Welcome to this week’s edition of Next on the Tee — where golf legends live and your game gets better. I truly appreciate you being here and pressing play.

I’m really excited to share this episode with you because it features two wonderful friends—one who has been very dear to me for years and another new friend who I hope will be joining me many times going forward.

Leading things off is Matthew Laurance, a longtime favorite of this show and someone I’ve been blessed to call a close friend. Many of you know Matthew from his iconic role as Sal Amatto, the fictional bass player in Eddie & the Cruisers—easily one of my all-time favorite movies. What started as a social media connection grew into appearances on Thursday Night Tailgate, and those conversations eventually turned into a genuine friendship.

This time around, Matthew shares his thoughts on the direction the PGA Tour appears to be heading, which feels like a sharp turn away from the long-standing focus on “growing the game.” We also dive into why Seve became his all-time favorite player, his lingering disappointment from the 1986 Masters, and revisit stories from Eddie & the Cruisers—including what it’s like for him when On the Dark Side comes on the radio while he’s driving.

In Segment 2, I’m thrilled to welcome Steve Strano for his Next on the Tee debut. Steve is the son of my gumba Rob Strano, so you know right away he’s going to be a great guest. Steve is an entrepreneur who is helping to resurrect a legendary and nearly forgotten brand of putters.

That brand is Otey Putters, which helped legends like Jimmy Demaret, Dr. Cary Middlecoff, Jackie Burke Jr., and Doug Ford win five Masters between 1947 and 1957. Steve’s passion for Otey is contagious, and during our conversation, he had me completely fired up about these beautifully handcrafted putters, still made in their original factory in Selma, Alabama, by Otey Crisman III, the son of former PGA Tour pro Otey Crisman.

You’re going to love Steve’s energy, his respect for the history of the brand, and the care that goes into every putter. Be sure to check them out at OteyThree.com.

Thanks again for being here and for pressing play on this week’s show. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

The Doctors Are In to help fix what's ailing you, whether your mental game needs pumping up or the PGA Tour, college golf, and the NIL have you feeling sick.

We start things off with our monthly visit from The Confidence Doctor, Dr. Bob Winters, who shares updates on the success his players are having at the high school, college, and AJGA levels. Dr. Bob explains the concept of social loafing with respect to golf, offers candid thoughts on the PGA Tour doing the opposite of growing the game, and delivers a powerful tip for tournament golfers facing self-doubt—believing you truly belong. He also breaks down his memorable D.U.M.B. Golf acronym.

Then I welcome Doc Merrill, Head Golf Coach at the University of Maine at Augusta, for his Next on the Tee debut. A former medical physician for 37 years, Doc shares his journey into coaching, insights into his program, the impact of NIL on his roster, and stories from recent tournaments. He also recounts meeting Arnold Palmer at the 1975 U.S. Open and previews his upcoming book.

Insightful, honest, and engaging—sit back, relax, and enjoy this hour…because the doctors are in.

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I'm joined by four outstanding guests who bring game-changing perspective from three very different corners of golf.

First, top New York instructor and a wonderful human being, Brian Jacobs returns to talk about his move from an elite Florida club back to Rochester, the lessons he learned, and the key questions every PGA Professional — or anyone considering a new job — should ask before saying yes. I also talk with him about the positive impact he’s made on players’ lives, and he shares the details about his upcoming trip to Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill, which anyone is free to join in on.

Next, Connor Lewis, Founder of the Society of Golf Historians and the new Antiquity Golf Company, makes an electric debut. Connor dives into the treasures of golf history, dives deep into the GOAT debate (Snead, Hogan, Jack, Tiger, Trevino, Bobby Locke), why he'd pick Lee Trevino to face anyone 1 on 1, and how the PGA Tour has copied almost everything from LIV short of the shotgun starts.

Then be sure to come back for Part 2, because the doctors are in. The Confidence Doctor Dr. Bob Winters returns with updates on his students’ successes, the meaning of “social loafing” in golf, his thoughts on the Tour’s direction, and a key reminder for competitive players: When doubt creeps in, believe you belong out there.

He's followed by Doc Merrill, Head Golf Coach at the University of Maine at Augusta. He's developed a lot of great young players. You're going to really enjoy his stories and insights.

Thank you as always for pressing play and being part of this week’s show.