In this episode of Next on the Tee, our resident Director of Instruction Tom Patri returns to share his take on this year’s U.S. Open and what it meant to see a guy he's favored all season, J.J. Spaun, take home the title. We also dive into some of the more controversial moments from the tournament, including Rory McIlroy’s tee marker incident and Wyndham Clark destroying a couple of lockers. Tom weighs in on how players and the media handle tense moments and opens up about the deep respect he has for his longtime mentor, John Kennedy.

Speaking of John, he joins me next and brings with him a legacy of excellence in golf instruction and service. A past PGA Professional of the Year, multi-time Bill Strausbaugh Award winner, Patriot Award recipient, and a proud member of the Met Section Hall of Fame, John reflects on his time at Westchester Country Club, where the Learning Center now bears his name. We talk about whether it’s more difficult being the host pro for a PGA Tour event or an LPGA or Senior Major, and his answer may surprise you. John also shares his insights on next year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and how the wind can drastically alter the challenge, as well as his early thoughts on the upcoming Ryder Cup, which will be hosted just down the road from him at Bethpage Black.

This Week on Next on the Tee

On this week’s episode, I’m joined by two incredible guests who bring unique perspectives from both the sports media and golf worlds.

First up is Justin LaBar, General Manager of TribLIVE’s High School Sports Network and longtime content creator for TribLIVE. Justin shares his journey from attending Point Park University in Pittsburgh to covering Super Bowl 43 in Tampa as a student journalist, and eventually transitioning straight into a full-time role at the Trib. He also reflects on the special Father’s Day he spent with his dad at this year’s U.S. Open. Beyond his media career, Justin is also a well-known pro wrestling analyst and weekend host on SiriusXM’s Busted Open radio show. He’s full of great stories and insights you won’t want to miss.

Then, I’m joined by 2-time PGA Tour winner and 4-time Hall of Fame inductee Richard Zokol. Richard makes his 8th appearance on the show, and this time we focus on the mental side of the game. He shares a preview of his upcoming book, Zokology: Winning With Your Mind, set to be released on Father’s Day 2026. Richard opens up about how to overcome self-imposed expectations and those placed on you, strategies for quieting mental noise, and how a Sony Walkman helped him win on Tour. We also look back at his memorable front-nine 30 during the final round of the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and why you should celebrate your own accomplishments.

Both conversations are insightful, inspiring, and filled with powerful takeaways. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

In Part 2 of Episode 27 I'm joined by 2011 U.S. Senior Open Champion Olin Browne and one of the all-time great golf course Photographers Evan Schiller.

Olin shares memories from playing in the US Open at Oakmont in 1994 and 2007, including battling brutal heat during a sweltering second-round tee time in ’94 and the honor of playing the same day as Arnold Palmer’s final U.S. Open round. We also talk about Oakmont’s legendary rough and greens, whether a 15-handicap could even break 150, and how it ranks among the toughest courses Olin has ever played.

Then I’m joined by world-renowned golf course photographer Evan Schiller, who reflects on his experience playing in the 1986 U.S. Open at Shinnecock. We dive into Evan’s recent and upcoming travels, including his return to Ireland to shoot Old Head, his thoughts on Andrew Green’s restoration work at East Lake, and why Pasatiempo might feature the best collection of par 3s anywhere. We wrap up with a deep dive into Reynolds Lake Oconee’s Creek Club, the incredible courses at The McLemore, and the designers who’ve left the biggest impression on him. From Tour-tested insight to breathtaking golf course imagery, it’s a conversation every golf fan will love.

In Part 1 of this week’s Next on the Tee, I had the pleasure of visiting Pittsburgh Brewing Company and sitting down with their amazing Marketing Director, Rachel Gill. Rachel shares the story behind the evolution of this iconic brand—it’s not just your grandfather’s Iron City anymore. While staying true to classics like Iron City and IC Light, they’re also brewing exciting craft selections like Pool Side and Block House Blueberry Wheat.

We talk about their stunning new facility, built on the historic site of the old Pittsburgh Glass Works, and their impressive on-site concert venue that’s quickly becoming a must-visit destination—set to host country legends Alabama during U.S. Open week and Joan Jett later this summer.

Then I got a surprise guest—Rosalie Wisotzski, a spirited golfer who’s played Oakmont and just returned from a dream trip to St. Andrews. She, her stories, perspective, and love of the game were absolutely captivating. I'm so glad she stopped by—you will be too.

It’s a fun, inspiring, and very Pittsburgh kind of episode.

In Part 2 of this week’s episode of Next on the Tee, I’m joined by someone quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite guests—Bill Mallon. Bill’s remarkable journey through golf, medicine, and the story of tickets to the 1980 Winter Olympics that he gave to his father, is one you won’t want to miss.

A former standout amateur and 2x All-American at Duke, Bill captured 43 amateur titles, including the Massachusetts and New England Amateurs twice each. He played on the PGA Tour from 1975 to 1979 and teed it up in the 1977 U.S. Open at Southern Hills—an event made unforgettable by winner Hubert Green playing through death threats, a moment Bill experienced firsthand.

After his time on Tour, Bill returned to Duke for medical school and went on to become one of the country’s top orthopedic surgeons. He also shares an unforgettable story about the time he and Gary McCord set the PGA Tour record for the fastest round ever played—finishing in just 1 hour and 26 minutes at Harbour Town in 1977, a developing story that caught the attention of TV cameras and eventually Commissioner Deane Beman.

We also dive into Bill’s passion as an Olympic historian, including a powerful and emotional story about gifting his father tickets to the 1980 Winter Olympics to see speed skating legend Eric Heiden—a moment that would become part of his father’s final words years later.

This is an episode filled with incredible stories, heartfelt moments, and the kind of perspective only someone like Bill Mallon can bring.

This week on Next on the Tee, I’m joined by two incredible guests who each bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and heart to the game.

First up is former PGA Tour Pro Joe Inman, whose remarkable career includes being a 3-time All-American at Wake Forest, winner of the Arnold Palmer Award in 1969, and a member of that year’s victorious U.S. Walker Cup team. Joe takes us back through the majors he played at Oakmont, the '69 U.S. Amateur, the '78 PGA Championship, and the '83 U.S. Open. Plus he talks about playing with and against future legends Lanny Watkins, Steve Melnyk, Allen Miller, Tom Watson, Jay Siegel, and Paul Purtzer in the Walker Cup and at the US Amateur. Joe’s peers say he’d make the perfect PGA Tour Commissioner—and after hearing this conversation, you might agree with that they're right.

Then, we welcome back our resident “Confidence Doctor” Dr. Bob Winters. In his regular monthly segment, Doc shares stories from his early days in the game, including a touching memory of meeting the great Jim Dent. As always, he brings unmatched positivity and teaches us how to build lasting confidence both on and off the course.

In Part 2 of Episode 25, my gumba Rob Strano joins me to celebrate the grand opening of his new state-of-the-art golf academy in the Florida panhandle. Rob takes us back to his days playing on Tour, sharing reflections on what he calls the “Uecker effect” which he unfairly depicts his PGA Tour career, since he became one of the 1% of the 1% who reached the elite level of the sport. He also recounts a wild story involving what might just be a Tour record on a par 5 at Smithfield Country Club. We also talk about the power of belief, mindset, and staying positive—both on the course and in life.

Then, I’m joined by the Confidence Doctor himself, Dr. Bob Winters. Doc shares stories from his recent travels, including a golf-filled trip to a lesser-known Hawaiian island. With the U.S. Women’s Open last week, we discuss some of the players he’s currently working with in the field, plus the incredible work one of his students is doing for junior golfers across Asia and the Philippines. It’s a fun and insightful wrap to another fun episode.

In this week’s episode of Next on the Tee, we kick things off with our resident Director of Instruction Tom Patri. After a long drive from Key West to Naples, a quick round of golf with students, and another sprint home just to make it on the show, TP shows up delightfully “extra crispy.” Tom shares his expert thoughts on this year’s PGA Championship, including whether the tournament should’ve implemented lift, clean, and place rules after heavy rain left the course saturated—something that cost Scottie Scheffler a couple of strokes thanks to a muddy fairway lie. We also dive into his experiences playing Oakmont both with and without trees, and what makes its lightning-fast greens and 6-inch rough such a brutal test of golf.

Then, we’re joined by 2013 Senior Open Champion Mark Wiebe, who brings his trademark candor, wit, and honesty back to the show. Mark shares behind-the-scenes stories the PGA Tour would rather keep quiet, including past efforts by the players to form a players’ union, the contrast between today’s luxury tour travel and the motels and coach flights of his era, and his own memories of facing Oakmont’s fierce layout.

It’s a mix of golf wisdom, honesty, and humor you won’t want to miss.