McCord and Kostis not Returning to CBS

[OldTomMorris]

I agree

[Holy Moses]

DL3 not broadcasting for CBS anymore. He’s going to focus on his family and playing. Nice guy, but he should never have been on TV. Clearly, CBS doesn’t know what good TV talent would be.

Who’s the replacement?

[ATLgopher]

Brooks...since his playing career is pretty much done

[Holy Moses]

Bacon or Faxon probably up there

[munichop]

CBS seems to use the old PGA of America way of picking, who is your buddy. Byrum, Fax, Immelmann, Folz are all more seasoned and insightful yet CBS gets someone’s barbecue pal to announce. It shows you how little they value good analysis. If they don’t respect their own talent why should the viewer?

[weezel514]

Agreed. I believe the PGA TOUR also a hand to play in getting rid of Kostis and McCord. They wanted to freshen up the broadcast or CBS wouldn't get the contract renewed. Tons of great options out there but DL3 just didn't do it at all. I'd love to see Monty get up in there among the other names mentioned. I always loved Curtis Strange but I think I am in the minority there.

[grm24]

Both of the Immelman brothers (Mark and Trevor) are already employed by CBS in some capacity for PGA Tour coverage.

[geesecougar2]

Phil should retire to the booth already. He'd be awesome.

I also loved Freddie when he did guest appearances, maybe they can get him some part time gigs.

[grm24]

Phil's endorsement income is based on him actually playing professional golf. He earned nearly $38 million from his endorsements in 2019. No way in Hade$ Phil is going to take a giant pay cut to announce golf on tv. Phil is all about $$$$. Always has been. Nothing wrong with that.

[grm24]

Monty is very good on television. Monty just dropped 40 pounds during the COVID golf shutdown. I don't think he did that to be in the booth. Good on Monty. Hope it works out for him. 57-year-old Colin Montgomerie lost 40 lbs and looks better than ever Pilates helps Colin Montgomerie shed 40 pounds

[weezel514]

Totally agree. Monty is all in on Champions right now. Just a fan that would like to see it happen.

[Rob G 89]

Tony Romo he is already on the payroll

[Soloman1]

It's time to make the move to a real robot. It could be programmed to spout golf nostalgia, be the banal spokesmachine for sponsors and the Tour, do interviews and best of all, make serious sounding statements like "graphite shafts cause fliers."

[MattyO1984]

Dear God no! The absolute nonsense that would spill out of his mouth would be absolutely nauseating.

[MattyO1984]

Not a huge surprise that DL3 has packed it up. I am absolutely sure that he is a thoroughly decent bloke and likely has his pulse on the current life of a PGA Tour golfer more than anyone else in the commentary teams but it just never seemed a good fit.

It never really seemed like he was comfortable or enjoying himself, although when stuck listening to CBS I am not sure that many of us are comfortable or enjoying themselves.

[Greg_B]

As someone else noted, the Immelmans are already working for CBS (Mark is good, Trevor less so) and Byrum and Foltz are under contract to NBC. One of the more underappreciated and underused golf guys on TV is Billy Kratzert. He does some work for Golf Channel but I suspect it is not a very lucrative deal. Faxon is likely a free agent now if he is interested. Not the greatest in the booth but not horrible.

[BC33]

If CBS is going to replace Love III, Colt Knost. I am not sure if DL3 was on course or was supposed to be on course (COVID restrictions) or in a tower but Knost could do either.

 

Also like Shane Bacon in some role since he's available.

[golf ironman]

If CBS is trying to change its demographic, it’s gonna avoid the old white guy from the Champions Tour, though I like Monty a lot.

It’s a harder job than it looks but you either have “it” or you don’t. If early early indications hold true they could do worse than Christina Kim.

If they opt for safety (and the British or Aussie or Kiwi accent) Darren Clarke was good in studio the few times he did it or Stuart Appleby is serviceable If not too exciting.

I think they will be searching for someone younger, perhaps someone too injured to play or play on Champions. There are a few who are a couple of years away like Ian Poulter or Graeme McDowell.

As for Phil? He’s not going to work his way up from course reporter to hole announcer to color dude. He’s gonna go straight into Faldo or Zinger’s chair.

[Lobby]

There's just too much $ on the regular and senior tours to entice good performing players to the announcer booth. The networks are unfortunately stuck with folks who are older.

 

I think, tho, that the network should consider adding women to the telecasts. Every time Inkster has been in the booth, I've really appreciated her. I'm sure there are others.

[munichop]

Look CBS got Nobilo from GC/NBC so if they wanted Immelmans to have a larger role or hire one of the other guys mentioned they could have. Instead they hired a "buddy" of an employee with no proven talent for the job and worse did nothing to "train" him for the role- just threw him out there with the team. Even Bones did guest spots with another caddie before getting an offer.

So if CBS did some test runs with DLIII how could they have concluded he was worth putting on air? The process seems like they don't really care who they get if they think the person has name recognition. It is the visual equivalent of hiring a buddy who can't focus properly and putting him on the lead group to get shots. Rather lazy to be honest.

[chillybilly]

+1

In addition, Phil will tell anyone with or without a microphone that he's fighting fit now. Not only is he capable of winning tournaments at 50, he's still capable of winning majors. He's never been my cup of tea but only a fool would deny his abilities at present vs the competition.

[dryfly]

Maybe Nantz will be next. His primary role is smiling as he says "my goodness," gushing over the sponsor CEO, and shilling for "top tracer technology presented by Top Golf."

[QuigleyDU]

oof Freddie would be terrible...

[jvincent]

From what I remember of Colt Knost when he did some commentary on the Golf Channel he would be pretty good.

[Holy Moses]

CBS’ idea of a “younger” host was 56 year old DL3. They are clueless.

[Holy Moses]

Nantz has a job with CBS for life. He’s really good, too.

[geesecougar2]

I dunno. Phil would definitely opt to compete rather than retire to the booth. But I think he'd be great so I want him to move to the booth.

Re Freddie, he might not have the discipline to do it on a regular basis, but I think he'd bring a unique player / strategic perspective to it. I like analysis-heavy broadcasts, but counteracting it with a more feel-based approach would be super interesting, and there's something comforting about hearing him talk. Here is a clip of him doing Kapalua once:

[QuigleyDU]

I dunno man, every seems to think Freddie is captain smooth. I have never been that big of a fan.

[inditube]

Id say McCord in the Booth! At least some comic relief for these boneheads. Or Bob Menery!

[3whacker]

CBS has no choice but to find younger fresher talent, Nantz no longer has the Couples connection since Freddie plays the Champions Tour, even Faldo cant relate to these guys, DLIII was never known for being one of the guys on Tour, and McCord's schtick got real old....Honestly they need to go after a guy like Anthony Kim or somebody in the 40-50 yr old range that has wins on Tour and maybe even a major, and that does not speak with a British or Aussie accent...