Why Jack won't watch golf on TV
Has armchair-watching lost its spark for YOU?
Posted: 1 February 2008
by Golfmagic correspondent
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Jack Nicklaus - 'I don't want to watch on television something that I felt like I could do better'
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Jack Nicklaus, who will be in Ireland in May to receive a lifetime achievement award, doesn't play much golf any more - indeed he doesn't even watch it on TV.
An odd revelation, you'd think for a guy who claimed 18 majors. But he says: "Most people work all their life so they can retire and play golf. I played golf all my life so I could retire and work."
Added Nicklaus, who receives his award at the KPMG-sponsored Golf Business Forum at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt Hotel, near Dublin, told Florida-based Scripps News: "I don't watch golf on TV. I don't have any interest in it.
Then he reconsidered.
"I shouldn't say that. That's not the truth. I have interest. I follow it from the records standpoint. But I don't want to watch on television something that I felt like I could do better. That's pretty much the way I feel about it."
But not even Woods, who is chasing Nicklaus' all-time record can keep him glued to his TV screen.
"I do watch Tiger every once in a while. He is of interest to me, because he can really play. But I don't get a thrill out of watching these guys finish and fall on their face the last five or six holes.
"Tiger doesn't do that. He finishes very well. He plays well. Phil (Mickelson) plays very nicely sometimes, so does Ernie (Els). And some of the other guys can play a little. But it's a totally different game."
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Nicklaus waves farewell at St Andrews
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The Golden Bear said he can't enjoy a game that has become all about power and the result of constant advances in technology. Golf clubs, especially the drivers, are so much longer than they were in his day - and so are the golf balls.
He claims the combination has not only rendered many wonderful, old courses obsolete for Tour pros but it also has made the game less appealing to watch for many of us who marveled at the way the golfers used to work the ball around the course, using every club in their bag.
"I don't get a big kick out of watching everybody hit the ball 330 or 340 yards and playing wedges all day long," said Nicklaus, who reached his 68 birthday last week. "I like shot making."
Not even the US Masters at Augusta, where Nicklaus enjoyed playing, can hold his attention for more than a few minutes.
"Yeah, I watch a little bit of Augusta. I turn the television on, but I can't watch it. I'll walk by, see who's winning. Or somebody has a shot into the 13th green, and I'll watch that shot ... if it's something I want to see.
"That's my watching. It's not like I sit down in front of the television set and watch golf."
Despite his well documented criticisms of the new technology spoiling the game for the amateur, Nicklaus's course-design business is thriving. His company has 60 courses currently under construction and another 195 in the planning stages or under contract. More than 80 per-cent are outside the US.
"So I've figured out how to not get bored," says Nicklaus.
What's your view of golf on TV? Does it still hold your attention? Does watching Tiger Woods in Dubai this week or at a major event still grip you? Or has his success spoiled your appetite for the game played by the other pros in a tournament in which he doesn't compete? What do you recall of Nicklaus's play? Do you miss the players' abilities to shape shots or do you prefer today's big guns powering the ball off the tee and spinning wedges to within inches? To tell us on the forum, click here.
Discuss this story
To be honest I'm more likely to turn off a tournament if Tiger isnt playing. If he is miles ahead as he was last week it is still a pleasure to watch a true master of the game. I think we should all enjoy watching Tiger, he is the greatest ever and we are lucky to have such a talent in our lifetime. Any tournament without him loses a little something for me and if Tiger was there playing then more likely than not they would be playing for second!! I even got up early yesterday to see some of Tiger in Dubai before heading off to work, he plays such a restricted schedule these days I like to see as much of him as I can when he does play! When the Golf Channel was taken off air I was most disappointed to lose the womans golf. The LPGA tour had grown on me and they actually play a game with which most of us on here are familiair. I mean they do not hit the ball crazy distances, they do not hit 150 yard wedges and more often than not you are left with a close final round.
Posted: 01/02/2008 14:12
I have to say I feel somewhat the opposite to the post above. If Tiger is in a tournament it often doesn't become a competition anymore rather than a procession. I guess I like close call tournaments - how good was the final European Tour comp at Valderrama ??!! Justin Rose won in a play off and also won the Order of Merit ! Absolutely brilliant - chuck in an Albatross at a par five a few minutes earlier and that's golf entertainment. Apologies if that seems strange but I also like watching the relegation games in the Premiership rather than the title winning performances ! I must say that I still enjoy watching the European Tour over the PGA Tour as our guys seem hungrier and more desperate to win !!
Posted: 01/02/2008 14:28
yup gotta agree with what has already been said. Drakey.. I too miss the ladies golf, you hardly ever see tournaments on Sky. Can't wait till 7.30 to get my weekly fix... Dubai here I come
Posted: 01/02/2008 16:36
I love watching golf on TV, more so when the weather is as bad as moment. Love European tour, not as fussed on US PGA tour, coverage is just not as good, courses not as good and a bit boring. I like to see Tiger get beat(not that i dont like him), as i like the under dog to come through. Lets face it hes odds on when ever he tees up, which can be a bit repetative. Euro tour is more diverse, look how many winners are out there. Just looking forward to the Masters now, then summer is on its way.
Posted: 01/02/2008 17:42
I get all the coverage available as Virgin throw in Sky Sports and Setanta with the package I have, and I watch hardly any at all. I recorded nearly 4 hours of US coverage the other week and it took me 35 minutes to view it as I skipped through all the ads, filelrs and garbage. Of those 35 minutes I would say:- 10 minutes were just wasted as my fingers weren't dextrous enough on the controls 10 minutes were just putts, bearing in mind I skipped a lot of the putting prep etc 15 minutes were actual golf shots It's actually a bit of a self defeating vicious circle, or at least I hope so. The golf boom, Tiger fueled, has provided a huge financial bonanza for the players. But it's all driven by marketing so we get, on top of the endless ads, coverage aimed at a demographic targetted by marketing and tailored to what they think that demographic wants to see. But this target audience are not 'golfers', as we like to think of ourselves, but is rather aimed at a braindead majority much more malleable for marketing purposes. The fact that the coverage comes across as boring, mindless, drivel to us doesn't matter. It's actually quite scary that there are that many people that soak up this pap. The self defeating aspect is that this audience is quite fickle and needs instant gratification. It could easily drop off and you may see golf coverage getting even more ludicrous to try and keep the attention of these muppets. If they do lose them then you'd find that the numbers of actual golf enthusiasts, and what they're prepared to pay, would not even come close to supporting the circus that pro golf has become. A clear way to see exactly what I mean would be to view US coverage of an event side by side with BBC coverage.
Posted: 02/02/2008 10:24
Good post MacB, you've pretty much nailed it there. We had Sky Sports via NTL but got fed-up paying crazy money JUST to watch golf, so switched to Sky, no sports, just the Golf Channel, and with all its failings me and the missus really enjoyed TGC, then it went, so we subscribed to Setanta. Its just not the same. I think I could get interested in the PGA Tour events IF the coverage wasn't aimed at moronic septics, its appalling really. The Setanta fill-in programs are no substiture for the good progs on TGC. The Champions Tour coverage is better, still American but fewer ads, fewer commentators trying to be witty, and in some ways more enjoyable golf. As a keen golfing family we would like to see not just tour coverage but programs ABOUT golf, basically we need the USA version of TGC, typical in this crappy country we have no choice.
Posted: 02/02/2008 20:57
Just wondering... what does the BBC's live rights to the Superbowl - 1 minute of action 15 minutes of discussion - say about its plans to cover sport using our licence fees? It was like covering The Open and only showing the putts. Watched first quarter but couldn't contain my yawns. But I digress. I was unable to watch more than the first hour of live coverage from Dubai on Sunday and kept away from knowing the result until the Golf Night highlights, which I thought were well handled. IMHO, Mark Roe has turned into an excellent addition to the team. ED
Posted: 04/02/2008 16:48
It's hard to get excited by golf on the TV other than the back-nine on the final day. That's pretty much all I ever watch. I keep a note of the scores in the majors but only sit down to the 'Open' on Sunday afternoon and the 'Masters' on Sunday night. I did have Sky Sports 2 for a couple of years but it bored me to death and what really got on my nerves was the fact that they'd switch the top stuff to Sky Sports 1, the US Open and Ryder Cup for example. I just found that insulting.
Posted: 06/02/2008 07:55
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