When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
When I saw the tweet about Stephanie Wei's item on Jim Nantz's Memorial call of Justin Rose's win, I figure she was just having a good ole time with Jim. Then I see the video on Deadspin today and all I can say is...I knew I hit mute for a reason. Thank you higher power.
I just pity the poor assistant who got the directive from Jim: Google the lyrics for The Rose and do it now!
With play like this, who needs fill-in gigs at CBS or Masters online? Right? Please?
The last thing the world needed was another 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass story, and I, never one to insist on originality, filed this profile for Golf World.
But before you hesitate to hit the link out of 17th hole fatigue, a couple of things.
Longtime readers will recall that I visited The Players last year for the first time and was pretty much awestruck by the amazing scene at No. 17, in part thanks to the hole but even more than that, the impressive engagement of fans who chose to contain their view to the island green.
And for viewers at home, NBC goes all out to cover the hole in ways that blew my mind. So that said, my story is not a rehash of Pete Dye or Deane Beman stories but instead a look at the elements and people who help make it such a premier viewing experience. And as part of the story, Sam Weinman produced this short video. It includes me hitting a nice skull over the 17th Hole Challenge green. So it's got that going for it.
Rex Hoggard noted that "Players, officials and television executives met last week in Harbour Town to brainstorm ways to punch up the on-air product, a productive meeting by all accounts."
Oh to have heard the ideas bandied about in that room!
I say, if television wants to flesh out a controversy a bit, they shouldn't be worried about upsetting PGA Tour brass, agents or friends and family. And if television wants to mike caddies and players (which they resisted...like they were trading nuclear codes mid-round), let them!
Shoot, wouldn't we all be fascinated by a once-a-year, announcer-sparse (maybe two, tops?) telecast where we let player-caddy conversations do most of the storytelling?
While many potential innovations have been brought up in the past, most are branded "gimmicks" and forgotten about because golf thinks it's above such things. But with big money on the line and ratings flat, we may see some compromises.
What would you like to see?
A good time was apparently had by all at Wentworth when European TV's finest showed up to play the Ernie Els redesigned West Course.
Love the write up:
A team of broadcasters from the BBC and Sky Sports enjoyed their first sight of the modernised West Course at Wentworth Club when they faced a line-up from BMW, The European Tour and the host club.Former Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance, was joined by fellow BBC commentators Alan Hansen, Tim Henman and Sir Matthew Pinsent alongside Di Stewart, Robert Lee and Steve Beddow from Sky Sports as the team of broadcasters registered a hefty 7-2 victory.
Paul Davies of the BBC and Sky Sports’ Jason Wesley jointly accepted the plaudits from George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour after defending their trophy.
There were rave reviews for the changes made to the famous West Course by the Ernie Els design team ahead of the BMW PGA Championship 2010, with the visually stunning eighth and 18th attracting special attention.
My review of the telecasts, Golf Channel and online coverage is now posted at GolfDigest.com.
One thing not covered: the 3D telecast, which Stephanie Wei gives a rave review:
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
