The Shotgun Start

Brendan and Andy start this Wednesday episode with some Fried Egg business, highlighting the Black Friday sale in the Pro Shop and promoting the just-announced 2025 events schedule. From there, Brendan gives a shoutout to Dr. George F. Grant, the inventor of the golf tee, who's getting some much-deserved recognition in Massachusetts. Andy is extra excited about the "player uprising" against slow play, which now includes Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson, and Lucas Glover, among others. The PGA Tour announced that the much-discussed changes to cut cards and field sizes were approved, with Jay Monahan giving PGA Tour "fans" the lead mention ahead of players and partners in the press release. Lucas Glover was not pleased with the results of this vote, telling Adam Schupak that "they think we're stupid" when saying these changes will improve pace of play. While player cards are getting cut in a few years, budget cuts are also reportedly coming to the PGA Tour as SSG is looking to decrease spending by "tens of millions" of dollars. Meanwhile, the DP World Tour is losing ten players to the PGA Tour, including Paul Waring, who shared his readiness to make the jump on social media. However, many LIV players - Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Mean Dean, and more - will be reinstated on the DP World Tour for this upcoming season, having served suspensions and paid their fines, clearing the path for Sergio to return to the Ryder Cup. In a bonus Sports Minute, Brendan asks PJ for his reaction to the Jets firing GM Joe Douglas and wonders if, somehow, the Browns are the most stable NFL team represented by this podcast. A look at the Schedule of the Week starts with the RSM Classic, the final week of the FedEx Fall. Caitlin Clark will make an appearance in the Pro Am on Wednesday, playing with fellow Iowa icon Zach Johnson. Andy, Brendan, and PJ run through some Games Within a Game for the PGA Tour finale, touching Kelly Kraft, Christo Lamprecht, and, of course, Nico Echavarria. The LPGA season also wraps this week with the CME Group Tour Championship, with $4 million being awarded to the winner. For those wondering, you can play the Black Course at Tiburón Golf Club along side the LPGA stars throughout the week. Lastly, a fan favorite returns home for the Australian PGA Championship this week on the DP World Tour. To wrap things up, Brendan and Andy preview the latest installment of "The Match".

In an episode that will be known as Brendan's "Flu Game," Andy and Brendan recap a meaningful week of fall golf that left men's winners in tears following their wins. Andy is excited that he drove through Moore County, North Carolina without receiving a speeding ticket, unlike at the U.S. Open. After a "Nico Echavarria Minute" to start the golf talk, the two discuss Rory McIlroy's win in Abu Dhabi, his sixth DP World Tour season-long title, tying Seve Ballesteros. Rory was deeply emotional following the win, looking back at his year that contained four worldwide wins and now the order of merit victory for the DP World Tour. The ten DP World Tour players that secured PGA Tour cards are also set, with "The Great" Manassero and Rasmus Højgaard headlining the newcomers. Next up is Swag Sports Minute, where Brendan unboxes the latest "Mystery Bx" drop from Swag Golf. Andy is disappointed in the Bears following another loss to the Packers, but sees positives in Caleb Williams's performance. PJ's Jets struggled again, as known golfer Ahmad Gardner could not tackle yet another receiver headed toward the end zone. The golf talk gets back on track with a wrap up of the Butterfield, won by Rafael Campos. Nelly Korda won again at The Annika, leading to a debate on whether Pelican Golf Club should "Nelly-proof" the course ahead of next year. To finish things up, Andy and Brendan touch on the news of President-Elect Donald Trump playing a round with Jay Monahan this weekend before sitting next to Yasir Al-Rumayyan at Saturday night's UFC event.

This Friday afternoon recording kicks off with some housekeeping, as Andy got a new power cord for his microphone just in time for the show after the old one almost electrocuted Producer PJ in Austin. Brendan has PJ attempt to explain why Syracuse's football coach won't shower for a week following a loss, which came up as a result of Brendan's Boston College Eagles defeating the Orange last weekend. From there, it's a shared segment of both TGL and Champions Tour Minutes, as Bob Papa may be out as the Champs Tour lead play-by-play man next year and there are new TGL holes to discuss. We got our first look at the SoFi Center with a video of Atlanta Drive GC's Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas hitting in the arena being posted to social media on Wednesday. Brendan brings attention to an auction containing items from Paul Azinger's personal collection, being sold to prevent human trafficking in Florida, including some "game-used" NBC polos, Ryder Cup gear, and an invitation to Nick Faldo's 2007 Masters party in Augusta. It was a big few days for Ryder Cup news, as the PGA of America announced that tickets sold out for the 2025 event, despite the high price tags. Speaking of price tags, it was reported that American players may receive $400,000 for their participation in the Ryder Cup moving forward, leading to Rory McIlroy offering up that he would pay for the right to play in the event on the European side. Andy provides some updates on ongoing tournaments, as SGS Good Walk Around Pinehurst guest Justin Lower currently leads in Bermuda. This episode ends with some user submitted stories and some form of golf advice relating to favorite fruits.

This Wednesday morning recording is an in-person episode recorded over the internet, as Brendan and Andy are in Texas for the Fried Egg Golf offsite. Andy starts this episode with the debut of a new segment, "Nico Echavarria Minute," relaying the latest in stats and news for the audience's favorite FedEx Fall stalwart. Up next is a preview of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, as the two discussing notables in the field and noting the entire group of FedEx Fall Bubble Boys will be in attendance this week. Creator Classic stars and YouTube Golfers Wesley and George Bryan are paired together for this tournament, leading Andy and Brendan to wonder what kind of auxiliary content may come from Bermuda. They then unpack a Golfweek article discussing Maverick McNealy's research into FedEx Cup point "inequity" on the PGA Tour, as he found that Signature Events award a disproportionate amount of points compared to majors and non-Signature Events. From there, it's the first-ever offseason "Champs Tour Minute" as Paul Azinger has signed on to replace Lanny Wadkins as the lead television analyst for the PGA Tour Champions. PJ also shows off his custom Champions Tour t-shirt, delivered by a listener after a missed connection in Phoenix. Caitlin Clark is playing in the pro-am for the LPGA's The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, leading to big crowds on Wednesday. On the DP World Tour, Rory McIlroy is set to win the season-long race at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Andy and Brendan discuss Adrian Meronk's comments calling for the PGA Tour to be focused on America and a new tour to be focused on golf in the rest of the world... which is what the DP World Tour used to be. In news and notes, the two discuss the Dunlop Phoenix event and how Dunlop tennis balls may be leading to player injuries, LIV's first batch of tournaments for 2025, and the Chicago Bears changing offensive coordinators after such an incredible start to the year.

At long last, "Champions Tour Minute" leads this Monday episode, as Andy and Brendan pepper PJ with questions about his weekend at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club. PJ shares stories from the ground about his interactions with Richard Green and Bernhard Langer, his investigative journalism regarding the sales of Buzzballz, and explains his walk through an inflatable colon as part of the event's fan village. Andy and Brendan enjoy the reports on cart usage, including Darren Clarke's tricked-out steering wheel, and recap the incredible finish to the actual tournament. Football talk is front and center during Swag Sports Minute, as PJ ventured off to Jets at Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix, abandoning his post at the Schwab Cup, only to leave at halftime with the Jets down 24-6. Andy's Bears aren't doing any better - Caleb Williams was sacked nine times by the lowly Patriots in another multi-score loss. Andy and Brendan then recap the Lotte Championship, which a listener actually watched at Lottie's in Chicago, before touching on Paul Waring's win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. This episode wraps with some discussion about the World Wide Technology Championship, won by Austin Eckroat, with some Tosti Tales and a questionable disqualification handed down by the PGA Tour.

This Friday episode begins with a segment of "TGL 20 Minutes" as Andy and Brendan react to rumors of Ballfrogs merch selling out in stores across the country. Andy then submits the latest hole design to be unveiled, "Hatchet," for Design Disasters, breaking down the flaws in a fake golf hole that will not challenge professional golfers bombing drives over bunkers on an indoor screen. Speaking of that screen, Brendan wonders which player will be the first to completely miss it with a shot, something that feels bound to happen in the league's inaugural season, From there, the two discuss Rory McIlroy's comments about the increased likelihood of a PGA Tour-PIF deal as a result of the U.S. election. Brendan victory laps his win for "Low MLB-Sponsored Player" at the World Wide Technology Championship, as a Cam Young WD leaves Billy Andrade as the last man standing. Laurie Canter is in contention in Abu Dhabi, and Andy notes that he has a chance to secure a PGA Tour card and become the first player to be suspended by the PGA Tour while never having been a member. Speaking of the DP World Tour, Brendan shares some quotes from Guy Kinnings about his tour's place in the pro golf ecosystem, which is NOT as a feeder tour. This episode wraps with some Golf Advice, as Andy and Brendan advise friends of the program on pace-of-play issues, Ryder Cup attendance questions, and caddie ethics. Before hopping on his flight to Phoenix, PJ chimes in and the three preview his weekend at the Schwab Cup Finals.

Andy is feeling laborious on this Wednesday episode, leading to a wide-ranging discussion about upcoming golf tournaments, a sesame chicken lunch special, and the lack of national attention on the Chicago Bears. Brendan relays some feedback from Scottish listeners about last episode's mispronunciations of "Hamish" before promoting the new Design Disasters account on Instagram (@design__disasters) featuring some incredible golf holes. From there, attention turns to the World Wide Technology Championship. First, Andy and Brendan try to figure out what, exactly, World Wide Technology does, but can't quite find a firm answer. Billy Andrade's sponsor exemption into this event comes up again, and Brendan reveals that his last PGA Tour start was over ten years ago. Cutthroat Corner returns for this week as well, but not for the player you might think! There's some Bubble Boy talk as the FedEx Fall hits the final stretch, leading to a discussion about a PGA Tour win leading to a two-year exemption. It's the first week of DP World Tour Playoffs, as Min Woo Lee and Rory McIlroy are teeing it up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Min Woo's appearance in Abu Dhabi leads to a brief TGL segment about the latest "Temple" hole unveiling. Andy anoints the Charles Schwab Cup Championship as the Event of the Week, but his favorite player, Ernie Els, may not be taking the tournament as seriously as he should be. PJ is preparing for his weekend in Phoenix, with more to come from him on Friday's episode. To wrap things up, Andy and Brendan look into some new Sergio Garcia quotes about wanting to play in "two or three" more Ryder Cups before retiring.

It's back to normal on this Monday episode, as there are no victories to celebrate to start this week. Things start with Andy lamenting about the latest Bears loss, a disappointing effort against the Cardinals in Arizona. His Illini also lost to Minnesota this week, leading to a discussion about P.J. Fleck's gameday attire in the cold weather months of college football season. Brendan notes that he's skeptical of when "Movember" became a thing as the calendar flips to November before briefly mentioning a Jameis Winston-led Browns loss. It's all golf talk from there, as Andy and Brendan recap the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic, which was not in Africa, and the Challenge Tour event in Mallorca, Spain. Bryson DeChambeau's triumphant return to Dallas is covered after his appearance with the U.S. Open trophy at the SMU football game. The two mention a report from The Sun regarding a PGA Tour-PIF deal nearing completion as well. Brendan looks ahead to this week's World Wide Technology Championship, where Champs Tour staple Billy Andrade is playing on a sponsor exemption. To wrap this episode up, the TGL is covered extensively. Producer PJ hosts a guessing game about player descriptions on the league's official website, leading to a discussion about Lucas Glover's career in the early 2000s. Andy then shares the first-ever set of TGL odds, as you can now bet on who will be the league's inaugural champion.

A true first-of-the-month recording begins with Andy and Brendan recapping their Halloween festivities and the announcement of the winner of the SGS Halloween Costume Idea contest. Without much golf to talk about, Andy went as a Data Boy for Halloween and took a look at strokes gained data for the 2024 season and compared players to the previous year. Andy and Brendan talk through the risers and fallers of 2024 as the season nears its end, hitting on the continued development of Akshay Bhatia, Jordan Spieth's quest to find his game, and two sleepers that Andy thinks may have breakout years in 2025. The two then discuss the place of golf in today's sports world, as an everyday golfer can theoretically compete with a Tour pro on a hole-to-hole basis. This leads to questioning whether anyone could catch a pass from an NFL quarterback at full velocity, score a basket on Harrison Barnes or Jrue Holiday, or return a serve from Carlos Alcaraz. Sticking with some football talk, Andy breaks the news that Ted Scott is spending the week with the Buffalo Bills. Brendan cleans up the rest of the news from this week to wrap things up, mentioning Cam Smith's displeasure with LIV's Open Championship prep and the latest installment of "The Match."

Happy Halloween Jr.! This Wednesday morning recording starts with Andy and Brendan standing by their football takes from Monday's episode, as not much is going on in golf these days. Brendan shares a Tosti Tale from the Wyndham to get the golf talk started, which then transitions into a very quick Schedule of the Week segment. The two then recap the proposed PGA Tour changes for the 2026 season, including an insane pace-of-play policy that gives players more time to hit shots. These changes will limit fields on the PGA Tour and guarantee fewer Tour cards per season. Andy and Brendan lament that these changes are basically negligible, but the weekly stakes will be higher with a higher turnover rate at the bottom of the season-long standings. To wrap this episode up, it's the seventh annual golf-related Halloween costume idea segment, with multiple Matt Kuchar entries from listeners, a couple different Tom Kim outfits, and the latest in Jay Don Blake attire.