Advertise on podcast: In the Footsteps of Giants

Full house at ITFOG HQ as Martin & Des are joined in the studio by "young Mike" and over the worldwide web by Ron. Has Patrick Reed achieved some respect and redemption by winning the Dubai Desert Classic over the weekend? What do his press conference comments signal, a future at LIV or a plea to allow him a way back to the PGA Tour via the DPWT? Plenty of chat about the current state of world golf and whether Jon Rahm remains an elite player or a very rich and disillusioned malcontent.  Interact with the podcast via X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast

The team at ITFOG are called in for an "emergency pod" as we analyse the big news coming out of Ponte Vedra. Brooks Koepka is coming back to the PGA Tour, the deal is done, the reparations decided but the effect on the wider world of golf is not yet known. Will other big names reconsider their positions now that Brooks has shown them the path, how will Mr PIF react to this obvious setback to his passion project (LIV Golf) and will this galvanise the DPWT to expedite the arbitration/fines pending for Jon Rahm/Tyrell Hatton/Tom McKibbin? Let us have your thoughts via X @ITFOG_podcast or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast.

As we enter 2026 what does the world of golf have in store for us all? Although we don't actually know what will happen, we never shy away from giving our predictions. With Des and young Mike unavailable it falls to Martin and 'new boy' Ron to tackle the task of predicting the future. Who will win the majors, who will step forward in a new season and who will fall back, will LIV Golf survive as some of it's star names choose to exit the league rather than renew their contracts? Plenty to chat about as we start the new golf season. Interact with the podcast via X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast 

As we round out 2025 it's time for our annual 'naughty or nice' list from the world of golf. Martin and Des have done this before, but it was a first run out for newest team member Ron. Always one of our favourite shows of the year as we debate who should make it onto each side of the list. Plenty of discussions around players, administrators, courses and tournaments with some consensus from the panel and then also some lively debate. Let us know who you would put on your list for 2025 via our X portal @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast. We wish all our listeners, from wherever you listen, a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Plenty to talk about this week as Martin, Des & Ron debate events at the Australian Open, the Nedbank Golf Challenge and the Hero world Challenge all played over the last few days. The boys then turn their attention to the current OWGR rankings and some winners and losers in 2025. Ron then tables a debate about YouTube golfers and is intrigued to see what way the 'old traditionalists" view this new crop of golfing content creators.  Let us have your thoughts via our X portal @ITFOG_podcast or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast.

After missing ITFOG's normal 14 day recording schedule Martin & Des are back in the studio to catch up on all the major golf stories of the last few weeks. Joining them for the first time is Ron Greer, known to many on Tik Tok as "the winter golfer" who brings a new set of opinions to the discussion, plus we quiz him on his top 5 golf courses that he has played.  We debate whether Rory or Scottie is the golfer of the year, which DPWT player has shunned a PGA Tour card to sign with LIV Golf and whether LIV's move to a 72 hole format will help them achieve OWGR points. Interact with the podcast via our X portal @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast

After our recent outing on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, it's time for Martin and Des to own up to the reality that Championship golf courses are hard. Despite great company and favourable weather both of the seasoned old campaigners struggled to deliver any consistency over this north Antrim masterpiece. Plenty of general discussion about the DPWT and solving their LIV problem plus a roundup of everything that interests us from around the world of professional golf. Interact with the podcast via our social portals, X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast.

Tommy Fleetwood is the biggest star of the autumn with two wins and a stellar Ryder Cup performance. Martin and Des meet to discuss his recent win in Delhi and what this might mean for his future major prospects.  Plenty of other news from around the world of golf, particularly the ongoing fallout of fans behaviour at Bethpage, LIV Golf's laughable financial results and their assertion that the league is gaining sponsorship deals which boost franchise values, Richard Bland's win in Scotland and both his and other LIV players future relationship with the DPWT. Plus, Martin & Des discuss their prospects as they head to Royal Portrush to tackle the 2025 Open Championship course in the next couple of days. Interact with the podcast via social media through X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast.

Martin was delighted to welcome Ian Kerr, Chairman of the Royal Portrush Open Championship Committee 2025, back into the studio to talk about the success of this year's championship. For seven glorious days in July Portrush was the golfing world's epicentre and at it's core was a very dedicated team from Royal Portrush Golf Club who delivered an event that truly showcased what Northern Ireland has to offer. We talk about the tournament, the lessons learned from 2019 and the economic value created by the event's return.  Please note that our chat was recorded ahead of the Ryder Cup so any predictions made do not have the benefit of hindsight! Interact with the podcast via X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast, we appreciate feedback and suggestions.

Bethpage Black was a successful hunting ground for team Europe but it was also the most hostile crowd in the Ryder Cup's history. Our respect for the players has gone through the roof as they prevailed despite the naked hostility and boorishness from the American fans. Did the PGA lose control, did this Ryder Cup tip over acceptable behavioural limits, what can be done to ensure future Ryder Cups do not follow a similar descent into unruly chaos? Martin and Des get together to celebrate an epic overseas win but also to discuss the many unsavoury incidents that somewhat marred the joy of a Ryder Cup weekend. Interact with the podcast via X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or Bluesky @ITFOG-podcast

And we're back! As summer fades into the rearview mirror Martin & Des hit the studio to catch up on the big stories since the Open Championship. With the Ryder Cup @ Bethpage literally around the corner, the boys discuss the final makeup of both team plus debate whether Europe can win on US soil in 2025. Both teams look good on paper but who has the edge? Also our usual roundup of stories from around the wide world of golf, including a rant from Martin about Greg's claim that LIV Golf has created a new asset class for capital investment. Interact with the podcast via X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast

With major season over and a few weeks still to wait until the Ryder Cup at Bethpage, we thought our listeners might enjoy a repeat of the outpouring of emotion and relief that we all felt when Rory McIlroy finally conquered Augusta National. The most unscripted podcast episode we have ever done but probably one of the most memorable, for us anyway.  New ITFOG episodes coming in early September following our summer break, however, listeners can still interact via X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast

At the end of last year friends of the show, Matt McClean and Steven Gracey headed to the LIV Promotions event in Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year Steven came into the studio to recount some stories from that most unusual adventure.  New ITFOG episodes will appear in early September following our summer break. You can still interact with the podcast via X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast.

The 153rd Open is in the books and major season is over. Martin, Des and young Mike sit down to discuss their various experiences at Royal Portrush over the last few days. Scottie was a worthy winner but did he suck the juice out of the final day by showing no weakness or emotion. Who were the other winners/losers from a glorious week on the north Antrim coast. Which ITFOG panellist won the predictions game for the final major of 2025? Plus a chat with an Open first time spectator regarding their impressions of a major championship set up. Interact with the podcast via our socials, X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast. Thanks for sticking with us for Season 5, new episodes will return in early September. Have a great summer.

Martin & Des (and young Mike?) discuss the unusual conundrum that appears to affect the US Ryder Cup team selections for Bethpage. Will Keegan Bradley be a playing captain in September? Also we discuss the current state of PGA Tour/LIV negotiations as we are now 2+ years on from the infamous Framework Agreement. With the Open Championship only 10 days away we make our pre tournament predictions and there are certainly a couple of surprises in the ITFOG team's choices. Hope all our listeners thoroughly enjoy the Open Championship from the legendary Royal Portrush GC on the outstanding North Antrim coastline. Interact with the podcast via X @ITFOG_podcast, Instagram @ITFOG or BlueSky @ITFOG-podcast