Rory returns, Annual Walk-up Music Quiz, LIV’s pre-PGA schedule

It’s an unexpected and jubilant Victory Monday for Brendan, who is joined by legendary friend of the program Shane Bacon. The two wander around for a bit talking the Browns upset of the 49ers, a wildly unpredictable NFL, and thermostat negotiations as the season changes. Then they jump into the weekend that was in golf, beginning with the most recent finish out in Vegas. They ponder what to make of Tom Kim, winning at a great clip for such a young age but also feasting on some weaker events. How do we gauge young talents -- what metrics do we prioritize? Then they get to the LIV season finale, or part of it, which happened overnight and was exceedingly difficult to watch. They discuss the lack of juice with all things LIV, Talor Gooch’s incredibly successful and lucrative decision to join LIV, the confusing relegation zone, and what’s left on the Match Play front. There’s also scorn for the decrepit Majesticks franchise. The latter half of the episode covers Angel Yin’s first LPGA win, Lilia Vu needing more pub, Brooks Koepka yet again popping Matt Wolff, and Tiger’s ridiculous outfit playing golf last week.

16 Okt 20231h 5min

Andy and Brendan are here to close out the week with some nostalgia -- about electronics, baseball stadium quirks, and the MLB playoffs needing a staggered start as it works through its Bill Haas era. Then they get to the big news of the week, the OWGR denying LIV’s application to receive certification and points. They discuss how both groups seem to be marginalized and in need of fixing, and why the decision has some merit and where it might be clearly susceptible to critique. They discuss Phil’s tweets on the matter, and if the players collective bargaining for more of the overall majors cut will play well when only a couple of the players and a couple of the events truly matter. The TGL additions, who are not Blockie, are also discussed. Ben An’s three-month suspension for violating the PGA Tour’s drug policy is also reviewed, as both overly harsh or overly soft. They close with Friday’s Golf Advice on another handicap issue for a buddies trip and calling out someone teeing up in front of the markers.

12 Okt 20231h

This Wednesday episode begins with an apology for the disasters of Monday, but also some tales from the road, including an angry and offended listener confronting Andy in real life on a certain take. Then Brendan relays an incredible Tosti Tale from this past week’s PGA Tour card award ceremony at the Korn Ferry Tour finals. This leads to a detour into whether or not Tosti is in the Shriners Field, which results in a discussion that is the mess of the PGA Tour fall right now. Status and field exemptions can be incongruous. Also, the “Framework Agreement” with the PIF may be dead and where does that leave things? The Hatgate controversy follow-up that got cut off from the end of Monday’s episode is also updated here with a few more thoughts that didn’t make it into that recording. Blockie’s continued tour, now with Tiger Woods, is also covered.

10 Okt 202332min

This Monday episode probably did not need to exist, but a worse-for-the-wear Brendan gets Andy on the horn for 30 minutes to review some of the weekend that was in golf. They begin, however, with an amusing unsubstantiated rumor about Viktor Hovland’s music listening. Then they get to some of their own tales from the road before flipping to the Chicken Championship and a wild Luke List victory in a five-man playoff. The KFT finals are given an accounting, with some sadness for the Gas Man missing out on a card for a silly rule. There’s also some more Tosti talk as well as some props for the Epson Tour card advancers, but not its executive tweeting angrily about the newsletter. Lastly, they close with a Michael Bamberger piece on Hatgate that sheds some light on some of the positions of Cantlay and how that story may have blown up into the runaway train it became in Rome.

9 Okt 202330min

This Friday episode was recorded before the Bears-Commanders Thursday night game, but that doesn’t stop an opening rant of dejection from Andy about the present and future state of his team. Then they get into a whiparound Friday that begins with JT tweeting about media coverage and Brooksy’s apparent disapproval as well. Then they move to Freddie Couples spilling some tea on the specifics of what happened with the Rory McIlroy confrontation with Joe LaCava at the Ryder Cup. LIV’s OWGR fate is also mentioned. Luke Donald getting a repeat captaincy is discussed. Lexi Thompson’s exemption to the Shriners is debated. And TGL signing a rights deal with ESPN as well as previewing its new arena is covered. They close with an SGS Golf Advice on violent bosses, handicap cartels, and buddies trip dynamics.

6 Okt 20231h 8min

It’s a punchy Wednesday episode as Andy and Brendan are giddy about post-Ryder Cup developments. They begin with the addition of an “Andrew Waterman” to the Dunhill links at the real Old Course. They giggle about the need for a pseudonym in a real European Tour event, and the inclusion of five LIV players in one of its preeminent events. Then they turn their attention to Daddy Schauffele, the subject of several articles with comments focused on player compensation in the Ryder Cup. There are some amusing comps and several critiques of the comments, support for some of the notions put forth, and the menacing mention of “courts” having a potential say in the debate. There’s also some ire for Schauffele and Cantlay. Schedule for the week hits on the KFT finals and what exactly is at stake, including the potential for Ale Tosti to finish No. 1 overall in the points and have full status for next year. This leads to a couple more Tosti Tales. The beloved Sanderson, its field, and some favorite groups are given the final say in a rambling episode.

4 Okt 202356min

Andy and Brendan are live from their B. Draddy Den after a weekend watching the Ryder Cup and bombing around the New York area. The USA made it interesting on Sunday, but in the end, it was a highly questionable concession by Rickie Fowler that put a European team that started the day with a big lead over the top to take back the cup. They dissect the full day of singles matches in the aftermath of the continued fallout with Rory McIlroy trying to storm the USA locker room to confront Joe LaCava. That ongoing drama, as well as Cantlay hat-gate, is discussed in addition to the actual golf in the form of some MVPs and LVPs for each side. They attempt an autopsy at what went wrong on the losing side, with several people and circumstances playing into the failure. They do the same for the winning side and praise the work of Luke Donald in contrast to Zach Johnson. Thanks to B. Draddy for their support all week and for you listening and letting SGS do this.

1 Okt 20231h 14min

Andy and Brendan jump on the horn immediately following another full, dramatic, amusing day at the Ryder Cup in Rome. They’re fresh from watching Patrick Cantlay put together a dazzling finish to take the last point of the day, one which included a report that he had become the center of a divisive USA team room. Zach Johnson’s tactics are called into question again, especially his apparent intervention on a tee box with a buddy system duo of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas that’s scuffled through three of four sessions. There’s praise for USA MVP Max Homa, the lionhearted old head Justin Rose, and many others. There is not praise for Brooks Koepka, who was awful in an record-losing performance in the morning. They close with some thoughts on the possibility of a Sunday comeback and where the captains may look for hope, or signs of trouble.

30 Sep 202356min