Buck and Azinger will be paired together in one booth, while Faxon (r) will partner with Shane BaconFOX SPORTS
Fox Sports for the U.S. Open is splitting its on-air golf broadcast teams "into two booths," with Joe Buck and Paul Azinger in one and Shane Bacon and Brad Faxon in the other, according to GOLFWEEK's Forecaddie. Fox Sports Coordinating Producer Mark Loomis said that he "began thinking about bifurcating the booth at last year's U.S. Women's Open, when Juli Inkster joined an already crowded anchor desk." Loomis: "Nobody had enough time to talk. It became clear to me there were different times to do different things.” Asked if he fears a perception that Faxton is being ousted from the 18th tower, Loomis said, "The reality is that he's going to be used more. When it's just Brad and Shane, he becomes the voice." Meanwhile, golf instructor Michael Breed will "work on the digital broadcast of the U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open and the U.S. Women's Open." Loomis said that Inskter, who previously "combined working the booth on women's event with being an on-course reporter at men's tournaments, will work only as a booth analyst on USGA women's events" (GOLFWEEK.com, 4/30).
