The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts

What do you do after a seven-figure exit? Daniel Belk decided to play golf—all of America's top 100 public courses, in under a year. The entrepreneur behind a self-storage private equity firm and Cool Down, the run club turned apparel brand he grew to 15 cities before selling his stake, joins Jimmy Roberts from the road at the halfway point of his journey. Belk breaks down the numbers behind the q...

The Presidents Cup has been dominated by the United States—but judging the event by the final score misses the much bigger business story. Ahead of the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club, Jimmy Roberts sits down with Big Swing Media golf business reporter Michael LoRé to examine why the PGA Tour, global sponsors, broadcasters and host cities remain bullish on the event. They break down th...

USGA CEO Mike Whan joins Jimmy Roberts for a wide-ranging conversation about the decisions that could shape golf for generations. Whan explains why the continued increase in distance at the elite level has become one of the game’s biggest long-term challenges—and why the answer could involve changes to the golf ball, driver standards or different equipment rules for professional and recreational g...

Peyton Manning knows how to turn sports into entertainment—and now he’s bringing that experience to golf. The five-time NFL MVP and founder of Omaha Productions joins Jimmy Roberts to explain why he believes golf is a smart business opportunity, how Omaha is developing new golf content with the PGA TOUR, and what the sport can learn from the NFL’s ability to command attention throughout the entire...

Golf sponsorship is big business—but some of its most important returns can’t be measured on a spreadsheet. Live from East Lake during the Tour Championship, Jimmy Roberts sits down with Coca-Cola President and CFO John Murphy and Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Chris Womack. They explain how major companies evaluate golf partnerships, balance hard metrics against long-term brand valu...

Tye Nichols and his family paid $200,000 for 44 acres and an abandoned nine-hole golf course in Chesterville, Maine—with no experience in agronomy, course design or restoration. A year later, Fairway Fields has a working, tech-enabled driving range, support from major golf brands and more than one million followers watching the transformation. Tye joins Jimmy Roberts to explain how his marketing e...

Kelley Brooke has gone head-to-head with some of golf’s largest management companies—and won—by taking on the financial risk herself and obsessing over every detail of the customer experience. At Montauk Downs, Jimmy Roberts sits down with the LPGA professional and golf-course operator behind facilities including Bethpage, Montauk Downs, Harbor Links and Pine Ridge. Brooke explains how she wins co...

Golf’s estimated economic impact reaches roughly a quarter-trillion dollars—but where is the smart money going next? Matt Erley, co-founder of Old Tom Capital, joins Jimmy Roberts to explain why investors increasingly see golf as one of the most resilient growth categories in sports and recreation. He reveals which parts of the industry have his attention, from shorter “golf light” experiences and...

John Smoltz thought the idea was great—but that it would never work. Now, the Baseball Hall of Famer is helping build THE PRO, an invitation-only professional golf tour created exclusively for former athletes. With approximately 80 players, a $500,000 purse at every tournament and stars from across baseball, football, basketball, hockey and beyond, Smoltz is turning the competitive void athletes e...

Why is one of the world’s largest airlines making such a significant investment in golf? Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian joins Jimmy Roberts to explain why the company’s relationships with the Masters, the PGA TOUR and some of the game’s biggest players are about much more than television exposure. For Bastian, golf sits at the intersection of relationships, travel and the growing experience econom...

Steph Curry is already planning his next chapter—and golf is becoming a central part of the legacy he wants to build beyond basketball. In this special episode of The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts, Curry shares how a childhood passion for golf evolved into a much larger mission. Through Underrated Golf, he is investing millions annually to remove the financial and structural barriers that can leave...

The biggest threat to your golf game may not be your swing. It may be what your body is doing during the rest of the day. In this YouTube-exclusive episode of  The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts , Jimmy sits down with Dr. Jeremy James, founder of GolfForever, to discuss back pain, mobility, aging, injury prevention, and the physical limitations that quietly cost golfers distance, consistency, a...

Stanford women’s golf has become one of the most dominant programs in college golf — but Anne Walker’s approach goes far beyond swing mechanics. In this episode of The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts , Jimmy sits down with Stanford women’s golf head coach Anne Walker to talk about leadership, player development, recruiting, practice, NIL, college athletics, and the culture behind one of the sport’s m...

Before Tiger Woods became a global business empire, Hughes Norton was helping build the foundation. In this episode of The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts, Jimmy sits down with Hughes Norton — the legendary former IMG agent who represented Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Curtis Strange, and other major figures in golf during one of the most transformative eras in the sport’s history. Norton takes Jimmy ins...

Golf is booming — but the business behind the game has never been more complicated. In this special live episode of The Big Swing with Jimmy Roberts, recorded ahead of the U.S. Open, Jimmy sits down for two separate conversations with two of the most influential voices in golf, media, and business: Mark Lazarus and Jimmy Dunne. Lazarus, CEO of Versant and one of the key figures behind Golf Channel...

Why would one of the most iconic brands in motorsports decide to enter one of the most competitive industries in sports? In this episode of The Big Swing, Jimmy Roberts sits down with Hoyt McGarity, President of 8AM Golf and advisor to McLaren Golf, to discuss one of the most ambitious equipment launches the golf industry has seen in years. McLaren is known worldwide for Formula One racing, engine...

How do you go from getting fired to building one of the most successful companies in American history? In this episode of The Big Swing, Jimmy Roberts sits down with Arthur Blank, the billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist, co-founder of The Home Depot, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, and one of the most influential figures in modern golf today. Blank shares the remarkable story of being fired fro...

How does an acclaimed filmmaker become obsessed with golf? In this episode of The Big Swing, Jimmy Roberts sits down with writer, director, actor, and lifelong storyteller Edward Burns to discuss his newest film, Finnegan's Foursome, and the personal journey that inspired it. After losing his mother during the COVID pandemic, Burns picked up golf again to spend time with his father. What started a...

What happens when a former medical student, startup founder, and self-described golf addict decides to reinvent how people experience golf? In this episode of The Big Swing, Jimmy Roberts sits down with Adeel Yang, the co-founder and CEO of Dryvebox — one of the most innovative companies in golf’s rapidly evolving off-course economy. What started as a pandemic passion project inside a trailer has...

Paige Spiranac became one of the most influential people in golf — but not without controversy, criticism, and constant public scrutiny. In this episode of The Big Swing, Jimmy Roberts sits down with Paige Spiranac for a candid conversation about social media, anxiety, branding, fame, and the business of building one of golf’s most recognizable personal brands. What started as a single viral momen...

AI is changing golf faster than almost anyone realizes. In this episode of  The Big Swing , Jimmy Roberts sits down with members of the Big Swing Media team to break down the biggest trends shaping the future of the game — from artificial intelligence and rising participation to Tiger Woods, creator golf, and the booming business of golf media. Joining Jimmy are Micha...

Jack Nicklaus turned down millions, and he’s completely at peace with it. In this episode of The Big Swing, Jimmy Roberts sits down with golf legend Jack Nicklaus to explore the business side of one of the greatest careers in sports history. From early deals with IMG to turning down opportunities with companies like Wendy’s and NFL ownership stakes, Nicklaus opens up about the decisions that shape...

The LPGA is having a moment — but can it turn momentum into something lasting? At the Chevron Championship, Jimmy Roberts sits down with Craig Kessler to discuss one of the most pivotal moments in the history of women’s golf. With rising viewership, increased investment, and growing global attention on women’s sports, the LPGA finds itself at a crossroads — and a massive opportunity. Kessler, in h...

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Friedman joins Jimmy Roberts on  The Big Swing  to break down the business, politics, and global strategy behind LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, and the future of the game. From Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to the economics of sports investment, this conversation goes far beyond headlines — diving into why LIV Golf may h...

DraftKings CEO Jason Robins joins Jimmy Roberts to break down the business of sports betting, fantasy sports, and the future of golf wagering. From startup beginnings to a multi-billion dollar company, this is a deep dive into one of the fastest-growing industries in sports. With sports betting surpassing $167 billion in the U.S. alone, this conversation explores how companies like DraftKings are...