Thank God we still have good sports writers who cover golf. I cannot say that about the current state of televised golf. They’ll put you asleep.
The downhill slide began with the loss of Johnny Miller. Then there were the eventual “retirements” of Gary McCord, Roger Maltbie, Peter Kostis, Gary Koch and David Feherty.
Everyone left or since added is terribly unexciting. They spend more time either telling me about what we just saw with our own eyes: “Oh, he hit that putt harder than he wanted.” Duh. Or, they tell us about a player not playing or not in contention with the current tournament event. “Four years ago on Sunday, Marcus Absent got up and down from seven bunkers on the back nine, leading to his victory.”
Worthless, pointless trivia is not the sign of a good golf announcer. It is the give-away tell of somebody that doesn't have a feel for the game.
Lately, my wife and I have the sound very low or on mute and seem to find no loss to the enjoyment of any given broadcast.
I’ll make Jim “Bones” Mackay the all-too-occasional lone standout. He is excellent at foretelling what the players are thinking or trying to do on any given shot. He actually offers interesting points to the broadcast.
I hope the networks are not all scared to death of making some comment that could bring on an onslaught from viewers. We really don’t need one more unquestioned capitulation from network management, particularly in golf.
Richard “Doc” Miller
Cary, North Carolina
Regarding slow play, in golf it’s time to ban putting a line on the ball (“MLB’s new pitch would be a hit for tour,” May 1 GGP).
Also, why not in modern times let players and caddies use a distance measurer?
Stewart Abernethy
Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland
That was a very good article by John Hopkins on a great golfer, Luke Donald, one of my all-time favorites (“Europe’s quiet and capable captain,” May 8 GGP).
Donald will do his best, without any doubt, but has been dealt a terrible hand by Keith Pelley, who has single-handedly destroyed the European Tour.
I am not a LIV fan, and I have always been a fan of Nick Faldo before Greg Norman, but the treatment of so many who have given their golfing time for free to the Ryder Cup is unacceptable to me.
It would never have happened under Ken Schofield.
At the end of the day, whether we win or lose in Italy, the spectators – especially the Italians who have pumped money into the tour over the last few years – should see the best players, not just a selection of those not banned.
Neil Greenwood
Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England
Well done, John Hopkins (“Europe’s quiet and capable captain,” May 8 GGP). I learned a great deal more about European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.
James Kelly
Cincinnati, Ohio
Great profile by John Hopkins (“Europe’s quiet and capable captain,” May 8 GGP).
Luke Donald will get the most out of his side. A win for Europe would not be a surprise – well to me, anyway.
I am looking forward to Hopkins’ Ryder Cup coverage.
Tony Orfanos
Sarasota, Florida
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