Best Golf Pundits

Imhof Tank

Don’t know how anyone could rate Ewan.

He got into a right huff there on Sunday night at the end of the third round when Tiger said his ball striking was good but he just couldn’t make a put. You’d think Tiger said something about Ewan’s mother – on and on he went – “I really cant believe that……I’m sorry, that’s just an insult to the viewers…….” Even argued with Butch about it

Then when Tiger didn’t make birdie on the 1st hole of his final round, Ewan says something like – “well, that’s it, that’s his chance gone now” – what a genius

foxyboxer

does anyone know where the following originated?

e.g.

Ewan Murray asks Buth Harmon a question but he replies by addressing the camera/audience then the Host also intermittently glances at the camera, annoys me no end, is this a specific golf thing or has anyone seen this done in other sports?

You wouldn't see Johnny Giles answering Bill's question at camera! Call me a traditionalist but that's just the natural way.

soundsham

do you get afraid of the one eyed man;) lol

briansy

That's a really tough question, but my view is that generally there is a right place and a right time for all of them - and I find it impossible to hate any of them as they all share a same passion for golf.

That being said, if I had to give it to anyone, I would have to say the Nantz/Faldo/McCord/Feherty combination is my favourite. Despite the goofiness (which generally is a beautiful combination of crass, off hand one liners perfectly describing a scenario), Feherty and mcCord are seriously on the ball both in terms of knowledge on the players and the way they cut right to the core of what's going on inside a player's head/ how they're executing technically - and all of this delivered in an upbeat manner that creates atmosphere just by them talking - of course Nantz is the master of this - what a smoothie, and even though Faldo is English he has adopted that tone which keeps the positive energy going - and when you add his knowledge and experiences it works perfectly.

For NBC, Miller is another one in this mould - direct, honest and beautifully hits the nail on the head when describing a scenario - the Rocco looking like the guy who cleans Tiger's pool is a classic example of that.

For the golf channel I have to say that Steve Sands is a complete legend - totally charming and probably the only person that knows how to handle Tiger - Lerner comes across as a bit of a grinning moron it has to be said, and kind of reads off the autoque these "essay style" speeches - not so sure - but he is a pleasant chap. Vince Cellini, Nobilo and co are all good but I have to say Inga Hammond has to go - insanely annoying face and voice and very little insight. Tilghman is top notch.

Re: our homegrown talent, I have to say it is a real shame that Setanta has gone under and we are left with the horrendous padding where once we had a fantastic combination of Dominick Holyer/Rafferty and Stirk - just injecting that bit of European feel which, in fairness, the US commentators lack in that regard. Although I have to say I did watch Stirk and Philip Parkin do the final of an event in Texas a few weeks back and it was pitiful - the same obvious drivel over and over again and not really relevant - but Stirk, by and large, is very pleasant to watch. Plus the picture quality in Eurosport is worse and it's an all round lower budget experience - but that's a different topic for discussion!

In terms of Sky's commentators, I have to say that over the years I have grown less and less enamoured with them.

What I do like:
The overall production and pieces like golf night etc, I really like. One thing for sure is that David Livingstone is a complete legend - he does a great job of setting the scene and you can sense he is always on the verge of making some cutting, funny comment or other but he is holding himself back with a little smirk - very charming and great to watch. Riley and Boxall are a cracking combination - no doubt about it.

Butch Harmon is total quality - in the American mould - loves the bit of controversy, stirs it up a bit and has oodles of personality and star quality. People griped about his combo with Bjorn recently but Bjorn is good too - something different and also a very prominent player on the European circuit in terms of his influence and position on various committees etc., so that in itself is reassuring that you are dealing with a guy who gets it.

What I don't like:
Di Stewart may be arguably fitter than Stirk (personally I prefer Stirk, she seems more fun ), but she completely lacks personality - every second word is one of those reporter-like "em"s. She is improving but get her off - compare that to the likes of Tilghman in the States or Dottie Pepper - total class in my book and can really stay there with the big boys. Tilghman has oodles of charm and is also very fit. But, again I'm digressing.

Murray and Critchley - I'm sorry to say it, I'm not a fan at all. They drone on and on and on and it's so monotonous. Murray certainly knows his stuff and knows the players but he is so repetative it isn't funny and he has a slightly sanctimonious feel which doesn't do it for me.

Critchley is another drone - some interesting comments here and there but again the monotony of both of them kills me. Where Boxall and Riley inject that American style enthusiasm that needs to be there for some of the lower key European events - they keep the momentum going - Critchley and Murray totally destroy that with the same ol' tired phraseology. It particularly pained me at the recent US Open and during the WGC events - I longed for a Johnny Miller or someone like that who really knew the US scene to step in - Critchley and Murray often also seem to miss the significance of big events in a round - or they just don't build them up enough or place enough emphasis on them.

That being said, they are not without their charms either of them.

As for the BBC, they were once great, and obviously more on the pulse, covering more events and generally the great commentors like Allis and hay were younger!!!

Losing Alex Hay was the worst thing that happened to them - now that man is a true legend - every bit as much as Alliss - and Hay was a great anlayst, more so than Alliss. I used to be a massively staunch supporter of their offering but now, even though Alliss still has more charm than the rest of the BBC grunts put together (the likes of Sam Torrance and that dreadful prat Howard Clarke are a joke), it has to be said that they are way off the pulse, part timers - even Alliss has gone down hill which is more to do with him getting older than anything. Having said all that, the best television experience of the year, for me, is getting up at 9AM and watching wall to wall BBC coverage of the British Open until about 7 or 8PM. Now that is pure heaven - that is a setting where Alliss has no rivals - and even Critchley in that old combination would be transformed.

I won't even get into Gary Lineker or the Irish dude Shane - absolute jack of all trade jokers - have no business presenting a golf show.

So there you have it: honourable mentions to the likes of Dougie Donnelly (a good Beeb stalwart who knows his place), Ian Baker Finch, Wayne Grady and I'm sure the many others that I have left out!