Category Archives: Golf

Tiger effect: Sunday’s final round ties for highest Players Championship rating since 1991

by Ed Sherman
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The stars couldn’t have aligned better for NBC Sunday. Tiger Woods and his arch nemesis Sergio Garcia going down the stretch at the Players Championship.

Yes, there were other players too, but nothing moves the needle more than the combination of Tiger and a little bad blood. As you would expect, the ratings were huge.

From Austin Karp of Street and Smith’s Sports Business Daily:

NBC earned a 5.7 overnight Nielsen rating for the final round of The Players Championship yesterday, which saw Tiger Woods win by two strokes over David Lingmerth, Jeff Maggert and Kevin Streelman for his first win at TPC Sawgrass since ’01. The rating is tied with Woods’ win in ’01 as the best final round for the event since ’91. The 5.7 overnight also is up 68% from a 3.4 overnight for the final round

… Continue Reading

In Play with Jimmy Roberts: Latest Golf Channel show examines greatest round ever

by Ed Sherman
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Golf Channel’s version of Real Sports, In Play with Jimmy Roberts, got off to a terrific start with its debut show in March. Tonight is the next installment.

******

Here’s the rundown from the Golf Channel.

In Play with Jimmy Roberts returns Tuesday, April 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET on Golf Channel with a new slate of real-life stories that encompass the game of golf in this critically-acclaimed newsmagazine series.

Tuesday’s new episode features Al Geiberger – the first player in history to shoot a record-low score of 59 in a PGA TOUR sanctioned event – watching his achievement for the first time; former Atlanta Constitution editorial page editor Reg Murphy recalling how golf helped him survive a 1974 kidnapping; and Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner taking viewers on a fun-filled tour to some of the most unusual golf … Continue Reading

Tiger factor? Masters final round rating goes up 26 percent

by Ed Sherman
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In 2012, when Tiger Woods finished 40th, the Masters did an 8.1 rating during the final round.

In 2013, when Woods finished in a tie for fourth, the Masters did a 10.2 on Sunday, an increase of 26 percent.

Tiger factor in play? For sure.

Both tournaments had thrilling playoffs producing popular winners: Bubba Watson in 2012 and Adam Scott this year.

It has been pointed out that last year’s final round took place on Easter Sunday. So that might have accounted for some of the difference in the rating, but hardly 26 percent.

The Saturday ratings also show the Tiger impact. They were up 24 percent (6.3 from 5.1). The additional viewers definitely tuned in to see how Woods would handle the aftermath of his two-shot penalty. CBS gladly showed nearly every one of his shots over the weekend.

Even when Woods … Continue Reading

Really? Nick Faldo changed his mind on Tiger; his statements on the Golf Channel

by Ed Sherman
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It appears it also won’t be a good day for Nick Faldo.

Upon further review, Faldo completely changed his tune on CBS regarding the Tiger Woods controversy. He now understands how it all came down.

Carry on, old chap.

Wow.

Just a refresher, this is what Faldo said on the Golf Channel earlier in the day:

“There’s absolutely no intention to try and drop that as close to the divot.  Absolutely none at all.”

“This is dreadful … in black and white – and that is the greatest thing about our game, our rules are very much black and white – that’s a breach of the rules. Simple as that.”

“Sometimes the black-and-white factual of them is harsh, but I think Tiger would gain massive Brownie points if he stood up and said, ‘You know, you’re right guys.  I clearly … Continue Reading

History of Masters TV: Remember Vin Scully on 18? Brent Musburger, Dick Enberg working Butler cabin?

by Ed Sherman
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Classic Sports TV and Media did a terrific post chronicling the history of the Masters on TV.

There was plenty of good stuff in there that I didn’t know or forgot about it. For instance:

Vin Scully manned the 18th tower from 1975-82. Pat Summerall didn’t take over until 1983.

Brent Musburger and Dick Enberg each served as hosts in the Butler Cabin.

In 2003, the telecast went without sponsors in the wake of the Martha Burk furor over the no women membership. I definitely remember that one.

Frank Gifford actually worked the Masters while he was at CBS in the late 60s.

When was Gary McCord’s last Masters on the CBS telecast? The answer: 1994, when he made his infamous “bikini-wax” remark about Augusta National’s green.

Chris Schenkel and Bud Palmer called the first Masters for CBS in 1956.… Continue Reading

Best part of ESPN’s Masters coverage: No Chris Berman; Augusta National doesn’t want him

by Ed Sherman
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Did you notice what you didn’t hear on ESPN’s Masters coverage yesterday? No promos for upcoming shows (won’t miss hearing the endless plugs for Two Broke Girls on CBS this weekend); obviously limited commercials; and drum roll please, no Chris Berman.

Each year, ESPN commits a major golf crime by allowing Berman to be part of its early-round U.S. Open coverage. His schtick is completely out of place at such a huge event.

You know Berman only is there because he tells ESPN he wants to be there. He enjoys golf and this is his chance to have his shot at a major. ESPN has to know he is horrible, but the network goes along with it because he’s “Boomer.” They want to keep him happy.

In 2008, ESPN lands early-round coverage of the Masters. Well, if Berman loves doing … Continue Reading

Master tweeter: Dan Jenkins excels in 140 characters; Golf Digest editor talks about working with him

by Ed Sherman
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Quite simply, the best thing going on Twitter is an 83-year-old man who struggles to operate a computer.

Dan Jenkins is back tweeting at the Masters this week. He is a must follow. You’ll never read a better use of 140 characters in social media.

It’s all about witty insights, biting sarcasm, and laugh-out-loud punchlines for Jenkins. Basically, Twitter is an extension of what he’s done for his entire career.

The week is young, but Jenkins already has zinged poor Colin Montgomerie:

Saw Colin Montgomerie looking for gifts in the golf shop, but they’re already out of majors for guys who have never won one.

Michael O’Malley, executive editor for Golf Digest, assists Jenkins with his tweets at golf’s four majors and the Ryder Cup. He definitely has the best seat in the house.

I asked O’Malley for his observations … Continue Reading

Same old complaint: Not enough TV coverage of Masters

by Ed Sherman
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Tiger Woods tees off at 10:45 a.m. ET on Thursday. That means he will be nearly done with his round when ESPN comes on the air at 3 p.m. ET.

Here’s another “tradition unlike any other”: Complaining about the lack of Masters TV coverage.

While all the others major golf tournaments receive virtually sun-up-to-sun-down telecasts, the Masters, the one event we want to watch the most, continues to dish out the smallest portions in the game.

My complaint is more about Thursday and Friday than the weekend. At least on Saturday and Sunday, there is 18-hole coverage of the leaders. During the final round, CBS comes on at 2 p.m. ET, almost an hour before the last group tees off.

What tests the patience level are the first two rounds. To make fans wait until mid-afternoon to see play from … Continue Reading

ESPN spends 10 days in China reporting story on 14-year-old Masters amateur

by Ed Sherman
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That’s quite a commitment from ESPN for a story that airs on SportsCenter at the Masters today at 4 p.m. ET. I’m sure it must have been an interesting eating adventure for my good friend, Gene Wojciechowski.

From Wojciechowski:

“Whatever you think you know about China, you don’t. Ten days in three different cities doesn’t make me an expert, but I can tell you from a golf perspective that if the government there ever puts its full support behind the sport, you’ll eventually see a Chinese player slipping on a green jacket.

“I wish I had the building crane concession in China. And the breathing mask concession. And until I went, I had no idea Guangzhou was the third-largest city in China, or that Tianlang Guan, so celebrated in our country this week, is hardly noticed in his own country.… Continue Reading

Q/A with Jim Nantz on the Masters: A tradition ‘unlike’ any other; not as genteel as it looks on TV

by Ed Sherman
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Part 2 of 3:

Jim Nantz has been saying the phrase so long he felt the need to correct Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner.

During a conference call Monday, Williams recited the famous line as, “It’s the Masters tradition like no other.”

Nantz jumped in to set the record straight.

“It’s a tradition unlike any other,” Nantz said. “I think I’ve said that a time or two in the last quarter century.”

Indeed, while Nantz is seen by more than 100 million viewers when he calls the Super Bowl, and by a huge primetime audience for the NCAA Final Four, the Masters is his signature event.

This will be Nantz’s 28th Masters. He did his first in 1986 when Jack Nicklaus roared to his epic victory. Ken Venturi told the young kid: “Jimmy, you might do 50 of these, … Continue Reading