Brace For Slew Of Glowing Northern Irish Golf Stories

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I'm not sure if the Belfast Telegraph should be, gulp, telegraphing the pending wave of rave reviews we'll be reading about all things Irish golf. But that's what they in revealing that "sixteen golf writers" (are there even that many left?) "have been in Northern Ireland this week to enjoy the fairways on which our trio of Major champions perfected their game."
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Q&A With Dan Jenkins, Vol. 4

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This has become an annual tradition of sorts, checking in with the Ancient Twitterer, inevitable World Golf Hall Of Famer and still the only golf writer to have his own bobblehead. You can read the past Q&A's here, here and here and during next week's U.S. Open, you can follow him on Twitter here. As a friend of mine said yesterday when discussing the marvels of Twitter: "It's like having Dan Jenkins in my living room watching the Open with me."
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"And now, in this revolution that has left Old Media sports writing gasping for its very life, Wei suddenly finds herself a member of the New Media inventing sports writing all over again."

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Dave Kindred looks at the changing guard in media and focuses on golf blogger Stephanie Wei to ponder what it means to be a credentialed journalist in the world of blogs, video and newspapers on the brink. Very interesting to read an old guard guy starting to warm to the changing nature of the profession.
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Golf Channel Hires Sobel!

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It's just nice to see the words golf and hire in the same headline, especially when it's a nice guy. For Immediate Release:

Respected Golf Journalist Jason Sobel Joins Golf Channel Editorial Team
 
Sobel’s First Online Column for GolfChannel.com: Sobel Online Column Video of Sobel’s Debut on Morning Drive: Morning Drive Debut
 
ORLANDO, Fla., (May 2, 2011) – One of golf’s most-read and innovative online journalists, Jason Sobel, today joined Golf Channel and the NBC Sports Group.
 
A 14-year veteran of ESPN – most recently as golf editor, popular columnist and blogger for ESPN.com – Sobel joins GolfChannel.com as a senior writer and brings a wealth of experience and a writing style with a reputation of bringing golf events to life online.  Through the years, he has built a large and loyal following of readers and the respect of his peers, which has garnered him accolades and multiple writing awards.  Currently, Sobel has nearly 20,000 followers on the social media website, Twitter.
 
Sobel’s role at GolfChannel.com will be multi-faceted and aimed to help increase fan interaction through live blogging and chats.  He also will post columns, news stories and long-form features while covering select events on the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour and at golf’s major championships.  In addition, he will regularly make appearances on Golf Channel’s news and talk shows.
 
“Jason is a very well known and respected golf journalist who is very in tune with the game,” said Tom Stathakes, Golf Channel senior vice president of programming, production and operations.  “His strong opinions and perspective have attracted a loyal following who will continue to enjoy his contributions on GolfChannel.com.
 
“If you want to cover the sport of golf, this is the place to be,” Sobel said.  “I’m very excited about the new challenge and can’t wait to get started.”
 
Sobel’s introductory column was posted earlier this morning and can be seen at http://www.GolfChannel.com/tour-insider/firing-opening-tee-shot-42723/.  He also made his first on-camera appearance on Morning Drive, with hosts Erik Kuselias and Gary Williams.  Video of the interview can be seen here: http://www.GolfChannel.com/golf-videos/audio-morning-drive-5211-jason-sobel-analysis-15901/

"The MC asks Woods a series of meaningless and soft questions before pulling out a piece of paper that contains 'questions submitted by the media'. This is not a good sign."

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Ron Sirak writes about Tiger's promotional swing to Asia and what it means about his relationship with sponsors.

Tim Noonan of the South China Morning Post was one of the media invitees and tells (reg. required) quite a harrowing tale of how the "press conference" was structured.

When I finally arrive I'm encouraged to see there are numerous media all ready to work. Personally, I didn't spend the week clearing out mantle space for the Pulitzer, but I do need to know if he thinks he can still win a tournament with his B game, despite the plethora of young hungry talent out there. The MC asks Woods a series of meaningless and soft questions before pulling out a piece of paper that contains "questions submitted by the media". This is not a good sign.

"Nike is one of the fastest growing golf companies in the world. Why do you think that is and can you tell us more about your relationship with Nike?" I get that sick-to-my-stomach feeling as this proves to be the hardest question of the lot and I'm told there will be no questions from the floor. But again I know nothing about marketing so I think it's fair to ask, you brought all of us here today for this? Because this is about as much a press conference as the selection of Hong Kong's chief executive is an election. I ask a guy named Cheung from Guangzhou who works for QQ.com, a massive mainland website, if he or any of his colleagues submitted questions. "None of us were asked," he says. "That press conference was 45 minutes of nothing. It was embarrassing."

I am astounded and clearly need a marketing lesson. Was this all a ploy to get me to denigrate Tiger, arguably the most famous and infamous person in the world, and question whether he has any shame at all? Does he honestly think someone here in the Chinese media stayed up all night racking their brains trying to figure out what they would ask him and then show up to submit a question about his relationship with Nike? Well, clearly he does because Tiger answers the question with such earnestness and vigour that the only thing missing is for him to utter, "Gee, you guys ask some good questions."

And Noonan's main point: after a strong Masters golf course performance, getting to watch a Woods promotional presser in person provided a wake-up call.

All that positive mojo and you are going to force me to write that as far as he is concerned Woods behaves like he owes you and I absolutely nothing and as far as I am concerned that's perfect because absolutely nothing is exactly what you get? Honestly, I'm begging you marketing geniuses of the almighty swoosh - don't make me write this! Because so far the only lesson you and your man have taught me is that when it comes to Tiger Woods, class is non-existent.

Meanwhile, I'm not sure what's more fun in John Feinstein's latest jabs at Barry Bonds and Tiger (thanks reader JohnB for the link): the Tiger stuff or the jabs at Feinstein's sometimes-employer, Golf Channel.

His new thing is to say he can’t change his schedule and can’t play more golf because he needs time with his children. It’s a good line—one that’s tough to argue with. Of course it doesn’t explain why he was seen in The Bahamas gambling a few days before going to Augusta; then, after nine days in Augusta, jumped on a plane to go to China to sell Nike product a few minutes after his last blow-off line to Macatee.

Look, you want to go to the Bahamas and have fun—go for it. You want to be a Nike salesman and go halfway around the world—heck, maybe it’s in your contract. But DON’T do those things and then try to tell us how much you miss your kids. In fact, during an infomercial last Thursday on Golf Channel (which posed as an ‘interview,’) during which viewers had to sit and listen to the president of Nike golf pitch the new spring products right there on-camera with Tiger, co-host Erik Kuselias, trying to make the interview at least semi-legitimate, asked Woods about being away from his kids so much.

“That’s why Skype is so great,” Tiger said with a straight face. “It’s almost like being there.”

I am not a crook.

I didn’t know what I was putting in my body.

Skype is just like being there.