Podcast · Sport

The Shotgun Start

by Fried Egg Golf · English · Sport

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 impo

New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 1 hr 4 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 11 minNew

Rory talks LIV’s future in India, Golf’s wasteful era, and Austin Hitt(s) the PGA Tour

Brendan is once again joined by Joseph LaMagna as Andy is still on the run after a disastrous weekend for Chicago sports. BP is especially chipper given his Guardians took a 1-0 lead in the ALCS on Monday night, stealing a road game from the #1 seed Tampa Bay Rays. He opens the show with a bit of housekeeping regarding the next few weeks of programming before discussing the light Schedule for the Week. With the PGA Tour off, the focus is on the DP World India Championship and a field that features European Ryder Cup stars and other proper players. Among those in attendance is Rory McIlroy,…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

12 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 34 minNew
Bethpage Ryder Cup shame continues, Baycurrent and KFT classics, and Sports minute(s)
After what some (Brendan) have called a "shameful" weekend for the city of Chicago, Andy no-shows the podcast and leaves BP to clean up a weekend of golf with Joseph LaMagna. They kick things off with a Sports Minute discussing the a Bears blowout loss to the Packers, the ultimate mid-off between the Jets and Browns, and Arch Manning's letdown against Oklahoma. Despite the Texas loss, Joseph celebrates a Victory Monday just because of the Baycurrent Classic, one of his favorite events of the year. Brendan and Joseph discuss Michael Brennan's third win in just over 365 days as he took down a…
8 Oct 2026 · 54 min
The Rahm departs The LIV, Sergio aims for Ryder Cup 2027, and more USO Anchor Sites!
This Friday episode kicks off with a Playoff Baseball Minute following Andy's earlier declaration of support for the Chicago White Sox in their quest to eliminate Brendan's Guardians in the ALDS. Brendan says he's heard from dozens of Chicago fans who can't believe Andy's stance on rooting for both teams in the city, but Andy is too concerned about the continued dominance of the Milwaukee Brewers to care. He throws all of his support behind the Dodgers and convinces PJ to join him in rooting for a three-peat. Brendan is aghast at the notion that anyone would root for the Dodgers in 2026 due…
7 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Is ‘The LIV’ a tax asset or future golf league?, Furyk talks Ryder Cup in Ireland, and KFT apathy
At long last, LIV Golf has received part of its investment from BC Partners. Andy and Brendan return to break down the details of this "initial committed investment in LIV Golf" that became official late Monday night. This investment will help the league "emerge" from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and amended the terms of the original agreement, allowing two more weeks to build a roster for the 2027 season. BC Partners Credit head Ted Goldthorpe spoke at a Sportico event in London on Tuesday morning about the deal, repeatedly calling his new league "The LIV," which Brendan got a big kick out of.…
5 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Tom Kim plays his way out of military service, Blockie hit by cart, and KFT pitch and putt
Andy and Brendan went LIVE on YouTube for this Monday recording after a busy weekend of fall golf... and a Bears win over the Jets. Andy is particularly giddy about some postgame comments from the Bears defense calling Sunday's win "one of the easiest games" they've ever played in, and Brendan looks forward to the Browns stomping this same Jets team next week. From there, the two recap a loaded schedule of golf, beginning with Tom Kim's win at the Asian Games. Kim successfully won gold, exempting him from mandatory military service in South Korea and keeping his pro golf career on track.…
2 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Mid Am Victory Friday!, and future of PGA Tour rights deals and business offseason
Brendan! is calling for a Victory Friday for the city (or town?) of Cleveland following Andrew Bailey's win at the U.S. Mid-Am! BP is joined by PJ for a brief intro to this Friday show covering the Mid-Am final, early PGA Tour action in Utah, and Pete Crow-Armstrong's struggles in a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs. Brendan then brings on Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal for a look at the "Business Season" of professional golf. The two discuss a variety of topics including what's next for the PGA Tour's media rights deals, the continued search for sponsors for Championship and…
29 Sep 2026 · 44 min
The USGA's "venue malpractice," Reinstated am rage, & P-Cup cleanup
It's a busy week of golf as the calendar turns to October! Andy and Brendan are both ready for some playoff baseball and spend this episode previewing the six (6!) golf events taking place this weekend. First, there's a bit of Presidents Cup cleanup, with Brendan wondering if Jason Day would've put the Internationals over the top if he wasn't injured. Still buzzing from Medinah No. 3's starring role, Andy takes aim at governing bodies scheduling out major venues for the next 20 years and can't believe we won't see Medinah on a major stage again anytime soon. The two preview the Bank of Utah…
28 Sep 2026 · 2 hr 5 min
Was historic USA comeback in Presidents Cup the worst-case scenario for Ryder Cup?
Andy and Brendan reconvene after an enthralling weekend of golf in the great city of Chicago to recap the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah No. 3. Despite a three-point deficit heading into Sunday singles, Team USA pulled off a historic comeback and defeated the International Team 17-13. The two discuss the strategy decisions made by captains Brandt Snedeker and Geoff Ogilvy that shaped Sunday singles and standout performances by players on both teams. They debate whether a close win thanks to singles domination was actually the worst-case scenario for the Americans heading into a road Ryder…
26 Sep 2026 · 46 min
EMERGENCY POD: Is Team USA in trouble after Internationals sweep Friday at Presidents Cup?
Emergency podcast! Andy and Brendan are back from Medinah after day two at the Presidents Cup and they get on the horn to dissect an International whitewash, a 5-0 drubbing, of the USA side in alternate shot foursomes. There’s a mix of praise for this inspiring International punch after two days with plenty of blame for the USA side that had some really poor performances from some of their most tenured players in recent years like Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, and Xander Schauffele. Is Brandt Snedeker in over his head? Are we overreacting to a one-session whitewash? They go through…
25 Sep 2026 · 54 min
Presidents Cup MVPs, LVPs, ‘dead’ crowds, and a JT surge!
Andy and Brendan return from their day out at the Presidents Cup with some scuttlebutt, amusements, and insights with the USA leading the Internationals 3-2 after the first session. Between the two of them and the boys, they had the matches covered from the ground and return with notes from each - from Koivun’s debut to JT’s macho return to the Kims crushing Cantlay and Gotterup. They discuss the notion of the “dead” crowd that Wyndham Clark called out as well as the course playing tough through the first five matches. Did the Internationals let Scottie and Sam Burns…
23 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
Can there be a Medinah Miracle at the Presidents Cup?
Andy and Brendan convene after a couple days at Medinah taking the temperature of the 2026 Presidents Cup, and getting some troubling intel on Andy’s youthful indiscretions in Chicago. They react to the Day 1 lineup cards and the strategizing by each captain’s room as they set Four Ball for Thursdays. They react to some of the pairings, matchups, and highlight where the USA could be vulnerable and what needs to happen for the Internationals to have a chance come Sunday. There’s ample scuttlebutt from the grounds, including Andy being mistaken for an International team staff…
22 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
Live from Chicago: Brad Faxon tales & 2026 Presidents Cup Draft
What a way to kick off Presidents Cup week in one of America's two cities! Andy and Brendan were live at SPACE in Evanston, Illinois for a night of fun, discussing the return of one of golf's biggest events to the Chicago area, Bryson DeChambeau's latest YouTube exploit, and more. The two are then joined by NBC analyst and B. Draddy ambassador Brad Faxon. Brad shares stories from his time representing the United States at two Ryder Cups, details how he would fix American team golf, and previews what's to come on this weekend's NBC broadcast. The Boys then pop in for a hotly-contested…
21 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
J.J. Spaun calls out US Team snub after winning Wentworth, Pebble gets some work, & Chicago sports chaos
Suddenly, the 2026 Presidents Cup may have some juice! Andy and Brendan reconvene before Monday night's live show at SPACE in Evanston to clean up two highly-relevant results ahead of this week's festivities in Chicago. First, Andy has to recover from two of Chicago's sports stars - Alex Bregman and Caleb Williams - going down with injuries on Sunday afternoon and the Bears' quest for 17-0 being stopped in its tracks by Carson Wentz. To make things worse, PJ's Jets lost to the Packers in almost impossible fashion, robbing Andy of the satisfaction in an 0-2 Packers start. At least Deshaun…
17 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 28 min
The Preferred Lies Super Bowl, Solheim Cup ratings tank, & FBF on the Best PCup Ever
This Friday whiparound episode covers the hottest topics in golf: AI announcers "coming to fruition," PGA Tour Comms tweets, and the latest in RATINGS! after last weekend's Solheim Cup. Andy and Brendan first clean up some more 2028 exemption chatter from Wednesday's show, with Andy learning that the players - perhaps including Lucas Glover, who stands to benefit from the Career Milestone exemption - pushed for these categories to exist on the new-look PGA Tour. Brendan then dubs this week's event in Asheville as "the Super Bowl of Preferred Lies" after the Tour decided that all four days…
15 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
A new Tour order, but a meritocracy? PGA Tour points overhaul, and Ryder Cup Europe scouting
Where were you when Duff Foreman made his historic debut in the golf commentary booth at the New Mexico Open? Andy and Brendan dissect the performance of Mr. Foreman, who is still learning the ropes in his new profession. The conversation then shifts to more substantial matters: a press release from the PGA Tour outlining membership criteria and eligibility for the new-look PGA Tour starting in 2028. They, along with Joseph LaMagna, go through the fine print of the changes and what it means for the future of the PGA Tour. Andy is particularly upset with one facet of the details - any guesses…
14 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Another U.S. team failure in match play, Shane Lowry’s home win and viral mic moment, and NFL minute(s)
Welcome back to another fall of Victory Mondays! Andy is on cloud nine after his Bears put up 59 points in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season while Brendan took in another pitiful Browns loss during a trip to the great town of Cleveland, Ohio. After some NFL Minute(s) kick off this episode, the two bring in Kevin Van Valkenburg to recap Team Europe's win at the Solheim Cup. Andy, Brendan, and KVV discuss some social media motivation that might've pushed the Euros across the line today, takeaways from the broadcast coverage, and why all of American golf can't seem to figure out foursomes in team…
10 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Blockie buys a car, Solheim Cup preview, & a Presidents Cup FBF with KVV
We can promise this is the most in-depth discussion of the Michael Block memorabilia market that you'll find anywhere on the internet. With Brendan out for this Friday episode, Andy bats the ball around with The Boys as they cover the latest in international travel, a "sick" Irish Open Thursday, and Blockie's latest (public) purchase. They also dive into a bit more of the LIV Golf bankruptcy filings, wondering how Adrian Meronk is one of the league's top creditors and all share their surprise at the lack of revenue coming in from the FOX television deal. Andy then brings in Matthew Galloway…
8 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
LIV Golf files for bankruptcy, Irish Open enthusiasm, & Jon Rahm speaks again
As Andy says in the middle of this Wednesday episode, "golf gets really good in the fall." After a weekend focused almost solely on the Walker Cup, the Schedule for the Week is packed to the brim with the Solheim Cup, a strong field at the Irish Open, and Blockie's continued Champs Tour heater. Before they can get to any of that, Andy and Brendan begin with a Football Minute, the first of this 2026 season. Andy's enthusiasm about the Bears is borderline scary as he attempts to show Brendan and PJ that there is light at the end of the no-quarterback tunnel. The two get to golf and preview…
6 Sep 2026 · 53 min
Incredible Walker Cup finish delivers watch of the year: Reactions, praise, and blame on Lahinch matches
Andy and Brendan react to an all-time Walker Cup as Great Britain & Ireland took down Team USA with a birdie from Josh Hill on the final hole of his match against Tyler Watts. The two discuss a the weekend of matches at Lahinch Golf Club and call it the Event of the Year (so far). They hand out praise and blame on both sides of the competition and dive into the Golf Channel broadcast that got chaotic down the stretch on Sunday. Andy and Brendan debate what should change, if anything, about the Walker Cup before briefly mentioning Thriston Lawrence's back-to-back win at the Omega European…
3 Sep 2026 · 56 min
A reinstated amateur farce, Walker Cup preview, and flashback on Phil shenanigans
Andy and Brendan are excited for Labor Day weekend and bring the energy for this Whiparound Friday episode ahead of the holiday. They begin with Mike Sposa's win at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Baltimore Country Club. Andy is inspired by this story of resilience in the amateur game and wonders how Sposa had the time to get so good at golf while he was busy making 90 cuts on the PGA Tour! The two break down yet another example of the farce that is "reinstated amateurism" and wonder how the USGA let this guy bank in the ranks after such a long pro career. Brendan continues the…
2 Sep 2026 · 53 min
Jackson Koivun makes Presidents Cup USA team and other selection shockers, Reinstated Am debate reignites, and re-dawn of Don?
Unlike the made-for-TV special announcing the final twelve players at this year's Presidents Cup, this Wednesday episode is not a full hour long... but Andy and Brendan do spend most of it reacting to the final rosters and the programming that brought them to us. The two discuss the ridiculousness of a 60-minute show at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday to announce the teams, every player immediately being called "great for the teamroom," and U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker's whispers to Todd Lewis about his selections. Eventually they do get into the picks, most notably Snedeker's selection of Jackson…
31 Aug 2026 · 46 min
Scottie wins the FedExCup again, Blockie backlash on Champs tour, and P Cup pick projections
Sure, the PGA Tour's "Super Bowl" was this weekend, but you knew this Monday episode could only start in one specific way. Andy and Brendan immediately kick things off with a Champions Tour Minute recapping the Ally Challenge, where Michael Block held the 36-hole lead but couldn't prevent Steven Alker from winning his second straight event. The two bring in PJ for a full debrief of an electric Sunday round featuring a vintage performance from Paul Azinger on commentary. Is Blockie the true savior of the Champions Tour? Will he qualify for the 2026 Schwab Cup Playoffs? How can we get Zinger…
28 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
The Good Good ad reckoning expands, How to set up the new PGA Tour playoffs, and Golf Advice
This Friday episode begins with some cleanup from earlier in the week on both the LIV Golf and PGA Tour fronts. Andy shares a forgotten story from The Boys' week in Indianapolis about a pressing question PJ asked a high-level LIV official regarding - you guessed it! - the Champions Tour. Brendan concedes the question was fair, but the timing was too insane to ever get an actual answer to something that barely matters to anyone but PJ. The two then clear up some confusion from Wednesday's episode regarding the PGA Tour's new season-ending format and how the points list will form the field of…
25 Aug 2026 · 55 min
PGA Tour Madness!? Brian Rolapp reveals new Tour Champ and season finale (not a playoffs!)
Andy and Brendan jam together early on the heels of Brian Rolapp’s press conference at the Tour Championship in Atlanta to discuss the latest wave of news in the continued makeover of the PGA Tour. They cover the new year-end format -- a season finale stroke play event followed by TWO WEEKS of match play in what will be known as the Tour Championship. Did the Tour nail it? Can this really pop as a mixture of the World Cup and March Madness? They cover the risks and potential rewards for the fans as well as the Tour. Also discussed are the rounds of questions about LIV returnees,…
24 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
LIV’s last days in Indy with The Boys, Wyndham bests Rory at BMW, P Cup qualifiers
Despite a packed weekend of golf across all levels of the game, this Monday episode begins with a good old-fashioned Sports Minute about the Cleveland Browns. Andy can't help himself and pesters Brendan about his team's quarterback situation, one that will seemingly be resolved (in some form) by Monday night! The two then transition to Wyndham Clark's third win of the season and his bid for 2026 PGA Tour Player of the Year. Wyndham outlasted Rory McIlroy at Bellerive to win the BMW Championship and two (2) trophies for his troubles. Andy and Brendan look at Clark's season in totality and…
21 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Bellerive Blues, LIV’s last plea, and The Boys join from Indy
Get excited for some weekend viewing consisting of the (formerly) Western Open and a Majesticks Miracle in Indianapolis! Andy is off to the races to start this Friday episode, regaling Brendan! with tales about his new officemates before sharing some thoughts from his morning watching PGA Tour Live. Andy was aghast at the commentary team suggesting that missing the fairway at Bellerive on Thursday was a "full-shot penalty" and points out that the coverage was incredibly pro-Tom Kim. Brendan defends his Jupiter Links superstar from any criticism, leading Andy to admit that maybe the…
19 Aug 2026 · 55 min
LIV descends into chaos: Rahm rumors, Lawsuits, Unpaid players, and a makeshift finale in Indy
Summer may be coming to a (merciful) end for Andy and Brendan soon, but not before LIV Golf will finish its 2026 season and maybe entire existence! The two dive into all of the news surrounding this week's makeshift season-ending event in Indianapolis, covering the latest rumors about Jon Rahm's next move, reports of new lawsuits from vendors, and the fact that players have not yet been paid for their finishes at LIV New York. The Boys are already in the great town of Indianapolis and are being encouraged to go "full Woodward and Bernstein" at what may be LIV Golf's final event. PJ is not…
17 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Sheriff Scottie rolls in sweaty Memphis, Debating the Merion exam at U.S. Am, and Spieth “runs out of time”
Against all odds, The Sheriff has returned to the winner's circle on the PGA Tour. Andy and Brendan discuss a loaded weekend of golf, recapping a rainy U.S. Amateur final, Scottie's sweaty weekend in Memphis, and a full 54 holes from an injured Michael Block! They begin with the U.S. Am at Merion, debating the course's merits as a championship venue in today's game before breaking down the U.S. Walker Cup team selections. Brendan also shares perhaps his favorite story of the year - Ribeye-Gate - which might have cost Jay Leng the win against Jack Whaley. As it turns out, the youths did not…
13 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Resigned over Rahm, Merion madness, and Spieth signs of life
An "invigorated" Brendan kicks off this Friday episode with some observations from two days at Merion Golf Club as the 2026 U.S. Amateur has now reached the match play rounds. He and Andy discuss the early results and they wonder if the USGA should re-seed the bracket to avoid top players facing each other too early. Brendan also passes along some feedback from the ground about Wednesday's segment regarding Ben Hogan's famous one-iron, but Andy doubles down on the fact that the plaque could be better served commemorating a different moment from Hogan's round. The two debate Merion's status…
11 Aug 2026 · 58 min
A real 5th major at Merion, PGA Tour Playoffs hype or boredom, and a Golf Twitter catastrophe
Yes, the Sweat Swing begins this week at TPC Initech, but the FedEx St. Jude does NOT receive Andy's Event of the Week honors! He bestows the title upon this week's U.S. Amateur at Merion, breaking down the early action with Brendan to kick off this Wednesday episode. Brendan is excited to hopefully take in some of the tournament in-person this week but wonders how, in the age of streaming everything, there's been no broadcast coverage of the stroke play rounds so far. The two run through some big names that won't be making it to match play and set up what should be a great weekend of golf…

About The Shotgun Start

The Shotgun Start is a English sport podcast from Fried Egg Golf. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Fried Egg Golf
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 1 hr 4 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1435273901

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