CBS Golf Enjoys A Strong Start To 2021

Live drone shot over the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open

You know how the old saying goes: one man’s suspicious embedded ball relief is another man’s gain.

The 2021 Farmers Insurance Open breathed some much needed life into the PGA Tour schedule by returning to scenic Torrey Pines with a strong leaderboard, multiple (compelling) storylines and a well-produced broadcast. But it was CBS’s strong production and announcing effort that sustained the shows much needed drama until Reed’s lead became insurmountable.

With Sellers Shy taking over for Lance Barrow, we knew several innovations and tweaks were coming. Other changes were more evident in adding zip to the normally dreary task of broadcasting golf. Random observations from the weekend:

—The new lower right scoreboard will be a fantastic addition. It may take some getting used to for viewers and camera operators. During Sunday’s show it was already apparent the camera operators were trying to better incorporate it into the frame. The new feature was helped by a close tournament and it cleverly keeps the leader displayed at all times, adding just a bit more understanding and even urgency to the proceedings.

New lower right scoreboard

—Shy Shows Less Standing Around. Many times CBS came right up to player as they were pulling the club back. This meant more live shots but also a little less time seeing players addressing the ball, mashing down rough with their club or conversing with caddies. That also may have been intentional for another reason…

—Sound seemed less prevalent overall. Almost as if they are worried about picking up less-than-savory player comments? This was a setback from 2020’s focus on sound to make up for the lack of crowds. And remember my motto: the least interesting player-caddy conversation is almost always more informative than anything an announcer can add.

—The drone shots were (even more?) spectacular. Maybe the Kaze Aerial team upgraded the camera or the soft light helped, but the shots seemed even sharper and more mesmerizing. Make sure to thank Torrey Pines in your Emmy acceptance speeches.

—The Goodyear Blimp still has its role. We’re spoiled on CBS shows with both the blimp showing a shot from above while the drone provides birdseye scenics. Without fan energy, these extras help make a slow sport more visually attractive on modern televisions. And note to beancounters: breathtaking views are appreciated by all demos.

—Quick departure to Eye On The Course. Too much of our time has been wasted hearing music and a slow toss to an Eye On The Course break. That ended this weekend where the split screen of a commercial and golf happened abruptly. The pivot was jarring at first, but was soon welcomed in moving the telecast along. So was the addition of Eye on the Course as the on-tape CEO interview played. Let’s keep shrinking that CEO box to the size of the leaderboard and expanding the live action, please. Pretty please?

—College Basketball ate into the telecast again and this year, perhaps because of the breaking news or a return to old form, CBS did not start on Golf Channel as they did during last year’s West Coast Swing to great acclaim.

—Nantz in Monterey. The remote effort worked well. There was no detectable delay. Given how little Jim Nantz can roam around under CBS COVID protocols, he may be doing more events from there. You know Sean how I love Memphis in July and the people at FedEx, but I see there’s been a tiny outbreak near Southwind and you know, just to be safe…thinking of my carbon footprint too. What do you think?

—Smartcart graphics. The new hole graphic showing ShotLink scatter charts akin to technology Fox and Turner have tried, was used sparingly. It has great potential and just looks cool on screen. Let’s face it, anything that demonstrates an effort to stay current will help golf broadcasts. Another plus: host Amanda Balionis and others could see it well, Tony Finau who said he liked the new “cool technology”.

—Painful FanDuel integration. At least Frank Nobilo pounced on Nick Faldo’s bold selection of west coast native Xander Schauffele likely excelling in the coming weeks at west coast venues. The banter helped save some otherwise stilted and painful sponcon that made the announcers uncomfortable.

—Sunday’s opening segment recapping Reed’s situation ate into vital tournament storytelling time, but it was the national buzz and a recap proved both necessary and compelling. As I noted in The Quadrilateral analyzing the various responses to the ruling, the announce team’s willingness to explain why this was just not normal behavior came through loud and clear. The Tour may not have liked it but as sports television the conversation was compelling. The only thing lacking? Perhaps a segment on tape with one of the team members explaining how most elite would have approached the situation and what they would have done to avoid the reaction Reed got. But this would have contradicted the rules official’s claim Reed did everything right and highlights my final point…

—The in-booth rules official role must go independent. This was the reaction I had when CBS announced the new plan and within a half hour it was apparent the experiment, while forward-thinking, will not work as long as the official is also paid by the players he’s commenting on. Ken Tackett was thrown into the fire immediately, as Jim Nantz said Sunday in a follow-up chat regarding the Reed situation. Having a rules expert will be huge given how much CBS leaned on Tackett over the weekend. But the role will need to be someone independent similar to network NFL rules experts. As a paid employee of the Tour, Tackett and other officials in the planned rotation will not be able to analyze or educate, something the Reed situation should have allowed for.