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
They Found A Player Willing To Share His Innermost Profound Thoughts!
/Hyundai Tournament of Champions First-Round Co-Leader Jonathan Byrd to be Mic’d Up for Golf Channel
Read MoreNBC Opts For Jacobsen Over Faxon!?
/Jim McCabe reports that NBC did not renew Brad Faxon's one-year deal and instead retains Peter Jacobsen for a select number of events. I thought both were welcome additions, though Faxon seems more polished and in touch with current players.
Maybe it was the hat he signed to Ian Poulter, posing as Johnny Miller/63 at Oakmont that showed way too much of a sense of humor?
"The Tour needs to help Golf Channel and the networks deliver a much better broadcast product than viewers currently are getting."
/Martin Kaufman, writing about the Golf Channel's new graphics package and desire to mike players at Kapalua this week, pens this cautionary note to PGA Tour players who are resisting the mikes.
Read More“If you look at where we are compared with other sports, we’re pretty far behind."
/You can't say the Golf Channel isn't trying. Besides unveiling a slick new graphics package this week that'll make network graphics look antiquated. And Doug Ferguson reports that they've been given permission by the Deathstar Ponte Vedra to mike players this week. Assuming they have any willing participants.
Read More"'Morning Drive’ starts out in the slow lane"
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Martin Kaufman braved all two hours of Golf Channel's new Morning Drive and writes that the show needs a lot of work."Golf Channel’s ‘Morning Drive’ to Feature Palmer, Trump and More as Part of Premiere Week Guest Lineup"
/The headline says it all. I want to be excited about this show but when Donald Trump is right behind Arnold Palmer, you get the distinct feeling this could turn into a tortuous shillfest for Golf Channel's mostly dismal original programming slate.
Read MoreDirecTV Subscribers: Are You Making Impassioned Pleas To Save Golf Channel?**
/I know I'd be on the phone to complain about them dropping a channel I watch, just wondering if any of you are lighting up the phone banks in Pakistan to tell Rupert Murdoch's goons you want your Golf Channel?
Read More“There will be other channels that are going to come down — channels that aren’t watched as much will come down."
/John Ourand files a detail-rich story on a possible Golf Channel-DirecTV break up December 31st.
Read More“The stories get people there. The product keeps people there.”
/The NY Times's Bill Carter takes a while to clear his throat but as usual delivers some compelling reasons for the NFL's massive ratings this season. Ponte Vedra, take note...
Read MoreWhere Are You With 3D TV?
/The PGA Tour is banking on 3D to embellish golf telecasts in the future and while I must say the in-store demos are great, I can't see taking the plunge to spend extra for the option down the road. Especially after these remarks from Fox Sports' Eric, gulp, Shanks.
Read MoreLPGA And Golf Channel Just Fine And Dandy?
/Ron Sirak reported in this week's Golf World Monday that the LPGA is looking for a way out of their 10-year Golf Channel deal. But Ryan Ballengee checked in with LPGA spokesman Dave Higdon, who denied that was the case.
Read More"If Tiger makes that phone call, yes, he breaks the record. If he doesn't make that call, there's only a minute chance."
/rb Golf Magazine interview with Brandel Chamblee is worth a look and with it being a slow news cyle, well worth parsing, starting with this on Tiger's swing
Read MoreThe Ramifications of Sunday's Impressive Chevron Rating
/The most impressive thing about the Chevron final round 2.7 rating, a smidgen higher than this year's Open Championship: the event was up against the NFL.
The most unfortunate ramification: it underscores the power of Tiger, likely inspiring the PGA Tour to lean on his star power, without digging a little deeper to improve the "product" for the long term benefit of the tour and the game.
Johnny: "Sometimes I wonder how the world would be if there were a million Johnny Millers."
/There are many great anecdotes and observations in Jaime Diaz's Golf Digest profile of Johnny Miller, but naturally I'm drawn to the stuff about his passion for picking up highway litter and a third person reference.
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