The Shotgun Start - podcast cover

The Shotgun Start

Fried Egg Golfanchor.fm
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.
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Episodes

Monday night at the Masters: One Take

This was a quick impromptu episode from the kitchen as we waited for the NCAA national title game to start at a preposterously late hour. Andy and Brendan are joined by Sean Martin and Kyle Porter for a quick one take from each around the table on the Masters or characters relevant to it this year.

Apr 04, 202317 min

Early intel from Augusta, Koepka’s LIV win means…, Rose and Mr. Zhang’s moment

Andy and Brendan are BACK in Augusta for the first of many in-person recordings this week at the Masters. They begin with some amusing early intel on, who else, Woosie, after a few hours at Augusta National on Sunday afternoon. Then it’s on to Sunday’s action, focusing on the Corey Conners and Brooks Koepka wins. They play a quick game of whether Brooksy’s win at LIV Orlando means anything and makes him a top 15 favorite for the Masters. Garrett Morrison then joins for an ANWA segment after his ...

Apr 03, 20231 hr

Joel Beall on his Augusta reporting, Ryan Nanni on LIV Orlando and Golf Advice

It’s the last episode before we officially hit Masters week, and Brendan consults with two talented experts for two very different segments. Golf Digest's Joel Beall joins first to discuss his fantastic and lengthy recent story on Augusta National and its tension between continued expansion and its history and identity. Beall describes the reporting process of talking to 70-plus sources, including several members, what surprised him about ANGC’s plans, the DOJ antitrust probe’s impact inside the...

Mar 30, 20231 hr 11 min

Masters hype, LIV preps for Augusta at Crooked Cat, and Trout National with Shane Bacon

Shane Bacon graces us with his voice and presence for this Wednesday episode, which begins with a few Masters odds and ends as the hype and build-up begins with the tournament just a week away. Shane and Brendan discuss some early storylines, including the looming LIV arrival and commingling with PGA Tour pros on the grounds at Augusta National. Will there actually be tension or confrontation? In schedule for the week, they relay some amusing TPC San Antonio stories, make one-and-done picks, and...

Mar 28, 202354 min

Match Play goes out with a bang and an angry players meeting in Puntacana

Andy jumps on from his vacation but minus a mic cord so apologies for the sound quality. Brendan joins to discuss a fabulous WGC Match Play from Austin, where everything and everyone delivered and certainly made the Tour’s choice to end the event look worse and worse each day. They praise the top players, including Bermuda Burns, for all showing out on one of the better weekends in the event’s history. They discuss Rory McIlroy’s amazing drive to three feet and how it became a stupid talking poi...

Mar 27, 202351 min

Alarm in the top 10, the U.S. Am changes, TaylorMade’s “survey” and SGS Golf Advice

This Friday episode is a potpourri of thoughts on the Match Play and Puntacana championships. Andy and Brendan ponder which elite player from last year should be more concerned given recent runs of form: Will Zalatoris or Matt Fitzpatrick? There’s also some quick Rickie appreciation following his takedown of Jon Rahm. Then they get into the USGA making some significant changes to the qualifying processes for the U.S. Amateur, its original championship. They discuss what those changes will do to ...

Mar 23, 202355 min

Match Play swan song, In-Out-Alt for Puntacana, and TFE travel stories

This Wednesday episode is stunted by technical difficulties but you get a solid chat on the WGC Match Play and the PGA Tour’s curious decision to end it and abandon Austin. Andy and Brendan ponder what current event might be suitable for a match play spot on the schedule, and the Tour’s argument for why East Lake doesn’t work. This year’s edition of the Match Play is given some attention, with scariest and stinkiest pools chosen, drama about Rory’s equipment, and some one-and-done picks. At the ...

Mar 21, 202345 min

The pros get mad about “selfish” USGA rollback, LIV vs. NCAA tourney, and SGS Golf Advice

As a precaution, this Friday episode was recorded just before the Illinois NCAA tournament game. Andy and Brendan jump into the early tourney action delivering as always, and wonder what the hell LIV is doing scheduling its event opposite that. They also lament the peripheral and buried Phil Mickelson not really having a stage, or a relevant one, to offer comment on the ball rollback. Someone who does have a stage is Justin Thomas, and they go through his “rant” in Tampa about the selfish USGA, ...

Mar 16, 202355 min

USGA announces ball rollback, the PGA Tour’s response, and LIV trademark blocked

This Wednesday episode comes on the heels of the USGA and R&A announcing a “Model Local Rule” that would rollback the golf ball some 20 yards for elite male competition. Andy and Brendan talk at length about the announcement, how it will impact the highest levels of the game, what was missing from it, and if it went far enough in combating the distance problem. They discuss the backlash and reaction to it from OEMs like Titliest, players those companies pay like Webb Simpson, and the PGA Tou...

Mar 14, 20231 hr 14 min

Gold Boy Scheff, Sawgrass thoughts, and the DMCA-happy PGA Tour

It’s a Victory Monday episode for a few sundry reasons, and Andy and Brendan jump right into it discussing Scottie Scheffler’s dominant win at The Players Championship. They debate the label of his “boring” golf or personality that seems to be an issue for some, and praise the actual game, strategy, and execution show that he put on all weekend. They discuss his “generational” and “all-time” potential after yet another signature win. Then they play a back-and-forth game of “impressed vs. underwh...

Mar 13, 202359 min

A Fargiveness Fiasco, Pace Problems, and others notes from The Players

This Friday episode is a narrow-ranging review of the first round at The Players Championship, where Brendan has spent the week. They start with some of the driver drama with Collin Morikawa’s switch back to an old TaylorMade model and prompt first round 65, and Rory McIlroy struggling to find a new fit after worries his old one might be getting too hot. They also discuss Morikawa’s contention, and others, about driving accuracy becoming perhaps the most important part of putting together a good...

Mar 10, 202355 min

A rambling Players preview, Monahan speaks, and the demise of Gold Boy

Andy and Brendan are punchy for the Players preview, which will have you feeling as unprepared as ever for the PGA Tour’s gold standard. They react to the full day of press conferences following a players meeting in the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse. Jay Monahan’s hour at the mic is given a review, as is Rory McIlroy’s presser and others’ comments reacting to James Hahn and some grumbling from the middle tier. They talk a little about TPC Sawgrass and what continues to make it a unique event and test, ...

Mar 08, 20231 hr 13 min

A Kitty Kat, Spieth, and Rory keep the “Designated” momentum at Bay Hill

This Monday episode is a ramble with Brendan traveling to LUPLAND and Andy battling spotty wifi, but the two react to a delightful and amusing Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. They discuss Kurt Kitayama’s rise to win one of the game’s elite events, his unattractive game holding up against the likes of Spieth and Rory and Scheffler, and if Bay Hill truly delineates the best golfer from the week. There’s plenty of ammo for the “just a guy” narrative from the sketchy drop to the putting at...

Mar 06, 202352 min

Framework for a new “designated” PGA Tour revealed, and SGS Golf Advice

This Friday episode begins with an extended chat on the Illinois basketball player who missed time for drinking too much Monster. Then Andy and Brendan jump into the news of the framework for designated events in 2024. They disagree, quite often, about the importance of removing the cut and the field sizes being just 70 or 78 players. They also discuss the scheduling or bunching of designated and non-designated events, and how those fields will be built on the qualification criteria of various c...

Mar 02, 20231 hr 22 min

Bay Hill appreciation and the context LIV lacks, and a PR Open field guessing game

It’s Wednesday so Andy and Brendan begin with a debate about high school basketball. Then they get to Bay Hill and another designated event on the docket. That results in an unplanned follow-up on LIV and some of its issues surrounding context and getting off the ground with delusional revenue goals. They also discuss the paltry ratings numbers that have come out in recent days. On Bay Hill, they discuss what they’ve come to actually appreciate about the API as a test for pro golfers and year-ov...

Feb 28, 202359 min

LIV’s sluggish start and uncertain future, Kirk nearly hits a Honda, Non-designated delights

It’s a lively Monday episode that begins with the discussion of some bland weekend home maintenance projects. Then Andy and Brendan get into the finish at the Honda Classic, where Chris Kirk nearly hit a Honda parked in the middle of the pond at the 18th. There’s some amusing intel on that activation, and a little praise for the potential niche that a non-designated event could carve. Then they review the LIV season two debut, wondering where the momentum or proof of concept may come from next a...

Feb 27, 202358 min

Intel and angst from DLF, LIV shenanigans in Mexico, and SGS Golf Advice

It’s Friday! Andy and Brendan jump into it with some early thoughts on the Burly Boy from England by way of Louisiana, the Baton Boy at home in Florida, and a Coody immediately popping on the Honda leaderboard. There’s an audio “Design Disasters” segment after Brendan woke up to a 3-minute rant from a Euro Tour caddie on the 17th at DLF, which demanded further investigation. Then they get to the LIV season opener, and all the social media stunts the players have had to partake in down in Mexico....

Feb 24, 202347 min

Phil’s tedious LIV team, Bubba’s offseason moves, and the glorious return of DLF

This Wednesday episode begins with some important decisions and marital kerfuffles on the home improvement scene. Then Brendan and Andy get to the final announcement of the LIV teams, with some incredulous words for the way Phil Mickelson is spending some of the sunset days of his career. Conversely, there’s great admiration and surprise for Captain Bubba’s team-building philosophies. News of tape-delayed coverage on the CW is also discussed, and whether that matters for overall numbers. They al...

Feb 22, 202350 min

A Designated delivery of Rahm-Homa at Riviera, Tiger optimism, LIV signs Pieters

Andy and Brendan begin this Monday episode after a highlight of the PGA Tour schedule by discussing some childcare angst. Then they quickly jump into a fabulous weekend of golf from Rivieria, where Jon Rahm ascended to world No. 1 with another win and Max Homa pushed him down the stretch. They hit on the notion of Rahm as “clearly” the best player in the world, if not most consistent. They praise Homa’s post-game comments and continued approach pushing the best in the world down the stretch of p...

Feb 20, 20231 hr 4 min

A thirstbucket tracks Tiger on the ground, Riviera field foibles, a LIV personality quiz

Andy and Brendan are bouncing into Friday after that exhilarating Thursday night finish at Riviera, where a new thirstbucket of the century was born. Andy relays a few notes from the ground after following the Tiger, Rory, and JT supergroup and seemingly ending up like Waldo in the background of every shot. There are some optimistic thoughts on Tiger, a few comments on playing with his “friends,” and getting the real deal product in the same week that the Netflix show has gotten so much of the a...

Feb 17, 202357 min

Tiger’s back, Moving Riv out of February, and J.B. Holmes’s pool

It’s an unfocused Wednesday episode that regrettably, or fortunately, comes during the best week of the PGA Tour season. Andy has driven down to Los Angeles and reports from his first day on the ground about a wild encounter on the Riviera steps. They also preview the Genesis, but not without pondering if it’s getting lost in the schedule or if February is the best time for such a high-profile peak on the schedule. There’s a wild divergence on J.B. Holmes drawing a tee time with Will Zalatoris, ...

Feb 15, 202353 min

A sChef in the Pancake Zone, Xander’s sketchy ruling, and wimpy layups

Andy and Brendan ignore the start of the Super Bowl to record this Monday episode on a strong weekend at the designated debut of the Phoenix Open. They discuss Scottie Scheffler’s return to No. 1 in the world and how he enters the Pancake Zone without having his “best stuff” in a loaded event with some difficult playing conditions. But there’s also some early scorn for the layup approaches taken by Nick Taylor and Jordan Spieth as they tried to chase down Scheffler. The sketchy Xander Schauffele...

Feb 13, 202346 min

Bryson’s messy divorce with Cobra, NBA vs. LIV trade deadlines, SGS Golf Advice

The weekend is nigh, and a giddy Brendan and Andy bounce around on a variety of topics from the WMPO “wasted” hats, the biggest tree in the world, and mushroom-watching. Then they dive into a Golfweek article on Bryson DeChambeau testing clubs at Ping, with some spicy comments from Cobra about his deluded demands and fraught history with his first pro equipment partner. Then they discuss Hudson Swafford’s 81 in Oman and if he parlayed a “contract year” into a quiet quitting situation. As the NBA...

Feb 09, 20231 hr

Is Phoenix the Tour’s most important event and LIV rebranded teams arrive

Andy and Brendan begin this Wednesday episode running down the “content bonanza” as Pebble wraps up, the influencers arrive in Phoenix, new LIV logos are unveiled, the PGA Tour gets new website, Titleist makes a film, and the Swilcan patio controversy continues. All this before some Monday cleanup on an underplayed Justin Rose story from his win at Pebble. Then it’s on to the shhhedule for the week, which involves a wide-ranging discussion on the designated debut of the Phoenix Open and how it m...

Feb 08, 20231 hr 4 min

Pebble problems, A new build-a-player, insane Swilcan Bridge outrage

Andy and Brendan record this late Sunday episode with some reactions from a wind-and-weather delayed weekend at Pebble Beach. Andy is back from the grounds with some more tidbits and insights, and some questions about Brent Grant, specifically who he is. There’s also chatter about Justin Rose, Peppy Peter, Andy mushing Denny McCarthy’s hot round, and the future of the event after another underwhelming field this year. They also discuss CBS’s shot predictor feature in what was a weekend of love f...

Feb 06, 202353 min

3 days of preferred lies, WGC Austin no more, SGS Golf Advice

This Friday episode begins with the “Geronimo Test” and the $100,000 price for something called the Smash GC Family Package. Then Brendan and Andy reflect on Brooks Koepka playing in Oman the week of the Phoenix Open. There is some Dynapower scoop from Andy’s day out at the Pebble Pro Am, as well as some Kitty Kat facts. They review the wonders of Martin Trainer’s website, which proudly claims anti-American and socialist views. There’s exasperation over three days of preferred lies at Pebble bec...

Feb 03, 202351 min

Reed’s statement signifying nothing, Bubba’s new LIV team name, Pebble’s fall

This was supposed to be a short one, but all manner of news, schedules, and Euro Tour names are discussed over the course of this hour. Andy and Brendan begin with Pat Reed issuing a statement no one asked for, satisfied no one, and only re-loaded another round of further scrutiny on him after Dubai. They also get to Bubba Watson’s quote from the Saudi International that he joined LIV because his 10 year old knew the team names. They also laugh about Phil claiming he’s “disengaging” from the dra...

Feb 01, 20231 hr 4 min

Rory beats Binoculars Boy in Dubai, more Reed rules drama, and Homa just keeps winning

Andy and Brendan waited for the Dubai Desert Classic to finish before recording this Monday episode, and man were they rewarded with both substance and catnip. They begin with Rory McIlroy manning up in the final round, finishing birdie-birdie to edge Pat Reed by a shot in what was an entire week of drama between the two on and off the course. They try to contextualize what it might mean to win in January for a player at a level where the majors are usually all that matters. On Reed, there is a ...

Jan 30, 20231 hr 8 min

Flicking tees in Dubai, Seminole bans LIV boys from Pro-Member, SGS Golf Advice

Andy and Brendan close out the week with a Friday ramble on the drama and intrigue in Dubai both on the course and off the course. There is a diversion, however, to highlight the All-Burly team following up on the Kenneth Lofton chat from Wednesday. The Rory-Reed kerfuffle is covered with the new, added context of subpoenas. They ponder whether Rory should have gotten in Reed’s face and also the veil of some notion of a “gentleman’s game” being long gone. They wonder whether the Euro Tour’s best...

Jan 26, 20231 hr 4 min
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