MEDINAH, IL – SEPTEMBER 30: Johnny Miller (L) and Dan Hicks are seen on the NBC set during the Singles Matches for The 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club on September 30, 2012 in Medinah, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
2015By Ed Sherman on

Ed Note: The following appears courtesy The Sherman Report.

My column on Mark Lazarus’ comments about the playoff beards in hockey caused a bit of a kerfuffle. However, the NBC Sports chairman also was in the news for another reason.

NBC landed the rights to the British Open, beginning in 2017. Lazarus said a highlight came when he broke the news to Johnny Miller, who won the 1976 Open at Royal Birkdale. Coincidentally, that will be the site of the ’17 Open.

“We could see Johnny’s smiles through the phone,” Lazarus said. “It was the same with all the talent. Everyone is thrilled about this.”

Indeed, NBC now is back in the major game after losing the U.S. Open to Fox.

“We’re always in the business of having the most important events we can have,” Lazarus said. “We were disappointed to lose the U.S. Open, no doubt about that. But we can’t dwell on the past. We have to move forward. The next opportunity to move forward was the oldest and probably biggest global golf event.”

A big component of the deal will be the airing a significant chunk of the tournament on the Golf Channel. It will be a huge milestone for the network with its first live coverage of a men’s major.

“Someone turned a phrase: ‘The home of golf at golf’s home,’” Lazarus said. “I like that.”

– See more at: http://www.shermanreport.com/nbcs-lazarus-on-landing-british-open-we-could-see-johnnys-smile-through-the-phone/#sthash.9IBz1wvt.dpuf

About Ed Sherman

Ed Sherman is a veteran sports media writer and purveyor of The Sherman Report website. His writing can also be found at the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and the National Sports Journalism Center.

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