The Shotgun Start

Whew, what a weekend from the golf content gods! Andy and Brendan come primed and ready for this Monday episode, beginning with the report in Golf Digest that the governing bodies are now considering a universal rollback of the golf ball as opposed to just a local rule for elite pros. They discuss the many player reactions to this news, from the hysterical quotes from some of the pros down at the Hero to Rory’s return to tweeting and Tiger’s reiterated takes. They discuss what the rollback might actually mean and where the USGA might have failed to control the release of this update over the weekend. Then they get to some of Tiger’s play in the Bahamas as well as the Collin Morikawa two-shot penalty that Matt Fitzpatrick called out to an official, who ticked off Morikawa by showing up “five minutes late” to their meeting. The continued rumors of Jon Rahm going to LIV are also covered, with the potential for that becoming a reality as soon as Monday? Will he be a Cleek? The back half discusses an anonymous memo to PGA Tour membership and some truly insane Chris Stroud comments about the players not having a voice or being taken care of on Tour.

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It’s Friday! And the first of the month! And Brendan’s internet is absolutely awful. But Andy and he march on through the spotty connection to get to the weekend with some initial reactions on the first round of the Hero World Challenge. They discuss Tiger’s first 18 holes, Will Zalatoris’s new broomstick, Collin Morikawa learning how to sit down again, and Spieth’s potential “momentum” narrative taking root. Then they get to some more rumors that Jon Rahm may go to LIV, or may have a deal soon. They react to Jay Monahan’s comments at the CNBC summit as well and ponder more on where the Tour may be headed in this dark month of December. The field for the LIV qualifying event is also dissected in great detail with appreciation for many favorites and familiar names. They close it out with a Golf Advice on a boss potentially trading a trip to Pebble Beach for … a “Chicago-area” course.

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Andy and Brendan pause the progress in the Year in Review for this “regular” Wednesday episode to celebrate the return of Tiger Woods at the Hero World Challenge. They discuss Tiger’s health and 2024 prognosis, which seems promising, and then transition to his less-than-promising update on Framework Agreement and PGA Tour investment negotiations. Why do things seem gridlocked and “murky” to use Tiger’s term? It does not sound like the year-end deadline will be met. Is this a matter of PGA Tour players simply unable to get over their colleagues who took the LIV bag and allow them back? Is LIV even in a better spot right now? This unplanned detour then whips back to an amusing article on JT’s gluten-free diet potentially being the cause of his tumble down the world rankings this year. They also hit on the schedule for the week and Paul McGinley taking Paul Azinger’s chair, at least for the time being.

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Andy and Brendan are back from the Thanksgiving holiday weekend a little worse for the wear, but they jump right back into the annual favorite Year in Review series. After a few comments about current events, they dive back into the Swamp Swing starting at Bay Hill, where the details of the designated events structure came out and the mules revolted. This part also covers The Players, with some intriguing comments from Commissioner Jay and others debating the future of the tour structure. Also included is Valspar week, which occurred during the rollout of the USGA’s MLR rollback proposal and all the reaction that followed. They close with the swan song for the WGC Match Play. 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 several weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

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Andy and Brendan recorded this prior to the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA, planning for primarily a Year in Review episode. But news and rumors intervened, so they discuss Jordan Spieth joining the PGA Tour board in Rory’s seat, rampant “rumors” of Jon Rahm going to LIV, and the schedule release for that LIV tour. Then they get to the 2023 Year in Review, Part 2, with some wildly entertaining nuggets from the dawn of the Designated events, the dawn of the 2023 LIV season in Mexico, and Tiger’s brief 2023 stay on Tour during Riviera.

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Andy and Brendan are back for one their least favorite but also most enjoyable exercises of the year: it’s the SIXTH annual Year in Review! And they are maybe, kinda out ahead of it this time, although that could all change quickly if their pace of play slows to crawl. This first installment begins as always at the start of the year in Kapalua, where Collin consults with the Chip Monk and new armada of coaches. It runs from that first event through the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and features a handful of delights and amusements you may remember but likely forgot from the always eventful start of the year 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 several weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

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Brendan begins this Victory Monday with a declaration that the Browns are going to the playoffs while Andy considers a potential visit to the midwest for the Browns-Bears game in December. Then they get to the news from Sunday morning that Paul Azinger is not coming back to NBC and Golf Channel next year. They ponder some replacements, especially if the “has to have won a major” unwritten rule is still in effect. Then they get to the win of Ludvig Aberg and the continued youth movement, aided by PGA Tour U. A disconcerting article on the PGA Tour asking tournaments themselves to kick in more money, likely taking it out of charitable contributions, is also covered with a raised eybrow. Tiger’s return is noted, too, before a rambling finish on Brooksy, the TGL dome, and some other news items.

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It’s Friday! Andy and Brendan are ready to get to the weekend and a short holiday week with plenty of Year in Review research awaiting. They begin with pictures of the TGL “arena” deflating due to a power loss. Are we officially at the “show, don’t tell” phase of this ambitious endeavor? Or are we way past it? Then they get to LANTO Griffin calling out names, from Rory being “bought” while on the policy board to quick drive-bys of Jay, Collin Morikawa, and Justin Thomas. They also discuss Rory’s reason for resigning his spot on the board late on Tuesday night and the questioning of his motives. They also hit on new LPGA details from its commissioner, the new college golf rankings, and the LIV free agency period before closing with a quick Golf Advice segment. 

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It’s whiparound Wednesday, and Andy is confronting the possibility that he might have made a mistake adding a second dog to the house. Brendan begins with the Netflix Cup, an assault on the senses in a place that excels at that, Las Vegas. What was that? Who was it for? Was it good at all? They react as they watch and the Cup drags on. Then they bounce around on all manner of golf tidbits, from disputing a 100-hole “hike” at a par-3 course, the Tour’s absurd new pace of play policy which introduces a new acronym, Ale Tosti going to Japan, Atlanta Drive’s full roster, and Mike Block making another ace with the cameras rolling. There’s also ample time given to Frank Nobilo’s comments that “golf is in a weird space” right now with the amount of money given to a pro sport that is "outrated by volleyball." It is out of whack, but are we too far gone and will it course correct. They close with a schedule for the week and some deep thoughts about the mis-numbering of birthdays.

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It’s a jubilant Victory Monday at the Shotgun Start with a totally unexpected Browns win over the Ravens and Illinois perhaps finding its quarterback of the immediate future. It’s also a victory Monday for the PGA Tour, where Camilo Villegas won in Bermuda to back up the incredible story of Erik van Rooyen’s victory the week prior. They discuss this feat, Camilo’s perspective, and all the good the tour can offer even in these lesser events, just as long as they accept them for what they are. A wild rules situation at the Hong Kong Open is covered in detail, Lexi and Lydia missing the LPGA’s season finale, and Rory winning the Order of Merit on the Euro Tour make up the news section. Lastly, they close with some comments from McIlroy in an interview on his confrontation with Joe LaCava in which he calls Patrick Cantlay a “dick” and discusses their differences, which all comes ahead of PGA Tour board meetings.

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