The Shotgun Start

Despite two record-tying rounds of 62 on Friday at Royal Birkdale, Bryson DeChambeau remains the lead story yet again. Brendan, Kevin Van Valkenburg, and Joseph LaMagna went LIVE on YouTube to recap the second round of the 2026 Open Championship, only to have a two-shot penalty assessed to DeChambeau, then in second place, derail the entire show. The three reacted in real-time to the theatrics playing out on the fifth hole, where DeChambeau re-enacted his movements from earlier in the day in front of rules officials from the R&A. Kevin went to go scout out the scene on the ground, leaving Joseph and Brendan to make sense of what was unfolding. The two-shot penalty moved DeChambeau from solo second, just one shot back of Lucas Herbert, down to a tie for fifth alongside Sam Burns and Si Woo Kim. Joseph, Brendan, and PJ do highlight standout the two 62s from Burns and Herbert, as well as the continued strong play of Cameron Young and Ryan Gerard, but the majority of this episode is spent on Bryson and the ensuing ruling that could cost him his third major championship. The three mention notable missed cuts before setting the scene for a weekend at Royal Birkdale that is sure to deliver, even more than we originally thought!

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Fresh off a full day at Royal Birkdale, Brendan joined Andy as they went LIVE on YouTube to recap Thursday of the 2026 Open Championship! The two discussed the biggest storylines of the day, leading off with the return of the Content King, Bryson DeChambeau. Bryson fired a 67 and is in position to make the cut at a major for the first time this year. Despite declining to talk to the media, an interview with the Open's digital team became the main story of the afternoon after Bryson took subtle aim at Nick Faldo's comments from earlier in the week. Andy and Brendan also discuss a strong start from Scottie Scheffler, a possible return to form for Cameron Young, and a "vintage mid-2010s round" from Rory McIlroy. "Storylines Nobody's Talking About" makes a Thursday return, highlighting some struggles from Champions Tour legends and a potential World Cup-induced hangover for the Englishmen in the field. We will be back again tomorrow afternoon as play concludes to set up the final major championship weekend of 2026!

Mercedes-Benz is proud to be an Official Patron of The Open Championship. Visit mbusa.com for more details.
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Andy and Brendan went LIVE on YouTube for this final major preview episode of 2026! Brendan is in high spirits after traveling across the pond to find a baked-out Royal Birkdale that he describes as "fiery, firm, and brown." The two get going on the course setup and the choices that players must make on a variety of holes throughout the round. This is a new-look Royal Birkdale following an extensive renovation ahead of this year's Open Championship, and reviews seem to be mixed on whether the course is better than it once was. Scottie Scheffler made some pointed comments about the course during his pre-tournament press conference, leading to a discussion about whether this venue is truly "forged by nature." Andy's 5 Guys to Monitor This Week highlights the two best players in the world, two hometown heroes looking for their first major, and a LIV defector who can lock up PGA Tour status for next year with a good showing. With a relatively wide-open field, it felt like a good time to re-rank the top five players in pro golf heading into the week, as well. Kevin Van Valkenburg joins in the fun to discuss Tuesday's press conferences getting deeply existential and shares some scuttlebutt from the grounds. To put a bow on this preview, Andy, Brendan, KVV, and PJ make their picks to win the Claret Jug and choose sides in a much-anticipated installment of Games Within a Game. We will return on Thursday afternoon following round one of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale!

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.

With Brendan in transit to Royal Birkdale, PJ assumes the host chair for a rambling episode with Andy and The Boys. They talk about the sanctity of the Scottish Open and its threatened identity in the changing golf landscape. Then, the trio discusses Tom Kim's career arc and where he stacks up in professional golf after an impressive Scottish Open victory. They cover Steven Fisk's win at the ISCO, Haeran Ryu going back to back in major championships, and, of course, Zach Johnson's dominant performance at the Kaulig Companies Championship before wrapping with some thoughts on expectations for this week's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

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.

In this bonus edition of The Shotgun Start, Brendan Porath and Joseph LaMagna take a trip down memory lane after rewatching the final round of the 2017 Open Championship. The two recount Jordan Spieth's roller coaster of a final round, his famous drop on the 13th hole, Matt Kuchar's heartbreak, and forgotten moments and amusements from a memorable finish. They hand out a few awards, including Worst Dressed and Favorite Commentary, before a quick lookahead at what's to come when we return to Royal Birkdale for next week's 154th Open Championship.

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.