"MOST WATCHED DAY TWO IN PRESIDENTS CUP HISTORY"

For Immediate Release, as some of you watch Day 4...

Tops Day One to Become Most-Watched Day of Presidents Cup Ever on Cable;
Both Days on Golf Channel Surpass Any Previous Cable Coverage
 
ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2011)– Golf Channel’s coverage of The Presidents Cup broke another record, with Day Two viewership topping Day One – the previous best day – to become the most-watched day on cable in the history of the biennial tournament, according to preliminary national ratings released today by Nielsen. This milestone is especially significant given the 16-hour time difference between the U.S. Eastern time zone and Australia.
 
Golf Channel's Day One and Day Two coverage from Melbourne both surpass all previous days on cable TV in the history of the event, which includes four days on ESPN, eight days on TNT and two days on Golf Channel.

Data showed average viewers for Day Two coverage was 1,508,000.  Average viewers for Day One and Day Two combined was up 123 percent from comparable days when the event was last played overseas (South Africa, 2003). Viewership for Day Three and the Final Day of The Presidents Cup will be available when national ratings are released by Nielsen.

The Presidents Cup Day Two coverage anchored Golf Channel’s Thursday primetime schedule, which replaced Wednesday as the most-watched and highest-rated night in primetime ever on the network.

Sharp Park Update, Bill Fields' Images

With the Presidents Cup past I finally got to savor Bill Fields' gallery of black and white images from a recent visit to the embattled Alister MacKenzie public course outside San Francisco. It's well worth a look and a reminder of just the kind of place golf needs more of, and yet, the effort to save the place has not been joined by any of the game's national organizations.

I also forgot that the Save Sharp Park folks got their day in court with the Wild Equity zealots on November 18. Fields filed this update on what went on.

2011 Presidents Cup, Kneejerk Reactions

I have writing duties, but I think I can sum this place up pretty succinctly: the course got better, more interesting, more intricate and more fascinating to watch every day. Only the Old Course might be more interesting, but certainly not as fun for spectating because of sightlines.

Anyway, I was parked on the first hole Sunday, so that's where my images are fun. Your thoughts...assuming you aren't waiting to watch the tape delay coverage on NBC.

 

2011 Presidents Cup Final Day Open Comment Thread

The International team has no margin for error Sunday and while the Captains didn't exactly think theatrically with their matchups, the course, improved weather and some juicy hole locations should provide fascinating golf.

Captains Look To Stave Off High Ratings With Sunday Singles Selections

There's nothing quite like running out K.T. Kim in the opening slot or pitting Woods against Baddeley when you could have had a much sexier Y.E. Yang matchup to keep viewers tuned in well after the U.S. seals the Presidents Cup. Yet that's what the otherwise entertainment-savvy Captains set us up for Sunday at Royal Melbourne:

MATCH 23 – K.T. Kim, International vs. Webb Simpson, U.S.
MATCH 24 – Dustin Johnson, U.S. vs. Charl Schwartzel, International
MATCH 25 – Ryo Ishikawa, International vs. Bubba Watson, U.S.
MATCH 26 – Bill Haas, U.S. vs. Geoff Ogilvy, International
MATCH 27 – Jason Day, International vs. Hunter Mahan, U.S.
MATCH 28 – Nick Watney, U.S. vs. K.J. Choi, International
MATCH 29 – Adam Scott, International vs. Phil Mickelson, U.S.
MATCH 30 – Matt Kuchar, U.S. vs. Retief Goosen, International
MATCH 31 – Ernie Els, International vs. Jim Furyk, U.S.
MATCH 32 – David Toms, U.S. vs. Robert Allenby, International
MATCH 33 – Aaron Baddeley, International vs. Tiger Woods, U.S.
MATCH 34 – Steve Stricker, U.S. vs. Y,E. Yang, International

Random Day 3 Images From The Presidents Cup

In honor of today's cold and miserable weather, black and white shots from Saturday's third day of Presidents Cup play.

"MOST WATCHED DAY ONE IN PRESIDENTS CUP HISTORY"

For Immediate Release...

Golf Channel Coverage from Australia Draws Nearly 1.3 Million Viewers, Beats All Previous Day One’s of the Event
 
ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2011) – Golf Channel’s Day One coverage of The Presidents Cup from Melbourne, Australia, is the most-watched day one in the event’s history, drawing nearly 1.3 million average viewers.

The household rating for the telecast (1.2 / 1,268,000) was up 88 percent from the last comparable round when the biennial event was played overseas (South Africa, 2003) and five percent higher than the previous best day one of the event, played in San Francisco in 2009. This record rating is especially significant given the 16 hour time difference between Melbourne and the East Coast of the United States.

The rating peaked at 1.5 when Tiger Woods teed off against a pairing featuring Adam Scott, who currently employs Woods’ former caddie, Steve Williams.

“This record audience is a real testament to the growing popularity of the game of golf around the globe,” said Golf Channel President Mike McCarley from Melbourne. “The fact that this U.S. television record was set from an event 16 hours away is an especially strong signal for the vitality of golf. We're hearing loud and clear from our passionate viewers that they love primetime golf.”

Random Day 2 Images From The Presidents Cup

Brutal conditions but fascinating golf. A few quick observations...

- The Americans have acquitted themselves beautifully but I did see a few cracks today, with Nick Watney hitting way too many high approaches. He and partner Haas also laid up poorly on the short par-4 sixth whole Ogilvy and Choi played further back and both hit beautiful approaches.

- The pace of play could be justified at times because of the conditions, but it became appalling that the Baddeley-Day team was not asked to pick it up. Their slow play created a front nine logjam, most of it Day's doing.

- The 18th hole rough (note below Bill Haas photo on 18) is becoming increasingly tedious and worrisome if the matches come down to the last hole Sunday. The green is wild enough. Trying to control an approach into it from the fairway is enough challenge. Bomb and gouge is the play.

- I can't fathom what Captain Greg Norman is thinking by pairing Robert Allenby with Geoff Ogilvy in Saturday's foursomes. Ogilvy has been solid and appeared to have a nice bond with partners Schwartzel and Choi. Allenby hasn't been good. Foursomes is a sensitive format, requiring matching personalities and compatible games. Stick Allenby with another likely lost point, and try to win four points with your best combinations.

These photos can also be viewed here:

2011 Presidents Cup Second Day Open Thread

Four-balls, hot and high winds, Royal Melbourne...should be fun. I'm off to the links, but would love to hear what you are seeing.

The matches, all times ET:

5:35 p.m. ET -- Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, United States, vs. Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa, International.
5:49 p.m. ET -- Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods, United States, vs. Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day, International.
6:03 p.m. ET -- Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk, United States, vs. Adam Scott and K.T. Kim, International.
6:17 p.m. ET -- Bill Haas and Nick Watney, United States, vs. Geoff Ogilvy and K.J. Choi, International.
6:31 p.m. ET -- Matt Kuchar and Steve Stricker, United States, vs. Y.E. Yang and Robert Allenby, International.
6:45 p.m. ET -- Hunter Mahan and David Toms, United States, vs. Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel, International.

The Tiger Stare

I am just enjoying this image way more than I should, but it's in every paper Down Under and my colleague JD Cuban got his own beauty that you may see in next week's Golf World coverage. This one is by Michael Klein of AP and posted at SI.com (go there to see it nice and big!):

"No gimme for Steve Stricker on a 2-footer?"

A fun bit from the Choi-Scott v. Woods/Stricker blowout Thursday, courtesy of Bob Harig.

No gimme for Steve Stricker on a 2-footer?

"I was very surprised,'' Woods said. "Probably the best putter on the planet. I don't think he's missed one of those [since] coming out of the womb.''

And yet, Woods would be the first to admit that if there were any angst from that moment, if there was to be any motivation derived from such a perceived slight, it didn't happen.

From that point forward, the match of the day was a dud -- unless, of course, you're a fan of the International side, or Scott and Choi in particular, or perhaps in seeing Williams exact some revenge on his old boss (if you could even call it that).

FanVision Down Under...For A Good Cause

I was stopped about ten times during day one of the Presidents Cup and asked to explain what the device was hanging around my neck. Longtime readers here know it to be FanVision, the incredibly cool televisions/leaderboards available at select major championships.

This week they're sponsored by Citi and for a $20 donation fans can pick them up at the entrance. All proceeds are going to Mission Australia, whose "vision is to see a fairer Australia enabling people in need to find pathways to a better life." I have no idea what that means, but it sounds fantastic. Especially if it takes the fan experience to a new level.

Random Day 1 Images From The Presidents Cup

A glorious day with huge galleries and Royal Melbourne shining made for some great viewing. After first vowing to plant myself on a green, I opted to go with the fascinating Ogilvy-Schwartzel v. Haas-Watney match. Though it ended in a draw and both teams struggled at the finish, the energy combined with the genius of Royal Melbourne made for fun viewing.

A few images from the day, where the U.S. leads 4-2...