Triumph and disaster at St. Andrews, Playing-Captain Keegan? And the club-toss test

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

Due to the Monday holiday in the United States, this is a BEEFY hybrid episode discussing all that happened in golf over the weekend with a look forward to the shhhhedule for the week. There is a lot of college golf talk at the top as Andy braces for Illinois’s run in Arizona. They discuss some disappointments, flops, and contenders for the ECCO Event of the Week at the men’s national title. There’s also lots of chatter about the LIV event in DC and some of the young players on that Tour performing in relative anonymity. Andy has some thoughts on PGA Frisco’s championship debut as Stricks goes for a Social Security Slam. The second half hits on the upcoming shhhhedule for the week, with some Memorial picks and thoughts on Muirfield Village, Rose Zhang’s pro debut, and some Euro Tour eligibility questions. News hits on Phil’s Twitter spat with Brandel and an amusing, perhaps disturbing, Internet rumor about J.B. Holmes playing as an eight handicap in an event somewhere in Tennessee.

30 Maj 20231h 5min

This Friday episode continues on the Michael Block takeover of the golf world, and maybe the larger sports world. Andy and Brendan record as Mr. Block plays through his first round at Colonial, and discuss his comments on a podcast that he’d be one of the top players in the world with Rory’s distance. They lament some of the overcoverage, praise him for his interview endurance, and are happy he’s getting his during this big moment. Then they move on to Claude Harmon III’s incendiary comments about LIV coverage, Brooks doubters, fake stars like Will Zalatoris, and much more. Some unsubstantiated rumor Friday nuggets discuss yet another class of events that might be coming to the PGA Tour. They close with SGS Golf Advice on some range etiquette, a fake St. Andrews tale, and a cocky caddie

25 Maj 202348min

This punchy Wednesday episode begins with the continued Michael Block whirlwind that has completely taken the national discourse by storm. Andy and Brendan react to his appearance on all three network morning shows, some of his betting odds for Colonial, and his tee time grouping for the first two rounds. Schedule for the week bounces around, first heaping praise on Rose Zhang as the GOAT of women’s college golf and giving out the ECCO event of the week to the NCAAs. Then they discuss some of the other amusements from Colonial and the Stand-up mixer Championship’s debut at PGA Frisco. There’s some disturbing news from the grounds of the KFT event. LIV returns with an event in DC, where Brooks may not be in ship shape after a week of partying in South Florida. Sergio Garcia’s qualification for the U.S. Open is cause to reflect on his career vis-a-vis Brooks and their comparable talents. News hits on Jim Nantz being named a design consultant for a short course in Minnesota.

23 Maj 202353min

It was a fantastic PGA Sunday so a peppy Andy and Brendan check in one last time for the week to discuss it all, starting with Brooks Koepka’s fifth major championship win. They praise Koepka’s work both at Oak Hill and over the course of his career as the majors king of this era. They wrangle with the LIV question, and whether this brings any “validation” to that tour or product and also address the Ryder Cup question. Viktor Hovland’s real challenge is praised, while Rory McIlroy’s mismanagement is not. Michael Block, the darling of the week, is also discussed as the likely top story of the entire championship for general sports and non-golf fans. His two exemptions that broke during recording are also reacted to as the Tour thirsts for a Block bump. The Oak Hill setup and the kind of leaderboard talent it produced is examined. Some disappointments from the weekend are also noted. This episode was sponsored by AG1 by Athletic Greens, whose ad read comes with a significant mea culpa from the two idiot hosts.

22 Maj 20231h 24min