Another Andy comes to Chicago, Dirt McGirt vs. Rickie comebacks, and LPGA setup debates
This Wednesday episode begins with Brendan arguing why he’s against St. Patrick’s Day and Andy exasperated by the latest Bears quarterback move. They eventually get to the Honda Classic, where Rickie Tour Live returns with gusto and Westy completes his Swamp Swing show. There’s an impromptu check in on William McGirt and three things to watch focusing Westy and the weather. There’s some intel from on the ground at the Magical Kenya Open, which is up against the Chitimacha Louisiana Open in a hotly contested Event of the Week race. Padraig Harrington’s comments on the ball and a rollback further benefiting Bryson are reviewed. News hits on a positive Tiger update, a new and encouraging team match play event for the senior tour, and a fascinating article on LPGA setups being too tough relative to the PGA Tour.
17 Maalis 202152min
Westy on tilt, JT on point, and Rory chases Bryson
This Players Monday episode begins by tackling the question of whether an Illinois B1G championship mitigates the despair of Westy fading at The Players in Andy’s world. They immediately jump into the JT-Westy contrasts, namely one putting together an all-time ballstriking round and the other desperately trying to cobble something respectable. They tear the band-aid off and re-live a “worst case scenario” for Andy. JT’s play and legacy are discussed, and Westy’s worst shot of the day is debated. There are giggles over the run of horrendous shanks and tops early in the round, which results in a Thicc impersonation. They also cover a setup quibble here and there, the Mattress King giving away his driver in the middle of a round, the Spieth-Sabbo contretemps, Doug Grim, and every shot live coverage. Brendan defends, maybe, the Players feeling major-ly to him. Rory’s comments about Bryson influencing his chase for speed and swing struggles are reviewed. News focuses on DJ opting out of the Olympics before one more round of Westy laments to sign off on a great week.
15 Maalis 20211h 4min
JT’s Fulminating on Firmness, Bobby Mac Facts, and Flashback to the Cajun Kiwi
This Friday episode begins with an update on the other Players Championship, where there are multiple Coetzees in the field. Then Andy and Brendan react to the opening round at TPC Sawgrass, where Sergio went low and others imploded. They discuss the course setup, Rory’s potential abdication, the every shot live feature, the pin at 17, and Justin Thomas’ gripe about inconsistent firmness at that island green. There’s also chatter on the gambling gripes on rounds not finishing before darkness suspensions. Kevin Na is labeled as the opposite of Westy -- unsporting -- following his WD. Then, in honor of the great Fan Vote history at the Players, there’s a Fan Vote Friday Jr. segment highlighting the legend of Bobby Mac, who is making his Players debut this week. They close with Flashback Friday, and the subject is the Cajun Kiwi himself, the man who brought “The Town Crier” nickname to your PGA Tour Live broadcast.
12 Maalis 20211h 1min
Sawgrass Brown Out, 12th tee tinkering, and Internal OB-gate
The Gold Standard is back! This wide-ranging preview episode covers some course setup drama, another Jay Monahan appearance on CNBC, an Illinois basketball grievance, syllable efficiency on the tee sheet, and much more. They begin with some thoughts on an uninformed CNBC inquisitor botching another Commish visit with the network. Then Brendan offers some thoughts on why The Players, the actual event, is so enjoyable while the lard added onto it, is worthy of some backlash. Andy delights in yet another tweak to the 12th hole at TPC Sawgrass, this one a new tee allegedly to keep pace of play moving the first two days. The late mid-week change of declaring internal OB, aka The Bryson Rule, is debated. Some favorite tee times are highlighted, including a UPS quarantine and groups they would most/least want to join as a fourth. New hits on Webb Simpson prioritizing the FedExCup over the Olympics and a possible replacement for the canceled Canadian Open. They close with a Masters Fact of the Day on the icy relationship between Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan.
10 Maalis 20211h 4min
Westy sadness, Thicc Boi madness, and respecting Arnold
A forlorn Andy signs on to chat about his idol Lee Westwood coming up short at Bay Hill. Brendan immediately inquires what hurt most -- the bad breaks, the poor shots, or the wasted opportunities with the Thicc Boi not exactly running away from him. Then the marvel at the Bryson circus act, from the show at the 6th hole, the extremely sketchy drop at 16 green, the bunker complaints, and the triumphant primal scream on the 18th green. They ponder a re-worked PGA Tour schedule that makes these crackling Q1 events the actual playoffs. There is a speed round segment on Pat Reed messing around in the rough, anticipated preferred lies, the Robert Gamez disaster, and Baton Boy Billy. Brendan has some comments on the Arnold hagiography watering down the authenticity of what was actually so great about him. They close with a conspiracy theory on Brooksy’s WD from The Players and a chat on Austin Ernst’s runaway win at Golden Ocala.
8 Maalis 20211h 2min
Hear ye, hear ye! The Town Crier is here with a Friday Episode
The golf talk is minimal in this Friday episode, which begins with news that Andy is up in LupLand looking over his shoulder. He provides some details of his day on the ground chatting about driveway costs, new HQ buildings, and the cool pictures throughout the clubhouse. There’s an apology tour for some mistakes on the USGA championship locations as well as Walker Cup competitiveness from Wednesday. There is a quiz on some of the official partners of the PGA Tour, such as “Official Business Knowledge Sponsor.” Then they get to the Town Crier’s high-profile day at Bay Hill, where fans chirped him on one green and he did a baton toss routine with his putter on another. There’s some chatter on Bryson chickening out at the 6th hole and whether a complaint should be filed with the EPA after his practice round dumping there. Brendan makes a larger point around the Golden Ocala on providing a greater platform for the LPGA. Precision Pro Flashback Friday focuses on two mid-90s winners at Bay Hill who didn’t find success on Tour until late in their careers.
5 Maalis 202148min
Facts about Ocala and the distance debate denouement
This Wednesday episode begins with a belated birthday wish for one past Masters champion. Then Brendan and Andy get into the schedule of the week, beginning with the annual stop at Bay Hill. Andy cites the “screened-in porch watching” of this event while Brendan cites a history there for why they enjoy the API. Three things to watch focuses on what could be the distance debate denouement at the 6th hole this week. They try to decipher and translate some of the specifics in the Tour’s big announcement on partnering with Amazon Web Services. Then they get to the LPGA event at Golden Ocala, which they already got into in some detail on Monday’s episode. In this episode, they provide some more information on the Ocala area -- notably about private aviation neighborhoods, why it fights Lexington to be horse capital of the world, and a broadcast hijacker living there. There’s also revulsion about some of the drone footage of the tribute holes. News hits on the Walker Cup team announcement, the USGA taking a championship to Puerto Rico, and the possibility of a Euro Tour swing in Florida.
2 Maalis 202142min
An anthropomorphic box, Billy Ho and the catch basins, and tribute hole golf
The week begins with some laughter-induced tears as Andy and Brendan delight in their re-acquaintance with the walking, talking Cologuard box. They naturally begin their results review with the Senior Tour, discussing the water hazards in Tucson, Mike Weir’s wounded putts and HOF credentials, and Kevin Sutherland “hanging in on the backside.” Then they get to the brilliance of Collin Morikawa and how his golf almost made Sunday’s finish at Concession boring. They discuss the venue’s volatility, its catch basin shotmaking challenge, and Billy Horschel’s ample commentary on the conditioning and commendation for the Tour setup crew. They discuss Brooksy’s run of J-Day health troubles. Also addressed are the many Tiger tributes and the discourse around those. Nelly Korda’s work at the Gainbridge is praised but not the tape-delayed broadcast. With the LPGA going to a third Orlando-area course, Andy stumbles into researching the tribute holes at next week’s venue and finds many factual errors.
1 Maalis 20211h 5min
