The Life on Tour Podcast presented by Hilton completed it’s second season in 2019, hosting a range of personalities and figures from the European Tour across the year.
Life on Tour aims to take the listener inside the ropes to give an insight to what life is like for some of the biggest names from in and around golf.
Featuring some of the game’s great characters both past and present – from Major Champions, Ryder Cup heroes, broadcasters and more – we dive deep inside the stories you want to hear with no subject out of bounds.
Ian Poulter – Always delivering
We sat down with Poulter at Woburn Golf Club, where “the Postman” talked us through growing up in Milton Keynes, his love of sport and turning professional with a handicap of four. There’s Ryder Cups, chest-thumping celebrations, playing in West Africa, naked photoshoots, last-minute trips to Hong Kong, plane rides with Tiger and that Saturday afternoon match at Medinah.
Niall Horan – Swing music
We joined Niall and special guest host Kirsty Gallacher at the Hilton Park Lane in London. Niall, and his management company Modest!, has enjoyed some great golfing success this year with wins from Tyrrell Hatton, Guido Migliozzi and Christiaan Bezuidenhout on Tour. Niall spoke about music, nurturing emerging talent and his great friendship with Justin Rose, and other global golf stars.
José María Olazábal – Peaks and Troughs
Life on Tour caught up with José María at Arras Golf Resort in Lille, where he was competing in the Senior Open Hauts de France hosted by his 1999 Ryder Cup teammate Jean van de Velde. Born in the Basque region of Spain, growing up on a golf course would set the tone for Olazábal. He completed an historic double in capturing both the British Boys and British Amateur Championships, turned pro in 1985 and finished second on the Order of Merit in his rookie year. Nine years later he would slip on the coveted Green Jacket at Augusta National. There’s life in Spain, duels with Monty, Muirfield Village, his love of Augusta National and of course, the Miracle at Medinah.
The Ultimate Golfer
The Ultimate Golfer was the discussion for episode four of season two. Recorded at the BMW International Open, from the Hilton Munich Park. Martin Kaymer, Julian Suri, Jamie Spence and golf writer Michael McEwan debate who would make up their Ultimate Golfer. The top golfer was decided across the following disciplines: driving, iron play, short game, putting, mental approach.
Andrew Johnston – Being Beef
Beef joined Life on Tour at the Double Tree by Hilton, Tower of London, where he was taking some time off after a busy stretch of golf in July. That month was highlighted by a fourth place finish at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open which secured him a place at the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Born and bred in North London, Beef grew up playing at North Middlesex Golf Club and is still a member to this day. After a promising junior career representing England Boys, Johnston passed up on the men’s amateur scene and turned professional. He spent a few years bouncing between the Challenge Tour and the European Tour before eventually breaking through at the 2016 Valderrama Masters. Beef discusses his early life playing on a pitch and putt, nicknames, that beef inspired lob wedge, his recent struggles with mental health, dinners with John Daly and hanging out with Michael Jordan in Florida.
Guy Kinnings – Going the full Monty
We welcomed one of the most influential people in the business of golf, Guy Kinnings, to the podcast this year. We joined Guy at the Conrad St. James in central London where he took some time out of his busy schedule to sit down with Andrew Cotter and discuss all things golf and business. Guy talks us through his colourful career, from his early years in the Black Country, to directing The Ryder Cup, via the University of Oxford and a 30-year stint at IMG. One of the game’s most recognisable faces, he talks about his working relationship with Colin Montgomerie, his dealings with Tiger Woods, who referred to Kinnings as ‘Pinky’, and what his expectations are for the future of The Ryder Cup, as well as the European Tour.
Danny Willett – Where there’s a will there’s a Willett
Danny Willett opens up on a career which has taken him from Sheffield to the European Tour, culminating in Masters’ success in 2016. Willett talks candidly about his shock at winning The Green Jacket, the downfall that followed, including a disastrous 2016 Ryder Cup campaign, and his resurgence which led to his DP World Tour Championship victory in Dubai at the end of the 2018.The European Tour and its Official Partner Hilton are continuing their mission to give fans a unique view of professional golf.
Patrick Reed – The real Reed
The 2018 Masters Champion Reed joined us at the Porsche European Open where he discusses a career that has taken him from Houston to nearly every corner of the globe after establishing himself as a truly worldwide player. The Texan talks openly about his journey to the professional game through the rigorous Monday qualifying route, his Ryder Cup debut at Gleneagles, becoming a European Tour regular and holding off Rory McIlroy to claim his first Major Championship at Augusta National.
Shane Lowry – Clara to the Claret Jug
Recorded live from the Hilton Honors Lounge at the BMW PGA Championship, Andrew Cotter brings you an exclusive interview with Champion Golfer of the Year Lowry. The Irishman discusses his upbringing in the Irish town of Clara, his rise to victory at the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur and that magical weekend in Portrush where Lowry won the 2019 Open Championship.
Paul Casey – Ryder Cup romance and targeting Tokyo
Recorded at Olgiata Golf Club during the Italian Open with Kirsty Gallacher, Casey talks about a career that boasts 20 professional wins, his rise through the amateur ranks, a 2018 Ryder Cup return and targeting the 2020 Olympics. The Englishman discusses his upbringing in Surrey, college in Arizona, back-to-back English Amateur titles, becoming European Tour Rookie of the Year and, of course, that hole-in-one to close out his match at the 2006 Ryder Cup.
Wayne Riley - The life of Riley
Recorded at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai with Andrew Cotter, Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley talks about a career that started in 1977 on the Australian PGA Tour, his six professional wins, a fear of flying and trading his clubs for a microphone. The Australian discusses his upbringing in Sydney, his ventures over to Europe in the early part of his career, buying a golf course, Hideki interviews and how he got started in broadcasting.
Live from Dubai – The Finale
Recorded at the Waldorf Astoria The Palm, Andrew Cotter hosted Race to Dubai contenders Jon Rahm and Bernd Wiesberger, Rookie of the Year Challenger Robert MacIntyre and one of the world’s leading golfers with disability, Brendan Lawlor. Each guest took to the stage for around 20 minutes to discuss their season, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and what 2020 has in store for them.
