The Shotgun Start

Latest Episodes:

Phil returns, LIV’s got team names, logos, and a crooked draft Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

An episode trying to cover and make sense of the absolute firehose of absurdity that hit all of us on Tuesday. It begins with frustration that the firehose buried what should have been gnarly metaverse Jack Nicklaus’s moment. Nevertheless, Andy and Brendan proceed on, reacting, with great amusement, to the names, logos, and eventual draft of teams for LIV Golf’s first event. They discuss how the PGA Tour had this coming, and how the resigning membership maneuver may mitigate the Tour’s biggest weapon. The talking points got plenty of use, and Graeme McDowell’s missteps are dissected, as well as the notion that shotgun starts are “fairer” -- which leads to a humorous scoop about the range set up. Phil Mickelson’s return to golf, which feels like old news, is addressed, as is his attire and look. Tiger’s WD from the U.S. Open, as well as some sectional qualifier stories, are also discussed.

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Minjee and Billy run away, Kevin Na resigns Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

This Monday episode begins with tales from the red-eye road and the line at the bagel shop. Then it’s on to the second women’s major winner of the year, Minjee Lee, who ran away from a strong leaderboard in a record-setting U.S. Women’s Open win. Her Sunday stroll to what she called the most important trophy she wanted combined with Billy Horschel’s relatively dominant win in Columbus provokes a debate about whether it’s reductive or insulting to call runaway victories boring as competitions. Jerry Kelly is hailed as the Alker Stopper. Then they pivot to Kevin Na resigning from the PGA Tour, whether Rickie’s next, and some scuttlebutt about the OWGR system further marginalizing the Asian Tour as a response.

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Scores too low for a U.S. open, LIV momentum, and #FBF on Cristie Kerr Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

This Friday episode begins with some early reaction to the U.S. Women’s Open, where Mina Harigae made nine birdies in her opening round. This prompted the usual wails about fairways too wide and rough too thin, which leads to another setup philosophy discussion. Precision Pro Flashback Friday focuses on a Pine Needles U.S. Open of past as well as the larger theme on ascendant youths in championship women’s golf. A news roundup touches on Jerry Foltz going to LIV as a broadcaster, Texas winning the national title, and these wild suspended-in-the-sky seats at the Canadian Open.

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The LIV London List Arrives: DJ, Phil, and the PGA Tour’s next move Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

This bonus episode comes after LIV Golf at long last released its field list for the first event in London, which is in just more than a week. Andy and Brendan discuss the field, the DJ inclusion, the Phil omission, the field fillers, amusing detritus, and who was maybe left in reserve for later events. The PGA Tour’s next move, especially with regards to DJ, is also pondered. They discuss what it might mean for the rest of this year, and then the future of professional golf, and that may not be a good thing apart from the majors.

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LIV list delays, Women’s Open returns to Pine Needles, and NCAA coaches in bunkers May 31, 2022

Show notes

This Monday plus Wednesday episode begins with a mea culpa after the first episode of the week relied on information that the LIV field list was coming. So it’s a combo show of sorts, first ranting about the LIV organizational incompetencies, and then quickly cleaning up some thoughts from Colonial, with further questions about Tour golf vs. majors golf and Sam Burns’s place in that tension. Then the schedule for this week begins with some NCAA men’s reactions, notably, the overly hands-on approach by the coaches, who are now playing around in the sand with their charges. Also, the swing speeds of the field at NCAAs. Memorial gets some praise as a unique test for Tour golf. The event of the week is the U.S. Women’s Open, with a preview segment discussing Pine Needles as a venue, Annika’s return, Nelly’s return, the age distribution in the field, and a Stars of the Sandhills nominee that highlights the continued youth challengers coming through the ranks.

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Flashback Friday on the “greatest NCAAs ever” with Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine May 27, 2022

Show notes

This is a slightly different Friday show, as an entire Precision Pro FBF segment turns into an episode. Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine recently researched and published an oral history on the 2012 NCAA men’s championships at Riviera, featuring a nail-biter between two juggernauts in Alabama and Texas and three-dozen players that would go pro, including headliners Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger, Thomas Pieters, Max Homa, and many more. Brentley takes us through the timeline and sets up the drama for this legendary championship, much of which was not caught on video. Frugal Fritelli also plays a prominent role and stirs things up for his Texas team. The episode ends with some thoughts about the Texas program and whether it underachieves similar to the football team, and then how the NCAAs have risen in stature in recent years.

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Thirsty Chuck Schwab, Appliance corruption, and LPGA schedule snafus May 25, 2022

Show notes

This Wednesday episode comes a bit delayed with Andy on the road fleeing the morose Chicagoland area still dealing with Fitzy’s fade. Brendan promptly gets into the schedule for the week, beginning with Colonial, where Charles Schwab is handing out all manner of perks -- cars, belt buckles, and potentially a second tartan jacket in as many months for Jordan Spieth. The Stand Up Mixer Senior Championship is the subject of a great catnip call of the week. The LPGA is once again holding a 5-day match play event in a desert on the other side of the country from next week’s major, so that’s critiqued. There’s material from the ground in Holland ahead of the Dutch Open. News hits on a few LIV rumors and debates the worst courtside experience for an NBA game. They close with a “Stars of the Sandhills” segment, a short flashlight on Minjee Lee and her Australian upbringing and ascent ahead of next week’s U.S. Women’s Open, where she’ll be a contender at Pine Needles.

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Sunday at the PGA: JT’s charge, Mito’s mistake, and Rory’s disappointment May 23, 2022

Show notes

Another major is in the books, and Andy and Brendan begin this episode discussing how this was one you had to really work for to get some action. It was a sluggish weekend, and then it quickly wasn’t, as Justin Thomas stormed back into contending position while the leaders fell back in a variety of ways. They break up the episode into winners and losers, beginning obviously with Justin Thomas, assessing his strike on Sunday and his overall place in the game. There’s empathy for Mito, and incredulity about his 18th hole process. There’s also plenty of props for Will Zalatoris, while a frank discussion of his weaknesses and his ability to rise at majors. Rory’s absolutely crushing weekend, and his decision to blow off any discussion of it with the media, is covered. And then there’s the Southern Hills review, praise for a week without “silliness” and rebuttal of some of the player complaints.

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Saturday at the PGA: Mito hangs on, Rory abdicates, and Tiger WDs May 22, 2022

Show notes

This Saturday night episode begins with an apology for our horrible Contender/Pretender predictions, a simply unacceptable performance for a gambling podcast. Then it’s on to the breaking news of Tiger Woods’s withdrawal, and the uninformed takes that will flow from it. They react to the third round as well, giving Mito his due for balling out and assessing his chances for Sunday. There’s some critical intel on Matt Fitzpatrick’s prep, and anticipation for a Chicago party. Rory McIlroy’s horrendous performance is dealt with and everyone involved, including GolfPass, is called to account. There’s a best cast/worst case segment on Sunday possibilities, and a debate over more likely backdoor top 5: Rory or Xander. The episode closes with the idiotic comments of Patton Kizzire on Southern Hills.

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Friday at the PGA: Contenders, Pretenders, and Tiger crossing the line May 21, 2022

Show notes

This Friday episode begins with more cat talk, but this one’s all about Tiger Woods dragging his decrepit body and rusty game across the cut line for another major weekend. Brendan hails the performance as one that will stick with him for awhile. In contrast to that inspiring show was Rory McIlroy, who is in Andy’s sights after a wholly mediocre round that put him five shots out of the lead. Contender or Pretender gets into the elite talent of Will Zalatoris, who will probably not boot this one away with a high round and will need to be caught. Justin Thomas is the prime candidate to do so, and both Andy and Brendan talk about how they’re coming around on him. There’s a LIV rumors segment around UPS dropping Westy and Oosty, and their top exec bailing after Greg Norman’s screwups. They close with some thoughts on the course conditions, players being angry about the sand and slow greens, and reviews of the Mannigcast alternate feed.

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