I'm wondering if anyone has comments or an opinion on ABC's coverage of the British Open golf tournament this past weekend at Royal Birkdale.  Overall, I found the coverage to be noticeably weaker than that of the other majors broadcasted by CBS & NBC.  Probably the main reason is that ABC no longer covers golf (except for its annual treck to the British Open).  Pretty hard to be on top of the game for two days a year.  The announcers/commentator team was rather thin.  Although Mike Tirico does a decent enough job as lead announcer, the tandom of Paul Azinger and Tom Watson did not add very much to the broadcast.  I found Azinger to be too negative and Watson's lack of broadcasting experience showed.  Normally when I'm watching golf coverage on the other networks, I find that the analysts are able to provide good insight, while passing on information to the viewers that might otherwise go unnoticed.  In terms of the on course coverage, I think the coverage/information was adequate, led by Judy Rankin.  In summary, I think if ABC can't step up its coverage for future years, it should give up the Open to one of the other networks who have an established golf team and can give it the coverage it deserves.

"Overall, I found the coverage to be noticeably weaker than that of the other majors broadcasted by CBS & NBC."

Well, if this Open had been broadcasted like the others maybe Greg Norman might have won, eh?

Seemed to me that they had to work with local camera operators that have never covered the game as well.  I don't think CBS would have put up with that display.

Quoted from johnnytindale

Although Mike Tirico does a decent enough job as lead announcer, the tandom of Paul Azinger and Tom Watson did not add very much to the broadcast.  I found Azinger to be too negative and Watson's lack of broadcasting experience showed.

I agree with you on Tirico, for a basketnall guy he knows his pasture pool. But I also like Zinger. You never know what's going to come out of him and a lot of it is good inside stuff delivered in a "binderdundat" way.

As for Watson. I hate that little prig* (correct spelling). Ever since he wrote that note to the stiffs that run Augusta National and got Gary McCord turffed from the CBS Masters broadcast.

By the way I don't think ABC planned on and Azinger/Watson "team" Watson played last week but missed the cut and was asked to stick around for his expertise. (Afterall, he did win five jugs in his day)

REDDS

Quoted from TommyD

Seemed to me that they had to work with local camera operators that have never covered the game as well.  I don't think CBS would have put up with that display.

Yes, thank you for mentioning the camera "work."  It was terrible!!  I've seen better camera work from old footage from the 60's!  Yes it was windy, but when you can't even follow the ball once it lands in the middle of the fairway, not good at all.

The coverage was awful but anything is better than Johnny Miller. He makes it clear that he loves Tiger and hates pretty much every other golfer.  Can't stand him.

CBS does the best golf coverage by far.