PGA Tour Board drama, Cutthroat Corner, and Golf Advice

It's a TGL ratings Thursday on The Shotgun Start, as Andy and Brendan unpack the latest numbers coming out of ESPN headquarters after Tiger's debut. Before getting to the numbers, the episode starts with a Bears-focused Sports Minute, with Andy already upset at the potential hiring of Mike McCarthy. Once things get to golf, it's time for everybody's favorite topic - ratings! - as TGL gained viewers this week, pushing the total number over one million. Andy and Brendan debate whether the slight uptick for Tiger's debut is a positive or a negative for the league, and talk through Rory McIlroy's comments about TGL not being meant for the traditional golf fan, but for the younger, TikTok generation. Speaking of Rory, he also commented on Greg Norman's departure as LIV CEO while in Dubai. LIV announced today that former 76ers and Devils executive Scott O'Neil would be joining the league as its CEO. Andy and Brendan discuss what's next for LIV following this announcement, as well as the league's new multi-year TV deal with FOX Sports. Viktor Hovland also spoke to the press in Dubai, sharing some details about his recent struggles that Andy finds easy to relate to. Brendan shares some leaderboard updates on events across the world, with an American amateur leading the way on the DP World Tour event through day one. The TikTok generation comes up again later on, as Andy and Brendan are giddy to share that Michael Block and Joel Dahmen, among others, have signed to be the newest GoodGood pros for 2025. This episode ends with a combination of Golf Advice emails and a Tosti Tale from the Sony Open.

17 Tammi 1h 12min

Andy and Brendan return with some immediate takeaways after Tiger's Jupiter Links GC lost to LAGC in a rout in Week 2 of TGL. The two debate agree that the product took a step back this week, with worse "on-course" gameplay and a choppier broadcast than the league's debut. Kevin Kisner was the star of the show, struggling mightily in gameplay but providing some laughs on the hot mic. On a positive note, Brendan was particularly impressed with Sahith Theegala, who showed off with his enthusiasm for the game and excitement to be playing against Tiger. Andy wonders how ESPN can get more "Golf IQ" involved in the broadcast in the hopes of elevating it as the season goes on. In non-virtual golf, Jon Rahm is clamoring for OWGR points for LIV events again, leading to a Brendan rant for the ages about these comments and ones from Butch Harmon about the current state of men's pro golf. Rahm, Rory, and others are set for the Dubai Desert Classic this week to start many of their seasons on the DP World Tour. In America, the PGA Tour's west coast swing begins at the American Express, boasting a strong field despite withdrawals by Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. Picks are made for the Club TFE One-and-Done, with Andy, Brendan, and PJ confident in their selections for this week. Finally, the Champions Tour returns this week with Paul Azinger's analyst debut at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. PJ previews the week and provides some things to watch for ahead of a full Champions Tour Minute after play concludes this weekend.

15 Tammi 1h 15min

Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube after Nick Taylor played spoiler and prevented an entire episode dedicated to Nico Echavarria Minute. To start, Andy is giddy about the Packers losing in the Wild Card around, giving him the upper hand in any Caleb Williams vs. Jordan Love debates this offseason. From there, the Sony Open is discussed at length. Brendan is particularly aghast at the amount of free drops found throughout the course at Waialae and he wonders if pros are practicing their drops these days. Nick Taylor took down Nico (and his minute) in a playoff to secure his fifth PGA Tour win, a good start to his revenge season after missing out on the Presidents Cup last fall. There was a lot of "clutch gene" discussion on the broadcast late on Sunday, leaving Andy and Brendan to question if they have it themselves. In news, Jordan Spieth confirmed his return to golf at the AT&T Pebble Beach and is welcoming the chance to "reset his DNA" during his recovery from wrist surgery. Andy and Brendan also discuss Eugenio Chacarra's fiery quotes regarding his LIV departure and his desire to earn a PGA Tour card. This Monday episode wraps with a recap of the Team Cup in Europe, where Justin Rose captained Great Britain & Ireland to a blowout win over Continental Europe. Check back on Tuesday night as The Shotgun Start goes live on YouTube to break down Tiger's TGL debut.

13 Tammi 45min

A January tradition unlike any other, it's the latest installment of over-unders for the upcoming year in golf. The episode starts on a solemn note as Andy and Brendan discuss the ongoing fires in the Los Angeles area and sending positive thoughts to everyone in southern California. From there, the two discuss the ongoing reactions to TGL's opening night as Tuesday's ESPN ratings were stronger than many expected, drawing almost one million viewers. With a TGL match without Tiger or Rory managing a higher rating than Sunday at Kapalua, Andy wonders what happens if the simulator league continues to beat out early-season PGA Tour events. A listener emailed in her thoughts from an in-person experience at the SoFi Center, complete with her own Hammer flag (not delivered by FedEx). Pro Shop announced a new series of Creator Classics for 2025, prompting Andy and Brendan to wonder whether YouTube golf is a more viable career path than being a Minor League Tour player. Meanwhile, there is non-screen golf being played this week at the Sony Open. Ben Griffin was leading at the time of recording and Brendan learns about Griffin's budding TikTok stardom. This week's field has Ryan Palmer and Brandt Snedeker playing on career money exemptions, leading Andy down the path of another rant about the PGA Tour and its fields. Webb Simpson is also at the Sony and he had some interesting quotes about his 2024 season that was full of exemptions into Signature Events. The episode wraps with an energetic over-under segment, as Andy, Brendan, and PJ make picks for 2025. Will a LIV golfer win another major? Is Bethpage going to be close? How many starts for Blockie in 2025? All of these questions are answered, and more!

10 Tammi 1h 47min

Andy and Brendan are off to the races immediately in this episode thanks to the first-ever TGL match and the content bonanza surrounding it. The two break down The Bay GC's blowout win over NYGC immediately after things wrapped up on ESPN, saving their first reactions for the podcast and live show on YouTube. They discuss how the big screen (which can fit three dinosaurs inside it) played on TV, ESPN's telecast, NYGC's bizarre lineup construction, and so, so much more. Lifelong NYGC fan PJ is asked to make a statement on his team's behalf after watching the worst New York season opener since Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles. There are takeaways from Tiger and Rory's stints in the booth and Andy even takes a look at what kind of TGL merch is available for purchase before the Ballfrogs take the field inside the SoFi Center. PJ even makes a plea for a potential Champions Tour team in the virtual league. While most of this episode focuses on TGL, Andy and Brendan make their picks for this week's Sony Open, which is still being played in the shadow of golf's newest league and a loaded slate of playoff football. The two also discuss the Team Cup being played this week in Europe. Finally, Brendan and Andy touch on some news and notes such as Scottie Scheffler's WD from the American Express, Tom McKibbin's potential LIV offer, and LIV finalizing its schedule for 2025.

8 Tammi 1h 24min

Andy and Brendan are back to recap the first PGA Tour event of 2025, a Hideki Matsuyama win at The Sentry. Andy is fired up about the a Bears win in Green Bay to end the NFL season and Brendan now has a playoff game to look forward to with the Commanders on Sunday Night Football next week. The golf talk begins with a look at Hideki's performance in his season-opening win, as he set the PGA Tour scoring record at a final tally of -35 for the week. Andy ponders whether Hideki's a Hall of Famer and the two try to slot him into a tier among the biggest names in pro golf. Kapalua takes some shots for producing yet another birdiefest, with chatter that they could be making the course into a par 72 for next year's event. Andy and Brendan then discuss Collin Morikawa's runner up finish and wonder why he has not tried to add speed to his swing like so many of his counterparts. In news, the Tour Championship may move to a match-play format, something Andy has been calling for for years. Peppy Peter and Adam Scott aren't sold on the idea, and Brendan shares some quotes from the two about other potential formats for the last event of the year. There's some optimism about the TGL debut on Tuesday night, as Ludvig will represent The Bay against Xander and NYGC on ESPN for the first-ever match. Andy and Brendan debate whether TGL will work, what "working" looks like in this sense, and applaud the amount of content surrounding the league's launch so far. Finally, this episode ends with a Sports Minute celebrating the merciful end of an awful NFL season for the Bears, Browns, and Jets.

6 Tammi 1h 22min

Andy and Brendan went live on YouTube as the first round of the 2025 PGA Tour season wrapped. With round one of The Sentry (hard stop) over, they share their observations on both the on-course product and the shiny new features that the Tour's new billion dollar studio brought to the broadcast. "Walk and talks" returned in full force, with Peppy Peter getting the honor of the first interview of the season and JT confirming that Kapalua does go uphill. Will Zalatoris bulked up and finished his round at -8, good enough to be one off the lead, and Andy is impressed with his new look and reasoning behind the added weight. Tom Hoge is your leader heading into Friday and Brendan shares that Hawaii has absolutely nowhere for Tommy Tables to gamble tonight in celebration. The two discuss the big "free agent" moves off the offseason, with Max Homa signing with Lululemon and Cobra, and Akshay Bhatia moving to Travis Mathew. These partnerships are "redefining" what it means for brands to work with players and Andy applauds Homa's Thursday performance with so much change going on around him. Before getting into some news, Andy stops to rehash the Cheez It Bowl, won by the Illini, and Bret Bielema trying to fight Shane Beamer. In news, Brendan and Andy discuss Xander saying the US Ryder Cup team will be donating their pay to charity and Jonathan Wall's report that TGL players are toying with new, longer drivers in order to have better results on the giant screen. To wrap, Brendan shares a listener email about a magic show with a possible celebrity appearance.

3 Tammi 1h 5min

Andy and Brendan return for the final episode of 2024 before The Sentry (hard cut) kicks off on Thursday to start the 2025 season. Per usual, this Monday episode begins with a Swag Sports Minute discussing the current states of the Bears, Browns, and Jets. From there, Andy and Brendan put a bow on 2024, talking though some late-breaking news as the year comes to an end. Scottie Scheffler will not be playing in The Sentry after undergoing hand surgery on Christmas, which has already taken some luster out of the PGA Tour's first event. Joe Mayo and Viktor Hovland have broken up yet again, with Viktor's status for Kapalua still TBD after a toe injury over the holidays. Brendan and Andy share what they're most excited about in 2025, namely the Ryder Cup and a year of strong major venues. They also go over some potential breakout players for 2025 as a way to keep the optimism flowing.

31 Joulu 20241h 4min