Corpuz cruise and Pebble problems, My Two Monahans, and Tour Policy Board upheaval
Andy and Brendan recap an eventful week in golf, but first there are some questions about the winning caddie now all of a sudden getting a trophy or award and how that is judged. This is a cause to talk about the massive weekend for Jay Monahans, one the winning caddie of the U.S. Women’s Open and the other returning from his leave of absence. They discuss Allisen Corpuz’s breakthrough win at that event, praising her and Charley Hull’s Sunday rounds. There is time dedicated to Annika’s sketchy drop on Friday night. They also discuss Pebble’s place as a steward of the game, and whether its presentation and the USGA setup this week are a good example of that. There is great delight in the Sepptic Tank rumbling his way to a John Deere win, and what it means for Sqairz coming to the Ryder Cup. News closes it out with the announcement that Monahan is coming back to be Commissioner next week, and that Randall Stephenson has resigned his spot on the PGA Tour Policy Board. They ponder a motive for that and what it means in the elbowing to get the framework settled or scuttled.
10 Juli 202353min
Some ‘terrible’ Pebble Beach setup choices, and Brooksy calls out Matt Wolff
It’s Friday! After a brief geography dispute, Andy and Brendan get into some early reactions to the Pebble Beach U.S. Women’s Open. They discuss the “grow-the-game” impacts and have a new favorite player based on some up-close observation by Andy on site. Then they get heavily into the “terrible” setup choices and fairway narrowing for this championship that have them wondering about a fundamental misunderstanding of golf, or at least high-level women’s golf. It’s a wide-ranging chat on setup philosophies and also the unfortunate aesthetic impacts at one of the best and most beautiful courses in the world. There’s some light John Deere chatter before news hits on Brooks Koepka napalming Matt Wolff’s “wasted” talent, and Wolff responding with his own statement calling the comments “heartbreaking.” Bryson’s return to his old caddie is also noted before a sign-off for the weekend.
7 Juli 202349min
The Pebble setup for USWO, PGA Tour document “leak,” and Biker Gang insights
It’s a throwback worse-for-the-wear Wednesday episode following the July 4th holiday. Andy and Brendan begin with some wide-ranging insights on the Biker Club (Don’t call me a Gang) culture picked up during the holiday. Then they get to the ECCO Event of the Week, the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. They discuss some qualms they have with setup and rough at the classic course, but also how it will bring out the best in the women’s game and the course itself. Notables at the John Deere are given a closer inspection. News touches on Open Championship qualifying and the release of documents from the Klay Man’s lawsuit against the PGA Tour in South Florida, specifically with the laughable talking points intended for Tiger and the PGA Tour’s plans to ally with the distressed European Tour.
5 Juli 20231h 1min
Sunday Funday with Rocket Mortgage Rickie, LIV’s slow play enforcement, and Bernie Langer
With the holiday this week in the USA and the early finish in Detroit, Andy and Brendan jump on the horn for this Sunday edition. They are overjoyed with Rickie Fowler’s playoff win at the 3-1-3 Classic, where he birdied the last and then did it again in extras against Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin. They discuss the absolute hot streak that the PGA Tour is on this year, even at the events that are supposed to stink. Andy has some props for Rickie vs. Just A Guy and a Ryder Cup prognosis. That transitions to another rough week for JT, who is on the playoffs bubble and mired with the “SB2K” bug. Outside of Detroit, they discuss the lack of pop over on LIV but praise their slow play enforcement. There’s also a backboarding mess on the Euro Tour and record-breaking dominant win for another anchorman at the U.S. Senior Open.
2 Juli 202344min
Players Rally around Cantlay, Phil’s Got Capes, and Poor Tour Communication
A plan for Friday Summer hours and a brisk 20-minute episode goes awry. Instead, Andy and Brendan discuss some of the fallout from the eight hour PGA Tour Advisory Board meeting, from Peppy Peter’s interview with Golfweek on it to a handful of players posting a social media note defending Patrick Cantlay and his reported attempted coup. They also discuss the small matter of the PGA Tour providing little in the way of a leadership plan or status update on how things will be proceeding some two-plus weeks after Jay Monahan took a leave of absence for health reasons. The second half of the episode was supposed to be SGS Golf Advice, and it is for one email that also triggers a handful of stories from Andy and Brendan’s days caddying.
30 Juni 202354min
Law Professor Gabe Feldman on PGA Tour-PIF documents, 3-1-3 days, and Andy’s new desk
It’s an eventful Wednesday episode, beginning with the exciting development of Andy’s new standing desk, which he adjusts multiple times during recording to his own great amusement. Then they get into the actual “framework” document of the PGA Tour-PIF merger becoming public this week and what questions it answers, and which ones it precariously does not. Notables are back on the shhhhedule for the week, which touches on an amusing 3-1-3 challenge being done by some of the listeners. Then they discuss the “fake controversy” of Eric Cole playing an invitational with mini-tour players and amateurs. Finally, they are joined by Gabe Feldman, a sports law professor with experience in antitrust who has been following the merger news from the beginning, to provide some insight on the recent document release and the road ahead navigating antitrust scrutiny.
28 Juni 20231h 1min
A radical PGA idea, Keegan’s “home game,” and Rory’s critique of course setup
This Monday episode begins with some internal confusion about upcoming Fried Egg events and Pro Shop merch. Then Brendan and Andy get on with reactions to the Women’s PGA at Baltusrol, which fizzled somewhat on the par-5s closing stretch, save for one clinching birdie from Ruoning Yin. They discuss Rose Zhang’s push as well before a radical idea is proposed and debated for the PGA. After an audio mishap during the ad read, and an incorrect URL, they get on to the Travelers Championship won by the home-region kid, Keegan Bradley. They discuss Bradley’s career and what this win, if anything, does for his Ryder Cup chances. There is also further intel on Zac Blair’s prep before his big T2 finish, and some reaction to Rory McIlroy’s quotes popping the setup and birdie-fest of TPC River Highlands in contrast to LACC. Paddy’s win on the Champs Tour has them proposing a wild card Ryder Cup pick. There’s a short segment on some of the big amateur winners before news closes it out with aerials coming out of Panther National.
26 Juni 202346min
Burly Boy Invitational, A Korda encounter, and SGS Golf Advice
This Friday episode is a whiparound with some thoughts on the Ivy League, recent television releases, kids’ shows to avoid, and outrageous drone use by sports parents. Andy and Brendan begin with a mea culpa for missing the event of the week on Wednesday in the debut of the Burly Boy Invitational on the KFT. This leads to some further amateur golf chatter, including many messages about Christo and the recent Walker Cup adds for the USA side. There’s a Women’s PGA update, which is cause for Andy to discuss an encounter with Camp Korda in New Jersey. SGS Golf Advice answers questions on golf pool etiquette, playing golf on your family’s ancestral burial grounds, the best way to be buried/disposed of when you’re gone, and strategies for handling and invitation to the John Deere.
23 Juni 202335min
