The Shotgun Start

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LIV rescinds OWGR application, Pres Cup says Tour pros only, and In-Out-Alternate? Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan record this from an airport lounge phone booth before they depart for Northern Ireland, so it is somewhat “muted” compared to the normal SGS. But there is still plenty to laugh and holler about, starting with an amusing tidbit on the the Monday pro-am participants at Bay Hill getting non-participating minor leaguers despite ponying up a nice five-figure sum. Then they get to the news that LIV is withdrawing its OWGR application, and what that says about the league and the rankings. Are they illegitimate? Is everyone being a bad steward of the game right now? They also discuss Mike Weir’s comments that LIV players will not be on the International team for the Presidents Cup, a statement made on March 5th that feels like self-sabotage against the larger product. The schedule for the week hits on Bay Hill and the usual amusements at that annual stop, like par-3s of the same distance and screened-in porches. They close with a rousing game of In-Out-Alternate? for the opposite field event in Puerto Rico.

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AK’s underwhelming return, Zinger sounds off, and PGA Tour’s snoozy run Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

This Monday morning episode comes a little late after Andy was busy running a freaking marathon on Sunday. Did the Honda delay its finish just for that? Or was this another instance of the Tour screwing up and mismanaging the schedule? Speaking of management, there’s some great testimony from the front lines about Brendan’s Tour Championship Management concerns from last week. Then they get to LIV’s weekend in Jeddah, from Joaquin Niemann’s win and continued run of form to the Anthony Kim return. They ponder whether other LIV players and supporters are bothered by AK’s presence or just happy to have him and the eyeballs that might accompany him. Also, will the middling rounds and lack of birdies continue and how fast will that get old and lose interest. They hail LIV for its apparent dogged enforcement of slow play. The closing chat is on Paul Azinger sounding off on NBC’s cost cutting moves, his contract negotiations falling apart, and takes on Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour’s current state.

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Rory jokes (?) about going to LIV, The AK reveal, and going soft at the Bear Trap Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Wake up wake up wake up! It’s the first of the month! Andy and Brendan are downright bubbly with a double dose of cause for enthusiasm: a first of the month AND a Friday when it’s time to record! They whiparound this episode discussing Rory’s odd/facetious/threatening/all of the above comments about the Chubby mention of him potentially going to LIV. Then they discuss the woeful ratings for The Match and if that means anything about whether it was good. They discuss Anthony Kim’s big reveal, the lack of juice around it in Jeddah, expectations, and a Jordan-in-a-Wizards-jersey reference is made. Also, did the PGA Tour take control of the Onda Classic and make it completely soft in order to cater to players. Are they further delegitimizing their product and abandoning the event’s identity? The Bear Trap is dead. The Bear Trap is no more. Blame PGA Tour Championship Management. They close with a quick round of SGS Golf Advice on setting a quota for looking for a ball for your insufferably wild partner.

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LIV pros put asterisks on Masters, The Match, and AK’s “dance of redemption” Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

Andy is celebrating Victory Wednesday after his Ballfrog carried the day in The Match. They offer some initial takeaways on that event from The Park in West Palm, what worked, what didn’t, and what the Tour could learn from some of these lower stakes, personality-shining exhibitions. Also, the DJ Khaled tidal wave is discussed. Then they get to the hype video LIV released on Anthony Kim’s return to pro golf in Jeddah, before quickly diving off into Talor Gooch’s latest wild comment about putting an asterisk next to the Masters because it may not have every LIV player in its field. Whiparound Wednesday also focuses on Rory’s former agent suggesting he could go to LIV, Greg Norman texting Hideki, some new hospitality renderings for East Lake, and a trophy having to be abandoned at airport security. They close with a schedule for the week, make some one-and-done picks, and tell of some recent struggles at TSA.

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AK comebacks in Jeddah, Sketchy drops, and Knapp puns Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are back for a Victory Monday edition of the podcast: claiming victories for the #GamblingPod getting back on track and for the passport problems moving toward a positive resolution. Then they get to the latest PGA Tour event, which pitted Jake Knapp against Sami Valimaki and a host of circus tricks created by the Vidanta venue. Was it so bad it’s good territory? They debate whether this should be called a PGA Tour event or something else and if it’s contradictory to be mad about “closed shops” and then also be down on this event. They have MAJOR questions about the S.H. Kim drop from earlier in the week that was not afforded to Valimaki on the 72nd hole when his ball was under a boundary fence. Knapp’s Mighty Ducks sponsorship derails the podcast with lengthy chats about which golfers are which character. They also discuss Patty T’s win on the LPGA, an Ortiz win in Oman, and the Magical Kenya Open getting a great story at the cut mark. News touches on Luke Donald now getting a turn in the NBC booth and reports of Anthony Kim making his debut this week with LIV Golf in Jeddah.

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The Charlie Woods coverage, Tesla feedback, and more Masters exemptions Feb 23, 2024

Show notes

This Friday episode is in the running for dumbest SGS episode of all time, but hopefully it’s a bit of whimsy to get you to the weekend. Andy and Brendan discuss a pressing issue of an oversight that may blow up plans for an upcoming work/golf trip they have planned. They also get into Feedback Friday on the Tesla discourse and their attempt at a Star Tier system for pro golf. Then they get to the Charlie Woods pre-qualifier coverage both from official PGA Tour channels and the thirsty social media ecosystem. Andy has some real questions about why the Mexico Open needs to exist, while Brendan has some pushback on the proposals of an F1 model. They discuss the Pissbear getting a special exemption into the Masters alongside Joaquin Niemann and Ryo Hisatsune. There’s also a discovery of the Sun Day Red tagline, which devolves into the recitation of Varsity Blues lines. They close with some SGS Golf Advice that is primarily focused around the uses of Teslas in golf trips.

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Ranking the 'stars' by tiers in pro golf, Mexico Open angst, and Bones returns to TV Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

This Wednesday episode is promptly derailed by discussion of Tesla owners and the subject of e-bike fraudulence. Eventually, Andy and Brendan get to the schedule for the week, beginning with an awful field at the Mexico Open. They make some one-and-done picks and read some hilarious course descriptions about this Greg Norman signature design. There’s also bewilderment about Jim Bones Mackay getting the main chair in the continued NBC tower bake-off when he has no plans to go full time. The schedule for the week also covers a Champions Tour event in Morocco and a DP World Tour event in Kenya. Following Hideki’s win, they endeavor to rank the starpower in men’s pro golf, creating a handful of tiers and trying to understand the indent that LIV has made and where the PGA Tour’s strength still resides. They close with news of a change at Augusta National for the 2024 Masters.

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Hideki makes history at Riv, PGA Tour identity crisis, and a YouTube golfer qualifier Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

The shed door makes its triumphant and unexpected return to this Monday episode, which begins with the strong Sunday finish at Riviera. Andy and Brendan discuss Hideki’s “all-time” final round 62 and how the PGA Tour needed a marquee winner after an underwhelming West Coast swing. They compare this year to last year’s start of the season, and it’s not great. There are a few theories bandied about on why. The nuts, bolts, and meaning of Hideki’s win, Zalatoris’s flash, and a couple house cat fades are also broken down in detail. Riviera is praised as usual, and Scheffler’s putting is critiqued as usual. They also hit on Jim Nantz popping back at rules call-ins and tweeters, and lament CBS’s departure from the broadcast until the Masters. They close with a news section on the Chubb Classic, David Puig, and a Myrtle Beach Classic (a new PGA Tour event) qualifying tourney for YouTube golfers to get a spot and a shot at a PGA Tour purse.

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Tiger’s return and other tales from the ground at Riviera Feb 16, 2024

Show notes

This Friday episode comes to you from a Santa Monica AirBnb after Andy and Brendan spent a full day out at Riviera chasing stars and mules alike. They discuss the thirstiest boy wedging his way into more camera time in what has become an annual Genesis tradition. They also discuss Tiger’s return to competitive PGA Tour golf and his ghastly shank at the end of his round. There’s appreciation for seeing some high level golf up close and personal again, but also questions about whether the PGA Tour is collectively in a grumpy state right now. Andy empties his notebook with some amusing details about parrots, the “Hovland line” at 15, and the Zalatoris comeback. They close with an SGS Golf Advice question on what’s permissible weight for a bag and what you need to cut out for the caddie’s sake. How many balls is the perfect number? Before they sign off, they chat about Brendan’s low Uber rating and reheat the Just-A-Guy debate.

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Tiger’s new Sun Day Red, Riviera hype, and AK rumors Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are on site in Los Angeles this week and this Wednesday episode includes some preview scuttlebutt after a day out at Riviera. They begin with the early-week range scene, where one star was allegedly reticent to put a new driver in his bag. Then they get to Tiger’s season debut, which will be done in his brand new clothing line, and there is some reaction to that unveiling. There’s some SSG scuttlebutt after a John Henry sighting and some thoughts on the state of that deal. They discuss some initial course impressions, including two new greens and the potential softness for the coming weekend. News hits on further reaction to the Phoenix debauchery and some more Anthony Kim rumors about a potential ramp-up and return.

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