S12, Ep40: Steve Shingledecker’s RMU Men’s Golf Team Is On The Rise Plus 6x Hall of Famer Jim McLean Talks US Open, Ryder Cup, & Bethpage Setup
Description
On this bonus edition of Next on the Tee, I’m thrilled to be joined by two outstanding guests who are making a major impact on the game.
First up is legendary instructor Jim McLean, one of the most decorated teachers in golf history and a 2025 inductee into the PGA of America Hall of Fame. Jim reflects on the honor, his extraordinary playing career that included the Masters, U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, and U.S. Senior Open, and why he was an early adopted of technology like video analysis and TrackMan, to stay ahead of the curve. We talk about his student James Nicholas, who impressed at this year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont. Jim also shares lessons from his archives, the debate around “swinging left,” and what he’s most looking forward to at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
Then I catch up with Robert Morris Head Men’s Golf Coach Steve Shingledecker, who has transformed the Colonials into a rising contender. We revisit their best-ever Horizon League finish, the confidence it created, and standout play recently from Chuck Tragresser, who earned his first win at the Western PA Spring Stroke Play and finished runner-up at the WPGA Open. Steve also shares the hard work that the rest of his roster has put in, and why they’ve gone from being near the bottom of leaderboards to expecting to win. He also previews their fall and spring schedules—including a big opener at Pinehurst—and shares how the energy around RMU athletics has the whole campus buzzing.
Two great conversations this week filled with stories, lessons, and inspiration for players and fans alike.
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