The Good: Scott Verplank’s answer to the question on the range pre round…”What is your strategy playing with Tiger?”
Verplank: “I just hope he doesn’t mistake me for Rory Sabatini“
The Bad: Bobby C. never disappoints: “Drive it in the fairway, hit it on the green, and one putt, that’s Tiger Woods’ game”
The Ugly: Jim Nantz just can’t help himself…every single time he signs on to the broadcast he has to say David Faaaahateee like he grew up on the old sod…it’s cool Jimmy, we still love yah.
Categories: TV
Sometimes heat waves have their upside.
While being outside any time between 8 AM and 8 PM is pretty much like 9 holes and a bowl of lava at Satan Acres CC, it does allow for the time to watch something on TV you might normally take a pass on.
Thanks to the Golf Channel for their wire-to-wire coverage of the US Women’s Amateur from Crooked Stick in Indianapolis. The semis were today, matching Duke standout Amanda Blumenherst against defending champion Kimberly Kim.
I lost track of the times Blumenherst stiffed it starting on about number 8 but it was several in a row. Her opponent hit some incredible shots also but just couldn’t keep up. These chicks aren’t at the club for a little tea and bridge…they’re here to knock your teeth out…this is the face of tomorrows golf and it’s bright.
It was also good to see and hear Steve Melnyk come out of storage…Steve was putting golf fans in a coma when Bobby Clampett was knee-high to a Lunesta. Always love to hear Steve say, in that Gaw-ga drawl, ”Dottie, the players seem very comfortable at Crooked Stick, is this a good course for the gals?” You can almost hear the drop of sweat dripping down her neck on that one.
About 50 spectators were there following the matches…give or take an Aunt or Granny.
It’s what golf is at it’s core…good hard competition with laughs, manners, and guts.
Hope it’s hotter tomorrow so I can watch the finals…guilt free.
…for at least saying something other than “well I feel like it’s coming. I drove it well today and finally started making some putts” or the ever popular “I’ve been working hard on my game lately, and it’s nice to see the results of that work. I’m going to go out tomorrow and just stick to my game plan, try to keep it going”
Who said that? Pick a player, could be anyone.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m in the Rory Sabatini Fan Club. Remember when he was so disgusted with Ben Crane’s two-minute drill on every shot? He’d had enough of the human rain delay and simply walked ahead.
Slow play, along with the belly putter, are without a doubt the two worst things in golf.
So Rory said Tiger was beatable, he angered it and he paid the price.
Several years ago Phil said something about Tiger struggling when he switched to Nike. He was right. Along with swing changes, new clubs, and just the way golf goes, Tiger was in a slump. Phil got hammered by the press for saying something about it…and it’s the last interesting thing to come out of his mouth…and don’t hold your breath, he’s done saying anything even remotely controversial…why should he? What’s the point?
So we’ll see if Rory shuts up…I know I would…but this guy seems a little different than that…let’s hope so. Thanks Rory.
Categories: TV
“Over to 14 where Andres Romero is putting for his 5th birdie in 6 holes…we’ll be right back after we show you the Cialis commercial for the 254th time. This time though the couple will be in the same bathtub”
“OK we’re back. Romero is on 17 now making double since we went to that last commercial break, so let’s go over to Sergio Garcia for his drive on 8. It’s a beauty right down the middle and we’ll show you where it ended up when we return right after this”
I’m not sure if between 9:00 and 2:30 I watched more golf or ads during ABCs coverage of The British Open today…it had to be close.
When will the TV Weenies get that serious golf fans are with you for the duration…take the lead from the Masters and tell us at the top of the hour who the sponsors are…not 100 times during the tournament…please!!!
And do the advertisers really think it’s helping them to run the same spot over and over and over? They have to realize that an average of three shots in between pods of commercials only irritate the audience and send a subconscious negative message.
I’m no expert but isn’t that the opposite desired affect?
Categories: British Open · TV
Is there anything in championship golf quite as sad as retired European Tour commisioner Ken Schofield lamenting why a European can’t win a major?
It’s become as staple as Jack Whitaker and the funny way the ball flickers on TV from the British Open.
Steve Sands from the Golf Channel dutifully interviewing Schofield during the wrap-up show, which is the only reason to have The Golf Channel by the way
Ken saying “well the lads bucked up today in some pretty dreary conditions. Sergio is putting better and Luke seems in top form. Perhaps this is the year we’ll end our drought…we can only hope.”
Personally I couldn’t care less who wins a golf tournament, major or otherwise. The fact that a looper from Argentina won the US Open is a hoot to me…life changing for a guy who grew up where there weren’t any tracks at all…right or wrong side. Tiger will get his so not to worry there
Why is it that anyone cares who wins or what country they come from? Golf is global, always has been.
C’mon Kenny, you kick the USA from one end of the range to the other every four years at The Ryder Cup…let it go bud and smile now and again…at least for Steve who has to stand next to you.
Categories: British Open · TV
Let’s face it the French haven’t done anything really worthwhile since they kept the British fleet away from Yorktown long enough for George Washington to kick Cornwallis’ ass…let’s just say it’s been a while.
So can we please let this go? TNT just treated us to Ousty’s call from that day on BBC…pretty good line when he said “someone take him into the clubhouse for a shower and a swab down”
Let this poor guy forget about 1999 and move on to be the sniveling, complaining, malodorous Frenchman he was born to be.
One good thing about VdV…he’s nowhere near as scary looking as Paul Lawrie in HDTV.
Categories: British Open · TV
Like many of you I suffer occasionally from insomnia.
A horrible condition, laying awake when an important meeting looms the next day…but rejoice there is a cure.
Give me Ernie Johnson, I can handle him just fine. And I could do all the Jim Huber you can send. Players are comfortable with Jim and it shows. OK so he doesn’t ask the tough question…but this is golf after all…not the immigration debate.
But for my sleeplessness Bobby Clampett is the ultimate cure. Waking up this morning as usual, first day of The Open…as I have for many years looking forward to a couple of Starbucks and some live golf from Carnoustie…hard to beat that…at least if your life is a mundane as moi.
By the way that’s the last time The Open will appear on this BLOG…it’s the British Open around these parts pods.
Note to Bobby: The players are stronger, the ball has a miniature nuclear reactor inside…you don’t have to tell 
us how far they hit it anymore bud…we get it.
…and don’t say “What most people don’t realize” It makes you sound like Ken Venturi, and that ‘s not good…and everyone realizes that.
Oh and you need a little better line than “great up and down for McGinley, you’ll see lot of the players use a putter from off the green at The Open”
Oh, really? Don’t be so hasty BC, it could be new to some viewers. Those that have never played, watched, or driven past a Par 3 come to mind…but it’s possible.
Thank goodness Judy Rankin is recovered and clocked in at 8:50 EDT. Where have you been?
I have to go…trying to figure out how to get Bobby on my Ipod.
Categories: British Open · TV
