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The Shotgun Start

The Shotgun Start

1,109 episodes — Page 5 of 23

TGL Miracles and Jup Disasters, Golf Reunification Theory, and a Slovak emerges

Four TGL matches across two days makes for a great Wednesday episode! Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube following NYGC's blowout victory over Jupiter Links on Tuesday night to discuss the bevy of content coming from the SoFi Dome. Brendan is immediately furious with his beloved team's performance, wondering about timeout management, roster construction, and if Jup Links can ever contend while building around Tiger Woods. Andy unveils his first-ever SGS TGL Power Rankings, leading to an entire segment of disagreement regarding where he put his Ballfrogs. The two recap Monday's P-Day marathon, which was "very fun" and a success story for the league in its first season. Unfortunately, that momentum did not carry over into Tuesday night, but PJ is excited that his NYGC team is in the win column thanks to help from the Mets. The ESPN broadcasts are critiqued and the technology is questioned, but Andy and Brendan both agree that TGL found something good on Monday. In non-screen golf, the field for the Mexico Open is deemed "too good" to play In/Out/Alternate, so hammers are thrown on some fire picks ahead of a week at a bomber's paradise. The Magical Kenya Open is awarded Event of the Week thanks to a field full of notables such as "The DVD Player!" Finally, Patty Tavatanakit is defending her title in Thailand on the LPGA Tour this week. In news, Sun Day Red finds its first non-Tiger athlete and Charlie Woods gets a special exemption.

Feb 19, 20251h 3m

The Signature Event model, Ludvig’s arrival, and LIV’s balance sheet

This Sunday episode starts with a Sports Minute in which Brendan asks Andy to answer for Illinois hanging a banner upside down during Saturday night's game. There's also some chatter about the USA-Canada hockey game ad the Four Nations Faceoff. In a positive for golf, the Sports Minute closes with an agreement from everyone that the Presidents Cup has more juice than the NBA All Star Game! From there, Andy and Brendan discuss Ludvig Åberg's first win in a Signature Event at the Genesis Invitational. They talk through Ludvig's come-from-behind victory, chasing down Maverick McNealey at Torrey Pines. There's some intel from the ground that Ludvig skipped out on buying the media beers after his ace which leads to Brendan ranting about this ridiculous tradition. Andy has some critiques about the setup on Sunday and the two also discuss Tiger's appearance in the booth coming down the stretch on CBS. With the West Coast swing over and done, Andy, Brendan, and PJ give out some awards to commemorate the first six events of the season. After some internet issues due to cold weather, the conversation moves on to LIV Adelaide, won by Joaquin Niemann. Brendan dives into some reporting about LIV's ratings in Australia and their balance sheets from the past few years showing that the league is spending billions of dollars without much return. Champions Tour Minute checks in on the spread at the Chubb Classic to finish this episode. Justin Leonard won for the first time since 2008, but folks are upset about Papa and Zinger not being on-site for the call!

Feb 17, 20251h 20m

Rory and Jay speak on “reunification,” Ryder Cup temp taking, and LIV CEO rambling

Love is in the air for this Friday episode as Brendan and Andy discuss their plans for Valentine's Day to start the show. If you're looking for a last-minute gift, a tipster passed along a run of Zach Johnson "Tour-Issued" memorabilia currently up for sale on eBay. Andy has PJ make some picks for collectors looking to invest, leading to a discussion about whether ZJ is out there wearing a Small polo when playing. Golf's premier gambling podcast then shouts out some LIV odds for Adelaide, where 52-year-old Richard Bland finds himself favored over Dustin Johnson in a head-to-head market this week. Andy and Brendan briefly chat about DJ's career and current standing in the game, noting how much things have changed for him since the 2020 Masters. Speaking of changes, Andy went full data boy to compare the potential teams for the Ryder Cup this fall. With the median OWGR of these teams being almost equal, Andy dispels the notion of a large advantage for the Americans as many thought there would be following the rout at Whistling Straits. Data Boy Andy then shares some numbers showing that it may be beneficial for big names to play events in the fall in order to hit the ground running at early-season Tour stops, but Brendan isn't so sure about his data set. At the Genesis, both Rory McIlroy and Jay Monahan discussed the potential PGA Tour-PIF deal. Rory commented on his recent round with President Trump, who is apparently not a fan of LIV's format despite hosting events at his courses across the globe. There's also some talk about reunification, leaving everyone wondering whether the PGA Tour or the Champions Tour would benefit more from having LIV players back in the fold. Brendan received a Champs Tour scoop and sent PJ on an investigation into a potential Champs Tour Cutthroat Corner for this week's Chubb Classic. Brendan then briefly reads some comments from new LIV CEO Scott O'Neil before saving the rest for Monday. Flashback Friday returns to send you into the weekend with Brendan remembering the anniversary of Wayne Levi's 1982 Hawaiian Open win, the first-ever with a neon golf ball on the PGA Tour.

Feb 13, 20251h 23m

Is PGA Tour-PIF deal almost done, Tiger WDs, and TaylorMade breaks up with DJ

Andy and Brendan start this Wednesday episode by wishing for the return of landline phones as society's primary communication method after some emails received earlier this week. In a light week for pro golf, two preview the Genesis Invitational, being played at Torrey Pines South instead of Riviera this year. They discuss their mixed feelings toward this event following the change in venue due to natural disaster and Tiger's WD after his mother died. Nonetheless, hammers are thrown on this week's fire locks as golf's preeminent gambling podcast looks to get back on the board with a win at Torrey. PJ takes a big swing with his pick for the week and apologizes for Kenny Gainwell's total yards prop loss, provoking some discussion about Sunday's game. Andy and Brendan then note the lack of TGL matches this week and wonder whether Tiger chose to have the league take a week off during his hosted event. Without a DP World Tour or LPGA event this week, the Champions Tour gets second billing ahead of the Chubb Classic. Andy shares some on-the-ground insight from Tiburon before looking ahead to the upcoming Cologuard Classic. LIV moves from Riyadh to Adelaide this week for their premier event, complete with the Watering Hole making its return. Brendan shares that the league will make its FOX debut on Saturday night at 11 pm ET due to the time change from Australia. Naturally, some ratings talk comes next with numbers from both LIV Riyadh's final round and Thomas Detry's Sunday at the WM released on Tuesday. Things wrap up with a news segment covering a reported update in PGA Tour-PIF negotiations and Dustin Johnson's split with TaylorMade as his equipment sponsor.

Feb 12, 202547 min

Victory Monday and Spieth flashes in Phoenix, LIV’s opener ratings

Andy is on cloud nine for this Victory Monday episode, as Illinois alum Thomas Detry won the WM Phoenix Open going away. Brendan and Andy discuss Detry's first PGA Tour win and his outstanding play on the weekend that earned him a champagne shower and victory hugs on the 18th green from international stars like Matt Wallace, Ryan Fox, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout. The two wrap up more stories from Phoenix, including a big week from Jordan Spieth, a tie for second from Daniel Berger, and a faulty back nine from Scottie Scheffler on Sunday. Rasmus Hojgaard also received some flowers from Andy, leading to a wider conversation about possible European Ryder Cuppers in February. Andy and Brendan then recap the golf weekend across the rest of the world. They share their favorite Haotong Li memories as a way to commemorate his win on the DP World Tour and wonder how the U.S. Virgin Islands became the title sponsor for the LPGA's Founders Cup. PJ jumps in to detail how Bob Papa was growing the game of golf in Morocco while covering Miguel Angel Jimenez's win on the Champions Tour. The golf recaps close with a segment on LIV's debut under the lights, where Andy calls winner Adrian Meronk the "GOAT of Night Golf." This episode ends with a brief discussion about Tiger Woods playing in next week's Genesis at Torrey Pines, a place where he's won eight times.

Feb 10, 202558 min

Tour meets with Trump, LIV has all of the lights, Global Home cafeteria cost cutting

Andy starts this Friday episode by breaking the news of the latest Cavaliers trade to Brendan just before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday afternoon. Brendan parlays his excitement about the Cavs into a recap of LIV's first-ever round on FS2, complete with dancing robots, strobe lights, and a Backstreet Boys appearance! Brendan shares details of his morning watching the 54 players in Riyadh and calls Thursday's first round "the golf broadcast of the year" to this point. With solid first rounds from names such as Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood, and new signing Tom McKibbin, there's some anticipation for the final two rounds of competition in Saudi Arabia. In other LIV news, the USGA announced an exemption category for LIV golfers, the first major to have an explicit category for LIV qualifiers. On the PGA Tour, a statement regarding Jay Monahan and Adam Scott meeting with President Trump was released just before recording. The three met to discuss a potential deal between the PGA Tour and PIF, which the statement alleges is becoming closer to being a reality. Andy and Brendan then talk through Rory McIlroy's response to Charley Hoffman's letter taking "thinly-veiled" shots at him earlier this week. On the golf course, the WM Phoenix Open has turned into a influencer event, which has Brendan wondering whether it could be that exclusive if everyone's invited. Brendan shares some reports from PGA Tour HQ about cafeteria prices being raised, and Andy wonders if this is an SSG operation to recoup some money spent on other sports teams. This episode wraps with some SGS Golf Advice questions about joining a club and some Super Bowl chatter before the big game on Sunday night.

Feb 7, 20251h 7m

The Phoenix party ‘venue’, Ballfrauds boat-raced, and Aimpoint gets roasted

This Wednesday episode is yet another TGL Tuesday Live Show! Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube to react to the Ballfrogs getting blown out by LAGC at the SoFi Dome. Brendan begins the show by coining the term "Ballfrauds" and questions how a this roster is losing to Justin Rose. Collin Morikawa was a revelation again, staking his claim as perhaps the best simulator golfer alive and explained that KPMG was now sponsoring his strategy regarding The Hammer. Andy and Brendan discuss the goings-on of TGL Match 5, where the screen technology failed to register a Tommy Fleetwood approach shot. In outdoor golf, Schedule for the Week begins with the WM Phoenix Open. The venue is discussed at length, with the golf course being only a minor factor in what this "venue" entails. Andy, Brendan, and PJ make their fire, mega-lock, hammer down gambling picks for the Waste Management in an effort to bounce back after a poor showing at Pebble. Elsewhere, Lexi Thompson, the retiree, is back again to play at this week's LPGA event, and the Champions Tour is in Morocco! Andy and Brendan also preview LIV's 2025 debut under the lights in Riyadh, airing on Fox Sports 2. In news, the LPGA has a new pace-of-play policy, Lucas Glover wants to ban aimpoint, and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am posted big ratings thanks to Rory's win.

Feb 5, 20251h 10m

Rory rolls at Pebble for PGA Tour booster week, Charley Hoffman pens letter, and DLF intel

Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube late Sunday night to recap Rory McIlroy's win at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his 27th career victory on the PGA Tour. They dive into what was a quality weekend of golf on the PGA Tour, providing a much-needed boost to the product after a sleepy start to the season. The two unpack Rory's dominating performance driving the ball, including the ridiculous line he took on the 14th hole which lead him to an eagle on Sunday to practically seal his win. Andy and Brendan also compliment the CBS broadcast, which elevated the event even more than its "signature" status. They discuss what turned out to be a packed European Ryder Cup leaderboard, with strong performances from Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, and Sepp Straka. TGL superstar Tom Kim was also a factor, finishing in a tie for seventh after being put on the clock for slow play (again). In addition to Rory, Scottie Scheffler also made his first start of 2025, finishing in a tie for ninth. After wrapping up with more discussion about why venues matter on the PGA Tour, Andy and Brendan turn their attention to perhaps their favorite venue, DLF. Ollie Schniederjans won for the first time in nine years, blowing out a LIV-heavy field in India. Andy shares some intel from someone who's played DLF about the course and why Bryson was perhaps not the biggest fan of the greens there. A Lim Kim won the LPGA's Tournament of Champions, which ended right in the coverage gap for Pebble Beach, outlasting a late charge by Nelly Korda on Sunday. In golf news from the weekend, Brendan shares a letter written by Charley Hoffman that was shared with PGA Tour members on Sunday night. Hoffman is suggesting that top players need to show their support for the Tour by playing in more events, despite taking time off to play overseas or in TGL matches on Mondays and Tuesday nights. To wrap this episode up, Andy, Brendan, and PJ react to the Luka Doncic trade in an NBA-focused Sports Minute.

Feb 3, 20251h 26m

PGA Tour gets to spitballin', Conspiracy Theory Friday, and SGS Golf Advice

Travel back from the Florida swamp pushed this episode to a Friday morning recording, but Brendan and Andy are still jazzed about PJ's interaction with "Sticks Boy", which was briefly immortalized by a Noah Kahan fan account on Instagram before being deleted due to colon jokes in the comments. Aside from TGL, there's outdoor golf being played across the globe this week, and the discussion starts with the latest from DLF, complete with some on-the-ground insights. Brendan and Andy are giddy about "The Battleship" making the cut and staying to play the weekend, where he'll be chasing 36-hole leader Joaquin Niemann. There is then some lengthy discussion about Pebble Beach, where Jay Monahan and other PGA Tour executives were spitballin' with the media in a private Wednesday session. A large part of this session reportedly focused on PGA Tour broadcast issues, with the executives saying that they want to show "more consequential shots" for viewers going forward. In on-course news, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both celebrated a hole-in-one on Thursday, leading to plenty of soundboard usage from Andy. The LPGA's Tournament of Champions is also ongoing in Orlando, and Andy and Brendan look at the list of celebrities playing in the pro-am and decide who should earn a promotion to Pebble Beach next year. Is former NBA swingman Courtney Lee really a celebrity? This is discussed at length! To wrap things up, an emailer writes in with a story about a fraudulent assistant club pro for this week's SGS Golf Advice.

Jan 31, 20251h 5m

Our onsite TGL bonanza, Pebble Beach buzz and DLF delirium

Andy and Brendan are together in Florida for this highly-anticipated Wednesday show, still recovering from their in-person TGL experience. The two unpack everything from Monday night's match, including an interaction with "Sticks Boy" Noah Kahan, Tiger getting hit with the first-ever shot clock violation, and an overtime Jupiter Links win. Andy wonders if Tom Kim is now "unsittable" for the rest of the season and Brendan shares his thoughts on the moving green after seeing it with his own two eyes. PJ chimes in to compare his SoFi Dome experience to his time walking through an inflatable colon at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. There's plenty of Pebble Beach Pro Am chatter, as Rory, Scottie, and Jordan Spieth make their 2025 PGA Tour debuts. One-and-done picks from this gambling podcast are also shared, with three TGL superstars being selected. To wrap, Andy bestows "Event of the Week" on the International Series event at DLF in India and the two wonder how Bryson DeChambeau will handle one of the most interesting courses in the world.

Jan 29, 20251h 19m

Slow play slog at Torrey, Pebble sponsor exemptions, and more rollback quotes

A Saturday finish at the Farmers Open allowed for a Sunday morning recording, so Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube to recap Harris English's fifth PGA Tour win. English gets his flowers as a worthy champion and true professional, shooting a 73 with 12 straight pars to secure a win. Most of the Torrey chatter is about slow pace-of-play yet again, as even Dottie Pepper called out the long Saturday rounds on the broadcast. In other notables, Luke Clanton finished t15, gaining another point in the PGA Tour U standings, and two of this gambling podcast's picks for the week finished in the top 15 as well. Andy and Brendan then check in on the Game Within a Game for the DP World Tour's event in the UAE, where Big Shot Bob Karlsson was the only one to make the cut of the three options. In news, Andy and Brendan discuss more quotes from PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague about "hitting the pause button" on the proposed rollback. In an interview with Golf Digest, Sprague reiterated that the PGA of America would not be in support of the rollback and expressed a desire for golf leadership to gather "all around the table," as if that hasn't happened before. Sponsor exemptions were announced for the AT&T Pebble Beach this week and, as expected, Jordan Spieth is on the list. He's joined by Gary Woodland, Keith Mitchell, and Rickie Fowler, which leads to a short look at Rickie's current status in the game. Finally, Andy, Brendan, and PJ look ahead to their trip to Florida for the debut of the Ballfrogs against Kevin Kisner and Jupiter Links on Monday night.

Jan 26, 20251h 16m

Torrey WD-fest, Seth Waugh and looming pro golf battles, PGA’s rollback worries

The never-ending golf news cycle leads to a jam-packed Friday episode as Andy and Brendan unpack a week's worth of stories and rumors heading into the weekend. TGL sent out some team-themed email blasts on Thursday afternoon, so this episode begins with more chatter about the screen golf league and its many marketing campaigns. Brendan and Andy read these team descriptions and discuss how a casual golf viewer might react upon reading that the Atlanta Drive represent the 365/24/7 nature of their city. In outdoor golf news, the Farmers Insurance Open had more withdrawals on Wednesday before play began for the week, with big names such as Will Zalatoris and Gary Woodland bowing out. The tournament is ongoing without a full field despite constant cries about players needing more opportunities to play on the PGA Tour. From there, Brendan and Andy discuss Eamon Lynch's interview with former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh that was teased on the Wednesday episode earlier this week. First, Waugh is taking credit for Keegan Bradley's appointment as Ryder Cup captain for Bethpage and went into detail about how that choice came to be. Waugh also discussed the new PGA Tour Enterprises corporation and how that's changed the business of golf, wondering if the PGA of America would one day sell the Ryder Cup off. At the PGA Show this week, Adam Schupak sat down with current PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague, who made comments expressing some hesitancy with the proposed rollback starting in 2028. Andy and Brendan discuss what would happen if the rollback was further delayed or even cancelled and how that would impact the game on all levels. In less consequential news about the future of the game, Jordan Spieth committed to the AT&T Pebble Beach, presumably entering via a sponsor exemption, and The Open Championship will return to St Andrews in 2027. PJ chimes in to tell Andy that "Sticks Boy" Noah Kahan is now an investor in the Ballfrogs, which leads the show down a rabbit hole of ranking pop stars. This beefy Friday episode ends with one golf advice email about an upcoming golf trip impacted by a lifelong phobia.

Jan 24, 20251h 17m

TGL as Ryder Cup prep?!, Stinky Farmers field, JT asks for TV buy-in from peers

Andy and Brendan break down Billy Boy's ESPN debut on this Wednesday episode, recording right after the Atlanta Drive's shutout TGL win over NYGC. Billy Horschel was the star of the show, interacting with fans and broadcasters throughout the SoFi Center, performing the "Dirty Bird" dance multiple times, and bringing his teammates diamond chains to wear for their postgame interviews. Andy immediately calls PJ in to answer for another poor performance from NYGC, as the addition of Cameron Young fell flat straight from the first shot of the night. Andy and Brendan debate whether the low scoring affair was an improvement on last week's match and have a laugh at Patrick Cantlay's strict strategy regarding "The Hammer" and its use. From there, golf's preeminent gambling podcast gives some One-and-Done picks for the Farmers Insurance Open, a tournament that's facing withdrawals from many of the top players in the field. Brendan brings back a slight Cutthroat Corner, wondering how a former major winner is still possibly exempt into PGA Tour events. Elsewhere on the Schedule of the Week, the DP World Tour field at the Ras Al Khaimah is littered with SGS favorites, leading to a Game Within the Game to spice things up. Finally, Andy and Brendan react to the memo sent out by Justin Thomas encouraging players to be more active in PGA Tour broadcasts as a result of the "Fan Forward" survey.

Jan 22, 20251h 7m

AmEx pace and setup messes, ‘The Tank Slam,’ and Zinger’s return!

Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube for this Monday recording celebrating a win by the Sepptic Tank! The two recap a slow, slow week at The American Express, with the final group taking 339 minutes to finish a Sunday round. Sepp Straka held on despite two late hiccups to secure his third PGA Tour win which has Brendan wondering about how he'll finish "The Tank Slam" with a fourth victory. There's a lot of chatter about pace-of-play and the setup at PGA West to wrap up the PGA Tour's week in the desert. Andy and Brendan then discuss Tyrrell Hatton's win at the Dubai Desert Classic, landing him back in the top ten of the OWGR despite playing most of his events on LIV. The two debate whether Hatton can be viewed as a Ryder Cup lock this far ahead of Bethpage and also discuss his latest on-course outburst. This episode also marks the return of "Champions Tour Minute," as PJ chimes in with a ton of Zinger quotes from his debut in the booth next to Bob Papa. To wrap things up, Andy and Brendan discuss some news and notes before a short Sports Minute about the CFP National Championship on Monday night and a big Washington Commanders win.

Jan 20, 20251h 21m

A new LIV TV deal as Norman officially exits, Hovland in the blender, SGS Golf Advice

It's a TGL ratings Thursday on The Shotgun Start, as Andy and Brendan unpack the latest numbers coming out of ESPN headquarters after Tiger's debut. Before getting to the numbers, the episode starts with a Bears-focused Sports Minute, with Andy already upset at the potential hiring of Mike McCarthy. Once things get to golf, it's time for everybody's favorite topic - ratings! - as TGL gained viewers this week, pushing the total number over one million. Andy and Brendan debate whether the slight uptick for Tiger's debut is a positive or a negative for the league, and talk through Rory McIlroy's comments about TGL not being meant for the traditional golf fan, but for the younger, TikTok generation. Speaking of Rory, he also commented on Greg Norman's departure as LIV CEO while in Dubai. LIV announced today that former 76ers and Devils executive Scott O'Neil would be joining the league as its CEO. Andy and Brendan discuss what's next for LIV following this announcement, as well as the league's new multi-year TV deal with FOX Sports. Viktor Hovland also spoke to the press in Dubai, sharing some details about his recent struggles that Andy finds easy to relate to. Brendan shares some leaderboard updates on events across the world, with an American amateur leading the way on the DP World Tour event through day one. The TikTok generation comes up again later on, as Andy and Brendan are giddy to share that Michael Block and Joel Dahmen, among others, have signed to be the newest GoodGood pros for 2025. This episode ends with a combination of Golf Advice emails and a Tosti Tale from the Sony Open.

Jan 17, 20251h 12m

TGL takes a step back in Tiger's debut, Rahm's OWGR gripes

Andy and Brendan return with some immediate takeaways after Tiger's Jupiter Links GC lost to LAGC in a rout in Week 2 of TGL. The two debate agree that the product took a step back this week, with worse "on-course" gameplay and a choppier broadcast than the league's debut. Kevin Kisner was the star of the show, struggling mightily in gameplay but providing some laughs on the hot mic. On a positive note, Brendan was particularly impressed with Sahith Theegala, who showed off with his enthusiasm for the game and excitement to be playing against Tiger. Andy wonders how ESPN can get more "Golf IQ" involved in the broadcast in the hopes of elevating it as the season goes on. In non-virtual golf, Jon Rahm is clamoring for OWGR points for LIV events again, leading to a Brendan rant for the ages about these comments and ones from Butch Harmon about the current state of men's pro golf. Rahm, Rory, and others are set for the Dubai Desert Classic this week to start many of their seasons on the DP World Tour. In America, the PGA Tour's west coast swing begins at the American Express, boasting a strong field despite withdrawals by Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. Picks are made for the Club TFE One-and-Done, with Andy, Brendan, and PJ confident in their selections for this week. Finally, the Champions Tour returns this week with Paul Azinger's analyst debut at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. PJ previews the week and provides some things to watch for ahead of a full Champions Tour Minute after play concludes this weekend.

Jan 15, 20251h 15m

Chacarra’s criticism of LIV, Free relief party at the Sony, and clutch genes

Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube after Nick Taylor played spoiler and prevented an entire episode dedicated to Nico Echavarria Minute. To start, Andy is giddy about the Packers losing in the Wild Card around, giving him the upper hand in any Caleb Williams vs. Jordan Love debates this offseason. From there, the Sony Open is discussed at length. Brendan is particularly aghast at the amount of free drops found throughout the course at Waialae and he wonders if pros are practicing their drops these days. Nick Taylor took down Nico (and his minute) in a playoff to secure his fifth PGA Tour win, a good start to his revenge season after missing out on the Presidents Cup last fall. There was a lot of "clutch gene" discussion on the broadcast late on Sunday, leaving Andy and Brendan to question if they have it themselves. In news, Jordan Spieth confirmed his return to golf at the AT&T Pebble Beach and is welcoming the chance to "reset his DNA" during his recovery from wrist surgery. Andy and Brendan also discuss Eugenio Chacarra's fiery quotes regarding his LIV departure and his desire to earn a PGA Tour card. This Monday episode wraps with a recap of the Team Cup in Europe, where Justin Rose captained Great Britain & Ireland to a blowout win over Continental Europe. Check back on Tuesday night as The Shotgun Start goes live on YouTube to break down Tiger's TGL debut.

Jan 13, 202545 min

Annual over-unders for 2025 in golf, TGL ratings boom, and alarming quotes from Sony

A January tradition unlike any other, it's the latest installment of over-unders for the upcoming year in golf. The episode starts on a solemn note as Andy and Brendan discuss the ongoing fires in the Los Angeles area and sending positive thoughts to everyone in southern California. From there, the two discuss the ongoing reactions to TGL's opening night as Tuesday's ESPN ratings were stronger than many expected, drawing almost one million viewers. With a TGL match without Tiger or Rory managing a higher rating than Sunday at Kapalua, Andy wonders what happens if the simulator league continues to beat out early-season PGA Tour events. A listener emailed in her thoughts from an in-person experience at the SoFi Center, complete with her own Hammer flag (not delivered by FedEx). Pro Shop announced a new series of Creator Classics for 2025, prompting Andy and Brendan to wonder whether YouTube golf is a more viable career path than being a Minor League Tour player. Meanwhile, there is non-screen golf being played this week at the Sony Open. Ben Griffin was leading at the time of recording and Brendan learns about Griffin's budding TikTok stardom. This week's field has Ryan Palmer and Brandt Snedeker playing on career money exemptions, leading Andy down the path of another rant about the PGA Tour and its fields. Webb Simpson is also at the Sony and he had some interesting quotes about his 2024 season that was full of exemptions into Signature Events. The episode wraps with an energetic over-under segment, as Andy, Brendan, and PJ make picks for 2025. Will a LIV golfer win another major? Is Bethpage going to be close? How many starts for Blockie in 2025? All of these questions are answered, and more!

Jan 10, 20251h 47m

A TGL opening night content bonanza, amusements, and impressions

Andy and Brendan are off to the races immediately in this episode thanks to the first-ever TGL match and the content bonanza surrounding it. The two break down The Bay GC's blowout win over NYGC immediately after things wrapped up on ESPN, saving their first reactions for the podcast and live show on YouTube. They discuss how the big screen (which can fit three dinosaurs inside it) played on TV, ESPN's telecast, NYGC's bizarre lineup construction, and so, so much more. Lifelong NYGC fan PJ is asked to make a statement on his team's behalf after watching the worst New York season opener since Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles. There are takeaways from Tiger and Rory's stints in the booth and Andy even takes a look at what kind of TGL merch is available for purchase before the Ballfrogs take the field inside the SoFi Center. PJ even makes a plea for a potential Champions Tour team in the virtual league. While most of this episode focuses on TGL, Andy and Brendan make their picks for this week's Sony Open, which is still being played in the shadow of golf's newest league and a loaded slate of playoff football. The two also discuss the Team Cup being played this week in Europe. Finally, Brendan and Andy touch on some news and notes such as Scottie Scheffler's WD from the American Express, Tom McKibbin's potential LIV offer, and LIV finalizing its schedule for 2025.

Jan 8, 20251h 24m

Kapalua’s low score problem, Tour Champ match play!?, and TGL curiosity

Andy and Brendan are back to recap the first PGA Tour event of 2025, a Hideki Matsuyama win at The Sentry. Andy is fired up about the a Bears win in Green Bay to end the NFL season and Brendan now has a playoff game to look forward to with the Commanders on Sunday Night Football next week. The golf talk begins with a look at Hideki's performance in his season-opening win, as he set the PGA Tour scoring record at a final tally of -35 for the week. Andy ponders whether Hideki's a Hall of Famer and the two try to slot him into a tier among the biggest names in pro golf. Kapalua takes some shots for producing yet another birdiefest, with chatter that they could be making the course into a par 72 for next year's event. Andy and Brendan then discuss Collin Morikawa's runner up finish and wonder why he has not tried to add speed to his swing like so many of his counterparts. In news, the Tour Championship may move to a match-play format, something Andy has been calling for for years. Peppy Peter and Adam Scott aren't sold on the idea, and Brendan shares some quotes from the two about other potential formats for the last event of the year. There's some optimism about the TGL debut on Tuesday night, as Ludvig will represent The Bay against Xander and NYGC on ESPN for the first-ever match. Andy and Brendan debate whether TGL will work, what "working" looks like in this sense, and applaud the amount of content surrounding the league's launch so far. Finally, this episode ends with a Sports Minute celebrating the merciful end of an awful NFL season for the Bears, Browns, and Jets.

Jan 6, 20251h 22m

PGA Tour is back for ‘warm up’ at Kapalua for $20 million, plus free agent clothes and clubs moves

Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube as the first round of the 2025 PGA Tour season wrapped. With round one of The Sentry (hard stop) over, they share their observations on both the on-course product and the shiny new features that the Tour's new billion dollar studio brought to the broadcast. "Walk and talks" returned in full force, with Peppy Peter getting the honor of the first interview of the season and JT confirming that Kapalua does go uphill. Will Zalatoris bulked up and finished his round at -8, good enough to be one off the lead, and Andy is impressed with his new look and reasoning behind the added weight. Tom Hoge is your leader heading into Friday and Brendan shares that Hawaii has absolutely nowhere for Tommy Tables to gamble tonight in celebration. The two discuss the big "free agent" moves off the offseason, with Max Homa signing with Lululemon and Cobra, and Akshay Bhatia moving to Travis Mathew. These partnerships are "redefining" what it means for brands to work with players and Andy applauds Homa's Thursday performance with so much change going on around him. Before getting into some news, Andy stops to rehash the Cheez It Bowl, won by the Illini, and Bret Bielema trying to fight Shane Beamer. In news, Brendan and Andy discuss Xander saying the US Ryder Cup team will be donating their pay to charity and Jonathan Wall's report that TGL players are toying with new, longer drivers in order to have better results on the giant screen. To wrap, Brendan shares a listener email about a magic show with a possible celebrity appearance.

Jan 3, 20251h 5m

Scottie’s “100 percent” recovery, 2024 laments, and 2025 optimism

Andy and Brendan return for the final episode of 2024 before The Sentry (hard cut) kicks off on Thursday to start the 2025 season. Per usual, this Monday episode begins with a Swag Sports Minute discussing the current states of the Bears, Browns, and Jets. From there, Andy and Brendan put a bow on 2024, talking though some late-breaking news as the year comes to an end. Scottie Scheffler will not be playing in The Sentry after undergoing hand surgery on Christmas, which has already taken some luster out of the PGA Tour's first event. Joe Mayo and Viktor Hovland have broken up yet again, with Viktor's status for Kapalua still TBD after a toe injury over the holidays. Brendan and Andy share what they're most excited about in 2025, namely the Ryder Cup and a year of strong major venues. They also go over some potential breakout players for 2025 as a way to keep the optimism flowing.

Dec 31, 20241h 4m

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 9 - The End!

The 2024 Year in Review comes to an end with this final installment covering golf's ultimate prize, the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Before the Year in Review kicks off, Andy and Brendan react live to the end of the PNC Championship as Team Langer took down Team Woods in a one-hole playoff down in Florida. There's also some Swag Sports Minute chatter early in the show with another losing Sunday from the Bears, Browns, and Jets. The Year in Review finale begins with Brendan researching the happenings at TPC Initech as part of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Hideki Matsuyama ran away with the win, but Rory McIlroy, Max Homa, and Jordan Spieth struggled to find any form in Memphis. Brendan also shares some laughs from the U.S. Amateur and the NFL preseason. PJ then leads the way for the second stage of the playoffs, a Keegan Bradley win at Castle Pines for the BMW Championship. Scottie got angry at the course, Billy Boy was nervous about protecting the points, and Lydia Ko won the Women's Open at St Andrews. Finally, as always, Andy dedicated his time to researching the Net Tour Championship, the cherry on top of Scottie Scheffler's 2024 season. He recaps the Creator Classic, Jay Monahan's State of the Tour presser, and the ridiculousness of the "FedEx Starting Strokes" branding. We hope you enjoyed all nine episodes reviewing the amusing, inane, and extraordinary moments from another year of golf.

Dec 22, 20241h 24m

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 8

Andy and Brendan return for yet another marathon episode of the 2024 Year in Review, covering the final men's major of the year and the end of the PGA Tour's regular season. Before the Year in Review kicks off, they discuss some takeaways from TGL Media Day, where the world got to see Billy Boy and Rickie Fowler hit some shots into the oft-memed giant screen. There's also some college basketball discussion as Andy looks forward to sitting on the floor for another Cal Bears game this season. The Year in Review kicks off with the week of the Scottish Open, a win by Big Shot Bob after he received a free drop coming down the stretch on Sunday. This week also contained the news of Keegan Bradley's appointment as U.S. Ryder Cup captain and Andy goes in-depth on the feud between Bryson DeChambeau and Mike Schy. After a quick pitstop for the five-man playoff at the ISCO, PJ starts off Open Championship week with notes from the practice days. He shares that Viktor Hovland got existential amidst his spilt from the Chip Monk, and Tiger fired back at Colin Montgomerie's calls for his retirement. Andy jumps in for Thursday and Friday's rounds at Royal Troon, focusing primarily on Todd Hamilton's opening tee shot on Thursday morning. Brendan finishes off Xander's second major win, attempting to contextualize his season among others who have won two majors in the same year. Brendan continues on with the 3M Open, won by Jhonny Vegas, before another group effort remembering Scottie's gold medal win at the Paris Olympics. Andy handles the PGA Tour's regular season finale, the Wydnham Championship, which could just be named "Kucharfest" for 2024. Thanks to Kevin Prise's intrepid reporting, Andy goes minute-by-minute for Matt Kuchar's Monday finish, one of the most ridiculous golf moments in recent memory.

Dec 19, 20243h 11m

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 7

A news-filled Tuesday leads to an extra long episode as there's plenty to catch up on before Part 7 of the Year in Review. Andy and Brendan discuss Jay Monahan's video statement on the state of the PGA Tour entering 2025, Blades Brown forgoing college to turn pro, and the Tour's new search for a CEO, as discussed on Golf Channel by CMO Andy Weitz. There's also some preview content of "The Showdown" ahead of Tuesday night's festivities, and Andy is still reeling following a Bears loss on Monday Night Football. The Year in Review picks up with the Memorial Tournament (44:51), as Andy recalls Scottie Scheffler's first PGA Tour win after the month of April. Jack Nicklaus was upset about the tournament's place on the schedule ahead of the U.S. Open, Jon Rahm's foot gets a hole in it, and the Cleeks finally win a LIV event this week. From there, it's a beefy U.S. Open segment with PJ, Brendan, and Andy attempting to do the Event of the Year justice. PJ shares the early-week scuttlebutt, including a look back at Brendan's attempts to cancel Putter Boy. Brendan takes the lead on the Thursday and Friday action, recapping some shot-of-the-year candidates and memories from Pinehurst. Andy researches an all-time weekend, unearthing Bryson's need for treatment during the Saturday round before going blow-by-blow on the finish between Bryson and Rory. With the Travelers up next, PJ takes the northeast's only event, another Scottie Scheffler win that was derailed by protesters storming the 18th green on Sunday afternoon. He also makes some stops for LIV Nashville content in the aftermath of Bryson's win. Andy shares details of Cam Davis's unsuccessful quest for the Presidents Cup with a win at the Rocket Mortgage before diving into Blandemonium at the U.S. Senior Open. Finally, Brendan ends the show with some quick hits from the John Deere Championship.

Dec 17, 20243h 35m

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 6

Andy and Brendan return from the weekend with some excitement as Alejandro Tosti made it through Q-School on Sunday, securing his PGA Tour card for 2025 and ensuring another year of major league Tosti Tales. After a Swag Sports Minute about Brendan's experience at the Capitals game, it's time for the second men's major of 2024 on the Year in Review. Part 6 starts with the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Andy runs through the early week storylines such as Jimmy Dunne's resignation from the PGA Tour Policy Board and Mother Nature cancelling just one pre-tournament press conference due to a Tuesday storm - Michael Block's. From there, Brendan recaps Xander's course record 62 on Thursday, yet another hit for Blockie this week, before diving in to the madness of Scottie Scheffler's arrest on Friday morning. Jeff Darlington's tweets are read and $80 pants that were "damaged beyond repair" are discussed in this segment remembering one of the most chaotic days in golf. PJ slides in next to take the lead for the weekend, detailing Xander's transformation from housecat to bobcat, Bryson's showmanship ahead of Pinehurst, and Scottie's Saturday with the PGA Tour's chaplain on the bag. He also recalls Andy's early shouts for Justin Thomas to switch to the broom for his putting. Next, Andy shares some tales from his pro-am round with Blockie at the Charles Schwab Championship alongside the latest developments in the Scottie Scheffler case in its second week. Elsewhere, Richard Bland won the Senior PGA, leading to a hilariously passive aggressive tweet from the PGA Tour Champions announcing his victory. To wrap things up, Brendan looks back at the week of the RBC Canadian Open, won by Big Shot Bob MacIntyre with his dad on the bag. Nelly Korda makes a 10 on a par 3 at the U.S. Women's Open, a bird gets killed by a golf ball, and C.T. Pan goes through four caddies in one round in Canada. Subscribe to the Fried Egg Golf YouTube channel and leave a comment on this episode's livestream for a chance to win your own SGS Shapland bag!

Dec 16, 20242h 21m

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 5

The Year in Review rolls on for this Friday episode! Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube Thursday afternoon to remember what the golf world looked like in late April and early May of 2024. Things start at the RBC Heritage, another Scottie Scheffler win, which Andy calls the "win of the year." At this point in the year, Nelly Korda is also winning every time she tees it up, leading to inevitable comparisons between the two stars at the top of their games. From there, Brendan takes us through the Zurich Classic, a team event buoyed by a winning tandem of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. The Zurich brings up the start of Cochran Corner and the initial reference of pod...casts (and housecats!) on PGA Tour Live. PJ jumps in to present on the next week which featured The CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig T. Nelson. LIV Bolingbrook was announced this week, leading Andy back down memory lane, and Brooks Koepka became the first player to win four LIV events as the tour played in Singapore. To finish this episode off, Brendan shares his findings from the Wells Fargo Championship, Xander the Housecat's last hurrah.

Dec 12, 20242h 26m

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 4

At long last, it's major season on the 2024 Year in Review! Back from the Hero World Challenge interlude, Andy and Brendan resume the Year in Review and get through the year's first major, Scottie Scheffler's second Masters win. Andy begins the show by remembering Peppy Peter Malnati's victory at the Valspar, his first PGA Tour win in nine years. Peppy Peter is moved to tears in his post-round interview, and finally plays in his first Masters tournament a few weeks later. Brendan then moves through the Texas Children's Houston Open, where Stephan Jaeger secured his permanent call-up from AAAA player, outlasting Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau, Tosti Boy, and more. Tosti becomes a national name this week, and Andy and Brendan remember the finest Tosti Tales from earlier this year. PJ jumps in to recap Akshay's shoulder-popping win at Valero, Anthony Kim's "vaguely remembering" Tiger's 2019 Masters win, and a thrilling ANWA finish. From there, it's a group effort on the Masters, covering Monday's total eclipse, Zach Johnson (not) cursing at patrons, and Scottie pulling away from the pack on Sunday after weekend charges from Ludvig Åberg, Collin Morikawa, and Max Homa.

Dec 10, 20242h 47m

The Scottie rules, JT’s speed shopping, and Norman acknowledges LIV departure

It's been a while since the last one, but Andy and Brendan break down yet another Scottie Scheffler victory in this Monday episode. Andy begins by claiming a Victory Monday, as his household's rug saga has reached a conclusion on the fourth purchase and Swag Sports Minute recaps where Illinois and Boston College football will be bowling later this month. From there, the two get into the golf, starting with the Hero World Challenge. Scottie Scheffler, now using the claw grip with his putter, won for the ninth time in 2024 with a dominant weekend showing. Andy and Brendan discuss the psychology of competing against Scheffler and how many players believe they can beat him with their "B" games on a Sunday. They also discuss a new-look Justin Thomas, whose speed training was on full display in Albany, often outdriving the rest of the 20-man field. The conversation then shifts to the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, where Aldrich Potgieter had a chance to win in his home country before making a triple bogey on the par three 12th. Andy and Brendan debate whether they've seen a player in contention have a worse singular hole. Joaquin Niemann won again in Saudi Arabia, taking down fellow LIV golfers Cameron Smith and Caleb Surratt in a playoff at the Saudi International. In news, Greg Norman visited Indianapolis and acknowledged that his time as LIV's CEO is coming to an end sometime soon. This episode closes with a lively conversation about the College Football Playoff, with Andy and Brendan both wondering how the No. 1 seed, Oregon, has the toughest route to a championship. Before Brendan can sign off, PJ jumps in to share the breaking news of Juan Soto becoming NYGC's biggest fan, as he's signed a 15-year deal with the New York Mets.

Dec 9, 202458 min

LIV Hot turned Cool Stove rumors, Kisner lands top NBC gig, and Golf Advice

With the Year in Review on pause until next week, Andy and Brendan use this Friday episode to catch up on the remaining golf news from this week. Andy spends the entire show dealing with a potential tsunami warning in California, leading to multiple cut-ins with the latest updates from the National Weather Service. In terms of late-breaking golf news, Brendan shares that Scottie Scheffler is using a claw grip to putt at the Hero and the two wonder if this will be a long-term solution for him or if he's just trying it out in a "hit and giggle" event. NYGC's Cameron Young is off to a hot start in Albany, setting him up for his first "win" on the PGA Tour. It was revealed that Tony Finau is NOT going to LIV (as of now), but withdrew from the Hero World Challenge due to knee surgery. Speaking of LIV, it's a loaded leaderboard for the weekend at the Saudi International series, currently being led by Logan McAllister. Dustin Johnson, the latest Golf Saudi ambassador, missed the cut, but had some quotes about "growing the game" in the Golf Saudi press release. Patrick Reed also had some newsworthy comments, suggesting that players who can qualify should be able to play on any tour they want, without suspension or fines. The Ryder Cup pay-for-play debate is somehow still rearing its head, with Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas being the latest Americans to be peppered with questions about it during pressers at the Hero. Kevin Kisner will be the new lead analyst for NBC in 2025 and Brendan wonders how this will impact his TGL status as a member of Jupiter Links Golf Club. Brendan and Andy also break down a potential LIV-WNBA legal battle after the WNBA's latest team logo may rip off a LIV franchise. This episode closes with some SGS Golf Advice about a dice-roll cheater and a legendary war of words at a golf simulator in Canada.

Dec 6, 20241h 10m

LIV Golf hot stove signings, Jay Monahan’s salary, and LPGA’s leadership problem

Things are back to normal on this Wednesday episode as Andy and Brendan pause the Year in Review to discuss the Hero World Challenge and plenty of news from across the world of golf. Brendan recaps an amazing Browns loss on Monday Night Football to start things off and Andy wonders what the career of Justin Thomas would look like if he took a Jameis Winston approach to improvement (praying to be delivered from pick sixes). From there, the two recap Tiger's annual press conference at the Hero, where he claimed that his competitive fire is still burning but he's unable to compete physically right now. Andy and Brendan discuss key takeaways from the media session and wonder if Tiger's waning energy is being wasted on the PGA Tour-PIF negotiations. Meanwhile, the LIV Hot Stove is scorching as Thomas Pieters was dealt from the RangeGoats to the 4 Aces in exchange for... nothing and Tony Finau is rumored to be the latest to make the jump after withdrawing from the Hero on Monday. An all-new "Commissioners Minute" segment leads to debates about Jay Monahan's place among sports commissioners after it was revealed that his 2023 salary totaled $23 million. "Commissioners Minute" continues with the news of Mollie Marcoux Samaan's resignation as the LPGA's leader also breaking on Monday. Andy and Brendan then move to the metaverse, where Tiger claims that he will be ready to play when Jupiter Links GC hits the SoFi Center for the first TGL season in January. Unbeknownst to this podcast, the NYGC squad had a media day in New York, where a non-invited PJ missed out on a chance to have Mets/NYGC owner Steve Cohen compare Matt Fitzpatrick to Sean Manaea. The premier golf gambling podcast then makes some picks for the Hero World Challenge before running through notables at the DP World Tour's Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. To close things out, PJ recaps the first round of Champions Tour Q-School's final stage, where some SGS favorites are looking to secure status for next year.

Dec 4, 202458 min

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 3

Andy and Brendan return after the Thanksgiving weekend to look back at the PGA Tour's Florida swing in the third installment of the 2024 Year in Review. First, they start with a much-anticipated Swag Sports Minute as the Bears fired Matt Eberflus after a late-game collapse against the Lions in the Thanksgiving Day Classic. Andy is excited that the 'Flus is loose, but is not hopeful about the future head coach of the Bears being anyone good. PJ is fired up after Kyle McCord led his Syracuse Orange to a win over Miami and Andy petitions the CFP committee that Illinois is the best three-loss team in the country. Fear not, as golf is the main discussion for this beefy boy of a podcast, as Andy begins this Year in Review episode with the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, formerly known as the Honda Classic. This was a Monday finish won by Austin Eckroat, but the more pressing content was happening in Jeddah, where Anthony Kim returned. Brendan then recaps Scottie's first win of the year at Bay Hill and sprinkles in some notes on the Puerto Rico open before making the transition to The Players. Jay's "State of the Tour" presser, collars of rough ruining 17 at TPC Sawgrass, Xander's failure to close, and a Rory-Spieth spat over "Dropgate" are all discussed at length to round out this episode.

Dec 2, 20242h 26m

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 2

Andy and Brendan return with the second installment of the 2024 Year in Review, recorded on Wednesday morning as part of the YouTube livestream extravaganza. During your Thanksgiving travels, listen to them recap Wyndham Clark's course record at the rain-shortened Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the "out of control" scene at the Waste Management, Tiger's trip in a "paramedic truck" at Riviera, Jake Knapp's mighty win at the Mexico Open, and plenty more in between.

Nov 29, 20241h 45m

The 2024 Year in Review, Part 1

Andy and Brendan are back for one their least favorite but also most enjoyable exercises of the year: it’s the SEVENTH annual Year in Review! And they are maybe, kinda out ahead of it this time, although that could all change quickly if their pace of play slows to crawl. This first installment begins as always at the start of the year in Kapalua, where Dayman(!) unveiled his first-ever Malbon outfit, Jon Rahm was on vacation, and Chris Kirk became the first player to get 700 FedEx Cup points for a win . It runs from The Sentry through the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and features many delights and amusements you may remember but likely forgot from the start of the year swing, which turned out to be much more of a slog than normal. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next several weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

Nov 27, 20241h 53m

The PGA Tour’s need to change its card process, Lexi’s farewell complaint, and Black Friday hacks

Andy and Brendan are together again for a Monday episode wrapping up the end of both the PGA Tour and LPGA seasons. Before getting to that, Andy has some thoughts on Golf Channel's coverage of the Australian PGA Championship late Saturday night, as the broadcast cut to commercial after the approach shots on the 72nd hole. Although we didn't entirely see how, Elvis Smylie made his par and secured his first DP World Tour win, holding off Cam Smith in the final group. From there, the two discuss the RSM Classic, the final event of the FedEx Fall and the end of the 2024 PGA Tour season. Maverick McNealy won his first PGA Tour event with a birdie on the final hole, leaving Luke Clanton, Daniel Berger, and Nico Echavarria (and his minute) in a tie for second. Brendan and Andy give props to McNealy on his first win after an up-and-down career so far before questioning how Luke Clanton, an amateur, has not secured a PGA Tour card yet despite his four top ten finishes this season. Brendan also shares a quote from Daniel Berger about how just 10% of his peak play is at a "different level" than most of the guys he's competing with. Lastly, Andy and Brendan take a look at the top 125 bubble at the conclusion of the FedEx Fall, where Joel Dahmen kept his card using the 13 FedEx Cup points he got for free in the no-cut Zozo. Next, they talk through the CME Tour Championship on the LPGA Tour, won by Jeeno Thitikul, making her the big financial winner of this season and NOT Nelly Korda. Lexi Thompson, playing in her final event as a full-time player, expressed some displeasure at split tees on Sunday due to the TV broadcast window, which did not allow her to finish her career on the 18th hole. With golf talk wrapped up, Brendan details the biggest event of the day - the Maplewood 11U football team against Major Tuddy and his band of misfit mascots at Northwest Field. The kids shut out the mascots, winning 13-0 with two forced turnovers in the short game. Major Tuddy did get some hits in though, with footage of a personal foul after an interception making the rounds on Twitter. Andy is fired up about the "best case scenario" of another Bears loss with Caleb Williams looking great, as the 'Flus must be cut loose after this season. PJ shares that Bob Papa is not pleased with the New York Giants and the three make another pitch for a godfather offer to bring him to the Champions Tour full time. To finish this episode, everyone goes back and forth about the inaugural Year in Review livestream, coming to YouTube at some point this week.

Nov 25, 20241h 6m

A coverage conspiracy theory, Golf Channel gets spun off, and Golf Advice

Andy's on the road so Brendan put together an ensemble episode for your Friday listening pleasure! First, he's joined by Fried Egg Golf's Joseph LaMagna to discuss the RSM Classic, the Australian PGA, and the LPGA's Tour Championship. Ahead of a potential Browns snow game on Thursday Night Football, Joseph asks if the movement of NFL teams to domed, turf stadiums is part of the homogenization of venues and ties this to the golf courses we see on the PGA Tour. Speaking of the PGA Tour, Joseph and Brendan dive into the first round of the RSM Classic, the final event of the 2024 season. With a lot of focus on the "Bubble Boys" hovering around the Top 125 line, PJ brings a new coverage conspiracy to light, leading Brendan to assure everyone that PGA Tour Live is not actively plotting against YouTubers. Joseph shares the latest projections for who will keep their card for 2025, with some players who earned free points from sponsor exemptions into the no-cut Zozo falling on the right side of things as of now. Brendan and Joseph then move down under to the Australian PGA where podcast favorite Jacob Skov Olesen was hit with a slow-play penalty in his DP World Tour debut. Olesen turned down his Masters exemption as an amateur in favor of turning pro after earning his DP World Tour card at Q-School, prompting Joseph to preview his upcoming article looking at how WAGR points are earned and the overall state of the high-level amateur game. After that, Brendan chats with Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal about Comcast's decision to spin-off its cable channel offerings, including Golf Channel, into a new company, "SpinCo." Josh shares what this may mean for the future of Golf Channel, the sport's media deals as a whole, and how the PGA Tour itself continues to evolve as a media outlet. Finally, Brendan and PJ talk some TGL ownership news in a Friday Swag Sports Minute before wrapping up this episode with a few Golf Advice questions.

Nov 22, 20241h 18m

“They think we’re stupid” — Of PGA Tour budget, field, and card cuts

Brendan and Andy start this Wednesday episode with some Fried Egg business, highlighting the Black Friday sale in the Pro Shop and promoting the just-announced 2025 events schedule. From there, Brendan gives a shoutout to Dr. George F. Grant, the inventor of the golf tee, who's getting some much-deserved recognition in Massachusetts. Andy is extra excited about the "player uprising" against slow play, which now includes Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson, and Lucas Glover, among others. The PGA Tour announced that the much-discussed changes to cut cards and field sizes were approved, with Jay Monahan giving PGA Tour "fans" the lead mention ahead of players and partners in the press release. Lucas Glover was not pleased with the results of this vote, telling Adam Schupak that "they think we're stupid" when saying these changes will improve pace of play. While player cards are getting cut in a few years, budget cuts are also reportedly coming to the PGA Tour as SSG is looking to decrease spending by "tens of millions" of dollars. Meanwhile, the DP World Tour is losing ten players to the PGA Tour, including Paul Waring, who shared his readiness to make the jump on social media. However, many LIV players - Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Mean Dean, and more - will be reinstated on the DP World Tour for this upcoming season, having served suspensions and paid their fines, clearing the path for Sergio to return to the Ryder Cup. In a bonus Sports Minute, Brendan asks PJ for his reaction to the Jets firing GM Joe Douglas and wonders if, somehow, the Browns are the most stable NFL team represented by this podcast. A look at the Schedule of the Week starts with the RSM Classic, the final week of the FedEx Fall. Caitlin Clark will make an appearance in the Pro Am on Wednesday, playing with fellow Iowa icon Zach Johnson. Andy, Brendan, and PJ run through some Games Within a Game for the PGA Tour finale, touching Kelly Kraft, Christo Lamprecht, and, of course, Nico Echavarria. The LPGA season also wraps this week with the CME Group Tour Championship, with $4 million being awarded to the winner. For those wondering, you can play the Black Course at Tiburón Golf Club along side the LPGA stars throughout the week. Lastly, a fan favorite returns home for the Australian PGA Championship this week on the DP World Tour. To wrap things up, Brendan and Andy preview the latest installment of "The Match".

Nov 20, 20241h 8m

Rory and Campos tears follow wins, Pace of Play disaster on LPGA, and NFL sadness

In an episode that will be known as Brendan's "Flu Game," Andy and Brendan recap a meaningful week of fall golf that left men's winners in tears following their wins. Andy is excited that he drove through Moore County, North Carolina without receiving a speeding ticket, unlike at the U.S. Open. After a "Nico Echavarria Minute" to start the golf talk, the two discuss Rory McIlroy's win in Abu Dhabi, his sixth DP World Tour season-long title, tying Seve Ballesteros. Rory was deeply emotional following the win, looking back at his year that contained four worldwide wins and now the order of merit victory for the DP World Tour. The ten DP World Tour players that secured PGA Tour cards are also set, with "The Great" Manassero and Rasmus Højgaard headlining the newcomers. Next up is Swag Sports Minute, where Brendan unboxes the latest "Mystery Bx" drop from Swag Golf. Andy is disappointed in the Bears following another loss to the Packers, but sees positives in Caleb Williams's performance. PJ's Jets struggled again, as known golfer Ahmad Gardner could not tackle yet another receiver headed toward the end zone. The golf talk gets back on track with a wrap up of the Butterfield, won by Rafael Campos. Nelly Korda won again at The Annika, leading to a debate on whether Pelican Golf Club should "Nelly-proof" the course ahead of next year. To finish things up, Andy and Brendan touch on the news of President-Elect Donald Trump playing a round with Jay Monahan this weekend before sitting next to Yasir Al-Rumayyan at Saturday night's UFC event.

Nov 18, 20241h 1m

Ryder Cup pay-for-play debate heats up again, Zinger memorabilia auction, and Golf Advice

This Friday afternoon recording kicks off with some housekeeping, as Andy got a new power cord for his microphone just in time for the show after the old one almost electrocuted Producer PJ in Austin. Brendan has PJ attempt to explain why Syracuse's football coach won't shower for a week following a loss, which came up as a result of Brendan's Boston College Eagles defeating the Orange last weekend. From there, it's a shared segment of both TGL and Champions Tour Minutes, as Bob Papa may be out as the Champs Tour lead play-by-play man next year and there are new TGL holes to discuss. We got our first look at the SoFi Center with a video of Atlanta Drive GC's Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas hitting in the arena being posted to social media on Wednesday. Brendan brings attention to an auction containing items from Paul Azinger's personal collection, being sold to prevent human trafficking in Florida, including some "game-used" NBC polos, Ryder Cup gear, and an invitation to Nick Faldo's 2007 Masters party in Augusta. It was a big few days for Ryder Cup news, as the PGA of America announced that tickets sold out for the 2025 event, despite the high price tags. Speaking of price tags, it was reported that American players may receive $400,000 for their participation in the Ryder Cup moving forward, leading to Rory McIlroy offering up that he would pay for the right to play in the event on the European side. Andy provides some updates on ongoing tournaments, as SGS Good Walk Around Pinehurst guest Justin Lower currently leads in Bermuda. This episode ends with some user submitted stories and some form of golf advice relating to favorite fruits.

Nov 15, 20241h 5m

Zinger is back!, Mav rescues the mules, and Bears cataclysm

This Wednesday morning recording is an in-person episode recorded over the internet, as Brendan and Andy are in Texas for the Fried Egg Golf offsite. Andy starts this episode with the debut of a new segment, "Nico Echavarria Minute," relaying the latest in stats and news for the audience's favorite FedEx Fall stalwart. Up next is a preview of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, as the two discussing notables in the field and noting the entire group of FedEx Fall Bubble Boys will be in attendance this week. Creator Classic stars and YouTube Golfers Wesley and George Bryan are paired together for this tournament, leading Andy and Brendan to wonder what kind of auxiliary content may come from Bermuda. They then unpack a Golfweek article discussing Maverick McNealy's research into FedEx Cup point "inequity" on the PGA Tour, as he found that Signature Events award a disproportionate amount of points compared to majors and non-Signature Events. From there, it's the first-ever offseason "Champs Tour Minute" as Paul Azinger has signed on to replace Lanny Wadkins as the lead television analyst for the PGA Tour Champions. PJ also shows off his custom Champions Tour t-shirt, delivered by a listener after a missed connection in Phoenix. Caitlin Clark is playing in the pro-am for the LPGA's The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, leading to big crowds on Wednesday. On the DP World Tour, Rory McIlroy is set to win the season-long race at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Andy and Brendan discuss Adrian Meronk's comments calling for the PGA Tour to be focused on America and a new tour to be focused on golf in the rest of the world... which is what the DP World Tour used to be. In news and notes, the two discuss the Dunlop Phoenix event and how Dunlop tennis balls may be leading to player injuries, LIV's first batch of tournaments for 2025, and the Chicago Bears changing offensive coordinators after such an incredible start to the year.

Nov 13, 20241h 4m

Champions Tour minute becomes Champs Tour Weekend, Odd DQ in Mexico, and Waring-mania

At long last, "Champions Tour Minute" leads this Monday episode, as Andy and Brendan pepper PJ with questions about his weekend at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club. PJ shares stories from the ground about his interactions with Richard Green and Bernhard Langer, his investigative journalism regarding the sales of Buzzballz, and explains his walk through an inflatable colon as part of the event's fan village. Andy and Brendan enjoy the reports on cart usage, including Darren Clarke's tricked-out steering wheel, and recap the incredible finish to the actual tournament. Football talk is front and center during Swag Sports Minute, as PJ ventured off to Jets at Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix, abandoning his post at the Schwab Cup, only to leave at halftime with the Jets down 24-6. Andy's Bears aren't doing any better - Caleb Williams was sacked nine times by the lowly Patriots in another multi-score loss. Andy and Brendan then recap the Lotte Championship, which a listener actually watched at Lottie's in Chicago, before touching on Paul Waring's win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. This episode wraps with some discussion about the World Wide Technology Championship, won by Austin Eckroat, with some Tosti Tales and a questionable disqualification handed down by the PGA Tour.

Nov 11, 202459 min

Confused by golf holes in the metaverse, Rory’s swing changes and Elon love, and Golf Advice

This Friday episode begins with a segment of "TGL 20 Minutes" as Andy and Brendan react to rumors of Ballfrogs merch selling out in stores across the country. Andy then submits the latest hole design to be unveiled, "Hatchet," for Design Disasters, breaking down the flaws in a fake golf hole that will not challenge professional golfers bombing drives over bunkers on an indoor screen. Speaking of that screen, Brendan wonders which player will be the first to completely miss it with a shot, something that feels bound to happen in the league's inaugural season, From there, the two discuss Rory McIlroy's comments about the increased likelihood of a PGA Tour-PIF deal as a result of the U.S. election. Brendan victory laps his win for "Low MLB-Sponsored Player" at the World Wide Technology Championship, as a Cam Young WD leaves Billy Andrade as the last man standing. Laurie Canter is in contention in Abu Dhabi, and Andy notes that he has a chance to secure a PGA Tour card and become the first player to be suspended by the PGA Tour while never having been a member. Speaking of the DP World Tour, Brendan shares some quotes from Guy Kinnings about his tour's place in the pro golf ecosystem, which is NOT as a feeder tour. This episode wraps with some Golf Advice, as Andy and Brendan advise friends of the program on pace-of-play issues, Ryder Cup attendance questions, and caddie ethics. Before hopping on his flight to Phoenix, PJ chimes in and the three preview his weekend at the Schwab Cup Finals.

Nov 8, 20241h 8m

Real November stakes, Cutthroat Corners, and Champs Tour Finale distracts Ernie

Andy is feeling laborious on this Wednesday episode, leading to a wide-ranging discussion about upcoming golf tournaments, a sesame chicken lunch special, and the lack of national attention on the Chicago Bears. Brendan relays some feedback from Scottish listeners about last episode's mispronunciations of "Hamish" before promoting the new Design Disasters account on Instagram (@design__disasters) featuring some incredible golf holes. From there, attention turns to the World Wide Technology Championship. First, Andy and Brendan try to figure out what, exactly, World Wide Technology does, but can't quite find a firm answer. Billy Andrade's sponsor exemption into this event comes up again, and Brendan reveals that his last PGA Tour start was over ten years ago. Cutthroat Corner returns for this week as well, but not for the player you might think! There's some Bubble Boy talk as the FedEx Fall hits the final stretch, leading to a discussion about a PGA Tour win leading to a two-year exemption. It's the first week of DP World Tour Playoffs, as Min Woo Lee and Rory McIlroy are teeing it up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Min Woo's appearance in Abu Dhabi leads to a brief TGL segment about the latest "Temple" hole unveiling. Andy anoints the Charles Schwab Cup Championship as the Event of the Week, but his favorite player, Ernie Els, may not be taking the tournament as seriously as he should be. PJ is preparing for his weekend in Phoenix, with more to come from him on Friday's episode. To wrap things up, Andy and Brendan look into some new Sergio Garcia quotes about wanting to play in "two or three" more Ryder Cups before retiring.

Nov 6, 202457 min

Bryson goes back to SMU, There are TGL Betting Odds, and an old Billy on Tour

It's back to normal on this Monday episode, as there are no victories to celebrate to start this week. Things start with Andy lamenting about the latest Bears loss, a disappointing effort against the Cardinals in Arizona. His Illini also lost to Minnesota this week, leading to a discussion about P.J. Fleck's gameday attire in the cold weather months of college football season. Brendan notes that he's skeptical of when "Movember" became a thing as the calendar flips to November before briefly mentioning a Jameis Winston-led Browns loss. It's all golf talk from there, as Andy and Brendan recap the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic, which was not in Africa, and the Challenge Tour event in Mallorca, Spain. Bryson DeChambeau's triumphant return to Dallas is covered after his appearance with the U.S. Open trophy at the SMU football game. The two mention a report from The Sun regarding a PGA Tour-PIF deal nearing completion as well. Brendan looks ahead to this week's World Wide Technology Championship, where Champs Tour staple Billy Andrade is playing on a sponsor exemption. To wrap this episode up, the TGL is covered extensively. Producer PJ hosts a guessing game about player descriptions on the league's official website, leading to a discussion about Lucas Glover's career in the early 2000s. Andy then shares the first-ever set of TGL odds, as you can now bet on who will be the league's inaugural champion.

Nov 4, 202456 min

Risers and fallers from 2024 PGA Tour season and could you catch an NFL QB’s pass

A true first-of-the-month recording begins with Andy and Brendan recapping their Halloween festivities and the announcement of the winner of the SGS Halloween Costume Idea contest. Without much golf to talk about, Andy went as a Data Boy for Halloween and took a look at strokes gained data for the 2024 season and compared players to the previous year. Andy and Brendan talk through the risers and fallers of 2024 as the season nears its end, hitting on the continued development of Akshay Bhatia, Jordan Spieth's quest to find his game, and two sleepers that Andy thinks may have breakout years in 2025. The two then discuss the place of golf in today's sports world, as an everyday golfer can theoretically compete with a Tour pro on a hole-to-hole basis. This leads to questioning whether anyone could catch a pass from an NFL quarterback at full velocity, score a basket on Harrison Barnes or Jrue Holiday, or return a serve from Carlos Alcaraz. Sticking with some football talk, Andy breaks the news that Ted Scott is spending the week with the Buffalo Bills. Brendan cleans up the rest of the news from this week to wrap things up, mentioning Cam Smith's displeasure with LIV's Open Championship prep and the latest installment of "The Match."

Nov 1, 20241h 1m

Insane pace-of-play policy, PGA Tour changes, and 7th Annual Halloween Costume ideas

Happy Halloween Jr.! This Wednesday morning recording starts with Andy and Brendan standing by their football takes from Monday's episode, as not much is going on in golf these days. Brendan shares a Tosti Tale from the Wyndham to get the golf talk started, which then transitions into a very quick Schedule of the Week segment. The two then recap the proposed PGA Tour changes for the 2026 season, including an insane pace-of-play policy that gives players more time to hit shots. These changes will limit fields on the PGA Tour and guarantee fewer Tour cards per season. Andy and Brendan lament that these changes are basically negligible, but the weekly stakes will be higher with a higher turnover rate at the bottom of the season-long standings. To wrap this episode up, it's the seventh annual golf-related Halloween costume idea segment, with multiple Matt Kuchar entries from listeners, a couple different Tom Kim outfits, and the latest in Jay Don Blake attire.

Oct 30, 20241h 18m

Hail Mary Monday, JT’s close call in Japan, and international scheduling

This episode is a Victory Monday like no other, as Andy's Bears lost on a true Hail Mary as time expired against Brendan's (adopted) Commanders. Brendan is so excited that he got the yips on opening the episode, leading Andy to introduce the show. Andy, still in disbelief at the loss, recaps his weekend, calling the Bears the worst coached team in football and explaining where he was for the end of the game. The two laugh at the fan-shot video of Bears corner Tyrique Stevenson taunting fans before tipping the ball into Noah Brown's hands for the win, but Andy takes solace in the fact that the Bears won the second half. PJ is asked to recap the Jets-Patriots game, as the Jets dropped their fifth straight game. The Jets managed to find a new rock bottom, losing to former Browns QB Jacoby Brissett, New England's backup. Speaking of Browns quarterbacks, Jameis Winston led the Browns to a big divisional win over the Ravens, leading all NFL passers on Sunday in yards, something that Cleveland hasn't seen much of this year. There is golf discussed on this episode, as Nico Echavarria won the Zozo overnight, holding off Justin Thomas in the final group. Andy and Brendan discuss a promising finish for JT, a potential breakout for Echavarria, and the future of a Japan stop for the PGA Tour with the Zozo contract expiring. Next, they talk through Ben An beating Tom Kim in a playoff in the Genesis Championship in South Korea, giving props to An for his success on the PGA Tour without a win yet. Brendan is in on the LPGA's Race to CME, a season-long standing that's tightening up after Ruoning Yin's win in Kuala Lumpur. To close this episode, it's a lengthy Champions Tour Minute as the field is set for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix. PJ sets the stage for his trip out west, where a club pro from Long Island has secured full status on the PGA Tour Champions for next year after a strong performance in Arkansas.

Oct 28, 20241h 7m

Revisiting the Jumbo Ozaki Spotlight

Following the conclusion of the 2024 Zozo Championship, the PGA Tour's only stop in Japan, we're re-heating this Jumbo Ozaki Spotlight from May 2020. Brendan relays some notes from a day of reading and researching the Japanese legend. Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki's dominant career on the Japan Tour is covered in depth, as well as his ambivalence to playing outside of that Tour. His flamboyant style, allegations of cheating, playing with illegal “hot” equipment, and rumors of ties to organized crime are also discussed in detail.

Oct 27, 202445 min

Will Tour suspend Scottie and Rory for The Showdown match, TGL personality quiz, and Golf Advice

This Friday episode picks up where Thursday's left off, as Andy and Brendan debate whether the PGA Tour can actually suspend Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy for playing in "The Showdown" against Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. Brendan calls for Halloween costume submissions to [email protected] ahead of next week's annual episode, and Andy is in a giving mood for prizes after recovering from some poison oak. The two discuss an article from The Athletic about the presidential election possibly impacting the future of men's professional golf, as the Department of Justice would need to look into any PGA Tour-PIF agreement. There are pleas for Jay Monahan to no longer appear on CNBC and find a new channel to do interviews with after his initial quotes on June 6 are what spurred attention from the DOJ. Andy and Brendan then recap day one of the Zozo in Japan, where Taylor Moore is leading while wearing his B.Draddy. They recap a report from Ryan French at Monday Q about the PGA Tour calling players for tax payments on a $500,000 advance last December after they lost their cards for the 2024 season. Brendan breaks the news that PJ's Charles Schwab Championship credential has been approved before taking the TGL's "Find Your Team" personality quiz with Andy. Golf Advice about a hole-in-one, Patrick Mahomes, and golf on a job interview wrap this episode up and send you to the weekend.

Oct 25, 202454 min

TGL ticket prices and schedule release, Champs Tour depot, and Scottie's future schedule

This is the latest entry in SGS’s “recorded from a car” library, which grows in despair. Andy calls in from North Carolina to talk about the efficacy of political yard signs that peppered him on his travels around the state this week. Then they immediately get into Champions Tour chatter, with some intel on the rampant cart usage, the overly generous playoffs cut lines, and a sundry of items that were dropped on PJ’s doorstep. They discuss the problem with the Zozo Championship fitting into the fall schedule, with its limited field and free points. The big news of the week, the TGL ticket prices and schedule release for next year. Is it too much money? Will it be any good? They close with some thoughts on Scottie playing Tiger’s Hero World Challenge, and if he’ll be suspended for playing in the Showdown.

Oct 23, 202450 min