Insane pace-of-play policy, PGA Tour changes, and 7th Annual Halloween Costume ideas

This Friday episode begins with some quick thoughts on the Mayakoba actually not being that bad. Then it’s on to questions from the audience, ranging from dream vehicles, airbnb hacks, caddie stories, parades, pga tour pro skills, highly-rated courses, and much more.

5 Marras 20211h 14min

This hybrid Monday episode delights in a first of the month recording, which prompts both a recap of Halloween and an assessment of November and where it ranks among the month, generally. Then it’s on to a quick recap of the Butterfield, where two shovel boys finished 1-2 and some rookies got some precious points. There’s a larger-picture discussion on golf’s contorting reticence to say something is cheating or that someone cheated. Then it’s on to the schedule for the week, hitting on the World Wide Technologies of Mayakoba and a possible Geronimo reunion. In news, they discuss the new regulations on greens reading books and the enforceability of these commendable regulations. Supplementing our chat on the Saudi news on Friday is more on these leagues that only exist on powerpoint at the moment. The PGL’s continued grasp for headlines with an apparent strategy to try and get friendly with the PGA Tour is discussed, as is the Liv Golf Investments and Asian Tour news. Is there a worse messenger or front man in golf than Greg Norman? Is the Asian Tour maneuver actually a brilliant one? Are any of these leagues ever going to announce a player?

2 Marras 202145min

This Friday episode begins with the news of the week, perhaps month, and perhaps year, that greater movements are afoot with the Saudi Golf League, and that there was a closed-door embargoed pitch to (some hand-selected) press and that the Norman-as-Commissioner announcement is imminent. They discuss who might already be committed, the one large remaining obstacle, and the cohort it will take to make this work. Then there’s some vital mid-first-round check-ins on the Butterfield, where the winds are wreaking havoc. After a restart of Brendan’s abominable wifi, they close with their annual golf-related Halloween costumes segment, an annual favorite in the SGS universe. The laughs close out the week with some obvious and obscure costume ideas for the weekend festivities.

29 Loka 202146min

It’s a light schedule for the week, but that does not mean there’s nothing to talk about on this Wednesday episode of the Shotgun Start. Andy and Brendan begin with a few notes on the East Lake Cup, including if Oklahoma has a recruiting advantage when it comes to burly recruits, like linebackers or QBs preferring a certain school. Then it’s on to the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, which boasts quite possibly the worst field in the history of the PGA Tour. Whether it’s cost of travel, vaccine requirements, or some other reason, it’s not even a full field with alternates dropping like flies. Andy combs the bottom of the field for a quiz game on whether or not a specific player in this field has had a *top 25* on *any* OWGR-eligible tour in the past five years. They ponder some potential SGS favs who could find a little rejuvenation ala Brendon Todd and Brian Gay, the winners here the first two years. It’s 30 minutes or so of laffs, incredulity, and analysis you didn’t know you needed, and may still not need, on the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

27 Loka 202143min

This delayed Monday episode is full of life, extracting every ounce out of a global golf weekend on multiple tours. But first, there are ample details and discussion on an attempted garage sale at Andy’s house over the weekend. What kind of people show up? Were golf items of note parted with to some uncaring new owner? Then it’s on to the Zozo Championship, where Hideki Matsuyama won in front of his home fans. They discuss the import of that, the extravagant framing of it, the lack of buzz in the U.S. around the event, and why this should be a must-play primetime event on the schedule for the top players. Jin Young Ko’s brilliance is then highlighted, including a discussion on an impactful quote from her about her mental health struggles early this year. Bernhard Langer’s incredible achievement on the Senior Tour is appreciated, but not without multiple shots at the Tour in general, as well as Phil’s grumpiness at the tournament. The Euro Tour’s winner prompts a confession about the functional “utility of kids” after his kid got him unlocked from the bathroom in time to make his tee time. The laughable report about Greg Norman becoming head of the Saudi League is discussed, before a lengthy final segment on Q school players advancing.

25 Loka 20211h 1min

Our Q4 Friday guest series continues with the great Justin Ray, perhaps the only *essential* follow in all of golf twitter. The premise of the chat was for Justin to edify us on some players who made significant improvements, or “leaps,” over the last year. We start with that, but then it quickly bounces around on a bunch of different, and interesting!, topics. We discuss the continued importance of distance, some strokes gained flaws, data walls at the majors, his beloved Houston Astros, the threshold for putting “proficient at Excel” on your resume, and much more. Thanks so much to Justin for his time and enlightening us.

22 Loka 202153min

This Wednesday episode is a quick whip through the schedule for the week, starting with the Zozo Championship on the PGA Tour. Andy laments the no-cut status and the notion that the PGA Tour is sending its worst kind of product to a market that every player should play in during the season. During this discussion, the new Australia event for pros and amateurs is praised, while a larger concern about that historic golf market being somewhat left behind on the greatest pro stages is raised. Also, is Rickie the player with the most to gain from these sleepy fall events, or is it “European Rickie”? The first leg of the Schwab Cup is noted, with defending champ Phil Mickelson in the field. Some “notables” from both KFT and LPGA q-schools are discussed as well, including Dr. Jack’s boy. They close with news on one college player signing with an agency for NIL matters before a technical issue forces an abrupt ending.

20 Loka 202133min

This Monday episode begins by reacting to Rory McIlroy’s rousing weekend in the desert, where he got to 25-under for his 20th PGA Tour victory. Begins is probably the wrong word, because before the Rory chat, there’s ample discussion about some of these ridiculous scores, ample eagles, and the Summit challenge, including Rory’s own comments that the Tour would be happy to give the course back to the members and the owner. There’s a debate on whether a plaque (not necessarily the CJ plaque) is the worst kind of award memento you can receive, even worse than a ribbon? Rickie’s resurgence is also praised as a possible sign of things to come. The coverage catastrophe is given its due, as the SAS Championship and senior circuit gets its moment, the one no one but them wanted. Matty Fitz’s victory in Spain is reviewed, with some side discussion on what Paddy Harrington must be thinking watching two of his players take down trophies on Sunday.

18 Loka 202134min