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

Andy and Brendan are bouncing into Friday after that exhilarating Thursday night finish at Riviera, where a new thirstbucket of the century was born. Andy relays a few notes from the ground after following the Tiger, Rory, and JT supergroup and seemingly ending up like Waldo in the background of every shot. There are some optimistic thoughts on Tiger, a few comments on playing with his “friends,” and getting the real deal product in the same week that the Netflix show has gotten so much of the attention. There are a few angry notes about Thomas Pieters not being in the field, and some scuttlebutt about who might make designated events going forward into next year. News hits on some LIV roster moves and the deliverance brought by Mean Dean Burmester. There’s an unplanned personality quiz taken on the LIV site that apparently matches you up with your team. SGS Golf Advice closes it out to get us to the weekend.

17 Helmi 202356min

It’s an unfocused Wednesday episode that regrettably, or fortunately, comes during the best week of the PGA Tour season. Andy has driven down to Los Angeles and reports from his first day on the ground about a wild encounter on the Riviera steps. They also preview the Genesis, but not without pondering if it’s getting lost in the schedule or if February is the best time for such a high-profile peak on the schedule. There’s a wild divergence on J.B. Holmes drawing a tee time with Will Zalatoris, and Holmes’s penis pool featured on a reality show (not Full Swing). They discuss some holes at Riviera as well. Tiger’s return, his press conference, and his odds to win being the same as the Kitty Kat are covered. News hits on Adam Scott’s election to the PAC chairman and TGL adding a couple gold medalists.

15 Helmi 202353min

Andy and Brendan ignore the start of the Super Bowl to record this Monday episode on a strong weekend at the designated debut of the Phoenix Open. They discuss Scottie Scheffler’s return to No. 1 in the world and how he enters the Pancake Zone without having his “best stuff” in a loaded event with some difficult playing conditions. But there’s also some early scorn for the layup approaches taken by Nick Taylor and Jordan Spieth as they tried to chase down Scheffler. The sketchy Xander Schauffele ruling raises several questions and an extended discussion on why it’s even a crutch of the rule, why second opinions are even allowed, and the process of hitting into a free drops via the grandstands. The predict-a-ball gizmo on CBS is also given further attention after its use at TPC Scottsdale.

13 Helmi 202346min

The weekend is nigh, and a giddy Brendan and Andy bounce around on a variety of topics from the WMPO “wasted” hats, the biggest tree in the world, and mushroom-watching. Then they dive into a Golfweek article on Bryson DeChambeau testing clubs at Ping, with some spicy comments from Cobra about his deluded demands and fraught history with his first pro equipment partner. Then they discuss Hudson Swafford’s 81 in Oman and if he parlayed a “contract year” into a quiet quitting situation. As the NBA trades fly, news touches on the airball (basketball term) of a real LIV offseason of trades and moves, with the term chucklefucks making its return. If LIV collapses, should there be various appeals hearings where each player has to cross the drawbridge in shame for a bit of theater? SGS Golf Advice hits on a club champ quandary, a brutal member-guest invitee, some WMPO party dilemmas, and the gimme process.

9 Helmi 20231h

Andy and Brendan begin this Wednesday episode running down the “content bonanza” as Pebble wraps up, the influencers arrive in Phoenix, new LIV logos are unveiled, the PGA Tour gets new website, Titleist makes a film, and the Swilcan patio controversy continues. All this before some Monday cleanup on an underplayed Justin Rose story from his win at Pebble. Then it’s on to the shhhedule for the week, which involves a wide-ranging discussion on the designated debut of the Phoenix Open and how it may be the most important or “biggest” event on the PGA Tour. There’s a debate about the most thirsty scene of the week. Then they get to the LIV captain announcements with their new logos, team descriptions, and awkward dancing. News hits on Pat Reed flying to London for the arbitration hearing with the DP World Tour, Dan Patrick enlisting with the troops, and where designated event field makeups go from here.

8 Helmi 20231h 3min

Andy and Brendan record this late Sunday episode with some reactions from a wind-and-weather delayed weekend at Pebble Beach. Andy is back from the grounds with some more tidbits and insights, and some questions about Brent Grant, specifically who he is. There’s also chatter about Justin Rose, Peppy Peter, Andy mushing Denny McCarthy’s hot round, and the future of the event after another underwhelming field this year. They also discuss CBS’s shot predictor feature in what was a weekend of love for the broadcast. The Saudi International, DP World Tour, and KFT winners are all given their dues, with particular angst about Pierceson Coody stuck down in the minors. News hits on the incredible outrage over the Swilcan Bridge patio and the Phoenix Open field that includes a bunch of heavy hitters, a loaded Monday qualifier, and the Dutch Boy.

6 Helmi 202352min

This Friday episode begins with the “Geronimo Test” and the $100,000 price for something called the Smash GC Family Package. Then Brendan and Andy reflect on Brooks Koepka playing in Oman the week of the Phoenix Open. There is some Dynapower scoop from Andy’s day out at the Pebble Pro Am, as well as some Kitty Kat facts. They review the wonders of Martin Trainer’s website, which proudly claims anti-American and socialist views. There’s exasperation over three days of preferred lies at Pebble because of the chance of moderate rain in one afternoon. News hits on WGC Austin folding up after this year, PXG developing a golf ball, and rumors of Cam Smith struggling to find a country club in the Jacksonville area. They close with an SGS Golf advice on guilt by cheating association, calling a penalty on yourself or trying to hash it out with a partner, and more.

3 Helmi 202351min

This was supposed to be a short one, but all manner of news, schedules, and Euro Tour names are discussed over the course of this hour. Andy and Brendan begin with Pat Reed issuing a statement no one asked for, satisfied no one, and only re-loaded another round of further scrutiny on him after Dubai. They also get to Bubba Watson’s quote from the Saudi International that he joined LIV because his 10 year old knew the team names. They also laugh about Phil claiming he’s “disengaging” from the drama. This leads to a “Shotgun Scoop” on Bubba’s new team name, as well as another re-brand and name for the Aussie quartet. Schedule for the week takes a long, hard look at the weak field at Pebble Beach of all places, and doles out some blame for this unacceptable trend. News hits on Bassy Munoz’s reported departure, the scrubbing of Will Zalatoris’s putts, and a draconian new rule on the PGA Tour for one-year bans even for non-members.

1 Helmi 20231h 4min