Fully kitted up – image Photosport NZ
I would be the last person to suggest the role of on-course commentator at a televised golf tournament is rocket science, but some aspects of the role make the task a lot more demanding and extensive than many might think.
I have been involved in on-course commentary since first invited to perform the role by the ABC at the 1995 Canon Challenge in Sydney, my latest involvement being at the recent New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport near Queenstown in New Zealand’s Central Otago and thought it might be of interest to outline a day in such a role.
The New Zealand Open has developed into one of the must-play events on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, and the same could be said for those involved in covering the event for Sky Sport in New Zealand. It is an event and region we welcome the chance to be involved in the broadcast.
A team of around 90 people are involved, most of those coming from other parts of New Zealand and, in the case of the commentary team, from the Gold Coast of Australia in my case and the newest member of our team Anthony Kang who is a regular on the Asian Tour’s coverage of their events (Singapore). Phil Tataurangi (Auckland), Greg Turner (Arrowtown) and interviewer Storm Purvis (Auckland) are the New Zealand-based members of the commentary team.
The Sky Sport Crew at a recent New Zealand Open
For me, the week typically begins with the Steve Williams caddy clinic and BBQ the tournament managers have adopted to provide information and entertainment for the many caddies the 300 or so amateurs and professionals lining up in the 72-hole event require.
Many caddies are regulars and very experienced but there are those who are caddying for the first time and the caddy clinic and BBQ provides an opportunity for all to meet others, get a few tips, listen to some caddying stories, and settle into the week.
The Caddy Clinic carries the name of Steve Williams, seen by all as the game’s most successful ever caddy with 151 wins worldwide with players such as Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd, Tiger Woods, and Adam Scott, 14 of those wins in majors.
It is my role to MC the event while Steve adds his thoughts and presence. We also include a player to give his thoughts on the role of the caddy and add colourful stories and this year it was Australian Anthony Quayle who provided a humorous take on what he sees as important for a caddy to not only do a good job but to enjoy the experience also.
This year nearly 100 or so caddies turned up to the sausage sizzle and beers put on by the tournament .
Steve Williams and Anthony Quayle – passing on tips at the caddy clinic – image Photosport NZ
On Wednesday my focus switches to the on-course role, a morning meeting with the production and commentary team to determine the direction for the coverage, and any new thoughts the team had.
A rehearsal is scheduled for the afternoon to ensure we are all familiar with the systems and equipment being used and while this seldom throws up any real issues it is an important means of getting those involved to shake off a bit of rust, isolate any issues and prepare for the opening day’s coverage on Thursday.
Each day of the tournament I really enjoy getting out to the golf course early, grabbing a golf cart and heading out ahead of the early play to investigate the hole locations cut for the day, roll balls around the holes to determine any subtle breaks and to get an overall feel for how the course has been set up and how it is likely to play for the day.
For me, in the majestic backdrops that are such a feature of Wakatipu Basin and everywhere you look around the Queenstown / Arrowtown region, getting out onto the golf course early is such a treat and one I love doing for the good of the inner sole never mind the information it provides.
On-course early morning research
The flip-flop nature of the two courses on the opening two days meant that the course and pin positions remained the same on day two so a sleep-in back at the hotel was possible on Friday as there was no need to repeat the due diligence of day one.
By 9.00 I am looking for breakfast and with another 5½ hours before our coverage starts there is plenty of time to catch up with old friends, talk to players and others in trying to gain as much knowledge as possible about little titbits that might be useable in the telecast.
A production meeting is normally scheduled for 11.00am each day of the event to determine final angles for coverage, interviews for inclusion, guests for commentary box appearances, and in my case, just who I would be following later in the day, typically a marquee group of the leading players in the field.
On day one it would involve the recently crowned Australian PGA Champion Elvis Smylie and two-time winner already this season Jack Buchanan of South Australia and their two amateur playing partners.
The inclusion of a composite layout made up of nine holes from each of the Coronet and Remarkable courses at Millbrook Resort for the weekend play would result in a spilt focus for the opening two days due to camera availability and so I would be with Smylie and Buchanan for the holes between the 6th and 9th of the Remarkables layout at which point I would then be driven the higher areas of the Coronet Course to walk with Lucas Herbert and Curtis Luck.
On day two I was with Travis Smyth and Ian Snyman, initially, then Ben Campbell and Steve Alker as they played the final nine of the Coronet layout.
Despite being driven to the top of the course the Coronet Nine involves a rather lengthy walk over significant changes in elevation and having recently had a leg operation I was pleased to get through without any consequences.
Let’s fast-forward to Sunday and the final round where I was assigned the final group involving the eventual winner Ryan Peake from Perth and the four-shot 54-hole leader, Guantek Koh of Korea.
While our coverage did not begin until 2.30pm I like to walk with my assigned group from the time they hit off around 1.00pm which allows me to get a feel of how things are progressing and whether there is any chink in the armour of the leader.
Once coverage starts, then there is a greater need for awareness as to what is happening on course and in the commentary box.
In the on-course role, it is not just a case of saying what you want when you want but rather fitting into a rhythm with those in the commentary box.
This year we had three commentators in the booth plus regular guests and so it was important for me to not talk over those already talking, some of whom were not always aware of my presence on air and I had to pick my moments to contribute without embarrassing them or myself. Once or twice I did !
There were plenty of moments when I wanted to make a comment but couldn’t although I did have the luxury this year of being able to put myself to air when I felt appropriate via a switch on my pack which allows me to speak on air or talk to or hear from the broadcast truck rather than wait to be put to air.
The role itself involves getting the information on distances, lie, wind direction, strategies, danger areas to avoid etc and any other information or thoughts I feel relevant before stepping away from an area where I could possibly be overheard by the player.
The thin air in the Wakatipu Basin, given it is around 1000 feet above sea level and areas of water around the course which carry voices, makes being discreet more important than perhaps elsewhere and so putting yourself in a position to talk freely is important.
While many of the shots I comment on are live, some are off-tape due to congestion and clashing of shots at any one time and advertisement breaks and while I have successfully negotiated calling such shots in my years in the role, the preference for the producer and director at Millbrook was for me to comment only when coming live to my group.
A device I now carry and which has proven invaluable is a mobile phone on a clipboard (see picture) which provides instantaneous vision of what is being shown on-screen with no delay. It was devised by the brilliant sound manager we had for the tournament and allows me to comment on what is being shown without second-guessing. If only I had this years ago!
As the final stages of the event developed it became clear that Ryan Peake was on track for a surprise but welcome victory. His well-documented backstory garnered a great deal of support from the spectators and while I carried a certain amount of sympathy for the four-shot overnight leader, Koh, who had been brilliant over the weekend, the victory by Peake and what it meant for his future was heartwarming.
It capped off yet another very enjoyable week in one of the nicest parts of the world.
Millbrook’s tournament course finishing hole – image Photosport NZ
Hodge and Florimo lead Heritage Classic into weekend
Tyler Hodge in action today – image PGA of Australia
Recent New Zealand PGA Champion Tyler Hodge has continued his impressive late season form by sharing the halfway lead at the Heritage Classic at the Heritage Golf and Country Club north-east of Melbourne, the 30 year old tied with Queenslander Will Florimo at 11 under and one clear of a group of four golfers.
In a share of 3rd place are NSW’s Harrison Crowe, Victorian Nathan Page, South Australian Lachlan Barker and Queenslander Jack Munro.
On a day of low scoring, both Hodge and Florimo recorded second rounds of 65 to take the lead into the weekend in the penultimate event of the 2024/2025 PGA Tour of Australasia season.
In an event which saw the Order of Merit winner officially crowned, Elvis Smylie has secured that title by making the cut while the only man who could have impacted the outcome, Ryan Peake, missed the cut.
Smylie is five shots off the lead at 6 under and could yet finish his season in style by contending for a third title for the season over the final 36 holes.
The race for one of the three DP World Tour cards available via the Order of Merit remains alive with both Anthony Quayle and Jack Buchanan making the cut although with work to do over the weekend if they are to challenge in this event and in next week’s season-ending National Tournament and sneak into one of those coveted positions.
Leaderboard
Elvis Smylie leaving no stone unturned in Order of Merit chase
Elvis Smylie in action at the Heritage – image PGA of Australia
Current PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit leader, Elvis Smylie, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure he completes the 2024/2025 season on top as the benefits of doing so are significant.
Already a member of the DP World Tour courtesy of his win in the jointly sanctioned BMW Australian PGA Championship, Smylie will earn start at the Open Championship and the USPGA Championship if he remains ahead of the pack after the remaining two events of the schedule.
Smylie is at the Heritage Golf and Country Club for this week’s Heritage Classic ahead of next week’s National Tournament at the National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula although if he wraps the Order of Merit title up this week then he may not play next week.
While mathematically possible for Smylie to be caught it would require the most amazing set of circumstances for him to be headed.
Recent New Zealand Open winner, Ryan Peake would need to win both the remaining events and Smylie would have to essentially miss the cut, both scenarios remotely possible but highly unlikely.
Currently, Peake is 372.17 behind Smylie and with a total of 380 points available should Peake win both, then he could catch Smylie but Smylie would still need to earn no points and, given the quality of player he is, then it is almost impossible to imagine.
For Peake however whatever the outcome of the remaining two events he has secured his playing rights on the PGA Tour and Asian Tours, has a start at the Open Championship and in all likelihood will secure one of the three DP World Tour cards available for next season so to say the least his life has changed immeasurably since his fairytale win at the New Zealand Open Presented by Sky Sport.
There is still a race on for the third of the three cards available for the DP World Tour with Jack Buchanan and Anthony Quayle still in the running should they have a great finish to the season over the next two weeks.
Heritage Classic Leaderboard
Order of Merit as at March 16th
Ben Campbell adds US$1.5 million with 3rd place finish in Singapore
Ben Campbell (right) with his LIV Golf team mates in Singapore this week
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell secured the biggest cheque of his career when finishing third in the LIV Golf Singapore event, US$1.5 million now part of his growing returns from professional golf in recent seasons.
Campbell joined LIV Golf permanently at the behest of RangeGoats captain Bubba Watson over the Xmas period and in his first few starts has finished 15th in Riyadh, 23rd in Adelaide and 35th in Hong Kong before his great week at the Sentosa Golf Club.
“Yeah, it was big,” said Campbell when asked where this effort stands. “Obviously, I was very frustrated last week in Hong Kong to not play that great. So worked hard early on this week and made a few little changes, and yeah, it was good. Sort of had the team here and that, so it was nice to see the hard work paying off.
“It was nice to stick in there today. I haven’t probably felt like I had my best out there, but nice to stay patient and hole a couple putts coming in, which was good.”
Campbell finished six shots behind the winner Joaquin Niemann but only one shot out of second-placed Brooks Koepka.
Having earned a total of US$627,000 in his first few events Campbell is fast becoming one of the leading money earners in the 2025 LIV Golf season and will no doubt benefit from the confidence he will gain from contending so well this week.
https://www.livgolf.com/leaderboard
Fox and Lee best of the Australasians at Players Championship
Ryan Fox – an improved showing early in his second PGA Tour season
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox has finished as the equal leading Australasian at the Players Championship, recording his best finish in three starts at the TPC Sawgrass.
Fox shared 20th place with West Australian Min Woo Lee who had led through 36 holes but struggled to rounds of 78 and 73, although a homeward nine of 34 recovered some of the ground lost earlier.
Fox finished 27th in the event on debut two years ago but missed the cut in 2024, his final round of 70 today improving his overnight position some 13 places.
Fox and Lee were the only two of the six Australasians entered for the event to make the cut although Jason Day was forced to withdraw on Thursday morning due to illness.
Having missed the cut in his two previous PGA Tour starts this season and finished 63rd in Phoenix, it was an encouraging week for the 38-year-old Fox in his second full season on the PGA Tour.
Both he and Lee will earn US$240,000 for their ten-way share of 20th place.
Fox will tee it up again at this week’s Valspar Championship in Tampa.
Leaderboard
Min Woo Lee shares Players Championship lead
Min Woo Lee – continues liking for TPC Sawgrass
Minwoo Lee has a share of the halfway lead at the Players Championship, the 26 year old West Australian looking to improve on his 6th place finish on debut in this event two years ago.
Lee added a second round 66 to his opening 67 to bet at 11 under par and along with Akshay Bhatia one ahead of J.J Spaun.
Other than a missed cut at last week’s Arnold Palmer Championship Lee has been in solid form in PGA Tour starts this season and with the benefit of an impressive debut over the demanding TPC Sawgrass two years ago he produced seven birdies before making a mess of his final hole (the par 5 9th).
When asked why he plays so well at the TPC Sawgrass when so many of the game’s leading players often struggle Lee repied; “I think I’m not sure why, but I think my 2-iron, I’m using that a lot and it’s a pretty good weapon of mine.
“So I can kind of draw it and hit it straight and it goes a long way. When I hit it good it goes, ends up going a long way. That helps. Then you have short clubs into holes, so, yeah I would love to hit 2-iron everywhere but obviously you can’t, some holes and, yeah, I think that’s it. The 2-iron.”
Lee knows the conditions over the weekend are expected to be tough with gusty winds up to 30 m.p.h.
“It will be tough. We got the text message yesterday from the TOUR saying that they’re going to adjust the course to it. It is, again, it’s a tough course even without wind, and it’s intimidating. There will be holes where obviously it will be downwind and some that are into, so there’s going to be holes that could be easier, but holes that could be a lot harder. Again, just hopefully keep playing good golf and see how it goes.”
With the withdrawal of Jason Day just ahead of the tournament due to illness, the remaining five Australasians suffered mixed results.
Ryan Fox made his second cut in now three starts in the event but Adam Scott missed the weekend by three, last week’s winner in Puerto Rico, Karl Vilips, by seven shots and Cam Davis by a massive 13 shots.
Pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler is at 5 under par and six from the lead, but former winner Rory McIlroy is just two from the lead and appearing rather threatening as the closing 36 holes approaches.
Leaderboard
Six Australasians tackle the demands of TPC Sawgrass
Jason Day, the winner in 2016 is playing well at present – image PGA of Australia
Six Australasians, two of them previous winners of the event, will face the starter at this week’s Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course.
The event has been relatively good to Australasians with Jason Day, Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Greg Norman, Steve Elkington (twice) and New Zealand’s Craig Perks having won previously
Jason Day, Adam Scott, Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee, Ryan Fox and PGA Tour rookie Karl Vilips each get the chance to shine in the US$25 million event, the largest purse on the PGA Tour where the winner will earn US$4.5 million.
Day and Scott have both won the event previously. Scott claimed just his second PGA Tour title when defeating Padraig Harrington by one shot in 2004, and Day was the winner in 2016 when home by four shots over Kevin Chappell.
In 19 starts since, Scott has recorded just three top tens and in the last few years has finished well down the field while Day has recorded two top tens in seven starts since his win.
Day is certainly beginning to play well, finishing 8th last week after contending late into the final day and with his game looking increasingly good shape then his chances of contending and finishing as the leading Australian appear very good.
Scott is perhaps not in the same form he was late in 2024 but he is playing solidly. It is however hard to imagine him contending for the title.
Scott did however describe his love affair with the event and the layout.
“Yeah, this is an event I look forward to every year. It’s one of my favorite golf courses on TOUR. It’s one of the best events that we play in every year.
“The event that I tell all my friends outside of the majors obviously I think they should all come and experience it. I think it’s a great atmosphere to play in. It’s a great atmosphere for people to watch. So it’s a real buzz to be here.”
Cam Davis has played the event on four previous occasions and while has missed the cut in three of those he did finish an impressive 6th in 2023.
Davis’ game is somewhat of a roller coaster at present, having missed his last two cuts but also finishing 5th at Pebble Beach a month ago.
Min Woo Lee finished a very impressive 6th in this event when on debut in 2023 and made the cut but finished well back last year. Other than a missed cut last week in Orlando, Lee has played very well to date this year and might well feature.
Ryan Fox will play the event for the third time having finished an encouraging 27th on debut in 2023 before missing the cut last year. Fox is now into his second PGA Tour season but having missed two of three cuts this season it is hard to get excited about his chances.
Karl Vilips will play the event for the first occasion but there is little doubting the significant talent he possesses. His win last week in Puerto Rico will have him playing the event with a lot of confidence and while it is hard to see him figuring at any stage this early in his professional career there will be a lot of interest in just how he follows up such a big win a few days ago.
The likely winner is the man who has won in each of the past two years but players worth a look at longer odds are Hideki Matsuyama, Brian Harman and Sepp Straka.
First round draw
Great week for Australasian golfers worldwide
Karl Vilips – secures his first PGA Tour victory – file image USGA
It has been a sensational weekend for Australasian golfers in several golfing arenas.
On Sunday, Minjee Lee finished runner-up and Cassie Porter 4th in an LPGA Tour event on the island of Hainan off Southern China.
In New Zealand a local, Tyler Hodge, won the New Zealand PGA Championship to record his first PGA Tour of Australasia victory.
In Hong Kong, Lucas Herbert finished 4th behind Sergio Garcia in a LIV Golf event.
Then this morning things got even better.
In Puerto Rico the highly talented US based West Australian, Karl Vilips, won the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open, the alternative event to the Arnold Palmer Championship but a great boost for Vilips who gained access to the PGA Tour via the Korn Ferry Tour last year.
Vilips, a former student at Stanford University, won by three and earned US$720,000 in just his third PGA Tour event as a cardholder, having made the cut in each of his previous two starts in Mexico and Florida.
“Trying to soak it all in at the moment,” said Vilips. “I don’t know, just thinking ahead to next week already, PLAYERS, I’m getting ready for it. It’s been a bit busy, but I’m sure when I’m in my hotel room later I’ll be thinking about something
“Last night that was about the only thing on my mind was everything that comes with a victory here. I had a hard time getting to sleep. But on the course it was just staying in the present, doing what I can do and I think I did a really good job of that because it is tough to not think about everything. Once I hit that wedge close on 18, those thoughts definitely started flowing in my head.
“If you told me less than a year ago when I was at Stanford that I would be a PGA TOUR winner at this point in my career, I think I would be a little surprised. But I think I’ve just been so true to the process and everything that my team has me doing that it shouldn’t be a surprise when I make the putt on the last hole. But we’ve got to keep moving forward and try to win at an even higher level.”
At the Arnold Palmer Championship, Jason Day, a former winner of the event, finished in 8th place after a stuttering finish but after returning to his coach of earlier years, Colin Swatton, earlier this year he will no doubt be pleased with his progress ahead of next week’s Players Championship, yet another event he has won previously.
“We (Day and Swatton) stopped working together and then it was just trading texts on and off,” said Day over the weekend. “He was going on with his own life, and obviously I was trying to play competitive golf. We’ve got a lot of history together, so it’s nice to be able to pull the old-school team back.
“I’ve got Jason Goldsmith who is my performance coach, we got to No. 1 together. Cole, we got to No. 1 together. I got a new trainer, an old trainer from my injury days. Luke is doing a good job on the bag. So I feel like I got a really solid team, everyone’s kind of pulling in the right direction, which is great.
“That’s kind of the hardest thing is you, when you’re the leader of the team, you got to kind of nudge everyone where you want ’em to go. Everyone has to kind of pull their equal weight, and then if it doesn’t work out then you got to look elsewhere. So it’s nice to be able to have a team that really cares about what I’m trying to achieve out on the golf course.”
And then to top it all off, New Zealand’s Steve Alker produced a final round of 66 and eventually won a playoff over Jason Caron at the Colourguard Classic in Tucson in Arizona to win his 9th PGA Tour Champions title and move to #2 on the Charl Schwab Cup list for the season.
Despite winning the Charl Schwab Cup last season, this week’s win was the first for Alker since January last year, highlighting his amazing consistency in the period since. In fact, there had been six runner-up finishes since his last win.
“Yeah, I mean, just got to keep knocking on the door, Cookie,” said Alker when asked about the frustration of not winning. “You know how it is, you just grind away. I’ve been top-10s, top-5s, just been in the hunt, so it’s just being patient, just working hard on the body this pre-season.”
Australian Greg Chalmers led into the final round and eventually finished tied for 3rd with fellow Australian Rod Pampling.
Minjee Lee runner-up – Rookie Cassie Porter 4th in China
Minjee Lee has finished runner-up and her fellow Australian and LPGA Tour rookie, Cassie Porter 4th at the LPGA Tour event on Hainan Island off the coast of southern China.
Lee, a former winner of the event, finished a massive six shots behind Japan’s Rio Takeda but alone in second position and earned $US230,000 for her best finish on the LPGA Tour since her win at the BMW Ladies Championship in nearly eighteen months.
Porter is in her first season on the LPGA Tour after qualifying via the Futures Tour in 2024 and after missing the cut in her opening event in the Founders Championship last month, the impressive finish and the cheque for US$129,000 will be a great boost.
“Yeah, there is a lot of emotions right now,” said Porter. “Yeah, from Bradenton obviously having a rough week and then coming out here and doing well, just shows how crazy this game is; also like how awesome it can be as well.
“Big week for myself and my coach, caddie, Dan on the bag. Just really proud of us this week.”
Results
Tyler Hodge claims New Zealand PGA Championship
Tyler Hodge – with the spoils of victory – image Australian Golf Media
The New Zealand PGA Championship has been won by 30-year-old New Zealander, Tyler Hodge, who won his first Australasian Tour event with a one-shot victory over fellow New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle and Queenslander Tim Hart at the Bridge Pa Golf Club in Hastings today.
With four missed cuts in his last five starts before arriving in Hastings, Hodge was struggling with his game and perhaps his future but an opening nine of 32 in today’s final round after beginning the day just one off the pace of Cameron Harlock had him clear in the lead and although he faltered with two bogeys over the closing nine he had done enough to hold off the strong finishes of Mountcastle and Hart.
Queenslander Anthony Quayle improved his standing on the Order of Merit to 6th place with his share of 4th place this week with former PGA Tour New Zealander Tim Wilkinson and Queenslander Shae Wools Cobb.
Quayle has kept alive his chances of securing one of the three DP World Tour cards for next season, a win and a top ten placing in the two remaining events likely good enough to earn his way to the DP World Tour for the first occasion.
For Hodge, who turned professional at the relatively late age of 28 and actually gave the idea of playing professionally away for a year or two, he led by four after a birdie at the 10th before dropping shots but hanging on to win.
Results
On course at the New Zealand Open
Fully kitted up – image Photosport NZ
I would be the last person to suggest the role of on-course commentator at a televised golf tournament is rocket science, but some aspects of the role make the task a lot more demanding and extensive than many might think.
I have been involved in on-course commentary since first invited to perform the role by the ABC at the 1995 Canon Challenge in Sydney, my latest involvement being at the recent New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport near Queenstown in New Zealand’s Central Otago and thought it might be of interest to outline a day in such a role.
The New Zealand Open has developed into one of the must-play events on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, and the same could be said for those involved in covering the event for Sky Sport in New Zealand. It is an event and region we welcome the chance to be involved in the broadcast.
A team of around 90 people are involved, most of those coming from other parts of New Zealand and, in the case of the commentary team, from the Gold Coast of Australia in my case and the newest member of our team Anthony Kang who is a regular on the Asian Tour’s coverage of their events (Singapore). Phil Tataurangi (Auckland), Greg Turner (Arrowtown) and interviewer Storm Purvis (Auckland) are the New Zealand-based members of the commentary team.
The Sky Sport Crew at a recent New Zealand Open
For me, the week typically begins with the Steve Williams caddy clinic and BBQ the tournament managers have adopted to provide information and entertainment for the many caddies the 300 or so amateurs and professionals lining up in the 72-hole event require.
Many caddies are regulars and very experienced but there are those who are caddying for the first time and the caddy clinic and BBQ provides an opportunity for all to meet others, get a few tips, listen to some caddying stories, and settle into the week.
The Caddy Clinic carries the name of Steve Williams, seen by all as the game’s most successful ever caddy with 151 wins worldwide with players such as Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd, Tiger Woods, and Adam Scott, 14 of those wins in majors.
It is my role to MC the event while Steve adds his thoughts and presence. We also include a player to give his thoughts on the role of the caddy and add colourful stories and this year it was Australian Anthony Quayle who provided a humorous take on what he sees as important for a caddy to not only do a good job but to enjoy the experience also.
This year nearly 100 or so caddies turned up to the sausage sizzle and beers put on by the tournament .
Steve Williams and Anthony Quayle – passing on tips at the caddy clinic – image Photosport NZ
On Wednesday my focus switches to the on-course role, a morning meeting with the production and commentary team to determine the direction for the coverage, and any new thoughts the team had.
A rehearsal is scheduled for the afternoon to ensure we are all familiar with the systems and equipment being used and while this seldom throws up any real issues it is an important means of getting those involved to shake off a bit of rust, isolate any issues and prepare for the opening day’s coverage on Thursday.
Each day of the tournament I really enjoy getting out to the golf course early, grabbing a golf cart and heading out ahead of the early play to investigate the hole locations cut for the day, roll balls around the holes to determine any subtle breaks and to get an overall feel for how the course has been set up and how it is likely to play for the day.
For me, in the majestic backdrops that are such a feature of Wakatipu Basin and everywhere you look around the Queenstown / Arrowtown region, getting out onto the golf course early is such a treat and one I love doing for the good of the inner sole never mind the information it provides.
On-course early morning research
The flip-flop nature of the two courses on the opening two days meant that the course and pin positions remained the same on day two so a sleep-in back at the hotel was possible on Friday as there was no need to repeat the due diligence of day one.
By 9.00 I am looking for breakfast and with another 5½ hours before our coverage starts there is plenty of time to catch up with old friends, talk to players and others in trying to gain as much knowledge as possible about little titbits that might be useable in the telecast.
A production meeting is normally scheduled for 11.00am each day of the event to determine final angles for coverage, interviews for inclusion, guests for commentary box appearances, and in my case, just who I would be following later in the day, typically a marquee group of the leading players in the field.
On day one it would involve the recently crowned Australian PGA Champion Elvis Smylie and two-time winner already this season Jack Buchanan of South Australia and their two amateur playing partners.
The inclusion of a composite layout made up of nine holes from each of the Coronet and Remarkable courses at Millbrook Resort for the weekend play would result in a spilt focus for the opening two days due to camera availability and so I would be with Smylie and Buchanan for the holes between the 6th and 9th of the Remarkables layout at which point I would then be driven the higher areas of the Coronet Course to walk with Lucas Herbert and Curtis Luck.
On day two I was with Travis Smyth and Ian Snyman, initially, then Ben Campbell and Steve Alker as they played the final nine of the Coronet layout.
Despite being driven to the top of the course the Coronet Nine involves a rather lengthy walk over significant changes in elevation and having recently had a leg operation I was pleased to get through without any consequences.
Let’s fast-forward to Sunday and the final round where I was assigned the final group involving the eventual winner Ryan Peake from Perth and the four-shot 54-hole leader, Guantek Koh of Korea.
While our coverage did not begin until 2.30pm I like to walk with my assigned group from the time they hit off around 1.00pm which allows me to get a feel of how things are progressing and whether there is any chink in the armour of the leader.
Once coverage starts, then there is a greater need for awareness as to what is happening on course and in the commentary box.
In the on-course role, it is not just a case of saying what you want when you want but rather fitting into a rhythm with those in the commentary box.
This year we had three commentators in the booth plus regular guests and so it was important for me to not talk over those already talking, some of whom were not always aware of my presence on air and I had to pick my moments to contribute without embarrassing them or myself. Once or twice I did !
There were plenty of moments when I wanted to make a comment but couldn’t although I did have the luxury this year of being able to put myself to air when I felt appropriate via a switch on my pack which allows me to speak on air or talk to or hear from the broadcast truck rather than wait to be put to air.
The role itself involves getting the information on distances, lie, wind direction, strategies, danger areas to avoid etc and any other information or thoughts I feel relevant before stepping away from an area where I could possibly be overheard by the player.
The thin air in the Wakatipu Basin, given it is around 1000 feet above sea level and areas of water around the course which carry voices, makes being discreet more important than perhaps elsewhere and so putting yourself in a position to talk freely is important.
While many of the shots I comment on are live, some are off-tape due to congestion and clashing of shots at any one time and advertisement breaks and while I have successfully negotiated calling such shots in my years in the role, the preference for the producer and director at Millbrook was for me to comment only when coming live to my group.
A device I now carry and which has proven invaluable is a mobile phone on a clipboard (see picture) which provides instantaneous vision of what is being shown on-screen with no delay. It was devised by the brilliant sound manager we had for the tournament and allows me to comment on what is being shown without second-guessing. If only I had this years ago!
As the final stages of the event developed it became clear that Ryan Peake was on track for a surprise but welcome victory. His well-documented backstory garnered a great deal of support from the spectators and while I carried a certain amount of sympathy for the four-shot overnight leader, Koh, who had been brilliant over the weekend, the victory by Peake and what it meant for his future was heartwarming.
It capped off yet another very enjoyable week in one of the nicest parts of the world.
Millbrook’s tournament course finishing hole – image Photosport NZ