ABC's British Open Coverage

[CG031]

I personally thought their coverage was absolutely terrible this weekend. I was listening to 660 AM Sports Radio in New York (Mike Francesa's show) and he blasted ABC's Open Championship Coverage - and I completely agree. I thought I was the only one who believed the Open Championship coverage was beyond terrible. Here's a few reasons why:

-I never thought I'd be wishing so much for Dan Hicks or Jim Nantz, but those two guys are just flat out better than Gannon and Tirico. Gannon/Tirico were probably the least of the British Open Coverage problems, in my opinion, but they certainly didn't help the cause.

-Azinger, Strange, Weiskopf. These three are probably some of the worst color commentators I've heard in a while. They don't even come close to Ian Baker-Finch, Johnny Miller, Faldo, Kostis, or Andy North. I personally didn't think they offered much insight, specifically down the stretch when Watson was under pressure. At least Johnny Miller at the U.S. Open discusses what is going through a players mind in a key situation, and how they should play the shot, the smart play, what options he had, etc. I never got that out of these three guys in the booth. Weiskopf was THE worst announcer I've ever heard for golf - period. And it's NOT because of what he had to say, it's how he said it. Everything came off as if he were extremely bored, and it was all VERY monotone. His voice is terrible for television broadcasting!

-Camera angles were so bad. The ball would go in the fairway, and I'd be like, "Where the hell did it go?!" The ball would get onto the green on a par 4 or 5, and I'd be searching for it for 20-30 seconds and the camera's were bouncing all over the place - this I can't get on ABC too much for only because it was feed from the BBC...

Overall, I'm NOT usually the one to bash commentators and presentation on every tournament (I know, ironic, right?) but I'll take CBS team at the Master's or NBC's U.S. Open, with the hated Johnny Miller, ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

[Leftygolfer]

I too thought is was terrible. In the middle of it I was so bored that I went and practiced. I then came home and watched the last 2 holes.

[iacas]

-Azinger, Strange, Weiskopf. These three are probably some of the worst color commentators I've heard in a while. They don't even come close to Ian Baker-Finch, Johnny Miller, Faldo, Kostis, or Andy North.

On one hand, you can't quite compare on-course reporters with in-booth color commentators. On the other hand, that doesn't mean they still don't suck.

Weiskopf was THE worst announcer I've ever heard for golf - period.

I think Weiskopf was a bright spot. Admittedly, it was largely because the rest of the cast was so poor, but he was understated and not a boob like Curtis Strange.

-Camera angles were so bad.

That's not ABC's fault, as you said.

[CG031]

On one hand, you can't quite compare on-course reporters with in-booth color commentators. On the other hand, that doesn't mean they still don't suck.

Yeah, I guess you're right - comparing commentators on the course, and in the booth is somewhat unfair. I actually didn't mind what Weiskopf had to say, I mean, he didn't offer any great, new insight, but what he had to say wasn't my problem - it was his voice, it's just not really made for T.V. broadcasting. And yeah, I can't get on ABC too much for the Camera's...but, I don't recall it ever being as bad as it was this year in the past couple years.

[Lemay427]

Curtis Strange is such a putz. I still think back to the time he first interviewed Tiger in '96. Strange asked him something like "Is 2nd place unacceptable to you?" Tiger said "yes, I want to win everytime.". Strange laughed, and said "you'll learn", in his cocky attitude. (Not exact quotes, but what i can remember)


The coverage wasnt that bad to me but could have been better.

[Elvisliveson]

I actually didn't mind what Weiskopf had to say, I mean, he didn't offer any great, new insight, but what he had to say wasn't my problem - it was his voice, it's just not really made for T.V. broadcasting.

The best moment in the broadcast booth Weiskoff ever had was at the 1986 Masters. Jack Nicklaus came to the 16th tee after making birdie on 15 to tie for the lead. Another broadcaster asked "Tom, Jack hasn't been in this position in quite some time, as a fellow competitor can you tell us what is going through his mind right now?" Without hesitation, Weiskoff shoots back "If I knew how the man thought, I would have won this torunament!"

[mcfc_nick]

haha the open is my favourite tournament of the year due to the commentators we have over here, we have peter aliss commentating who i think is one of the best golf commentators there is!

[CG031]

haha the open is my favourite tournament of the year due to the commentators we have over here, we have peter aliss commentating who i think is one of the best golf commentators there is!

Peter Aliss is fine, but your cameras suck!

[Prairie Golfer]

The camera guys at the BBC have no idea what they are doing on a golf course and never have. Top that off with a horror cast of ABC commentators and you have the worst golf telecast of the year. Azinger, Strange and Weiskopf, no wonder I left the sound off for most of the week.

[Mr. M]

Curtis Strange is just kind of a goober.

"Well, he's hit it into the waist-deep rough, and there are four dozen folks looking for the ball. Judy, how's his lie?"

[TheGeekGolfer]

Yes...the coverage s*cked! Their were way too many commercials. At one point on Sunday, Retief Goosen was at -1 and 1 off the lead (I think) and hit into the back bunker on the par-3 15th. They go to commercial... "while we were away, Retief made double bogey"... didn't show anything. Announcers kept saying, we just saw Retief make double from back there. Who saw it... I know I didn't!

[wannabe]

haha the open is my favourite tournament of the year due to the commentators we have over here, we have peter aliss commentating who i think is one of the best golf commentators there is!

+59!

That dude is hilarious, colorful, smart, and has the most unique collection of verbal -isms ever! He made it worth the listen for sure. Camera-work; yeah gotta work on that. I've always wondered how in the heck to do that, though. It's gotta be a special skill. I have a hard enough time following a ball in real life without looking through a narrow viewfinder. Add a windy tower position to that - forget about it.

[mcfc_nick]

Peter Aliss is fine, but your cameras suck!

perhaps ye, but that can be improved and i think that turnberry probably wasnt the easiest place for camera work but maybe its just the cameramen, and another reason why it was better over here was the fact that as it was on the bbc there were no adverts/commercials which meant golf all day! cant wait for st andrews next year!!

[Chas]

And who was it that said something like, "there's no way he's going to get on the green from that position [in deep rough]" - which was immediately followed by a shot that, you guessed it, ended up near the middle of the green.

I was expecting some sort of self-deprecating joke in response (that Faldo would surely have delivered), but it didn't happen. A bit leaded, is my point.

I wouldn't say the coverage was terrible but it could have been better, more insightful certainly. Faldo and Miller were missed. Fortunately the action was sufficiently compelling.