The Shotgun Start

Our Q4 Friday guest series continues with the great Justin Ray, perhaps the only *essential* follow in all of golf twitter. The premise of the chat was for Justin to edify us on some players who made significant improvements, or “leaps,” over the last year. We start with that, but then it quickly bounces around on a bunch of different, and interesting!, topics. We discuss the continued importance of distance, some strokes gained flaws, data walls at the majors, his beloved Houston Astros, the threshold for putting “proficient at Excel” on your resume, and much more. Thanks so much to Justin for his time and enlightening us.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Wednesday episode is a quick whip through the schedule for the week, starting with the Zozo Championship on the PGA Tour. Andy laments the no-cut status and the notion that the PGA Tour is sending its worst kind of product to a market that every player should play in during the season. During this discussion, the new Australia event for pros and amateurs is praised, while a larger concern about that historic golf market being somewhat left behind on the greatest pro stages is raised. Also, is Rickie the player with the most to gain from these sleepy fall events, or is it “European Rickie”? The first leg of the Schwab Cup is noted, with defending champ Phil Mickelson in the field. Some “notables” from both KFT and LPGA q-schools are discussed as well, including Dr. Jack’s boy. They close with news on one college player signing with an agency for NIL matters before a technical issue forces an abrupt ending.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Monday episode begins by reacting to Rory McIlroy’s rousing weekend in the desert, where he got to 25-under for his 20th PGA Tour victory. Begins is probably the wrong word, because before the Rory chat, there’s ample discussion about some of these ridiculous scores, ample eagles, and the Summit challenge, including Rory’s own comments that the Tour would be happy to give the course back to the members and the owner. There’s a debate on whether a plaque (not necessarily the CJ plaque) is the worst kind of award memento you can receive, even worse than a ribbon? Rickie’s resurgence is also praised as a possible sign of things to come. The coverage catastrophe is given its due, as the SAS Championship and senior circuit gets its moment, the one no one but them wanted. Matty Fitz’s victory in Spain is reviewed, with some side discussion on what Paddy Harrington must be thinking watching two of his players take down trophies on Sunday.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Friday episode begins with some reaction to Phil’s indignant tweets about the news of the USGA rule on driver length, and a not-so-subtle threat at his own PGA Tour for adopting it. Then Brendan and Andy are joined by European correspondent for Golf Digest (among many other things), the legendary John Huggan to discuss a variety of topics from across the pond. First, they ask John about his close friendship with and memories of Renton Laidlaw, the voice of the European Tour who died this week. Then they banter on the “strategic alliance” and what it means for the Euro Tour, its players, and its future schedule. Europe’s Ryder Cup future, both the roster and its captains, is discussed. They close with some wildly amusing tales about John’s playing days. There’s plenty of historical and big picture thoughts on the game mixed in as well so many thanks to John for his time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Wednesday episode promptly goes off topic, discussing the “preemptive” rain delay in Chicago, October not being as good as September, and if the rules of golf are actually not that bad compared to the officiating and umpiring conundrums we’re watching every weekend now. Then Brendan and Andy begin with an early news segment, discussing the new USGA local rule limiting driver length to 46 inches and what it means for Tour golf, among others. Then they discuss the PGA Tour bumping the Players purse to $20 million as well as providing essentially a “travel stipend” to the lower rank-and-file members in what’s basically a golf pro union. JR Smith’s first foray into competitive college golf is reviewed, and any and all critiques are addressed. Then it’s on to the schedule for the week, starting with the CJ Cup, which will take place at a new venue in the desert that’s not ‘typical desert golf,’ if such a type even exists. There are 3 things to watch there, and more on the Euro Tour’s return to another “so bad it’s good” venue.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This punchy Monday episode reacts to a Bears win, a Browns loss, and a healthy serving of worldwide golf over the weekend. Andy and Brendan begin by pondering if the biggest star was not playing on the PGA Tour this week but up with the Seniors, and what that means for both circuits. They discuss Sungjae Im’s win in Vegas and the potential for him to be the best men’s Korean player ever. Adam Schenk somehow becomes the subject of a segment. Rafa Cabrera Bello’s career is put in the crosshairs (that’s probably too strong a term for it) after winning his national open. And in the event of the week, the Jin Young Ko machine rolled on in New Jersey.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Friday episode begins with a quick check-in on some of the tournament action this week before transitioning to a mailbag. Andy and Brendan put the call out for questions minutes before recording, and they run through a series of both golf and non-golf queries on the fly. Then the second half is a Precision Pro Flashback Friday on a past Las Vegas Invitational, featuring 3-time winner Jim Furyk, who beat Jonathan Kaye, a “bad boy” rebel on Tour. They discuss some of the amusing circumstances around that 1999 Vegas Invitational, Furyk, and Kaye, including the details around his 2-month suspension and multiple run-ins with both fans and the commissioner.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Wednesday episode begins with an apology about the missing Monday episode and some ample clean-up from the weekend on Sam Burns, the Dunhill, Celine Boutier, and a Swedish killer. There’s also a digression on whether the Town Crier has to make an announcement and declaration about the town fool in NE Florida. Then Andy and Brendan are on to the schedule of the week, which leads to Martin Laird appreciation and a couple unrelated stories about their scant few visits to Las Vegas. They ponder if every Champions Tour event should just be a guy and his friends, like this week’s “Furyk and Friends” in Jacksonville. The LPGA event earns event of the week honors but one move that does not earn praise is the big news that the Dinah Shore will be relocating to Texas in the coming years. They discuss this at length in the news segment, which also features a chat on the newly announced Bryson-Brooks Match V at the Wynn in Vegas.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Friday episode begins with a quick update on Baton Boy Sr. playing over at the Dunhill, Mr. October finding his sweet spot, and news that Bones is returning full-time to looping with Justin Thomas. Is this an unintended PIP play? Does it matter at all for JT’s golf and how does it hurt the broadcast? Then Andy and Brendan welcome Mississippi’s own Will Bardwell, of Lying Four fame, to discuss his Sanderson Farms Championship enthusiasm, his history with the event, and its strength in its current form. They also asked him on to get at the larger discussion around rumors that the fall events may no longer carry Courier Cup points. What would this mean for Sanderson and events like it in the fall? What would they actually play for? And is this a leverage play to boost Euro events as part of the strategic alliance. The episode closes with a transatlantic Flashback Friday. First is the on the time John Daly nearly gave the Mississippi event’s finance guy a heart attack by asking for his earnings in cash on the spot. Second, is when Westy hit the greatest shot in Dunhill history resulting in a “pas de deux of elephantine proportions.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Wednesday episode begins with some sad news about an SGS favorite getting sold for parts. Then Andy and Brendan offer some Ryder Cup clean-up with one more thought about how this could go for the next several years. The schedule for the week starts with a favorite here, the Chicken/Peacock/Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. Notables features a husky quartet and Andy tries to diminish the entire event’s existence. The Dunhill and LPGA are also covered and praised during the schedule for the week segment. But neither earn event of the week honors, which go to the two U.S. Mid Amateurs, where SGS has some rooting interests. The second half of the episode is a chat with one of the podcast’s few returning guests, Kevin Clark of The Ringer. Kevin offers some reactions to the Ryder Cup, including his own personal history with the event, before they transition into a hard discussion about the leadership group of Andy’s beloved Bears. They discuss if an analog to the Manningcast could work in golf, and make some other ridiculous football-golf comps. Thanks to Kevin for his time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.