The Shotgun Start

Latest Episodes:

Future of the Tour’s equity partners and 6th Annual Halloween Costumes ideas Oct 29, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are together in the Shed in Central California for this lively Monday episode. They begin with some thoughts on the weekend that was in golf, starting with the Asia Pacific Am at Royal Melbourne and the desire for more Sandbelt golf in our lives. News hits on the report that the PGA Tour rejected Endeavor’s bid to become an investment partner in their new for-profit entity, prompting questions about who’s in charge, what options are on the table, and what’s preferred as the Tour nears its year-end deadline to finalize the details of the Framework Agreement. Michael Block’s exemption to the Aussie Open is also discussed. The second half of the episode is the sixth edition of their annual golf-related Halloween costumes ideas segment, with some amusing and offbeat options given the year we’ve had in golf and on the Shotgun Start.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blockie costume teaser, Augusta and The Open on LIV exemptions, and Golf Advice Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

It’s unclear what was really planned for this episode, or what it actually turned out to be about in the end. For some reason, there is a Michael Block tangent as Andy and Brendan discuss their imminent annual Halloween costumes episode. There’s also a discussion about listeners requesting fewer tangents and more golf talk. There is an apology, sort of, to the Texas Rangers and Diamondbacks fanbases. They discuss news from the Asia-Pacific Am that the heads of Augusta National and The Open are not currently discussing extra LIV specific exemptions for their majors, at least in a public way. The latter half of the episode hits SGS Golf Advice on fluffing lies, a friend who bought the F1 driver, and a mismarked golf ball.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LIV sweeps the 'World Golf Awards,' Framework Agreement ideas, and a Schwab Cup sham Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

This Wednesday episode begins with some excitement for the return of basketball, just not the return of Bulls basketball. Then Andy and Brendan dig a little deeper in LIV touting its wins at the “World Golf Awards.” Who and what else won these awards? Were there other candidates? Is The Belfry the greatest golf complex ever created? Then they transition to a Rex Hoggard report from LIV Miami, where Bubba, CH3, and Kevin Na had some thoughts and BIG BRAIN ideas on how the framework agreement, which seems on its death bed, could potentially merge the two tours. Schedule for the week hands out the event of the week to a delightful Asia-Pacific Am watch from Royal Melbourne. News hits on the Schwab Cup postseason being a wrap before it even started and whether or not Steve Stricker should show up to any of the events.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bryson’s Crushers Conquest, “splintered” USA Ryder Cup, and the LIV match format Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

It’s Victory Monday for Andy and Brendan, who begin with some enthusiastic chatter about Tyson Bagent, his father, and the Bears future. There’s also some pushback on the Browns getting lucky calls and a golf comp to the debate over the Tush Push. Then they get to the golf, beginning with the LIV Finale and Bryson’s DeChambeau’s team winning in Miami. There’s some praise for the format, which produces some compelling moments … that nobody seems to be watching in person or on TV. They express some happiness for Bryson, who has “friends by arrangement” with a team. There’s less joy for Paul Casey. On the PGA Tour, they discuss Collin Morikawa’s victory in Japan and the bewildering game of Beau Hossler. During recording, news breaks of the Euro Tour now offering exemptions to some PGA Tour detritus down the FEC standings. News hits on a radio interview with Lucas Glover, who spoke of the shame of a splintered USA Ryder Cup team that he’d heard about from friends “in the fight.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil “knows” more LIV defections are coming and Golf Advice Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are together in Pinehurst, where they’re worse for the wear after battling “tuffs” of grass that will surely keep Charley Hoffman away from next year’s U.S. Open. They discuss some of their day out at No. 2 before getting onto the matchups for the LIV team championship in Miami. Should we seriously analyze this? Is there further Cleeks disrespect? Then they address Phil Mickelson’s comments that he “knows” more people are coming to LIV and that everyone is taking lots of calls from players dying to get over there. The last half of the pod takes on some SGS Golf Advice questions about choosing a wedding over a member-guest and when you should or should not help a playing partner look for their golf ball.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The LIV Team finale, the “Netflix Cup,” and other hollering on Whiparound Weds Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are a bit punchy in this late night recording before they both take on some travel early Wednesday. They begin with a bunch of random questions and a moment of silence for the Spikemark-gate drama that embroiled NCAA golf all fall. Then they turn to a sad note on the passing of Ivor Robson and what they remember about him. The “Netflix Cup” is discussed briefly, but quickly devolves in some incredulous yelling about the new Stealth collaboration with an F1 team sponsored by an energy drink and software. The schedule for the week discusses the Zozo and Champions Tour but then takes a longer look at the LIV Team Championship week in Miami. Is the format worthwhile or overly confusing? Would it be better if the league were not a joke? News hits TGL rounding out its roster with four more names, including Hatless Pat and Broomstick Lucas. Then they close it out with Buddy Ball coming to the Hero World Challenge and its loaded field.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LIV season ends with a whimper, the Tom Kim conundrum, and Brooksy pops Wolffie again Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

It’s an unexpected and jubilant Victory Monday for Brendan, who is joined by legendary friend of the program Shane Bacon. The two wander around for a bit talking the Browns upset of the 49ers, a wildly unpredictable NFL, and thermostat negotiations as the season changes. Then they jump into the weekend that was in golf, beginning with the most recent finish out in Vegas. They ponder what to make of Tom Kim, winning at a great clip for such a young age but also feasting on some weaker events. How do we gauge young talents -- what metrics do we prioritize? Then they get to the LIV season finale, or part of it, which happened overnight and was exceedingly difficult to watch. They discuss the lack of juice with all things LIV, Talor Gooch’s incredibly successful and lucrative decision to join LIV, the confusing relegation zone, and what’s left on the Match Play front. There’s also scorn for the decrepit Majesticks franchise. The latter half of the episode covers Angel Yin’s first LPGA win, Lilia Vu needing more pub, Brooks Koepka yet again popping Matt Wolff, and Tiger’s ridiculous outfit playing golf last week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LIV’s relevance and the OWGR denial, Soft drug suspensions, and Golf Advice Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are here to close out the week with some nostalgia -- about electronics, baseball stadium quirks, and the MLB playoffs needing a staggered start as it works through its Bill Haas era. Then they get to the big news of the week, the OWGR denying LIV’s application to receive certification and points. They discuss how both groups seem to be marginalized and in need of fixing, and why the decision has some merit and where it might be clearly susceptible to critique. They discuss Phil’s tweets on the matter, and if the players collective bargaining for more of the overall majors cut will play well when only a couple of the players and a couple of the events truly matter. The TGL additions, who are not Blockie, are also discussed. Ben An’s three-month suspension for violating the PGA Tour’s drug policy is also reviewed, as both overly harsh or overly soft. They close with Friday’s Golf Advice on another handicap issue for a buddies trip and calling out someone teeing up in front of the markers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A PGA Tour in messy fall flux, A Tosti Tale for all time, and Blockie>Swiftie Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

This Wednesday episode begins with an apology for the disasters of Monday, but also some tales from the road, including an angry and offended listener confronting Andy in real life on a certain take. Then Brendan relays an incredible Tosti Tale from this past week’s PGA Tour card award ceremony at the Korn Ferry Tour finals. This leads to a detour into whether or not Tosti is in the Shriners Field, which results in a discussion that is the mess of the PGA Tour fall right now. Status and field exemptions can be incongruous. Also, the “Framework Agreement” with the PIF may be dead and where does that leave things? The Hatgate controversy follow-up that got cut off from the end of Monday’s episode is also updated here with a few more thoughts that didn’t make it into that recording. Blockie’s continued tour, now with Tiger Woods, is also covered.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More details on Ryder Cup Hatgate, KFT finals, and Worse for the Wear Monday Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

This Monday episode probably did not need to exist, but a worse-for-the-wear Brendan gets Andy on the horn for 30 minutes to review some of the weekend that was in golf. They begin, however, with an amusing unsubstantiated rumor about Viktor Hovland’s music listening. Then they get to some of their own tales from the road before flipping to the Chicken Championship and a wild Luke List victory in a five-man playoff. The KFT finals are given an accounting, with some sadness for the Gas Man missing out on a card for a silly rule. There’s also some more Tosti talk as well as some props for the Epson Tour card advancers, but not its executive tweeting angrily about the newsletter. Lastly, they close with a Michael Bamberger piece on Hatgate that sheds some light on some of the positions of Cantlay and how that story may have blown up into the runaway train it became in Rome.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected