Category Archives: Golf

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

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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.

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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 tournaments imaginable.

Host and managing editor Jimmy Roberts, a 13-time Emmy Award-winner, has drawn critical praise for telling some of sports’ greatest stories during his distinguished career at NBC Sports, ESPN and ABC News and ABC Sports, which includes covering 14 Olympics. Described as “an enterprising new original series” by Sports Illustrated and a “gorgeously shot magazine show” by CableFAX Daily, In Play with Jimmy Roberts is a monthly series that chronicles stories ranging from celebrities to everyday people who are all unified by golf.

Scheduled features on the Tuesday, April 23 episode:

– Al Geiberger’s Historic 59 Revealed – Al Geiberger was the first player to record a 59 in a PGA TOUR sanctioned event during the second round of the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic in 1977. The tournament did not air on any broadcast networks. However, a local news crew from WMC-TV in Memphis captured this historic achievement, but Geiberger never saw that evening’s news. Unfortunately, a few weeks later, a fire destroyed the station, which housed the only known video footage. In Play chronicles how the video resurfaced and surprises Geiberger and his family by showing them the historic 59 for the first time.

– Kidnapped: But Golf Helped Me Survive – While serving as an editor for the Atlanta Constitution, Reg Murphy was the victim of a kidnapping in 1974. He credits golf with helping him survive while being locked in the trunk of a car during the 49-hour ordeal. He visualized a recent round, shot by shot, at Augusta National, home of the Masters. With contributions from NBC News’ Tom Brokaw and longtime Atlanta Journal-Constitution editor Jim Minter, Murphy shares his harrowing tale with Jimmy Roberts.

– Unusual Golf Tournaments – Rich Lerner takes viewers on a journey to some of the most unusual golf tournaments and profiles the characters that make these “off-the-track” events so popular. The Mustache Open, the Cow Pasture Open in Montana, the National Hickory Championship in West Virginia, the Snow Golf Tournament at Alpine Meadows, and the annual Bobby Jones Open, where all participants are aptly named, “Bobby Jones,” are featured.

 

 

Tiger factor? Masters final round rating goes up 26 percent

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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 doesn’t win, as long as he is in the hunt, TV wins.

 

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

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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 have broken the rules and I’ll walk, I’ll see you next week.’”

“This one has clearly changed the lie of the golf ball.  Absolutely clearly.”

“He should really sit down and think about this and the mark this will leave on his career, his legacy, everything.”

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Well, speaking of legacy, Faldo’s career likely will be linked to this reversal. Do you think somebody at Augusta National talked to the three-time Masters winner?

Faldo is getting ripped on social media. Among the tweeters were CBS’ own Doug Gottlieb.

@GottliebShow: Who knew Nick Faldo was a cover cornerback? Impressive back peddle from this AM until now #Tiger #CBS

Yep, Gottlieb might get a phone call from someone at CBS Sports over that tweet.

 

 

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

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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.

That first televised tournament had 2.5 hours of coverage. This year, they will be 18 hours. As I have written often this week, that’s not enough.

 

 

 

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

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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 the Open, you would think he would take up residence in Augusta for a chance to work the Masters. Make no mistake, he definitely wants to be part of ESPN’s team for the biggest tournament of the year. It’s “a tradition unlike any other.”

So why isn’t he? Unlike the United States Golf Association, which mysteriously allows Berman on its telecasts, I am certain the august officials of Augusta National said, “No Boomer.” They don’t want his prattle (Clifford “The Big Red Dog” Roberts) messing up the pristine Masters telecasts.

As a result, we heard Mike Tirico handle the host chores Thursday. Now there is an ideal fit for ESPN and the Masters. We heard the familiar voices of CBS; the birds chirping when the fans, er “patrons,” went quiet; and the cheers when somebody rolled in a birdie putt.

We didn’t hear Chris Berman. The sound of that silence was beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

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

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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 about working with the great one.

When did you start the tweets with Dan? What was his reaction when you first broached the subject? Was he aware of Twitter?

He made his debut at the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage, his 200th major, and was an immediate hit. He wasn’t familiar with the format but instantly recognized that it was made for him and allowed him to make quick observations on things that might not make it into a story. When a writer dropped by and said, “I never thought I’d see the day: Dan Jenkins on Twitter,” Dan replied, “It’s a new world.” Dave Kindred, who was there at Bethpage, said it best: “Now everyone is going to be able to hear all the funny lines that people in press rooms have been listening to for decades.”

How does the process work between you and him? Do you have to serve as a filter?

Dan likes to say, “Electricity hates me,” so he throws out a line and I’ll plug it in, and if he’s exceeding the 140-character capacity, we’ll talk it out. The first story of his I ever edited was from 1996, my first year at Golf Digest. When I hemmed and hawed about a suggestion, he put me at ease by saying, “Hell, Mike, everyone needs an editor.” He’s been great to work with.

What subjects/players intrigue him? For instance, he seems to enjoy sticking the needle in Sergio Garcia.

As Dan likes to say, “I root for my story,” meaning the bigger the drama, the better. High-profile players are part of that. I think Sergio’s body language is such that sometimes it looks like he’s wearing a “kick me” sign, and Dan obliges. But it’s just for fun, and Dan can take it as well as receive it. He loved it when David Ogrin called him “a hostile voice from a previous generation.”

Easy question, but why is he so good at it?

He’s the wittiest, funniest, most knowledgeable golf writer of this or any other generation. Pretty good combination. Most people can’t remember what they ate for lunch, but when something happens in a tournament he can instantly come up with the historical perspective and deliver it in a way that makes you laugh out loud.

Can you recall a couple of your favorite Dan tweets?

My favorite is from the 2009 British Open, when Ross Fisher said he would withdraw if his wife went into labor with their first child. Fisher then took the lead in the final round before making a quadruple bogey. Dan’s tweet: “Women say men don’t know what labor is like. Ross Fisher, whose wife is due any moment, just gave birth to an 8. They’ll call the child Quad.”

Some others:

–On Tiger Woods, after he kicked his 9-iron at the Masters: “Best contact he’s made all day.”

–At the British Open: “Miguel Angel Jimenez’s warm-up routine remains so suggestive that spectators are trying to stick dollar bills in his belt.”

–On Keegan Bradley’s pre-shot routine: “He kind of looks like the kid at the pool who’s not quite ready to go off the high board the first time.”

–After the 2012 British Open: “Lee Westwood finishes 13 strokes out of the lead and remains the Best Pretty Good Player Never to Have Won a Major.”

–Assessing John Daly’s fashion sense: “John Daly, the trailer park called after seeing your pants. They want their shower curtains back.”

–After Louis Oosthuizen’s double eagle on the second hole at last year’s Masters: “Requirements before they build a monument to Louis after his double eagle: 1. He wins. 2. They know how to spell Oosthuizen.”

 

Same old complaint: Not enough TV coverage of Masters

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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 Augusta National is ridiculous. You miss virtually the entire wave of morning pairings.

When Billy Payne took over as chairman, he initially relaxed some of the club’s antiquated notions about limiting TV coverage. He expanded the weekends to track all 18 holes with the leaders. ESPN is televising the Par 3 contest today. There’s live coverage of holes and groups on Masters.com.

This year, CBS Sports Network will have On The Range shows from 11 a.m-1 p.m. ET during the four days of the tournament. A new addition to the menu.

Yet I thought Payne would do more. The add-ons are nothing but morsels. Golf fans want more. We’d watch pre-dawn coverage of the course superintendent’s crew cutting the grass at Augusta National.

I mean, why show viewers On The Range programs on tournament days when you have actual play occurring on the course? What happens if one of the morning players comes to 18 with a chance to break the course record during the 11 a.m.-1 p.m. window? Would CBS Sports Network be able to show it?

I asked CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus if he saw any upcoming increases in live Masters coverage. As you would expect, he was diplomatic, saying CBS is “satisfied with the level of coverage” on the weekend.

That’s corporate speak. I know McManus and ESPN president John Skipper, behind the scenes, are pushing for more coverage. Gently pushing, because that’s the way things are done at Augusta.

Ultimately, it is up to the chairman to make the call. C’mon Billy, it’s 2013. There’s cable TV. It’s time to give us what we want: All day coverage of the Masters.

 

 

 

Is there any change on the horizon?

 

 

 

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

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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.

“It was a cool, bizarre, surreal experience. I’ll never forget the hospitality of the Guans. Or Christmas carols in March.”

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Kim Jarvis writes about the trip on ESPN Front Row:

ESPN.com national columnist Gene Wojciechowski and a crew from the network recently spent 10 days in China getting to know Tianlang Guan, who at 14 is the youngest golfer to ever qualify for the Masters.

Wojciechowski and ESPN camera crews following the teen phenom from China to Augusta National in Georgia. Front Row spoke with feature producer Sharon Matthews — who helped supply the photo gallery above — about making the video feature, which is scheduled to air Wednesday during SportsCenter at the Masters (ESPN, 5 p.m. ET), which follows the network’s Par 3 Contest coverage (3 p.m.). ESPN will televise the first and second rounds of the Masters on Thursday and Friday (3 p.m. each day).

Tell us about the trip.

It took us more than 40 combined hours to get to Guangzhou, China. We had to adjust to the 13-14 hour time difference after we arrived. With the additional help of two translators, we were able to film in different locations from Guan’s school classroom to Augusta. We wanted to take viewers behind the scenes of his life as a humble teenager on the verge of making golf history.

This was an opportunity of a lifetime. We looked forward to not only interviewing Guan, but to embrace the culture, try the different foods and see the atmosphere.

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

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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, but you’ll never see another one like this.”

While Venturi was right, Nantz has called a few Masters that have packed plenty of memorable stuff. If all goes as planned, Nantz plans to retire when he does his 50th Masters at the age of 75.

Nantz, though, isn’t thinking about 2035. His focus is on Thursday.

Here’s my Q/A with Nantz:

What is it about you and Masters?

It’s the one event which people relate with me the most. I might be talking to a football coach in August, and they’ll ask me, “What about Augusta?” Fans at games ask me, ‘Who’s going to win the Masters this year?’

It’s the one event I think about all year long. The Masters is in my heart.

For me, I trace my wanting to be a voice to watching the Masters during my adolescence.  I was captivated by the Masters and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. It was a like a young Nick Faldo in ’71, ’72. He was training to be a cyclist. He watched the Masters, turned to his parents and said, ‘I want to take up golf.’ He was inspired by watching Jack Nicklaus.

I obsessed over it. I wanted to get good enough to get there. That’s what the Masters did for me.

How difficult is it for you to shift gears? You’re going from the commotion of the NCAA tournament to the more genteel environment of Augusta National.

It’s never an issue. They each have a different rhythm and pacing. But stylistically, you don’t worry about how you’re going to approach the game. That’s organic. When you’re sitting in a place absorbing the scene around, you adapt to the energy level.

I get asked a lot: “How in the world do you go from the Final Four on Monday with all that excitement and the next weekend, your voice drops to a whisper?” Most people don’t think about it. If you go to a basketball game one night and a golf tournament the next, would you still be shouting at the person next to you? It’s not that complicated.

What’s your routine when you get to Augusta?

When I get there on Tuesday, I’m not going to observe the birds. I’m not checking out the flora. I want to find every top player and have a face-to-face with them. I’m trying to get some fresh information. The problem is they all want to talk to me about the NCAA tournament.

It looks genteel and that’s the way it should look on TV with the sweet Augusta music that molds you as a viewer. “Oh, they must have just rolled out bed to do this. It looks so peaceful.” No, the reality is much different. It’s not genteel for us.

Do you cover this tournament differently?

Nobody’s telling me to do anything differently. We have more broadcast positions than we do for any other tournament. So it’s different in that sense.

Through the years, I have so many stories and information stored in my head. Someone will hit a shot and it’ll strike a comparison to a shot someone hit in the ’70s.

There’s so much history there. I love the fact that you can feel the presence of the fathers of the sport. I think of Furman Bisher (the late long-time columnist from Atlanta who was a fixture at Augusta). Sarazen. Nelson.  I do. I can’t explain it.

I just happened to be there the last time Byron Nelson walked the course. He was escorting his wife Peggy down to Amen Corner. I ran up in a golf cart and said, ‘Can I take you down there?’ It was a special moment.

Every year, you reflect back on a famous Masters prior to the final round Sunday (Jim Nantz Remembers Augusta, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET). What is this year’s selection?

Ben Crenshaw winning in 1995. It was the week he lost his coach Harvey Penick. We flew in Carl Jackson (his long-time caddie at Augusta National) to do a side-by-side interview. It’s going to be an unbelievable show. I’m not trying to sell you anything here, but it’s probably the best of all these shows we’ve done. It’s a very, very touching story.

Wednesday: Jim Nantz, winemaker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suburban Chicago reporter’s unexpected one-on-one with Tiger: ‘Engaging, funny, and more than willing to talk’

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On Thursday, I did a post on how Tiger Woods declined to do an interview with Sports Illustrated for a cover story. Nothing new there, given how Woods rarely grants 1-on-1 interviews.

However, there are exceptions. My post prompted to Jim Owczarski to drop an email. Now with OnMilwaukee.com, Jim wrote about an unexpected encounter he once had with Woods while working as a reporter in suburban Chicago.

It’s too bad Woods doesn’t do this more often.

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(The SI story) got me thinking about the one-on-one I had with Tiger following his win at the 2003 Western Open.

It was the weirdest thing, and I (nor my editors at the Naperville Sun) knew how “big” that get was at the time.

Early in tournament week, I told a PGA Tour media rep that I wanted Tiger for a few questions about his interview style. I was intrigued at how he made eye contact with each questioner, and I felt he offered up more in his answers than he was given credit for. I was curious as to how and why he developed that interview style.

Thankfully, the Tour media rep felt the topic was interesting enough to bring it Tiger, and to my surprise, I was quietly called back to the interview room there at Cog Hill to meet with Tiger. I initially pitched a walk-and-talk, but Tiger remained seated and offered me a chair next to him.

He was engaging, funny, and seemed more than willing to talk longer about the topic than what I was “allowed” – though his security team made their presence known that it would be kept to 10 minutes.

The first time I realized this was a relatively big coup for a 22-year-old reporter from (at the time) a small daily paper was when one of my heroes, Bob Verdi, raised an eyebrow with a “really?” when I told him about it.