COMMENTARY August 7, 2023

COMMENTARY August 7, 2023

My blog with the results of the Wyndham Championship is being posted late on Monday August 7th because for the 3rd time in 6 weeks the TV Networks have left dedicated golf fans down.  I tune in to ESPN+ (which I pay extra for), then Golf Channel, then CBS, then ????? to get first hand results for my readers.

On June 11 at the Canadian Open, which started out as one of the most boring tournaments, turned out to be one of the most exciting due to a very energetic crowd, and a great finish.  Canadian Nick Taylor birdied the last 2 holes to force a playoff which he won with a 72’ putt on the fourth playoff hole. It was followed by a crazy celebration where a security guard tacked fellow Canadian golfer golfer Adam Hadwin.  None of this was covered on traditional live TV due to timing???

On July 2nd at the Rocket Mortgage Classic there was a rain delay.  The networks did not plan for that, so 90% of golf fans viewing were not able to see Ricky Fowler, whom almost everyone was pulling for him to win, make a poor tee shot and recover for a birdie to tie for the lead and win his first tournament in years by defeating Colin Morikawa and Adam in a playoff.

Rain delays are a part of sports.  Golfers and those associated with the sport want to raise their compensation to the level of the 3 major sports ( they have already surpassed Hockey thanks to LIV).  The fringe players are already complaining that the bloated purses that the PGA paid in 2022 & 2023 will be effected by the LIV/PGA agreement.  HELLO!  Yes they will.  As much as I love the game, it is not a TV must see like football, baseball, and basketball. As long as the TV networks view it as a secondary sport for ratings it will be difficult to  achieve this posture.

THATS WHY I STARTED “OGOLFIT”.   To let viewers tune in periodically and still get full coverage of the tournaments both prior to and after completion of the event.