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

It’s a peppy Monday episode celebrating the return of golf in 2022. Andy and Brendan react to Cam Smith’s outrageous play, remarking on his #gainz off the tee and the way he stood out there with Kapalua’s wide fairways to gain an edge on Jon Rahm of all people. They discuss the social media ​​Sturm und Drang around the low scoring, pondering whether there should be an asterisk for the records given preferred lies were in place. The hot mics, Notah’s level, the pace of play, and graphics about Notable winners and “Every Shot Counts” are also discussed. There’s anger about the total confusion over the history of a multitude of PGA Tour events now being called WGC Memphis, with announcers getting crossed up left and right. They close with news on the U.S. Women’s Open purse being bumped significantly and a host of primo venues added as future sites. Before sign off, a couple thoughts on Rickie getting a Hawaii-themed activation off this week.

10 Jan 202245min

This Friday episode is a bite-sized reaction to the first official PGA Tour round of 2022. Andy and Brendan delight in the re-introduction to PGA Tour golf in the new year with a hearty announcement that round one would be played with preferred lies. Then they bounce around with various quick thoughts on what’s transpired so far this week, including the notable enlistment of Patrick Reed with the troops. There are reactions to some of the new graphics, including ESPN+’s humorous attempt to calculate yardages with elevation changes. They close it with a mini Flashback trivia and thoughts on who from the bottom of the board could get hot for three straight days.

7 Jan 202229min

The PGA Tour is back and this Wednesday episode is a rambling discussion focused mostly on the return to golf at Kapalua, one of our favorite annual traditions on tour. Aside from Kapalua, there’s chatter on snow days, Dan Pohl’s golf course, the preferable hemisphere to live in, and taking road trips in complete silence. There is anticipation for ESPN+ joining the fray. There’s a new segment, the “catnip call of the week” and a subject is nominated there that we think you’ll be hearing about this week. There are some tough questions for Xander, Spieth, Phil, Wolff, and others. They also pick apart the term “resort golf” and ponder which player in this field will be the most obscure some 30 years from now. News hits on the breathless reaction to new driver releases, and a bucket of more Saudi commits.

5 Jan 202257min

The Shotgun Start is off and running in 2022 with this Monday episode. Andy and Brendan review some of their New Year’s weekend exploits, and ponder whether the Courier Cup is a better postseason format than the recently maligned CFP. Then they jump into news, which is mostly a discussion about the PIP confusion provoked by Phil Mickelson’s tweets and conflicting reports last week. Then they jump into a wide-ranging chat on 2022 -- there was no plan for predictions, because guessing major winners in January is silly, but Andy does go on record doling out a major to a certain Northern Irishman before the segment is over. Other things discussed are the major venues, Lexi going side saddle, a Bryson regression, Tiger thoughts, some potential Pres Cuppers making a leap, and the Billy Ho award for SGS breakout star.

2 Jan 202254min

There was never a doubt! The Year in Review concludes with Part 10 covering the Olympics up through the final tournament of the PGA Tour season that doesn’t feature a low net winner. An assignment mix-up leaves a couple events uncovered, but Andy and Brendan pull it together to steer this home and put the “Super Season” to rest. They are incredibly grateful for your continued support of the podcast in 2021, and cannot wait to run it back again in 2022. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary. This year’s series was brought to you by Precision Pro Golf, the official rangefinder of the Shotgun Start

28 Dec 202159min

Hey, the year is rapidly winding down and so is the Year in Review. In this installment, Andy and Brendan pick up with some post U.S. Open fallout, rip through the Travelers, Bryson-Tim split, Phil tweeting at local media, Pat Reed being called to serve, and a full recap The Open, the last men’s major in a super season. The topics range from “This Driver Sucks” to Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker being included with Giannis in a graphic. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary. We’re just about done, but you can enjoy this month-long rollout at your convenience during the last 10 days of the year. This year’s series is brought to you by Precision Pro Golf, the official rangefinder of the Shotgun Start.

22 Dec 20211h 17min

This peppy Monday episode reacts to the Tiger and Charlie show in Orlando on Sunday. Andy and Brendan begin first with some subtle but notable thirsty maneuvering at the conclusion of play. Then they get into the more important matters about what it all means for Tiger’s future and whether the PNC is a top 10 tour-ish event with the Woods duo in it. There are some comments about watching Charlie stripe it as well, and the reaction to his play on Twitter. Andy posits, and then they debate, where this event now rates in all of golf, both men’s and women’s --  e.g. is it better than every WGC? There’s chatter on the Dalys, and the choice players make to have their kid wear their branded scripting or not. They close with news that the R&A will be revoking its exemption into the Open for the Asian Tour’s order of merit.

19 Dec 202141min

Andy and Brendan close out the week with a PUNCHY Year-in-Review episode covering the stretch from the Kokheads Colonial triumph through “Rahmbo’s” U.S. Open title. There was a bounty of amusements and moments of whimsy from Fort Worth to Memorial to Olympic to Sectional Qualifying to Congaree. They review it all and close it out with the third men’s major of 2021 at Torrey Pines, which provided ample material to laugh at here at the end of the year. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it should FINISH over the next week, but can be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season. This year’s series is brought to you by Precision Pro Golf, the official rangefinder of the Shotgun Start.

17 Dec 20211h 22min