Players Wearing Microphones And Other Vital World Issues

Martin Kaufmann on the Golf Channel "announcer-lite" format:

Rather than fight it, PGA Tour players need to get on board this train. They need to make themselves more accessible to broadcasters between the ropes. When the PGA Tour can’t even pull a 2.0 TV rating in its “playoff” tournaments and the biggest story this year has been the off-course problems of its rainmaker, it’s hardly in a position to dictate terms to Golf Channel and the networks.

Tour players, for example, reportedly have sternly opposed wearing microphones or doing interviews on the golf course. Hunter Haas was miked up on Saturday, and it didn’t seem to have a negative impact, given that he shot a third-round 67 and went on to win the tournament.

My understanding is that the bigger concern is a comment being made into a microphone and either (A) making the airwaves and causing a controversy, or (B) not making the air but ending up circulating online, causing embarrassment to tour and player.

It seems to me these are risks worth taking if it means a better telecast and more eyeballs.