"PGA Tour To Test Miking Caddies For Television"

I'm assuming this has been a work in progress (the story implies recent events have driven the idea), but either way, there is potentially great news in Doug Ferguson's notes column, assuming players and caddies will feel up to cooperating. Hopefully the SVP of Brand Dilation will explain to players that being captured having an interesting conversation is good for a Q bump.

The topic was brought up last week at the TOUR's annual meeting with the caddies. Some of them are concerned about being limited in what they say -- not during the shot, but the three hours of dead time during a round.

"I know what they're trying to do, and that's good," said Jimmie Johnson, the caddie for Steve Stricker. "I'm not worried about what comes out of the caddie. I'm worried about what goes into the trailer."

His argument, one that several other caddies share, is that having a microphone will pick up everything they say during a four-hour round. None of that stuff will make the telecast, but they have no guarantee that something inappropriate they might say -- about someone in the gallery, another player -- could be leaked.

"Most of us are aware when the big boom mike is around, and it's usually when you're coming down the stretch. You know what you say is being picked up," said caddie Mitch Knox, whose players have included David Duval and Daniel Chopra. "But having a mike could be a problem."

Comments

[On Tour]

Its like the microphone was just invented.... what took so long???

[jason]

the reasons given are what took so long.

[Sir Real]

The caddies and players are nuts to embrace this one!

[Ludell Hogwaller]

The Sennheiser wrapped in the wooly windscreen is more than enough to capture golf exchanges--the wireless lav mike is to exploit and develop Jerry Springer moments.

[NRH]

Miller and Hicks will just talk right over them anyhow.

[Wisconsin Reader]

If player-caddy are miked . . . It will be the end of the "talking heads" in the booths. . . Golf fans who are watching and listening for insight will be exposed to information and drama beyond their imagination. . . The essential difference between golf and other sports - reaction time - should make golf the #1 television sport. . . Time to think, talk and consider the odds make golf a unique sport . . . the opportunity to hear what the best in the world are thinking about will demonstrate - clearly - what tournament golf is all about.

[Stanley Thompson]

So now we will have to listen to the idiot conversation between Frick and Frack...excuse me, I mean Phoney Phil and Bones.

[Rosanne Rosannadanna]

Whats all this about milking caddies? As anyone can see, you'd get a lot more milk from the player in your picture than the caddie.

Oh miking....

Nevermind.

[thusgone]

rosanne: nice, but the character for that bot was emily littella.