Mitzvah! USGA Thanks NBC/ESPN For 25 "Innovative" Years
/The USGA's annual U.S. Open press conference timed out at nearly an hour and included a new Rickie Fowler nine-hole grow the game initiative with a flashy new ad you'll see four million times over the next three days.
After President Tom O'Toole thanked their longtime television partners, Executive Director Mike Davis also took the opportunity to mop up the mess made when the USGA sloppily announced its new Fox Sports television deal, tapping the network because of their fresh and innovative approach.
My last comment, and it's really to tag on what Tom said earlier, I, too, would like to acknowledge both NBC and ESPN. In the case of ESPN, they've been a partner of the USGA for 32 years. In the case of NBC, 20 years. A group of just wonderful people, many of which are friends. They have done a wonderful job for us over the years. I can tell you that, in my 25 years with the USGA, to see what, in the case of say NBC, how they've elevated our championship, the innovations they've used, have just been wonderful. So I think it bears both of us acknowledging that they've been great partners. And with that, Beth, I'll turn it back to you for questions.
Davis had also said the Fox team would be more knowledgeable because of their singular focus on the USGA.
