The Shotgun Start

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NBC’s plan for U.S. Open, PGA Tour board fights, and In-Out-Alt May 07, 2024

Show notes

This Wednesday episode is bursting at the seams with some unsubstantiated rumors, some in-out-alternate, PGA Tour board fights, LIV exemption roulette, and some quotes from the head of NBC golf about their plans for the U.S. Open. Andy and Brendan begin there, with news that the LPGA event, where Nelly Korda goes for her sixth straight win, will be relegated to a couple hours of tape delay coverage this week is rolled out alongside an interview with NBC exec Sam Flood counter-punching recent accusations in an article about cost cutting. They discuss the interview and the four-person booth plan for the U.S. Open. They have some unsubstantiated rumors about the ongoing PGA Tour board kerfuffles which leads to an amusing game comparing those characters to the ones in Succession. Then they get to a rousing game of In-Out-Alternate to kick off schedule for the week with the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic. At Wells Fargo, they pass along some unsubstantiated rumors about where that event might go next year with Quail Hollow hosting a PGA. They close with news of the PGA Championship handing out exemptions to Talor Gooch and a few other of his LIV compadres and what it says about future major exemptions.

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A PGA Tour product flop, Koepka’s case, and NBC’s future booth May 06, 2024

Show notes

It is Victory Monday for Brendan and his Cavs, but there is not much else to rejoice about in this episode. Andy is home from Bandon and he has some thoughts on his trip there. Then they get to just a tough, tough scene for the PGA Tour product in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at Craig Ranch. They are both down and despondent about it, but congratulatory to Taylor Pendrith, who is likely heading back to the Presidents Cup. There are some more harsh words for the host course. They wonder about any LIV momentum especially given what appears to be continued board gridlock. They discuss Brooks Koepka’s win there, a solid leaderboard, and the comments from Greg Norman that they might buy some golf courses. In news, they discuss Tiger’s exemption to Pinehurst. He will apparently be there but it’s still unclear who will be the NBC lead analyst, which prompts further discussion with that network apparently putting in a bid to spend on NBA rights. Alejandro Tosti’s visit to Six Flags is also covered, and there’s excitement about his potential inclusion in the Summer Olympics.

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PGA Tour Board drama, Cutthroat Corner, and Golf Advice May 02, 2024

Show notes

This is an episode that is almost entirely about nothing. But it’s a fun Fri Day show, that begins with an amusing story from Andy about someone needing an “introduction caddie” in the bar at Bandon Dunes. Then they get to the debut of Sun Day Red products, which prompts questions about expensive ball markers and the word “iconic.” They get to more scuttlebutt about the internal battles for PGA Tour board seats, which continues to appear dysfunctional and exhausting. This week's Cutthroat Corner nominee is revealed for THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, where there were some options. They discover the Tour is leveraging the immense power of AI for good, namely creating gambling content on ho-hum fringe pros. The return of Maxfli is also hailed. They close it with some SGS Golf Advice that leads to a lengthy digression on ending the hoopla, celebration, and discussion around holes-in-one.

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Rory’s board return delayed, LIV goes Boling..brook, and Blockie season arrives Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan dial it up for this first of the month Wednesday episode with movements from the PGA Pro National down in Frisco marking the return of Blockie Season. They offer up a potential new inhabitant of the Uresti Zone as well before getting to the big news that LIV’s finale solo championship is headed to Bolingbrook, site of a rough AJGA experience for Andy in Illinois. How in the world does this happen? It is unserious. Also unserious is the title of this week’s PGA Tour event. In further news on underwhelming venue choices, they also discuss some rumors from the ground at TPC Craig T. Nelson Ranch. Then they get to the reports around the delay of Rory’s return to the PGA Tour PAC and what it says about the current divide and Tour bungling over the past year. They also discuss the jump in ratings for the Zurich. Schedule for the week tries to hone in on who best fits the TPC Summerlin model and the high season for college golf.

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Rory and Lowry win, closing out Cochran week and LIV's win in Oz Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

Shane Bacon joins Andy with Brendan in the air to an undisclosed location or ducking Russ Cochran's near cinderella performance at the Zurich Classic. Shane and Andy discuss if Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry's victory at the Zurich Classic and what it could mean for the rest of 2024. Cochran's near made cut is broached and a deeper discussion of which podcasters the 65 year old could beat is opened up. Finally the pair close with a discussion on LIV Adelaide, the big crowds and seemingly genuine team competition the event earned. They also discussed a bunch of other stuff both related and unrelated to golf.

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PGA Tour Equity Distributions and the Annual Walk-Up Music Game Apr 26, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan close out a fun week with the annual SGS tradition for the Zurich Classic, the Walk-Up Music Guessing Game. But first, there is joy and optimism about a new era of Bears football with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft coming to town. There’s less joy about a proposed stadium renovation. Then it’s on to golf, or something like golf with “Conspiracy Theory Friday” about the lack of publicly available data and shot tracking information this week. Then they get to the news of the player equity distribution amounts that were reported earlier this week. What does it mean and does anyone even know? The Walk-Up Music Game throws Brendan for a loop on several occasions, but he does make contact on a few. They close with the Bagel Boys Zone and a quick chat about LIV Adelaide before one Friday Advice email on a real, actual Chip Monk.

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Scrutinizing Zurich teams, the Jupiter Links rollout, and Cochran Corner Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are absolutely giddy for this Wednesday episode and they don’t take long diving into some of the strange and amusing teams slated for the Zurich Classic, the annual stop in New Orleans. There’s also a sudden and lengthy digression on the announcement of the Jupiter Links team via social media video, which brings its own set of questions. Then they get back to the PGA Tour event, and another edition of Cutthroat Corner, which has been re-branded to Cochran Corner for this week. They dive into the great longevity of Russ Cochran’s career, which continues with a start in the Zurich. This leads to a #FBF style segment on something called the Tournament Players Series, where Cochran won twice in the early ‘80s. They rip through schedule for the week, talk about the Bears draft anticipation this week, and then close out news with reports of Rory McIlroy returning to the PGA Tour board.

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Nelly and Scottie dominance, Slow play angst, and Billy Boy the ‘Show Pony’ Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

It’s a true Monday episode thanks to the PGA Tour’s refusal to move up Sunday tee times with storms forecasted, arriving, and then pushing the Heritage finish to Monday morning. They begin there, fresh off watching Scottie Scheffler move his way around a windy Harbour Town for a fourth win in five starts. They marvel at the achievement while also pondering which one of his peers may be feeling the most anxious about this run and the appearance of it not ending anytime soon. They also discuss some deluded Wyndham Clark comments on TV ratings and the mismanagement of the Monday finish. Then it’s over to the dominant LPGA player of the moment, Nelly Korda, who won her fifth straight start and second career major. They ponder whether this makes the Chevron a “true” major and what has been most impressive about the run, including overcoming a six-hour round alongside Brooke Henderson. They ask which run might be more impressive, a debate not really worth having. Then it’s on to the happy development in the DR, where Billy Horschel won the white shirt-jacket. They delight in this, and also check in on the results of the sponsor’s exemptions for Puntacana. Lastly, they close with the 15-year-old Miles Russell making the cut and finishing T20 on the KFT.

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The Drive for 5, PGA Tour Board meets Theo Epstein, and Heritage troubles Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan close out an all-time week with the usual Friday ramble that begins with some of the reentry to home life issues following 10 days away at the Masters and Augusta. Then they get to early action from the Chevron, including Nelly’s push for five, whether to jump in an alligator-infested pond, and if this major kinda stinks. On the RBC Heritage, Andy praises Harbour Town and how it brings different players into the fold but laments its “hangover” spot on the schedule. They also bring up the great coincidence of Pat Cantlay playing well for a big purse, which transitions to the PGA Tour PAC board getting a presentation from Theo Epstein and all that says about the organizational problems. There’s a Puntacana minute that generates a new “game within the game” watch for the weekend. They close with an SGS Golf Advice segment on some Ireland questions and an incredible bet between friends.

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Brendan plays Augusta, Rory-LIV rumors, and In-Out-Alt for Puntacana Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are back home after another incredible week in Augusta that went one extra day for BP. That’s the cause for this beefy Wednesday episode, as Andy peppers him with some questions about his Monday round at Augusta National. They discuss his best shots, worst shots, unexpected encounters, and favorite memories from an all-time experience. Then they transition to the week that’s coming by diving right into a fun game of In/Out/Alternate for the opposite field Puntacana Championship. At the Heritage, they discuss more gnome fever and make some one-and-done picks. The women’s major championship, the Chevron, is also covered in the context of Nelly Korda’s historic run. News hits on the Rory-to-LIV rumor that lasted about a day this week, the Masters ratings plummeting and how we should react to it, and the PGA going back to Kiawah’s Ocean Course.

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