I seem to be in the mainstream. Miller and Faldo are my favorites today (Azinger is OK too I guess). Also, I read Ben Wright's book and he seemed to get a raw deal. I'd like to hear him again.
I love watching a tournament on NBC with my brother because I can always depend on him raking Miller over the coals ("flash in the pan") when Johnny is critical of someone.
In general, I think golf broadcasters are great. My fav commentators are Faldo and Miller . In fact the only broadcaster I cannot stand is Dan Hicks. He is just completely out of place in a golf telecast.
Peter Alliss gets my vote, although I`ve noticed he`s more guarded when commentating in America, as he gets away with murder over here. I actually like the way he drones on about a Mr or Mrs such`n`such who`s feeling a bit poorly as he forwards his best wishes. The luxury of not having commercial breaks during the Open gives him the opportunity to really express himself.
Also I would like to mention the late Dave Marr. He was VERY classy, with a bone dry sense of wit that is hard to match. I`ve heard and read alot of good things about Faldo too. I just wish we could hear more from him over here as I find Sky Sports Ewen Murray and Bruce Critchley extremely ...
I am a fan fo Gary McCord, he seems to me like the Charles Barkley of golf. He is very cartoonish I know, but he also is very entertaining which is what I look for in a commentator. When I watch golf I want to be entertained, I do not want to feel like everything is a critique on how to be better, I want to be reminded that golf for most of us is for enjoyment and is suppose to be fun, McCord brings fun to the table. I will always believe that life is way to short to worry about being perfect, jst worry about making it fun. Thanks for your time.
Johnny Miller, are you guys kidding me? Everything is a critique to the "nth" degree. If there is a lay-up shot, he will blast the guy because it should have been 5 yards farther and 2 yards left. He also commentates as if the result of every single shot is exactly as the player intended. He is an absolute dipwad. Stronger language that is discouraged at GW would provide a more accurate description.
I like McCord's analysis when he is on the course. I think he does a good job of telling viewers about the different possibilities and the thought process. In addition, Rankin and Feherty (sp) do a great job as well.
I really like Faldo. The first time I heard him, I thought it was some stodgy old guy, until they said his name. Very dry, but provides good analysis and doesn't pretend to be the Miller perfectionist.
As far as network guys, Nantz is very good, and I like Tirico. Tirico does a great job without hauling around a huge ego.
Agree about Dave Marr, sadly missed and a class act.
Can't stand Alliss ,too high opinion of his own opinion.
Love Miller,Faldo and Azinger,McCord and Feherty.
Enjoyed Torrance and James on BBC for the Open ,naturally funny people with a deep knowledge of the game.
There is no one around to touch Peter Allis. He mixes a great knowledge of the game with a sense of humour second to none. So it has to be Peter Allis for me.
Feherty all the way. I like on the Tiger DVDs, I think the Legacy one, there's a DVD extra where Feherty talks about standing by Ernie when Tiger hacks out of the deep, deep, DEEP rough and makes it on the green from (I think) about 180 yards. So he turns on his microphone just as Ernie lets out a nice In the box, the producer asks "Was that Ernie Els?" "Yes it was." "...Not much more you can say about that shot!"
Johnny Miller...a few years back I was watching a tournament and a player hit one into a wet bunker and a clump of sand was stuck to his ball. When Johnny described it as trying to hit a shot with a luger on the ball I nearly fell of my chair.
Feherty all the way. He absolutely cracks me up. I love the Cobra commercials with him. 'Nice ball' and especially the one with Zuback where he throws him a banana. Johnny Miller's good, but far too analytical for me.