<description>&lt;div&gt;Smylie Kaufman is joined by golf analytics authority Rick Gehman, the creator of &lt;a href="http://RickRunGood.com"&gt;RickRunGood.com&lt;/a&gt; and host of CBS Sports’ First Cut Podcast, for a deep dive into the world of golf data, modeling, betting edges, and modern player strategy.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Rick breaks down how the PGA TOUR is evolving through analytics, why driving is more valuable than ever, how players misinterpret ShotLink data, and where fans can actually find a meaningful betting advantage.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Smylie and Rick also get into:&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; - Why baseball analytics paved the way for golf&lt;br&gt; - How players should interpret their own ShotLink stats&lt;br&gt; - Why proximity is one of the most misunderstood metrics&lt;br&gt; - What really wins under pressure&lt;br&gt; - The biggest Ryder Cup mistakes made by Team USA&lt;br&gt; - Why the European model works — and how the U.S. can fix it&lt;br&gt; - Which rising players are primed for breakout seasons&lt;br&gt; - And the surprising ways modern players use (and misuse) data&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; This episode is packed with insight for golf fans, bettors, stat nerds, and players alike.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Don't forget to like, comment &amp;amp; subscribe to support the show!&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; CHAPTERS:&lt;br&gt; 00:32 Rick’s background: baseball → data → golf&lt;br&gt; 02:08 Building the golf database&lt;br&gt; 03:27 Baseball analytics ⇄ golf analytics&lt;br&gt; 04:38 How data changed modern golf&lt;br&gt; 05:30 ShotLink: what players misunderstand&lt;br&gt; 06:32 How younger players use tech + data&lt;br&gt; 08:12 Why hitting driver is more valuable than ever&lt;br&gt; 10:08 Misleading stats: Proximity explained&lt;br&gt; 12:26 Real strategy: Driver vs. iron off the tee&lt;br&gt; 14:06 Modeling golf courses &amp;amp; comp-course analysis&lt;br&gt; 16:22 What pros ask Rick for (custom reports)&lt;br&gt; 17:31 Predicting performance on new / unfamiliar courses&lt;br&gt; 19:34 Ryder Cup breakdown: U.S. vs Europe strategy&lt;br&gt; 21:03 Where Team USA went wrong&lt;br&gt; 22:49 Pairing mistakes explained (Scheffler/Bryson, etc.)&lt;br&gt; 24:59 Why Europe trusts data more effectively&lt;br&gt; 27:15 If Rick ran Team USA strategy&lt;br&gt; 29:20 Presidents Cup → How USA should use it better&lt;br&gt; 31:36 Shot-shape &amp;amp; trajectory analytics (new radar data)&lt;br&gt; 33:31 “Go-to shots” under pressure&lt;br&gt; 35:02 Darts, proximity, and scoring insights&lt;br&gt; 36:27 NEW stat idea: Strokes Gained Under Pressure&lt;br&gt; 38:41 Bonus Putting metric&lt;br&gt; 40:14 Rising talents who will break out&lt;br&gt; 42:03 Players who maximize limited skillsets&lt;br&gt; 45:06 The importance of speed in the modern game&lt;br&gt; 49:05 Ben Griffin’s leap explained&lt;br&gt; 51:28 The Jordan Spieth question&lt;br&gt; 54:11 Chris Gotterup’s ceiling&lt;br&gt; 56:00 Outro + In memoriam for Scott Hulme&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; #TheSmylieShow #RickGehman #GolfAnalytics #PGATour #GolfBetting #GolfStats #RickRunGood #GolfPodcast #DataGolf #ShotLink #GolfStrategy&lt;/div&gt; </description>

The Smylie Show

The Smylie Show

279: Rick Gehman on Modern Golf: Distance, Data & the New Way to Win

DEC 2, 202560 MIN
The Smylie Show

279: Rick Gehman on Modern Golf: Distance, Data & the New Way to Win

DEC 2, 202560 MIN

Description

<div>Smylie Kaufman is joined by golf analytics authority Rick Gehman, the creator of <a href="http://RickRunGood.com">RickRunGood.com</a> and host of CBS Sports’ First Cut Podcast, for a deep dive into the world of golf data, modeling, betting edges, and modern player strategy.<br> <br> Rick breaks down how the PGA TOUR is evolving through analytics, why driving is more valuable than ever, how players misinterpret ShotLink data, and where fans can actually find a meaningful betting advantage.<br> <br> Smylie and Rick also get into:<br> <br> - Why baseball analytics paved the way for golf<br> - How players should interpret their own ShotLink stats<br> - Why proximity is one of the most misunderstood metrics<br> - What really wins under pressure<br> - The biggest Ryder Cup mistakes made by Team USA<br> - Why the European model works — and how the U.S. can fix it<br> - Which rising players are primed for breakout seasons<br> - And the surprising ways modern players use (and misuse) data<br> <br> This episode is packed with insight for golf fans, bettors, stat nerds, and players alike.<br> <br> Don't forget to like, comment &amp; subscribe to support the show!<br> <br> CHAPTERS:<br> 00:32 Rick’s background: baseball → data → golf<br> 02:08 Building the golf database<br> 03:27 Baseball analytics ⇄ golf analytics<br> 04:38 How data changed modern golf<br> 05:30 ShotLink: what players misunderstand<br> 06:32 How younger players use tech + data<br> 08:12 Why hitting driver is more valuable than ever<br> 10:08 Misleading stats: Proximity explained<br> 12:26 Real strategy: Driver vs. iron off the tee<br> 14:06 Modeling golf courses &amp; comp-course analysis<br> 16:22 What pros ask Rick for (custom reports)<br> 17:31 Predicting performance on new / unfamiliar courses<br> 19:34 Ryder Cup breakdown: U.S. vs Europe strategy<br> 21:03 Where Team USA went wrong<br> 22:49 Pairing mistakes explained (Scheffler/Bryson, etc.)<br> 24:59 Why Europe trusts data more effectively<br> 27:15 If Rick ran Team USA strategy<br> 29:20 Presidents Cup → How USA should use it better<br> 31:36 Shot-shape &amp; trajectory analytics (new radar data)<br> 33:31 “Go-to shots” under pressure<br> 35:02 Darts, proximity, and scoring insights<br> 36:27 NEW stat idea: Strokes Gained Under Pressure<br> 38:41 Bonus Putting metric<br> 40:14 Rising talents who will break out<br> 42:03 Players who maximize limited skillsets<br> 45:06 The importance of speed in the modern game<br> 49:05 Ben Griffin’s leap explained<br> 51:28 The Jordan Spieth question<br> 54:11 Chris Gotterup’s ceiling<br> 56:00 Outro + In memoriam for Scott Hulme<br> <br> #TheSmylieShow #RickGehman #GolfAnalytics #PGATour #GolfBetting #GolfStats #RickRunGood #GolfPodcast #DataGolf #ShotLink #GolfStrategy</div>