Video: Highlights From The New Morning Drive

Interesting mix of highlights from the first show.

Nice to see Ahmad wearing some Toms. Can you play golf in those?

Comments

[M Lauer]

Matt Ginella's ranking of public courses on the first show? That's the best they could come up with?

Plus he starts off with a Sea Island course. Just what I think of when I think "public" golf.

[OB]

Gary Williams really impressed me as a host today, the new setup works for him and Holly S. Yet I'm baffled at the choices for supporting cast though. All make me want to mute the television while I'm reading the paper.

[Lynn S.]

I used to watch more of the golf channel. They used to show golf and golf shots. Now it is just the talking golf channel. They talk a lot and say little.
Bobby Moore, Ahmad, has a good personality, but it is not going to be easy to fit him in there. I would have talked to him about the Super Bowl.

[Carl Spachler]

Ahmad is not needed on the GC

[Terry H]

Don't think Ahmad is the right fit for this show.

[Chema]

When asked to describe Mickelson's performance in one word, Rymer could not produce an actual word. Holly can do no wrong. Gary Willimas is strong. Ahmad must have just returned from the gin rummy finals in Boca.

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

Williams has come a long way from his sports talk radio show hosting days in Charlotte.

[BrianS]

Awkward moment from today (not shown on the clip). Holly throws out a question to the group - what is the biggest story in golf ? First up to Ahmad, who comes without a second of hesitation "Tiger Woods, hesss back!!!!!! " Awkward silence as if to say - um, we've moved beyond that, and btw where did you pull that from ? The looks on everyone's faces was the embarrassed look when you bring a buddy to an event and the first words out of his mouth serve to piss off all present. Gary steps in with the Vijay /PED story, and they move on. At least with EK, you knew he was an outsider, but he came from a very good sports talk background and could bring that to the mix, but Ahmad has what ? A buddyship with Tiger ? (most likely since disavowed by Tiger in his new reformed days)

Supposedly Ahmad will be relegated to the Tues-Wed edition, but I feel sorry for Lauren Thompson who I think has lots of talent and personality. Gary has really grown on me, and Holly is also very nice - nice dress today btw ! I will give Ahmad about 6 months until he is replaced by Foltz

[David]

I miss Inga!

[DavidC]

I'd second the views here that Gary really stood out, the new format suits him and he's a good interviewer with the potential to finally be the replacement for Kessler in doing one-on-one interviews with golfers about golf.

The new set makes the old one look so minor league, but they have to get some better golf courses for the background. Maybe the GCSAA can work with them on that? Some moundy, Nicklaus looking thing from the 90s is a waste of all that technology.

Ahmad's outfit was embarrassing. But it helped distract from the lack of information he shares.

Just one more thing: no more Peter Milllar logos on everyone? Amen.

[digsouth]

After my post on the other MD thread, and reading these comments, I would agree about Williams and Rashad. Gary has really progressed, and the jacket looked nice, but Rashad was worse than my first impressions.

He is a frigging clown.

Yes, Holly was awesome, and again that Matt dude is just sad.

Bald man with glasses adds to the show, but I maintain he is an alien.

This show will have to be strong to survive Charlie Crymer.

[OPGolfer]

I haven't watched he show for quite awhile. Is John Feinstein still a regular contributor?

[Stord]

Where's the praise for Damon Hack? I think he's the glue that holds it all together.

[Geoff]

I just watched the Graeme McDowell interview and it was enjoyable to listen to, mostly because he's a great interview but also because Williams knew what to tee him up on and when to throw in a question. I really like the addition of one-on-one interviews ala the Today Show.

[Spidey]

Best part of the McDowell interview was the picture of him and his fiance. Now that's impressive.

[Salazama]

You know, I likeAhmad, but just not for a golf show. Anything he will say just doesn't carry any credibility. Gary is solid and Holly plays well of the other hosts.

[StephenP]

All talk and no highlights. The fact at the top of the hour or half hour there is no 5 minute video recap of the tournament play of the previous day is criminal. You used to be able to tune into the Golf Channel and get a better video update than any other TV outlet.

Now it is just TALK and PROMOTION of the next event. Trying to find the constantly moving Golf Central is a joke. Golf Central is so focused on one player during a Tiger or Phil win that there is no overall review of what happened in a tournament.

[Stanley Thompson]

Courses with green fees over $150.00 are not "public" courses.

[Bobby D]

"Johnson reportedly hired guards to keep Rashad away from Bears Club, the lavish complex where Michael Jordan also owns property"

lol

[Chicago John]

To StephenP in regards to seeing video replays of the past event every 30 minutes: With today's technology you can fire up your computer and watch it at any time you want, in any time frame you want. This is why SportCenter had to move to a live format, so they could add analysis and come in with breaking news. The days of just showing highlights are done because it is available to you on your smart phone or tablet 24/7.

[Stating the obvious]

Get rid of Charlie Cheeseburger and Matty G, you can tell they are just there for comic relief. Agreed with above, Gary has really gotten a lot better since the show started, and I like his fashion. CC looks like he skips the pro hair makeup and dressing room bit.

[Media maven]

They need to expand Matty G's role to be as prominent as Hack's. Rashad a strange hire, not sure what he provides other than a "name.''

[GinGHIN]

David C: They must have fixed the thermostat in our Orlando studios. I'm happy the "cast" no longer needs to beswaddle themselves in the luxurious warmth of the cashmere Peter Millar Tour zip pullover sweater. Heck, Ahmad's even gone sockless.

[James H.]

The show is way too busy...too much talk and too many opinions and too big a cast.

Despite the availability of highlights everywhere, there should be a bit more from this show.

Rashad is just wrong.

This vehicle frames Holly in a such a way that her cult status will explode to a power of 10 - absolutely glove-like fit.

Matt G is merely ok and over-exposed daily. He should be bi-weekly.

No need for Kelly T or Charlie. Overkill

I'm hoping they've given us everything and that it will be pared down significantly.

[Viz]

I've watched since the 1st show...Been a fan ever since...I'm hoping the expanded new cast is just cause it's expanded to 7 days...All in all I love the fact that there is a morning golf talk show on TV these days. So I'm not going to sit here and be a critic of all these hosts of the show. TGC is smart enough to figure out if something isn't working and will take care of it.

[benseattle]

I'm going to blame the failure of "Morning Dive" on ESPN's "Mike and Mike." There you had a coast-to-coast radio show when some nitwit said "Hey, we have four channels here.... why don't we set up a camera and put Radio On Television?" Brilliant. Thus began the trend picked up by Dan Patrick all the way down to the local level where talk radio somehow, some way, actually believes that people who enjoy LISTENING to a radio show are just aching to SEE it on television, be it cable or online. Voila! You now have the birth of "Moaning Drive."

Find cheap inexperienced "talent," drop them into a studio with a camera give the order: "Start talking." Comcast and NBC have obviously determined that golf fans will accept any low-level dreck you throw at them because it's ALL GOLF. When the el cheap-o format proves somewhat profitable, simply expand to seven days a week with minor-leaguers just DESPERATE for some airtime (see: Rashad, Ginella.)

Over the past two years, I believe I've given this show a fair shot and even now I remain wholly unimpressed. The main reason? The show is LAZY. Again, it's nothing but radio on TV. What I continue to see are a bunch of jokers sitting around a cold, non-golfy news set that looks more like a hospital waiting room than anything pertaining to sport and what we get is chatter, blather, opinions and more of that tired old saw: predictions. Ho hum. ("Game ball" and the show-ending "wolf" game? Spare me.)

Here's what's missing: Feature stories and Actual Reporting. Golf Channel has cameras and reporters at every single professional event so why not take advantage of that? Do a REAL "what's in the bag" segment, not one of those pathetic near-infomercials that allows a player to simply plug the newest stick in his bag. Get a camera around a few PGA professionals while they're taking a week off in Florida... show them with the wife and kids, working on the McMansion, practicing or goofing off. Send a camera to a few big manufacturers to show what's coming along in gear. Acknowledge the existence of Component clubmakers. Highlight the hottest college players. Etc. Etc. Above all, STOP BEING LAZY. Get out of the studio and put together pieces that SHOW US SOMETHING. (Aside from the sad and used-up eye candy that is Holly Sonders. Why is everyone else dressed for a leisurely eighteen while she's decked out in a cocktail dress and F-ME pumps at 7 in the morning? Sure, we know that Sex Sells, but does Golf Channel have to make it so obvious?)

"Boring Drive" is giving me no reason to watch. I can get chatter and opinions from my own, vastly more-interesting golf buddies. And Ahmad Rashad? All we need to know is that Monday morning Kelly Tilghman was praising him for his illustrious broadcasting "career." I guess a jock sniffing jocks is worthy of admiration to some. (If Tilghman wasn't at Golf Channel, name ONE broadcasting outlet that would employ her. That's what I thought..... )

Radio on television? Too cheap. Too easy. Too boring.

[Chicago John]

LOL @benseattle !!! Well done sir, that had me laughing throughout. All of the points you make are valid and I thought I was the only one that wanted to bring golf and TGC into the 21st century.

Picking up where you left off, the golf coverage in the US is seriously pathetic. Given the demographics that play and watch golf you would think that they'd be willing to up the intellectual ante. No, instead we get Jimmy Roberts in some fluff piece that fawns over a professional golfer.

[KLG]

Ben, you simply must stop sugarcoating everything and tell us how you really feel! Anyway, all those suggestions are great, and doable. Unfortunately they would also shave a point off margin, so they'll never happen. And eventually the audience will drift away and the executives in charge will wonder what happened. The wide receiver said, "Tiger is back"? Really? That's just sad.

[digsouth]

Ben, you remind me of when I here a band, and my musician background overtakes the simple joy of listening and enjoying, instead of a ''how I would do it'' production. It is hard to do, and your background have provided some positive ideas, many of which they already do, but they manifest these things in other 22 or 44 minute shows. This GDMFSB Keyboard is sticking so hold that thought. Too long to ype retype.

I say take it FWIW or don't watch.

[Bobby D]

"F-ME pumps at 7 in the morning"

classic!

[Viz]

Nobody is holding a gun to your head to watch MD @BenSeattle...

[DTF]

The divorce between Rashad and the Ex-Mrs. Johnson&Johnson is getting coverage on Page 6 multiple times weekly now -- and most every column mentions golf.

The GC bigs must be cringing....

[Bobby D]

"The divorce between Rashad and the Ex-Mrs. Johnson&Johnson is getting coverage "

I see that story is all over the sports blogs.