Reader's Forum

If you could make one suggestion to improve television coverage of golf's majors in 2003, what would it be?

The Issue

Now that the final putt has fallen for the year's last major, The Wire wants to hear what television broadcast you liked best of the four majors and why. Did you prefer CBS at the Masters with Ken Venturi for the final time, NBC at the U.S. Open with Johnny Miller's insights, ABC at the British Open featuring Mike Tirico and Curtis Strange in the booth or CBS' recent broadcast of the PGA? If you could make one suggestion to improve television coverage of golf's majors in 2003, what would it be?

Your Responses

I think that ABC does the best of the three, with the recent coverage of the PGA coming in a close second. Johnny Miller has got to get off of the 'grain' issue/comment all the time and Ken Venturi - he did a wonderful job for years - but it was time to retire. I thought Lanny Wadkins did i good job, provided some insight and for the first time, accomplished a passing grade. But ABC, with Curtis Strange, really provides some more insight into the tournaments he covers - if only Mike Tirico can only get of the "Tiger is a god" syndrome.

R. Erickson
reed.erickson@state.mn.us

Johnny Miller needs to get some therapy to snap out of his negative attitude! He must be the most pessimistic 'has been' golfer out there. Just because he can't pull off certain shoots, doesn't mean anybody else can't either.

I don't know how many times he predicted the wrong outcome of a golf shot. 'No way he can get this ball close!" And then the pros proved him wrong time and time again! What the hell kind of reporting is that? 80% of the time he opens his trap, negative crap comes flying out!

Gary McCord and David Feherty did a great job with the PGA. Great combination of knowledge of the game and humor to make the broadcast enjoyable. Great team! Hope to listen to them time and time again!

M. Smith
orders@firstswing.com

Unless it is the Masters - 6 hours of golf is too much in one day. Especially when it is encumbered by 3 hours of commercials and inane comments.

Jim Nance is the worst. His comments detract from coverage. Lanny Wadkins is making some headway. David Feherty and Peter Kostis had the most to add - they are knowledgeable and know when to stop talking. Gary McCord can stop saying that "this is going to be fun".

Unfortunately 18 holes of Hazeltine are very boring - they all look the same until you get to the last 5 holes. Yes there was some drama but they could have condensed the front nine highlights and then showed the back nine live. They only showed 5 or 6 golfers out of the field of 72 anyway. They did manage to show Chris Riley when he was on his birdie streak. I taped the final round and watched it in 1 1/2 hours on my VCR and was very happy.

The Masters is on top because they limit the commercials. Even so they did not have to add the front nine to the coverage. 15-20 minutes of highlights would have sufficed. I would rather still have Ken Venturi and not Jim Nance. We will see how Lanny fills Kens shoes next year.

With Ken Venturi gone I would vote for NBC. Johnny Miller is not afraid to tell it like it is and he has good support from the course from people that have played the game. They covered the event, the course and the players.

CBS with David Feherty, Peter Kostis, Lanny Wadkins and a little Gary McCord would be second with ABC at the bottom. Curtis Strange and Mike Tirico are just not my favorites.

To improve coverage: Show more in less time. Condense the front nine into a 15-20 minute highlight show and then show the back nine. Show all the big names even if they are doing poorly. It never hurts to let the average player know that even the best have a bad day.

J. Kohr
jeffkohr@rochegolf.com

Simple answer - Lanny Wadkins is the worst - THE WORST. He is a miserable human being and a worse commentator. He tries to talk over everyone, he stutters, he can't look at the camera when he speaks. The only thing he doesn't do is carry on the annoying tradition from Ken Venturi of constantly prefixing every statement with "I tell you what". The best commentator on earth, Gary McCord came out with it, just for old times sake, I presume. CBS has made a horrible mistake hiring Wadkins. He managed to take a lot of the enjoyment out of a great final round for me.

Please ask CBS to reconsider. I will not watch their regular golf coverage and may avoid the majors so as not to hear from that pompous, full of himself, Texas twanging, Ryder Cup losing imbecile Lunnie Wadkins. And his bias for Beem and Leonard was absurd. And he doesn't even listen to what his co-commentators are saying. DUMP THIS IDIOT- PLEASE!!!

B. Arkins
arkins@us.ibm.com

CBS's coverage of The Masters is pretty hard to beat. The shortened commercial availability helps and the quality of the commercials are outstanding. I waited with great anticipation for the next IBM spot so I could hear the voice over say...."AND A JACKET IS REQUIRED" Ken Venturi is a class act and It will take Lanny Wadkins a while to get up to speed, but I do feel that his commentary may be more modern and more in tune to today's game. Johnny Miller has stated that his opinions are his own and not the view of NBC so what's the point? If I want his opinion I will ask for it. I really don't care about what he thinks...just cover the match. He is way too cocky for my tastes. ABC also does a great job. Lets face it.... it's all great theatre. Yesterdays match was good for the game.

J. McIntyre
jimm@knorrmarketing.com

As a part time viewer, I was enthralled with Tiger-birdie versus Longshot-Beem duel. So the most recent coverage is obviously the greatest impact. For 2003 I would recommend more "wild-mike" audio (i.e. conversations between players, caddies and even when Rules officials are on hand for rulings). A second change would be more interactive feedback with viewers (i.e. e-mail question of the day, who will win, up to the minute stats, money lists, scoring averages, etc.).

P. Wofford
peterwofford@comcast.net

As far as I'm concerned NBC does the best job of covering golf in general whether Major or not. I prefer Johnny Miller's commentary far better than any of the others. One thing that I find annoying from all of the Networks is how little time they actually spend showing golf vs. reviewing what has happened previously! It seems that out of every hour of coverage, 2/3's is commercials plus reviews and 1/3 actual coverage of the event. Of the coverage part little if any of it shows other than the leading golfers. Frankly I think the British do a better job overall than the US networks in covering Golf!

G. Robillard
gjribbit@csolve.net

The US Open coverage with Johnny Miller was the best by far. He is the most knowledgeable golf analyst and is not afraid to call a spade a spade even if it ruffles feathers.

I would like to see less player interviews and stories and more action thats taking place. Having to watch every thing Tiger has done for the last decade is wearing thin.

R. Bogacki
russ.bogacki@ametek.com

Masters is always great because of the venue. Thought the PGA telecast was the best. Lanny is coming on strong as Venturi's replacement and the supporting cast is awesome.

How about bringing back Ben Wright? Please? Try his bio "Good Lies and Bad Bounces" for some fun reading about the CBS broadcast team.

1 suggestion: show scores other than the leaders more often. people who know players, or who have favorites among players are interested in knowing how they are playing.

J. Robertson
robbydc9@webtv.net

I was not pleased with the TV coverage of any of the Majors, particularly the PGA. If you believed the TV you would think there were only eight or ten players in the whole field. Get rid of YAK and show more golf. Leave the statistics on long enough to assimilate what they are showing. Show more pages so one can see how their favorite players are doing. I would much prefer to see what is going on now than what Tiger or any one else did yesterday or the day before.

L. Silver
l.u.silver@att.net

While there was a certain amount of nostalgia associated with Ken Venturi's final "appearance" at the Master's Tournament, seldom do the announcers matter all that much to me. It is the golf story itself that provides the compelling interest for me. If there is an announcer impact, it seems to be a negative more often than a positive. For me personally, it would be hard to beat the just-completed PGA. The ebb & flow of the golf, with various contenders making moves (both positive & negative), Fred Funk playing well and obviously enjoying himself, Tiger making one of his patented charges, and Rich Beem making shot after shot under what would seem to be incredible pressure, made this very enjoyable to watch. I will give the announcing team credit for trying to help the audience get some idea of the potential enormity of the impact on Mr. Beem if he were to be able to pull out the win. Then, when he did it, the obvious joy he exhibited was something to which most duffers could relate. It was a fun broadcast to watch, but the majority of the fun was the golf, which was enhanced by the insights of Lanny Wadkins.

B. Mock
Bill.Mock@cornerstonecontrols.com

The recent PGA coverage by CBS was the best! Curtis Strange and Mike make a great team- I personally cannot stand Johnny Miller's sarcastic, demeaning style.

Youngs
youngs724@attbi.com

I liked NBC coverage of the U.S. Open - I felt Johnny Miller is not afraid to say it like it is - good or bad. I know that Tiger is the number one but I think all the networks need to give a little more coverage to other players.

W. Hillebrand
willieh@cwo.com

I like all the presentations but CBS wins hands down, Lanny does such a great job and always tells it so everyone can understand it.

It has been a great year even if one person won 2 of the majors - oh well maybe next year John Daly will come out and shot his best ever!! or Raymond Floyd or Greg Norman!!! Those were the days.

J.L.
jl.peters@att.net

I loved the Open at Bethpage Black. Roger Maltbie did a great piece camping out with "the boys" to get a tee time. The Masters, with few commercial interruptions, is the cleanest telecast. the British Open is basically no frills.

The PGA with its incessant commercials was brutal. The only thing worse than CBS coverage of the event was the cable coverage the first two days. They should have had someone in one of those plaid jackets from the PGA of America come on in the beginning of the broadcast promising us 10 minutes of every hour would actually be devoted to the tournament!

Johnny Miller is always a great listen. Jim Nantz has the great quality of coming across like he really, really wants to be there at the event. Mike Tirico is a pro. Curtis Strange gets blander by the day. David Feherty is a great listen. Having fun in his job and providing sound analysis are 2 great qualities. I wasn't impressed with Lanny Wadkins early on, but i thought he came out of his shell at the PGA. Sounded like Johnny Miller with his opinions. I hope he keeps it up!

B. Malone
Bobby.Malone@opcap.com

Ken Venturi will be sorely missed.

Johnny Miller's comments are always a plus.

Has anyone told Tirico how to pronounce "Edinburgh"?

It will take a long time for CBS to find another partner for Nance like Venturi.

B. Nelson
swedewm@juno.com

The best analyst in my opinion is Johnny Miller followed by Ken Venturi and his partner. Mike Tirico and Curtis Strange should be put out to pasture.

L. Zucco
zucco@centurytel.net

Venturi for the last time without a doubt!

JT & Bev
jtandbev@i2k.net

I think all the guys that broadcast are doing a fine job. My concern is the person or persons that are producing, or directing the programs. My beef with them is the almost full time coverage of Tiger Woods, when he is on the course, almost as though he was playing alone. Some times even the person he is playing with gets left out of view. Now don't get me wrong here, I believe Woods is a fine golfer, only time will prove if he is, or will be a great golfer. There is a lot more to being great than winning tournaments, and having some one try to make a God of you, for the most part to sell product, and to sell tickets at tournaments. I don't blame Wood's he is only the end product. At the end of last weeks game, Rich Beem had hardly sunk the last putt and there was a mike and camera with an interview of who else other than Tiger. I am sure if it had been the other way around we would not have heard of Rich Beem again until maybe the next game he participated in. Hoorah to the winner!!!!!!!!!!!.

J. Stoddard
stoddard7@charter.net

Mike Tirico is on the bottom of my list. Do miss Ken Venturi . Jim Nance has too much to say which distracts the play. John Miller is the best for his short and concise comments. To improve the telecast I would recommend more coverage of the total field ,rather than concentrating on the leaders, to the detriment of the other golfers.

E. Diberto
diberto@mindspring.com

Any coverage including Gary McCord is fine in my book - unless its on the BBC. Ken Venturi had done a good job all along - although slipping a little in the last couple of years - I've watched golf coverage for at least 15 years.

I record most weekend coverage, so I can play in the afternoon, and watch later and so that I can fast forward through Johnny Miller' comments. He is the most pompous ___hole I've had the displeasure to listen to. He had a moment in the sun - back 25 years ago - but didn't last a month on the Senior Tour. His condescending comments and second guessing on "why he would even try a shot like that?" get old real quick. And, after the golfer successfully executes the shot (that Johnny criticized), he says "Oh, well - he was lucky that time". If he thinks he's trying to protect the average golfer from trying difficult things - he should give lessons (if anyone will pay him for his opinions) and not commentate on the sport.

The team of Mike and Curtis has developed well in the last couple of years. Almost as important as the analyst and color man are the on-course folks. Judy Rankin, David Feherty, Peter Costas and Bob Rosberg are great at their jobs. The folks on the Golf Channel could learn a lot from them.

My suggestion for guaranteeing top notch coverage - can Miller.

A. Taranto
ataranto@shelby.net

I thought the coverage with CBS this time was best ever. Lanny was great and humor was evident with David Feherty. Many knowledgeable golf fans would like to see more coverage of other players during event and more top 25 updates during round so we can see where favorite players are.

B. Moe
bmoe@wgmoe.com

I, like every other hacker will agree that Tiger is King of the Hill (Over all).

However, I don't watch golf just to watch One golfer and to have every shot made by other golfers referred to as " TIGERLIKE".

Tiger didn't invent golf and many of the viewers watch because they want to see their favorites make shots, not just to look at the backs of their heads while Tiger or Els is lining up their putts. (That's all I saw of David Toms and Hal Sutton).

I watched no less than 15 hours of the PGA this last week and I can see myself joining the ranks of uninterested fans if it continues to be (Politics as usual).

L. Birkner
jimlloyd@sprhill.net

The recent CBS broadcast was good and was not overly analytical. ABC's Strange gets carried away with his so called insider knowledge and constant analysis. I like Johnny Miller but he also gets overly analytical and he feels like he must always say what he thinks, most adults no better than that. I think the enthusiasm that the CBS team showed was genuine and fun.

Strange all too often sounds like he has marbles in his mouth. There are relatively few people in today's world that have that deep south accent and that's okay but why on TV.

C. Piazza
chazpiaz@bellsouth.net

Ken Venturi's call at the 2002 Masters was classic example why he was and still is the best. No one else comes close to his timeless style, there goes his green jacket... love it. I'll miss him.

M. Hume
hume@localnet.com

CBS is easily the best, especially now that the golden throated but long since senile Venturi is gone. If CBS could replace Lanny Wadkins, who annoys me but I don't know why, with Curtis Strange, who is insightful and frank without being snide, like Miller, CBS would be closer to perfect.

D. Keightly
justice@becnet.com

Lanny Wadkins is WEAK!

How did he ever get that gig?

K. Carpenter
ken@powerfade.com

CBS and the Masters: Venturi was too old with worn out dialog and the same old stories. Bobby Clampett, Peter O and K, and David F are very good. Save your money as the viewers don't need Lanny "smug" Wadkins to share time with the other announcers. It is refreshing to know that Gary Mc will never be asked to do another Masters, "The above team does a nice job without him."

NBC and the US Open: Johnny Miller and his "Grain on the brain" and other worn out comments "green light special," should hang it up. He also has unduly influenced Roger M on the grain, grain, grain comments.

ABC and the British Open: Curtis S is not very good, too much "I did it this way" and Mike T is only fair.

CBS and the PGA: Bobby C, Peter O and K with David F are excellent and compliment each other. Forget Lanny W and Gary Mc. Lanny is a "wise guy" and Gary desperately needs new material. On a second though forget the new material from Gary Mc as David F has better stuff anyway! David F is very good!

Peter A (I can't remember what network he works for) is also very good. Excellent commentary!

The commentators should NOT comment on what golfers may be thinking! From what Tiger told the media, after the PGA, he was not "Spooked or shaken" when he looked at the scoreboard and noticed Rich Beem has just eagled the par five on the back nine (final round). Don't try and read what is going on in someone's mind.

With respect to Johnny Miller and the grain comments:

As a turfgrass specialist at Rutgers University I can tell you that Johnny Miller does not know "Grain." His continued reference to grain on putting greens is misleading and misguided. I can tell you first hand that all of the golf course superintendents go nuts when they hear Johnny "Grain" Miller talk about upgrain, downgrain etc.

The following was taken from an article I wrote a few years ago called "Grain on the brain."

I've spent my professional life studying turfgrasses and have collected, observed, bred and researched various aspects of grasses used on putting greens. Frankly, what you hear on TV about grain on putting greens is misleading. Some putting greens-especially on older courses-may exhibit distinct patches of grasses, most ranging in size from 3 to 5 feet in diameter and displaying different colors and textures. These segregated patches of grass may produce an orientation of leaves and stems in a certain horizontal direction that we can call "grain."

This grain may influence the direction of a putt, especially as the ball slows near the cup. But the grain most typically grows in random directions when not unduly influenced by a steep slope, water drainage patterns, a strong wind blowing constantly in one direction or continued mowing in the same direction. On a relatively flat putting surfaces on older golf courses-without these influences-grasses typically grow in random directions.

TV golf commentators use "grain" for all descriptions of how the ball may be influenced. They don't mention that an older green is typically made up of many patches of grass, possibly hundreds on one green, that may show some of this grain growing in small patches and in random directions. Frankly, what you hear on TV about "up grain," "down grain," "grain growing east to west" and other statements are oversimplified and in most cases misleading. What the TV audience needs to hear more of from commentators is "uphill," downhill" and "sidehill" rather than grain, grain, grain.

The TV analysts also don't mention that superintendents routinely use brushes and other devices to stand leaf blades and stems upright so this random grain can be minimized or eliminated.

Johnny Miller's myths about grain are contrary to what turf professionals know. I've discussed grain with superintendents and other turfgrasses experts. They agree that grain typically grows on greens in random directions.

Most of the courses being built today are selecting the newly bred grasses for greens. These "state-of-the-art" grasses were developed to grow upright and not produce grain.

Some advice for TV golf commentators: Find more appropriate words, like "downhill" or "uphill." You will be much easier to listen to.

R. Hurley
Hurlrich@aol.com

Preferred the Masters coverage.

What can TV do better? Broadcast a golf tournament where the focus is on who's leading the tournament, not what Tiger is doing every 10 seconds. The PGA was probably the worst case. It was more about how Tiger was trying to catch Beem than what Beem was doing. It is supposed to be about the golf tournament, not a day in the life of Tiger. I don't care if he wins everything or he never wins again, but they should stop showing everything as how it relates to Tiger. Most tournaments he's in are like that. Most golfing friends don't like it. This isn't Tiger's fault. It's simply poor broadcasting.

G. Gamble
GeorgeL.Gamble@mail.state.ky.us

GET RID OF CURTIS STRANGE.

M. Collins
mikecollins11@charter.net

I actually preferred the non-major network coverage done by TNT last week. I think the major networks get tied up in their own importance.

J. Kahn
jkahn@lccsaves.com

I really enjoyed the last broadcast of Ken Venturi. He bridged the gap from the old country club vagabond pros of the golden era to the hit it 2 miles and putt like demons present state of the PGA Tour.

All good things come to an end.

The PGA Tournament coverage was the worst production of the four. Awkward commercial breaks and too many replays instead of live action almost ruined a David versus Goliath final round that was exciting even with the poor production.

David Feherty is by far the best and instead of having him traipse all over the course, he should be the primary coverage guy. His humor and wit do a lot to repel the still white bread stuffy image of our game. He and Johnny Miller poke holes into the mechanical P.R. images of many on tour.

I had the good fortune of attending Bethpage rounds 3 and 4 and those days will be a life memory. I enjoyed Miller's insight from the hotel each night. Basically I would prefer that the broadcasts on their respective networks NBC and CBS use Miller and Feherty.

J. Beeton
bigflyer@attbi.com

I can't give one so I'm suggesting several.

What I would like to hear from the announcers is the inside information on a player. For example: Rich Beem, where he was 7 years ago and now look what he's doing. Positive player information that we may not know.

Comments like what type of shot he is hitting and how he is executing that particular shot. Nothing negative like "I can't believe he's trying that shot it's the wrong shot to hit there!"

Maybe the history of the course such as who the architect was and show what his style is with examples on the course.

Mike Tirico does a very good job. Put him with a positive, personable, and knowledgeable player for comments on what I previously wrote.

J. O'Malley
jomalley@pilgrimsrun.com