Lanny Lands Champions Lead Analyst Gig

Lanny gets the call.

And don't even think of asking me who was the lead analyst before him.

Known as one of the fiercest competitors on Tour during his playing career, Wadkins will be in the booth this week for the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, one of 22 Champions Tour events on Golf Channel in 2013. He will also appear on news and instructional programming throughout the year.

"Lanny was one of the greatest golfers of his generation, and we are thrilled to have him as a member of our Golf Channel family," said executive producer Molly Solomon. "I have been a fan of Lanny's for many years, and we look forward to his return to television and hearing his familiar voice each week on the Champions Tour."

Comments

[UnderTheChin]

Curt Byrum

[fyg]

Is Wadkins in the HOF?

If, so, another golfer who shouldn't be there.

[Sun Mountain Man]

This is one of the best moves GC has made in a long time.

[Media maven]

Except he is hopelessly repetitive esp. needs to retire the phrase "at this point in time'' it's so superfluous. And I've long wondered why his game went so far south that he was a nonfactor as player on Champions Tour. Injury or indifference?

[Hilltop]

Not a fan.

[KLG]

For the 45 minutes I watched last year, I thought Curt Byrum was fine. Media maven is right. Someone tell us whether "at this point in time" is still his go-to expression.

[No Longer Used to be Former Stack & Tilt Convert]

His on course swagger was something to see in his day.

[Lynn S.]

He must have a good agent.

[BenSeattle]

Ah... is there nothing better for the fan watching at home than the soothing Southern lilts of elocution stylists such as Lanny Wadkins and Curtis Strange?

How can this possibly be of any interest since nobody watching the geezer tour anyway?

[KS]

Didn't he have back problems? I seem to remember reading about him having back surgery. He also might just be one of those players that didn't like the game much as he got older. Once he had enough money to stop playing, he stopped.

[dgs]

@KS

Lanny never struck me as one who enjoyed the game when he was in his prime. My recollection of him back then, was a dour faced, bad tempered, individual.

[mdrgolf]

I enjoy watching the champions tour on tv.
I'll be watching it muted this season.
Just brutal. Didn't like him as a player, can't stand him as an announcer.

[Larry in Minnesota]

This is one of the WORST moves GC has made in a long time.

[DTF]

This one is pulled from deep in the recesses so a little patience please...and I think it was told to me in person, but I'm having trouble placing the person...

...a guy I know (or met) went to UNC, did not play golf. His friend said "I have a big golf match tomorrow, come caddie for me and I will give you a 6-pack of beer". Said guy responded in the affirmative and did so. Turns out the match was against Lanny Wadkins who was at Wake at the time. My guy's friend played lights out and won 1-up on 18, Lanny was a complete ass the whole time, my guy collected his 6-pack and life went on.

Every time my guy saw his friend they'd reminisce about what an ass Lanny was. 20 years later his friend walked up by a tee-box at some PGA Tour event to find Lanny standing there...Lanny looked at him and said "hey Guy Friend last time I saw you you were kicking my ass over at XYZ HIlls..", friend of my guy has been the biggest Lanny fan ever since!!!

[Del the Funk]

PS...think the world of Lanny as a player, fine with him as an announcer. Would love to be able to play a round of golf with him.

[Larry in Minnesota]

Media and KLG: I just tuned in to Champions Tour coverage today and Lanny used "at this point in time" in back to back sentences. He made your case.

[digsouth]

As was said---not a fan.

I can tolerate him announcing--but, he was as big a dick as Stadler playing, IMO.

[KLG]

Thanks, Larry. Doesn't he have a literate director or producer? I'll just go ahead and SCREAM it: Lanny, you are a credible golfer and announcer. But "at this point in time" = "now." Or maybe even "right now" if you insist. OK?