Justin Thomas critiques Ryder Cup green speeds, Tiger talks Rolapp’s “scarcity” schedule, and Aus Open delights
It's time to put the Year in Review on pause for a loaded week of golf in December. Andy and Brendan are relieved to be talking about current events and the content gods have delivered, providing nuggets spanning from Bethpage to the Bahamas. They begin with the Hero World Challenge and its host "Doctor" Munjal. Brendan calls for an early Thirstbucket of the Week following his yearly media availability in Albany and questions what he's a doctor of after all. PJ chimes in with some quick research finding that his doctorates may or may not be honorary, leading Andy to refer to him as "Mr. Munjal" for the rest of the show. Tiger Woods also spoke on Tuesday about his playing future and the future of the PGA Tour. He stayed in line with reports about Brian Rolapp's 20-event schedule coming as soon as 2027 and confirmed that he'll be OUT for Jup Links in the first half of the TGL season. Brian Rolapp found himself in front of a microphone last week and made sure to mention that the "middle class matters," which is sure to put the minds of mules at ease. In more from the Ryder Cup that will never end, Justin Thomas appeared on the No Laying Up podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the American loss at Bethpage. Within the interview, JT took exception to the green speeds at The People's Country Club and said that they were not what Keegan Bradley asked for. He stated that "they" argued with the Americans about the speed, which was aggregated to no end on social media. On the very (too?) busy Schedule for the Week, the Hero has brought in outside help for its Pro-Am, Rory is teeing it up at Royal Melbourne with Dr. Chipinski, and Will Zalatoris makes his return at the Nedbank in South Africa. With almost all of the world's top players in action this week, Andy and Brendan wonder if there are some scheduling issues that lead to three tournaments spreading out the top-end talent as opposed to getting them all in one place to compete against each other. Lastly, the Skechers World Champions Cup will somehow air on ESPN and ABC this weekend, so PJ has a full primer ready to go for those tuning in for their first Champs Tour action of the year. Friday's episode will contain a full, detailed discussion about TGL's Gil Hanse intro video that set Golf Twitter ablaze on Tuesday afternoon.
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1:03:22
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1:03:22
The 2025 Year in Review, Part 3
A Year in Review episode on the first of the month, AND it's a Victory Monday? Andy and Brendan are in high spirits following the holiday weekend and are joined by KVV and PJ for the third installment of the 2025 Year in Review. For those unaware, the date is December 1 and the Chicago Bears are atop the NFC standings. Andy can't believe what he's seeing and is still rolling following a big Black Friday win over the defending Super Bowl champions. The crew discusses David Puig's win at the Australian PGA and some other assorted notes from the first of two weeks down under for the DP World Tour before moving on to the Year in Review. KVV gets called in from the bullpen to handle the WM Phoenix Open to kick things off. He regales his audience with tales of Andy selling off property on "Just a Guyland" before Spieth popped at TPC Scottsdale and dives into LIV's 2025 kickoff in Riyadh. Brendan then takes the baton and looks back on a "muted" Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. This event moved from Riviera due to the LA fires and was the week after Tiger's mom passed away, leading to a more subdued event than usual. Andy brightens the mood by unpacking the TGL Presidents' Day marathon and what was perhaps the true "Event of the Year," the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld. Everyone takes a great amount of joy as the pillow fight of a playoff between Brian Campbell and Aldrich Potgieter is pored over in great detail. Lastly, PJ closes out this episode with some more TGL memories, including the league's first-ever one day signing and Brendan's second trip to the SoFi Dome. Jake Knapp's big week at the Cognizant Classic is also discussed, but the true news of the week came in the form of letters to Sam Saunders regarding exemptions into the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. We will put the Year in Review on pause for a few shows as pro golf heads to one of the world's finest courses for the Australian Open and PGA Tour stars will tee it up at the Hero World Challenge this week.
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2:02:57
The 2025 Year in Review, Part 2
The Year in Review rolls on with this second installment covering the penultimate Farmers Insurance Open and Rory McIlroy's win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Recording this episode well before its release, Brendan and Andy wonder how they'll be feeling on Friday morning as you're listening to this after a day of turkey and football. With the addition of TGL to the early-year golf calendar, these weeks have taken longer to review causing this episode to focus on just two events. PJ jumps in to handle the Farmers at Torrey Pines. Sure, Harris English won his fifth PGA Tour event, but the true highlight of this week was Billy Horschel's TGL debut. PJ recaps the Atlanta Drive's first-ever victory, as well as some important interviews from PGA of America leaders (not the one you're thinking of... yet). Andy then is tasked with presenting on Rory's win at one of golf's great venues, Pebble Beach. This week marked the return of both Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth from injury, as well as Bryson DeChambeau's content-filled trip to DLF in India. Part 3 of the 2025 Year in Review will be in your feeds for Monday morning!
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1:10:06
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1:10:06
The 2025 Year in Review, Part 1
It's time to be thankful for all that golf gave us in 2025. Andy and Brendan return for the always-dreaded (yet eventually enjoyable) exercise known as the Year in Review, back for its EIGHTH season! The two take a very quick look at this week's schedule and preview the return of the Skins Game as well as the first of two weeks in Australia before the long-awaited Year in Review gets underway. This installment, per usual, begins with The Sentry as Brendan remembers what may be the final PGA Tour event at Kapalua. He shares all the bits and pieces that come with the start of a new year, including equipment changes for Max Homa, the PGA Tour's new studio space, and Hideki's record-breaking week in Hawaii. Andy then jumps in to tackle the Sony Open, which ended in a playoff between two podcast favorites after J.J. Spaun fumbled in regulation. Andy also has the honor of introducing TGL to the Year in Review as the indoor league kicked off with an NYGC loss to The Bay. Brendan rounds out Part 1 by covering the "Tank Slam" at a glacially slow American Express and Tiger's TGL debut in the SoFi Dome. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the 2025 Year in Review coming Friday morning for your holiday weekend travels.
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1:39:45
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1:39:45
PGA Tour cutthroat card time, LIV unsubstantiated hot stove rumors, and Burly Boy Season
It’s Victory Monday on the Shotgun Start! Andy and Brendan are without PJ as the young lad takes in a Lions-Giants game. They get into the Big Fin, Sami Valimaki winning the RSM Classic and some amusing comments from DL3 about the next 15 years at the event where no changes are planned. They also discuss the bubble boys, including one Jordan Spieth, who missed the AON Next 10 by less than a point but will likely get a sponsor’s spot anyways to Pebble Beach. There’s a rousing LIV segment after Jose Ballester won the Saudi International and the hot stove heated up, including some Asian Tour grads, an Abe Ancer trade, and unsub rumors on a run at a potential Magic Stick. There’s also an amusing detail from some recent LIV GM meetings. They close with the LPGA’s CME Championship and an underwhelming season getting a deserving winner in Jeeno Thitikul. They also discuss the momentum the LPGA might have with Craig Kessler and how they can bottle it for some long term success and stability.
The Shotgun Start with Andy Johnson and Brendan Porath of Fried Egg Golf is a podcast waiting for you early in the morning that quickly blasts through a variety of topics (usually) related to golf and (ideally) relevant to the day. It covers news from the pro tours around the world, amusing and important topics from the amateur game the rest of us play, and some irreverent stuff in between. There will be short interviews, previews, reviews, and dives into the archives. It provides what you need to know on golf through a rapid and fun catch-up discussion.
Ireland