Is August good? Is Spieth good? Eye-popping amateur scores, and Golf Advice

This Friday episode continues the Year in Review, which is in the throes of major championship summer. But in 2023, those majors took a backseat to the summer bombshell of a PGA Tour and LIV, or PIF, “merger” announced out of the blue on June 6 on CNBC. This portion of the Year in Review picks up post-PGA with the full onset of Mike Block mania taking over the entire sports world, another amusing Memorial week, and then the merger announcement, players meetings, Jay interviews, and immediate fallout in the week of the Canadian Open. Does what was being said that week reflect the year-end reality now? This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next several weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

14 Dec 20231h 35min

Well, the mules have slowed Year in Review progress to a crawl. Brendan and Andy react to a letter from a law firm signed by 21 PGA Tour players from the “mule” category, or maybe something else, demanding to be heard and wanting transparency into the PGA Tour Policy Board’s process. They read down the list of names one by one trying to ascertain the motivation and success probability of this kicking and screaming. Then they also get into Tony Finau allegedly turning away from LIV to return to the PGA Tour, but the rumor hot stove just kicking back up in full force with a few other names. Q School finals are given event of the week with a few nuggets on its return. Then they get to the Year in Review Part 6, which is solely on the PGA Championship at Oak Hill and the arrival of Michael Block into our lives. It’s a wonderful trip down memory lane when time split in two, Before Blockie and After Blockie, as well the return of Brooks to the major winner’s circle.

13 Dec 20231h 47min

It’s Victory Monday! Andy and Brendan delight in their teams’ Sunday success before looking ahead to the highly anticipated Bears-Browns clash this coming week. Then they get into the memo from the PGA Tour Policy Board announcing that they’ve singled out, unanimously, a funding partner in Strategic Sports Group, inclusive of Fenway, to proceed with in negotiations in conjunction with the PIF. They discuss what this might mean for the future of the Tour, where it stands now with Rahm gone, Cantlay allegedly having more power, and Jordan Spieth pushing back on that narrative. The second half is Part 5 of The 2023 Year in Review, picking up with Andy playing Augusta National, the RBC Heritage week, an amusing never-before-told Bob Parsons story, and closing out with the Byron Nelson.

11 Dec 20231h 50min

This Friday episode begins with the slew of reports that Jon Rahm is leaving the PGA Tour to go to LIV. Andy and Brendan discuss this rampant rumor in recent weeks becoming more “official” and what might be motivating Rahm, in addition to the obvious financial carrots. They discuss the move within the context of the Framework Agreement negotiations, which are apparently being alpha’d by Patrick Cantlay and in a state of chaotic gridlock. Is the Rahm signing a “come to Yasir” moment during the Tour’s fiddling days? They also discuss the official rollback announcement, the Tour’s response to it, and the potential for the driver head being up next for more regulation at the elite level. Then the close it out with some amusing SGS Golf Advice to lighten the mood.

7 Dec 20231h 2min

With a stomach bug raining hell down on one of their houses, and awful Comcast internet service shutting things down multiple times, the world continues to conspire against the progress of the 2023 Year in Review series. But Andy and Brendan cobbled this Wednesday episode together, beginning with some more follow-up on the USGA rollback announcement and the continuing momentum toward a Jon Rahm to LIV deal. Then they get to the Year in Review, hitting the first men’s major of the year, the Masters, won by … Jon Rahm. It’s a timely look back at some issues that are quite hot in the current week, with also many of the regular Year in Review amusements. This is the usual SGS approach to the year in review, focusing more on the amusing, inane, and extraordinary and it will continue to roll out over the next several weeks in multiple parts to be enjoyed at your convenience during the holiday season.

6 Dec 20231h 34min

Whew, what a weekend from the golf content gods! Andy and Brendan come primed and ready for this Monday episode, beginning with the report in Golf Digest that the governing bodies are now considering a universal rollback of the golf ball as opposed to just a local rule for elite pros. They discuss the many player reactions to this news, from the hysterical quotes from some of the pros down at the Hero to Rory’s return to tweeting and Tiger’s reiterated takes. They discuss what the rollback might actually mean and where the USGA might have failed to control the release of this update over the weekend. Then they get to some of Tiger’s play in the Bahamas as well as the Collin Morikawa two-shot penalty that Matt Fitzpatrick called out to an official, who ticked off Morikawa by showing up “five minutes late” to their meeting. The continued rumors of Jon Rahm going to LIV are also covered, with the potential for that becoming a reality as soon as Monday? Will he be a Cleek? The back half discusses an anonymous memo to PGA Tour membership and some truly insane Chris Stroud comments about the players not having a voice or being taken care of on Tour.

4 Dec 20231h 26min

It’s Friday! And the first of the month! And Brendan’s internet is absolutely awful. But Andy and he march on through the spotty connection to get to the weekend with some initial reactions on the first round of the Hero World Challenge. They discuss Tiger’s first 18 holes, Will Zalatoris’s new broomstick, Collin Morikawa learning how to sit down again, and Spieth’s potential “momentum” narrative taking root. Then they get to some more rumors that Jon Rahm may go to LIV, or may have a deal soon. They react to Jay Monahan’s comments at the CNBC summit as well and ponder more on where the Tour may be headed in this dark month of December. The field for the LIV qualifying event is also dissected in great detail with appreciation for many favorites and familiar names. They close it out with a Golf Advice on a boss potentially trading a trip to Pebble Beach for … a “Chicago-area” course.

30 Nov 202358min

Andy and Brendan pause the progress in the Year in Review for this “regular” Wednesday episode to celebrate the return of Tiger Woods at the Hero World Challenge. They discuss Tiger’s health and 2024 prognosis, which seems promising, and then transition to his less-than-promising update on Framework Agreement and PGA Tour investment negotiations. Why do things seem gridlocked and “murky” to use Tiger’s term? It does not sound like the year-end deadline will be met. Is this a matter of PGA Tour players simply unable to get over their colleagues who took the LIV bag and allow them back? Is LIV even in a better spot right now? This unplanned detour then whips back to an amusing article on JT’s gluten-free diet potentially being the cause of his tumble down the world rankings this year. They also hit on the schedule for the week and Paul McGinley taking Paul Azinger’s chair, at least for the time being.

29 Nov 202350min