Analysts miss mark with Tiger
AS Tiger Woods finished second to what’shis-name in the PGA Championship, his presence caused both TBS and CBS to create a fourday festival of such transparent insults only suffered through laughter. Highlights:
TBS posted a fullscreen graphic, “Most Under Par In Majors (minimum 7 rounds).” Woods topped that list, far ahead of Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka.
Anyone with the ability to think had to laugh at the silliness it took to accumulate then share such info. Woods is 42. The next oldest listed was Day, who’s 30. When Woods played in his first major in 1995, Spieth was a toddler.
Then there was the usual silly from CBS’s Peter Kostis: “Tiger has negotiated his speed brilliantly on a couple of long, lengthy putts.”
Saturday, Dottie Pepper, a good analyst until Woods appears — she goes to pieces — reported that Woods’ tee shot was “his first missed fairway, today.” It was Woods’ fourth hole, and one had been a par-3. So two-ofthree fairways hit caused her to marvel.
Sunday, Pepper actually gushed over Woods’ three practice swings before he swung for keeps. And when he lipped out a longish putt her anguish was palpable: “You can’t hit a better putt!” Oh, but you can.
But the cappers began late Saturday. As Koepka had the lead, CBS noted that he’s in an extraordinary position — he can win his third major in his last seven tries. That’s when Jim Nantz wondered aloud why Koepka receives so little attention.
Really, Jim? Think CBS has anything to do with that?
I want to see every shot Woods takes, too. But wouldn’t fabulous players such as Koepka be pro- vided more attention — and the TV future of golf be better served — if Woods weren’t shown on the practice range, in the parking lot, walking down fairways, walking to the next tee, lining up 40footers from six angles?
As Koepka was about to win, Nantz, Nick Faldo and Pepper noted that much media — photographers included — had bolted to chase Woods, who’d finished. Such media included CBS, which summoned Woods for an interview. CBS’s voices concluded that Koepka was about to tap in to win another major in virtual media anonymity.
Imagine that.