Tour might mike caddies for broadcast on TV

[goblue107501]

I just read on PGAtour.com that the tour is looking into miking caddies during a round for TV. I think this would be very interesting. I would love to hear the conversations that go on. Just to hear the thought process for a shot would be neat to hear and us normal golfers could probably pick up some good tips on course management.

Of course the caddies have some reservations. Not about being broadcast, but more about having to watch what they say because someone in the TV truck would be listening. There would be a delay before it went on air, but more along the lines of saying something inappropriate that could get out that was a one-on-one conversation.

Neat idea, I would like to see it done. Even if it just putting the good soundbites together during a round and doing a small segment every hour with the recorded material.

[elementz]

They pretty much do it in every other sport, I don't see a problem with it.

[chipper2]

I think hearing the interaction of Tiger and Stevie or Phil and Bones would add to watch a great game.

[Troof.]

I think hearing the interaction of Tiger and Stevie or Phil and Bones would add to watch a great game.

My friend was just telling me he read an article that Stevie wrote, and he said that he has to lie to Tiger at times throughout the round depending on how Tiger is playing. For example, the critical wedge out of the rough on the 72nd hole of the US Open. Tiger didn't think he could get lob wedge to the hole, but Stevie knew that Tiger was amped up and convinced Tiger to hit lob wedge instead of sand wedge. I guess he will also give Tiger wrong yardages or something lol

[iacas]

My friend was just telling me he read an article that Stevie wrote, and he said that he has to lie to Tiger at times throughout the round depending on how Tiger is playing. For example, the critical wedge out of the rough on the 72nd hole of the US Open. Tiger didn't think he could get lob wedge to the hole, but Stevie knew that Tiger was amped up and convinced Tiger to hit lob wedge instead of sand wedge. I guess he will also give Tiger wrong yardages or something lol

1) He talked Tiger into hitting lob wedge instead of sand wedge.

2) He used to lie about yardages when Tiger wasn't as good with his distance control. He doesn't lie now, and hasn't for quite a few years. That's what I read, anyway.

[Trav]

This would be very interesting. Would love to hear a caddy arguing, uh, discussing a shot with a player, or caddy to caddy dialogue.

If only this would include the "under breath" caddy mutterings after the player ignores the caddy's advice.

[Shorty]

I just read on PGAtour.com that the tour is looking into miking caddies during a round for TV. I think this would be very interesting. I would love to hear the conversations that go on.

As things stand, the microphones are often close enough to hear these conversations.

Bones appears to get paid by the word and most other conversations are simply about where to aim, "committing to it" , how much the caddy likes the club the player has chosen and specific yardages to specific points. Short of calling it an invasion of privacy, I think we can do without it.

[TMO]

I know this sounds nuts but I am a huge fan of the idea to mike the caddies but I hope it doesn't happen.

Pros: I would much rather hear Steve and Tiger discussing the shot than Johnny Miller or any of the other commentators. I think that golfers could learn a lot about what really goes through the head of a pro before they hit a shot.

Cons: The discussions that a caddie has with their player can be a lot different than people might imagine. It's a lot like the relationship between a catcher and a pitcher. You do not always agree and sometimes those disagreements can be heated. It doesn't mean that you hate them or are going to fire them; you both believe you know what will work best. I would be afraid that every single time Steve and Tiger disagreed or Phil and Bones it would become tabloid fadder.

That's my take.

[clubhousehero]

I like the idea and beleive i could learn alot from it.

I would have loved to hear phil and bones discuss that shot 2 weeks ago when phil hit it right handed. I can't remember the name of the tourney, sorry.

[flanagan]

I agree with some of the above. They have the mikes to pick up the conversations already, and with those, I think we are more likely to get the straight stuff.

Once they are miked, a completely different scenario is involved and you have what I think is the probability of the self awareness kicking in and comments either being tailor made (and fake) because they know they are being miked, or just extremely boring, non-commital nonsense, because they know they are being miked.

[iacas]

I agree with some of the above. They have the mikes to pick up the conversations already, and with those, I think we are more likely to get the straight stuff.

Yes to all of that.

[Troof.]

1) He talked Tiger into hitting lob wedge instead of sand wedge.

I haven't read the article yet, so you're probably right.

Anyway, I think it would make for good TV

[NorCalGolfer]

I know this sounds nuts but I am a huge fan of the idea to mike the caddies but I hope it doesn't happen.

You couldn't be any more spot on. I also think that if someone has a little quibble with their caddie you'd definitely hear about it somewhere. Maybe even on Sportscenter. "Tiger arguing with his caddie?? Find out after the break!" I think the conversations that we get with these super mics is just fine with me. Plus I think this way it's a little more candid.