Rory WDs from Travelers, U.S. Open aftermath, and Olympics shut out BfB

This Friday episode jumps right into a whirlwind day that may be the start of fundamentally changed pro golf landscape. Andy and Brendan react to the first broadcast of the first ever LIV Golf round. Did it surpass expectations or devolve into the shitshow that was anticipated? Did the golf even matter? Where is the leaderboard?! They discuss the amusements and disappointments, and who came off most debased as sportswasher of the day. Then they get into the PGA Tour’s announcement that all defectors were suspended, and what that might actually mean in practice. Some legal counsel who’s been digging through the bylaws sends along a few thoughts of how things might go next or different options available to players. They also discuss if Jay Monahan can save his tour with the status quo, and how pro golf is all going to be worse off for this.

10 Jun 202254min

An episode trying to cover and make sense of the absolute firehose of absurdity that hit all of us on Tuesday. It begins with frustration that the firehose buried what should have been gnarly metaverse Jack Nicklaus’s moment. Nevertheless, Andy and Brendan proceed on, reacting, with great amusement, to the names, logos, and eventual draft of teams for LIV Golf’s first event. They discuss how the PGA Tour had this coming, and how the resigning membership maneuver may mitigate the Tour’s biggest weapon. The talking points got plenty of use, and Graeme McDowell’s missteps are dissected, as well as the notion that shotgun starts are “fairer” -- which leads to a humorous scoop about the range set up. Phil Mickelson’s return to golf, which feels like old news, is addressed, as is his attire and look. Tiger’s WD from the U.S. Open, as well as some sectional qualifier stories, are also discussed.

8 Jun 20221h 10min

This Monday episode begins with tales from the red-eye road and the line at the bagel shop. Then it’s on to the second women’s major winner of the year, Minjee Lee, who ran away from a strong leaderboard in a record-setting U.S. Women’s Open win. Her Sunday stroll to what she called the most important trophy she wanted combined with Billy Horschel’s relatively dominant win in Columbus provokes a debate about whether it’s reductive or insulting to call runaway victories boring as competitions. Jerry Kelly is hailed as the Alker Stopper. Then they pivot to Kevin Na resigning from the PGA Tour, whether Rickie’s next, and some scuttlebutt about the OWGR system further marginalizing the Asian Tour as a response.

6 Jun 202240min

This Friday episode begins with some early reaction to the U.S. Women’s Open, where Mina Harigae made nine birdies in her opening round. This prompted the usual wails about fairways too wide and rough too thin, which leads to another setup philosophy discussion. Precision Pro Flashback Friday focuses on a Pine Needles U.S. Open of past as well as the larger theme on ascendant youths in championship women’s golf. A news roundup touches on Jerry Foltz going to LIV as a broadcaster, Texas winning the national title, and these wild suspended-in-the-sky seats at the Canadian Open.

3 Jun 202233min

This bonus episode comes after LIV Golf at long last released its field list for the first event in London, which is in just more than a week. Andy and Brendan discuss the field, the DJ inclusion, the Phil omission, the field fillers, amusing detritus, and who was maybe left in reserve for later events. The PGA Tour’s next move, especially with regards to DJ, is also pondered. They discuss what it might mean for the rest of this year, and then the future of professional golf, and that may not be a good thing apart from the majors.

1 Jun 202247min

This Monday plus Wednesday episode begins with a mea culpa after the first episode of the week relied on information that the LIV field list was coming. So it’s a combo show of sorts, first ranting about the LIV organizational incompetencies, and then quickly cleaning up some thoughts from Colonial, with further questions about Tour golf vs. majors golf and Sam Burns’s place in that tension. Then the schedule for this week begins with some NCAA men’s reactions, notably, the overly hands-on approach by the coaches, who are now playing around in the sand with their charges. Also, the swing speeds of the field at NCAAs. Memorial gets some praise as a unique test for Tour golf. The event of the week is the U.S. Women’s Open, with a preview segment discussing Pine Needles as a venue, Annika’s return, Nelly’s return, the age distribution in the field, and a Stars of the Sandhills nominee that highlights the continued youth challengers coming through the ranks.

31 Mai 202254min

This is a slightly different Friday show, as an entire Precision Pro FBF segment turns into an episode. Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine recently researched and published an oral history on the 2012 NCAA men’s championships at Riviera, featuring a nail-biter between two juggernauts in Alabama and Texas and three-dozen players that would go pro, including headliners Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger, Thomas Pieters, Max Homa, and many more. Brentley takes us through the timeline and sets up the drama for this legendary championship, much of which was not caught on video. Frugal Fritelli also plays a prominent role and stirs things up for his Texas team. The episode ends with some thoughts about the Texas program and whether it underachieves similar to the football team, and then how the NCAAs have risen in stature in recent years.

27 Mai 202258min

This Wednesday episode comes a bit delayed with Andy on the road fleeing the morose Chicagoland area still dealing with Fitzy’s fade. Brendan promptly gets into the schedule for the week, beginning with Colonial, where Charles Schwab is handing out all manner of perks -- cars, belt buckles, and potentially a second tartan jacket in as many months for Jordan Spieth. The Stand Up Mixer Senior Championship is the subject of a great catnip call of the week. The LPGA is once again holding a 5-day match play event in a desert on the other side of the country from next week’s major, so that’s critiqued. There’s material from the ground in Holland ahead of the Dutch Open. News hits on a few LIV rumors and debates the worst courtside experience for an NBA game. They close with a “Stars of the Sandhills” segment, a short flashlight on Minjee Lee and her Australian upbringing and ascent ahead of next week’s U.S. Women’s Open, where she’ll be a contender at Pine Needles.

25 Mai 202246min