Week One

Sleepy start or not, PGA is on again and that is grand with me. I don’t care if it’s the African Open or forty guys playing in Hawaii, I’m all in. Prognosticators shine their crystal balls, storylines wait to come to fruition, and I’ve put new batteries in the remote.

 Right where we left off~

We didn’t even get past week one before we encountered the “Viewer-Call-in-player-disqualified” scenario. Thus, stoking the rules debate that started last year. Too many rules, antiquated rules, convoluted rules, etc, but no 24 hour rule. I’m all for upholding traditions of the game but if tour officials haven’t got it right before Elvis has left the building, then the player should be able to play the next day. Rather than hire a rules official for each group, why not just lock one in a room with a TV while three others roam the course.

European Tour TV vs. PGA Tour TV~

            I’ll take European Coverage over PGA Tour coverage any day of the week and twice on Sunday. For one, I’ll take a Renton, Dougie (Doo-gee), and a Julian over a Gary, Peter, and Johnny when the subject is golf. Their economy of speech, choice of phrases, and accents make their broadcasts as easy as afternoon tea. The American broadcast is simply poorer by default of being American. American broadcasts are contrived, sometimes combative, and trite as a result. European tour coverage is smooth, supportive, and much more pleasant to the viewer. One exception on the American side is David Feherty, who is both smart and funny as any broadcaster in the business. No wonder the Golf Channel is after him.

Morning Drive 

            Golf channel’s Morning Drive has taken some heat despite only being on the air for a week. For one, people have said there is little magic between co-hosts Erik Kuselias and Gary Williams. Such criticism seems a little harsh for one week on the job. It’s not as if these two have worked together before. It’s an arranged marriage that will take time to develop or not. I like the concept though and it’s a welcomed addition to the endless morning reruns of Golf Central.

New wands for magical Mcdowell~

            It's the Indian, not the arrows. I don’t think that it will make a difference which irons Graeme Mcdowell uses. So long as he keeps his putter, all will be well. A 62 at the Tournament of Champions on Sunday proved my point.