Golf coverage/commentator discussion thread!! Mod note #12

Why is Dougherty horrendous though? Just cant see why you think that, he's been a very good anchor from what Ive seen of him. I mean, Ive laid out exactly why I dont rate McGinley, would be interested to hear a similar vivisection of Nick D. Hes a former player, self deprecating but also well able to fire barbs, not only at the hapless Coltart (who I agree is hopeless) but also those colleagues of his that he actually respects like Radar and Ewen Murray.

Allso, credit where it's due, in a rare well timed moment of inspiration, Paul's line in the lead up to Si Woo' match winning 15 ftr following a terrible chip by his partner was a good one: 'its not a bad chip until the putt is hit'.

Need a few examples of this for illustration. Ive quoted some of Paul McG's errors word for word.

What exactly did ND say that makes you think he is so pro Rory to the point of unprofessionalism?

What obvious thing did he bring up that he felt was inobvious?

Swing speed is consequential in professional golf. It's madness to think otherwise. Look at the top 10 in the world right now..even the likes of Morikawa and Cantlay, probably the 2 shortest in there as it stands, can easily hit it 300 yards plus. So what thing that actually isnt consequential did he bring up that has vexed you so?

Sounds like you dont like him but dont really know why tbh.

same as, McGinley is shocking

He picks one word and uses it constantly..

It’s almost like he is always interviewing for a job with CBS

Cam Champ, Brandon Matthews and Kyle Westmoreland are the three with the fastest swing speeds on the PGA tour. The highest in the world rankings of those three is Champ at 346.

McIlroy is top ten, Scheffler, Schauffele and Aberg are in the 20's, Morikawa is in the 100's somewhere. If it's that important the top five golfers should all be in the top ten in the world for swing speed. There are only three of the top 30 golfers in the world in the top 20 for swing speed.

The majority of young amateurs at scratch or better can hit the ball 300 yards.

Obviously you have some sort of love for Dougherty. He says ridiculous crap every weekend. I can't remember particular lines, all I know is that he says enough stupid stuff to ensure I switch over to the golf channel or CBS when he is on air and that's even if Laura Davies, Paul McGinley and/or David Howell are also on.

yup..

“and Coltart was no help .. ffs”

McGinley is grand, fairly inoffensive in my eyes but not particularly exciting. Comes across as a sound fella. I'd imagine he's seen as a safe pair of hands as evidenced by the US networks picking him up.

But there was only 1 other point, your contention that swing speed doesnt matter. Unless Im missing something?

II didnt feel the need to respond to that tbh. Primarily because every broadcaster in golf knows how important it is; Dougherty is hardly the only person that occasionally points this out. It isnt about being the longest of the long, golf is obviously more complicated than that. It's about recognising how much of an advantage length, even a few extra kms in swing speed, is when youre at that level. Every single player in that top 10 and probably every player in the world either on or with aspirations to be on an elite tour now have gym sessions incorporated in their routines. Why do you think this is only to increase or maintain speed? The players realise this. Everybody who knows anything about pro golf and the way equipment has driven the game recognises it. Including, of course, ND.

I don't care who runs it or where it's played, not having full coverage of one of the four majors in 2025 is absolutely ridiculous. I'll die on that hill.

Jaysus - do like Butch as a character in game , his role with various players. But he is well for the hills - same old lines are rubbish.

he seems to have had health issues - so considering his links and role in game - he has an open door , fair enough.

I do genuinely like him - but , is a bit daft. Oddly enough still better than some on Sky

81 - he looked great in that footage on range, energy and all, fair play

Love Butch but it's a bit overkill tonight.

Think he said the other day that he only does the Masters now in terms of commentary, so guess he doesn't mind the effort once a year

Have to say with modern TV , drones , new angles - we are killing the cliché - it is so flat on TV , drones in particular are giving me a real sense of the run offs

Langer one of the most popular ever? Not sure about that. In any case I like watching them too, a shot here and there, not a blow by blow of their rounds when neither has any hope of winning. Each to their own.