Rory returns, Annual Walk-up Music Quiz, LIV’s pre-PGA schedule

Andy is celebrating Victory Wednesday after his Ballfrog carried the day in The Match. They offer some initial takeaways on that event from The Park in West Palm, what worked, what didn’t, and what the Tour could learn from some of these lower stakes, personality-shining exhibitions. Also, the DJ Khaled tidal wave is discussed. Then they get to the hype video LIV released on Anthony Kim’s return to pro golf in Jeddah, before quickly diving off into Talor Gooch’s latest wild comment about putting an asterisk next to the Masters because it may not have every LIV player in its field. Whiparound Wednesday also focuses on Rory’s former agent suggesting he could go to LIV, Greg Norman texting Hideki, some new hospitality renderings for East Lake, and a trophy having to be abandoned at airport security. They close with a schedule for the week, make some one-and-done picks, and tell of some recent struggles at TSA.

27 Helmi 202458min

Andy and Brendan are back for a Victory Monday edition of the podcast: claiming victories for the #GamblingPod getting back on track and for the passport problems moving toward a positive resolution. Then they get to the latest PGA Tour event, which pitted Jake Knapp against Sami Valimaki and a host of circus tricks created by the Vidanta venue. Was it so bad it’s good territory? They debate whether this should be called a PGA Tour event or something else and if it’s contradictory to be mad about “closed shops” and then also be down on this event. They have MAJOR questions about the S.H. Kim drop from earlier in the week that was not afforded to Valimaki on the 72nd hole when his ball was under a boundary fence. Knapp’s Mighty Ducks sponsorship derails the podcast with lengthy chats about which golfers are which character. They also discuss Patty T’s win on the LPGA, an Ortiz win in Oman, and the Magical Kenya Open getting a great story at the cut mark. News touches on Luke Donald now getting a turn in the NBC booth and reports of Anthony Kim making his debut this week with LIV Golf in Jeddah.

26 Helmi 202452min

This Friday episode is in the running for dumbest SGS episode of all time, but hopefully it’s a bit of whimsy to get you to the weekend. Andy and Brendan discuss a pressing issue of an oversight that may blow up plans for an upcoming work/golf trip they have planned. They also get into Feedback Friday on the Tesla discourse and their attempt at a Star Tier system for pro golf. Then they get to the Charlie Woods pre-qualifier coverage both from official PGA Tour channels and the thirsty social media ecosystem. Andy has some real questions about why the Mexico Open needs to exist, while Brendan has some pushback on the proposals of an F1 model. They discuss the Pissbear getting a special exemption into the Masters alongside Joaquin Niemann and Ryo Hisatsune. There’s also a discovery of the Sun Day Red tagline, which devolves into the recitation of Varsity Blues lines. They close with some SGS Golf Advice that is primarily focused around the uses of Teslas in golf trips.

23 Helmi 202457min

This Wednesday episode is promptly derailed by discussion of Tesla owners and the subject of e-bike fraudulence. Eventually, Andy and Brendan get to the schedule for the week, beginning with an awful field at the Mexico Open. They make some one-and-done picks and read some hilarious course descriptions about this Greg Norman signature design. There’s also bewilderment about Jim Bones Mackay getting the main chair in the continued NBC tower bake-off when he has no plans to go full time. The schedule for the week also covers a Champions Tour event in Morocco and a DP World Tour event in Kenya. Following Hideki’s win, they endeavor to rank the starpower in men’s pro golf, creating a handful of tiers and trying to understand the indent that LIV has made and where the PGA Tour’s strength still resides. They close with news of a change at Augusta National for the 2024 Masters.

20 Helmi 20241h

The shed door makes its triumphant and unexpected return to this Monday episode, which begins with the strong Sunday finish at Riviera. Andy and Brendan discuss Hideki’s “all-time” final round 62 and how the PGA Tour needed a marquee winner after an underwhelming West Coast swing. They compare this year to last year’s start of the season, and it’s not great. There are a few theories bandied about on why. The nuts, bolts, and meaning of Hideki’s win, Zalatoris’s flash, and a couple house cat fades are also broken down in detail. Riviera is praised as usual, and Scheffler’s putting is critiqued as usual. They also hit on Jim Nantz popping back at rules call-ins and tweeters, and lament CBS’s departure from the broadcast until the Masters. They close with a news section on the Chubb Classic, David Puig, and a Myrtle Beach Classic (a new PGA Tour event) qualifying tourney for YouTube golfers to get a spot and a shot at a PGA Tour purse.

19 Helmi 20241h 11min

This Friday episode comes to you from a Santa Monica AirBnb after Andy and Brendan spent a full day out at Riviera chasing stars and mules alike. They discuss the thirstiest boy wedging his way into more camera time in what has become an annual Genesis tradition. They also discuss Tiger’s return to competitive PGA Tour golf and his ghastly shank at the end of his round. There’s appreciation for seeing some high level golf up close and personal again, but also questions about whether the PGA Tour is collectively in a grumpy state right now. Andy empties his notebook with some amusing details about parrots, the “Hovland line” at 15, and the Zalatoris comeback. They close with an SGS Golf Advice question on what’s permissible weight for a bag and what you need to cut out for the caddie’s sake. How many balls is the perfect number? Before they sign off, they chat about Brendan’s low Uber rating and reheat the Just-A-Guy debate.

16 Helmi 202457min

Andy and Brendan are on site in Los Angeles this week and this Wednesday episode includes some preview scuttlebutt after a day out at Riviera. They begin with the early-week range scene, where one star was allegedly reticent to put a new driver in his bag. Then they get to Tiger’s season debut, which will be done in his brand new clothing line, and there is some reaction to that unveiling. There’s some SSG scuttlebutt after a John Henry sighting and some thoughts on the state of that deal. They discuss some initial course impressions, including two new greens and the potential softness for the coming weekend. News hits on further reaction to the Phoenix debauchery and some more Anthony Kim rumors about a potential ramp-up and return.

14 Helmi 202457min

This Monday recording was hastily arranged during halftime of the Super Bowl so apologies for the rambling nature. Andy and Brendan begin with some great golf that probably no one watched to finish off a very stop-and-start Phoenix Open. They discuss Charley Hoffman nearly winning on a career money exemption and whether that’s proof of its usefulness or proof it absolutely needs to be abolished ASAP. Then they discuss all the social media clips of all the debauchery throughout the Phoenix Open grounds, not just on or around the 16th hole. Has the event become too drunk? Is there anything that can or should be done? Will the players demand it be toned down or is this just how it’s going to be and that needs to be OK? They discuss LIV Las Vegas and its stout leaderboard that maybe went unnoticed on Saturday afternoon.

12 Helmi 202440min