Wyndham Clark anger, Olympic sport gatekeeping, and Golf Advice

This Friday episode continues on the Michael Block takeover of the golf world, and maybe the larger sports world. Andy and Brendan record as Mr. Block plays through his first round at Colonial, and discuss his comments on a podcast that he’d be one of the top players in the world with Rory’s distance. They lament some of the overcoverage, praise him for his interview endurance, and are happy he’s getting his during this big moment. Then they move on to Claude Harmon III’s incendiary comments about LIV coverage, Brooks doubters, fake stars like Will Zalatoris, and much more. Some unsubstantiated rumor Friday nuggets discuss yet another class of events that might be coming to the PGA Tour. They close with SGS Golf Advice on some range etiquette, a fake St. Andrews tale, and a cocky caddie

25 Touko 202348min

This punchy Wednesday episode begins with the continued Michael Block whirlwind that has completely taken the national discourse by storm. Andy and Brendan react to his appearance on all three network morning shows, some of his betting odds for Colonial, and his tee time grouping for the first two rounds. Schedule for the week bounces around, first heaping praise on Rose Zhang as the GOAT of women’s college golf and giving out the ECCO event of the week to the NCAAs. Then they discuss some of the other amusements from Colonial and the Stand-up mixer Championship’s debut at PGA Frisco. There’s some disturbing news from the grounds of the KFT event. LIV returns with an event in DC, where Brooks may not be in ship shape after a week of partying in South Florida. Sergio Garcia’s qualification for the U.S. Open is cause to reflect on his career vis-a-vis Brooks and their comparable talents. News hits on Jim Nantz being named a design consultant for a short course in Minnesota.

23 Touko 202353min

It was a fantastic PGA Sunday so a peppy Andy and Brendan check in one last time for the week to discuss it all, starting with Brooks Koepka’s fifth major championship win. They praise Koepka’s work both at Oak Hill and over the course of his career as the majors king of this era. They wrangle with the LIV question, and whether this brings any “validation” to that tour or product and also address the Ryder Cup question. Viktor Hovland’s real challenge is praised, while Rory McIlroy’s mismanagement is not. Michael Block, the darling of the week, is also discussed as the likely top story of the entire championship for general sports and non-golf fans. His two exemptions that broke during recording are also reacted to as the Tour thirsts for a Block bump. The Oak Hill setup and the kind of leaderboard talent it produced is examined. Some disappointments from the weekend are also noted. This episode was sponsored by AG1 by Athletic Greens, whose ad read comes with a significant mea culpa from the two idiot hosts.

22 Touko 20231h 24min

Andy and Brendan are joined by Shane Bacon, who is in Rochester calling the PGA, for this Saturday night 54-hole check-in on the PGA Championship. The first several minutes are a lot of Michael Block talk -- the incredible story, and the exposure, and the golf media lapping up every drop. There’s amusement at how he wiped Scottie Scheffler off the coverage. The rest of the episode is a lot of Contender/Pretender around the leaderboard, from Block to Rory to Brooks up on top. There’s some amusing Bryson and Crushers chatter, and a few more thoughts on the kind of golf this setup has produced, punished, and rewarded and why it may not be some people’s cup of tea.

21 Touko 202352min

Joseph LaMagna joins Andy and Brendan for this midpoint check-in on the PGA Championship. The setup at Oak Hill, with its firm fairways and thicc rough is put in the crosshairs. The trio discuss some of the most impressive performances from Friday, and some of their biggest disappointments. This leads to extended chats on Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Brooksy, Hovland, and many more. They ponder who still has a chance with 36 holes to go in a makeshift contender-pretender. The story and play of Club Pro Michael Block is given its due, but there are complaints about the branded leaderboard for club pros only. They close with some thoughts on hot mic Friday, which included an f-bomb from just a guy during a somewhat puerile moment at the 14th hole.

20 Touko 202349min

Andy and Brendan quickly run through a great, full day of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill. They begin with some thoughts on the absolutely wonderful course conditions, which had balls bouncing and bounding all over for a mid May date. There are some thoughts on Higa’s big moment and Bryson’s return to the stage of competitive golf after a long, hard five-year journey. There are many other notes and comments including some shots of the day, quotes of the day, worst outfits, and reviews of Rory and his low Whoop score, Spieth, DJ, Brooksy, Scheffler’s pace of play, and Jason Day’s practice-free week. Thanks to B.Draddy for their support of this episode -- use promo code TFE at checkout on BDraddy.com for 30 percent off.

19 Touko 202338min

Andy and Brendan are back for another major championship. This preview episode begins not with talk of gnomes but rather garbage plates, and who might be suckered into indulging in one in player dining. There’s also some anti-Wegman’s chatter. Then they get to the major, noting the field and the potential for losing Jordan Spieth, who was on site and being diagnosed by many amateur doctors. The course is previewed, focusing on some of the punishing stretches and internal OB on the front nine. The traditional best tee times goes in a million directions, on Rory, Rahm, burly boys, Ryder Cup scouting, and the LIV options (Bryson?) for the week. The weekly press conference parade is dissected as well, with more notes on Rory’s reticence, Rahm’s abdication, Waugh’s waffling on the rollback, and yes, of all people, Shaun Micheel. They close with one and done picks, the moment everyone’s waiting for in the greater gambling community.

16 Touko 20231h 8min

It’s major championship-eve and Andy and Brendan are ready for Oak Hill but first they need to discuss a likely best-case scenario for the non-designated Nelson in Jason Day ending a winless drought on Mother’s Day. They laud the TPC Summerlin model for getting the winning score in at 23-under. They pan CBS for the coverage at the conclusion. With LIV Tulsa, they praise the industrious Stingers and discuss many CW affiliates taking the golf off their station with about 90 minutes to go and a great leaderboard. The Senior Tour major is a reason to talk about arguably the most offensive backboard situation in all of pro golf, with a little Stricker dominance mixed in. The event that got perhaps the best finish of weekend was the LPGA’s Founders Cup with a playoff between two of the best on tour from the past couple years. There’s also a shoutout for the Swedish winner on the Euro Tour.

15 Touko 202344min