BBC golf commentary

MikeH

MikeH

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Been meaning to post this since watching the Ricoh last weekend, I thought the standard of commentary and presentation from Hazel Irvine was outstanding.

I Have just watched her post interview with Catriona Matthew on the BBC site http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/8180606.stm which I didn't see live at the time and was further impressed. She is an accomplished broadcast journalist and very knowledgeable on golf - unsurprising really being a Scot who has gown up with the game.

Should she be anchoring the BBC golf coverage of the main events as opposed to Lineker?

One to ponder
 
She used to play her golf at either Cardross or Helensburgh before she was moved down south. She's certainly a much better presenter than old luggy Lineker, and a bit more pleasing to the eye as well ;)

She did well at the Open with the post round interviews in the "locker room" set they had.

Yep, give her a chance at the Masters next year and see what she can do.
 
I would say yes but i don’t think lineker is a s bad as he is made out to be on here. I didn’t think he was too bad during the open. It’s in the Masters where he has to “fill in” when the Americans are on an ad break where he lets himself down. He just can’t seem to handle someone talking in his earpiece and trying to ask questions at the same time. He is much more suited to a studio environment. Hazel Irvine probably has more experience in live events so I would like to see her present the Masters coverage next year
 
This is the BBC we're talking about.

A woman ?

Not in the first flush of youth ?

Being picked for her ability and not her looks ?

Wow man. Are you on one.

Lineker is there because he's a face the viewing public trust. He's famous and he's safe and he does a decent enough job. Just because there's someone there that could do a better job is irrelevant to the suits.

Where Lineker wins is for the non golfing viewer. I was watching the open with my bro in law's, ma in law. She didn't know anything about golf, but was quite happy sitting watching it because GL did the links and she knew who he was. She had some ownership of the program, if that makes sense. Without him, she would have got bored and flicked over to the cricket.

She likes cricket coz she knows more about it. It was her house, and until she saw GL she was going to switch it over. Now hopefully between me and GL she'll be happy watching Ernie and the Goose next time ( she's from South Africa btw )
 
Well Hazel is a face the public trust as she anchors their snooker coverage at the world championships and that pulls decent audience figures. I say get her back. She use to do it and so has the experience and there is a certain glint in her eye too
 
Well Hazel is a face the public trust as she anchors their snooker coverage at the world championships and that pulls decent audience figures. I say get her back. She use to do it and so has the experience and there is a certain glint in her eye too
Click to expand...

With the snooker the recognisabilty is there because of guys like Steve Davis.

If you have Hazel fronting the golf you'll need a Seve or Nick there as pundit.
 
Why not utilise Ken Brown or even Torrance
Click to expand...

I'm a great fan of Ken. I've said before he was my hero as a teenager.

But is he famous enough for those non golfing switchers ? I honestly think that subject to other commitments most of us will watch the golf irrespective of who is fronting.

But there are people just sitting down for a quick cupper on a Sunday afternoon, just flicking through to see what grabs them. I don't think that seeing Ken's face will stop the remote in it's tracks, but seeing SIR Nick, just might. I'd still utilise Ken of course, but I think the BBC need that extra ooomph to grab absolutely every last person they can.
 
You won't get Sir Nick because he is based and contracted in the US. I don't think there is anything wrong with a not easily recognisable presenter. Look at how many different sports presenters the beed has and not all of them household names in their own house
 
Craphacker I take your point about the idea that a well known anchor might well help get in new non-golf viewers (and believe me I think any way we can grow the game is worth looking at) but Sky don't see the need to do it with their coverage of big golf events like the US Majors and the Ryder Cup.

I object to the erosion of roles for proper journalists (print, radio and broadcast) in favour of celebrities fronting media output
 
I agree that Hazel should be given greater exposure, but my preferred choice for front man would be Dougie Donnelly.
Why not Steve Rider? With ITV losing F1 rights, I'm sure he could be persuaded to return to the Beeb.
Basically what I'm saying is anyone but Lineker.
 
Gary Lineker is rubbish the only reason he still has the walkers crisps gig is his personality doesn't outshine the crisps.
Sam is just as boring and I think we would all miss Ken if he wasn't on the course.

I think Hazel would be an excellent choice.
 
Buggalugs doesn't too bad a job but he's an ex-professional footballer. Hazel's a professional journalist/presenter. The difference is obvious. Good idea about Steve Rider though.
 
Why not utilise Ken Brown or even Torrance
Click to expand...

Because Ken is too comedy and has tarnished his card in the past. Besides, he fills his current role perfectly.

And because Torrance is a simpering idiot who frankly shouldn't be let anywhere near a microphone.
 
ah Dougie, yes he should be back in the frame - very good broadcaster and a top man to boot. Jezz and I played a round of golf with him at Fairmont four or five year back and he was such good company, funny, took time to ask us about ourselves and the mag etc
A year later we bumped into him at another golf event and it was "Ah Mike Jezz how are you boys". Thought it was great he remembered our names especially as we have a running joke in the office about anyone from the golf media or players etc who plays golf with Jezz recognise or never let on to him when they meet the next time
 
Hazel for me, hard to beat as the anchor (remember her from the Olympics).

Once you get rid of big ears it's the commentary team that needs shoring up. Ken is good, but one for the golfer, as is Maureen Modill, Alliss is either majestic or . . ., the aussie(?) I like but isn't for everyone, outside of those it's starting to look a bit thin.

You don't think the beeb were preparing Chris Evans for the role do you?
 
If Chris Evans ever gets the gig, I'll stop watching golf on the BBC. That said, the BBC has halved its coverage of golf this year with barely word spoken about it. Two-day coverage only for Loch Lomond and the PGA, no British Masters (not their fault but not replaced) and no World Matchplay. Lack of free-to-air coverage is terrible for the game. Let's hope the R&A never sells the Open to Sky - it's only on the B-list (highlights only) of protected events.
 
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