Listening to Tiger, talking to Rory
Plus fast times in the Drizzly City.
The fact that it has been less than the length of a Tom Brady retirement since our last newsletter means good things. We’re getting regular with these fellas! Let’s keep it going.
First order of business: Subscribe, if you haven’t already! And pass along to anyone else who might be interested.
Next order of business: Happy springtime! We’ve just crossed the threshold in Seattle; there are now more than 12 hours of daylight, which expands the possibilities for, well, everything.
I never felt the effects of the darkness so acutely growing up in Williamstown (where we had ski practice in the afternoons) nor in college (where we were constantly trekking around outside during the day) nor even in New York (where it’s always light and bright anyway). But in Seattle the extreme change from the summer’s forever sun to the winter’s precious few hours is particularly jarring. Now we’re in the sweet spot: Every day gets a little longer and a little warmer. The urgency of August seems an eternity away. Every extra minute feels like a bonus. It’s a good time to be alive.
(Note: Shortly after typing this I spent 90 minutes waiting outside our local auto body shop in 41-degree drizzle while they changed my car battery. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.)
WHAT I’M WRITING
Last newsletter I mentioned the launch of my new Q&A corner in GOLF Magazine. Now I have a couple to share!
The first was this Rory McIlroy Q&A which I teased out in that newsletter. I liked the way it came out: A rewarding, in-depth chat with perhaps the most thoughtful star on the PGA Tour.
Next issue there was this chat with Padraig Harrington, another top golf philosopher, who I tracked down at sunset on the putting green and collected theories on funky golf swings and growing older.
A bonus, online-only: Another Q&A with fan favorite Max Homa.
That’s more than enough reading material already, but if we’re talking about actual writing, I’ll add in this story I wrote from Tiger Woods’ Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony, which was the week of the Players Championship and was far more powerful and insightful than I expected.
(Sidenote: It didn’t occur to me until the afternoon of the event that one should be dressed up for a Hall-of-Fame ceremony, so I swung through a Jacksonville Beach Goodwill store, snagged a blazer and shirt combo and nobody was the wiser. At least, they didn’t say anything to my face. Effective use of $11.)
ONE FUN VIDEO
Jordan Spieth always plays golf like he’s on the edge of a cliff. This was the metaphor come to life:
WHAT I’M READING
This piece by The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis about Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the media stars who began their careers writing about the Patriots and went on to national stardom. As a member of the sports media, I’m often drawn to reading about the sports media, but this was a particularly satisfying read on a subject I was subconsciously aware of but had never actively thought about.
In a phrase:
“Bill Belichick’s sportswriting tree has fared way better than his coaching tree.”
The whole article is here. (It was written when Brady left Boston but recirculated when he “retired.”)
WHAT I’M WEARING
Glad you asked! The Drop Zone podcast (listen, rate, review, subscribe, all the good stuff!) that I host each Monday with my pal and colleague Sean Zak has acquired a sponsor: Local Seattle apparel startup Radmor Golf. They’re a brand-new company started by two former University of Washington golf teammates who reunited in their 40s to chase style and sustainability on the course. (Serious sustainability…not the performative kind!)
There’s me in the Drop Zone at TPC Sawgrass last week, smirking in some Radmor gear: If you’re interested in the clothes, hit radmorgolf.com and use our discount code DROPZONE for 25% off your first order…highly recommend.
NEWS FROM SEATTLE
Lots to brag about from the Emerald City. Emily has successfully baked 1.5 loaves of sourdough bread. I installed a new shelf in my office. We went skiing with good pals two separate times. We’re slowly becoming regulars at a restaurant called “Champagne Diner” which is pretty delicious but doesn’t get much business. Plus we acquired a new car battery in the aforementioned drizzle. Finally, there’s an escalating fecal war going on up the street that merits monitoring:
WHAT I’M EXCITED FOR
My first LPGA Tour event, which I’m headed to tomorrow to collect some interviews! A couple dry days. Another trip to the Champagne Diner. Learning how to make a new spring cocktail. The chocolate chip cookies at the Masters media center.
I’ll report back from there…
Love the variety of content in here, good writing. Well done young Dylan. Any chance you'll be at the Rocket Mortgage tournament here in Detroit this summer? Woukd be honored to have you autograph my copy of 18 in America.