The Second Captains Podcast Prague Comedown, Italian Football Surrenders, Tiger Tanks, Writing Rory
Apr 2, 2026
Kevin van Valkenburg, American golf journalist and commentator, breaks down Tiger Woods' recent troubles and their wider implications. Alan Shipnuck, biographer of Rory McIlroy, talks about writing Rory and memorable reporting moments. They discuss Tiger's persistence despite limits, Rory's public persona, and the build-up to the Masters in a lively, anecdote-packed conversation.
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Italy's Qualification Failure Signals Institutional Collapse
- Italy's failure to qualify reveals systemic rot rather than a one-off failure.
- Ken Early and Owen discuss three consecutive World Cup failures and calls for sweeping FIGC change, not just managerial swaps.
Rory Told The Author To Fuck Off Then Thanked Him
- Alan Shipnuck recounts being rebuffed by Rory at the 2023 US Open then later making peace at Pebble Beach.
- Rory told Shipnuck to "fuck off" at Oakmont but later shook his hand and thanked him for the book in public.
Limited Access Didn't Prevent An Intimate Rory Portrait
- Shipnuck wrote a Rory biography without full interview cooperation yet still produced an intimate portrait.
- He used decades of coverage, private moments and reporting to create a clear-eyed, flattering narrative despite limited access.