The Shotgun Start

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Big Jay’s press conference on LIV, Congo complaints, and Flashback Friday Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

This Friday episode is here to carry you into the weekend with some thoughts on the Women’s PGA Championship beating up the best in the world early in the week, and the meritless complaints about it being too hard and long. There’s some brief chatter about the Prince’s push in Hartford and Living and Working in Maine. Then there’s a review of Jay Monahan’s press conference in Hartford, with particular ire for his comments about dealing with an “irrational actor” or opponent. Flashback Friday is on the old McDonald’s LPGA Championship and centers around Suzann Pettersen and Se Ri Pak victories, as well as some Michelle Wie controversies that had one legend saying she showed “a lack of respect and class.”

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PGA Tour punches back, Brooks bails, Faldo flees, and Congo returns Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

This delayed Wednesday episode begins with some big changes proposed to the PGA Tour’s structure, namely trimming some of the fat with their status scheme. There are, once again, tweaks proposed for the playoffs and a three-event cash grab tour in the fall. Andy and Brendan discuss all these proposals, how they might work, and if they will matter in the fight against LIV. Stick around for the ad read on this one as well, as they might get in trouble. One name defecting to LIV is Brooks Koepka, and his decision is panned in light of his recent statements. There’s also significant room allotted to Nick Faldo stepping away and Trevor Immelman stepping in at CBS. Shhhhedule for the week focuses on a logjam of major golf, starting with the Women’s PGA at Congressional, which should show beautifully. The Travelers, Senior Open, and BMW Euro event are also discussed with varying degrees of amusements at the fields.

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Sunday at the U.S. Open from the Precision Pro House in Boston Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

Andy and Brendan settle back in at the PrePro house to revel and review in all they witnessed at The Country Club, both on Sunday and throughout the weekend. They begin with appreciation for what a major can deliver, golf and competition that matter on stages that feel consequential. Then it's on to Matt Fitzpatrick’s play and his breakthrough major -- the chase for speed and the shots he pulled off on Sunday. Another Will Zalatoris run at contention is contextualized after a weekend of playing maybe the best golf of anyone in the field. Scottie Scheffler’s “sound” is critiqued, as well as the Rahm and Rory rounds. Then they get to TCC as a venue, course, and host city, which leads to some spicy laments about the anchor sites taking up so much future real estate.

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Saturday at the U.S. Open from the Precision Pro House in Boston Jun 19, 2022

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are absolutely buzzing after an amazing day at the U.S. Open in Boston. They start with some tales from the ground, which included following Will Zalatoris, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and others who populate this fantastic leaderboard. ESPN’s Kevin Van Valkenburg pops in with an amusing anecdote or two from his time following Rory and others. They lament the potential TIO stain that could be left on this championship, as well as chant heard on Saturday the likes of which we will never hear again. Also, were tee times too late? Did darkness impact the finish? Aside from these few conspiracy theories, there’s general excitement and praise from a great day at the national championship.

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Friday at the U.S. Open from the Precision Pro House in Boston Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Andy and Brendan assess this 2022 U.S. Open at its midpoint, bringing three things from Friday that they feel are prime for discussion. They begin with #SyringeGate and the USGA watering the greens in the middle of the round when a storm was forecasted to roll through and the wind settled later in the afternoon. There are pleas for a tougher set up, but praise for the skills The Country Club is testing right now. DJ’s LIV comments are also discussed. They review Jon Rahm’s charge, Rory hanging on, Joely steering it in, Phil’s irrelevance, and a startling Law & Order SVU scene they were subjected to in the media center.

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Thursday at the U.S. Open from the Precision Pro House in Boston Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are back from The Country Club and posted up at The Precision Pro House. They have a few thoughts on what they watched up close in the first round of the U.S. Open. There’s exasperation with the rampant LIV rumors, praise for Rory’s day and his tempestuous outbursts, and schadenfreude at Phil’s expected no-show. There are a couple “most disappointing” nominees, including frustration with the USGA setup of Brookline, which was characterized as “doughy.”

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A U.S. Open Live Show from Downtown Boston Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

This is a recording from SGS’s live gathering at the USGA’s 19th Hole at High Street Place Food Hall in Downtown Boston. It features a recap from Wednesday on the ground at the U.S. Open, including some thoughts on the USGA’s press conference with Mike Whan and John Bodenhamer, and a few names not to consider after witnessing some alarming shots. Andy and Brendan also have a spectator’s guide segment on some places to watch from the ground and on TV. There’s a debate over whether there’s a “US Open player.” And they close with a fun Q&A session with some amusing inquiries from both Twitter and the live audience.

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A U.S. Open preview and the LIV undercurrents at Brookline Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are live from the Precision Pro House in Boston, where they’re on site after a full day at the U.S. Open. They begin with Brooksy getting pissy with the press for talking too much about LIV, but relay how that battle for pro golf’s future is dominating every conversation with different stakeholders on the ground this week. That may change once the balls are in the air on Thursday, and they go long with a full preview of how the course has looked so far this week, some potential trouble spots, and why the USGA might be fearful of actually pushing the envelope. They also discuss the reception Phil’s received and might receive during the championship. The usual “favorite tee times” segment of major week yields some laughs about a few peculiar trios. Lastly, they close with reports of the DP World Tour possibly turning on the strategic alliance with the PGA Tour to get in bed with the Saudis.

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Rory the Warrior Prince, Jay Monahan surfaces, and LIV London fades out Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

U.S. Open week has arrived but there’s plenty to dispense with from a monumental weekend in the professional game. Andy and Brendan begin first with Rory McIlroy’s win at the Canadian Open, battling JT in front of a full-throated crowd and then taking a shot at Greg Norman on the way out of town. They praise most of the product on display, while cautioning against extrapolating anything larger from it. Jay Monahan’s appearance in the booth on CBS is critiqued, and they wonder what’s possibly next for the commish. The LIV Saturday finale is reviewed and it’s debated whether “exhibition” is the perfect term for that snoozefest finish where the only thing notable was the payout. They close by hailing Linn Grant’s dominance in a mixed event, as well as the lopsided Curtis Cup that may need to broaden the net. Lastly, the pro shop currently has a Father’s Day sale ongoing, with some new Brookline-themed polos and other merch -- everything is 15% off auto-applied at checkout.

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The LIV debut, the PGA Tour response, and Andy’s Majesticks Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

This Friday episode jumps right into a whirlwind day that may be the start of fundamentally changed pro golf landscape. Andy and Brendan react to the first broadcast of the first ever LIV Golf round. Did it surpass expectations or devolve into the shitshow that was anticipated? Did the golf even matter? Where is the leaderboard?! They discuss the amusements and disappointments, and who came off most debased as sportswasher of the day. Then they get into the PGA Tour’s announcement that all defectors were suspended, and what that might actually mean in practice. Some legal counsel who’s been digging through the bylaws sends along a few thoughts of how things might go next or different options available to players. They also discuss if Jay Monahan can save his tour with the status quo, and how pro golf is all going to be worse off for this.

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