The Golf Channel and the PGA Tour need to find something to jazz up broadcasts, maybe peak the interest a little more of casual golf fan. The idea has been floated around before and the PGA Tour has now approved to allow the Golf Channel to mike players during the tournaments. The catch, players must agree to wear the mike.
Personally, I love the idea. Have you ever watched NFL Network or ESPN when they have the players and coaches miked up on the sidelines or on the field. It’s great. I love hearing them during the heat of competition and it makes for great segments. I also like the idea of maybe getting inside the conversation between a player and caddy when deciding on shot or club selection. You hear it now with the large mike which followers players from 10-15 yards away, but being close to the action inside the ropes really appeals to me.
The Golf Channel has to get it right though, and not mike up the players that will be an absolute bore. If they follow my advice below, these seven players would be awesome to hear miked up.
John Daly– In between a puff on a cigarette and a sip from a Diet Coke, John Daly is very engaging. Listening to him during interviews and during his Golf Channel show a couple years back is really shows the kind of person he is. He’s great with fans and the players seem to really like him, and we would get a real down home country boy.
Anthony Kim– Let’s hope that while Kim is shaking off his hangover, he forgets he is miked. Then maybe we could hear about how many shots he took last night, or how much money he blew in the casino. OK, I’m sorry Anthony, I know you are trying to change the way people think about you, but it would be so much better to hear about the night before.
Ian Pouter– Have you ever read Poulter’s Twitter page. All he does is talk trash. From ribbing Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy to calling out Tiger Woods, it’s great. If Poulter does this on the golf course as well, it would be awesome to hear the shots he takes at fellow pros.
Rory Sabatini-Remember a couple years back, when Rory left Ben Crane behind because he was playing so slow. Well just imagine if we heard Sabatini talk himself through that decision. Now imagine that for an entire round of golf. All I can say is AWESOME.
Boo Weekley– We haven’t heard much from Boo lately, but that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t talk, and talk funny at that. From riding an imaginary horse down the fairway at the Ryder Cup, to fighting a orangutan, to wearing camo on the golf course, Boo is a hoot to hear talk and always tells you like it is.
Steve Elkington-Have you ever heard Elk on the Jim Rome Show? If not, you are missing out. If you have, then you know what I am talking about. The stories and
antidotes he always has are priceless, and a mike on Steve Elkington would never disappoint.
Tiger Woods– I can tell you one way the PGA Tour can make an extra couple million bucks each year. Somehow convince Tiger Woods to get miked up and offer the tournament on Pay Per View. The F-bombs, and GD-bombs, and throwing of the clubs would be a must see. I would pay $50 bucks for that. OK, so that would never happen, but listening to the best player in the world during a tournament interact with Stevie would make great TV.
On a final note, I hope the players can get on board. It would be fun and I think the public would enjoy it. I think it should be mandatory!!
Well, just kidding about that, but this should make it an interesting year. Let’s just hope The Golf Channel promotes the good stuff.
Leave a Reply