NBC: C+
Heading into the show, The Grader was more than willing to accept some tough camera angles, less-quality production values and more-humble graphics packages during this broadcast. For safety reasons, NBC only sent six cameras to Seminole Golf Club, supporting those workers with a drone and a plane fitted with a camera. Most of the on-air talent was working remotely, with Mike Tirico, hosting the show from his home in Michigan, while Paul Azinger, Gary Koch and Rich Lerner worked from the PGA Tour’s production studio in St. Augustine, Florida. Only Steve Sands and Jerry Foltz, walking the course, were actually at Seminole, and that was fine.
What failed miserably were the unnecessary appearances by Bill Murray, Jon Rahm and President Donald Trump.
I’m sure that NBC thought it would be great to have Murray on during the broadcast, but things got weird pretty fast. Murray admitted that this was the first time he was using Skype, and it showed. His camera was tilted, he was eating some (cookies?) and his dry humor did not translate well to the broadcast.
Rahm, the No. 2 player in the world, was obviously on because he is a TaylorMade staff player. He said he wished he was there and that he can’t wait to get back to playing competitive golf, but what was the reason for having him in the first place?
Trump turned his phone-in appearance into an opportunity to inject politics into one of the first live sports events held in months. Tirico asked a blend of sports and political questions, but the TaylorMade Driving Relief was a chance for viewers to get away from politics for a few hours. Like Murray’s appearance moments before, it felt very forced and unnecessary.
All golf lovers needed on Sunday was a chance to hear the players talk amongst themselves, learn more about Seminole Golf Club and to see some live golf for the first time since early March. The extra stuff detracted from that.