As Fox Sports prepares for its first season broadcasting USGA events, the net has "put together a talent lineup that combines many of its biggest stars with a lengthy list of new voices," according to Martin Kaufmann of GOLFWEEK. Curt Menefee "will be the studio host for the U.S. Open," while Charles Davis "will be a host and reporter" for the men's, women's and Senior U.S. Opens. Tim Brando will "serve as an announcer for featured groups on U.S. Open live-streaming coverage," while Joel Klatt "will be the host for the 'U.S. Open 360' digital coverage." LPGAer Morgan Pressel also "will be an analyst" on U.S. Open 360, and golf course architect Gil Hanse "will be at the U.S. Open to comment" on the course design at Chambers Bay. Fox’ first USGA championship "will be the men’s and women’s Four-Ball Championships" May 5-6, when "much of the network’s 'A' team will be on hand," including anchor Joe Buck and analyst Greg Norman. The following week at the women’s Four-Ball, Shane O’Donoghue and Golf HOFer Juli Inkster "will be in the tower," while golfer Natalie Gulbis will work "as an on-course reporter." Other hires, "most of whom are new to television," include golfers Mark Brooks, Robert Damron, Jay Delsing, Scott McCarron, Joe Ogilvie and Tom Weiskopf in various roles (GOLFWEEK.com, 4/21).
CUP OF JOE: In Tacoma, Craig Hill notes Buck was "surprised when he learned of his career twist." He "first got wind of the opportunity via a cryptic comment from his boss," Fox Sports President & COO Eric Shanks. At a '13 company meeting in L.A. to discuss Fox’ NFL coverage, Shanks "approached Buck." Buck said, "He says, ‘For the first time ever, I think we’ve kept something quiet at Fox Sports, and if this comes to pass, you’re going to be really excited to know what it is.’ I said, ‘That’s what you’re leaving me with?’" Since Fox acquired USGA media rights in August '13, Buck has "studied to get ready to cover a game dramatically different than those to which he’s accustomed." He and the rest of the Fox crew "took a test run at the Franklin Templeton Shootout in December," and Buck, who worked alongside Norman as he will at Chambers Bay, was "happy with the coverage." Buck said that Fox is "looking for ways to add more natural sound (including golfers’ conversations with caddies) to the telecast" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 4/22).
