The Shotgun Start

Fried Egg Golf

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.

  1. 19 hr ago

    The “new era” of American golf, Lytham closes out 2026 majors, Cantlay lurks

    The first Victory Monday of August belongs to the Ballfrogs! Andy, Noah Kahan, and Niall Horan are all celebrating today after Boston Common star Michael Thorbjornsen won the Rocket Classic for his first PGA Tour win. Brendan and Andy discuss the final event at Detroit Golf Club, which looked great on television following a renovation... just in time for the event to no longer exist! They take a look at the FedEx Cup standings heading into the final week of the regular season and try to put a stop to the "new era of American golf" talking points circulating after back-to-back wins by young stars. The two recap the final major of 2026, the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Shiho Kuwaki took down Esther Henseleit in a playoff. After another major win by a Japanese player, Andy wonders why the LPGA does not spend more time or even move one of the five majors to Japan in order to capitalize on the country's growing dominance within the sport. PJ chimes in with a brief Champions Tour Minute to discuss Zatch's win at Ernie's Place before Andy recaps the weekend at the Western Am, including another stint on the bag for match play. In news, the Arnold Palmer Invitational has announced that it will be a Championship Series event in 2028, making Andy and Brendan wonder why the Tour is rolling out these announcements one by one on each different business day. Which event will be tapped for Championship status next? We'll have to wait and see!   Preorders for Fried Egg Golf Volume 2 are open now through September 4th, to begin shipping October 7th. Go grab yours at proshop.thefriedegg.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 4 days ago

    A mystery LIV rescue investor, Caddie corner, and SGS Golf Advice

    A good old-fashioned Summer Friday episode has graced your feeds. Brendan is especially giddy after a 61(!) from Peppy Peter Malnati kicked off the final Rocket Classic. He and Andy discuss the PGA Tour’s new “silent feed” and other early returns from a new-look Detroit Golf Club. There is a bit of golf news to discuss, as the New York Post has reported that LIV will receive an investment of $250m at some point in September to keep the league afloat. Andy compares this number to the reported asks and offers to Bryson DeChambeau earlier this year and wonders if it’ll be enough sustain whatever “LIV 2.0” may be. After “Caddie Minute” on Wednesday’s episode, Andy was called into duty by an Illini star at the Western Am. He takes Brendan through his day on the bag and implores anyone in the area to attend the final days of the event this weekend. Speaking of caddies, Charley Hull proudly pranked her looper into thinking he won $100,000 on a scratch-off. Brendan and PJ can’t believe that she’d proudly discuss this with anyone, much less during a major-week press conference, but Andy claims the world needs more pranks. There are no pranks discussed in a lengthy Golf Advice segment to round out this week of shows, but Andy and Brendan do answer questions about golf travel, bookies, and more! Celebrate the Summer of Cotton by using code SGS30 at bdraddy.com! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 5 days ago

    LIV cancels season ending championship, PGA Tour price tags going up, and Top events left in 2026

    With the Western Am at one of his favorite spots in Chicago, Andy is in a great mood for this Wednesday recording. To start things off, he gets Brendan going on the wonders of growing up as caddies and the lessons they learned at a young age that today's kids are missing out on due to their "silly apps." Eventually they get to pro golf, beginning with the latest news from what looks like LIV Golf's last stand. Flushing It has reported that the league will cancel its season-ending team championship in Michigan, leaving just two events left on the schedule. Andy compares these constant updates to the "world's longest funeral procession" as the reported September 1st deadline for new investors gets closer and closer. Brendan spent the morning looking at the rest of the year's calendar and tasked Andy and PJ with making lists of the five events they're most looking forward to after this week. There's plenty of Presidents Cup excitement, but a Solheim Cup, Walker Cup, and the U.S. Am at Merion are also reasons to stay tuned in through the fall. In this discussion, Brendan submits a new strategy for the International Team that may throw the Americans off at Medinah. As for this week's schedule, the Rocket Classic puts on its grand finale at a newly-renovated Detroit Golf Club, the AIG Women's Open rounds out another major season, and the Champions Tour is hanging at Ernie's Place in Portugal. The two wrap with news of the first two Championship Series sponsorships beginning in 2028 and the very hefty price tags that come with these naming rights.   Celebrate the Summer of Cotton by using code SGS30 at bdraddy.com! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. 27 Jul

    Jackson Koivun wins and the hype rockets, Presidents Cup roster debates, and LIV’s English farewell

    Has the PGA Tour's newest star finally arrived? Andy and Brendan went LIVE on YouTube on Sunday night for a lengthy recap of the 3M Open following Jackson Koivun's first PGA Tour win. Koivun held off a charging Scottie Scheffler at TPC Sod Farm, never allowing the lead to be closer than two shots during the final round. Andy and Brendan discuss what this victory means not only for Koivun's early career, but also for the future of the PGA Tour as they may have a new star to build around with the massive schedule changes coming in just two years. Andy highlights Koivun's competitiveness and poses that his mentality is the reason why he'll be different from past "young stars" like Matthew Wolff, Nick Dunlap, and Luke Clanton. Brendan then stops to give Scottie Scheffler his flowers after yet another runner-up finish, his fourth of this season. Koivun's Presidents Cup chances immediately became a topic of online conversation, so Andy and Brendan run through the U.S. standings and wonder if the "Boys Club" mentality will win out again for this year's event at Medinah. Other 3M amusements include a big week from Muzzy Donohue, an amazing visual from Lucas Glover, and a strong Sunday round from Jake Knapp. Elsewhere in results, Big Tom Morrison's hot streak on the Korn Ferry Tour led to a win, Jerry Kelly's "hockey brain" captured the senior Claret Jug, and Lucas Herbert made up for a Birkdale loss by winning LIV U.K. A Sports Minute focusing on LeBron James and Pete Crow-Armstrong closes out this episode, but Brendan tosses in a much-needed Nico Echavarria update for all those clamoring for one!   Celebrate the Summer of Cotton by using code SGS30 at bdraddy.com! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. 19 Jul

    2026 Open Championship Recap: Ryan Fox & Rules Drama Deliver Great Last Major

    This is a Proper Victory Monday episode following Ryan Fox's first major championship win! Andy and Brendan went LIVE on YouTube on Sunday afternoon to recap a whirlwind of a final round at Royal Birkdale. Of course, they begin with the 2026 Champion Golfer of the Year, Ryan Fox, who birdied the 18th hole to win in regulation and avoid a playoff with Cameron Young. Kevin Van Valkenburg stops by from the Open Media Center to share some notes from his afternoon following the final group, setting the scene for one of the best major finishes in recent memory. Brendan spent his time on the course with local hero Tommy Fleetwood and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, latter of whom found himself in a rules situation with the same walking official as Bryson's group on Friday. Brendan was front-and-center for one of the great TIO debates of our time and provides a bevy of information as to what was happening in the moment. He then gets Andy going on his thoughts on Royal Birkdale and the course's recent renovations that prepared it for this Open Championship before Andy continues on with some critiques of NBC's coverage throughout the weekend. There are plenty Storylines Nobody's Talking About to wrap the week, covering all-important Wikipedia Top Tens, Rory's work as a lead negotiator, and what was going down on Twitter during the Sunday broadcast. PJ gets tapped to share his thoughts on a runner-up finish for Cameron Young, whose score of -9 looked like it may hold up for the last 2.5 hours of the tournament. Thank you for following along during another year of daily major podcasts, and we look forward to doing it again in 2027!   Mercedes-Benz is proud to be an Official Patron of The Open Championship. Visit mbusa.com for more details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2026 Open Championship Recap: Ryan Fox & Rules Drama Deliver Great Last Major
  6. 18 Jul

    Saturday at the 2026 Open Championship: Burns leads, Rory reacts to “performative” Bryson as penalty debate rages

    Andy returned to join Brendan! for this beefy recap of moving day at Royal Birkdale. The two went LIVE on YouTube right after play ended to discuss the fallout from Bryson's two-stroke penalty, Rory McIlroy's response, and the actual golf tournament that's unfolding. Andy gives his take on the Bryson situation and the two-time major champion's impressive Saturday round that still has him in contention for his first Claret Jug. Rory McIlroy, pending insanity, is not in contention to win, but did offer some pointed thoughts about the penalty and the penalized player in his post-round press conference. Kevin Van Valkenburg stops in to share more thoughts from the ground, including some comments from other players about the penalty and how it was handled by the R&A. Brendan spent the day following the tournament's leader, Sam Burns, who looks to move past the heartbreak of Oakmont, Augusta, and Shinnecock and secure his first major on Sunday afternoon. Andy and Brendan play a lengthy game of Contender or Pretender, highlighting a strong top of the leaderboard after big Saturday rounds from Si Woo Kim and Ludvig Åberg. PJ is called to the carpet to explain Cameron Young's failure to launch despite his place in the penultimate group on Saturday and provides some context for Kevin Kisner's mid-day tweet-spree. To close things out, Brendan once again quizzes Andy on some of the insane official slogans of the Open Championship, found in various places around the golf course this week. We will return on Sunday evening with a comprehensive recap of the 2026 Open Championship and continued coverage of Bryson DeChambeau's latest exploits!   Mercedes-Benz is proud to be an Official Patron of The Open Championship. Visit mbusa.com for more details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Saturday at the 2026 Open Championship: Burns leads, Rory reacts to “performative” Bryson as penalty debate rages

About

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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