Mike Tirico is set to broadcast his 24th British Open this week at his favorite venue, the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Tirico did his first Open in 1997 for ESPN/ABC and after broadcasting last year from NBC/Golf Channel’s Connecticut studio, he’s happy to be back in Scotland in the Old Grey Toon.
Thursday and Friday he’ll be in the booth for three hours each day, doing what he did for 18 years at the Open. In a nod to the halcyon days of the Tirico/Paul Azinger/ Nick Faldo announce team, they will partner up once again on Friday from 1-2 p.m. ET in a final tip of the hat to Faldo, who announced he is retiring later this year.
“We did one couple-hour stint at the Players a few years back, maybe three years ago I think it was,” Tirico said. “That was the only other time we’ve done it since we did it many moons ago (at ABC/ESPN) since we stopped. This will be the second time in the last 15 years.”
Since coming over to NBC, Tirico made a smooth transition into the host role.
“I guess my job is get us on the air, set the scene a little bit, especially since we’re on for so long, resets, highlights, things like that,” he said. “I think here it’s a little bit more perspective I can add because I’ve been here for 23 of them, this being the 24th, so I can add just some historical stuff, things I remember from being here and all the stuff we’ve seen over the years with Jack and Tom playing their last, Spieth going for the career Slam, all that stuff.”
Tirico has been involved in the U.S. and British Opens, the Players Championship and the Tour Championship, and the occasional odd event here or there.
“This is 25 years for me of doing golf as a whole,” he said. “It’s made this 25 years great, absolutely great.”
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