In the Footsteps of Giants

As we approach Christmas 2023 Martin, Des and young Mike compile their golfing 'naughty or nice' list for 2023. Some choices are obvious but plenty of debate ensues regarding other suggestions. We all thought 2022 was the most turbulent year in professional golf but 2023 has not lacked excitement, intrigue, betrayal, uncertainty, arrogance and even some potential redemption. A light hear...

Late November and Martin & Des were expecting to be talking about golfing trivia but the big stories keep coming in 2023. Ludvig Aberg & Nicolai Hojgaard are winning big, Min Woo Lee is on fire, Cam Smith is missing cuts, Jon Rahm is contemplating the most overpriced offer in world sport and Luke Donald is looking forward to Christmas with a satisfied grin. Des has been on the winning trai...

Martin and Des discuss recent good news stories from the world of golf and look forward to the Race to Dubai final. Most of this episode was recorded ahead of the news that Rory McIlroy had stepped down from the Player Advisory Board and the implications of this action. We stalled uploading our episode for a few days in the hope of some further insight/clarity but with little new information forth...

Martin and Des spend some time assessing the outcomes of LIV's second season. Have they made real progress or is the initial novelty wearing off. A couple of players have undoubtedly played well but will we ever really see them again in the majors as their exemptions start to expire. With the Framework Agreement seemingly going to miss its' 31st December deal deadline and world events st...

Martin and Des are joined in the studio by Stephen Gracey who caddied for local amateur Matt McClean at both this year's Masters and US Open. Stephen recounts how he felt as he first turned into Augusta knowing that he was going to play a part in the 2023 Masters. How long did he take to settle, did he keep the famous white boiler suit, just how green is the grass and how does the Masters com...

As we upload our 100th ITFOG episode (ignoring summer repeats) we are delighted to be joined by New York Times bestselling author (and friend of the show) Alan Shipnuck to discuss his new book "LIV and Let Die, the inside story of the war between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf". We cover many topics from the book including Greg's motivation, Mr PIF's limitless cash, the true reasons...

A full contingent for today's post Ryder Cup episode with Martin, Des and young Jonny in the studio plus young Mike joining from an air traffic control tower (or just a remote location). So much to talk about following Europe's victory at Marco Simone (just what is the correct pronunciation) in what turned to be a tension filled few days. Was golf the winner? Have partisan crowds reached...

A double episode week to cover the Solheim & Ryder Cups. In our second podcast of the week, Martin and young Mike discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both teams competing at Marco Simone in this years Ryder Cup. Have the Captain's selected all the best players or are there better players out there? Who will rise to the intense challenge  in the spectator heated cauldron? Plus a few fu...

Martin discusses the retention of the Solheim Cup with ITFOG's lead LPGA correspondent, Debbie. Who were Europe's key contributors? Is retaining the Cup the same as actually winning it? What are the key takeaways from this year's event? Additionally Martin has a chat with Howie regarding his recent visit to play Marco Simone and why it left a very nondescript impression on him.  Our...

Martin hits the road with young Jonny to enjoy a day at the Horizon Irish Open at the K Club. Some 20 years since they were at a pro tournament together and they picked about as hot a day as you can get on a golf course in Ireland. Plenty of chat about how the logistics worked and also their impressions again watching the pros up close and personal. A good opportunity to see the current form of se...

As Thin Lizzy would say "the boys are back in town" and this episode launches Season 4 of In The Footsteps Of Giants, a podcast for golf fans by golf fans. Martin and Des hit the studio to tidy up some late summer stories and start our debate on the upcoming Ryder Cup following the US finalising their team earlier this week. Europe will announce next week so plenty still to come before t...

As the ITFOG team finish up their well deserved summer break, before diving into Season 4, we thought we should recognise Viktor's big win in the BMW held at Olympia Fields. This episode was first released in February 2022 where we celebrated the Norwegian superstar and predicted big things for his future. Viktor has not disappointed and has had a great season culminating in his latest win an...

Part of our summer series saw us head to Walton Heath for the AIG Women's British Open, so naturally we packed the portable podcast kit to record our thoughts and experiences of a women's major championship. Recorded in three segments, we talk about the Wednesday practice day/pro am, Friday as players look to make the cut and championship Sunday. Was it worth the trip to England, what we...

Part of our summer recess series, this episode features a chat between Martin and young Mike about the future Ryder Cup venue, Adare Manor. Home of the JP McManus Pro Am which saw the first interactions between players following defections from the established tours to the Saudi funded LIV Golf. This episode ignores all that and focuses on the venue and our recent experiences playing the course an...

Major season is over, Brian Harman comprehensively won the final major at Hoylake leaving the hopes of Rory, Tommy, Scottie and John to drift on the wind until Augusta next year. Martin and Des discuss the Open and its' ramifications on Ryder Cup selection plus look at some serious stats that the week produced. Des has a nice little tale for Caddie's Corner and Martin corrects Des, not o...

Martin and Des reflect on a great win for Rory in the Genesis Scottish Open at the renaissance Club, where playing conditions over the weekend were very challenging. How does this win bode for Rory's Open quest at Hoylake later this week? Who else will come to play at the year's final major? Episode also includes a recap on the Women's US Open from Pebble Beach, the PGA/LIV Senate h...

Martin and Mike catch up on a couple of busy weeks in the golfing world. Rickie Fowler is back! Bernhard Langer sets a new record! The Ladies US Open is at Pebble Beach! Plus discussions on some likely contenders for Ryder Cup places and also whether the published Framework agreement brings us any closer to working out whether the PGA/LIV peace accord will actually turn into a viable roadmap for t...

The US Open is in the books and Martin, Des and young Mike reflect on how another major slipped from Rory's grasp. Wyndham Clark is the champion but it was close all the way to the wire. The boys also discuss LACC and whether it is a good major venue and whether west coast majors are wise for an international audience. The search for the best player with only a single major reaches it's...

As we start the US Open, Martin & Des chat to local amateur Mathew McClean who is playing this week at LA Country Club. The interview was recorded a couple of weeks ago and also features our discussion on Mathew's experiences at Augusta earlier this year, especially the moment where his name was at the top of the leaderboard. Young Mike joins us for our brief US Open discussion and our pr...

Martin and young Mike spend some time trying to work out how the events of Tuesday 6th June 2023 will affect the golf world going forward. Can a deal really happen between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the PIF which effectively brings LIV into the fold.? Is this peace in our time or simply a sticking plaster over a wound that will burst open once the pressure mounts.  Interact with the podcast v...

The second major of 2023 is in the rearview mirror so Martin and Des review the top stories from Oak Hill. The Brooks Koepka redemption arc which led to lifting his fifth major trophy, the joy and happiness around watching Michael Block create a movie worthy four days, Viktor Hovland finally truly contend and what does this win mean for the Ryder Cup later this year. As usual there is plenty to di...

Martin and Des sit down to try and identify who has the best chance of winning this week's USPGA Championship at Oak Hill. A number of players are "coming in hot" but with 156 players in the field identifying a winner is not an easy task. Episode also discusses news from around the world of golf and Des tests Martin's analytical skills as he outlines some golfing world records....

Martin is relieved to find the chairs in the ITFOG studio occupied by both Des and young Mike. Easier to discuss golf with your co-hosts actually in attendance. Plenty of chat about the Mexico Open, the Korea Championship and LIV Singapore. Also the quarter final matches in our search to find the best player with only a single major. Additional discussions on the OWGR and Mike brings us the ultima...

In this episode Martin flies solo in the studio and addresses the issue of slow play and whether it is fair to lay all the blame at Patrick Cantlay's door.  A quick review of the RBC Heritage from Harbour Town and then round two of our matchplay competition to identify the best player with only one major. Due to recent events this pre-recorded segment needed a slight updating. Des and housewi...

The 2023 Masters is in the rearview mirror but what a week and what a winner. Martin and Des discuss the events at Augusta and just how close some of the LIV players came to creating a major upset. A heavyweight contest fought out over the awe inspiring Augusta National where both the course and the weather had a big part to play in the outcome. Find out how accurate/inaccurate our predictions wer...