NBC's coverage Sunday of the final round of the 100th
U.S. Open earned a 8.8/21 preliminary overnight Nielsen
rating, up 11% from last year's 7.9/20 (NBC). In N.Y.,
Richard Sandomir writes that the rating for the third round
of the U.S. Open Saturday was up 23% from the third round in
'99 and even with '97. During the 8:00-10:45pm period, "a
rare foray for a golf telecast into prime time," the
tournament generated a 7.5 (N.Y. TIMES, 6/19). In Atlanta,
Prentis Rogers writes that the overnight rating for
Saturday's third round equals the high ABC received for its
coverage in '85 (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/19). For more
ratings, please see (#27).
AIRING IT OUT: NBC aired the two-hour completion of the
second round of the U.S. Open from Pebble Beach on Saturday
morning beginning at 9:30am ET (NBC). In Pittsburgh, Mike
Dudurich wrote that the net "would tell you that they did it
to provide the most complete coverage" of the tournament,
"but the real reason they did it can be summed up in two
words: Tiger Woods." Saturday morning's coverage contained
Woods' "profane reaction to a snap hook" shot he hit off the
18th tee (TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 6/18). In N.Y., Dave Goldiner
wrote that though Woods "later apologized for the outburst,"
he "stunned viewers" by "spewing expletives" after the shot.
Goldiner: "Instead of a polite 'fore,' Tiger let loose with
a string of nasty words that an NBC microphone caught live -
- including a different 'f' word." NBC said it received
"only a few complaints about the foul language" (N.Y. POST,
6/18). In Chicago, Skip Bayless wrote that Woods "continues
to fight his final flaw, the temper tantrum." Bayless: "The
real Tiger still refuses to accept he has an on-camera
responsibility to mind his tongue." While the 18th tee "is
isolated from fans," an NBC boom mic "all but serves as the
tee marker." After the incident, NBC host Dan Hicks "chided
that, 'Michael Jordan would have never done that.'" In an
apology, Woods said, "I let my emotions get the best of
myself. ... Unfortunately, I let them voice out loud."
Bayless concluded that "until Woods convinces himself that
he just can't curse on national TV, he will lack one quality
Jordan had in abundance. Class" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/18).
COVERING THE COVERAGE? In St. Petersburg, Quioco &
Hollyfield write that Tampa Bay-area golf fans "missed
Woods' final putts and the tail end of history" as WFLA-NBC
pre-empted the finish of the tournament for "roughly" 90-
seconds for a weather bulletin about a thunderstorm moving
across the bay. Bradley, on the pre-emption: "I believe in
retrospect (the update) was something that could have waited
easily two or three minutes." The station "was flooded with
hundreds of telephone calls from angry viewers," and "nearly
a hundred more" contacted the St. Pete Times to "complain"
(ST. PETE TIMES, 6/19). In Toronto, William Houston wrote
that CTV Sportsnet "was obviously thinking about a potential
Tiger Woods triumph" this weekend, when it scheduled a
documentary called "Tiger's Triple" for today. The show, to
be aired in primetime for Sportsnet's four regions, is about
Woods' three U.S. junior amateur titles and "his close
relationship with his father" (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/17).
MIC CHECK: In Cincinnati, John Fay wrote that NBC lead
golf analyst Johnny Miller is "refreshing" because he
"doesn't shy away from criticizing players," while "the CBS
crew acts like every bad shot is an act of God or some
terrible misfortune." Hicks was "excellent" in his first
year of anchoring coverage (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/18). In
Richmond, Jerry Lindquist writes that Miller "was taking a
swipe at former partner Dick Enberg when he said of Hicks,
Enberg's replacement, "It's nice to have a guy sitting next
to me that knows golf and is really a good golfer" (RICHMOND
TIMES-DISPATCH, 6/19). CBS golf analyst Bobby Clampett, who
retired from the PGA Tour in '95, on his performance in the
tournament: "I think I'm ready for another year off. This
is a tough grind. It's easier broadcasting" (Glenn Sheeley,
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/19). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke
writes that the "top interview" for the weekend was Hannah
Storm with Tracey Stewart, the widow of Payne Stewart (USA
TODAY, 6/19). In Houston, David Barron writes that NBC's
closing piece by Jimmy Roberts "was one of several"
highlights for the net, which included the Stewart
interview, a Roberts-narrated feature on Ben Hogan's '50
U.S. Open victory and the opening montage Saturday afternoon
that featured clips and highlights for the 99 previous U.S.
Opens (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/19).
