Fox Sports has joined the "latest craze" in watching sports and this week is "offering VR streams from the U.S. Open at Oakmont," according to Rachel Cohen of the AP. As part of Fox' five-year deal with NextVR, cameras at Oakmont will "be positioned at the ninth, 17th and 18th holes, with roving capability at the neighboring" No. 10 and No. 12. There will also be "pre-packaged video on demand, including footage of players on the practice range each morning, a narrated history of Oakmont, two-minute 'golf tips' and features on each hole." The coverage is "available through the NextVR app for Samsung Gear VR owners." Cohen noted for the companies "betting that VR will be different, part of the pitch for now is that it's not intended to supplant that high-definition broadcast on a giant flat-screen TV audiences seem quite happy with." Fox Sports Head of Business Operations David Nathanson said, "It's not meant to be and we're not producing it as a replacement." But Cohen noted there is "enough buzz around VR at the moment that Lexus is sponsoring" the net's U.S. Open offerings (AP, 6/15).
READY FOR ROUND TWO: New Fox golf analyst Paul Azinger said the net is "going to get a second chance at making a first impression" after its production last year. Azinger: "There have been changes. Having me and [on-course reporter] Curtis Strange will make the whole dynamic different" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/12). Fox Sports Coordinating Producer Mark Loomis, who is leading the net's coverage this week, said Azinger "being an open book is great." Loomis: "I told Paul a long time ago to just be yourself. It’s so hard to get on TV and be comfortable in your own skin and say what you think. Paul has that ability -- mostly because he's a very thoughtful person. Very rarely do you ask him a question that he hasn’t thought about" (Josh Carpenter, Assistant Editor). In Illinois, Jim Benson wrote replacing Greg Norman with Azinger "is a no-brainer." Azinger has "plenty of experience" and "seems to know today's players much better than Norman." Meanwhile, Benson wrote Curt Menefee and Tom Weiskopf "were a disaster as studio hosts" last year. Holly Sonders will "take over Menefee's duties and should handle those better than she did interviews last year" (Bloomington PANTAGRAPH, 6/12). Golf Digest's Geoff Shackelford said, "With Azinger and (Brad) Faxon, the only struggle (Fox will) have this year is not feeling like they're trying too hard or that they're taking away from the national championship vibe" ("ShackHouse Podcast," The Ringer, 6/13).
