Now that David Feherty is a free agent no longer with CBS and his contract with Golf Channel about to expire, he’s able to hear from all networks interested in his services. And while conventional wisdom tells you that NBC/Golf Channel would be Feherty’s likely destination, what about the network that airs the USGA events, Fox?
Let’s think about that for a brief moment. Fox was criticized for its U.S. Open coverage back in June, the first time it had covered the event. But while viewers weren’t necessarily happy over how Fox produced the tournament, it did improve as it went to the other USGA events, the Women’s, Senior and the amateurs. While the men who were the faces of the coverage, Joe Buck and Greg Norman are well known to the American public, the other men and women who were part of the Fox team weren’t necessarily known to casual viewers.
By bringing Feherty on board, it gives Fox some equity with golf fans who can be quite militant on the announcers calling their sport (see Chris Berman). Last week, we told you that Feherty left CBS over his role on its golf coverage, tiring of his on-course reporter role and yearning for a tower announcing role. NBC has Johnny Miller and apparently he’s secure in the 18th tower with Dan Hicks. Ron Sirak at Golf Digest reported that NBC is looking at David Duval to eventually replace Miller and if it signed Feherty, would want him to be an on-course reporter again.
So let’s say Feherty rejects NBC/Golf Channel, that leaves Fox. It could offer him a role in the 18th tower with Buck and Norman. A three man 18th tower isn’t unprecedented as ESPN utilized Mike Tirico, Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger last decade. And perhaps Feherty could draw some humor from Norman. In addition, Buck who has an offbeat sense of humor could work well with Feherty.
In addition, FS1 could offer Feherty an edition of the interview show that he’s been doing at Golf Channel and it could be a good addition to the network’s lineup. Feherty has interviewed not just golfers, but political leaders, football coaches and announcers.
And while Feherty would only call the USGA events, he could become FS1’s regular golf analyst on the other majors either in the studio or from the course locations. Plus Fox would love to steal another personality from Golf Channel (the other being Holly Sonders) and make him a focus of its U.S. Open team.
The whole thing is while Feherty wants to cut back on his schedule, would he accept calling just the USGA events? That’s something that he has to consider. But if Fox is amenable to having him in the tower with Buck and Norman, then that might be enough to lure him away from NBC/Golf Channel.
This is all speculation, but as golf fans hope for improvement from Fox at next year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont, having a familiar face in Feherty might give them some hope that their coverage is going in the right direction.
