Brendan Porath

Brendan Porath has spent more than a decade in digital golf media in multiple roles as a manager, writer, editor, podcaster, and contributor to television programs. He built and expanded Vox Media's golf coverage into one of the most popular destinations on the Internet at SB Nation. He's also written for the New York Times and contributed to Golf Channel programming, most often for the live studio show, Morning Drive. He founded the Shotgun Start podcast with Andy Johnson, and joined The Fried Egg full time as an editor, writer, and manager overseeing content.

All Articles by Brendan Porath

9/06/23 NEWSLETTER

Hey Baby Let the Free Birds Fly

Assessing the current state of the Irish Open
8/23/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

The Positive Outcome Presser

Jay Monahan speaks ahead of the Tour Championship at East Lake
8/16/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

BMW Championship Bubble Boys

What is on the line this week at Olympia Fields
8/08/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

When to Regulate the Tools of the Trade

Two wins on two different tours this week push the equipment vs. skill debate front and center
7/31/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Cutting Off a Nose to Spite Your Driver Face

Assessing the PGA Tour's short sided response to the rollback proposal
7/23/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Competitive? No. Boring? Also No.

Taking stock of what we saw at the 2023 Open Championship
7/22/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Shifting Winds, Charging Rahm

Jon Rahm shot a Saturday 63 to charge up the leaderboard at the 2023 Open Championship
7/21/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Of Rakes and Revets

A unique and penal conditioning choice is softened in the middle of The Open at Hoylake
7/20/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

More Than a Speed Freak: Light the Lamprecht

A tall, long-hitting amateur is tied for the lead at the Open
7/20/23 ARCHITECTURE

Modern Player, Historical Hazard

Internal out of bounds is proving to be a very fun test for the modern professional
7/12/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

The PGA Tour Goes to Washington

What we heard as the PGA Tour testified at the Senate, and what we learned from a related document release
7/08/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Taking Stock of Michelle Wie West’s Career

One of the most identifiable names in women's golf retires
7/06/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

A Rough Choice

Fairway narrowing at Pebble Beach for the U.S. Women's Open limits the potential on two of its greatest holes
6/23/23 NEWSLETTER

Seat’s Taken

Has the USGA overreacted to critiques of the past decade in plotting out its future U.S. Open schedule for the next 20 years?
6/22/23 NEWSLETTER

We Cannot Be Spooked by Low Scores

Wrestling with a report of Oakmont members grumbling over low scores at Hanse restored LACC
6/19/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Wyndham’s Reward

Up against some of golf's power players, Wyndham Clark shows he has what it takes to win the U.S. Open
6/18/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Sunday Weight

Heavy is the crown that lies ahead on U.S. Open Sunday
6/18/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Player Critiques Start to Flow

After three rounds at the 2023 U.S. Open, players start to open up about their thoughts on LACC
6/15/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Rooting for Rick

A Fowler major championship title would be quite the story
6/14/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Everything but Golf: Notes From the 2023 U.S. Open

The big issues and big favorite that owned the practice days at the 123rd U.S. Open
6/12/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Scrambling Tour, Scrambled Messaging

In the wake of their big announcement with the Saudi PIF, the PGA Tour continues to struggle with messaging
6/07/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Victors, but No Winners

The race to proclaim winners and losers, from Jay to Phil to the PIF, in the PGA Tour merger is a fraught exercise
6/02/23 NEWSLETTER

Who Needs to Step It Up This Summer on the PGA Tour?

Two majors and five designateds to go, let's check in on who could use a summer surge
5/29/23 NEWSLETTER

Pursuit and Payoff

The admirable chase and grind exhibited on two lower tours from a busy weekend of pro golf
5/26/23 NEWSLETTER

The Damage of Claude Harmon’s Rant on LIV Coverage and the PGA Tour

How the son of Butch and coach of Brooks may regret the consequences of his rant.
5/22/23 NEWSLETTER

Tracking Hovland’s Promising Progression

Major championship success isn't far off for Viktor Hovland
5/18/23 NEWSLETTER

Bryson’s “Long Road” Back

It's good to have DeChambeau back in the mix
5/18/23 NEWSLETTER

The S-Word

The hosel was very relevant on Friday at Oak Hill
5/05/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

The Talor Uproar

Digging into the drama with Talor Gooch and the USGA
4/24/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Party over Product

LIV Golf had a good week in Australia off the golf course but its product continues to lack
4/17/23 NEWSLETTER

While We’re Young

The PGA Tour's slow play problem has been ignored and unaddressed for years. Could a change finally be near?
4/10/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Big Bad Jon

Often described as too hotheaded, Jon Rahm knew exactly what strategy he wanted to employ to win a green jacket
4/08/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Saturday Notes from the Soggy Grounds at the Masters

Stray third-round observations from a rain-soaked Augusta National
4/06/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Phil Mickelson’s Awkward Masters Comes to Life on the Course

During a weird and uncomfortable week, Phil Mickelson finds some life at Augusta National
4/05/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

How the Masters Works for Diehards and Dilettantes

The tournament that appeals to almost everyone is at a course that almost no one will ever play
3/08/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Middle-Class Discontent, Euro Tour Concerns, and Other Early-Week Storylines at the Players

Notes from TPC Sawgrass, where it’s almost time for golf
3/06/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Ignoring the Past while Sorting the Future at The Players

A week that's about the PGA Tour celebrating itself will try to avoid talking about the reigning champion
2/27/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

In Like a Lamb

LIV's 2023 season debut exhibited why there should be concerns about its immediate and longterm future
2/23/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Is Our Honda Totaled?

A crowded, elevated, and designated schedule has taken the Honda from its peak to a total wreck in a decade
2/20/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Full Swing Thoughts Episode 8: Rory’s role and a Cam-washing

The first season of Netflix's golf show concludes with a portrayal of the year's most compelling character in golf
2/19/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Full Swing Thoughts Episode 7: Rookie ball and a major issue with the entire series

Our recap and review series on the Netflix golf show continues with the episode on the rookies
2/19/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Riviera Provides a Road Map for Tiger’s Competitive Future

Tiger was more than just a host this week, with the strongest weekend of competitive golf since his crash
2/15/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Full Swing Thoughts Episode 3: The one about LIV, kinda

A review of the LIV elephant in the room being confronted in the Netflix show via ... Ian Poulter
2/14/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Full Swing Thoughts Episode 2: Basketcase Brooks and Soaring Scottie

Episode 2 reviews a great look into how Brooksy is sorting through it while Scottie is free and clear
2/13/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Full Swing Thoughts Episode 1: Spieth and JT as ‘Frenemies’

A synopsis and review of the first episode in Netflix's golf docuseries, Full Swing
2/08/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Introducing: Full Swing Thoughts

A new podcast breaking down Netflix's golf docuseries
2/06/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Does Pat Reed Need to Sue Greg Norman?

The Reed lawsuits may be laughable, but that doesn't mean they've been ineffective
1/23/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Discussing King-Collins’s Bold Proposal for ‘The Spoils at Pinehurst’

The audacious attempt at a five-in-one course footprint generated discussion over the weekend
1/18/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Tyrrell Hatton’s Confidential Guide to Some F%@king Golf Courses

Last year was a fruitful one for Tyrrell Hatton course critiques, and here's hoping for more in 2023
1/11/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Happy Birthday, Ian Poulter!

Doing our duty to make sure The Postman is HBD-snubbed in the fewest places
1/04/23 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Let’s Get Mad and Sort PGA Tour Golf Courses

Tier time, embrace debate
10/12/22 NEWSLETTER

Rahm’s Ryder Cup Challenge

Jon Rahm thinks LIV players should be allowed in the Ryder Cup, and he's not unconvincing
10/05/22 NEWSLETTER

Hate for the Holidays

Stop the madness, even for our beloved golf
9/06/22 NEWSLETTER

Takeaways from LIV Boston

With the novelty wearing off and the competitive element improving, LIV Golf enters a new era
8/31/22 NEWSLETTER

Those Who Stay Will Be Champions (at the Bank)

The PGA Tour may have taken a hit, but its remaining players are going to clean up
7/22/22 ARCHITECTURE

Golf Without Definition

Musings on a first experience with Scottish golf
7/15/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Schoolboy Sahith Living the Dorm Life at the Open

Sahith Theegala is proving to be a quick study at St. Andrews
7/14/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Phil Mickelson Adrift

The muted and surreal scene that surrounds the 2013 Open champ at this historic major
7/11/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Pomp with Some Purpose

Tiger Woods exhibited the Champions Challenge as a gathering that matters, even if the shots didn't
6/26/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

At a primo venue and with golf's most compelling character, the Women's PGA delivered
6/20/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Major Appreciation

The U.S. Open exhibited the part of pro golf that needs no fixing or disrupting
6/17/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Phil Mickelson, the Relevant Golfer with Irrelevant Golf

Phil dialed it up for a crowd that might not be there for many more events in his new professional reality
6/16/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

The U.S. Open Bomb Squad

The unusual measures the USGA has taken to make the driving range at The Country Club safe
6/14/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

An Extremely Unofficial 2022 U.S. Open Rooting Guide

With the game in conflict, an attempt to marshal a rooting guide for Brookline
6/09/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

LIV Golf’s Premiere and the PGA Tour’s Punishment

Presentation over substance seemed to matter more in LIV Golf's streaming debut, and maybe in Jay Monahan's punishment memo as well
6/07/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

LIV London: Updates on the Relevant and the Absurd

Week 1 in LIV begins with wild team names, ridiculous logos, and sportswashing rationalizations
5/19/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Rory Sprints, Tiger Hobbles, and the Sand Confounds on Day 1 at the PGA

Some major players and major problems that showed up in round 1 of the PGA
5/14/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Five Better Options than Floundering Greg Norman as LIV Golf CEO

The Shark is struggling to keep the Saudis out of the news for the wrong reasons
5/05/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Sergio Garcia’s Temper Tantrums ‘Can’t Wait’ to Go to Saudi’s LIV Golf

The Spaniard is heading for a payout that might not permit his disagreeable nature
4/10/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Rory McIlroy Finally Gets a Masters Without Sunday Scaries

There was no jacket, but at least this was a different Sunday experience
4/08/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Tiger Woods Adds to the Legend in a Way That Can’t Be Measured

A different measure of Tiger's greatness
4/05/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Masters Tee Times Exhibit a Tiger Woods Who Is ‘Going to Play’

Some groups of intrigue, tough spots, and Tiger's draw
3/29/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Something More Than Ceremonial: Tiger Woods and the 2022 Masters Flirtation

As far as Tiger's Masters comebacks go, this one could be low stress
3/15/22 COMPETITIVE GOLF

3 Thoughts from a Memorable Players Championship

On integrity, hazard crossings, and mixed reality at TPC Sawgrass
7/14/21 COMPETITIVE GOLF

The Greatest Watch in Golf

Celebrating the return of the Open, golf’s strangest and most delightful viewing experience
5/24/21 COMPETITIVE GOLF

The Ringmaster

How Phil Mickelson took control on Sunday at the 2021 PGA Championship
4/12/21 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Greed and Grace

How the 2021 Masters began and ended
11/14/20 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Four Seasons Total Landscaping Speaks Out (about Augusta National)

A Philadelphia landscaping company’s perspective on maintenance and the Masters
11/11/20 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Process over Results

Appreciating a Masters unlike any other
9/21/20 COMPETITIVE GOLF

Major Change

How Brooks and Bethpage drive Bryson's bulk
5/18/20 COMPETITIVE GOLF

An Image of Return

The highlight of the Seminole match, captured on the 1st fairway