Michael Thorbjornsen's Breakthrough Win + Stephen Sweeney Joins To Discuss Putting Work With Thor

Episode 360 · Aug 03, 02:11 PM

Charlie Hulme and Smylie Kaufman break down Michael Thorbjornsen's first PGA Tour win — a bogey-free final-round 63 at the Rocket Classic, sealed by a long birdie putt on 18 that held off a hard-charging Xander Schauffele. Thor's putting coach, Stephen Sweeney, joins the show to explain how a stance and ball-position overhaul helped refine a raw approach into more short makes and better speed control on long putts.

With the final PGA TOUR regular-season event up next, we take a bigger-picture look at the rest of the season and beyond. Which players are in danger of losing their cards, missing the playoffs, or not qualifying for signature events? And how would all of this look via a restructured competitive format in 2028?

Plus: Detroit Golf Club's Donald Ross restoration, debating our favorite golf course design features, and the fantasy game Smylie would like to see in 2028 with the Championship and Challenger Series in place.

Check out our original putting instruction video with Stephen Sweeney here: https://youtu.be/JVh5Xy7YRQM

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro: Charlie's HVAC and studio backdrop saga continues
3:15 Smylie plays through a mild flu — new Sam Burns/Scottie Scheffler swing thoughts
6:58 Charlie's putter and grip breakthrough
8:14 Detroit Golf Club's Donald Ross restoration & tour's vanishing classic courses
16:03 What makes a golf hole memorable
19:16 Favorite/least favorite design features: cross creeks & sloped tee boxes
23:52 Caddie yardages: raw numbers vs. adjusted advice
27:39 Stephen Sweeney joins to talk Thorbjornsen's win
33:36 Thorbjornsen's raw putting DNA — from cross-handed to fundamentals
39:12 Video breakdown: fixing Thorbjornsen's stance & ball position
45:14 Thorbjornsen's ceiling
47:27 Sweeney's new ventures: Golf.com content & The People's League
55:25 Rocket Classic recap: Thorbjornsen's bogey-free 63 & the winning putt
57:37 Xander Schauffele's runner-up finish & 2026 bounce-back
58:21 FedEx Cup Playoffs / Top 100 PGAT Bubble Discussion
01:08:00 Presidents Cup Outlook
01:12:00 Future PGAT Changes