Paul Azinger Commentaries (MERGED)

[Nels55]

1 hour ago, Shortgame1959 said:

2022 US Open 3rd round broadcast, Azinger says about three times that Will Zalatoris “shanked” an approach shot.  The shot was something like 180 (maybe more) out, and Zalatoris hit it almost pin high, but right (maybe 30 yards?), in the heavy rough.  Pin-high shank?  I don’t think so! How can one play for years on tour and not know what a shank is?

Azinger is not someone that I like much but shots up on the neck can catch a little bit of hosel and 30 yards right is about right for such a shot.  I hit them and I see other golfers hit them quite often.  Usually they are bit shorter then normal shots but sometimes if you catch one a little thin and and just barely on the hosel it can go pretty far.  Percentage wise slight shanks are slightly more likely then full straight sideways shanks because the ball is contacted slightly closer to the center of the club.  I often see the next solid shot after one of those shanks pulled way left because the gofer believes that the face was left open on the shanked shot when in fact it was not.

[jqsmooth]

"What if he holes it? What if it holes it?"  Ball goes way right. 

 

I miss Johnny Miller.

[MUNIGRIT]

Well ill give Zinger one thing he can't count real well. He is saying only 2 holes to go with a 2 stroke lead. He is on 16 tee and SS has short birdie putt.

[mhdena]

Watching on Mute eliminates most/all of the frustration expressed in this thread. Try it.

[straightshot7]

9 minutes ago, mhdena said:

Watching on Mute eliminates most/all of the frustration expressed in this thread. Try it.

for the umpteenth time, we don’t want to lose the great golf noises… the sound of the shot, the crowd, etc.

 

we only want to mute Azinger. 

[So_Cal]

I like Azinger but really liked Johnny Miller for the US Open 

[MUNIGRIT]

Definitely needed Dotting talking about shots like Fitzpatrick fairway bunker shot on 18. "Thats a touch of Class!"

[Golfer4Life]

I'll rather have Azinger than Hicks.

 

At least Azinger knows what he's talking about.

Edited June 20, 2022 by Golfer4Life

[Loki]

3 hours ago, straightshot7 said:

for the umpteenth time, we don’t want to lose the great golf noises… the sound of the shot, the crowd, etc.

 

we only want to mute Azinger. 

Then don't pay attention to what he says...or become hard if hearing and turn off the closed captioning...it's great.

 

Or better yet, get over yourself.

[straightshot7]

40 minutes ago, Loki said:

Then don't pay attention to what he says...or become hard if hearing and turn off the closed captioning...it's great.

 

Or better yet, get over yourself.

Well at least we've identified the single person on Earth who doesn't mind listening to Azinger. 

Is that you Paul? 

 

Trust me I'm over myself...someone else on this forum told me years ago to get over myself. So I took that advice and went and got over myself.

 

But the problem was I still found Azinger annoying to listen to.

 

Not like it's a big deal...

 

But if we could just replace him with someone else it might be an improvement. Is that tough to grasp? 😄

Edited June 20, 2022 by straightshot7

[tatertot]

7 hours ago, Nels55 said:

Azinger is not someone that I like much but shots up on the neck can catch a little bit of hosel and 30 yards right is about right for such a shot.  I hit them and I see other golfers hit them quite often.  Usually they are bit shorter then normal shots but sometimes if you catch one a little thin and and just barely on the hosel it can go pretty far.  Percentage wise slight shanks are slightly more likely then full straight sideways shanks because the ball is contacted slightly closer to the center of the club.  I often see the next solid shot after one of those shanks pulled way left because the gofer believes that the face was left open on the shanked shot when in fact it was not.

This is the same guy that said Scheffler was laying up with an iron on the fifth tee ... as Scheffler's ball was heading to the green on the sixth.

[Nels55]

I heard Azinger call Matt Fitzpatrick "Matts Fitpatrick" at least a couple of times during the broadcast.  Seems rather odd?

[Nixhex524]

How bout the ol' announcers curse where he said Scheffler hadn't missed a putt inside 5 ft all week... then he proceeds to miss it.  It probably doesn't help that I already can't stand him, but just STFU already.  I can't help but feel like he ruins any round on TV.

[Golfer4Life]

21 minutes ago, Nixhex524 said:

How bout the ol' announcers curse where he said Scheffler hadn't missed a putt inside 5 ft all week... then he proceeds to miss it.  It probably doesn't help that I already can't stand him, but just STFU already.  I can't help but feel like he ruins any round on TV.

His psychic powers must be really strong, 😆 

[bekgolf]

Not a fan of the Azing.  Butt, I can empathize that it must be difficult being miked up for hours and having all you say torn apart by every person with a brain who is paying attention.

 

The more I think about it the more I like having Paul on the mike.  He is a nice distraction when my player makes a bad shot. 

[Golfer4Life]

What some people don't understand is these guys are getting their stuff from a bunch of producers at the production trailer and some of it they have to pull it off their behind, in real time.

 

Sometimes they just pull the eternal Faldo🤣

[Nels55]

5 minutes ago, Golfer4Life said:

What some people don't understand is these guys are getting their stuff from a bunch of producers at the production trailer and some of it they have to pull it off their behind, in real time.

 

Sometimes they just pull the eternal Faldo🤣

It's not easy but...  I think that pretty much any of the local radio guys here in the Bay Area would do a better job than Azinger if put in his spot.  I really don't think that he is the right person for that job.  That said it seems that the higher ups like him and they must be pulling good ratings so maybe the average fan really likes him?  I don't know!  I do know that some of the guys that I golf with like him.  Of course they are mostly idiots.  

[iBanesto]

Azinger said today "Gravity is a beautiful thing."

 

Edited June 20, 2022 by iBanesto

[GolfTurkey]

Azinger must be aware of some of the criticism, and I got the impressive at the USO that he was thinking so hard about his commentary that it became contrived (like a golfer with too many swing thoughts).

[Ferguson]

I agree with the group.  Azinger needs some coaching. 

 

 

[MUNIGRIT]

Zinger just tries to hard to be dramatic. Too much of a try hard.

[FriedEgg]

IMHO - The entire NBC golf production needs revamping from top to bottom and especially including the announcers.  

 

Was this not the US Open from Boston where there are literally dozens of historic sites related to the founding and creation of the United States?  Why did NBC show NONE of them?

[Golferpaul]

15 hours ago, straightshot7 said:

for the umpteenth time, we don’t want to lose the great golf noises… the sound of the shot, the crowd, etc.

 

we only want to mute Azinger. 

There are several others I would also mute.  And all the wasted time telling stories add no value to me.  This last weekend was terrrible.  Just stop the tributes and stories and show me some golf shots.

 

And then they recap the round every hour and waste even more time for those of us who watched the entire round.   Thank God for TiVo.  I never watch in real time.

[Golferpaul]

1 hour ago, FriedEgg said:

IMHO - The entire NBC golf production needs revamping from top to bottom and especially including the announcers.  

 

Was this not the US Open from Boston where there are literally dozens of historic sites related to the founding and creation of the United States?  Why did NBC show NONE of them?

Maybe because it's a golf tournament, not the history channel.  They wasted way too much time on historical stuff at the expense of showing golf shots.

[pcmancini]

I do not like Azinger or Justin Leonard as announcers.  Leonard in particular seems to need to remind everyone he was a pro golfer with a decent career and others kowtow to both.

 

They both reference golfers that have no relevance to today.  "He has Lanny Wadkins-like confidence." or "His swing reminds me of Mark Calcavecchia."

 

Let's bring in some real pros!

Edited June 20, 2022 by pcmancini

[FriedEgg]

1 hour ago, Golferpaul said:

Maybe because it's a golf tournament, not the history channel.  They wasted way too much time on historical stuff at the expense of showing golf shots.

 

bloaf

[chillybilly]

Perhaps it's been said upthread or elsewhere on this site but Azinger's best role was as The Sharp Tongue in a three-man booth where another analyst was responsible for gilding the lily thus freeing Zinger up to criticize, complain and skewer his unfortunate targets.

 

But the Ryder Cup experienced softened his somewhat hardened heart and I'm sure age and, of course, a desire to be accepted more readily by the golf establishment softened his commentary. When he debuted on NBC he looked like a kid whose mother had just combed his hair for church. 😄

 

I suppose oohs and aaahs are part of the gig because they reflect or verbalize emotional reactions but 'THAT is a GREAT shot' is surplus to requirements, a statement of the bleeding obvious and a dereliction of duty by someone paid to explain how and why it was great. We can see it's close to the pin for ourselves.

[animalgolfs]

13 minutes ago, chillybilly said:

Perhaps it's been said upthread or elsewhere on this site but Azinger's best role was as The Sharp Tongue in a three-man booth where another analyst was responsible for gilding the lily thus freeing Zinger up to criticize, complain and skewer his unfortunate targets.

 

But the Ryder Cup experienced softened his somewhat hardened heart and I'm sure age and, of course, a desire to be accepted more readily by the golf establishment softened his commentary. When he debuted on NBC he looked like a kid whose mother had just combed his hair for church. 😄

 

I suppose oohs and aaahs are part of the gig because they reflect or verbalize emotional reactions but 'THAT is a GREAT shot' is surplus to requirements, a statement of the bleeding obvious and a dereliction of duty by someone paid to explain how and why it was great. We can see it's close to the pin for ourselves.

You're wanting the Gator Zing

 

Good Luck on That🤣

[dab36]

I get so attached to voices, Miller, Alliss, Summerall and in other sports too, Brennamen, Enberg, Madden, Gowdy, etc....so hard for me to adapt to new announcers, Zinger has gotten better over the years, less sharp and definitive now in opinions, but his voice will never be iconic.  I love the euro guys in the morning.  They are more chill, I tend not to enjoy "type a" announcers. 

[golfheaven69]

No issue with Azinger. Leonard is painful to watch and listen too.