When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
I’ll leave it up to Ron Sirak to give you the context on Brooke Henderson’s first LPGA win in two years, coming from behind and barely holding off Jessica Korda, Jin Young Ko and Hannah Green.
I took in the final round and was taken again by Wilshire’s charm. But also how, even in a year without fans present, the energy was different than so many tournament venues. My latest for The Quadrilateral and why that matters so much.
Patty Tavatankit’s -18 under performance in the ANA Inspiration held off Lydia Ko and probably will get lost a bit in the Masters focus, but check out here greens in regulation dominance despite okay driving and okay putting:
That’s 14 more greens than runner-up Ko and three more than the next closest player (Ally Ewing, -10).
The USGA is insisting they haven’t closed the door on fans at Olympic Club this June, but the San Francisco Chronicle’s Ron Kroichick reports otherwise.
State and local public health officials, in coordination with the United States Golf Association and LPGA, made the decision mostly because of the challenges in controlling social distancing at golf events, according to two sources close to the situation.
Only a limited number of Olympic Club members are expected to be permitted on site during the event.
This is noteworthy for the reason (distancing) and since the men’s U.S. Open is played two weeks later in California this year. I’m surprised also surprised they could not find some accommodation for a small crowd given the recent pace of vaccinations.
The U.S. Women’s Open website currently offers a chance to sign up for ticket information and updates.
I’m not sure about that headline to Beth Ann Nichol’s Golfweek look at the role of course setup on the LPGA Tour and how it could be impacting views of “the product.”
There is a lot to chew on in the piece and Nichols covered many bases for what is a tricky topic. I came away feeling for what the LPGA staff faces in trying to set up a course.
Because having seen the PGA Tour rule staff evolve and make so many adjustments off of ShotLink data, they’ve gotten so good at finding that balance between risk and reward. But without similar data, combined with pace and distance disparity matters greater than the PGA Tour, and the job the LPGA Tour staff faces preparing courses appears really tough.
On the data issue, Nichols writes:
The USGA used volunteers and paid caddies a stipend during the 2014 U.S. Open to collect over 50,000 data points to determine how players approached each hole on No. 2. On average, there was a 25-yard difference between the men and women in terms of approach shots.
They set out to create similar hole locations and green speeds for both championships. But green firmness was the biggest change from week to week, given that women, as Kirk noted, do not hit the golf ball as high or create as much spin.
And this part on information is particularly interesting but also discredits the headline’s “misguided” reference since much of the issue may be “misinformed” setup. This is a teaser with more at the link to consider:
It’s difficult to tell the story of an LPGA players’ game beyond the final score because only the most basic stats exist on the women’s tour, making the jobs of rules officials, broadcasters and players all the more difficult.
Santiago Carranza, a former software engineer who now makes a living in finance, started a detailed stats project out of necessity to help girlfriend Gaby Lopez look for areas of improvement. It has since turned into ABX Tour, a Golf Analytics system aimed at helping the entire tour.
Carranza, who doesn’t work with the tour but met with officials late last year, collects round-by-round data from dozens of players, including nine 2020 winners, to create a benchmark of standards so that players can put context to their own personal stats.
Australians rave about the Vic Open’s male/female format that sees both tournaments concluded Sunday, with leading groups interspersed. And now it’s coming to another European Tour/LET stop.
From Brian Keogh’s report on ISPS Handa and Niall Horan’s Modest! Golf Management putting together the event for this July, with first-ever northern hemisphere tri-sanctioning.
The ISPS HANDA World Invitational will attract a field of 288 players, 144 men and 144 women. The women’s field will be split equally between the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour. The $2.35 million purse will be split evenly, with men and women competing for two equal prize funds.
The tournament will count towards the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and carry Team Europe Ryder Cup points, while the women’s tournament will count towards the Race to the CME Globe for women on the LPGA Tour, the Race to Costa del Sol on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Solheim Cup points for both Team Europe and Team USA.
When the male and female fields are cut to 60 and ties, another 54-hole cut reduces the fields to 35 advancing to Sunday, with tee times mixed so fans can watch both tournaments conclude at similar times.
I thought I’d seen it all when they erected a blue wall behind the 18th at Mission Hills and players used it as a backboard in the 2020 ANA Inspiration.
Dubbed the “Great Wall of Dinah” by Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols, the feature diminished a major should have been removed after two rounds. But as the tournament prepares to turn 50 they’ve gone back in the “records” to find that there is no better way to celebrate this milestone by returning the 18th to full island status, minus the wall. It’s retro! The kids love retro!
For Immediate Release with interruptions:
ANA INSPIRATION THE FIRST MAJOR OF 2021 CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Defending champion Mirim Lee and 2020 Women’s British Amateur Champion Aline Krauter to play 2021 ANA Inspiration
February 22, 2021
Note the headline inclusion of Krauter, a late addition to the field and defection from the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The 50th edition of the ANA Inspiration will take place April 1 - 4 at Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California, marking a return to its usual position on the calendar as the first Major of the year.
This historic Major, which has 38 different champions over its 49-year history, will once again gather the world’s best women with the field headed by defending champion, Mirim Lee, who claimed her first Major title last year over the famous Dinah Shore Tournament Course.
The South Korean won a dramatic three-way play-off last September, sealing victory at the first play-off hole. Lee eagled her 72nd hole on the Sunday to draw level with Nelly Korda and Brooke Henderson, remarkably having not held the lead at any point during the tournament. Now a four-time LPGA winner, Lee calmly holed a five-foot putt for birdie to snatch victory from Korda and Henderson - both of whom had held the lead over the course of the final day.
As with last year’s tournament, this special 50th Anniversary edition will be going ahead without spectators due to Covid-19 related restrictions following close collaboration with partners ANA, the LPGA, the City of Rancho Mirage, Mission Hills Country Club and in consultation with the Riverside County Health Department, following the State of California Public Health Department guidelines.
With no onsite hospitality possible this year, tournament organisers have taken this unique opportunity, coinciding with 50th Anniversary celebrations, to play the famous 18th island green surrounded by the famous Poppie’s Pond in its purest state.
It’s a special, one-time limited opportunity!
As far as the records show, the world’s best golfers will be approaching the 18th green just as the competitors would have encountered it in its inaugural edition in 1972, clear of any hospitality units or branding.
Or people, also just like 1972. Oh I kid…
Lee is looking forward to revisiting the scene of her victory just six month ago, said; “I can’t wait to return to Rancho Mirage as the defending champion. Usually you have to wait 12 months to get to defend a title so it’s pretty unusual we will be back there so soon. For me personally, I think it will be wonderful to be back there as soon as possible and have the chance to relive all the happy memories and feelings of winning there last year. I am very sad that all the amazing fans still won’t be able to return this year, but it is a very understandable and sensible decision to make when we are in a global pandemic. We are all very grateful to ANA, the LPGA, IMG, Mission Hills and Rancho Mirage and all the partners for working so hard for us to make it possible for us to play the year’s first Major as scheduled.”
Germany’s Aline Krauter, a Junior at Stanford University, has also seized the chance to play in the season-opening Major, commenting, “It is such a fantastic opportunity for me to gain experience playing amongst the world’s best in the season’s first major. I could not think of a more historic venue to play my first major championship at. I am honored to have been given this amazing opportunity to test my game at the next level.”
And she’s not sounding too sad about bailing on Augusta.
Fans will be able to watch the ANA Inspiration around the world, including on Golf Channel and Sky Sports, and follow along for enhanced content on social @ANAinspiration and the tournament website ANAinspiration.com
It’s still remarkable that this major isn’t network worthy while the Augusta National Women’s Amateur is.
Mike Whan has undoubtedly enjoyed offers in recent years after having righted the LPGA Tour following the debacle that was the Carolyn Bivens era. So his decision to step down—transition—after 11(!) years is welcome approach to helping the LPGA Tour find a suitable replacement.
One job of note that Whan could be a candidate for: the USGA CEO job. However, he’s not shown great enthusiasm for some of the issues the USGA will look to their leader to champion (distance), which might make it a less than perfect fit.
Anyhow, For Immediate Release with Whan’s lovely sentiments as he leaves with grace and noteworthy optimism:
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan to Step Down in 2021
“One of the hardest jobs of a leader is to know when their work is done”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 6, 2021 – After completing his 11th year as LPGA Commissioner, Mike Whan has notified the LPGA Board of Directors that he has made the difficult decision to transition out of the LPGA in 2021. While no firm date has been set for his departure, this announcement begins the start of a thorough and thoughtful Commissioner succession process.
Whan shared his decision today with LPGA staff, Members and sponsors in the attached letter, including the following messages:
“When I first joined the LPGA, I told the Board it would be a four-year term, giving me time to help the organization achieve its immediate goals. Now, as the longest-serving LPGA Commissioner, I look back on these 11 years with enormous pride and satisfaction at what we’ve accomplished together to provide opportunities for women to achieve their dreams in golf.
“You may be wondering why I’ve made the decision to step down – and why now? In many ways, this past year – with all the pandemic challenges – was also the LPGA’s most triumphant. We are entering 2021 on a wave of momentum – a strong schedule with record purses, new events/sponsors, double-digit viewership growth, and a talented team that demonstrated exceptional skill, resilience and capability to lead through challenging times.
“I simply wouldn’t leave the LPGA if I thought the future was uncertain or not trending straight up. In fact, even after the challenges we faced in 2020, the LPGA has NEVER been more financially secure, deeper in leadership talent, or more anchored by passionate, diverse sponsors from all around the world. The LPGA is poised for even greater heights; and as such, I’m excited to hand the baton to the next leader and become their biggest supporter.
“One of the hardest jobs of a leader is to know when their work is done. If the COVID-19 pandemic taught me anything, it was that the LPGA executive staff has full control of our business and is capable of incredible things. We have leaders who are visionary, compassionate, collaborative and humble. You may not agree with every decision they make, but they have led our Tours to new heights virtually every year.”
LPGA Board Chair Diane Gulyas said, “Mike Whan has been a transformational leader of the LPGA and we’ve been fortunate to retain him for 11 years. When he told of me of his intention to step down this year, I had two reactions: First, can we persuade him to stay? And, when that wasn’t possible, to fully respect his decision and begin a seamless transition.
“Mike’s leadership legacy will be felt for years: in the LPGA’s financial strength and value proposition; in its global reach; in the breadth of programs and services it now offers for women and girls in golf; and in the diversity and quality of companies wanting to partner with the LPGA. He has effectively guided the LPGA through a range of economic cycles and challenges, including the COVID 19 pandemic. And, he has been the voice of our Association and its commitment to opportunities for women in golf.”
“Mike has absolutely been the right leader at the right time,” said Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, the LPGA Tour’s Player President. “He rebuilt the Tour – and then reimagined its future – by bringing new events, new sponsors and a new value proposition around diversity and inclusion to the LPGA. He has that rare ability to get people of all ages and backgrounds excited and on board with his vision. We’re grateful for his leadership over these 11 years and know he’ll remain an advocate for the LPGA long after he departs.”
Marvol Barnard, President of the LPGA’s 1,800 teaching Professionals, said, “When Mike joined the LPGA in 2010, we were essentially a Tour and a Teaching division. Today, we are a bigger, broader, integrated organization dedicated to women in golf of all ages and abilities. Mike will always be an incredibly important person in the history of the LPGA Professionals, and we will always be grateful for his leadership, vision and guidance.”
Gulyas said the Board will establish a Commissioner Selection and Transition Committee and consider candidates from the LPGA’s talented executive staff as well from outside the organization. “It’s clear the LPGA today is a very different Association than the one Mike joined in 2010,” said Gulyas. “Our commitment to the LPGA – and all of our stakeholders – is to find the right leader to guide the Association through this next chapter in its storied history.
“We are so grateful for Mike’s passion and leadership of the LPGA over more than a decade of service as our Commissioner. He will leave the LPGA well positioned for continued success, with an outstanding team of leaders and a strong and sustained culture – Act Like A Founder - that will endure for years to come.”
The rescheduled U.S. Women’s Open ratings reality was obvious to everyone but, apparently, those behind last week’s ill-timed “Women Worth Watching” campaign.
2020 has taught us that sports fans just aren’t into championship golf outside of their normal playing windows. So even though we’ve seen declines for all of the rescheduled majors—with the Masters and U.S. Open taking the biggest plunges—it did not take a doctorate to know that 2020 U.S. Women’s Open ratings would set record lows due to the timing, competition and overall trends.
Not the year to tell everyone Women are worth watching when nothing could reverse the trend. Which made the suffocating rollout of a “brand campaign” perplexing, particularly knowing how many meetings and dollars are spent to orchestrate the pretend-to-be-natural “content” (aka paid filler). The relentless hashtags, paid influencer endorsements, and force integration of the campaign even by media covering the event was all a really cool new thing back in 2018. But in 2020? It came off as desperate and ill-timed. At best. With 3000 Americans dying a day from COVID-19 last week, this would have been a good year for the USGA to remain quiet in the branding onslaught department.
Throw in Golf Channel sticking with the QBE Shootout’s live window when the Friday play was expedited due to forecasted weather, and the women were not even deemed worth watching live by the decision makers who were peddling the inopportune campaign.
Showbuzzdaily reports some of the numbers from A Lim Kim’s stunning win and they are dismal for a major. I’m still searching for Saturday’s third round on NBC and Monday’s rain-delayed finale** on Golf Channel. Sunday’s rainout consisted of a third round replay not noted in the Showbuzzdaily roundup.
**The final round on Golf Channel did not make the top 150 cable shows for Monday, December 14th. A .03 rating was needed to crack the lineup. The previous all-time low final round rating (.5) on Fox occurred last year according to Sports Media Watch.
Shows that beat the rain-delayed final round of the U.S. Women’s Open:
As always hit the links for some great reads on a captivating finish to an otherwise dreary last couple of days in soggy Houston where A Lim Kim improbably captured the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open.
From Beth Ann Nichols’ Golfweek lede:
A Lim Kim’s first professional title fittingly came at the 2018 Se Ri Pak Invitational. It might have been Pak’s 1998 U.S. Women’s Open victory that ignited a golf surge throughout South Korea and an eventual dominance of America’s national championship, but it’s another golf icon – Annika Sorenstam – who stole Kim’s heart .
After little-known Kim aced the U.S. Women’s Open in her first attempt, becoming only the fifth player in championship history to do so, the USGA set up a video call with Sorenstam.
“Thank you so much! I love you!” a giddy Kim exclaimed.
Reporting from Houston, there was this from Doug Ferguson’s game story on the improbability of Kim’s win:
A two-time winner on the Korean LPGA, Kim got into the U.S. Women's Open off the world ranking when the pandemic kept the USGA from conducting open qualifying. She had slipped to No. 94, the lowest-ranked player to win the Open since the women's world ranking began in 2006.
She is the second non-LPGA member to win a major this year, joining Sophia Popov at the Women's British Open. She also is the third South Korean to win a major.
More firsts from Brian Wacker’s GolfDigest.com story, also filed from Houston:
Kim held on to win by one stroke over World No. 1 Jin Young Ko (68) and Amy Olson (72), giving her the title in her first career start in a major and her first tournament played in the United States. She also tied the record for the largest comeback in tournament history.
And the mask. Kim would seem to be the first major winner wearing a mask due to the pandemic. (I am going to check and see if this happened in 1918 though…).
Tod Leonard with this item on Kim’s explanation for staying covered during play.
“Every time I practice, I usually wear a mask, so I’m kind of used to it,” Kim said through an interpreter during her champion’s press conference. “I’m OK to get positive tests for COVID-19, but I don’t want to affect other people, players, a caddie that’s playing within the group, so that’s the reason I wear the mask throughout the round.”
Which reminds, if she can birdie the last three holes to win the U.S. Open wearing a mask, in her first U.S. Open, her first start in America and oh yeah, her first major, you can wear one to driving range tough guys!
I don’t often note the winning sticks, but a woman playing Mizuno’s is always nice to see given September’s controversy when there were questions about the company interest in supporting elite female golfers.
Mike Johnson with her specs and mixed iron set over at GolfDigest.com.
Justin Ray penned 10 things to note from the final round worth checking out, including this:
3. Kim improved her precision iron play every day on the Cypress Creek Course. In Round 2, she had an average approach shot proximity of 44 feet, 8 inches. Saturday, that number improved to 40 feet, 11 inches. The final round was another level altogether, though, as her average proximity was at about 31 feet. On a day where the field averaged fewer than 10 greens in regulation, Kim hit 14.
A few more items from the USGA staff notes:
Kim’s strokes gained of 7.43 was the second-best in a final round by a U.S. Women’s Open champion. Meg Mallon, who shot a 65 to win the 2004 title, owns the best mark of 7.88.
A closing birdie gave University of Texas All-American Kaitlyn Papp low-amateur honors by two strokes over 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffels and Maja Stark, of Sweden. Papp started the day tied for fifth, four strokes off the lead. She closed with a 3-over 74 to finish tied for ninth and an exemption into the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club next June.
A few social highlights, starting with that finishing birdie stretch and followed by a call from Annika.
WHAT A FINISH!
— U.S. Women's Open (USGA) (@uswomensopen) December 14, 2020
A Lim Kim with birdies on 16, 17 *and* 18 to take the outright lead at the 75th #USWomensOpen#WomenWorthWatching pic.twitter.com/gqe0UNkVqj
A special phone call from one champion to another.
— U.S. Women's Open (USGA) (@uswomensopen) December 14, 2020
Thanks @ANNIKA59! #USWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/8j14Lb6rXk
With a U.S. Women’s Open Monday finish at Champions, Amy Olson sits just one shot back of Hinako Shibuno. But the former North Dakota State star will be playing with unimaginable sadness after learning of her father-in-law’s unexpected passing on Saturday.
Beth Ann Nichols deftly handles this heartbreaking story for the Olson family.
The updated TV times for Monday’s finish where Shibuno aims to win her second major of 2020:
The 75th #USWomensOpen will resume on Monday morning at 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. local time in Houston).
— U.S. Women's Open (USGA) (@uswomensopen) December 13, 2020
Broadcast coverage can be found on @GolfChannel from 9 a.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET. pic.twitter.com/RVyhBZXvtS
Photo of Houston’s wall by Golf.com’s Zephyr Melton
This week’s U.S. Women’s Open host has a two-sided range tee and 300 yards between the two. But as players now travel with foam rollers, eat more protein than carbs and are far superior athletes to any generation to ever play the game, ther was not enough room at Champions Golf Club, apparently.
From Brian Wacker’s GolfDigest.com story of 2020’s second bizarro “wall” at a women’s major:
The range is 300 yards long, and the fencing on each side is only about 30 yards in front of where players are teeing off, meaning it makes for not just an awkward look, but awkward shots, too.
“I'm not thrilled about it, to be honest with you,” said Danielle Kang, who is making her first start since a runner-up finish at the LPGA Drive On Championship-Reynolds Lake Oconee in late October. “I do a lot of wedge work. I do my wedge numbers with head covers every single day, so that's kind of bringing in a lot of obstacles for me.”
Zephyr Melton broke down the silly situation for Golf.com and noted another issue besides the oddity of hitting over a normal-height chain link fence.
For tech-reliant players, though, the barrier still presents a problem, because it impedes Trackman monitors from zeroing in down range on pins and can make for some wonky numbers.
“We just had to figure that out ourselves,” said native Texan Cheyenne Knight. “It’s different, but maybe after the cut they’ll take it down — it’s kind of weird.”
September’s ANA Inspiration featured an in-play fence/wall at the 18th green in place of a corporate tent, impacting the finish and earning its “Great Wall of Dinah” nickname from writer Beth Ann Nichols.
The Return To Golf needs to start thinking about a Return to Sound.
After taking in this week’s ZOZO Championship at Sherwood Country Club and watching how other sports have adapted to the times, it’s clear professional golf needs to keep adapting to the bizarre times. Quickly.
The PGA Tour has kept their business going but it’s begun to feel like just that: doing enough to keep the doors open and cash flowing. And I realize this will be a big ask while the main focus is on keeping things safe. But as an entertainment “product” (gulp), it’s losing ground. Broadcast enhancements are needed. Immediately.
With the ongoing pandemic likely meaning 2021 golf will be played, at best, with very limited galleries, the natural melatonin that is a golf broadcast requires immediate rethinking to retain fans and sponsor interest.
To review: pro golf was the first major sport back and without fans, managed to make a broadcast work. That was thanks primarily to CBS going all in on extras, particularly in the sound department. Credit also goes to the players who were willing to wear a microphone. Since only the last nine holes felt like golf in the time of a contagious virus without crowds, the “Return to Golf” worked.
But those return events were in July and August before the NBA, NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball came along and used recorded sound effects and other visual tricks to simulate a full house vibe. Golf tournaments have fallen behind.
From a television viewing perspective, the ambient noise piped in to offset the dystopian sight of empty seats and fan cut-outs has made sports watchable. Piped-in roars and even the boos take games back to a level of viewing normalcy that only feel strange when the camera pulls back to reveal and empty stadium.
Set against these modifications, golf telecasts now feel as uncomfortably quiet as they do in person. At best, I’d call the in-person experience at the two events I’ve been to as feeling akin to a college tournament. At worst, the vibe is funereal. (Note: both events I’ve attended as a media member were played in California with limits on volunteers, “hosted experiences” and family members, which undoubtedly added to the somber sensibility.)
Justin Thomas confirmed after Sunday’s final round that the silence impacts his on-course mojo.
“I've got to find a way to kind of just stay a little bit more focused out there,” he said. “It's crazy, but sometimes it's hard to just kind of keep the killer instinct and stay in the zone when it's as quiet as it is out there.”
After walking around Sherwood at last week’s ZOZO and August’s PGA Championship, it’s clear that outside of events welcoming back small crowds the next two weeks, any audible solutions benefitting the vibe will have to come from television. Piping in noise at the venues would be downright controversial and bizarre.
Take the first tee announcements where players have generally been introduced to silence or the kind of strained applause normally reserved for lame-duck politicians. Imagine a DJ piping in larger ovations for stars, but mere smatterings of claps for lesser-knowns? Nope.
How about going all Kelly James and creating a 21st welcome to the round?
The scenarios are uncomfortable to even ponder: would the players awkwardly waive to the non-existent crowd? Could they take a joke if James inserted an edgy line into his amazing schtick before starting out in a significant tournament?
It’d all end as soon as the first nearby player has to back off a putt.
Attempting to gauge which applause level to pipe in at the 18th green would be even trickier. Television could pull off some of these effects unbeknownst to the players. But the engineer in charge would have to be keeping up with changes to various holes or the player’s popularity. This would also require a sound effects person or two would have to be added to the team. Given the aggressive spending cuts at NBC/Golf Channel, an improbable move.
So how about a recording of normal ambient crowd conversation around the clubhouse? Won’t work.
And music on the range—remember that European Tour experiment?—would seem weird and insensitive in a time of pandemic.
With PGA Tour players already over the wearing mic’s or doing mid-round interview ideas cooked up to improve their “product”, broadcasts have grown flatter than Matt Kuchar’s backswing. The situation has worsened since CBS ended an 11-week run where we enjoyed some great moments thanks to enhanced sound and other attempts at innovation. A few suggestions free of charge:
--Putting mic’s on players, their bags, tees and in cups (as Fox did), should continue to be a top priority. Hearing player conversations makes up for so much of the lost ambiance and almost makes us wish the crowds stayed away.
--Encourage more announcer conversations and debates centered around issues in the game to break up the rather monotonous role they play now as traffic cops and cheerleaders. The NBC team broke off into a few chats about the way Bryson DeChambeau was approaching Winged Foot and the discussions were fascinating.
--Use on-course reporters to do a “forensic” on an incredible recovery shot we’ve seen. Encourage them to say why the would have played a certain shot differently if warranted. Again, anything to break up the quiet moving from shot to shot or showing what seems like a neverending stream of three-footers for par.
--Go to a third party source to discuss betting odds. Former players and traditional broadcasters are not well positioned to say much of interest on the topic of odds or prop bets. Even if a viewer is not a bettor or interested in the topic, betting debates can inject energy into the broadcast if they are willing to take a stance on a proposed bet. Factors like course design and setup, or a player’s tendencies based on ShotLink data, liven up the “product” regardless of bets placed.
--Bring in third party voices to offer instruction tips. This is hardly a new suggestion, but given the spike in rounds played during COVID-19 and the sad end of most Golf Channel original programming, what better time than now to use telecasts to be more interactive for regular golfers? How about interviewing instructors who are out following their players about what they are seeing? Or asking them to give an impromptu tip?
--Birds are great and I’m sure they’ll be chirping at Augusta in two weeks. With surround sound, work those nature sounds, just make sure the mic’s are placed on property and not in the wrong region. (Years ago CBS was believed to be piping in bird sounds at Augusta and at Valhalla and it’s been a running joke ever since. Another reminder that little gets by viewers.)
—Put announcers in different places. Have them work as a range attendant, on a tee of a key hole as a marshal, as a ShotLink volunteer or as a group’s scorer. Put a microphone on them and instead of having them toss it to 16 from an on-site studio (not that towers are too expensive too), let’s hear what they are seeing and highlight the volunteer jobs that make a tournament tick. If Mike Whan can step in and work as an on-course reporter, golf broadcasters can try some different things too.
We all get that pro golf commissioners have plenty on their plates just keeping tournaments and sponsors going right now. But golf cannot afford to forget that broadcasts must evolve with the bizarre times. The Tours must demand more sound, more innovation and more creativity before its too late.
You want something fresh and different in golf broadcasting? Of late it’s been slim pickings after CBS’s run this summer, but huge points go to LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan for working as an on-course reporter.
Whan covered round one of the LPGA Drive On Championship near Lake Oconee and pulled off a veritable miracle in modern golf: on-course, mid-round interviews.
From Beth Ann Nichols’ Golfweek report on the Whan experiment:
Whan even conducted mid-round interviews, asking players what they would do if they were commissioner for an hour.
“Hire Mike Whan back!” said Kang, who looked more nervous than usual with a mic in her face.
The video:
The late Mickey Wright has left her entire estate and possessions to the USGA, news announced by the organization today.
Beth Ann Nichols got an exclusive look at Wright’s items and shared her observations in this Golfweek.com piece.
Wright carefully charted everything, from her calorie intake to a stock’s performance, the latter with hand-drawn graphs. She was particular about wanting her desk taken up to Far Hills. They also took the adding machine, a lamp, a 2014 Curtis Cup mouse pad and stacks of ledgers. She’d often write to the authors of the investment books she read seeking advice.
A green Titleholders jacket hung in her closet. One of her books, “Play Golf the Wright Way,” was opened up to a spread showing her driver sequence. Wright filled up notebooks with swing thoughts and kept dozens of VHS tapes of her golf highlights. She even had a professional studio preserve certain clips, giving future generations priceless footage of a swing Ben Hogan once lauded as the best in golf.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
