Why Bill Murray is Always "On" at Pebble Beach (Golf World Article)

[billchao]

http://www.golfdigest.com/golfworld/2015-02/bill-murray-pebble-jaime-diaz-0216

Quote:

Arguably no one on earth is better at making the mundane memorable than Bill Murray, and his gift finds particular expression in golf. The comedian’s pro-am rounds produce an uncanny flow of distinctive moments, fueled by a beyond-showmanship obligation to leave a personal signature on every encounter that seems deeper than simple showmanship. Murray seems to live by the E.M. Forster directive: “Only connect.”

For example, when, after putting out on Monterey Peninsula’s 17th green and a bevy of adult women on a patio scream his name, Murray joyfully called out “Cougars!” and strutted over for a few sips of wine. Then, in front of the 18th tee, 11-year-old Rachel Ellison of Palo Alto shyly asked him for an autograph. Murray paused, then suddenly swung her low in a ballroom-dancing dip.

It was all more fodder for the website, billmurrarystories.com , dedicated to people recounting random meetings (most of them true) in which Murray applied his magical spin. “I try to be alert and available—available just for life to happen to you,” Murray recently told Charlie Rose. Murray confided once to longtime caddie Andrew Whitacre that when choosing gallery members to interact with, he looked “for the ones with kind eyes.” And though he is big hearted, Murray is also honing his craft. “You make it difficult for me, I will make it work,” the Academy Award-nominated actor said to Howard Stern. “Put me in a box … that’s where you really have to be creative.”

Interesting article about an interesting man.

[RFKFREAK]

Always seemed like a great guy who is very good with people. I've always been a big fan of his.

[dkolo]

http://www.golfdigest.com/golfworld/2015-02/bill-murray-pebble-jaime-diaz-0216

Interesting article about an interesting man.

I heard on a podcast a while ago a theory about Murray always trying to go off an reconnect with regular people, as it helps ground him in his acting process. Avoids the sort of detached narcissistic feedback circle that some actors get when they lose touch with average life and we then perceive as being eccentric. Makes sense to me.

[billchao]

I heard on a podcast a while ago a theory about Murray always trying to go off an reconnect with regular people, as it helps ground him in his acting process. Avoids the sort of detached narcissistic feedback circle that some actors get when they lose touch with average life and we then perceive as being eccentric. Makes sense to me.

That's a good point. It's probably very easy for a successful actor to surround himself with sycophants. Good for him for trying to stay grounded.

[Shorty]

I heard on a podcast a while ago a theory about Murray always trying to go off an reconnect with regular people, as it helps ground him in his acting process. Avoids the sort of detached narcissistic feedback circle that some actors get when they lose touch with average life and we then perceive as being eccentric. Makes sense to me.

It doesn't make sense to me. He's crying out for attention.

It is totally narcissistic. It's all about him. Making others wait and enduring his hackneyed act at Pebble Beach you see year after year.

It's as predictable as sycophantic commentators marvelling at Kenny G hitting a shot onto the green from a hundred yards and us being reminded that he's a "scratch" player.

Or some fat CEO who looks as if he's never hit a ball hitting a 20 foot putt 4 feet from the hole and us being told he plays off 6.

Thank God they do their best to remove the amateurs and "celebrities" from the telecast.

It's SO funny watching Bill Murray feigning anger or  throwing his club at a caddy or deadpanning when hitting a good shot. Not.

[saevel25]

It doesn't make sense to me. He's crying out for attention.

It is totally narcissistic. It's all about him. Making others wait and enduring his hackneyed act at Pebble Beach you see year after year.

It's as predictable as sycophantic commentators marvelling at Kenny G hitting a shot onto the green from a hundred yards and us being reminded that he's a "scratch" player.

It's SO funny watching Bill Murray feigning anger or  throwing his club at a caddy or deadpanning when hitting a good shot. Not.

@Shorty is such a downer this morning.

Its a Pro-Am at Pebble Beach not Augusta National. The PGA Tour knows what they are getting when they allow Bill there every year. I have no qualms with his antics.

[Deryck Griffith]

It doesn't make sense to me. He's crying out for attention.

It is totally narcissistic. It's all about him. Making others wait and enduring his hackneyed act at Pebble Beach you see year after year.

It's as predictable as sycophantic commentators marvelling at Kenny G hitting a shot onto the green from a hundred yards and us being reminded that he's a "scratch" player.

Or some fat CEO who looks as if he's never hit a ball hitting a 20 foot putt 4 feet from the hole and us being told he plays off 6.

Thank God they do their best to remove the amateurs and "celebrities" from the telecast.

It's SO funny watching Bill Murray feigning anger or  throwing his club at a caddy or deadpanning when hitting a good shot. Not.

While I won't go to this extreme, I have to be honest in saying that I am very tired of the Bill Murray / Pebble Beach "trying hard to be funny" act.  I also agree that it is somewhat narcissistic.

[dkolo]

While I won't go to this extreme, I have to be honest in saying that I am very tired of the Bill Murray / Pebble Beach "trying hard to be funny" act.  I also agree that it is somewhat narcissistic.

I mean, he's being nice to the fans and the fans seem to really enjoy it. They showed him on TV for maybe a total of 2, 3 minutes? Seems harmless to me. Doesn't smack of the same desperation as the Gary Mule Deer stuff.

[newtogolf]

Murray is a comedian, people come out to see him be funny and interactive.  If he acted like a pro there would be a thread here that calls him an ass for ignoring the crowd and being so focused on playing golf.

[billchao]

Murray is a comedian, people come out to see him be funny and interactive.  If he acted like a pro there would be a thread here that calls him an ass for ignoring the crowd and being so focused on playing golf.

I agree. I think it's great that he's "on stage" at the event. People probably go there with that expectation and he delivers. I don't think he does it for attention or to be narcissistic at all. Quite the contrary, really, because I feel he's not obligated to put on a show for anybody and he does it anyway.

[RFKFREAK]

He goes there and entertains the fans. I have no problem with it and actually encourage it. As @newtogolf said, if he just went and played, he'd be condemned for it.

[Golfingdad]

Murray is a comedian, people come out to see him be funny and interactive.  If he acted like a pro there would be a thread here that calls him an ass for ignoring the crowd and being so focused on playing golf.

I agree. I think it's great that he's "on stage" at the event. People probably go there with that expectation and he delivers.

I don't think he does it for attention or to be narcissistic at all. Quite the contrary, really, because I feel he's not obligated to put on a show for anybody and he does it anyway.

He goes there and entertains the fans. I have no problem with it and actually encourage it. As @newtogolf said, if he just went and played, he'd be condemned for it.

Completely agree with all of you, but also kind of agree with Shorty in the sense that, at least on TV, his act is old and tired.  The solution isn't for them to stop inviting Murray, or for him to stop playing, and it's certainly not for him to stop goofing around, it's simply for them to stop focusing so much on him on TV.  It's old, for one, and most of it doesn't even work since we can't really hear him talking to the fans anyway.

I believe that is the answer for the entire tournament as well.  Go ahead and brag about all of the celebrities that are there, and maybe even do a 10-15 minute montage on Saturday, but don't bother showing them too much on TV.  We won't have to suffer too much while Charles Schwab flails away in a bunker and it might also boost ticket sales because people will want to see the celebs so they'll come down.

[RFKFREAK]

Completely agree with all of you, but also kind of agree with Shorty in the sense that, at least on TV, his act is old and tired.  The solution isn't for them to stop inviting Murray, or for him to stop playing, and it's certainly not for him to stop goofing around, it's simply for them to stop focusing so much on him on TV.  It's old, for one, and most of it doesn't even work since we can't really hear him talking to the fans anyway. I believe that is the answer for the entire tournament as well.  Go ahead and brag about all of the celebrities that are there, and maybe even do a 10-15 minute montage on Saturday, but don't bother showing them too much on TV.  We won't have to suffer too much while Charles Schwab flails away in a bunker and it might also boost ticket sales because people will want to see the celebs so they'll come down.

I don't know if limiting how much tv time will get more people there, and I for one can't get enough of Bill Murray, but overall if they limit the tv time of celebrities to the 7th and 18th holes, overall, I think that would suffice.

[boogielicious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtogolf

Murray is a comedian, people come out to see him be funny and interactive.  If he acted like a pro there would be a thread here that calls him an ass for ignoring the crowd and being so focused on playing golf.

Quote:

Originally Posted by billchao

I agree. I think it's great that he's "on stage" at the event. People probably go there with that expectation and he delivers.

I don't think he does it for attention or to be narcissistic at all. Quite the contrary, really, because I feel he's not obligated to put on a show for anybody and he does it anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFKFREAK

He goes there and entertains the fans. I have no problem with it and actually encourage it. As @newtogolf said, if he just went and played, he'd be condemned for it.

Completely agree with all of you, but also kind of agree with Shorty in the sense that, at least on TV, his act is old and tired.  The solution isn't for them to stop inviting Murray, or for him to stop playing, and it's certainly not for him to stop goofing around, it's simply for them to stop focusing so much on him on TV.  It's old, for one, and most of it doesn't even work since we can't really hear him talking to the fans anyway.

I believe that is the answer for the entire tournament as well.  Go ahead and brag about all of the celebrities that are there, and maybe even do a 10-15 minute montage on Saturday, but don't bother showing them too much on TV.  We won't have to suffer too much while Charles Schwab flails away in a bunker and it might also boost ticket sales because people will want to see the celebs so they'll come down.

I would rather watch Bill Murray make someone's day in the gallery than watch Chuck Schwab putt.  He is there to entertain and he knows that folks enjoy it.  The other CEOs and rich guys just bought their way in.  The athletes and celebrities are part of the tournaments draw.

[iacas]

I would rather watch Bill Murray make someone's day in the gallery than watch Chuck Schwab putt.  He is there to entertain and he knows that folks enjoy it.  The other CEOs and rich guys just bought their way in.  The athletes and celebrities are part of the tournaments draw.

To whom?

Not to me. Maybe to locals who can attend in person…

Me? I'd rather watch a professional golfer play professional golf than Bill Murray doing just about anything on a golf course. Chuck Schwab too.

[dkolo]

To whom?

Not to me. Maybe to locals who can attend in person…

Me? I'd rather watch a professional golfer play professional golf than Bill Murray doing just about anything on a golf course. Chuck Schwab too.

Once a year, I think it's a fun change of pace. I feel about it the same as I do about the match play, in that regard. I think it's fun to change the weekly monotony of each tournament having a similar feel. And as a higher handicapper, I like seeing Condi Rice hitting an occasional wormburner alongside a pro.

It'd be nice to see proper celebrities, though. The execs are uninteresting to watch. "Mom, Dad, come look, the general counsel of the Chargers is on TV!"

[RFKFREAK]

I would rather watch Bill Murray make someone's day in the gallery than watch Chuck Schwab putt.  He is there to entertain and he knows that folks enjoy it.  The other CEOs and rich guys just bought their way in.  The athletes and celebrities are part of the tournaments draw.

[quote name="dkolo" url="/t/80152/why-bill-murray-is-always-on-at-pebble-beach-golf-world-article/0_100#post_1106454"]Once a year, I think it's a fun change of pace. I feel about it the same as I do about the match play, in that regard. I think it's fun to change the weekly monotony of each tournament having a similar feel. And as a higher handicapper, I like seeing Condi Rice hitting an occasional wormburner alongside a pro.  It'd be nice to see proper celebrities, though. The execs are uninteresting to watch. "Mom, Dad, come look, the general counsel of the Chargers is on TV!" [/quote] Yeah, not for nothing but I really have zero desire to see how Charles Schwab putts.

[TreyWingbat]

If Murray (and Points) were to make the cut and have to play Sunday, how would he have been able to perform for SNL's 40th Anniversary Show in NYC the same day?