David Feherty makes his debut on NBC Sports’ golf team at the Waste Management Phoenix Open next week, and that gave me the opportunity to ask longtime golf producer Tommy Roy how he plans to use the analyst known for his oversized personality.
Roy said Feherty largely will keep the same role at NBC that he filled at CBS for nearly two decades — which means combining his wit with his often-insightful analysis.
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NBC will use David Feherty in a variety of positions during its golf coverage.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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The one difference viewers will notice will be in how Feherty interacts with the rest of NBC’s broadcast team.
“The way we have our coverage set up is a running conversation between the former tour players that America gets to eavesdrop in on,” Roy said. “Our analysts like Johnny Miller, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch will have a running conversation instead of just speaking directly to the audience. That will allow David the ability to analyze more than he was able to at CBS.
“The running conversations between Johnny and David: I don’t know what I’m going to get out of that, but I think it’s going to be some pretty darn good TV.”
NBC plans to put Feherty in three positions during its golf coverage: as a roving reporter following a golfer or a group; in an on-course broadcast tower covering several holes; and, on occasion, in the broadcast tower by the 18th green.
One wrinkle to NBC’s coverage will come when Feherty is paired with Maltbie as on-course reporters covering the same group, Roy said.
“The two of them will talk to each other while they’re covering the same group, which is something totally new that we haven’t done before,” Roy said.
In addition to his tournament coverage on NBC Sports, Feherty will continue producing his talk show for Golf Channel, which premieres March 7 with Jordan Spieth as his guest, followed by an episode with President George W. Bush.
