The Shotgun Start

The PGA Tour is not only Back on the Tee, it is on an incredible hot streak in this Return to Golf. Brendan and Andy offer their initial reactions to another fantastic Sunday, the best Sunday since golf Returned and maybe the best of the season. They discuss Collin Morikawa’s incredible play on a day of leaderboard jostling with Justin Thomas and whether Morikawa has greater staying power compared to some of his young contemporaries. They question if JT has a little scar tissue given some of the Sunday finishes this year or if there is a Curse of Geronimo. Muirfield Village’s first week is also praised and week two, with the addition Beefy Bryson, is pondered. There is, of course, a segment on the fact that this incredible action was streaming only and the fact that any other major sport would not abide that. Marc Warren’s win is praised as is Chicago’s own David Lipsky’s win on the KFT. News focuses on a troubling development at the WGC Swampass, where the Tour is altering its rules to try and fill out the field. Lastly, Andy argues mason jars should and will replace all cups.

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This Friday episode begins with a ramble on whether the PGA Tour is doing enough to capture the wider sports fan’s attention as it appears other sports, like college football, are in peril. A Canadian amateur legend is shouted out before the early play from the Workday Charity Open is reviewed. Andy praises the slower green speeds permitting some pin placements that provide real break at a degree rarely seen on the PGA Tour. Collin Morikawa’s play is praised, a meaningless stat about Phil is panned, and the concept of a Covid positive Scarlet Letter pairing is questioned. In news, the Ryder Cup move is discussed in the context of a quote from Trevor Immelman about golf being a big, happy family working together to re-arrange schedules. But would a Presidents Cup this fall bump a planned Ryder Cup next year if it were the other way around? Brooksy’s steroids GIF is discussed in the context of a Tour that does its players no favors when it comes to clarity and uniformity on testing in various forms, from equipment to drugs. Flashback Friday hits on the 2001 winner at the Deere, David Gossett, a phenom who famously flamed out but sounds like an all-around great human.

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It’s Workday Charity Open week, but first Brendan has to get some behind-the-scenes detail from Andy on the long-awaited cold brew tutorial finally being made. There’s also a short segment at the top relaying listener notes on Slovakian amateur golf, the Bob Karlsson Classic, and golf courses that abut zoos after the Monday note about giraffes watching you over a wall at Rackham in Detroit. On the tournament in Columbus, they discuss the course setup tweaks to try and bring some variety to the challenge of playing a venue two weeks in a row. Will the Tour do enough to actually spice it up from week to week? Andy gives out the “event of the week” to an event where Quad Love once made his mark. In news, they double back on Bryson’s double down comments on the cameras filming him for too long and his plea that we all just focus on “human progress.” Then Women’s British getting the greenlight in a “bio secure zone” is praised before a last second one-and-done picks signoff.

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It’s a Bryson-heavy Monday episode, as Brendan and Andy first thank all their sponsors for the opportunity to podcast. Bryson’s win in Detroit is reviewed and some larger questions are asked about what this approach might yield at the majors and if this is another flashing light for the USGA to do something. But much appreciation is rained on the Thicc Boi for completely overhauling his body and a few theories are offered for the spark moments that maybe provoked that overhaul. It wasn’t all good for Bryson on the weekend, and there is a critical panning of his comments on “privacy” and protecting the players while they’re filmed on the course. Less time is spent on the comments, which are obviously bad, and more is spent on fears that coverage, given the current power structure with the Tour’s media partners, may continue to be whitewashed to the overall detriment of the product. Matthew Wolff’s Rickie-inspired outfit and Rickie-esque start to Sunday (and strong finish) are discussed. There’s also a follow-up on Bubba’s charity match from Wednesday and his personal evolution and a follow-up on Rackham, thanks to a reader note about animals at the zoo, which the course borders, impacting play.

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This Friday episode begins with an apology wrapped in a rant about backlash over amusement at the 3-1-3 Challenge. Brendan makes it clear he is not now, nor has he ever been, against charity and that it was clearly never an anti-charity point. That said, we are a little old ace away from two players converting on the 3-1-3. Also, a member from Detroit Golf Club relays a tale of an actual 3-1-3 happening there. There’s further backboard discussion with intel from said member. Doc Redman and Bryson’s impressive opening rounds are highlighted, as is Rocket Rickie getting activated after a week off dealing with blisters. This prompts great confusion in Andy about blisters and Brendan to wonder if it’s a long-term sponsor play. Then SGS announces a new activation of its own, born out of one of the podcast’s great stupidities and ongoing discords. In news, the U.S. Women’s Open exemptions are discussed as is John Peterson poking his head up to pop Thicc Boi. Andy closes with a Flashback Friday segment on the origins of Rackham Golf Course and its history and significance in the Detroit golf scene.

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This rollicking Wednesday episode begins with a birthday shoutout and an odd discussion on couples going by one merged name. Also, an MLGT shared title due to Covid restrictions on a sudden death playoff is questioned. Then Brendan and Andy get to the golf, or some of it, by running through the schedule for the week, including the “you won’t believe” par-5 out in Colorado at the KFT event. For the Rocket Mortgage Classic, they discuss featured groups in a weaker field, some one-and-done picks, Bryson’s obscene caloric intake that he disclosed on Tuesday and his comments about the Ross design being obsoleted by his gainz. Also addressed, of course, are the apparent backboards set up as signage all over an event that is known in these parts as the PMI Backboard Classic after last year’s outrageous infrastructure setup. The absurdity of the 3-1-3 charity challenge is discussed again, largely within the context of the potential insurance policy for it. Jordan Spieth’s comments that it’s easier to win without fans are debated. Then they get to a more serious matter and that’s the article by Brendan Quinn of The Athletic on the Tour and its marquee players missing opportunities by skipping “the Tour’s lone regular-season event held in a predominantly Black neighborhood.” A closing news segment further addresses the Sunday bombshell of the USGA rights change with a few insights after asking around about how exactly this happened.

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This Monday episode begins with some initial reactions to DJ’s win at the Travelers, but is promptly interrupted by some breaking news about the broadcast partner for the U.S. Open. Andy and Brendan offer some initial thoughts on that shocking change that it seems almost no one knew was coming. Then they discuss DJ outclassing Brendon Todd in the final round in Connecticut, his “lucky” break at the 15th hole hazard, and his overall legacy as a dominant player of this era. Will Gordon’s work on a sponsor’s exemption is discussed as is Bryson’s consistency in an attempt to become “the house.” Phil’s weekend fade and his trademark maneuverings are panned, mostly. News offers a Ryder Cup mini-scoop, some discussion on the evolving Tour Covid protocols, and the U.S. Open’s exemptions plan with qualifying canceled. They wrap with a debrief on the Korn Ferry Tour finish in Utah, celebrating Kyle Jones and pondering whether Daniel Summerhays will truly call it quits now.

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This Friday episode begins with a discussion on the Covid-related withdrawals from the Travelers since the last episode. Should the Tour play on? Or could these WDs and positives force the players to buckle down and set the Tour on a stricter and successful path for the summer? After those initial comments, Brendan and Andy then get into some early action from Connecticut, including Rory’s putting in a round of 63, Phil going bogey free, and Chez Reavie’s lid. There’s also a chat about the unknowable value of a FedExCup Point and how those totals need to stop appearing in graphics. It’s unclear how or why, but the subject of whether Tiger worries about pirates while on his yacht is broached and debated. Then we get to Flashback Friday on J.J. Henry, the 2006 winner in Hartford and a Connecticut state amateur legend. Andy’s research on Mr. 300 yielded some delights, like the fact that he has a medal named after him awarded at one event, the origins and some critiques of his logo, and the playing career that pushed him to the 300-made cut line.

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This Wednesday episode begins with a discussion on the fraught with peril practice of deliberately shrinking your shirts. Eventually, there is discussion on the instant golf tournament, the Travelers Championship, an SGS favorite. Brendan and Andy get into the field depth, the field also-rans, and make some brief one-and-done picks. TPC River Highlands is put under the microscope and in the context of what appears to be minimal backboard structures this week. There are opposite and troubling reports, however, already coming out of Detroit about that. There is also a second set of shot data shared from the SGS CDO on the fans-less impacts at Harbour Town. Featured Groups becomes a 20 minute rambling segment on Rory’s prior putting woes in Hartford, Phil’s glasses, Big Bill Reavie getting the spotlight, and Jordan Spieth trying to “play like a kid again.” In news, the reports of a postponed Ryder Cup and announcement of a fans-less PGA are covered. Then laments and some anger are offered about the reported layoffs at Golf Channel and the potential deterioration of how golf is covered and what it could mean for the future. The episode closes with a discussion of the Deadspin article on the Masters tournament name and what it evokes for one black writer.

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This Monday episode begins with Webb Simpson shattering the record books. He is the new best player in the world (by some metrics) and also broke Brian Gay’s scoring record at the Heritage. Andy offers a rebuttal and some context for this score compared to the Boo Stopper’s legendary win in spring conditions. Then there is ample appreciation for Webb’s work with even a little HOF discussion. Brooksy’s impressive final round is reviewed, as are his tweets poking at Nick Faldo and Sergio Garcia on Sunday. All aboard the Brooks train again. Then Brendan and Andy get to the pace and beauty of the fans-less late finish on CBS. There’s a victory lap here of sorts, but also some hesitation about the timing of Sunday’s delay as it related to beer consumption decisions. Honest Abe Ancer, Joaquin Niemann, and Daniel Berger are also praised. On topics less positive, a discussion on Nick Watney’s positive covid test ensues, and Sergio’s idiotic comments are also pilloried. How many positive tests would it take to shut down an event? Lastly in news, they hit on Chris Kirk’s return to the winner’s circle and Rory’s comments about Euro Tour players not coming over to play on the PGA Tour right now.

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