Feherty has worked both on the course and in the booth since joining NBC in '15getty images
NBC golf announcer DAVID FEHERTY is set to make his ‘18 debut this weekend at the WGC-Mexico Championship, a welcome return for golf fans who like their coverage with a healthy dose of humor and self-deprecation. Feherty has long held the crown of golf’s funny man, and he recently parlayed his popularity into a stint covering the Pyeongchang Games before his popular Golf Channel show returns next week. But before he covers a stateside-tournament, he’ll bring his unique perspective south of the border to Mexico City, as only he knows how. Feherty talked to THE DAILY about the South Korea experience, preparation (or lack thereof) for this weekend and his plans to make it home in one piece.
OLYMPICS REACTION: It was a great experience, and in a lot of ways it was like being on a different planet because the culture is so different. The South Korean people were incredibly helpful and polite, though it is a culture where they bow quite a bit, so then I end up bowing and we’re butting heads but that’s alright. I was basically an American in a foreign land where they love Americans, so it was a nice experience. It was really the women’s Olympics though, wasn’t it? The U.S. hockey team was incredible, then from MIKAELA SHIFFRIN to CHLOE KIM and JESSIE DIGGINS -- they did some amazing things.
BACK IN THE SADDLE: On Tuesday this week before heading to Mexico I was actually helping to give an award to LEE TREVINO in Austin at the Texas Independence Day Dinner. Imagine that: An Irish guy giving a Texas history award to a Mexican. Then after that I headed for Mexico City on Wednesday morning. Work-wise, I do feel rusty and no, I don’t do anything to prepare. I just shake the rust off as I go. It’s one of those things where the minute you sit down in the chair and put the headset on, it all feels familiar. I know the golf course from last year, and I know the field. Hell, I even remember the hotel, which is very important. I’m looking forward to seeing a bunch of the players -- you never know who you’ll bump into.
PAR FOR THE COURSE: To be honest this weekend I’m really just hoping I don’t get kidnapped: no one would pay the ransom. The reason I’m concerned is there were two Mexicans I brought up on JIMMY ROBERTS’ show the other week for our Olympic coverage. ROBERTO ALVAREZ, a cross country skier in the ‘88 Games who finished so far behind the leaders they sent a search party out to get him. They thought he’d been eaten by a bear or something. Then there was ANDY HIMALAYA, who competed in six Olympics but was most known for skiing in a sombrero. But after the segment aired it occurred to me there’s a strong Mexican contingent at the Olympics and now I’m hoping I don’t get assassinated for the remarks I made.
QUICK HITS:
- On making his way around Mexico City: “Logistically, it’s kind of difficult to get from the tournament to the hotel. So you spend some time in traffic after each day’s coverage. But the food is superb and hey, it’ll be a lot less confusing than Korea.”
- On the new season of “Feherty”: “First guests this year are JACK NICKLAUS, RICKIE FOWLER and BOB BRYAN (half of the tennis brother duo). We’re going with 2-3 guests at a time on the show this year. Our fourth episode is a total hoot, with KEVIN KISNER, PAT PEREZ and BILLY HORSCHEL."
- Hobbies outside of golf? "Shooting target practice is pretty much it for me. When I’m at home, I tend to be a bit of an acid-crazed badger. I hide, I don’t answer the door, certainly don’t answer the phone. I spend a lot of time alone. Weird, but I like it."
