NBC, Golf Channel See Mixed Opinions For Match Play Coverage

NBC, Golf Channel Receive Mixed Response For Match Play Coverage With, Without Tiger

NBC during its coverage this weekend of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship did a "pretty good job ... of masking their crushing disappointment" with Tiger Woods' 2nd-round defeat in the event, according to Chris Zelkovich of the TORONTO STAR (3/2). But the ARIZONA DAILY STAR reported NBC ended its coverage of the tournament at 6:00pm ET Saturday, even though Paul Casey and Ross Fisher were still playing their semifinal match. The Daily Star: "They wouldn't do this to Tiger." Coverage was picked up by Golf Channel (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 3/1). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote Thursday's Golf Channel coverage of the tournament, which featured Woods, was "pretty good," as during the net's five hours of coverage "we saw plenty -- provided it was around, between and after Woods." But because the net's coverage Wednesday was "committed to showing every shot taken by Woods and his opponent, Brendan Jones, we didn't -- couldn't -- see plenty." Golfer Jim Furyk "appeared for the first time ... three hours into the telecast" (N.Y. POST, 3/1).

UNHERALDED PAIRING: Ratings for yesterday's Geoff Ogilvy-Casey final match were not available at press time (THE DAILY). YAHOO SPORTS' Jay Busbee wrote golf fans "aren't surprised by this final-round Accenture Match Play matchup, even if TV executives are banging their heads against walls and casual fans are flipping the channel" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/28).