The Masters goes Amazon Prime, Tour bounces Kapalua, and Ryder Cup oversaturation

This beefy Friday episode begins with some amusements from Andy’s time at Pebble Beach, watching and betting on the hapless Ams trying to play the 17th hole in brutal winds. Eventually Brendan steers the ship onto the major news of the week, the PGA Tour’s announcement of a new company with $1.5 billion in investment from SSG and the impacts of a new for-profit entity with player equity. They have some amusing inside intel from Jay’s meeting with PGA Tour staff, the players Zoom call, and reaction from multiple sides both “celebrating” and ruminating on what this means for PIF involvement. That's the elephant in the room they discuss -- can players take the next step and now unify? They also discuss what this money will go towards and what these private equity sharks will expect. Rory McIlroy’s frustrated comments from earlier in the week are given a full rundown, and contrasted with Jordan Spieth’s press conference. There’s also reaction to LIV’s announcement about “every shot” coverage and the reasoning for Jon Rahm’s team being named Legion XIII as their season begins at Mayakoba.

2 Helmi 20241h 17min

This Wednesday episode begins with some Brendan positivity and a check-in from Andy in Pebble Beach, where he spent the day gathering #scuttlebutt. They discuss Jon Rahm’s debut with LegionXII(i) in LIV, his frame in the new uniforms, and an unsubstantiated rumor on his Carl Petterssen problem. They give their thoughts on Pebble getting that sweet Signature status, and Brendan has a follow-up to some of the field composition gripes. There are some critical one-and-done picks amidst further debates about Taylor Swift’s travel. They also discuss the recent, if any, developments on the PGA Tour’s progress toward a deal with the PIF. The notion of Anthony Kim being “overrated” is debated, as well as an update on if he’s really close to a comeback. The list of names on the new Player Advisory Council is also relayed before a sign off with sports minute.

31 Tammi 202453min

Andy and Brendan get together in the middle of NFL conference championship Sunday to debrief on the weekend that was in golf. They bounce around on a variety of subjects both related and unrelated to golf, including the Ravens, Nelly Korda vs. Lydia Ko, the LPGA’s stringent Hall of Fame regulations, and more. Then on Torrey, they discuss the lumbering start to the PGA Tour season that now counts Mathieu Pavon among its winners. They discuss a troubling social media video of Pavon appearing to stomp around in the rough before hitting his shot-of-the-year style approach into 18 for the winning birdie. They also discuss the exemption roulette for Signature events, with some categories double dipping to keep two HUGE names out of the Pebble field for the Swing 5 category. The close is a mishmash of chatter on the Pissbear’s win, some swing teacher legends mad about the teacher rankings, their favorite 4A guys, and a new Masters ad without the music.

29 Tammi 202454min

Andy and Brendan have left Orlando so they reconvene from separate coasts for this Friday edition of the Shotgun Start. They ramble around at the top about some PGA Show observations as well as Aldrich Potgieter’s big KFT win before jumping into the larger (but less burly) news item that Anthony Kim is planning a return to professional golf. It’s unclear where exactly that golf will be played, either LIV or the PGA Tour, but the return is predicated on a guaranteed payout upfront so they wonder how that might work on the PGA Tour. So will AK be coming to LIV? While they’re on LIV, they express some concern about many details seemingly up in the air with the season starting in about a week. Teams need to be filled and communication is scant. Also, there are some nuggets on the state of the deal, how far apart the PIF and PGA Tour might be, and whether Rahm went to LIV with the expectation that a union was much closer than it appears. Nick Dunlap’s announcement to turn pro is also covered, with some intel on the PGA Tour sweating a potential defection until the final minutes. They close with an SGS Golf Advice segment that tells the tale of another trip to the Golf Club of Lebanon, the infamous story from a prior Advice segment.

26 Tammi 202456min

Andy and Brendan are together again in Orlando and they begin with some unsubstantiated rumors gleaned from their travels -- one about the TGL and another about a new TV show focused on golf. Then they get to some PGA Show expectations and anticipation before transitioning to the schedule for the week, which focuses on the Farmers, its field, and its future. This leads to another brief World Tour discussion and a drive-by of delusional Keith Pelley. There’s also excitement over the return of CBS. They also discuss news of The Match coming to The Park in West Palm Beach and including two LPGA stars -- what it means for golf and the series overall going to a public facility. They close with some questions about a new Champions Tour event that leads into an amusing caddie story about looping for a Bears legend.

24 Tammi 202447min

What a weekend in professional golf! Andy and Brendan get together for their usual Monday episode recapping it all, starting with an amateur winning on the PGA Tour for the first time in 33 years. They discuss Nick Dunlap’s win at the American Express and if they were more surprised it happened or that it took this long. They also debate whether he should turn pro right now or play out his spring season with Alabama. Other AmEx recap subjects include JT’s performance and Brandel’s performance in the booth. There is also a hearty Thirst Bucket of the Week debate and a quick Tosti Tale. Then they get to Rory McIlroy’s win in Dubai and his longevity of elite performance and winning. They also contrast the DP World Tour presentation with the PGA Tour’s later in the day. They close with some thoughts on Lydia Ko’s win, the Alker boy, and the LAAC.

22 Tammi 202451min

Andy and Brendan send you off to the weekend with a fun 50 minutes on … a wide range of subjects. They begin with some reaction to Zach Johnon jamming right in their faces with an opening round 10-under 62. Then they somehow get on the subject of the proper way to cut grilled cheese, parents who email the school too much, and Coco Gauff’s pasta endorsement. There’s more discussion on some Palm Springs matters, like Jon Rahm allegedly being in town and playing in some games, Nick Dunlap’s impressive showing, and Billy Boy mic’d up on PGA Tour Live. They also discuss Bernhard Langer announcing this year will be his last Masters and Fred Ridley saying Angel Cabrera will be welcomed back if he gets his visa. Some Pelley quotes about a “global tour” are also dissected and analyzed as fairly pushy on his strategic alliance. They close with a Golf Advice segment on a boss making an employee take his son out to his fancy club and a Bob Parsons speech at the Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Vietnam.

19 Tammi 202452min

Andy and Brendan fire it up for this Wednesday episode on the heels of a report in The Athletic that Yasir may face a lawsuit for some bad things he is alleged to have carried out on the instruction of Saudi Crown Prince MBS. Is this a golf and PGA Tour problem now and just the beginning of many? Also, it comes out while Jay Monahan is reportedly in Saudi Arabia trying to hammer out a deal. Andy and Brendan concede there is probably no choice now but how could this have gone differently than where we’re at with Yasir appearing to have an amount of control and authority. Then they rip through the schedule for the week, which includes many amusements and delights on the Amex in Palm Springs, the new “best teacher rankings,” Daniel Berger’s return, and “the best JT in the world.” They discuss more Rory comments about a world tour and a quick drive by of his on Kapalua, while Brendan delivers his own drive-by of an Antetokounmpo brother. They close with a Rahm rumored sighting, some questions on the LPGA at the start of its season, and make some one and done picks for the Champions Tour’s season opener.

17 Tammi 20241h