Golf Ch. European Tour commentators?

[freddiec]

Could somebody tell me who these guys are that are commentating the Dubai tourney? Can't find it on the web. Thanks. I'm curious who the guy is that does not have the European Accent...

[Davewn]

Jay Townsend is the American in the group. Having never heard of him before, I Googled him and apparently he played the European Tour back in the day. Personally, I enjoy the "less is more" approach to golf commentary they employ on the European Tour coverage.

[Davewn]

The others I can think of are Dougie Donnelly, Ken Brown, Julian Tutt, and can't think of the last one...

[freddiec]

Thanks . Last week he told a story about taking lessons from Gardner Dickenson for a long time (as a kid)and playing w Nicklaus as a jr golfer I was curious who he was...

[Holy Moses]

The others I can think of are Dougie Donnelly, Ken Brown, Julian Tutt, and can't think of the last one...

 

Dougie isn't in the booth this week. Sam Torrance is on the course. What's interesting is that after the first preview of the tournament from one of the commentators, no commentator is shown on TV for the rest of the round.

[dbleag]

Jay Townsend is the son of Jerry Townsend, longtime FootJoy Rep for South Florida.

[ChillyDipper]

I miss the days of Warren Humphries and Renton Laidlaw, not that I might the dulcet tones of Julian Tutt. Mike Ritz on the other hand...

[sonny crocket]

I miss peter Kessler

[bhard315]

The others I can think of are Dougie Donnelly, Ken Brown, Julian Tutt, and can't think of the last one...

 

Dougie isn't in the booth this week. Sam Torrance is on the course. What's interesting is that after the first preview of the tournament from one of the commentators, no commentator is shown on TV for the rest of the round.

 

That's the best part about the European Tour coverage. You get to actually watch golf the whole time. PGA Tour couldn't care less about showing us half as much golf.

[prorobo]

The European Tour coverage blows the PGA Tour away. They also have been killing the social media/YouTube videos as well. The PGA Tour gives us an endless supply of commercials and Jim Nantz wearing Thunderbirds velvet.

[PowerFade2125]

Coverage is better, commentators are better, just an infinitely better product. Sure the time difference is a bummer but I'll gladly stay up late or get up early to watch the Euro tour knowing that I can always catch up on sleep in the afternoon when they play the insomnia cure that occasionally doubles as PGA Tour coverage.

[Holy Moses]

Still don't know why anyone doesn't use protracer on iron shots. Is it because protracer is Trackman and they don't want to move them to the fairway?

[Nick6771]

The others I can think of are Dougie Donnelly, Ken Brown, Julian Tutt, and can't think of the last one...

 

All of them cut their teeth at the BBC at some point. Ken Brown is still part of the Beeb commentary team for the approx 4 days of highlights on free to air. Jay Townsend is part of the Radio 5 live coverage of the big events, comes across as very knowledgable. One or two of the Sky boys could learn from these chaps.

[prorobo]

Still don't know why anyone doesn't use protracer on iron shots. Is it because protracer is Trackman and they don't want to move them to the fairway?

 

ProTracer is separate from Trackman.

 

It's a camera, sensor and proprietary software on a laptop developed by Swedish engineer golf nuts and not mobile like a shoulder mount ENG camera and tripod.

 

http://www.protracer.se/experience/protracer-tv/learn/

 

[KrazyTrain18]

The European Tour has been taking great strides over the past few years to grow the game and increase popularity amongst the top players. The only things keeping many players from considering a European Tour membership is prize money and travel.

[Dave230]

Bit of trivia on Jay Townsend, he had a feud with Rory McIlroy in 2011.

 

Townsend attacked Rory's shocking course management, which he said was like an under 10s golf competition. He also attacked his caddie, saying he should be sacked and he should hire Steve Williams instead.

 

Rory hit back by telling him to 'shut up' and called him a failed golfer, whose opinion means nothing'.

 

17 wins and 3 majors in five and a half years would suggest Rory made the right decision...

[Hawkeye77]

Bit of trivia on Jay Townsend, he had a feud with Rory McIlroy in 2011.

 

Townsend attacked Rory's shocking course management, which he said was like an under 10s golf competition. He also attacked his caddie, saying he should be sacked and he should hire Steve Williams instead.

 

Rory hit back by telling him to 'shut up' and called him a failed golfer, whose opinion means nothing'.

 

17 wins and 3 majors in five and a half years would suggest Rory made the right decision...

 

It was about a Thursday round at the Irish Open and even other players thought Townsend was right to criticize Rory's terrible course management that day. Townsend went a little far in respect to the caddie, Rory overreacted then took some more shots at Townsend, then (lol) blocked him on Twitter - ooooh!

 

Probably not either's favorite memory, but it's been over for 6 years. Townsend is a really good announcer and has plenty of well thought out opinions. Like them both.

[tannyhoban]

Euro tour golf weekend viewing is my favorite. No cut aways to the booth for fluff, just good golf and solid commentary. The announcing is so good that I pay very little attention to who they actually are. All come off knowledgable.

[Bingo1976]

sums up why I rarely watch us tour coverage anymore. I watched the final round today, didn't miss a shot, could tell you exactly how far each player hit their drives, and in Singapore at least, not one advert break.

[IH82BOGEY]

Euro tour golf weekend viewing is my favorite. No cut aways to the booth for fluff, just good golf and solid commentary. The announcing is so good that I pay very little attention to who they actually are. All come off knowledgable.

 

Yep. They don't make the broadcast about themselves. Their understated dry humor always fits well with golf.

[Puppetmaster]

Agree with most here in that the ET coverage and commentary is far superior to the PGA Tour. Love the Protracer and snippets on Twitter too.

[Dave230]

Probably not either's favorite memory, but it's been over for 6 years. Townsend is a really good announcer and has plenty of well thought out opinions. Like them both.

 

Yeah that's fair but I always thought it was funny that there's never much criticism of Rory's caddie when he wins, and people were questioning JP when he wasn't for a while there, whereas they don't question Bones, for example, when Mickelson takes out a driver out of the rough. While a good caddie is important, at the the end of the day, he's more important as a confidant and someone you can trust. Rory trusts JP so that's what really matters.

[nichho]

It seems to me that the CBS coverage is as much a vehicle for Nantz and Faldo as it is to show golf, I doubt either of them would be at all happy with just being voices in the background. For me their fluff pieces bring nothing to the coverage but seem to be included to sate the needs of Nantz and faldo fans.

 

Last night was a real low when Nantz did a drum role for McCord who got about 45 seconds into a rambling monologue before I turned it off.

[Holy Moses]

The European Tour has been taking great strides over the past few years to grow the game and increase popularity amongst the top players. The only things keeping many players from considering a European Tour membership is prize money and travel.

 

Those are big hurdles. But we have seen it's a little easier for young guys like Koepka and Uihlein to work their way up the world rankings in Europe compared to the States.

[Hawkeye77]

Probably not either's favorite memory, but it's been over for 6 years. Townsend is a really good announcer and has plenty of well thought out opinions. Like them both.

 

Yeah that's fair but I always thought it was funny that there's never much criticism of Rory's caddie when he wins, and people were questioning JP when he wasn't for a while there, whereas they don't question Bones, for example, when Mickelson takes out a driver out of the rough. While a good caddie is important, at the the end of the day, he's more important as a confidant and someone you can trust. Rory trusts JP so that's what really matters.

 

Totally agree. Too many different dynamics with players and caddies and the various roles some play. I've never been a pro, but advice or no advice from caddie, I don't think they should ever get any blame for course management or anything to do with rules. Player is responsible for the play he or she makes (assuming correct information is provided, of course).

[bladehunter]

Let me throw my hat in to the pile of " I very much love the euro coverage compared to faldo and his crew " The euro team is superior in every way. From knowledge to the fact that their jokes are funnier. lol

[Francois]

Let me throw my hat in to the pile of " I very much love the euro coverage compared to faldo and his crew " The euro team is superior in every way. From knowledge to the fact that their jokes are funnier. lol

 

Tony Johnstone is also a great commentator. That self-deprecating humour of his is classic.

[Hawkeye77]

I think it was two weeks ago one of them was talking about how babies smelled like freshly baked bread and taking a bite out of them . . . you had to be there, but different humor!

[Largechris1]

But it's the annual 'Boomer' Chris Berman Classic coming up, surely you are all excited by this.......

[elwhippy]

Jay Townsend was indeed a European Tour player. He appeared in our club Pro Am. Very long hitter, particularly with his irons and a genuinely nice guy as well.