The Herd with Colin Cowherd — “Best of The Herd”

Date: April 13, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Colin Cowherd (Fox Sports Radio & The Volume)
Notable Guest: Alan Shipnuk (Golf author & NYT Bestseller)

Episode Overview

This episode of “The Best of The Herd” dives into sports’ biggest stories of the weekend, focusing on Rory McIlroy’s dramatic back-to-back win at the Masters, the landscape of the NBA playoffs, and a detailed conversation with Alan Shipnuk, golf writer and author of a new Rory McIlroy biography. Colin reflects on narratives surrounding superstars, the cultural impact of favorites versus underdogs, and what makes athletes like Rory uniquely magnetic. Regular segments like "Colin Right, Colin Wrong" highlight sharp sports insights and candid self-assessment.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

1. Rory McIlroy’s Masters Triumph: Recovery, Legacy, and Aura

Timestamps: [02:43]–[13:02], [19:19]–[23:23], [32:11]–[44:01]

• Champion’s Confidence & Journey: Colin sets the tone by likening Rory’s career to other sports legends who finally break through after years of promise and scrutiny (e.g., John Elway, Michael Jordan, Ohtani).

  “And then when they break through like Rory did last year, it seems to give you this confidence of a champion.” — Colin Cowherd [02:57]

• Masters Recap & Resilience:

  • Despite not playing “great golf," hitting only 31 fairways (the lowest ever for a Masters champion), and missing multiple birdie opportunities, Rory won by excelling at recovery shots and showing immense tenacity.
  • Rory entered the back nine three shots back, lost the lead, then surged ahead again—illustrative of his high-wire act playing style.

  “Through six holes, he was 2 over and lost the lead. And then the birdie started piling up...Only Rory can lead by largest lead through 36 holes...and you look up an hour and a half in and you’re like, oh, nope, lost the lead; and then gets it back and then almost, almost comfortably wins back to back.” — Colin [04:10]

• Comparisons to Other Sports Stars: Rory isn’t “Tiger” (who suffocated the field with a lead), but carries theater and unpredictability akin to Phil Mickelson.

• Rory’s Legendary Stage: Colin frames Rory’s career in four acts:

  1. Prodigy
  2. Rock star
  3. Major drought (10+ years)
  4. “Legendary stage” – now topped by championship confidence and mature composure.

• Golf Purists & Success Resentment: Pushback on Rory’s focus on majors and skipping Texas events is discussed with humor and a strong defense from Colin.

  “He’d fly his Gulf Stream into Augusta, would play a couple practice rounds, he’d fly back, have dinner with the kids. And apparently that just golf purists don’t like it...I have no problem with that.” — Colin [11:00]

• What Makes Rory “Pop”:

  • Rory’s aura, vulnerability, emotional highs and lows.
  • Colin contrasts Rory’s “sticky quality” with talented, but less charismatic figures like Scotty Scheffler or Jayson Tatum.
  • Rory’s screaming, fist pumps, and candidness connect with fans.

  “If you care, I care.” — Colin Cowherd [22:15]

2. NBA Playoff Landscape & “Parody is Overrated”

Timestamps: [06:53]–[13:02], [27:23]–[32:11]

• The Playoff Picture:

  • Boston Celtics and OKC Thunder labeled obvious contenders.
  • Denver and (to a far lesser degree) San Antonio discussed as possible dark horses.
  • Critique of the current NBA: “Too many three-point shots, stars missing games, an embarrassing tanking epidemic.”
  • Only top three seeds win titles; fun stories (like the Knicks) deemed unlikely to win due to lack of bench and defense.

  “Every single champion the last 30 years has been a top three seed....It’s probably going to be Boston or Oklahoma City.” — Colin [07:56]

• Experience vs. Youth: Nuggets vs. Spurs game cited as a showcase of Denver’s playoff experience outlasting San Antonio’s naïveté.

  “This is where you see the experience of the Denver Nuggets versus the inexperience, the naivety, just never having been there of the spurs.” — Guest Commentator [09:41]

• Parody vs. Star Power: Colin makes it clear he roots for favorites and stars—not underdogs—claiming it’s what drives viewership and lasting storylines.

3. In-Depth Interview: Alan Shipnuk on Rory McIlroy

Timestamps: [32:11]–[44:01]

• Emotional Core & Evolution:

  • Rory’s career is marked by visible emotion, both in victory and in the burden of expectation.
  • The “burden of genius” has always weighed heavily on Rory, from childhood onward.

  “He was still crying after the victories. It’s always meant so much to him...the burden of genius is a real thing. And he’s always felt that weight of expectation.” — Alan Shipnuk [33:18]

• Recovery Win: Shipnuk calls this Masters perhaps Rory’s “most impressive victory on the big stage” because he won without his A-game—thriving on recovery, managing himself emotionally, and accessing genius only when absolutely needed.

  “It was just. He never had his best stuff. And for Rory to conquer Augusta national, to dust Scotty Scheffler when he's not driving it, well, it really is a delicious turn of events.” — Alan Shipnuk [34:36]

• Difference From Tiger: Unlike Tiger Woods, Rory exhibits visible fragility and vulnerability, making his victories less robotic but more compelling.

  “There’s a fragility there. There is a vulnerability. He is not a machine like Tiger, and it's always going to be a high wire act with Rory.” — Alan [36:56]

• Historic Significance & Legacy Debate:

  • Shipnuk argues Rory has already surpassed Phil Mickelson in global impact, based on global titles, money lists, and the career Grand Slam.
  • Suggests Rory is entering “Mount Rushmore” status in golf: “He has a chance to be one of the top five golfers of all time. He needs probably two more majors, and he's there.” — Alan Shipnuk [39:25]

• Aggressive Style & Flair for Drama: Rory’s aggressive choices (e.g. using driver on 18 with a two-shot lead) are discussed as intrinsic to his character.

  “If you're the caddy and you say, I don't like driver here, what you're saying to Rory is, I don't think you're good enough in this moment. You don’t want to put that thought into his head.” — Alan Shipnuk [40:52]

• Humanity & Fan Connection: Shipnuk shares a personal anecdote about giving Rory a copy of the biography and how Rory’s gracious, forgiving character eventually shined through, showing the vulnerable, authentic side that fans love.

  “He told me he started reading it and he liked it. It made him laugh. And that kind of speaks to Rory. Even though he’d been spiky throughout the reporting of it, in the end he always carries himself with a certain amount of grace and humanity.” — Alan [42:36]

4. Colin Right, Colin Wrong (Rapid-Fire Sports Takes)

Timestamps: [27:21]–[32:11]

Where Colin Was Right:

• Rory McIlroy is good for golf and the Masters; stars and favorites make sporting events bigger events.
• Brad Stevens/Mike Missoula culture continues to keep the Celtics atop the East despite injuries and roster changes.
• NIL & transfer portal are improving college basketball by bringing in more talent and keeping rosters older.

Where Colin Was Wrong:

• Doc Rivers failed with the Milwaukee Bucks despite Colin’s predictions.
• Dallas Mavericks were expected to be a surprise team, but fell flat due to more injuries and instability.
• Reluctance to believe in “two-way” NFL players—ex: Travis Hunter destined to be a full-time corner, not a WR.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Rory’s Style and Impact:

“Tiger would shut the door on Sunday with a lead. Rory opens it, take a seat, let’s go for a fun ride.” — Colin [44:20]
“There’s just some people who have that sticky quality where I just can’t turn the TV off. Rory’s got it.” — Colin [13:02]
“He just burns to fulfill this destiny of his, and that’s why we’re so invested in it.” — Alan Shipnuk [33:30]
“All that disappeared on Master Saturday when it was like, okay, this has really happened. I can win this thing. And then the clench factor...part of what makes Rory so compelling is there is a fragility there.” — Alan [36:36]

On the State of the NBA:

“Every single champion of the last 30 years has been a top three seed...I know you want the underdogs to win, but it’s probably going to be Boston or Oklahoma City.” — Colin [07:56]

On Sports & Star Power:

“I don’t root for underdogs. I like favorites. I like stars...I like stuff to suck me in and bring me in.” — Colin [10:34]

On Legacy Debates:

“The weight of the career Grand Slam, it moves him past Mickelson, past Faldo, past Trevino. These are all guys who have six major championships. Rory is in very rarefied air.” — Alan Shipnuk [38:46]

Episode Structure (With Timestamps)

• [02:43] Opening Monologue—Rory’s historic Masters, significance, and career evolution
• [06:32–07:56] Golf analyst audio & NBA playoff landscape
• [09:32] Guest segment (Odd Couple): Nuggets vs. Spurs, playoff experience
• [11:00–13:02] Debate: Rory’s major-only schedule, criticism from purists
• [14:21] Banter: J. Mac returns
• [19:19] On personalities, charisma, and what “pops” in sports stardom
• [21:52] Rory on career comparisons to Nick Faldo, sixth major win
• [27:21–32:11] “Colin Right, Colin Wrong” – rapid takes on NBA, college hoops, NFL draft, NIL
• [32:11–44:01] Alan Shipnuk interview: Rory’s psychology, legacy, and greatness
• [44:03] Final thoughts on Rory’s Masters and what makes him compelling

Summary

This episode delivers a deep, nuanced look at what makes sporting greatness magnetic for fans and media alike, using Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory as a prime case study. Colin Cowherd’s appreciation for stars over underdogs fuels dynamic debate, while his thoughtful interview with Alan Shipnuk provides fresh perspective on Rory’s humanity, psychology, and place in golf history. In quick-hit segments, the episode also covers the NBA’s struggles with star absences and “tank culture,” and Colin offers a frank personal audit of his own predictions across multiple sports.

Whether you’re a golf diehard or a casual sports fan, this episode uniquely blends narrative, analytics, and personality, making the “Best of The Herd” a must-listen for catching up on the sports zeitgeist.