Golf Channel Hires Sobel!

It's just nice to see the words golf and hire in the same headline, especially when it's a nice guy. For Immediate Release:

Respected Golf Journalist Jason Sobel Joins Golf Channel Editorial Team
 
Sobel’s First Online Column for GolfChannel.com: Sobel Online Column Video of Sobel’s Debut on Morning Drive: Morning Drive Debut
 
ORLANDO, Fla., (May 2, 2011) – One of golf’s most-read and innovative online journalists, Jason Sobel, today joined Golf Channel and the NBC Sports Group.
 
A 14-year veteran of ESPN – most recently as golf editor, popular columnist and blogger for ESPN.com – Sobel joins GolfChannel.com as a senior writer and brings a wealth of experience and a writing style with a reputation of bringing golf events to life online.  Through the years, he has built a large and loyal following of readers and the respect of his peers, which has garnered him accolades and multiple writing awards.  Currently, Sobel has nearly 20,000 followers on the social media website, Twitter.
 
Sobel’s role at GolfChannel.com will be multi-faceted and aimed to help increase fan interaction through live blogging and chats.  He also will post columns, news stories and long-form features while covering select events on the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour and at golf’s major championships.  In addition, he will regularly make appearances on Golf Channel’s news and talk shows.
 
“Jason is a very well known and respected golf journalist who is very in tune with the game,” said Tom Stathakes, Golf Channel senior vice president of programming, production and operations.  “His strong opinions and perspective have attracted a loyal following who will continue to enjoy his contributions on GolfChannel.com.
 
“If you want to cover the sport of golf, this is the place to be,” Sobel said.  “I’m very excited about the new challenge and can’t wait to get started.”
 
Sobel’s introductory column was posted earlier this morning and can be seen at http://www.GolfChannel.com/tour-insider/firing-opening-tee-shot-42723/.  He also made his first on-camera appearance on Morning Drive, with hosts Erik Kuselias and Gary Williams.  Video of the interview can be seen here: http://www.GolfChannel.com/golf-videos/audio-morning-drive-5211-jason-sobel-analysis-15901/

"The MC asks Woods a series of meaningless and soft questions before pulling out a piece of paper that contains 'questions submitted by the media'. This is not a good sign."

Ron Sirak writes about Tiger's promotional swing to Asia and what it means about his relationship with sponsors.

Tim Noonan of the South China Morning Post was one of the media invitees and tells (reg. required) quite a harrowing tale of how the "press conference" was structured.

When I finally arrive I'm encouraged to see there are numerous media all ready to work. Personally, I didn't spend the week clearing out mantle space for the Pulitzer, but I do need to know if he thinks he can still win a tournament with his B game, despite the plethora of young hungry talent out there. The MC asks Woods a series of meaningless and soft questions before pulling out a piece of paper that contains "questions submitted by the media". This is not a good sign.

"Nike is one of the fastest growing golf companies in the world. Why do you think that is and can you tell us more about your relationship with Nike?" I get that sick-to-my-stomach feeling as this proves to be the hardest question of the lot and I'm told there will be no questions from the floor. But again I know nothing about marketing so I think it's fair to ask, you brought all of us here today for this? Because this is about as much a press conference as the selection of Hong Kong's chief executive is an election. I ask a guy named Cheung from Guangzhou who works for QQ.com, a massive mainland website, if he or any of his colleagues submitted questions. "None of us were asked," he says. "That press conference was 45 minutes of nothing. It was embarrassing."

I am astounded and clearly need a marketing lesson. Was this all a ploy to get me to denigrate Tiger, arguably the most famous and infamous person in the world, and question whether he has any shame at all? Does he honestly think someone here in the Chinese media stayed up all night racking their brains trying to figure out what they would ask him and then show up to submit a question about his relationship with Nike? Well, clearly he does because Tiger answers the question with such earnestness and vigour that the only thing missing is for him to utter, "Gee, you guys ask some good questions."

And Noonan's main point: after a strong Masters golf course performance, getting to watch a Woods promotional presser in person provided a wake-up call.

All that positive mojo and you are going to force me to write that as far as he is concerned Woods behaves like he owes you and I absolutely nothing and as far as I am concerned that's perfect because absolutely nothing is exactly what you get? Honestly, I'm begging you marketing geniuses of the almighty swoosh - don't make me write this! Because so far the only lesson you and your man have taught me is that when it comes to Tiger Woods, class is non-existent.

Meanwhile, I'm not sure what's more fun in John Feinstein's latest jabs at Barry Bonds and Tiger (thanks reader JohnB for the link): the Tiger stuff or the jabs at Feinstein's sometimes-employer, Golf Channel.

His new thing is to say he can’t change his schedule and can’t play more golf because he needs time with his children. It’s a good line—one that’s tough to argue with. Of course it doesn’t explain why he was seen in The Bahamas gambling a few days before going to Augusta; then, after nine days in Augusta, jumped on a plane to go to China to sell Nike product a few minutes after his last blow-off line to Macatee.

Look, you want to go to the Bahamas and have fun—go for it. You want to be a Nike salesman and go halfway around the world—heck, maybe it’s in your contract. But DON’T do those things and then try to tell us how much you miss your kids. In fact, during an infomercial last Thursday on Golf Channel (which posed as an ‘interview,’) during which viewers had to sit and listen to the president of Nike golf pitch the new spring products right there on-camera with Tiger, co-host Erik Kuselias, trying to make the interview at least semi-legitimate, asked Woods about being away from his kids so much.

“That’s why Skype is so great,” Tiger said with a straight face. “It’s almost like being there.”

I am not a crook.

I didn’t know what I was putting in my body.

Skype is just like being there.

"He had a wonderfully dry sense of humour and his love of golf and his job was always apparent. He will be much missed."

Douglas Lowe's paper gets around to acknowledging his passing with a lovely collection of remembrances from a diverse group of golf dignitaries.

Golf Digest To Let Golfers Sample 15-inch Cups...

Peter Finch with the details on a one day event at Pine Needles to play with 15-inch cups for $100 in the W-I-D-E Open, a response to the Flogton/Mark King kvetching about the USGA having a hand in all world evil.  Finch also Tweeted a photo of the proposed cup size.  Ron Whitten Tweets that the cup cutter was created by Baltusrol mechanic Todd Simms.

The 18-hole event will feature holes created with a specially designed cutter that measure 15-inches in diameter. That's more than three times the diameter of a standard golf hole and only slightly smaller than a basketball hoop.

The competition was inspired by recent comments from Taylor Made CEO Mark King, who suggested using 15-inch holes as a way to make golf more fun and appealing to newcomers. Intrigued by the idea, Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde created Thursday's W I D E Open event to measure how fun experienced players -- from club pros to scratch golfers to high handicappers -- would have on such a course set-up.

"Dougie - you were a super colleague, a trusted friend and you'll be very sadly missed."

More tributes for late golf writer Douglas Lowe, starting with Martin Dempster in the Scotsman:

Five months ago we reported together on Colin Montgomerie leading Europe to a thrilling Ryder Cup victory, but the high of that occasion has now been replaced by a feeling of shock and disbelief. Diagnosed with a brain tumour early in the new year, Dougie passed away at his Helensburgh home surrounded by his family at the age of 59 - the surgery he had undergone and subsequent treatment having proved unsuccessful.

Dougie, a long-time member at Helensburgh, was our 'statto'. He knew everything from the vagaries of the World Golf Rankings to how many children had been introduced to clubgolf.

He was also a stickler for the rules, as was witnessed when one of his playing partners conceded him a putt during a media event in the build up to the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry. Dougie didn't do anything wrong but, still, he played it by the book and penalised himself, though, thankfully, that didn't stop him from winning that day.

Dougie wasn't your all singing, all dancing types, but he certainly made me laugh when recalling a story about himself last year on the walk back to his house from Helensburgh railway station after a night out in Glasgow. Passing the local park, he ventured in and made a bee line for the football pitch, where he duly scored an imaginary headed 'goal'.

Little did he know that he was being watched by two members of Strathcylde constabulary who, after letting him finish his subsequent celebration, had a quiet word in his ear before sending a smiling Dougie off into the dark to finish his journey.

Press rooms won't be the same this season.

Bernie McGuire, contributing golf correspondent for the Daily Record and Herald, posted this in the comments on the initial post:

Sadly, it was while I was out in Abu Dhabi earlier this year when I learnt my good friend Dougie Lowe was suffering from a brain tumour.

As a contributing correspondent for the Daily Record along with the Scottish Herald, it was a huge shock to be informed Dougie would probably never return to report on the European Tour. However, I had the rug pulled right out from under me today (MON) when Jim Black (The Scottish Sun) advised me Dougie had passed away.

I first met Dougie around 2003 and soon after he had been appointed golf correspondent for the Herald.

Dougie quickly settled into life on the Tour and I remember his immense delight in being afforded the job of covering the Walker Cup later that year in the States. But it was early in 2004 when I really got to know Dougie better.

That was in when Dougie travelled to Australia.  So excited to be out covering golf he bought himself an around world ticket. Dougie pencilled in coverage of the co-sanctioned Heineken Classic in Melbourne and the ANZ Championship just north of Sydney. He thrilled at being offered a spot in the Pro-Am at Royal Melbourne and delighted also at the thought of spending the next week in a beach cottage at Nelson Bay, some two hours drive north of Sydney.

It was the year Laura Davies accepted a highly-controversial sponsor's invitation to compete against the men in the ANZ. Dougie was his element, surfing every morning before breakfast and then heading off to cover the event before delighting all of us around a barbeque later in the day with his unique style of humour. Davies finished last in the field but it was Dougie who came out on tops.

Next stop on his reporting schedule was the WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship. And as Dougie had spent so much time on the beach, I remember saying to him before he left to the States he looked so tanned he could have easily passed for a native Australian.

My partner and fellow European Tour journalist, Fatiha Betscher last July delighted in joining Jim (Black) in spending the week of the Barclays Scottish Open as guests of Dougie in his nearby Helensburgh apartment.
I teased him about a pile of un-ironed washing in the corner but Dougie was a great host that week. Fatiha cooked meals and Dougie entertained the three of us with more of his tales and jokes.

Bizarrely, as you look out his lounge room window the building dominating the view is the church right across the street from where he lived and from where he will be buried next Monday. Dougie - you were a super colleague, a trusted friend and you'll be very sadly missed. 

Golf World Redesign Chatter

Golf World's Geoff Russell responds to reader complaints about eliminating the scores and stats for more New Yorker style commentary from hacks like me. Any subscribers here care to weigh in?

"David Fay To Write Column For Golf Digest"

My money is still on Fay becoming Dick Ebersol's Tom Hagen for the golf side of NBC Sports/Versus/Golf Channel, also allowing him to still do his rules thing during USGA events.

But for now Jerry Tarde nabs the former USGA Executive Director to write a monthly column "from the perspective of the passionate player."

New York, NY—Golf Digest has signed on former USGA Executive Director David Fay as a monthly columnist beginning in the April 2011 issue.
 
“David Fay has one of the brightest minds in sport, as his friends in golf have known for 30 years,” said Golf Digest Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde. “He’s incisive, witty and opinionated. He understands the game at the highest level from the perch of the U.S. Open—and the lowest level as a passionate golfer with a bag full of hybrids. He has participated in every major decision and event in golf for the last generation. And he brings to all this a democratizing sense of inclusion. It was no accident he’s known as the man who took the Open public. This kind of refreshing attitude and insight is what he’ll share with readers. In other words, don’t be fooled by the bowtie.”