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Saturday from the Draddy House at the U.S. Open Jun 18, 2023

Show notes

It’s a lively table-setter for a major championship Sunday. Andy and Brendan get together to discuss the fantastic finish Saturday night at the U.S. Open, from Rickie to Rory to Wyndham’s big club twirl. They run through the contenders and pretenders for the final round, with a side discussion on course setup expectations for a potential move from down the board. Andy relays some tales from the ground, including an overzealous security guard, while Brendan relays some frustrations from watching the broadcast. They get into a few more course critiques coming from disgruntled players down the leaderboard, as well as the critiques about the muted fan atmosphere. They close by making a few picks and waxing poetic about the excitement for a great major Sunday. Thanks to B.Draddy (use promo code SGS30 for 30 percent off) for supporting us this week in LA and throughout the existence of this podcast.

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Friday from the U.S. Open: LACC bites, Rickie hangs on, Rory sits pretty Jun 17, 2023

Show notes

The week rolls on at the U.S. Open thanks to our great friends at B.Draddy (use promo code SGS30 for 30 percent off). We’re at the midpoint and Andy and Brendan discuss all the action from Friday at LACC, where the sun came out and scores leveled out a bit after a bunch of hot takes about low scores. The challenging fan experience is a separate matter, especially with the lack of juice around some critical spots on the course. Then they get to the 36-hole leader, Rickie Fowler, and do a little contender-pretender for the lovable fan favorite. They discuss Rory’s sterling round and the concept of “good” bogeys at a place with a bunch of half-pars. They run through some of the chasers on a course that could yield a deep comeback. Brooksy’s comments on the course are also noted as one of the few complaints, however mild. The MC disappointments take on the tumble of Justin Thomas, with questions about a coaching change. They close with a couple horror stories about the TV switchover to Law & Order with kids in the room.

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Thursday from the U.S. Open: Mad about low scores, Rickie, Rory, Scottie, DJ, and more Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan review the first day of the U.S. Open at LACC’s North Course, where scores hit record numbers for this championship thanks to Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, who both shot 62. They discuss the general backlash and anger about scores this low at a U.S. Open and if there is any credence to the complaints. Andy relays some notes from following the fun group of Max Homa and Scottie Scheffler, while Brendan relays his argument and theory on why Rickie’s career path got stunted by a shift in the game. DJ’s round is given a debrief, as is Rory’s close with a “bogey save,” and lastly Phil’s charge hitting a roadblock at the sixth. Some favorite holes and shots are also outlined, as well as what to expect with scoring and setup for the next three days.

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A U.S. Open Preview from the Draddy Hollywood House Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan have spent the last two days on the ground at Los Angeles Country Club scouting and gathering all manner of amusing intel to deliver their traditional Wednesday major championship “preview.” They begin with a few new nicknames and some scuttlebut about two pros with very different tipping strategies for the local caddies. Then they get into a lengthy discussion about the course, some early impressions, some player gripes (Rahm-centric), and how the USGA could turn the screws if scores start to get real low. They go through their favorite tee times as is custom before a major, including the “worst tee time” debate. They close with a updates on the merger and news of a Jay Monahan health issue.

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Canada has a moment, Mixed merger messaging from the PGA Tour Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan have touched down in Los Angeles and are ready to go at the Draddy House for this week’s U.S. Open. But first, they settle up on the weekend that was, beginning with the fantastic finish to the Canadian Open. They praise the PGA Tour product that’s been delivering all year, even at these non-designated events. They have less praise for the bureaucratic arm that just completed the merger deal and is now communicating a different tune than we’d heard all the last year. There are a couple notes from the other side of moat about a somber scene, and some reaction to the many details in the NYT report about the various meetings that got the deal done. They also have some fun with the Euro Tour winner’s name and wonder what his true calling should have been. The episode closes with some early LACC and US Open catnip before the week goes full bore on that championship.

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Implications if Tour-PIF deal falls apart, Omar in featured groups, and Golf Advice Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan check out for the week with this Friday episode that begins with an amusing story about their house rental for next week’s U.S. Open in Los Angeles. Then they get to the battle to frame the PGA Tour merger deal with the PIF in a light most favorable to each side as everyone races to declare winners. Jimmy Dunne emerging to give interviews with his framing is covered. Also, the possibility of this deal being blocked is discussed, why that won’t happen, and the implications if it were to fall apart. News hits on the announcement of TGL’s first team in Los Angeles and its famous owners. They close it out with SGS Golf Advice with a funny story about being mistaken for a Tour player, an Old Course debate, and club members hollering at a high school match.

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More PGA Tour merger details and furious backlash, and Team Smash drama Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan return for this late Wednesday episode because the people demanded Canadian Open picks from the foremost gambling podcast. But first, they discuss more on the PIF, *not* LIV as Rory emphasized, deal with the PGA Tour. They’ve had an additional day to digest it as well as come into a few more details of how it came together and just how furious the backlash has been both inside the Tour and from the public. They ponder Monahan’s future as commissioner, and the possibility of the deal even falling apart. Then they get to Whiparound Wednesday, which hits on an amusing tale from the players meeting in Canada, some testimony on Just A Guy, and the incredible inside story of how two Team Smash members WD’d in the DC event and Matt Wolff eventually left the team. There’s some detail from the ground in Canada on how that event may be underwhelming, which brings us to Shhhedule for the Week and the Ecco Event of the Week, which had slim pickings but leads to a fun discussion on U.S. Open Sectionals

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LIV and the PGA Tour merge, Yasir and Big Jay make up, and the players get …? Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Brendan record this “extra” Tuesday episode to discuss, well, the biggest golf news to ever happen, non-Tiger division? Including Tiger division? They react to the details of the PGA Tour and LIV merger announcement, which is still light on many of those details. They remark on just how secretive this process was with hardly anyone knowing what was coming, including most of the players and maybe Greg Norman. Saudi money is officially injected into the PGA Tour with a new, for-profit TBD “entity,” that has Yasir Al-Rumayyan as the chairman but without majority-PIF board control. They discuss how Jay Monahan navigated the last few years and the immediate player fury at the news of the deal. And what will the future look like exactly with a possible world tour? We will continue to discuss this massive story as more of the details emerge.

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Rose’s “generational” debut, Hovland’s spicy Memorial, and US Open Sectionals Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

There are no Sunday scaries here, as Andy and Brendan are bubbling to talk about a fantastic day and weekend of golf. They begin with the LPGA, where Rose Zhang debuted as a pro, and won. They discuss the incredible achievement, the hype train that’s chugging full steam, and caution about setting insane expectations. They also hit on the concurrent AJGA event and the abominable pace of play at Liberty National. On the PGA Tour, they praise Viktor Hovland’s “mettle” to survive a brutally hard Muirfield Village, a venue that Hovland had some spicy thoughts about earlier in the week on Norwegian television. They elaborate more on the test at Jack’s place, and debate whether you should be more concerned about Scheffler’s putting or Rory’s approach play following that Sunday. There’s some intel about Matt Wolff’s departure from Team Smash, and more news on a Memorial schedule change. Lastly, they run through the U.S. Open Final Qualifying sites, picking a name, or two from each one to watch on Monday -- beware of Brian Stuard at Springfield!

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Pros fight back on rollback, Wolff out of Smash and LIV?, SGS Golf Advice Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

It’s a whiparound Friday episode, with Andy and Brendan discussing various maladies and which occupations might be the worst for someone who is chatty. Then they get to the rough ride of the Frugalites in Central Ohio. Also out of Columbus was news of a player meeting with the USGA and continued critical comments about the MLR. Is it possible there is a retreat or a few majors just played with different equipment? There’s further information on J.B. Holmes’s shenanigans in Tennessee. Matt Wolff washing out of Team Smash is discussed. The concept of the “Reverse Zatch” is also explored. SGS Golf Advice begins with a wild tale of a player looking for a game in Beirut, and finding one in an less-than-friendly area.

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