S12, Ep 47 Part 1: From PGA Victories, Becoming a Better Putter, to Augusta National & Hurricane Recovery with Kenny Knox & Darren Davis

On this week's episode of Next on the Tee, I’m joined by three incredible guests who bring stories, insights, and passion for the game from very different perspectives.

We kick things off with three-time PGA Tour winner and short game guru Kenny Knox. Kenny captured titles at the 1986 Honda Classic, the 1987 Hardee’s Golf Classic, and the 1990 Buick Southern Open. He also set a putting record at the 1989 Heritage Classic — just 8 putts for 9 holes, 18 for the round, and 93 for the entire tournament! Kenny and I dive into why the European Ryder Cup team consistently putts lights out, why he believes Bethpage was poorly setup for the Americans, and who he thinks should be the next U.S. Captain. We also revisit some of the grueling conditions he faced during his Tour wins and what it took to grind out victories under pressure.

Next, I’m joined by Darren Davis, longtime Superintendent at Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples, Florida. Darren came highly recommended by my great friend Tom Wildenhaus, the club’s Director of Instruction — and when Wildy says “you need to talk to this guy,” you listen. Darren studied Agronomy at Penn State, completed an apprenticeship at Augusta National, and has been leading course operations at Olde Florida for an incredible 33 years. He shares what it’s like to maintain world-class course conditions while facing the challenges of South Florida weather — from extreme heat to afternoon storms — and how his team has recovered from devastating hurricanes over the years. Darren’s stories of resilience, leadership, and love for the game are truly inspiring.

It’s a fantastic mix of Tour-level insight, behind-the-scenes expertise, and heartfelt storytelling that reminds us why we all love this game. Be sure to come back for Part 2 of the episode featuring my conversation with David Moore, Oakmont's Curator of Collections and Co-Author of Battling the Church Pews, The History of Golf's Premier Events in Western Pennsylvania.