Masters Sunday: Rory's Road to Redemption

04/14/25 • 60 min

Recorded April 13th, 2025

Redemption tastes sweet in a green jacket. After 13 years of heartbreak at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy finally captured the elusive Masters title in dramatic fashion, defeating Justin Rose in a playoff to complete the career Grand Slam.
The final round was pure theater. McIlroy and DeChambeau struggled early, with Rory making double on the first hole and Bryson snap-hooking his tee shot into the trees. As the day unfolded, the leaderboard transformed into a revolving door of contenders. At one point, McIlroy built a four-shot lead—eerily reminiscent of his 2011 collapse—before hitting his approach shot into the water on 13. Meanwhile, Justin Rose made an astonishing ten birdies, Zach Johnson turned back the clock at 49 years old, and Ludvig Åberg remained in contention until a disastrous triple bogey on 17.
The most poignant moment came after the victory when McIlroy revealed that Angel Cabrera—his playing partner during that infamous 2011 meltdown—had left him a note in his locker before the final round. Full circle doesn't begin to describe it. With a gleam in his eye at the press conference, Rory posed a question to the assembled media: "What are all y'all going to talk about next year? What are you going to ask me?"
With this victory, McIlroy joins Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods in golf's most exclusive club. The question now becomes not if he belongs among the greats, but how high he might climb on that illustrious list. Subscribe now to hear our complete breakdown of one of the most memorable Masters in recent history.

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Recorded April 13th, 2025

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The Historic Fall: Duke's Late Collapse and Ovechkin's Record-Breaking Goal

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Recorded April 6th, 2025

Masters Week has arrived, and the excitement is palpable as Graham and Scott break down all the storylines heading to Augusta National. With significant rainfall in the forecast, the traditionally firm and fast course conditions could transform dramatically, potentially favoring the game's longest hitters like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
The pressure on McIlroy has never been greater as he seeks to complete the career Grand Slam after already capturing two signature event victories this season. The hosts debate whether Rory can overcome the mental challenges that Augusta presents – handling the Sunday roars, navigating the sparse leaderboard information, and managing the enormous expectations that have followed him throughout his career. Meanwhile, Scott remains steadfast in his support for Bryson, while both hosts question Jon Rahm's surprisingly favorable odds.
Before diving into golf, the duo recaps two stunning weekend sports moments: Alex Ovechkin tying Wayne Gretzky's goal record (while refusing to score on an empty net out of respect for the game) and Duke's shocking collapse against Houston in the Final Four. Despite leading by 14 points with just eight minutes remaining, Duke went ice cold and ultimately lost by three points, leaving even Carolina fan Graham feeling sympathetic toward his rival.
The episode also features discussions on hypothetical Champions Dinner menus, dark horse contenders like Min Woo Lee and Corey Conners, and exciting new features on the Masters app that will allow fans to track players' range sessions with detailed statistics. With the NCAA Championship game featuring Florida versus Houston on the horizon, and a special NHL playoffs preview episode with hockey expert TP coming next week, the bald guys on the bench continue delivering insightful sports commentary with their trademark humor and passion.
Subscribe now and join us each week as we break down the biggest moments in sports from our perspective on the bench!

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Faceoff: A Deep Dive into the Stanley Cup Playoff Preview

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Recorded April 16th, 2025

When one passionate hockey fan converts another, magic happens. In this special edition of Bald Guys on the Bench, Scott welcomes longtime friend TP—the hockey guru who transformed him from a skeptic into a devoted Vegas Golden Knights fan—for a comprehensive Stanley Cup playoff preview that dives deep into every matchup.
The conversation weaves through compelling narratives across both conferences, from the "Battle of Ontario" between the Leafs and Senators to the unprecedented fourth consecutive Kings-Oilers first-round matchup. TP brings expert analysis on why Connor Hellebuck stands as the league's premier goaltender, while Scott reflects on his evolution from hockey novice to dedicated fan who paces nervously before Stanley Cup finals games.
What makes this episode special is how it captures hockey's unique culture—a world where bitter rivals fight fiercely on ice yet celebrate in each other's weddings off it. The hosts break down why playoff hockey delivers intensity unlike any other sport, where hot goaltenders change everything and underdogs regularly topple favorites.
Whether you're a seasoned hockey enthusiast or curious newcomer, this episode offers valuable insights into what makes the Stanley Cup playoffs the most unpredictable and thrilling postseason in sports. Will the Capitals give Ovechkin another Cup run? Can the defending champion Knights repeat? The predictions and analysis provide the perfect primer for two months of playoff hockey drama.

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Bald Guys On The Bench - Masters Sunday: Rory's Road to Redemption

Transcript

Announcer00:00:07.189

Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast , with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco .

Graham00:00:21.602

Hello friends , welcome to another edition of the Bald Guys on the Bench . What a week for the Masters . What a day , scott , how was your Sunday ? Tell me all about it , brother .

Scott00:00:32.901