Phil Mickelson’s Ryder Cup feud with Hal Sutton, Amateur status debate, & more | The Shotgun Start

A light week of golf leads us to this wide-ranging Friday episode, covering a potential new housecat, the return of a broadcast legend, and a legendary Ryder Cup Flashback. Andy and Brendan first discuss the U.S. Mid-Am and the fiery online debate about former pros getting their amateur status reinstated. Andy is adamant that these players should not be able to waltz back into amateur golf and outlines his ideal rules for the situation. Brendan and KVV react to Andy's rulings and wonder if some are too harsh for those looking to continue playing competitive golf after their pro careers end. There's a bit of golf news to cover with LPGA legend Stacy Lewis retiring and the PGA of America bringing the KPMG Women's PGA and the PGA Championship back to Bethpage in the coming years. In much-needed Ryder Cup broadcast news, Sir Nick Faldo will be on the call for NBC next week, teaming with Terry Gannon and Notah Begay for morning sessions. Blockie is also back in the fold for 2026, because of course he is! We'll see him at the AmEx next year. In the spirit of Bob Uecker, a Golf Advice emailer sent along a letter from a ghost of Ryder Cup past to be read before we help one of our favorite football podcasters out with a fantasy football punishment. KVV then unpacks a Flashback Friday segment on the 2004 Ryder Cup war between Phil Mickelson and American captain Hal Sutton, complete with a Texas accent you won't want to miss. Lastly, some Don Rea soundbites send us into the weekend, as only he can.

Check out our new No Interest in Fighting merch here: proshop.thefriedegg.com/collections/new-arrivals

Listen on Spotify and Apple here:
- Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shotgun-start/id1435273901
- Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0jMFGCaFpcG0eKyOCNbb0T

Sign up for our Fried Egg Golf Newsletter, delivered every Monday, Wednesday, Friday
thefriedegg.com

Also check out our Membership - Fried Egg Golf Club - which includes in-depth course reviews and daily blog posts: thefriedegg.com/membership

Check out our other course profile videos: youtube.com/playlist

Fried Egg Golf on social media:
Instagram - instagram.com/fried_egg_golf
Twitter - twitter.com/fried_egg_golf

The Shotgun Start on social media:
Instagram - instagram.com/shotgunstartpod
Twitter - x.com/TheShotgunStart

The Fried Egg team:
Andy Johnson - twitter.com/AndyTFE
Brendan Porath - twitter.com/BrendanPorath
Garrett Morrison - twitter.com/garrett_TFE
Joseph LaMagna - twitter.com/JosephLaMagna
Will Knights - twitter.com/WillKnightsTFE
Meg Adkins - twitter.com/megadkins_TFE
PJ Clark - twitter.com/TheRealPJClark
Matt Rouches - instagram.com/mattrouches
Cameron Hurdus - instagram.com/cameronhurdus