The Shotgun Start

Do we have proper major setup or a total sham on our hands at the Aronimink for the PGA Championship? The golf course setup debates are raging in Philadelphia, as the PGA pushes pins to the corners and a leaderboard has condensed going to the weekend. Andy and Brendan get into some of the setup quibbles, what the data is saying, and just how enjoyable it has been to watch over the first two rounds despite some online chatter. Then they get into the stars like Scottie, Rory, Blockie, and the leaders like Smalley, Potty, McNealy, and Gotterup. Some missed cut disappointments like Bryson DeChambeau are called out before KVV joins late to discuss his impressions at the 36-hole mark in Philly, including some reaction to late Rory comments on the setup not being great.

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What a day! Andy and Brendan are giddy from a Thursday at the PGA Championship that delivered a cornucopia of delights from Blockie rumbling back into our lives, Bryson DeChambeau’s dumb coat, an AI PGA Assistant that went haywire, and the incredible Garrick Higgo late-to-the-tee penalty and explanation. They begin with some Aronimink course thoughts, hailing the Donald Ross design, the greens, and the test that came stiffer than what was imagined. They discuss some stars that flopped, like Bryson and Rory, and others who soared, like Scottie and Potty. They close it out with the “real” leaderboard and some Storylines Nobody's Talking About as we head to day two at the PGA.

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Andy and Brendan return just in time to preview the second major championship of 2026! Brendan is on-site at Aronimink Golf Club outside of Philadelphia and spent his Tuesday gathering plenty of nuggets on subjects including Michael Block's speaking fees, Rory McIlroy's toe blister, and player issues with PGA of America Setup Czar Kerry Haigh. Andy provides insight into the Donald Ross-designed course and illuminates some setup issues facing the world's best this week due to modern equipment. The two bring in The Boys to make the all-important Gambling Pod Picks as the crew looks to stay unreasonably hot and select the winner of a second consecutive major. Andy and PJ cooked up a dozen Philly-themed Storylines Nobody's Talking About, calling out past Philadelphia sports moments and connecting them to players in this week's field. This episode has all the usual SGS Preview flair, from Best/Worst Tee Times, player-specific previews, and use of the Blockie button on the soundboard. We will be back with daily episodes following each round this week!

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SGS goes to the bullpen as PJ and Kevin Van Valkenburg slide into the big chairs for a late Sunday recording. The two aren't entirely sure how they got here, but they applaud Andy for taking the night off to celebrate the Bulls securing a top-four pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Things stay on the rails to start, as PJ and Kevin quickly get into another "juice-less" week at Quail Hollow for the Truist Championship. Kristoffer Reitan broke through for his first PGA Tour win after getting into this Signature Event on the Aon Swing 5 list, defeating a smattering of European Ryder Cup hopefuls like Alex Fitzpatrick and Nicolai Hojgaard. Reitan successfully navigated the "Green Mile" to round out his Sunday and got to show off an unlikely sponsor during his winner's interview on CBS. Kevin is quick to jump on a runner-up finish for Rickie Fowler and suggests that a Rickie win at the PGA could be the best possible outcome for the sport of golf. PJ is concerned about a "Space Jam" situation unfolding after Justin Thomas bragged about stealing Cameron Young's putter and a tough Sunday on the greens cost Cam a back-to-back win. There's also plenty of Jordan Spieth discussion after he resurrected the "go get that" moment early in an uncompetitive week. In other news, Team USA's captain has won on the PGA Tour yet again! Brandt Snedeker took home the title at the OneFlight Myrtle Beach Classic, his first win since 2018, but was quick to note that he has absolutely no plans to play in the Presidents Cup this fall. He is excited to play in his first major since 2021 this week, and PJ suggests keeping a close eye on who Snedeker tees it up with in practice rounds at Aronimink. Lucas Herbert went wire-to-wire at LIV Virginia, holding off a charging Anthony Kim on Sunday and securing his spot in the 2026 U.S. Open. In a very important installment of Champions Tour Minute, PJ recaps Boo Weekley's win at the Insperity Invitational and shares a special shoutout that Boo received from a famous friend on social media. Overseas, Yurav Premlall might've been the most unlikely DP World Tour winner of all time at this week's Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, and Chris Wood returned to the winner's circle to round out this week of 2016 throwbacks. In news that we couldn't make up if we tried, professional wrestling company AEW held a show in the SoFi Dome on Saturday featuring wrestlers tackling each other into the very same bunkers that Kevin Kisner hit shanks in for Marty Smith's entertainment! Eamon Lynch also sat down with new PGA of America CEO Terry Clark to get the scoop on Don Rea's whereabouts (among other things) as we arrive at the year's second major championship. Andy and Brendan will return on Tuesday night for a LIVE preview of the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club!
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Brendan is joined by The Boys for another installment of Golf's Preeminent Birthday Podcast, this time celebrating both Cameron Young and, of course, Brendan! himself. Joseph LaMagna comes in fresh off his first round of 2026 and admits he's been having trouble sleeping as of late, leading things perfectly into another Pillow Talk segment to kick off this Friday show. It was a sleepy Thursday round at a rain-soaked Quail Hollow for the Truist Championship where Matt McCarty leads at the conclusion of play. Joseph and Brendan take stock of the Truist as an event and Quail Hollow as a PGA Tour venue, making its return to the regular schedule after hosting last year's PGA Championship. Speaking of the PGA Championship, the "special invitations" into next week's field went out over the past few days and Joseph is taking exception to some invitees getting in ahead of Canada's sweetheart Sudarshan Yellamaraju. The bulk of this episode is spent on more news from LIV Virginia as seemingly everyone is now free to speak their mind about the league and its future. Brendan, Joseph, and PJ run through quotes and posts from Ian Poulter, Anirban Lahiri, Graeme McDowell, and Bryson DeChambeau after the latest rounds of media availability. Bryson seems to have a misunderstanding of the PGA Tour's social media policy and admits that it could factor into his decision about where to play in the future if he doesn't re-sign with the Crushers. The trio wonders if Bryson now sees himself as a YouTuber more than a Professional Golfer and how that mindset will impact his choices moving forward. Brendan then takes The Boys back to the 2005 Wachovia Championship for Flashback Friday, remembering Sergio Garcia blowing a record-tying six-shot lead after 54 holes. Things wrap up with some assorted amusements from the world of sports and Joseph's initial thoughts on next week's PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. We will return on Monday for another week of major championship golf, including live shows on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

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