The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Go Low – Collin Morikawa OUTLASTS Scottie Scheffler & Rory McIlroy to win Pebble Beach Pro-AM

Date: February 18, 2026
Host: John Middlekauff (Go Low Podcast feed)

Overview

This episode is a deep dive into a dramatic week in golf, focusing on Collin Morikawa’s win at Pebble Beach and an even bigger story: Anthony Kim’s comeback victory over Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm on the LIV tour in Australia. John Middlekauff explores the emotional power and narratives behind golf’s biggest personalities, touches on Tiger Woods’ new leadership role, and provides thoughtful analysis of the current state of the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and what makes stars like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy so compelling.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Podcast and Content Structure Changes

• Go Low is now separated from football content, with its own podcast feed and a dedicated YouTube channel for all golf content ([00:00]).
• Listeners can interact via @Golopod on Instagram for mailbag questions and golf discussions.

2. Anthony Kim’s Shocking LIV Comeback

A. The Comeback and Its Meaning:

• Anthony Kim, absent from competitive golf for almost 15 years due to addiction, returned and dominated at the LIV Tour’s signature event in Australia ([02:00]–[05:30]).
  • “He was five down to start the day. He boat raced them both. ... He beat Bryson by 11 strokes. He beat Rom by eight.” – John Middlekauff ([03:50])
• Kim’s visible physical and emotional scars underscored the gravity of his struggle and triumph:
  • “You look at his face, you can see cocaine destroyed his nose. His addiction, which he has been very open about.” ([04:35])
  • “To now come out ... it feels like he just kind of got his [life] together. ... It was just really cool and powerful to watch.” ([08:00])

B. Character and Showmanship in Golf:

• Golf lacks villains and emotional outbursts; Kim brought an energy and authenticity that’s rare in today’s ultra-wealthy, corporate golf culture ([05:45]).
  • “Most of these guys in this day and age are so filthy rich, the emotion in a lot of these events, non-majors or Ryder Cup aren’t exactly Tiger fist-pumping all over the place.” ([06:40])
• The return of “characters” is vital for engagement—a parallel drawn with legacy NBA “wildcards” and NFL personalities ([07:35]).
• Bryson and Rahm’s reactions illustrate differing sportsmanship:
  • “Rom even waits to give [Kim] a hug. Bryson sits there like, ‘Hey, you gonna sign your scorecard?’ ... Bro, back up.” ([14:10])

C. The Significance for LIV and Golf:

• Kim’s comeback provides LIV with its first “big on-course moment” that genuinely mattered for golf as a whole ([14:50]).
  • “This mattered. This really mattered for them and just for the golfing world.” ([15:05])

D. The Future – Could Kim Return to PGA Tour?

• The idea of Kim playing PGA events like the Waste Management or Riviera is tantalizing for business and fans ([17:10]).
  • “He’d be a rock star ... get an enormous amount of support. He really would.” ([17:20])
• But it’s uncertain if Kim will stay with LIV or cross back to the PGA Tour; regardless, his story has reignited interest and emotion in golf.

3. Pebble Beach & PGA Tour Storylines

A. Scottie Scheffler – Relentless Consistency and Tiger Comparisons

• Scheffler shot 63 on Sunday, continuing a pattern of remarkable final rounds even when starting the day out of contention ([16:54], resumes at [18:00]):
  • “In a weird way, he’s more impressive when he doesn’t win some of these golf tournaments … and then all of a sudden Sunday ... you’re like, how does he do it?” ([17:05])
• The most “Tiger-like” quality: refusing to give up, always grinding, wire-to-wire competitor ([18:10]):
  • “No matter what happens at any moment from when [Tiger] was young to when he’s 50 years old, he never taps out.” ([18:50])
  • “There’s something with Scotty ... never feel like he’s out of it.” ([19:17])
• On Scheffler’s “could have more wins”:
  • “He’s probably less than 15 shots here or there from having 50% more wins on the PGA Tour.” ([20:14])

B. Rory McIlroy’s Similarities, Form, and Fire

• Rory is described as the “second-best player in the world,” with notable momentum swings and emotional play ([21:00]).
• Shot 64 on Sunday after a triple and double bogey derailed his score on Saturday, highlighting the “what could have been” aspect ([21:26]).
• Hopes for a true Scheffler vs. McIlroy duel on a big stage – something golf (and fans) have craved but rarely witnessed ([22:35]).
  • “It’d be awesome [to see those two paired]. Even LIV technically just got that with Rahm and Bryson in the last group.” ([22:45])

C. Emerging Stars and Noteworthy Performances

• Chris Gotterup’s rise: winning the Sony Open and Waste Management, looking like a future U.S. President’s Cup lock ([24:28]).
• Collin Morikawa: bounced back from slump, captured Pebble Beach, and announced a baby on the way ([25:34], [26:07]).
• Justin Rose: still winning on Tour, praised for professionalism and work ethic ([27:15]).

4. Tiger Woods: Golf’s New Spokesman and Leader

• Tiger’s press conference showcased his gravitas and potential as the public face and leader of the PGA Tour’s future ([29:25]):
  • “There’s a reason teams have their quarterbacks talk all the time ... Tiger brings a combination of calmness, confidence and swagger.” ([30:15], [32:10])
• Middlekauff credits Tiger’s presence with helping save the PGA Tour from LIV poaching more stars:
  • “If Tiger would have died in that car accident ... do Rory and some of these guys, would they have gone to LIV? ... Might have saved golf.” ([31:15])
• On Tiger’s natural media skills:
  • “He has like the credentials of Jack Nicklaus ... but now he’s kind of got this confidence in front of a microphone, like, truly, ask me whatever you want.” ([32:40])
• Tiger’s role as a frontman is compared to NFL executives like John Lynch and MLB’s Buster Posey ([33:19]).

5. College Golf and the Next Generation

• Tiger’s son, Charlie Woods, committed to Florida State. Not a “token” spot – he's building a real competitive resume ([35:20]).
  • This will give the team immense access and attention, further connecting Tiger to the next wave of the sport.
• NIL landscape means top juniors like Miles Russell may remain amateurs longer, making big money and growing the college game ([37:09]).

6. Picks & Betting for Upcoming Riviera Tournament

• Betting recommendations:
  • Scotty Scheffler to win (“never hate taking Scotty ... he will either be in the lead or coming back—always have a chance”) ([38:50]).
  • Rory McIlroy top 10 (+140), Hideki Matsuyama top 10 (+240), Sam Burns as a longshot winner (30:1) ([40:00]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Anthony Kim’s comeback:
  • “He was just making putt after putt after putt, going nuts with fist pumps, putting his arms up. ... You just felt something emotionally.” – John Middlekauff ([07:05])
  • “As he said, I could have easily been dead. Easily been dead. And he’s still here and he wins.” ([16:00])
• On creating compelling golf moments:
  • “If sports are not moving you emotionally, they’re just going to lose people.” ([08:20])
• On the current generation’s drive:
  • “Scotty’s probably made $100 million the last 24 months … He is not driven by money … completely unfazed by status.” ([23:52])
• On Tiger Woods as an ambassador:
  • “He’s got this confidence in front of a microphone, like, truly, ask me whatever you want.” ([32:40])
  • “Double down on Tiger Woods being a spokesman for your business ... it’s really, really important.” ([33:48])

Key Timestamps

• Podcast structure & Go Low introduction: [00:00–02:00]
• Anthony Kim comeback story, LIV event: [02:00–14:50]
• Significance for LIV, comparison to PGA Tour events: [14:50–17:10]
• SAmerican golf’s need for showmanship, emotion: [06:40–09:15]
• Scottie Scheffler’s mentality and comparisons to Tiger: [16:54–21:00]
• Rory’s play at Pebble, the Rory/Scottie rivalry question: [21:00–23:00]
• Emerging stars: Gotterup, Morikawa, Rose: [24:28–27:15]
• Tiger Woods as leader and public figure: [29:25–34:00]
• Charlie Woods, NIL, the future of college golf: [35:20–37:09]
• Riviera tournament betting picks: [38:50–40:50]

Final Thoughts

This episode brings both raw emotion and sharp analysis—celebrating Anthony Kim’s redemptive victory, marveling at the relentless excellence of Scheffler and McIlroy, and reflecting on Tiger Woods’ transition from GOAT player to vital steward of the game. If you’re looking for golf insight with personal and historical context—and a dose of fan’s perspective—this episode is a must-listen reminder of why sports, at their best, move us beyond scoreboards.