, and the implications as we head towards the first major of the year at Augusta.
They also examine a disappointing Sunday for Ludvig Åberg, discuss Rory McIlroy’s Masters preparation, highlight the recent resurgence in form for Brooks Koepka, and ask the big question: is Scottie Scheffler actually in a slump?
Plus: Smylie ranks his own shots from his debut on Golf Channel’s Live From coverage at The PLAYERS.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro & Scenes from THE PLAYERS
03:05 Sawgrass Sunday conditions & best finish in golf
07:21 Cam Young’s strategy
12:21 The evolution of Cam Young’s putting & mindset
17:01 The defining moments on 17 and 18
22:44 Matt Fitzpatrick
27:05 Ludvig Åberg
31:04 Momentum, crowd energy & Sunday pressure
34:48 “Major or Not Major”
42:11 Is Scottie Scheffler actually in a slump?
48:10 Smylie’s Golf Channel Live From debut
56:31 PGA Tour competitive structure changes
1:08:15 Final thoughts
#pgatour #golf #PLAYERS #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #rorymcilroy #CamYoung #CameronYoung #rorymcilroy #scottiescheffler #golfpodcast #golfpreview #golfchannel #ludvigaberg #MattFitzpatrick #Sawgrass

Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme are on-site at TPC Sawgrass to preview the 2026 PLAYERS Championship. From the course conditions and weather draw to the unique strategy required at Pete Dye’s iconic stadium course, the guys break down everything to watch this week.
They discuss Rory McIlroy’s back concerns, Scottie Scheffler’s surprising iron-play dip, and the type of player who actually wins at Sawgrass, before diving into their One-and-Done picks and sleeper contenders for the week.
With potential mud balls, gusty winds, and the terrifying closing stretch of 16-17-18, this year’s PLAYERS could deliver another unpredictable leaderboard.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 On-site at TPC Sawgrass!
01:20 First Look at the Course
03:30 The “Fifth Major” Debate
06:00 Sawgrass Course Strategy & Shot Shapes
11:50 Weather Forecast & Draw Advantage
15:10 History of THE PLAYERS at Sawgrass
21:00 Scottie Scheffler Form Check
27:00 Rory McIlroy Injury Update
31:00 One-and-Done Picks
47:00 Closing Thoughts
#pgatour #golf #PLAYERS #smylieshow #smyliekaufman #rorymcilroy #akshaybhatia #scottiescheffler #golfpodcast #golfpreview #golfchannel