What Would Improve the Match Play for TV?

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 2, 2009 7:37 PM EST Comment 42 comments

Earlier today, we discussed that American golf fans and media seemingly don't get match play. Either that, or many of them suffer from a catch of match play ADD. Tiger Woods is their lone Ritalin for the format. That's a problem unto itself and one that probably has no quick fix, short of acquiescing to lazy calls to eliminate the competition.

There is a problem, though, that faces Golf Channel and NBC. They broadcast the event each year without much assurance of who they will be covering each day. It's quite a gamble from a television perspective, as Sal Johnson notes in his conversation with NBC Sports Producer Tommy Roy:

"Tough day for television," I said, which he affirmed and hastily noted how much effort went into production in order to make the show as interesting as possible. When NBC signed on at 2 p.m.

There's a lot of effort to put on a great broadcast between NBC and Golf Channel's crew. Only Golf Channel had any coverage of the number one seeds, and their coverage was produced in part with NBC Sports production and on-air talent. It seems like an almost unfair trade for NBC. Also, it's bad for golf.

The ratings for ~~the first round of the championship~~ Tiger's comeback were the highest of a single round in GC history. Holy cow, people watch Tiger?! That's nothing new. But, NBC didn't even get a whiff of the great action that makes the first two rounds of the event exciting. NBC loses and so does the PGA Tour. More people would have watched Woods and his 63 capable playing partners if it were on network TV.

To that end, Sal makes a good suggestion:

Double the size of the field to the top 128 players and start the event on a weekend, on network TV, with half the first-round matches Saturday and the other 32 matches Sunday. Saturday's winners would play Monday and the winners from Sunday would play Tuesday in the round of 32, televised on Golf Channel. The round of 16 would be Wednesday, the quarterfinals Thursday, and the semifinals Friday – all on Golf Channel. Then NBC shows the 36-hole final on Saturday.

While I disagree with certain specifics, the principle of going weekend to weekend is a pretty good one. This way, golf can get maximum exposure for its two most exciting and furious rounds.

Consider how this model works for CBS Sports during the NCAA Tournament. People take off Thursday and Friday to watch the first two rounds because the games are so fun. I don't think people would do that for golf, but showing the first two rounds on a weekend would be great.

Reducing the finale to 18 holes is a valid suggestion, but this one seems to be a lot better thought out and convincing. Everyone wins.

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microphones

NOTE: sorry, I’m reposting this from a previous thread because it’s more appropriate here.

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I think part of the problem is that between shots we’re left with talking heads that may or may not have something interesting to say. Consider they’ve got four hours, minus commercial time, to fill. That’s a lot. Even the best commentators are going to have difficulty being 100% interesting.

What if… they put microphones on the players, caddies and anyone else of interest inside the ropes, then treated it like reality television. Sometimes they’d discuss the match, other times they’d talk about everything but. We could keep commentators around to fill dead air, but think how interesting it has the potential to be.

Of course, that’s a silly idea. It will never happen. Mic’d golfers would lose their spontaneity and the time between shots would be boring for the average fan again. But some creative person is going to find a solution. Will we, the purists, accept it?

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Mar 2, 2009 9:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I, for one, would

I remember still when NBC captured a conversation between Tiger Woods and Steve Williams at Bay Hill. It was a critical part of the tournament. Woods faced a 190 yard or so shot into the wind. Steve and Woods discussed the club selection and eventually figured it out. The shot was fantastic.

NBC never really did much more with the practice, but I think that it would really be stimulating to any golf telecast.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 12:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are the players really going to support an event that runs from Saturday to Saturday? With practice rounds and preparation you’re really looking at something like W-Th-F-Sat to Saturday. So, if the current date was left where it is you’d lose a good chunk of the field from Riviera and then the finalists/semi finalists are pressed for prep time for the Honda. I would think the PGA events that sandwich the Accenture would not be pleased with the prospect of losing a good chunk of the top 64 players – and neither would their sponsors. I realize that there are a lot of assumptions in this argument – I just think it’s tough sell for the players to commit that amount of time to a non-major.

Doug Albers
www.14STIX.com
Limitless Deals on Golf Gear.
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by 14STIX on Mar 3, 2009 8:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Have to agree with Doug...

…nobody is going to even schedule a tournament that runs Saturday to Saturday – much less expect players to show up to play an event like that. Members of the club would flip. TV wouldn’t want to have a crew tied up in the same place for it. Sal was thinking, but should’ve canned this one.

I do like the ideas of mics or at least have some sort of crewman close by to pick up sound. It works well at The Skins Game – but that’s more of a social event than a golf tournament.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Logistics

Would be very tough to pull off. But, realistically, players have events that run Monday to Sunday today – depending on the number of pro-ams involved. I think players would take extra rounds in competition for guaranteed prize money of up to $1.4 million over two pro-ams and a potential missed cut. The practice rounds are definitely an issue because it would make the event two weeks, or at least 10 days. I would think the schedule could be reshuffled to make this happen, though, particularly if the Hope goes away.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but...

…you’re talking about 128 players who will HAVE to be paid for an event like this. The 32 guys who lost in the first round collected $45,000. That’s $1,440,000 that went out the door to guys who did nothing but lose. Now you’re asking for, what – another $30-$35k apiece for another 64 guys ? Now you’re adding another $1.92 million at $30k apiece. The numbers are just prohibitive. AND – what happens if a top seed goes down in the first round to a guy ranked over 100 ?

A 128 man match play tournament would be fun – but not as a WGC event, which is another argument against expanding the draw – and TV would never buy it.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 10:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My argument wouldn’t include Sal’s field expansion. I’d stick with 64.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

TV Costs

do they HAVE pro-ams at WGC tournaments ? and especially in years like this, the players wouldn’t want to give up practice rounds on a new course.

so – this year – Tiger loses on Tuesday – what happens from Tuesday to Saturday ? That’s a lot of TV time for single round days that won’t get watched.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Simple solution

To end all the whining about Match Play format- Automatically put Tiger Woods in the final.

by Bill Jempty on Mar 3, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

LOL

you know – there are a LOT of people who would agree with that.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, the sad part is that both of you have a point. I always thought that a round robin tournament of the 8 best players in the world would rock. Split the field into two groups of 4, they play round robin. The best player from each group plays to determine the champion.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the top players would love it...

…TV would love it….but 56 top players wouldn’t. It was a good format for tennis for a number of years.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely, but the World Match Play thrived for 40 years with a very limited field.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's not America

The World Match Play thrived in England because the golfers in the UK actually get out and play match play on a regular basis. Not so much in the US.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I agree. Match play is considered cooler over in the UK. But the Tiger primetime specials on ABC did well for several years.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

???

Tiger primetime specials on ABC ??

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember when Tiger played like Sergio and Duval and teamed with Annika and stuff and they showed it on ABC once a year from Bighorn?

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I remember. I stayed up late to watch to the bitter end and I won’t even stay up to watch all of MNF if one of my teams is playing.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Mar 3, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah

I remember the Duval v Woods match – Duval was making a big comeback, then hit his tee shot into the middle of a bunch of bushes and rocks that someone thought would be cute to put in the MIDDLE of a friggin’ fairway !!!

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, but...

Tennis is a fast moving game, golf is molasses in comparison. It’s probably the same difference as those between people who will watch baseball on television and those who won’t.

The bottom line for TV is probably, match play is good as part of the sport of golf, but it’s bad television. We can all whine about short attention spans and commentators without the chops to keep the time between shots interesting, but the fact is match play, with only one match in progress, isn’t going to attract the masses. They should have the opening rounds on NBC then move the semis and the finals to Golf Channel.

Truth has a well-known liberal bias.

by dianemarie on Mar 3, 2009 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I really like the idea of the microphones on players. It helps make the NBA watchable. It would be a real insight into golfers – one that actual golfers could really appreciate.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it sounds good, but...

…network TV isn’t going to give up daytime programming for golf. the hords of screaming women who are missing their “stories” would pierce eardrums around the world. Network TV doesn’t program playoff baseball during the day if they don’t have to. They’re certainly not going to do it for golf.

It wasn’t a comparison of golf and tennis – it was a format suggestion. Fewer players – round robin – so you see the top 8 guys for at least 3 days, then the semi’s and finals.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you’d show the middle rounds on Golf Channel – the big rounds (beginning and end) on NBC.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Match Play Mistique

The Match Play format is too much a crap shoot for good television. We’ve become so used to the drone of the talking heads, we fail to recognize or appreciate what the competitors face with each shot. While the principals in Sunday’s contest wern’t the top seeds, the golf was excellent. That’s why I tune in – good golf and great pressure shots, especially when needed.

Keep it in the short grass

by Acemakr on Mar 3, 2009 12:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Match play is very much a crapshoot for TV. There’s no way to ensure that Tiger will be there – since that’s all they care about really. So, I think Sal’s plan kind of helps ensure that the maximum number of people would see Tiger and it would be on network TV. Golf Channel attracts people who love golf anyway. They’d do fine without Tiger.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

New Idea

What if they invite the top 64 players. On Wed-Thu the full field plays two rounds of medal play. The field is cut to 32 and seeded according to the medal play results. Then play two matches on Friday, Quarters and Semi’s on Saturday. 18 hole final on Sunday. If you do two matches on Friday there’s a pretty high chance your going to see most of the top ranked players get at least an afternoon match – which could be set up to be in prime time on Friday night on the East Coast (there’s nothing else on Friday’s anyway). And you get your 18 hole finale on Sunday. Everyone is in and out within the week.

Doug Albers
www.14STIX.com
Limitless Deals on Golf Gear. One Deal at a Time.

by 14STIX on Mar 3, 2009 1:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ahh, the US Amateur concept? I wouldn’t argue with that. In a sense, you kind of remove the big upset intrigue of it. But, you also are more likely to ensure that the better players make the cut to match play.

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d even argue that big upsets will still occur b/c after two days of good play they’re bound to have momentum going into the first match as opposed to starting cold against someone like Tiger or Phil. Invariably, some ‘unknown’ makes the cut at the AM and makes a little noise. I think the same would happen if they set the Accenture up the same way.

Doug Albers
www.14STIX.com
Limitless Deals on Golf Gear. One Deal at a Time.

by 14STIX on Mar 3, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what happens...

…when Phil misses the cut ? :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it's an interesting idea...

…I’m trying to picture top pros having to walk 36 a day three days in a row.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Only two days…Friday and Saturday. Wed-Thurs & Sunday would be 18 hole days. By the time you get to Saturday we’re only talking about 4 players out of 64 that would have to go back to back 36 hole days.

Doug Albers
www.14STIX.com
Limitless Deals on Golf Gear. One Deal at a Time.

by 14STIX on Mar 3, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the final...

…is 36 holes – that’s 3 days of 36 holes a day.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, the US Am is…but the version I laid out only had an 18 hole final match b/c of all of the whining about how boring the 36 hole final was this year.

Doug Albers
www.14STIX.com
Limitless Deals on Golf Gear. One Deal at a Time.

by 14STIX on Mar 3, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would think 18 holes would suffice for a final

by Ryan Ballengee on Mar 3, 2009 3:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

there is a reason for 36 holes

it’s a pretty commonly held and agreed on trusim that anyone can win an 18 hole match, but 36 holes will almost always show the better player. I kind of doubt that the players would accept an 18 hole final.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Mar 3, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs