The Shotgun Start

It’s a beefy, old-school length episode of the Year in Review that begins with the Masters, where Tiger made his return to competitive golf. Andy and Brendan cover that major in great detail, then celebrate, sorta, Spieth’s victory at Hilton Head, some absurd re-writing of the record books at Zurich, and a whole lot of weird and forgotten LIV details that started to leak out during this time period. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next couple weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

The Year in Review continues with the first major-ish event of 2022, the Players Championship. This edition will be remembered most for the breakout performance from Gold Boy, but it was also a big week for the PGA Tour Bot and the brand messaging from Jay Monahan’s team in response to Saudi rumors. Also included in this portion are the Valspar and Valero, some ANWA and the ANA farewell, and a WGC Match Play review. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next couple weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

Andy and Brendan return after a week together out on the west coast, and they begin with tales of Baker coming back to haunt a survivor pool, birthday party overkill, and an overzealous kids tumbling class enforcer getting in Andy’s kitchen. On golf, they begin with The Match, and its success for the golf geeks everywhere. They praise JT, pan the amount of carts, question how we frame Tiger’s “progress,”ponder whether more of these should replace actual PGA Tour events, and investigate Phil’s odd tweet encouraging folks to watch. The second half of the episode focuses on the New York Times report on LIV’s financial future based on a consulting study, and what that says about the league’s motives and staying power as the PGA Tour tries to further isolate it.

The annual Year in Review series marches on as Andy and Brendan wrap up the West Coast swing with Riviera and move over to the Swamp Swing. This part covers the moment when everything blew up for real in the golf world, with Phil’s “scary mfers” quote coming to light via Alan Shipnuck, the reaction to it, and the fallout in the “pausing” and cancellation of sponsor deals. There’s also plenty of amusing non-Phil and non-LIV items from the start of the Florida swing. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next couple weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

This Monday episode begins with some brief reactions to Sunday action for both the Bears and Browns, as well as a harrowing weekend injury that nearly cost one host his career. Then Andy and Brendan are on to the light golf offering from the weekend, with some angst about the Hero World Challenge cannibalizing the potential for better Aussie Opens and events down under. There’s a review of Viktor’s win and the mud ball objections, as well as Scottie Scheffler’s homemade proposal for addressing it. The dual Aussie Opens are given lots of attention, with some reports on thin amenities, shuttle bus drama, and pace of play issues related to conducting three championships at once. But there’s plenty of praise too for the winners and the bold attempt. News closes with Greg Norman saying he doesn’t even think about Rory or Tiger and will be with LIV for a long long time.

The annual Year in Review series continues after a shortened part 1 due to the stomach bug. This Part 2 takes on some meaty events, picking up at Farmers, weaving up to Pebble and the opposite Saudi International event full of ridiculous quotes, Bryson’s moving target of injury explanations and driving range dramas, and revisiting the birth of “Cannon Fodder Charley” in Phoenix. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next couple weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

This Wednesday episode begins with Andy bundled up in his unheated shed and Brendan nice and warm indoors in Maryland prepared for the various seasons. They then jump into Tiger’s press conference from the Hero, covering a range of topics from cooperation with LIV, Sharky hatred, the use of carts, the Tour taking out a loan and Phil’s contradiction of that, and the notion of players wanting to compare themselves to Hogan and Snead. Schedule for the week hits on Hero and a great event down under. News hits on Rahm and JT joining TGL and the LIV 2023 schedule coming into focus with a host of international venues announced and some others reported and rumored on recently. This leads to more TripAdvisor reviews read aloud.

The annual Year in Review series is back, but it starts off worse for the wear with Andy battling a stomach bug and Brendan having the kids at home for an unexpected “snow” day off following the Thanksgiving vacation. So plans are cut short and this Part 1 gets us through the first few events of 2022. The episode begins as always with Kapulua, where preferred lies were in play, Phil and Bryson were scheming, scores were low, Notah had his level, and a new metric for gauging elevation change was developed on the broadcast. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next couple weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

This Wednesday episode begins with some initial thoughts on Thanksgiving dinner prep and travel before a brief discussion on the majors maybe no longer accepting the kind of contact ball that one big Aussie prefers to play. Andy and Brendan then dive into the official PIP results for this past year, with some absolutely preposterous and disrespectful NFL QB x Spieth comps. They also ponder just how much time was spent on the formula, who has a gripe about their ranking, and where it goes from here. The second half of the podcast is a rousing SGS Golf Advice segment on some psychotic on-course behavior, subtly encouraging friends to get better, getting crushed by your significant other, logos, and after-work league strategies.

This Monday episode begins with tales of woe from a mostly losing sports weekend for both Andy and Brendan. Then they jump into the results from around the globe, beginning in Dubai with Jon Rahm winning the season-ending event on the DP World Tour and Rory McIlroy winning the season-long points race. They go through each of those players’ seasons of scant starts on the Euro Tour, compared to say, a Ryan Fox, and ask if this arrangement is sustainable. On the PGA Tour, they praise Adam Svensson for his RSM Classic win, and then get into some 4A talk. On the LPGA, they marvel at the consistency of Lydia Ko’s year and amuse in the fact that she still has more work to do to be eligible for the HOF. Then it’s on to perhaps the juiciest part of the weeknd, the CEO of the LPGA’s biggest sponsor, going OFF to Beth Ann Nichols and putting the LPGA leadership on blast. What went in to the public lashing out and does it spell trouble for the LPGA?

This is a fun beefy Friday episode before Thanksgiving week . Andy and Brendan begin with some thoughts on Cole Hammer’s instant success at RSM, DL3’s thumb on the scale, a new nickname for Mac Hughes, and the notion of Ryder Cup captain advice. At the CME, we get word from the ground from a friend who’s playing (and chopping at) the other Tiburon course, which is open, while the women play for their massive purse. On the Euro Tour, they discuss Rahm’s feisty comments on OWGR “fairness” for DPWT winners vs. the RSM Classic winner. There’s also an unsubstantiated rumor Friday nugget on the potential value of a LIV franchise. Flashback Friday is a husky one on Alvaro Quiros, his win in Dubai, the “Next Seve” comp, and sensation that captivated golf media for a couple years. It also leads us to an extremely amusing article on distance and equipment CEOs pooh-poohing gains with all the excitement about Alvaro’s big drives. Andy and Brendan close with another SGS Golf Advice segment reacting to some listener emails on annoying randoms, member-guest larceny, and playing a course out of order.

This Wednesday episode was not without its technical difficulties, but Andy and Brendan got it across the line. They begin with Rory’s quotes on Greg Norman and his needing to go and exit stage left for the two sides in pro golf to come together. They examine the changing tones, conciliatory shifts, and likelihood that this does happen the way Rory stated from Dubai. Then they get to the big news that the PGA Tour is coming out with a new app and a new website at the start of the year. Andy parses through the press release as Brendan reacts to the promise and potential of a new day. The grumbles over the new world rankings formula from across the pond are dissected, as is Bubba Watson’s recent contention that players are getting under the table appearance fee money on the PGA Tour. They close with a brief comment on a Jonas Brother getting his own golf apparel collab.

It’s a quick whiparound Monday episode, which begins with Andy lamenting his double-loss weekend and Brendan disgusted with the latest Browns debacle. Then they get to the main event, the Chuck Cup, and what it says about the Champs Tour that Steven Alker and a couple other select few just live at the top of these leaderboards every week. At the Houston Open, they praise the arrival of Tony Finau to the Swedish Pancake club, and also Mark Hubbard’s curious DQ for knowingly putting a 15th club in his bag. On the LPGA, they discuss the return of Nelly Korda to No. 1 with her victory at the Blueberry Farm, and yet another runner-up for Lexi. News hits on a Mon Q report on a very strange “special exemption” for Alex Fitzpatrick into KFT Q School final stage, and what it means for larger Tour battles and visibility. News also discusses Pat Perez’s weird podcast appearance where he said he hates Phil Mickelson for an unforgivable mistake. 

This Friday episode begins with some thoughts about the ping pong abilities of golfers. Then Andy and Brendan get to some of the golf, and one big thirstbucket of a move down at the Houston Open. News hits on the report that NBC will be replacing Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch on their golf broadcasts, and the odd backlash that followed. It also touches on the report that Mark King, formerly of TaylorMade, may become the new LIV Golf CEO while Greg Norman would head “upstairs.” Flashback Friday hits on the Houston legend that was Homero Blancas, and his magic round of 55. Then the two clowns record their first ever Golf Advice segment, reading through a handful of listener submitted emails.

This Wednesday episode begins with the announcement of a new gimmick at SGS that will try to include your feedback more often. Then Andy and Brendan meander on a variety of topics, from Big Ten football to Deshaun Watson to Niblicks season in review content. Then they get to the schedule for the week, beginning with the Houston Open, which returns to an intriguing Memorial Park. The LPGA finishes its regular season at the Blueberry Farm, which is the subject of searing critique and a tape-delay discarding. The Euro Tour is in South Africa, but not at the course next to the animal preserve … or is it… maybe it is … this leads to the reading of a random Trip Advisor review of Gary Player Country Club. The Schwab Cup finale is talked about at significant length, with a pop quiz at the end of the episode. In news, they hit on reports of Tiger winning the PIP, skepticism about PIP metrics and frustration over the lack of transparency, and Tiger’s busy upcoming schedule playing some silly season events.

This is a disaster of a recording situation with poor Wifi creating a horrible delay on both ends, but Andy and Brendan march on with a meandering Monday episode. They begin with a couple quick comments on their weekend at The Tailgate down in Georgia. They award multiple Thirstbuckets of the Week for Jarmo Sandelin exploitation and rotisserie chicken exploitation. On the golf, the WWT Championship at Mayakoba is discussed with Russ Henley closing the deal, a new player climbing the World No. 1 mountaintop, and Collin Morikawa getting snippy about some comments from the broadcast. There’s some Bernhard Langer appreciation after another big weekend on the senior tour for him. News hits on reports of The Match 6 coming to the Tampa area with the TMRW boys and JT and Spieth under the lights. They close with a few more thoughts on rotisserie chicken, and punting on dinner rankings, now that this is in the news via a viral stunt.

It’s whiparound Wednesday. Andy and Brendan begin this episode with just a handful of topics and no real plan during this quiet time for professional golf. They discuss the notion of “scoops” on LIV team trades being reported on ESPN and elsewhere and how it’s all just a sham to keep the juice flowing. They discuss Pat Reed’s latest lawsuit, and how LIV might feel about that continuing to make further enemies across the golf landscape, including with a place like FOX Sports, which is a target of the latest suit. They discuss the impressive and lengthy list of TMRW investors announced by that outfit, and what it means for the many still TBD details on what this actually is as a product. They discuss the Walker Cup and U.S. Women’s Open coming to Chicago Golf Club, a place opening its doors to more events and the latest in a trend of great courses hosting significant championships, especially for the USWO.

Andy and Brendan close out the month of October with this Monday episode on the weekend that was in golf and their annual golf-related Halloween costumes segment. There’s some follow up, and backlash to Andy’s Kim Swan “take” from the end of last week. There’s some praise for Seamus Power, Harrison Crowe, and Jordan Smith as winners from around the world over the weekend. Then they get into the LIV finale and if the team format worked in Miami, the languishing YouTube numbers, and a report of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele potentially coming over for 2023. News hits on Marty Sleeps comments from the Asia Pacific Am about The Open’s forthcoming official policy toward LIV players. They close it out with their 5th annual golf-related Halloween Costumes segment for 2022, and there are several LIV connections this year you might expect.

It’s Friday! Brendan and Andy cobble together this episode, starting with some random segments on a Boy from Bratislava copycat situation with the Man from Marseille. Then the Mid-Am Minute is back with a few more details on the DR event with less than 30 players that gets one mid-am player into a PGA Tour event. That transitions to a 65-year-old who sits on the board of trustees of the host course playing in this week’s PGA Tour event and, well, trying to steer it into the house. Then they get to LIV Miami, where the lineup for the first day’s matches is barf-inducing. They debate how many more big names are needed to make this look a little stronger, while running through the various appeal levels of each match. Rory’s comments on Ryder Cup “betrayal” are discussed before an #FBF segment touches on the origins of Mid Ocean Club and an amusing story of an early Babe Ruth visit.

This Wednesday episode begins with a question that seemed unfathomable two months ago: are the Bears better than the Packers? Then an unplanned segment, the Mid-Am Minute, takes place, with the microscope on an event overseas during a time when maybe it’s never been better to be a Mid-Am. The Butterfield field is discussed, from the favorites to the press conference invitees to the unknowns. Brendan has questions about a completely indiscriminate plaque at the host venue, and there’s excitement over the weather forecast. News hits on the great Champions Tour schedule release day, with 2023 loaded up with 28 events, 66 million in prizes, and the return of an event in Morocco. In contrast to that Champs Tour superfluity is the last segment on an article reporting some potential changes to PGA Tour University and the attempts (or half measures) to fast track more young stars to the Tour that could be susceptible to LIV poaching.

This Monday episode begins with a Sunday night sports update not presented by a bank and not planned at all! There are some deep thoughts on Bullet, and bullet, before Andy and Brendan get to the CJ Plaque winner Rory McIlroy. They discuss Rory’s return to the top spot in the OWGR (but not the FEC) and the meaning that takes on 10 years after he first did it. They discuss both Rory and Lydia Ko getting emotional after their wins and after a decade of doing just about everything on their respective tours. Steven Alker’s continued dominance on the Champs Tour leads to the creation of the “Alker Test” idea. There’s also a chat on yet another Japanese No. 1 amateur and his win in a strong pro event this weekend. News closes with Majed Al Sorour releasing a statement on his New Yorker comments that LIV would create its own majors.

It’s an early Friday, some may even call it Friday Junior, episode. Andy and Brendan react to being able to watch absolutely nothing from a loaded CJ Cup at Congaree, with TV limited to three afternoon hours and no featured groups streams. There were a couple grainy cellphone videos posted to social media though. Another Spieth debate somehow ensues. Andy gives out four show-me players who he thinks need and could deliver a big 2023 year. Flashback Friday focuses on a Korean legend nicknamed The Tank.

This Wednesday episode begins with some fun stories about airplane travel. Then Andy and Brendan get to the CJ Cup, where a great field will play at Congaree. They express enthusiasm for this rare fall windfall but lament some lack of creativity. This leads to a discussion on the news of the PGA Tour’s four new elevated events -- what’s good and what’s a miss with this new reworked schedule for 2023 and what needs to be better for the years that follow? There’s a sidebar discussion on an amusing interview with the head of the champions tour. The last segment reacts to the New Yorker article and the head of Golf Saudi saying he will just create his own majors if they don’t let in his players.

This Monday episode reacts to an INCREDIBLE sports weekend with wild scenes in Knoxville, Fort Worth, Utah, Salt Lake, Cleveland, Philly, and Jeddah, among others. Andy and Brendan sort through it all, starting with the Zozo, where Keegan and Rickie put some people to sleep. They assess Keegan’s strong career, which now resides in the Pancake Zone alongside Fowler. They compare five-year peaks and some other names from the five-win club. On the 54 Tour, they react to a 4A player like Peter Uihlein suddenly becoming a force out on the LIV circuit. Brooksy’s tears and comments about getting hot or finding his game during a quiet part of the season are addressed as well. Should there be a major in each quarter? There are a few amusing observations from the broadcast on Niblicks hype, unflattering graphics, and a potential opportunity for a “Fan Vote Friday” redux situation where the listeners can get involved in the broadcast. The women competing in their own Saudi-backed event rounds out the episode, with Lexi’s quotes on the subject reviewed.

It’s another *Thursday* episode, with Andy on the road for the big Bears-Commanders national TV game. He and Brendan begin with an amusing note from the Pres Cup, where fans dressed up as Canadian mounties may have heckled a certain Town Crier. Then they get to the idea of LIV instituting a cut, of just three players, and what it says about the desperation for OWGR points and whimsical changes. They discuss the Zozo Championship, where Hideki Matsuyama reiterated his commitment to PGA Tour membership. News hits on the return of the International Crown, Jon Rahm’s Ryder Cup comments and Sergio’s abdication, and Tony Romo playing his way into a USGA championship. A quick Flashback Friday centers on Isao Aoki and another geopolitical drama that ensued when he committed to play in South Africa.

This Monday episode begins with excitement over Illinois football and Guardians baseball. There’s also an allegation of thirsty attempts at foodie influencing. Eventually, Andy and Brendan get to golf and Tom Kim’s second PGA Tour win at the tender age of 20. They discuss his trajectory and how he’s a strong argument for the tour keeping more avenues open as opposed to closing things off in their ongoing battle with LIV. Patrick Cantlay is praised too! Then they discuss Eugenio Chacarra’s LIV win in Bangkok and just what exactly to do with it in terms of contextualizing what it means for his future, aside from his bank account. Jon Rahm’s comments about carrying torches for Spanish golf and beating a weaker field to win a Spanish Open and tie Seve’s mark are discussed. The Epson Tour graduates are given their due but there are questions about the entire process of having more turnover at the LPGA level.

It’s an odd week, so this Thursday episode is a bit of a mash-up, hitting both the schedule for the week while also getting out on an #FBF segment focused on past hollering about the Official World Golf Rankings, which finds itself again in the crosshairs of some hollering. Andy and Brendan begin with the schedule, which provokes an absolutely preposterous Jordan Spieth take. Unsubstantiated rumor Friday is an amusing one that focuses on some potential Dallas-area drama. Then it’s on to the LIV stunt forming a “strategic alliance” with the MENA Tour and spiking the football that they would be immediately getting OWGR points this week because of it. Precision Pro FBF looks back at a past OWGR controversy, when the majors started giving out exemptions based off the rankings and everyone seemed to hate the system for one reason or another, including Zinger, whose Op-Ed on it is read aloud to cap off the week.

It’s a road-weary Monday episode with Andy in Frisco, where he has some thoughts about the development of North Texas and the PGA’s “efficient” new headquarters. On golf, they discuss Sunday at the Old Course, where Alex Noren hit it off the Rusacks hotel for a potential eagle. That leads to a harebrained idea of how the Old Course should combat that kind of good break. There’s also some Ryan Fox talk and plenty of Rory quotes -- on weather, his consistency vs. the flash of his youth, and whether he’s taken over Billy Boy as the peak baton twirler. On the PGA Tour, they ponder whether Mac Hughes winning the Sanderson is just consolation for the Canadians after last week’s Pres Cup debacle. News touches on Bryson’s performance in the Pro Long Drive competition.

This Friday episode was recorded on a personal free zoom account with the 40-minute time limit, so it cuts off abruptly at the end, and one person was in his car shouting at the bluetooth. Andy and Brendan close out the week discussing the back-and-forth flurry of lawsuits this week -- the PGA Tour counterclaiming against LIV, Pat Reed expanding his defamation suit to include more people and a different jurisdiction, and a slew of LIV boys dropping from its suit, leaving 3 cannon fodder possibilities. They also discuss the report of an imminent TV deal with Fox that would have LIV buying time to get on the air. Rory McIlroy’s comments on OWGR and eventual peace talks are reviewed. They close with a PrecisionPro #FBF on the 2007 Dunhill, where Rory earned his Euro Tour card in just his second pro start.

This ramshackle Wednesday episode comes to you with Andy in a car and Brendan in a construction zone. The two try to make it snappy, hitting on the shhhhedule for the week, the importance of the Dunhill to the future of a bolstered European fall schedule, how the players can impose their will on that schedule, and what it might mean for the Sanderson, our other beloved event of the week. The back half of the podcast is on the news that LIV Golf has a format for its season finale or championship, with a dizzying mix of match and stroke play formats, teams calling out their opponents, and lots of cash. They discuss whether it’s a good, if not confusing and potentially incoherent, format to experiment with in Doral.

This Monday episode is a wide-ranging reaction to the Presidents Cup, which enjoyed an entertaining and more-competitive-than-expected weekend. Andy and Brendan discuss the weekend that was in Charlotte, but not without first swerving into a couple random topics like the excitement around a “clinching point” and “grit measurements.” Then they break things down with a revolutionary new format -- Winners and Losers. That leads them into the International team building, Trevor Immelman, Tom Kim, Justin Thomas vs. Si Woo, Max Homa, Spieth magic, Bassy, Canadian disasters, and the notion of Kevin Kisner as a match play specialist. It’s a rambling but somewhat comprehensive review of a strong weekend of match play.

This Friday episode reacts to the first day at the Presidents Cup, where the USA took a 4-1 lead over the Internationals. Andy and Brendan discuss the lineups, who flopped and who impressed. They get into the agonizing pre-match ceremony, the playing-through golf, and the fight in the International side against what could just be a dominant era of American golf in all team events. The second half of the podcast is a Flashback Friday to the time when the International players, led by Greg Norman, fired their captain, David Graham, just a month or two before the 1996 Presidents Cup. It’s an amusing tale that’s hard to imagine happening now. They close with reactions to the lineups announced for Day 2 at Quail Hollow.

This Wednesday episode serves as our official Presidents Cup preview. If you’ve come for picks, predictions, top points earner candidates, and pairings you want to see, well you’re in the wrong place. Andy and Brendan have a rambling discussion about people getting off shots at this Pres Cup, how badly the LIV losses wounded it, what happens if the Internationals win, and whether reform is needed. They also discuss Billy the Baton boy and the potential for drama both internal and abroad with the attack dog. Quail Hollow, as a venue, is panned. The later half deals with Patrick Reed heading to France to play the Euro Tour, and Greg Norman writing yet more letters to people who didn’t ask for them -- this time a pleading note to the OWGR board. Both Andy and Brendan discuss the justification for giving LIV points, and the likelihood of it happening.

This episode is for all those people who have been waiting all day for Sunday night to avoid the Packers-Bears game. Andy and Brendan record right after a stunning turn at the Fortnite Champ, where Danny Willett booted it from three feet after Max Homa chipped in to successfully defend in Napa. They discuss some players making early impressions and the streaming/network experience doing the same for all the wrong reasons, especially up against a LIV stream at the same time. On LIV, they discuss that resolution that had minimal juice with what felt like an academic outcome, the commentators getting punchy, and Chase winning low Koepka for team Smash. They also delight in Steve Harvey’s repeated visits to the broadcast, his misnaming DJ, confessing it was the first golf event he’d ever been to, and Sergio’s odd and unexpected admiration. They close with a few more thoughts on the Italian Open, Portland Classic, and senior tour event.

This Friday episode begins with Italian Open leader Matt Fitzpatrick, and where he now sits among recent one-time majors winners as most likely to bag a second. That leads to an exercise breaking down first page leaderboard favorites at majors right now, going through the current upper crust of the game and pondering the future of Brooks and DJ. Those two will tee it up at Rich Harvest Farms, an underwhelming venue that may not be precisely what the pros are used to this weekend. Precision Pro Flashback Friday gets at the origin story of the Fortinet/Safeway’s move to Silverado, which was only supposed to be a stopgap venue as the event went back to an ultra private course next to a “math castle” with marble lions that spit water every hour. It’s a different but amusing #FBF on some of the myths around “The Institute” golf course.

This delayed Wednesday episode drops on the heels of a WSJ story on Jay Monahan’s private plane usage, PGA Tour expenditures, questions about an “efficient” global home and “unusually fast” aircraft, a Tour with 750+ employees, and and tax filing language that put the whole place under the microscope in a way its not accustomed to. Andy and Brendan react to the article, both superficial and substantive. With the new season upon us, they get back to an SGS tradition: over-unders, with some serious and some not-so-serious. Shhhedule for the week focuses on the potential Ryder Cup prep taking place over in Italy, where a handful of Euro stars are playing while the Americans sit at home for the Pres Cup.

It’s Victory Monday! A jubilant Andy and Brendan begin with their 1-0 football teams, the controversy around the Bears flooded new field, and the Browns superstar kicker. Then it’s on to the European Tour’s flagship event that got Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and Shane Lowry contending at the end. They praise Lowry’s year of consistency and win, then go over some insightful comments and his quip that he won this one “for the good guys.” Rory’s continued season is also reviewed, and there are some questions put to the floor about Viktor Hovland. Sergio’s abandonment of the event for the Texas-Alabama game is also critiqued. Pat Reed comments are reviewed as well! They close with a quick discussion on Scottie Scheffler’s POY win.

This is a meandering Friday episode that touches on tennis, the grim prospects for the Bears and Browns, and the death of the Queen. That last bit of news has altered the plans at the BMW PGA at Wentworth, where play was suspended on Thursday and Friday and the flagship event has been reduced to 54 holes. There will be jokes, probably from Sharky. They discuss the early sniping from the grounds and how everyone looks like a loser. Then it’s on to Flashback Friday, which is a longer trip on a host of memories from the grand World Match Play event that used to take place at Wentworth. They start on a specific edition that had Isao Aoki walking away “winning more money in one week than any golfer in history.” That broadens out to the origin of the event, its death, how it could be re-born today, and the themes of its start that feel relevant to today’s battles. There are also some specific stories about Gary Player with a sketchy drop and Greg Norman vowing “never to return.”

This Wednesday episode begins by sifting through the various comments and call-outs that have occurred this week at the DP World Tour’s flagship event, where there’s a commingling of LIV players and non-LIV players in the same field. Andy and Brendan discuss the “cold hard facts” offered by CEO Keith Pelley, Rahm and Billy Boy’s critiques, Talor’s tweet retorts, Rory’s intimations about the future strategic alliance, and the motives of old guard players like Westy and Poulter. They also discuss the future of the Euro Tour as a “feeder tour” or simply as an occasional PGA Tour host in Europe. News focuses on DL3 and Trevor Immelman rounding out the Presidents Cup rosters with six picks each, with some thoughts and concerns about Kevin Kisner getting the last spot on the U.S. side.

This Labor Day episode is largely a discussion of the LIV Boston event and where this disruptor league might be heading. Andy and Brendan discuss the tension between the curiosity factor from its initial events wearing off against the context for the league that builds with each event. They discuss how Westy’s abominable gag may be the surest sign yet that this is legitimate competition. They are increasingly bought in on the entertainment appeal of the 54-hole format and the shotgun start. TV deal rumors are also pondered. There is praise for another KFT finals Sunday delivering, and a hypothetical about what’s to stop LIV from taking a run at Justin Suh. They hit on the season plus playoffs format of handing out 50 cards continuing to work, but with the usual appeal for more movement once in-season. Lucy Li’s work on the LPGA is covered. They close with some spicy quotes on the upcoming Wentworth commingling, as well as some Minor League Golf Tour talk given Eric Cole’s success at KFT Finals.

It’s Friday going into a holiday weekend so Andy and Brendan are quite cheery for this week-ending episode. They begin with a few random thoughts and another round of “unsubstantiated rumor Friday” that’s centered mostly on LIV vs. PGA Tour stuff. Bubba’s amusing comments about serving others as a reason for joining LIV are examined, as are HV3’s rationalizations for joining. Then they review a couple Grumpy Old Men firing off takes about LIV with another amusing Gary Player rant. They debate the worst LIV team -- both in golfing ability and least you’d want to hang out with. Precision Pro Flashback Friday is on the sour end of Greg Norman as a Presidents Cup captain, and how a watch war may have been at the center of his sudden overthrow.

Andy and Brendan close out the month of August with this Wednesday episode on the latest round of LIV signees making their debuts in Boston. They discuss Cam Smith’s rationalizations for leaving, Joaquin Niemann making his decision, and how they represent a new element for the LIV collective. That transitions to the one big whale LIV did not get -- this round at least -- in Hideki Matsuyama. They discuss how Hideki represents something more, a different level of star and a non-monetary aspect that maybe cannot be covered with a massive upfront fee. That then transitions to how good those who stay might have it on the PGA Tour, with the cash as good as ever and now some of the competition for it gone. There’s sadness about the cleaning out of Team Torque. Schedule for the week focuses on names to watch at the KFT finals as those last 25 spots close up this weekend in Indiana.

Andy and Brendan are buzzing as they hit record shortly after watching that Sunday duel between Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler at the Tour Championship. They discuss the fallacy of the entertainment being a “win for the format.” They praise Rory for the longevity of his greatness, critique Scottie for a poor day in an otherwise excellent year, and revel in a rewarding day of golf-watching to finish off the season. After plenty of Rory and Scottie talk, they get to the news of another batch of LIV defections that would significantly harm the Presidents Cup. Some were expected, others were a mild surprise, including Joaquin Niemann, who was just in that Delaware meeting plotting the future of the Tour. During the LIV chat, they also note some fairly alarming quotes from Cam Young. They close with the continued but amusing incoherence of James Hahn.

August is winding down but the summer of upheaval and change in pro golf continues with the PGA Tour announcing its next move in the battle against LIV. It’s a series of moves, really, dramatically re-shaping what the Tour is, who controls it, and acknowledging some truths that many have been shouting about for years. Andy and Brendan discuss the new “elevated” tour, how it will all fit into the schedule, who should get the credit (thank u Mr. Mickelson!), and if Jay Monahan and his team are the right people to implement it all going forward. They also discuss the notion that the Tour copied LIV. Rory and Tiger’s new TGL project is also pondered at length, as Monday Night golf returns in a new way.

It’s a lively Wednesday episode with tenuous WiFi on both ends for Andy and Brendan. They begin with breaking news that Kapalua will now permanently be the Tournament of Mostly Champions. This leads to further discussion on the Tour Champ, the discarding of history, a low net and gross disaster, and how it could be re-made by going west. That transitions to more thoughts on the NLU report about the Rory/Tiger concept and where exactly the room comes on the schedule and how best to execute it. The Will Zalatoris injury is a big blow and also reveals the weakness of the staggered start net championship. Schedule for the week has a Canadian bent to it. News of a joint Rory-Tiger venture that has eradicated vowels is discussed even though there are minimal details yet. The PGA of America’s Frisco home got its big reveal, so they dive into from Global Home comps before getting out.

This episode begins with some Monday positivity, both with impressions of the BMW Championship and reporting about the meeting that went down there. Andy and Brendan react to the NLU report with the list of names and what exactly was proposed -- a “top tier” circuit within a larger PGA Tour. They discuss how this makes Monahan and other Tour bureaucrats look and react and where it might go from here. There’s some further approval of the BMW and the stakes of it, including kind words for Patrick Cantlay after another win. They discuss a Golfweek report on another Tiger-Rory endeavor about one-day non-green grass events. The U.S. Amateur is reviewed, with praise for the spice some of the final four provided both with quotes and style. They close it by reviewing the rest of the weekend’s results and a few comments on the death of Tom Weiskopf.

The cup of the content gods runneth over as golf’s summer of absurdity and existential crisis continued this week with an outlandish Pat Reed defamation lawsuit against Brandel Chamblee, incoherent tweets from a PGA Tour player advisory council member, last week’s PGA Tour winner having to disown a ranting “mentor,” a Tiger Woods attended players meeting to combat LIV, contents of LIV contracts coming out in the WSJ, and more. It’s been a week, and Andy and Brendan meander about in all that, while also discussing the great golf watching at the U.S. Amateur, where (good!) coverage comes on and goes off in what feels like indiscriminate fashion. There’s also some amusement in Paul Azinger comments on this week’s BMW venue, compared to Patrick Cantlay’s thoughts. The episode closes with a Precision Pro Flashback Friday on the 1990 U.S. Amateur, won by a brash Phil Mickelson over former HS teammate turned foe Manny Zerman, whose own legend is explored a bit during the segment.

This Wednesday episode is out early as Andy and Brendan react to news of a players-only meeting that will include a visit from Tiger Woods as the remaining PGA Tour loyalists try to rally the troops and also discuss, reportedly, the job security of commissioner Jay Monahan and major championship boycotts. They ponder the meeting in light of the news that Cam Smith, rumored LIV boy, has withdrawn from the BMW. The U.S. Amateur is given the event of the week, with some top names and amusing names highlighted, Ridgewood previewed, and the meandering TV schedule panned. Does NBCUni just have too many golf rights and is this week proof of that? They get off some BMW Champ one-and-dones, a few notes about Wilmington, and then to an angry reaction to the news that the once historic Western Open will go to Baltimore and St. Louis in two upcoming years, with Chicago slated to host just once in a six-year span.

This Monday episode begins with a discussion on the dynamics of youth birthday parties before jumping into the thrilling conclusion to the first leg of the Courier Cup Playoffs. Andy and Brendan discuss the strutting and putting of Will Zalatoris, who clinched his first victory on the PGA Tour in a circus-like playoff against the Sepptic Tank. It was a potentially ugly day for the PGA Tour that finished with a bang. They react to the bizarre Cam Smith penalty and the LIV conspiracy theories that followed. Saki Baba’s dominant U.S. Women’s Am victory is discussed, as is host site Chambers Bay and the unfortunate reality that we may never see a U.S. Open there again thanks to the ridiculous pre-advance booking at a few anchor sites. The final regular season event on the Korn Ferry Tour is also discussed at the end, with praise for Michael Kim, a pronunciation debate for Kevin Roy, and a schedule lament that buries one of the Tour’s best days behind the playoffs.

Typically, mid-August is for getting away and golf slowing down despite what the FedEx Cup marketing might try to make you believe. Andy and Brendan had that in mind with various vacation and work travels planned, but they did not expect such significant and entertaining golf news to develop this week. So Brendan sits in the car outside a beach house, while Andy scoots through rural Nebraska in his own vehicle, and the result is this episode discussing the LIV plaintiffs lawyer making a fool of himself at the TRO hearing in California, the completely unsympathetic Gooch-Swafford-Jones trio, and the Tour having to acknowledge some hard truths in order to craft winning arguments. They also discuss world No. 2 Cam Smith reportledy jumping ship next month to LIV, and many other things in an episode that did not feel like it would get off the ground.