The Shotgun Start

Latest Episodes:

Saturday at The Open: Rory’s moment, Seagull impacts, Contender/Pretender Jul 16, 2022

Show notes

It’s Saturday night in St. Andrews and Andy and Brendan recap just about a perfect day both in town and out on the golf course. They discuss the crowd imploring Rory along, Cam Smith’s disappointment, the course setup that had Matt Fitzpatrick saying things were “tricked up,” and Viktor Hovland’s challenge. They also hit on an Andy tussling with Ian Poulter on the press conference transcript, and the confusion that followed. Talor vs. Tyrell is reviewed, Graeme McDowell’s idiotic tweet about shotgun starts at St. Andrews is covered, and there’s a theory about seagulls impacting play. They close with some contender vs. pretender and how it’s all right there for Rory.

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Friday at The Open: Tiger Farewell and Cameron Zone Arrival Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

This Friday episode is a lively recap from the day at St. Andrews, where Andy and Brendan dove into a few conspiracies, conjured some new enemies, and celebrated both the Cameron Zone and Tiger’s potential farewell to The Old Course. Cameron Smith and the Aussie advantage on this hard ground is covered, as is Rory’s adjustment in a changing wind. They close with some thoughts on the course, the pins, and the LIV presence persisting on the leaderboard, as well as a few worst-case scenarios.

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Thursday at The Open: Concrete Jungle Cam, Rory’s move, and Tiger’s tumble Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are live from the dorm room overlooking the 18th fairway at St. Andrews, where they spent the day taking in all manner of amusements, spectacular play, poor play, and a firm and fiery Old Course that is challenging the pros in a unique way. They discuss some quotes from Talor, Westy, and Rory that sort of frame the day full of almost 16 hours of golf. The course conditions and shots witnessed up close are relayed in an on-the-ground report. The question to leader Cameron Young about being from the streets of the Bronx is given ample coverage, and laughter. Phil’s bizarre morning and Tiger’s late tumble are also covered, as is the Scheffler disrespect.

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An Open Preview from St. Andrews: Tiger talks, firm & fiery, and a Zatch tale Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

Andy and Brendan record this Open preview from their dorm room overlooking the Swilken bridge, passing along notes and amusements after a couple days from the ground. They begin first with an Andy order mishap that put him on the shelf for the first day. Then it’s on to a wide-ranging course chat, mostly about the firmness, the options, how it might play and what skills might come in handy most, and some holes to keep an eye on. The course is the star as much as anyone and they relay a handful of notes both from player comments and their own walking. Then they rip through the quotable segment, pulling out details for Spieth, JT, Rory, Tiger, and Zalatoris, who all came through the media center on Tuesday. The pre-major tradition of highlighting a few favorite tee times commences, with a focus on the LIV boys being absolutely buried out of marquee group view. They close with Tiger’s comments on LIV, a lengthy and multi-faceted denunciation. News hits on the DOJ investigation into the PGA Tour as it pertains to LIV, before a sign off with a few more thoughts on The Open with one more day to go.

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First walks at St. Andrews, X-Man gets out of the house, Greg Norman disinvited by R&A Jul 10, 2022

Show notes

This Monday episode comes to you just after midnight in Scotland, where Andy and Brendan completed a walk through The Old Course for the first time. They offer some first impressions and thoughts about what they saw, both on the course and with one solo player. Then they move on to some results, asking it Xander’s Scottish Open win is the best of his career, which now has as many Ws as Jon Rahm. The recap on the Senior Players somehow devolves into an extended Frank Lickliter II segment. News hits on some early shuffling at The Open, like Greg Norman being asked not to show up by the R&A, Phil withdrawing from the Champions event, and Tiger’s first practice rounds and prospects, which includes a conspiracy theory.

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Is Rory softening on LIV and Scottish Open delights Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

This episode begins with Andy and Brendan discussing excitement and anticipation over their imminent departure for Scotland and what they’re most excited about once they get there. Then they get to Rory McIlroy’s eye-opening comments to the BBC earlier this week, in which he said the LIV vs. the PGA Tour battle has been messier than it ever should have gotten and suggested a way the two sides chat. Is this a momentous tone shift in the battle between the two? That leads to further discussion about PGA Tour strategy to mitigate or neutralize an opponent that perhaps they’ve underestimated from the start. Mercifully, there is golf talk on the Scottish Open, Big Shot Bob Allenby falling to DFL at the Senior Players, and DL3’s case of the “Pelley yips.”

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LIV vs. PGA Tour intensifies with lawyers, “hypocrites,” and Talor pronounced “Talor” Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

This Tuesday episode is a compilation from the holiday weekend happenings and a look forward at the schedule ahead as coffee golf peaks for the year. Andy and Brendan offer some thoughts on the conclusion to the second LIV event in Portland and how it felt like another sign that this is a ship that won’t be slowed. Talor Gooch’s comments and the Shark reveling are critiqued as well. Then they discuss the ongoing volley of public comments among players, especially as the Scottish Open takes center stage and LIV players enlist lawyers to gain last-minute entry. There’s also a thought that peer shame could be a more effective deterrent than any bans. Jon Rahm’s comments to “de-americanize” a Ryder Cup venue in Ireland are covered, along with J.T. Poston’s victory and a grow-the-game moment for Poland. This week’s schedule is previewed with excitement for the Scottish, the issues with it now being co-sanctioned, and the Barbasol’s field list.

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LIV “goosebumps,” Fred Couples slams Phil, and #FBF on the Quad Cities survival Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

This Friday episode reacts to another actual golf round on the LIV tour, but first there’s a sports minute on KD and more college conference shenanigans, leading to a Greg Norman-Robert Sarver comp. Then it’s on to LIV Portland, where the broadcast was completely over the top in its overhype and propaganda. Andy and Brendan discuss what was stronger -- namely, some real players -- and what continues to be lacking. There’s news of this transition from a “series” to a “league” for next year. A quote carousel focuses on more Gooch stupidity, some heat from Freddie Couples on LIV and Phil, and the 3M Open guy deciding to also launch some grenades. Flashback Friday is a short history on the recurring fight for the Quad Cities Classic, now the John Deere, to stay alive, with anecdotes from three different decades and the background on how TPC Deere Run came into existence.

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Phony, indignant & deluded in Portland, while a “strategic alliance” strengthens Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

This Wednesday episode is overflowing with the bounty that the content gods continue to provide. Andy and Brendan did not intend to start with LIV, but a remark here and there near the top, and 30 minutes of harsh words, laughs at specious explanations, and many, many expletives (EARMUFFS kids!) later, well, they went on a lot about Brooks, Reed, Perez, Bryson, and Wolff’s Portland performances. There are also some thoughts about the many shortcomings and make-it-up-as-we-go state of the current LIV product. The second half of the pod is largely dedicated to more significant PGA Tour changes, including the announcement of strengthened “strategic alliance” with the Euro Tour and more various pathways to the PGA Tour. Do they need to get leaner, not more alliance-y? The John Deere featured groups are discussed as well, with one put up as the “WOAT” in the history of pga tour featured groups coverage.

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Another Lexi collapse, Xander edges Theegala, and LIV targets the youths Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

Golf delivered again on Sunday with compelling dramas, handshake controversies, and coverage angst. Andy and Brendan begin with the Women’s PGA Championship, where Lexi Thompson had another torturous Sunday collapse in a major. They compare it to last year’s slow bleed at Olympic, and wonder how she can keep coming back. There are also some kind words on Congressional and harsher words for the pace of play and a skimpy broadcast window. Xander’s weekend at the Travelers is assessed, both good and bad, and the thrill of Theegala, both good and bad, is also praised. They ponder the Tour’s next move in light of Pierceson Coody’s impressive showing after turning down LIV money while Oklahoma State stud Eugenio Chacarra turned pro to take the LIV cash. Nick Faldo’s segment on Brooks running off to LIV is also discussed. Finally, there’s delight and appreciation expressed for Haotong and Paddy’s victories.

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