DVR Alert: Rocco On Feherty

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I ran into David Feherty strolling his second home--the DFW airport--and asked him how the Rocco show Monday was and he reported that Mediate was in great spirits. Hardly surprising that those two could yammer up storm about the '08 US Open, Arnold Palmer, the long putter and other stuff, as evidenced by the preview clip.

The show first airs Monday, May 13 at 10 pm ET.

Viewing Alert: Grey Goose 19th Hole From The Players

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I'll be on this week's special Wednesday edition with John Feinstein and David Fay...for da full hour.

Should be a lively discussion covering the many interesting issues in the game, including the continuing buzz over the Tiger drop, Vijay's non-sentence, anchoring and much more.

The show airs Wednesday at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT and replays at 1 am/10 pm PT.

Lepp's "Saucer Shot" Will Not Be Growing The Game

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Thanks to reader Ian for Brad Ziemer's story on James Lepp of Big Break fame (I wouldn't know, under doctor's order not to watch) learning from Golf Canada's Dale Jackson that the saucer shot he featured on the show (still don't know, still under doctor's order) has been ruled illegal by the USGA/R&A joint rules committee.

“The rule that would be breached is Rule 14-1 that says in part the club can’t be pushed, spooned and scraped,” Jackson said. “Pushed and spooned don’t apply here, but scraped here basically means you are intentionally dragging or pulling the club along the ground before it hits the ball, which is what he does.”

Lepp’s saucer shot is a hybrid of sorts, part hockey snap shot and part golf chip shot. Lepp, a former NCAA champion and multiple B.C. Amateur and Canadian Tour winner, came up with the shot to combat the occasional yips he was suffering when chipping off tight lies near the green.

He used it with considerable success on last fall’s Big Break series on Golf Channel and Lepp has videos of the shot posted on his website for Kikkor Golf, the shoe and apparel company he owns and operates.

Can't wait for the first cries that this, too, will be stifling massive growth of the game after Commissioner Finchem reveals that nearly 20% of golfers use the saucer to combat yips.

The Vancouver Sun posted Lepp's demo video.

Ernst And Starting A Telecast While We're Young

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Steve DiMeglio reports on 22-year-old fourth alternate Derek Ernst winning a Wells Fargo Championship playoff over Englishman David Lynn in just the UNLV rookie's eighth PGA Tour start.

The round started as early as any final round Sunday in recent memory to help get the round in before storms rendered the already dreadful greens even less playable. This put CBS in the unenviable position of showing tape-delayed golf that was widely reported on if you follow Twitter or log onto PGATour.com.

And in an era with a channel devoted to golf (showing early round coverage) and live digital streaming, John Strege took issue with CBS's choice to stick with a tape delayed telecast.

The tournament, as a result, ended more than an hour before the delayed telecast began on CBS.

We reached out to a CBS representative for an explanation. "We have the rights to the final round," she wrote in an email. "Our broadcast window is from 3:00-6:00 pm ET. Due to affiliate and/or other programming commitments, we can not move the broadcast window when tee times are moved up."

What then would compel anyone to watch had they already known that an obscure tour rookie, Derek Ernst, had won in his ninth career start? They might logically conclude that they hadn't missed anything.

The final round highlights from PGA Tour Productions:

Golf Channel Anywhere, Any Device...Almost

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As with ESPN, HBOGO and other entertainment apps, Golf Channel is announcing today expanded coverage via its app that allows for viewing of live coverage and original programming. All you need is a cable subscription or a friend's subscription or a cable company other than mine to access Golf Channel almost anywhere via smart phones or tablets.

For Immediate Release...

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 23, 2013) – Golf Live Extra, will begin live streaming Golf Channel 24/7 via “TV Everywhere” beginning Wednesday, April 24. Golf Live Extra, which is available via Golf Channel’s digital platforms on desktop, mobile and tablets, as well as on most digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, telco and other video subscription services, will stream Golf Channel around the clock, including the network’s coverage of tournaments, news, instruction and original programming.
 
“Golf Channel’s mission to connect the world to golf will be enhanced by Golf Live Extra making the same high-quality network available to golfers anywhere, anytime and on any device,” said Mike McCarley, President of Golf Channel and NBC Golf Media. “Golf Live Extra will satisfy golfers’ desire to watch Golf Channel on the best screen available, whether that is on their laptop on a business trip, a tablet on the driving range or a phone on their lunch break.”
 
Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Comcast Xfinity TV, DISH, Mediacom, Suddenlink and Verizon FiOS are the first providers to offer this new service to their customers. It is anticipated that other subscription services will be added shortly. The vast majority of content on Golf Live Extra will be streamed only via “TV Everywhere” and made available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of Golf Channel’s distribution partners’ services.
 
Golf Channel, which logged the network’s most-watched year ever in 2012 and is off to its fastest start ever in 2013, provides viewers with high-quality content including:

· Tournament coverage from all the major tours including the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, European Tour and Champions Tour. Golf Channel has been streaming golf competition on the PGA TOUR since January 2013, via “TV Everywhere” on Golf Live Extra.

· News and analysis programming including Morning Drive, Golf Central, Live From and Grey Goose 19th Hole.

· Instructional series including Playing Lessons, School of Golf, The Golf Fix, and Golf Channel Academy.

· Original productions including Feherty, The Haney Project: Michael Phelps, Big Break and In Play with Jimmy Roberts.
 
“Golf Channel’s digital platforms have experienced tremendous growth since joining the NBC Sports Group in 2011 and Golf Live Extra furthers our mission to provide viewers the best golf content available, no matter where they are,” said Rick Cordella, SVP & GM, Digital Media, NBC Sports Group. “Live streaming of Golf Channel via Golf Live Extra offers another high-quality user experience that complements all of our other platforms, whether you want to follow the professional tours, get tips on how to improve your game, or get a unique perspective from the top personalities in golf.”
 
Golf Live Extra rounds out Golf Channel’s digital portfolio, which ranked #1 among all digital properties dedicated to golf in unique visitors in February and March according to comScore. Golf Channel’s digital portfolio currently includes:

· GolfChannel.com & Golf Channel Mobile: A leading resource for online coverage of golf, GolfChannel.com and Golf Channel Mobile logged their best quarter ever this past first quarter 2013, pulling in record numbers across all key metrics including visits and video starts.

· Golf Channel Academy App: The network’s mobile instructional application, which features Golf Channel’s extensive library of instructional videos and the ability to tap into the expertise of certified SwingFix instructors, anywhere, anytime on their mobile devices.

I can listen to Michael Breed yell anywhere, anytime! Hallelujah!

· GolfNow.com & GolfNow Mobile App: The largest and most comprehensive online tee time reservation service, GolfNow offers golfers more ways to stay connected to their favorite courses and tee times through the web, e-mail and iPhone and Android mobile apps.

· Golf Live Extra: Golf Channel’s live streaming product for desktop, mobile and tablets, Golf Live Extra provides live streaming of the linear TV network to authenticated subscribers.

Adam Scott's Impromptu Rendition Of "Come on Aussie!"

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Many were wondering what Adam Scott screamed in his moment of triumph after sinking the birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the Masters. Just as CBS's Ian Baker-Finch nailed the interpretation--and great call by CBS to keep the Australian golfing great involved in the final moments of the telecast to lend perspective and emotion--it was "Come On Aussie."

John Strege reviews the telecast and other Sunday media, including the CBS announcers doing some impressive lip reading:

"Did I just lip-read him, 'come on Aussies?'" Faldo asked. A slow-motion replay confirmed it.

"There's a great song at home called 'Come On Aussie, Come on,'" Australian native Ian Baker-Finch said. "That's what we've all been saying."

Here's the first verse, a fitting ode to Scott and Australian golf:

"It's been a long time comin'
"To silence all that drummin'
"To show them that it wasn't just a dream."

In the post round press conference, yours truly asked for a confirmation. Here was Scott's answer:

Q.  On 18 in regulation, when you reacted, it looked like you were saying something; do you remember what you said?

ADAM SCOTT:  Yeah.  Come on, Aussie.  Yeah, that's right.  I did, yeah.  It was maybe a natural reaction.  That's from back in my cricket days probably.

I don't know if Steve appreciated me yelling that straight toward him (laughter) but whatever.  Maybe the one time he doesn't mind.

You can find that winning moment on the Masters.com video page somewhere, perhaps sitting through a highlight video that does not have a link.

Or you can wait a few hours and we can watch an unauthorized YouTube version through some person's iphone camera and television screen.

What is on YouTube is a fine rendition of "Come on Aussie."

Faldo, Chamblee Calling On Woods To "Man Up" & WD

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Stunning contrast right now on Golf Channel and ESPN this wacky morning.

Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee right now are calling on Tiger Woods to "man up" (Faldo) and that he knows he gained an advantage, knows he broke the rule and has not yet withdrawn "sad" (Chamblee).

Both players made clear they believe he made a mistake, mixed up the rules and did not intentionally cheat.

ESPN meanwhile, with Andy North and Curtis Strange, have been lauding the committee's use of the Decision and that this is why the rule was created. Whether it was created for this reason though, is very much in dispute.