Buying your own hot air balloon, Strafaci family heritage, and Bandon love

Andy and Brendan are fresh and chipper after watching 13ish hours of golf in the first round of the Open. They begin with some amusements from the day, including their own routines to wake up and dive right into what quickly became an abominable broadcast in the early morning hours. They react to how Royal Liverpool played in the first round, with particular admiration for the internal out-of-bounds and some skepticism for the new 17th hole. They reveal the “actual” leaderboard with some of the names that must be taken seriously, and those who do not have to be. They discuss Brooks, Scottie, and Rory getting into the house relatively unharmed, though Scheffler’s putting is cause again for concern. There’s some sympathy for JT’s finish, but a realistic assessment on whether he should be brought to Rome. Zinger and Faldo are chuckled over for a few minutes before they close with some news on Ernie Els just going off on Jay Monahan and the merger deal to Bob Harig.

20 Heinä 202355min

This Wednesday episode is a wide-ranging chat that also serves as the official British Open preview. Andy and Brendan begin with some debate that’s not really a debate on whether the Beatles are overrated. Then they jump right into the prime storylines on Royal Liverpool so far this week, namely the new 17th hole and the decision of an historic club to make such dramatic changes and for one architect to be the consultant for almost every course on the Open rota. They also discuss some early player grumbling about the bunkers and their maintenance, as well as the beautiful course routing and tangled architectural history. Then they get to favorite tee times, which involves a lengthy Dan Bradbury chat and some of the worst and best groupings. A new game of contender, make cut-irrelevant, and missed cut is also introduced for a slew of top names at the end. The quote roulette segment focuses on Jon Rahm’s staunch defense of Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour.

18 Heinä 20231h 19min

Andy and Brendan are worse for the wear but absolutely alive for this Monday episode recapping one of the great finishes to a tournament in some time. They discuss Rory McIlroy’s birdie-birdie close to edge an astounding 64 from Scotland’s own Bobby Mac at the Scottish Open. This discussion goes in myriad directions on Rory, Bobby, and how wind makes the best in the world have to actually think. They ponder how much better of a player Rory is now compared to past more one-dimensional days, a potential world-tour with a combo leaderboard like this, and the decision to move tee times up and the coverage maze it wrought. At the Barbasol, Andy is absolutely giddy about the barf-fest down the stretch but happy with The Candy Man getting the win. They also discuss Steve Stricker’s dominance on the Social Security tour, the “spread” at Firestone, and a wild penalty for Lydia Ko at the Dana Open.

17 Heinä 202356min

It’s Friday and we are spinning the clock to the weekend and Open Championship week. Andy and Brendan begin with an unsubstantiated run-in with a Team Smash member on the recent workout drama. Then they get to the quote roulette of players reacting to the Senate hearings, including Xander, Spieth, and Scheffler suggesting some hard questions coming for Jay and a total lack of clarity. There’s a separate section on Xander’s standing in the game. They also discuss the mishmash of narratives pushed by the Tour, and why the players are clearly right to lack trust in the leadership. Then they react to some of the startling numbers shown when Rory hit a persimmon driver at the Scottish Open, and his comments to “roll back everything” including the clubs. Lastly, they close with some SGS Golf Advice on drunkard in a PGA Tour pro-am, a HS match against an opponent in a cart, and chipping green etiquette.

13 Heinä 202353min

Well, it had been a long time since they forgot to hit the record button but all good streaks come to an end. This is a re-load after it was discovered the first 25 minutes of the first run were not being recorded. NEVERTHELESS, Andy and Brendan get right back on the horse and deliver this peppy, puzzled, enthusiastic, skeptical, and amused recap of the Senate committee hearings on the PGA Tour and PIF deal. They discuss some of the Senators’ antics, the performances of Ron Price and Jimmy Dunne, and the implications of their testimony. They also get into the document dump that occurred alongside the live hearing and how the picture it paints, combined with the testimony, seems to strengthen the PIF’s negotiating position over the next five months. There’s also a lot of reaction to some of the proposals, realistic and fantastical, in the documents as well as the botched rollout of the deal. Then the schedule for the week starts at the great Barbasol Championship with another rousing round of In, Out, Alternate? There’s some Scottish Open chatter as well as LPGA and Senior Major coverage to close it out.

12 Heinä 20231h 5min

Andy and Brendan recap an eventful week in golf, but first there are some questions about the winning caddie now all of a sudden getting a trophy or award and how that is judged. This is a cause to talk about the massive weekend for Jay Monahans, one the winning caddie of the U.S. Women’s Open and the other returning from his leave of absence. They discuss Allisen Corpuz’s breakthrough win at that event, praising her and Charley Hull’s Sunday rounds. There is time dedicated to Annika’s sketchy drop on Friday night. They also discuss Pebble’s place as a steward of the game, and whether its presentation and the USGA setup this week are a good example of that. There is great delight in the Sepptic Tank rumbling his way to a John Deere win, and what it means for Sqairz coming to the Ryder Cup. News closes it out with the announcement that Monahan is coming back to be Commissioner next week, and that Randall Stephenson has resigned his spot on the PGA Tour Policy Board. They ponder a motive for that and what it means in the elbowing to get the framework settled or scuttled.

10 Heinä 202353min

It’s Friday! After a brief geography dispute, Andy and Brendan get into some early reactions to the Pebble Beach U.S. Women’s Open. They discuss the “grow-the-game” impacts and have a new favorite player based on some up-close observation by Andy on site. Then they get heavily into the “terrible” setup choices and fairway narrowing for this championship that have them wondering about a fundamental misunderstanding of golf, or at least high-level women’s golf. It’s a wide-ranging chat on setup philosophies and also the unfortunate aesthetic impacts at one of the best and most beautiful courses in the world. There’s some light John Deere chatter before news hits on Brooks Koepka napalming Matt Wolff’s “wasted” talent, and Wolff responding with his own statement calling the comments “heartbreaking.” Bryson’s return to his old caddie is also noted before a sign-off for the weekend.

7 Heinä 202349min

It’s a throwback worse-for-the-wear Wednesday episode following the July 4th holiday. Andy and Brendan begin with some wide-ranging insights on the Biker Club (Don’t call me a Gang) culture picked up during the holiday. Then they get to the ECCO Event of the Week, the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. They discuss some qualms they have with setup and rough at the classic course, but also how it will bring out the best in the women’s game and the course itself. Notables at the John Deere are given a closer inspection. News touches on Open Championship qualifying and the release of documents from the Klay Man’s lawsuit against the PGA Tour in South Florida, specifically with the laughable talking points intended for Tiger and the PGA Tour’s plans to ally with the distressed European Tour.

5 Heinä 20231h 1min