Murray’s No. 1 hope is to see golf’s galleries returning once more
Ewen Murray would struggle to describe any events of 2020 as “highlights”. But one of his fondest moments came on his final afternoon of the season in the Sky Sports commentary box.
Working on the final round of the DP World Tour Championship and the climax of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, a refreshingly familiar sound was music to Ewen’s ears.
Around 1,000 spectators were allowed in on the Sunday and although only small in number and obeying all the Covid protocols, it was uplifting nonetheless.
“When I heard some applause on the back nine, I just thought: ‘What a lovely sound’, Murray told The Sunday Post.
“It was one of the joys of the year. That moment gives us some hope for next year.
“It was probably no more than 200 people on a hole, but it would mean the world to the golfers to hear that.
“It’s the same as a footballer scoring a goal or an actor on stage, that is their oxygen. It’s a huge part of being a successful golfer is to perform in front of large crowds.
“It may only have been a few claps and cheers, but it was noticeable. Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the event, and Lee Westwood, who clinched the Race to Dubai, would certainly have appreciated it.
“That will be the No. 1 wish of all sports people for 2021 – to have the spectators back.
“And I’m sure in golf terms, the game will go up a level again as the players will want to perform in that environment.”
Like everyone else in golf, Murray has had to adjust to the new working practices currently involved to get tournaments up and running.
That extends to the TV studios, with Sky’s lead commentator only attending three events on site in Europe and describing the Majors in America from the studios in south west London.
It may not have been golf as we know it, but such has been the hard work and skill of those involved, no one would have known any differently.
“I remember a couple of days after The Masters, a couple
people coming up to me and saying: ‘ You’ve got home quickly!’,” said the Edinburghborn commentator.
“To cover The Masters, I was in London, Butch Harmon was in his front room in Las Vegas and Rich Beem and Cara Banks were in Augusta.
“We had three video screens and were in three different time zones, and when one person stopped speaking, you put your thumb up so there was no clash of words on air.
“The US Open and US PGA were done the same way and Sky found a way, through the hard work of some brilliant young people there.
“The system was impeccable and it says something that people watching at home didn’t notice any difference.
“While what the European Tour did this year was astonishing, I was a founder member of the Tour back in 1971 and I didn’t think what they managed this summer was possible.
“To get golfers back on the course, playing for money and keeping them safe in almost impossible circumstances was a monumental operation.
“And the UK Swing, going to previously used Tour venues and all with a hotel on-site, was a stroke of genius.”
Murray was there at the Players’ Championship in Florida in March when the event was cancelled after 18 holes, as golf shut down until June on the PGA Tour and a month later in Europe.
And although there was no Open Championship or Ryder Cup in 2020, there was still plenty to enjoy once the action resumed.
“I thought Bryson Dechambeau was outstanding in winning the US Open at Winged Foot,” Murray recalled. “Much was talked about his long driving, but he putted well and he’s a beautiful golfer.
“I’ve played Winged Foot a couple of time with Butch, and I know how difficult it is and Bryson managed it impeccably to finish six-under-par.
“Collin Morikawa, at 23, was also superb in winning the US PGA. A lot of young players also came to the fore in Europe like England’s Sam Horsfield and Sami Valimaki of Finland.
“The only disappointment was that some of Europe’s big names didn’t come over to Dubai for the Race To Dubai finish.
“Guys like Patrick Reed and Ian Poulter did and that says an awful lot about them as people.
“I understand the difficulty but I would have hoped the players wanted to support the Tour – the Tour that gave them a chance at the beginning of their careers.”