Is there such a thing as hot weather food?
This Friday episode is late but it’s a fairly evergreen ramble about the structure and shortcomings of professional golf, at multiple levels. Andy and Brendan begin first with the Women’s PGA, where Lizette Salas is back on a leaderboard and speaking candidly about her recent struggles. There are also options on the board for ending the American drought. At the Travelers, they hit on the post-major hangover effect. They discuss Alex Cejka reprising 1953 Ben Hogan, missing a “major” and chance at the Social Security Slam because he had to play his home open on the Euro Tour. There’s debate on some KFT “members” suggesting that PGA Tour University is insulting and that members should get priority over the college studs. News of the strict British Open regulations for the players, while allowing 32,000 fans in the gates, has provoked grumbling among the pros. Could we see some abstain from going? There’s also further discussion on the Olympics, how Ponte Vedra has done it no favors, and how NBC, with rights to both, has to balance its precious Olympics priority with the precious FedExCup. Precision Pro Flashback Friday goes back to a past Women’s LPGA Championship, when a fast-food joint put its thumb on the scale and demanded 51 years of history and regulations be thrown out the window.
25 Juni 20211h 1min
Morrrre majors, Joey Crawford Championship, and a chat with Cam Smith
This Wednesday episode begins with an unplanned discussion on the U.S. Open’s identity. Has some of the luster of the championship been taken away with the PGA coming right in front of it now? And is Jason Gore more or less helping set up controversy-free courses that have taken some of the sizzle out of it? Then Andy and Brendan move to the event of the week, the Women’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, another Rees Jones renovation. There are three things to watch, revolving around the American drought and Olympics qualifying closing. For the Travelers, they delight in some “notables” categories in a field that’s completely loaded for the week after a major. To both of their surprise, there is a major on the Senior Tour this week, and it is perhaps the most extreme pushing of the boundaries on that term, “major.” They ponder whether having a KFT event in Maine will make people want to live and/or work in Maine, as the title suggests. News hits on the run of Olympics withdrawals on the men’s side as well as some intel from the ground on the Stella case of beer. Lastly, they are joined by Cam Smith for a rare guest interview from the Travelers.
23 Juni 20211h 4min
Sunday at the U.S. Open: Rahm’s win, Bryson “off the rails,” and Torrey postmortem
After a brief wait for the flyover to clear through, Andy and Brendan begin with the last episode on the 2021 U.S. Open. It’s been a week, but they’re giddy following an afternoon of bunched (constipated) leaderboard maneuvering and some unexpected extracurriculars, like Bryson coming undone, a streaker, a box of beer somehow being on the premises, and a ball in a tree. They start first with Rahm, his “firing at flags” approach and of course the final two putts. There’s chatter about what’s to come, but mostly it’s an appreciation of what just happened. They express sympathy for the Mattress King, though Brendan doesn’t fully absolve him because of the drive at 17. The Bryson circus is re-lived, from a tie for the lead to t-26, with amusing quotes about how it was really just one unlucky break or two between that and getting to 7 or 8-under. Rory, all of it, is addressed. They close with a postmortem on Torrey Pines, why people can’t seem to understand why a good or bad leaderboard does not equal a good or bad golf course, and a few other things they liked and didn’t like from muni setup.
21 Juni 20211h 13min
Saturday at the U.S. Open: Rotisserie chicken, still bad. Torrey Pines, still constipated.
This loopy Saturday episode is energized by the third round finish at Torrey Pines. Granted, there wasn’t much movement, as defined, but there was some action. Andy and Brendan debate whether they would trust Louis or Rory more on Sunday if they both made the turn in the lead. They address Mackenzie Hughes’ comments that this is basically playing like the Farmers for him. Thicc Boi’s inability to yell fore, and his revelatory comments that you simply do not need to hit fairways to win majors anymore, are discussed. Rory’s sandwich preference for the week, which includes rotisserie chicken, opens up an old debate and another shouting match about poultry. Also on Rory, the broadcast putting a camera on his hotel balcony is panned as an invasion of privacy. They go through the leaderboard and play Contender/Pretender, which is just another way to illustrate that Torrey has made it impossible to blow up or really go low. There’s an analogy about constipation made on this.
20 Juni 202151min
Friday at the U.S. Open: Bryson’s dreams, Dick Bland Brigade, and Torrey bunching
This Friday night episode is a debrief at the midpoint of the U.S. Open. Andy and Brendan react to Dick Bland, long an SGS notable, taking the freaking lead at a major. But has he gone too mainstream? There are some historical trends offered for why Torrey is a flawed venue but also why we may be in for an exciting sprint on the weekend. The subject of Bryson figuring out a swing fix in his dreams is debated. Is he an idiot or a genius that knows how to play the media? Or both? The Dylan Wu debacle is another exhibit in the embarrassment of having a KFT event opposite the U.S. Open. Biggest surprise nominees lead to a discussion on Matthew Wolff and Bubba, who has a truly horrendous U.S. Open record. A biggest MC disappointment discussion hits on Tony Finau, the Baton Boy, and J Kokrak.
19 Juni 202144min
Thursday at the U.S. Open: Torrey, Telecasts, and Richard Bland
This episode is a quick reaction to day one at the U.S. Open, with only one mic turned on for it. Brendan and Andy jump into what felt like an uneven day, often boring and frustrating but sprinkled with bursts of intrigue. Did anything happen that changed their notions of how this would be before Thursday’s action? Brendan compares it to a big time neutral site college football game. They discuss the 13th hole and the valley that gobbled up Bryson’s ball in a sand-filled divot. There’s a debate about other major venues whose entire identities are more or less wrapped up in one historic moment. There are some harsh words on the telecast making it feel like a regular season event. The lack of hangliders, prevalence of planes, and potential plaque impacts are also covered. Rory’s round is hailed, as is Brooksy’s opening salvo. And of course, Dick Bland’s chances are re-assessed, as is his Coetzee Zone candidacy.
18 Juni 202141min
Torrey foibles, Bomb-and-Gouge, Brooks v. Bryson, and Hanglider impacts
This Wednesday episode serves as your official U.S. Open preview. Andy and Brendan begin with some player reactions to the course setup so far, getting in the weeds on bomb-and-gouge proclamations and rough trepidation. There’s a debate about too much luck being involved, and a take that the U.S. Open has become the most predictable of the majors in terms of what type of winner it delivers. They highlight the divergent thoughts of Bryson and Jordan Spieth on whether this will be similar to Winged Foot. Then they get to the rumor that Bryson declined a pairing with Brooksy, and react to some of the pearl-clutching on Tuesday over this feud existing at all. One-and-done picks are made. Favorite groupings are bandied about -- from the Triple H to the European runts -- as well as worst groupings. Somehow, there is anti-Meronk sentiment. They close with some chatter on whether the hangliders, perhaps a rogue one with a bet slip, could impact the championship.
16 Juni 20211h 6min
An SGS Spotlight on the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage
With the U.S. Open return to Torrey Pines, and a possible end to this era of the championship going to publicly owned venues, this Spotlight episode focuses on the one that ushered in that great muni experiment. Andy and Brendan dive into the story of how David Fay got the Open to Bethpage, the Rees Jones work before 2002, and the groundskeeping overhaul that took place to host the national championship. There is also ample time devoted to the Reestoration, with not exclusively glowing words for “The Open Doctor.” Then they get into some complaints on setup, including one hole where 15 players in a row failed to carry their drives to the fairway. There are segments dedicated to the rowdy crowds and of course, the main characters -- Jeff Maggert’s wardrobe, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Sergio Garcia. This may be the week the public perception of waggling Sergio really changed, and they go over the contretemps that had him leaving an apology note in Tiger’s locker the night before they played in the final round’s final pairing. There is, of course, time dedicated to this particular run of Tiger dominance, and the impacts incoming equipment evolutions might have had on that. Thanks to the U.S. Open Victory Club (join that here) for supporting this Spotlight work and making these episodes possible.
15 Juni 20211h 25min
