Tom and Dan return to complete their deep dive into Augusta National Golf Club, turning their attention to the legendary second nine at the Masters. Before diving in, the pair recap recent travels through North Wales, Belfast, and a fascinating look at golf course transformations and technology conferences shaping the future of the game.

The main event, though, is Augusta. From the towering slopes of the 10th to the brutal demands of the 11th, they unpack how the course really plays in modern championship conditions — and challenge the long-held idea that the back nine is simply a birdie-fest waiting to happen.

Along the way, they discuss Rory McIlroy’s infamous 2011 miss on 10, the evolution of Augusta’s firmness and agronomy, the relentless lengthening of the course over the decades, and why modern championship golf is increasingly being defended by firmness rather than distance.

Expect plenty of architecture chat, Masters nostalgia, strategic insight, and the kind of obsessive golf course detail that only the NCG Top 100 Podcast can deliver.

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In this episode of the NCG Top 100s Podcast, host Tom Irwin is joined by Richard Weeks, General Manager of Royal Birkdale, to explore the extensive preparations underway ahead of hosting The Open Championship.

They dive into the thinking behind recent course changes, how the team balances tradition with modern championship demands, and what it really takes to present one of the world’s most iconic links at its absolute best. From agronomy and conditioning to logistics and player experience, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at staging golf’s oldest major.

Whether you’re a course architecture enthusiast or just love The Open, this is an insightful conversation on the challenges and craft of preparing a world-class venue for the global stage.

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Fresh off the fairways of Augusta National, Tom Irwin is joined by Dan Murphy to relive their experience at the Masters and dive deep into one of golf’s most iconic stretches.

From the deceptive opener to the drama of Amen Corner’s doorstep, Tom and Dan break down how each hole really plays, what surprised them most on the ground, and why Augusta’s subtleties are impossible to fully grasp from TV alone. Expect vivid storytelling, strategic insights, and a few behind-the-scenes moments from their time at the season’s first major.

Whether you’ve walked the course yourself or only dreamed of it, this episode brings the front nine at Augusta National to life in a way you won’t hear anywhere else.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.