David Feherty may land a new television home this week. Sort of.
Multiple sources indicate the longtime CBS on-course reporter is close to moving to NBC/Golf Channel where he will continue his interview show and work broadcasts for the network. A spokesman for the Golf Channel did not answer a request for confirmation and Feherty's agent, Andy Elkin at CAA, had no comment.
Many in the golf television community did not take the CBS breakup at face value, expecting that negotiations broke down with Feherty's 19-year home and would be drawn out over the coming months. But sources say CBS, which does not televise a golf tournament again until next January, was sincere in letting Feherty go. Should Feherty sign this week with NBC/Golf Channel or his only other option, Fox Sports, it will kick off several possible talent moves as CBS looks to replace the highly visible on-course reporter role and its 15th hole broadcast position at the Masters.
With the end of the 2014-'15 PGA Tour season, several contracts are also up across the golf television world, though none would involve the primary broadcast teams of Dan Hicks/Johnny Miller (NBC), Jim Nantz/Nick Faldo (CBS) and Joe Buck/Greg Norman (Fox Sports).
As for the normally ubiquitous Feherty, he has been keeping a low profile, briefly turning up at a charity event where he declined to discuss his situation. But Feherty can be seen this week on Golf Channel after having recorded new commentaries for Tuesday's encore showing of his 2012 interview with Donald Trump, the current leader in all polls for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. The sitdown is a perfect primer for Wednesday's CNN-televised Republican presidential debate.
Equipment Changes In The Wind?
With wraparound golf giving little time for players to rest before the 2015-'16 PGA Tour season starts, start looking for a flurry of endorsement activity after more playoff eliminations at this week's BMW Championship (from Conway Farms GC, coverage begins at 3 pm ET Thursday on Golf Channel).
Several big ticket players will be announcing changes in the weeks following the Tour Championship. The most famous name up for grabs include Dustin Johnson, whose future with longtime partner TaylorMade is a little less clear following last year's sabbatical. Though it's hard to imagine the two breaking up. Also up for new equipment deals are Brooks Koepka (currently with Titleist) and Louis Oosthuizen (Ping).
Also On TV…
Golf Channel is all in on this week's Solheim Cup with 10 hours of coverage Friday and Saturday, plus the 90-minute opening ceremony Thursday and Sunday's singles play. Terry Gannon and Judy Rankin will host for the duration.
"I think the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup add some sort of -- they add something to what we know as professional golf that's a little unfamiliar week by week," says Rankin. "It brings on emotion, and I think emotion is what makes it so much fun."
Golf Channel Solheim Cup Week (all times Eastern)
Thursday, Sept. 17 - Solheim Cup Opening Ceremony, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18 - Solheim Cup, Day 1, 2 a.m.-Noon
Saturday, Sept. 19 - Solheim Cup, Day 2, 2 a.m.-Noon
Sunday, Sept. 20 - Solheim Cup, Final Day, 4:30-11 a.m.
Germany's St. Leon-Rot Golf Club hosts the event and if you're looking for a Final Jeopardy stumper, the Dave Thomas-designed course may just provide it: At what course did Tiger Woods post his win in Europe?
That's right, the club hosted a Woods victory in 1999 at the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open TPC of Europe, his second in a year he won 10 times including the PGA Championship. It's also when his sleeves reached past his elbows:
On The Web…
Callaway's weekly live talk show hosted by Harry Arnett books its first musical guest week: Iration. The Tuesday airing at 9 p.m. ET from Callaway's Carlsbad studio will include a musical performance. The Santa Barbara "sunshine reggae" band joins a diverse list of characters to have appeared on the first-year show, including former Ford and Boeing CEO Alan Mulally, legendary broadcaster Dick Enberg, amateur golf great Buddy Marucci, tour player Tony Finau and Golf Channel Executive Producer Molly Solomon, among others.
The show has moved to Tuesdays for the remainder of its season, which ends in four weeks.