Talking.Golf · Wisconsin.Golf

Gary & Rob on WM Phoenix Open qualifying, PGA Tour Champions, GHIN handicaps and more

·56 min·5 clips

Gary and Rob discuss Thomas Longbella's near-miss at the WM Phoenix Open qualifier.

This episode of Talking.Golf focuses on Wisconsin golfers attempting to qualify for the PGA Tour's WM Phoenix Open. Hosts Gary D'Amato and Rob Hernandez, veteran Wisconsin golf journalists, provide on-the-ground reporting from the Monday qualifier. Rob Hernandez was present at the qualifying event in Arizona. The hosts detail Thomas Longbella's performance, where he shot a 4-under par 67 at a specific course. Longbella birdied his final hole but was projected to miss qualifying by two or three strokes. Hernandez notes other players on the course were turning in scores of 4-under, impacting the cut line. Longbella's caddie reported to Hernandez that the golfer missed several makeable putts during his round. One critical putt on the eighth hole appeared destined to fall but stayed out to the right. Another very makeable putt was missed on either the sixth or seventh hole. Despite the near miss, Hernandez indicates Longbella felt encouraged by his performance. The hosts suggest Longbella is becoming accustomed to the intense pressure of these low-scoring qualifiers. They frame his result as being "right on the verge" of successfully qualifying for a PGA Tour event. The episode provides a specific, behind-the-scenes look at the often-overlooked Monday qualifying process. The reporting offers insight into the mental and competitive challenges faced by golfers at this level. The tone is conversational and news-oriented, blending immediate field reporting with studio analysis. The style is informal, with the hosts sharing direct observations and quotes from participants. Wisconsin golf fans and those interested in the professional pathways for local players would appreciate this episode. Listeners seeking broad PGA Tour news or entertainment-focused golf content might find it too regionally specific.

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