PGA Tour board and Monahan fatigue, LIV’s puny Hong Kong Course, and SGS Golf Advice

Andy and Brendan review the first day of the U.S. Open at LACC’s North Course, where scores hit record numbers for this championship thanks to Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler, who both shot 62. They discuss the general backlash and anger about scores this low at a U.S. Open and if there is any credence to the complaints. Andy relays some notes from following the fun group of Max Homa and Scottie Scheffler, while Brendan relays his argument and theory on why Rickie’s career path got stunted by a shift in the game. DJ’s round is given a debrief, as is Rory’s close with a “bogey save,” and lastly Phil’s charge hitting a roadblock at the sixth. Some favorite holes and shots are also outlined, as well as what to expect with scoring and setup for the next three days.

16 Juni 202342min

Andy and Brendan have spent the last two days on the ground at Los Angeles Country Club scouting and gathering all manner of amusing intel to deliver their traditional Wednesday major championship “preview.” They begin with a few new nicknames and some scuttlebut about two pros with very different tipping strategies for the local caddies. Then they get into a lengthy discussion about the course, some early impressions, some player gripes (Rahm-centric), and how the USGA could turn the screws if scores start to get real low. They go through their favorite tee times as is custom before a major, including the “worst tee time” debate. They close with a updates on the merger and news of a Jay Monahan health issue.

14 Juni 20231h 5min

Andy and Brendan have touched down in Los Angeles and are ready to go at the Draddy House for this week’s U.S. Open. But first, they settle up on the weekend that was, beginning with the fantastic finish to the Canadian Open. They praise the PGA Tour product that’s been delivering all year, even at these non-designated events. They have less praise for the bureaucratic arm that just completed the merger deal and is now communicating a different tune than we’d heard all the last year. There are a couple notes from the other side of moat about a somber scene, and some reaction to the many details in the NYT report about the various meetings that got the deal done. They also have some fun with the Euro Tour winner’s name and wonder what his true calling should have been. The episode closes with some early LACC and US Open catnip before the week goes full bore on that championship.

12 Juni 202337min

Andy and Brendan check out for the week with this Friday episode that begins with an amusing story about their house rental for next week’s U.S. Open in Los Angeles. Then they get to the battle to frame the PGA Tour merger deal with the PIF in a light most favorable to each side as everyone races to declare winners. Jimmy Dunne emerging to give interviews with his framing is covered. Also, the possibility of this deal being blocked is discussed, why that won’t happen, and the implications if it were to fall apart. News hits on the announcement of TGL’s first team in Los Angeles and its famous owners. They close it out with SGS Golf Advice with a funny story about being mistaken for a Tour player, an Old Course debate, and club members hollering at a high school match.

9 Juni 20231h

Andy and Brendan return for this late Wednesday episode because the people demanded Canadian Open picks from the foremost gambling podcast. But first, they discuss more on the PIF, *not* LIV as Rory emphasized, deal with the PGA Tour. They’ve had an additional day to digest it as well as come into a few more details of how it came together and just how furious the backlash has been both inside the Tour and from the public. They ponder Monahan’s future as commissioner, and the possibility of the deal even falling apart. Then they get to Whiparound Wednesday, which hits on an amusing tale from the players meeting in Canada, some testimony on Just A Guy, and the incredible inside story of how two Team Smash members WD’d in the DC event and Matt Wolff eventually left the team. There’s some detail from the ground in Canada on how that event may be underwhelming, which brings us to Shhhedule for the Week and the Ecco Event of the Week, which had slim pickings but leads to a fun discussion on U.S. Open Sectionals

8 Juni 202355min

Andy and Brendan record this “extra” Tuesday episode to discuss, well, the biggest golf news to ever happen, non-Tiger division? Including Tiger division? They react to the details of the PGA Tour and LIV merger announcement, which is still light on many of those details. They remark on just how secretive this process was with hardly anyone knowing what was coming, including most of the players and maybe Greg Norman. Saudi money is officially injected into the PGA Tour with a new, for-profit TBD “entity,” that has Yasir Al-Rumayyan as the chairman but without majority-PIF board control. They discuss how Jay Monahan navigated the last few years and the immediate player fury at the news of the deal. And what will the future look like exactly with a possible world tour? We will continue to discuss this massive story as more of the details emerge.

6 Juni 202342min

There are no Sunday scaries here, as Andy and Brendan are bubbling to talk about a fantastic day and weekend of golf. They begin with the LPGA, where Rose Zhang debuted as a pro, and won. They discuss the incredible achievement, the hype train that’s chugging full steam, and caution about setting insane expectations. They also hit on the concurrent AJGA event and the abominable pace of play at Liberty National. On the PGA Tour, they praise Viktor Hovland’s “mettle” to survive a brutally hard Muirfield Village, a venue that Hovland had some spicy thoughts about earlier in the week on Norwegian television. They elaborate more on the test at Jack’s place, and debate whether you should be more concerned about Scheffler’s putting or Rory’s approach play following that Sunday. There’s some intel about Matt Wolff’s departure from Team Smash, and more news on a Memorial schedule change. Lastly, they run through the U.S. Open Final Qualifying sites, picking a name, or two from each one to watch on Monday -- beware of Brian Stuard at Springfield!

5 Juni 20231h 4min

It’s a whiparound Friday episode, with Andy and Brendan discussing various maladies and which occupations might be the worst for someone who is chatty. Then they get to the rough ride of the Frugalites in Central Ohio. Also out of Columbus was news of a player meeting with the USGA and continued critical comments about the MLR. Is it possible there is a retreat or a few majors just played with different equipment? There’s further information on J.B. Holmes’s shenanigans in Tennessee. Matt Wolff washing out of Team Smash is discussed. The concept of the “Reverse Zatch” is also explored. SGS Golf Advice begins with a wild tale of a player looking for a game in Beirut, and finding one in an less-than-friendly area.

1 Juni 202342min