The Shotgun Start

This Wednesday episode begins with some congratulations for Andy North, Jerry Kelly, and Bucks fans everywhere. It also begins with Andy asking some hard questions about the new sponsor for NE Ohio’s favorite golfer. Then it’s on to the schedule for the week, beginning with the Evian Championship. They debate the merits of this being a major and wonder if the Players is jealous about this arbitrary designation working so easily. There are also three things to watch and a sidebar on the history of bottled water. The Senior Open is given Event of the Week honors thanks to it dropping in on Sunningdale, a course of historic importance in the game. The 3M Open exists, which is cause for a short refresher on that TPC venue and its stronger-than-expected field. News closes with the announcement that Bandon will be hosting a slew of USGA amateur events, extending all the way out to 2045. Why are we announcing a U.S. Junior venue for 25 years from now? And if it’s not an “anchor site,” what other name could we call it?

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The seventh men’s major championship in less than a year is in the books, and Collin Morikawa bookends his PGA last August with an Open Championship this July. Andy and Brendan react to the final round from Royal St. George’s, praising Morikawa’s absurd start to his pro career at the majors. They discuss the mixture of execution, strategy, and yes, ability to deal with pressure. They also debate whether he’s the world’s best “short golfer.” Jordan Spieth’s close call (although maybe not that close thanks to Collin?) is debriefed, and they debate whether it’s reductive to just point at Saturday night as the difference. Louis is panned, gently. RSG is given a postmortem, with final grades being difficult to deliver due to the lack of wind. There is a qualm with some of the first cut impacts. The back half is a more rapid jaunt on Rahm, Frugal Frittelli, Canadian pride, Brooksy, the iCapital ad, Bobby Mac, Bryson’s humbling, and even Rory. It’s been a fabulous last 12 months at the majors and we are so grateful for your support.

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This Saturday episode features Golf Channel’s Shane Bacon who fills in for Brendan Porath who attended the final of the U.S. Girl’s Junior Amateur. Andy and Shane discuss many topics including Rory McIlroy’s championship chances 11 shots back with one round to play. In all seriousness, the two breakdown everything from Louis’ remarkable 2021 major championship performances to Spieth’s brutal final putt on 18. As you probably have figured out, Brendan Porath, a far more talented writer than Andy usually puts these notes together and his absence is sorely felt. The last thing that Shane and Andy talk about is the NBA Finals and having a job that makes you feel guilty for sitting on the couch. Thank you to Shane for joining during a busy week and listeners for the support! Tomorrow the Champion Golfer of the Year will be crowned.

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This Friday episode begins with the obvious: is Barbasol sponsoring an opposite field event changing people’s shaving cream purchasing habits? Andy and Brendan then get to the main event, covering another eventful day at Royal St. George’s. They discuss the Mattress King’s smooth 65 and where it goes from here with 36 more holes to play. They discuss Collin Morikawa’s continued press conferences loaded with catnip for the assembled Euro press. Jordan Spieth’s day is debriefed and debated -- which leads to a discussion of proper on-course snacks after he suggested he didn’t have enough food in his bag and sputtered near the end of his round. Frugal Frittelli and Grumpy Grillo also get an assessment, as well as Rory, somehow, some way finding time in the discussion. An All-English segment focuses on the Bumble Bee, Big Jon, Westy, and Temperamental Tyrrell. A lengthy round of contender and pretender closes it out as we head to the weekend at the Open.

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This lively Thursday afternoon episode comes in hour 14 of the first round of The Open and was fueled by the Shotgun Start and Westy Island blends at Bixby Coffee. Andy and Brendan dive right into the first day from Royal St. George’s, including all the drama surrounding Bryson’s spat of the week, this time with his own equipment company. They try to get beyond some of the back and forth and show how certain hidden aspects of Bryson’s complaints are quite revelatory on the modern game. They also pan his emotional maturity and wonder about the Cobra relationship going forward. His attitude is contrasted with Jordan Spieth’s approach, which was a total delight to watch maneuver around the links. They bathe in that for a few minutes before anxiously talking about the prospects of another Mattress King contention. A pledge not to talk about Rory somehow ends up in a five minute discussion on whether they are enthused by his opening 70 or it’s just more of the same. They close with some rapid-fire notes on the course and opening day setup, Nick Faldo appreciation, Jaco appreciation, and a few game-within-the-games for cut day on Friday.

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This Wednesday episode revels in the return of golf’s oldest major championship and a style of golf that we see far less than we should. Brendan begins with a point of the recent Open hitting a sweet spot of authenticity for the discerning golf audience on the internet and elsewhere that has boosted the major over the past decade or so. Then they get to Royal St. George’s, with Andy providing some intel on the course’s history and layout and greens and the “quirk” that may drive some players nuts this week. They’re almost bursting with excitement over the venue and what it might present for the world’s best, citing Brooks quotes about “shots to nothing.” The usual major championship Wednesday practice of highlighting their favorite tee times is done, with some curious placement of Brooksy, Jimmy, and others. Then they move to the quotable portion of the preview, scanning the transcripts. Bryson’s insistence on both his “greatness and humbleness” as well as his extremely defensive answer about never shouting “fore” are discussed, among other answers. The final segment includes picks to win as well as a review of some of the top players who might need it most or could change their trajectory most with a win.

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This Monday episode wanders around for the first 10 minutes or so, discussing the abundance of golf and the apparent meager options for television coverage of it all. Andy and Brendan discuss the spicy local news column in Toledo lambasting the executives making the LPGA pay for tape delayed coverage. Then they lament the conclusion of the Scottish Open being polluted by early coverage and the commercial commitments at the Deere. There’s a bit on the U.S. Senior Open, and how that fought for air time and whether that format should be altered. Also, there’s rumors of a player being DQ’d for forgetting the time of day. There’s ample praise for Min Woo Lee, his trajectory, and the warmth of coffee golf on a links course this weekend. Lucas Glover’s longevity is also touted after his Deere win. They close with some news on the run of withdrawals from the Open Championship, for a various sundry of reasons, and add some early thoughts and excitement over the last men’s major of the year.

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This Friday episode was recorded early before a road trip, so it focuses primarily on the Scottish Open. Andy and Brendan react to some of the early scenes at the Renaissance Club, praising the warm and fuzzy feeling of true links coffee golf in the morning. They also discuss the stout leaderboard, and if Jack Senior is related to Peter Senior. News hits on plans for the Open broadcast to be done remotely from Connecticut, and if the world feed might actually be a revelation for some. They also discuss Kevin Na and Cam Davis taking a pass on a spot in the field at Royal St. George’s, for distinctly different reasons. Precision Pro Flashback Friday is a short history lesson on the Scottish Open, and then the first Scot to ever win the event, Colin Montgomerie. There are details about a frustrating loss in 1995 at Carnoustie, when he shooed a rules official back over the Barry Burn, and a bit on his breakthrough win at the event in 1999, when he had a small tiff with rookie sensation Sergio Garcia.

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Andy and Brendan could not wait any longer, so this was recorded as the Match at Moonlight Basin was on the 14th hole or so and still finishing up sometime in hour five. They offer some initial reactions to the made-for-TV event, including Bryson’s stiffness and whether he got straight up outplayed by Aaron Rodgers. They also discuss the outrageous pace of play and a course that looked like it would make many want to quit. There’s also the subject of Fake Bears. The event of the week is the Scottish Open, which is also the subject of the second leg of the Coffee Pot (enter that pool here folks). They discuss Renaissance Club, the Americans overseas chasing a Race to Dubai title, and whether Billy Boy may be able to try some new baton tricks on the firmer linksy turf. Over on the PGA Tour, they lament the Deere’s spot on the schedule while praising its mission and location and its existence. News hits on the new Nicklaus-Jacklin award that very few people could have asked for and Sunny Kim’s continued dominance at Abacoa.

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This holiday weekend episode begins with some first-week insights from the first ever Coffee Pot. Then Brendan and Andy offer some reactions to the Rocket Mortgage Classic, where another par-fest playoff anointed Cameron Davis the winner. There are some numbers on Davis’ career to this point that indicate he will be around a long time. They also hit on Bryson skipping town without ever talking to the press and Phil tweeting away in a most confusing fashion. They are perturbed by some media carrying water for Bryson’s messaging, and amused by Rickie refusing to indulge some other silly media narratives. The red grandstands, those are also discussed and Andy comes out against the color in general. At the Irish Open, Lucas Herbert’s pregame meals are pondered and Johannes Veerman’s name is discussed. Dick Mast and Dicky Pride playing together in Dick’s Open is highlighted. News hits on Si Woo and Sungjae opting to skip the Open to better prep for the Olympics. The episode closes with a preview of The Match 4, salivating at the possibilities of a mic’d up Bryson on Tuesday night.

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