Tour News
USGA inks U.S. Open broadcast deal with Fox
That strange sound you are hearing is coming from golf fans who have already heard. Half of them are weeping and cursing the United States Golf Association, and the other half are cheering it for striking a deal with Fox Broadcasting Company.
This deal will see multimedia coverage of the U.S. Open and other USGA events change hands for the first time in well over a decade, effective 2015 and continuing at least through 2026.
For the last 19 years, American golf’s national championship has been broadcast on NBC and for the last 32 years, sports media giant ESPN has also broadcast portions of the event — largely Thursday and Friday live coverage, of late.
This means that one of golf’s most polarizing pundits, Johnny Miller, will likely no longer be a major voice, along with NBC stalwarts Dan Hicks and Jimmy Roberts, of a championship he won in 1973 at Oakmont Country Club.
Miller’s detractors will be relieved to no longer hear him talk about his U.S. Open exploits, especially the final-round 63 he shot at Oakmont to win his lone title in the event, as well as his sometimes overly frank delivery. His supporters will lament the loss of his sometimes brutal honesty and on-sleeve opinions and insights, which have often helped give viewers an inside look at what the world’s best golfers are going through as they are confronted with what is arguably the toughest golf course setup anyone experiences all year.
The makeup of the Fox golf broadcasting team is unknown at this time. Theoretically, some elements of the current NBC coverage cast could migrate, but exactly whether and to what extent that is true remains to be seen.
Also disappearing from NBC and ESPN broadcasts will be the likes of the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and any coverage of the various amateur championships the USGA conducts. Fox will take dominion over all of them, bumping total coverage hours up from 90 to approximately 146 across all USGA championships. The coverage of amateur events alone will more than double, from 30 to 76 hours.
The announcement of this deal comes at a somewhat odd time, falling the week of the PGA Championship. For the USGA to break this news while the Professional Golfers Association holds its biggest annual event seems strange, even petty, to some.
To go a step further with this line of thinking would make one wonder if the USGA is spiking the proverbial football, punishing the PGA for the resistance it and the PGA Tour initially put up against the recently confirmed ban on anchored putting strokes, which the USGA initiated in conjunction with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which administrates the game overseas.
The announcement comes less than two weeks before Fox opens its 24-hour sports network Fox Sports 1, which will look to compete more directly with the likes of ESPN and NBC Sports Network for coveted viewership and advertising dollars. Fox Sports 1 goes live August 17 across the United States.
In 2015, Fox Sports 1 will add golf to an initial list of live sports offerings that include NASCAR, UFC, UEFA and Champions League soccer and NCAA football and basketball. Parent company Fox Broadcasting Company is reportedly paying upwards of $100 million for the rights to all of the USGA’s golf assets. That figure would more than double the $37 million NBC/ESPN combined rights contract amount in place through 2014, further enriching a USGA war chest that is known for its considerable size.
Many details of the implementation of this relationship remain to be seen, but if you like Johnny Miller — or if you love to hate-watch him — be sure and get your fill in 2014 during the Pinehurst No. 2 back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Sep 12, 2013 at 7:33 pm
It’s awesome in support of me to have a web page, which is beneficial designed for my knowledge. thanks admin
Mike
Aug 10, 2013 at 10:19 pm
NBC made the us open must see tv….. Fox ruins everything they touch!
Cyd
Aug 10, 2013 at 9:04 am
Great News!
No more Dan Hicks or Jimmy Roberts.
Maybe FOX can lure Bill McAtee away from CBS to be the lead announcer. Whether or not Bill would leave CBS is another issue.
Hopefully instead of the LPGA being an after thought like it is at NBC FOX will find a way to make the ladies tour more popular. Of course it would help the LPGA a lot more if the American women would learn that playing golf is not a beauty contest and they actually have to work to win tournaments. That is all American women other than Stacey Lewis need to learn that lesson. Stacey is the only woman that understands that winning golf tournaments takes hard work and mental toughness.
Cyd
Aug 10, 2013 at 9:05 am
Bill Macatee
Shallowface
Aug 10, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Cyd, I think the LPGA has a long term deal with Golf Channel. The only women’s events on Fox networks will be USGA championships.
I agree with you about Bill Macatee, but I’m betting Fox goes for someone (or several someones)younger and more brash. I won’t like it, but I’m not in the target demographic.
Rico
Aug 9, 2013 at 9:11 pm
They’ll have Frank Caliendo in the booth doing his Miller and McCord impersonations.
jim
Aug 9, 2013 at 7:57 am
Maybe they will have giant robot golfers in there intro. on the upside, erin andrews and carrisa thompson anyone???
Martin
Aug 8, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Just about every sports event I watch on Fox makes me puke just a little tiny bit in my mouth.
Dan
Aug 8, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Hopefully FOX wont overdo it the hype regarding Woods and could be alot better.
Hicks = Tiger Shill Extraordinaire.
Jimmy Roberts = #1 TV Sports Douche in the World. Pete Rose should have decked him.
Miller = Pretty candid, like Faldo, hopefully will move to FOX.
Shallowface
Aug 8, 2013 at 6:58 pm
Dan, re: Pete Rose, I think you’re thinking of Jim Gray, not Jimmy Roberts.
Regardless, this move by the USGA is stunning, and sad.
td
Aug 8, 2013 at 1:23 pm
As long as they don’t let McCarver near the broadcast booth all is good.
Jeff
Aug 8, 2013 at 1:22 pm
God save us all if Joe Buck starts calling the US Open