Canadian Open agonies, Rory’s driver conundrum, and SOakedmont again

This Friday episode begins with the 100-plus page complaint filed by 11 LIV players against the PGA Tour, as well as the temporary restraining order that will go to court next week. Andy and Brendan react to the complaint, its allegations and arguments, and the PGA Tour’s potential missteps and response going forward. They highlight a couple aspects they find compelling, dubious, and amusing in the whole mess that will be instrumental in how the future of golf looks, with an antitrust expert coming later in the week on the podcast to get into more of the details. The second half of the pod discusses early action from Muirfield at the Women’s Open, Webb Simpson becoming a vice captain, and a Flashback Friday to that time a scorecard “countback” decided the Women’s Open.

4 Elo 202246min

This Wednesday episode begins with some thoughts on the last major of the year, the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield. Andy and Brendan discuss their recent trip to the course, some favorite holes, some amusing stories, and how the women’s game might bring it into the modern world. On the PGA Tour, they discuss the myth of the FEC bubble and how many players hovering around it are truly unworthy of a “postseason” berth after this week’s Wyndham. This leads to more Max McGreevy facts than you could ever anticipate. James Hahn’s weird and misguided tweets are dissected, as is the new PGA Tour schedule, which seems to do nothing more than throw some money at the problems while changing very little else. News hits on Tiger Woods’s astronomical offer to join LIV, Patrick Reed going to Asia to play golf, and a Henrik Stenson conspiracy theory.

3 Elo 202257min

It’s a glorious first of the month recording, which has Andy and Brendan full of energy despite the relatively sleepy golf from multiple fronts at the Rocket Mortgage and LIV Bedminster. They discuss the confusion and lack of enthusiasm around the actual team golf at LIV, the political rally that seemed to make the golf incidental, the absurdly overhyping announcers, and the Tour’s own continued problems on display weighing it down in Detroit. They also debate who’s sadder: Phil or Brooks? The Women’s Scottish and the Hero Open are reviewed from across the pond. They close with further amusement about the 3-1-3 Challenge and Henrik still feeling persecuted about losing his captaincy.

1 Elo 202253min

It’s a summer hours Friday episode, which begins with some LIV rumors of varying degrees of amusement, from gambling shortcomings to developments in Thursday’s pro-am at Trump Bedminster to some agronomy specs for events. News of Luke Donald replacing Henrik Stenson as European Ryder Cup captain is discussed, which leads to a Precision Pro Flashback Friday on the time Paul Casey drew him into an international incident slamming Americans for being insular. There’s continued incredulity about Davis Love III’s role in Detroit.

29 Heinä 202241min

This Wednesday episode begins with LIV’s return to the schedule for the week. Andy and Brendan laugh at Laurie Canter getting passed around, the decrepit Niblicks squad, and the moderate interest in the actual golf. They lament the lack of access to any of these players, who will be off for more than a month between LIV events. There is more Stenson scorn, some warning about contracts as they relate to the “relegation” concept or lack thereof, and the PGA Tour’s potential parroting of that contract model. The added events for next year that might commit players to an international series in far flung corners of the globe is discussed. Davis Love III making it into a featured group for the Rocket Mortgage Classic is shouted about, in between praise for the event’s mission and character. The Euro Tour returns to fake St. Andrews, and the helicopter parents head to Bandon for the Junior Am. They close with yet another shadow FedExCup eligibility list that deals with the suspended LIV players.

27 Heinä 202249min

Andy and Brendan have returned to the U.S., where they’re longing for some aspects of their Scotland trip while happy to have other comforts of home back in their lives. They offer a few more takeaways of appreciation from that trip, as well as a harsh judgment on fish and chips. Then they get to the golf from the packed weekend, praising Brooke Henderson for her second major while offering a mild critique about her pace of play and how she’s underrated relative to some of her less accomplished peers. Tony Finau’s triumph is reviewed, with some late shakiness after a strong back nine to take his second win in less than a year. Husky Darren Clarke and Richie Ramsay are also credited for their wins. News returns to the LIV developments from late last week, where Henrik Stenson’s backstabbing disgraceful betrayal is put on blast, and there’s befuddlement over what Charles Howell III does for LIV.

25 Heinä 202244min

Summer School in Scotland rolls on and Andy and Brendan have a few more thoughts on The Open, specifically Rory’s performance, after a magical afternoon getting to play The Old Course themselves. Then they get back to the pro golf at hand, namely the 3M Open at TPC Sod Farm, described in one write-up as utilizing “natural, rolling terrain on the site of a former sod farm.” They discuss the Tour’s messaging, which is apparently foremost of what they care about, and how the 3M Open actually exhibits weakness to the point it would be best if they just took a few weeks off following The Open. The women’s and senior majors are previewed, with critiques for two poor venues. The LIV latest is discussed, with David Feherty making the jump and Ernie Els with some sage advice on how this should all shake out, including specific comments on new Champion Golfer of the Year Cam Smith.

20 Heinä 202248min

A magical week for Andy and Brendan at The Open comes to a close with this recap episode after the final round at The Old Course. After walking with Cam, Rory, and the rest, they relay what they saw and why it shook out the way it did. Cam’s legendary final round is dissected, with a few key spots and shots picked out that seemed to turn the tide in the final hours. The Rory heartbreak is reviewed, with debate on whether he played it too safe or just got beat by the hot talent. There’s one more occasion to reflect on and praise The Old Course, which had both feeling grateful to be present for this particular major. They discuss how it played and why it separated again on Sunday. Cam Young gets his due, as does a certain housecat. Then they wrangle with LIV returning to our lives promptly, with the new Champion Golfer of the Year not exactly shooting down questions about rampant LIV rumors surrounding him, Jon Rahm suggesting the tours negotiate with some strong words for the Euro Tour, and Henrik Stenson apparently jumping ship and losing his Ryder Cup captaincy.

17 Heinä 20221h 6min