The Shotgun Start

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Rating
4.7
from
1714 reviews
This podcast has
1101 episodes
Language
Publisher
Explicit
No
Date created
2018/09/05
Latest episode
2026/04/23
Average duration
83 min.
Release period
2 days

Description

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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Check latest episodes from The Shotgun Start podcast


The Annual Walk Up Music Episode, LIV’s outrageous spending, and Pool Party on the LPGA
2026/04/23
Brendan! is back stateside and returns just in time for the seventh annual Zurich Classic Walk Up Music Quiz! Before we get to that, Andy is eager to discuss a bit of their trip to Scotland as part of the first-ever segment of "Pillow Talk." Brendan shares some shopping woes when trying to get gifts for his family and Andy is still reeling from his 24-hour travel day earlier this week. Brendan then calls Andy out for his new TaylorMade Spider putter, supplied to him by Big Equipment after he called for them to be banned on Tour earlier this year. After missing out on Wednesday's discussion about the "Pool Seen 'Round the World," Brendan gets some takes off about the Chevron's new "water installation" and Andy wonders how the LPGA can allow this to be the main storyline of the one major championship they own. He also takes some (deserved?) shots at the city of Houston, as well! Ian Poulter did NOT miss Wednesday's episode and decided to take to X, the Everything App, to cement his status as an impending PROBLEM on the Champions Tour. The Boys are praying that he will be their next guest for Lunch to break down his big debut at the US Senior Open in July. Andy and Brendan also discuss the ongoing LIV funding saga and doubt if anyone can even come close to replicating the purses that the PIF has funded in the last five years. Lastly before this episode's main event, PGA Tour is out of Hawaii and announced dozens of layoffs on Thursday as a cost-saving measure as the for-profit business moves forward. Andy and PJ went to town on the 2026 Zurich Classic Walk Up Music Quiz, peppering Brendan with songs for perhaps the worst field in PGA Tour history. How do Shawn Mendes, the Eagles, Gordon Lightfoot, and Nelly all fit into this week in New Orleans? You'll have to listen to one of our favorite annual segments to find out. Use our code FRIEDEGG at ⁠eightsleep.com/friedegg⁠ for up to $350 off the Pod 5.
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A Conversation About Golf & Other Things with Shane Bacon
2026/04/22
A jet-lagged Andy is back in America and is joined by Shane Bacon for this Wednesday episode about slightly more than nothing. This wide-ranging conversation hits on dozens of important topics, such as the core values of Talor Gooch's new OKGC team, TGL's choice for 2026 Player of the Year, a Newark airport review, and a dramatic reading of this week's Legends Tour field in Barbados. There is actual golf discussed at some points, as Andy, Shane, and PJ dive into the Zurich Classic and the ridiculous teams competing for 400 FedEx Cup points and a two-year exemption this week in New Orleans. Shane offers his thoughts on the new pool at Memorial Park ahead of this week's Chevron and throws the gauntlet down on Nelly Korda's recent performance in major championships. In non-pro golf news, PJ recaps his day with the USGA at Winged Foot and his new GHIN before Shane brings us home with the story of his latest hole-in-one. If you made it this far in the description, congratulations! Also... why? Nevertheless, we hope you enjoy this episode!
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Fitz clips Sheriff Scottie as fans chant USA, Bryson WDs, Rahm wins, and the LIV sinking ship
2026/04/20
Andy, Brendan!, and Kevin Van Valkenburg check in from Scotland, recording this episode from separate bedrooms in the same house overseas. Andy declares a "Victory Monday" despite not publicly submitting his "pick" of Matthew Fitzpatrick to win the RBC Heritage on Wednesday's episode. Constable Fitzy took down Sheriff Scottie Scheffler at Harbour Town after one playoff hole, securing his second win of the 2026 season. The three discuss Fitzpatrick's ascent to the top five of the OWGR after being outside of the top 70 at this time last year and how working with Mark Blackburn could be a perfect personality match for the Englishman. The crowd in Hilton Head broke out USA chants down the stretch on Sunday, leading to Jim Nantz dropping the word "jingoistic" on the CBS broadcast. Brendan also points out two other stories from the week in an ill-timed club toss from Max Homa and another disappointing showing from Tony Finau. Attention then shifts to a busy week at LIV Mexico City, where Jon Rahm won again and Bryson DeChambeau withdrew with a wrist injury after complaining about course conditions earlier in the week. What does this latest Rahm win mean? Will LIV actually be back in Mexico City next year? Will Scott O'Neil find funding to keep the league alive moving forward? All of these questions are discussed at length after Brendan, Andy, and Kevin missed out on Friday's newsworthy episode about PIF pulling funding from the league. PJ chimes in to recap a dominant win from Stew Cink at the Senior PGA Championship before this episode wraps with a smorgasbord of random news items from around the golf world. We’ve teamed up with Shady Rays to bring you an exclusive offer. Head to shadyrays.com and use code: SHOTGUN for 40% OFF 2+ pairs of polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people. Visit your local Golf Galaxy and download the Golf Galaxy mobile app today.
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The latest on LIV Golf: Will Saudi PIF continue funding after 2026?
2026/04/16
Mr. PJ finds himself in the "Big Chair" once again with Andy, Brendan, and KVV in Scotland this week! He's joined by Fried Egg Golf's Garrett Morrison, also known as his Golf Architecture 101 professor, for a deep dive into the last 48 hours of LIV Golf's existence. Starting late Tuesday night, rumors began swirling that LIV would be shutting down after the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia decided to pull its funding from the tour. PJ and Garrett run through a detailed timeline of the last two days, parsing through various reports to drill down to the facts as we currently know them. They then discuss some of the various questions that come with the PIF potentially shutting off the unlimited money faucet, such as will LIV Golf exist moving forward and how will they keep up with high-dollar purses and guaranteed contracts? These reports are a winding journey, featuring some of golf's preeminent journalists, a former ESPN NFL anchor, and even Rich Lerner dipping his toe into the prediction market sector. To end this Friday episode on a lighter note, PJ shares an unsubstantiated rumor with Garrett about the golf course "renovations" underway at the site of this fall's Good Good Championship. Find details and store location information at perfectpractice.com/costco or shop at perfectpractice.com and use promo code SGS for 20% off! Use our code FRIEDEGG at eightsleep.com/friedegg for up to $350 off the Pod 5.
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Masters broadcast critiques, PGA Tour vs. Majors, and Harbour Town as a detox
2026/04/14
Brendan! joins The Boys for this Masters cleanup episode before jetting over to meet Andy in Scotland. Joseph immediately begins with some comments regarding his drive back to Atlanta alongside Brendan that featured 90s hip-hop and a spilled coffee in the precious GLS. From there, the trio wonder if Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler should just be the prohibitive Masters favorites for the next three or four years given their 1-2 finish this week without their "A games." There's also some debate about whether Rory has surpassed Phil Mickelson in the all-time rankings of golf. PJ and Joseph watched the final round back on TV and shared some thoughts on Russell Henley, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele that they didn't pick up on the ground on Sunday. The two also weigh in on the discourse surrounding the CBS broadcast, which was amplified even more by Kevin Kisner's comments making the rounds on X early Tuesday morning. Brendan then shifts the attention to the Schedule for the Week, beginning with a Signature Event at the RBC Heritage. Brendan openly states that there shouldn't be golf this week and sees the Heritage as a legacy event that will surely be impacted by the PGA Tour's ever-changing schedule and stance on wanting a piece of the monetary pie from the majors. He shares whispers from under the big tree at Augusta about these conversations and how big Tour sponsors may allocate their funds moving forward. With Andy out, PJ steps in and provides 5 Guys to Monitor This Week in Hilton Head, including one with an "unfair advantage" much like Rory allegedly had at ANGC. Joseph, PJ, and Brendan all make One-and-Done picks as Golf's Premier Gambling Podcast looks to stay hot after hitting a winner at the Masters. The "Event of the Year" is next on the schedule rundown with the Senior PGA Championship's move to April. PJ shares some important tee times and notable storylines for this year's event at The Concession, featuring the big debut of Rory (Sabbatini)! LIV Mexico City and the JM Eagle LA Championship are also previewed before moving on to the biggest news of the week so far: the installation of a pool on the 18th hole at Memorial Park. Brendan can't believe that the Chevron Championship is making its golf tournament all about a jump into some water and a friend of Joseph's was kind enough to provide photos of this small four-foot-deep pool next to the 18th green! FRIEDEGG discount code for 15% off at mobjak.com  Visit your local Golf Galaxy and download the Golf Galaxy mobile app.
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Masters Sunday: Rory McIlroy wins again at Augusta National
2026/04/13
Andy and Brendan (joined by KVV, Joseph, and PJ) are bouncing after another incredible Masters finish that had Rory McIlroy winning another green jacket. They debrief on a full day chasing a manic leaderboard with Rory, Cameron Young, Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler, and more throwing their hat in the ring to win on a firm Augusta National setup. They discuss Rory’s legacy now with six majors, his claim to the best European golfer of all time, and what comes next on the resume building. They also discuss all the challengers and dispense with the preposterous notion that Augusta went soft with the setup. LIV Golf’s week is given a grade, with some hollering about Sergio Garcia’s conduct and the warning he received from a green jacket. They discuss the narrative that the Masters lost some of its identity with the merch haul movement and some of the hijinks around the Par 3 contest. Lastly, they finish with some big picture thoughts on the majors the rest of the year and a note of thanks for listening.
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Masters Saturday Recap: Rory, Cam, and a final round at Augusta
2026/04/12
Andy and Brendan load in for an all-time round of Contender or Pretender as we head to the final round of the 2026 Masters. They discuss Rory McIlroy losing his six-shot lead with haste, as a host of talented chasers came and went at him on the leaderboard on Saturday, none more so than Cameron Young, much to PJ Clark’s delight. They run through the entire board, including sheriff of the fair police Scottie Scheffler, and debate who is game for Sunday. Should we be ringing alarm bells on Rory after the way he hit it in the third round? There is also some lengthy and emotional discussion about the setup of the golf course and the critique that Augusta National went too soft. They rip through some Storylines No One is Talking About for one final night before closing it out with an amusing story from under the tree and their picks to win it all on Sunday.
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Masters Friday: Rory McIlroy Races Ahead at Augusta National, Bryson Misses Cut
2026/04/11
Andy and Brendan are buzzing after a Friday sprint to the finish from Rory McIlroy, who set history with the largest 36-hole lead by making birdies in six of his last seven holes. They discuss the finish, how he’s elevated his game and brain at Augusta, a place that seems ready to give him it all now, and how far back is too far back with this margin. They run through the list of very game chasers and who might pose a problem should he stumble. Also discussed is the notion of Augusta going “soft” with the setup with greens that were less firm than the opening round on Thursday. Is the 13th hole back? They analyze a full day of momentous decisions and some water balls, including Scottie Scheffler, who seems stuck in neutral. They have a dose of shame to give out for the missed cut crew, including Bryson DeChambeau, who went out in a blaze of ignominy with a triple bogey 18th hole to tumble below the cut line. The notion of LIV preparing Bryson, Rahm, and others for major championship golf is also put to the test, with some quotes from the past coming back to haunt. They close it with some rapid awards from the day and several Storylines No One Is Talking About as this Masters goes to the weekend.
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Masters Thursday: Round One Recap from Augusta
2026/04/10
Andy and Brendan are live in Augusta to recap a full day on the ground at the first round of the Masters. It’s early, but the course is in exquisite condition and primed for a stupendous final 54 holes. They ponder if the course conditions, which are firm with no real moisture on the horizon, could prompt some player complaints or a become a situation worth #monitoring over the next three days. Then they get to the leaders at the top of the board, like the defending champ Rory McIlroy and how the very plausible title defense somehow flew under the radar. They discuss Sam Burns’s impressive first round, Scottie hanging tough in late conditions, and how the P in Pat Reed stands for “PROBLEM.” Grumpy Bob MacIntyre is also dispensed with following a tough first day, and the two LIV pillars of Bryson and Rahm are put in the crosshairs. They hand out some awards, like the Good Guy Gerry award, Best and Worst shots, and more from day 1. They close by emptying the notebook with some amusing odds and ends and then go over Storylines that No One is Talking About.
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2026 Masters preview live from Augusta
2026/04/07
After two days taking in the sights, sounds, and scuttlebutt of Augusta National, Andy and Brendan have returned to preview the 2026 Masters. They begin with an overview of the course setup and delightful weather forecast for this week before diving into the top contenders. Things kick off with Rory McIlroy, who enters the week as the defending champion for the first time ever. Rory is described as "freed" and "relaxed" this week, leading to one member of the crew picking him to win back-to-back green jackets. Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau are also discussed at length before Andy, Brendan, and PJ bat around who the fifth biggest story of the week is. Submissions for this spot include Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg, and Cameron Young (not from PJ!), but it may end up being Jordan Spieth anyway. A Tee Times draft breaks out which leads into a time-honored tradition, Storylines Nobody Is Talking About. After the notebooks get emptied, Kevin Van Valkenburg stops by with a "KVV 3" from Tuesday's happenings on the ground. Golf's Premier Gambling Podcast makes their picks to win before sending this episode off and getting the 90th Masters Tournament underway.
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Early Masters excitement, Spaun the Texas king, ANWA Heartbreak and disaster
2026/04/06
Andy and Brendan! have made it to Augusta and are ready to hit the ground running for the first major of 2026. After a long travel day, there's still plenty of excitement for this year's Masters as each shares what they're looking forward to the most this week. Brendan suggests that a certain Guy may be the only player with enough juice to really energize the crowd late on Sunday, while Andy is just waiting to hear Joseph LaMagna's first impressions of Augusta National. Before all of that, they recap the Valero Texas Open, where J.J. Spaun officially became the King of Texas with his second win at the event. Spaun's comeback win in rough weather marks his first since last year's U.S. Open, with Brendan suggesting he may be "The Rain King." Andy runs down the list of "Worst Major Winners This Decade (or Century)" and applauds Spaun for further removing himself from this list. He then launches into a crusade against Bob MacIntyre's caddie for using an iPhone to find the wind direction on the 72nd hole with a chance to make a playoff or even win the tournament. Asterisk Talley had a historic collapse at Augusta National on Saturday during the final round of the ANWA, clearing the way for Maria Jose Marin to win perhaps the biggest event in women's golf. More results follow, with Andy and Brendan discussing a runaway with for Lauren Coughlin at Shadow Creek and an opera singer's big week on the Korn Ferry Tour. After wrapping up with yet another Masters Fact of the Day, the two announce that they will be LIVE on the Fried Egg Golf YouTube channel for the 2026 Masters preview episode at 3:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 7th.
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Flashback Friday on the 1986 Masters
2026/04/03
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of perhaps the greatest Masters ever, Andy, Brendan!, and Kevin Van Valkenburg present a special Flashback Friday episode covering Sunday at the 1986 Masters. After some opening chatter about Illinois basketball and Rory Sabbatini's 50th birthday, the three spend over two hours discussing the final round that led to a sixth green jacket for Jack Nicklaus. They share highlights from the broadcast and compare it to the CBS shows of today, reminisce about the key players at the top of the leaderboard coming down the stretch, and discuss the equipment used by those playing 40 years ago. Enjoy this beefy Flashback/Spotlight, and we'll see you in Augusta on Sunday night.
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Tiger police report and decision to step away, ANWA’s quirky format, and Kelce on Masters call
2026/04/01
With Andy on the road, Brendan! is joined by various members of the Fried Egg Golf team for a Wednesday medley episode. He opens by himself following the latest news from Tiger Woods, who announced he was stepping away from the game to seek treatment and focus on his health. Brendan provides the latest on the situation before transitioning into a previously recorded segment with Kevin Van Valkenburg discussing this morning's release of the police report from Tiger's Friday arrest (06:25). The two also unpack some remarks from Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who is finding a way to ruin Brendan's day in March instead of just during Sundays during the football season. Meg Adkins then stops by to preview this week's Augusta National Women's Amateur (29:35). Meg runs through the top storylines of the week, ANWA's place in the greater women's golf ecosystem, and the quirky format that leads to an interesting leaderboard late on Sunday. Lastly, Joseph LaMagna joins Brendan ahead of his favorite PGA Tour event, the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio (53:35). Brendan questions "the Boys" about what they're most excited for at their first Masters with press credentials, leading to a detailed explanation of PJ's anxieties around press conferences. Joseph takes over for Andy and gives out 5 Guys to Monitor This Week (For Various Reasons) at the Valero, covering local legends and a very topical Game Within a Game for Masters season. Brendan unleashes an all-time rant about youth sports while discussing the Drive, Chip & Putt finals this weekend and poses a quiz to Joseph and PJ as part of the Masters Fact of the Day. Finally, the three discuss the biggest news of the week: Tommy Fleetwood's new hat deal with Blackstone and Jason Kelce's Masters broadcast assignment. We'll be back on Friday with a special Flashback to get you set for the first major of 2026.
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Woodland's triumph is the story of the year, DLF rumors, & the Tiger Ryder Cup question
2026/03/30
Welcome back to Golf's Preeminent Victory Monday Podcast! Andy and Brendan went LIVE on YouTube for this recording, with Brendan calling it a Victory Monday for everyone in the golf world after Gary Woodland's win in Houston. Andy is celebrating a Victory Monday for other reasons as the Fighting Illini are Final Four bound for the first time in 21 years. After some technical hiccups and debate about whether Andy is headed to Indianapolis ahead of the Masters, the two recap an emotional win for Gary Woodland at the Texas Children's Houston Open. The 2019 U.S. Open winner blitzed the field, winning by five shots at the conclusion of Sunday's round and setting the new scoring record for the tournament. Brendan declares Woodland's win the "Story of the Year" given the context surrounding his struggles with PTSD following brain surgery. Andy gives Woodland praise for going public with his diagnosis and commends him on helping not only himself but others in doing so. The two also discuss standout performances from Min Woo Lee, Johnny Keefer, Chris Gotterup, and Sudarshan Yellamaraju. Brendan shares some Substantiated Rumors from the Indian Open at DLF, where it seems as if the DP World Tour may be faking weather reports in order to ensure a fair course setup. Alex Fitzpatrick secured his first win on the DP World Tour, joining his brother, Matt, in the winner's circle following last week's Valspar Championship. In other results, the LPGA has its first repeat winner of 2026, Stew Cink is coming for a playing Ryder Cup captaincy, and the "Davis Zone" has hit the Korn Ferry Tour. Things wrap up with some news about the new player facilities at Augusta National and a brief bit of Tiger Woods discussion as more comes out about Friday's car accident and his ensuing arrest for DUI.
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Tiger Woods arrested for DUI again after rollover car crash
2026/03/28
Andy, Brendan, and Kevin Van Valkenburg react to Tiger Woods's arrest for DUI after a rollover car crash in Jupiter, Florida on Friday. They discuss the arrest, the public reaction, the media's responsibility for the current Tiger arc, and Tiger's future - whether it be at next week's Masters, his role on the PGA Tour's Future Competitions Committee or beyond.
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Podcast reviews

Read The Shotgun Start podcast reviews


4.7 out of 5
1714 reviews
CMGH74 2026/02/21
Andy is the issue
I tried listening to this pod numerous times and could never get through it. Came back to it this week and Andy wasn’t on the show and I finally made ...
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Wethy1 2025/12/17
The Best
This was an all timer from the best podcast in golf!!!
Stormhutch 2026/02/10
Why so much TGL?
This is a good podcast, I genuinely enjoy tuning in a few times a week. But I feel like the TGL recaps started as a joke and now it’s… serious? I real...
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Jimbo’s Burner 2026/01/05
Deeply Unserious Pod
Gave this pod a chance but these guys act like sophomoric clowns. Is anything in golf serious to them or is their whole premise just to clown on every...
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Lumbie 22 2025/11/17
Brooke
Poor Brooke Mathews finally was about to get a mention on The Shotgun Start and someone fumbled the ball just before crossing the goal line
Nschumerth97 2025/11/13
Best golf podcast out there
“What’s my personal opinion? I don’t have a personal opinion.”
tchip80 2025/10/26
Great
Got to sit next to some of your Illinois fans yesterday at Husky stadium💜💛 In fairness, My Dawgs have won 22 of their last 23 at home. Fun game to a...
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Kwd03 2025/10/30
Nothing is good enough
Love their knowledge and passion for golf but Andy has become insufferable. Every episode is a downer.
The little fisher boy 2025/09/24
The standard
There is not a better golf podcast out there.
NotInterestedInFighting 2025/09/15
#1 Golf Podcast
By far the best golf podcast out there. Best combo of golf analysis and humor without taking themselves too seriously. PJ has been a great addition a...
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