Fans were treated to a new initiative for the PGA Tour as Max Homa was mic’d up during the Farmers Insurance Open (opens in new tab). Previously, players like Scott Hend and Dean Burmester have been mic’d during tournament play on the DP World Tour, with the format also being used during several of The Matches.
At Torrey Pines (opens in new tab), it made for fantastic viewing for those at home, with Homa explaining how he will play certain shots and his thought process, as well as an amusing rules situation which involved the American calling for a rules official after his ball was plugged in the grass.
On Friday, TV network CBS was making its debut of presenting the PGA Tour coverage and, previously stating in the No Laying Up podcast (opens in new tab), Homa revealed that he did help suggest the feature of being mic’d up during tournament play.
One fantastic example of the walk and talk feature being used, came at the 13th hole, with Homa speaking to Trevor Immelman, the new lead analyst, Frank Nobilo, Ian Baker-Finch and Colt Knost, about how he played his tee shot, implying that he only hits a draw off the tee once a tournament. He also noted how he attacks par 5s if he can go for the green with his second shot, stating that he doesn’t aim at the flag when he is hitting his approach shot in.
The introduction comes in as the PGA Tour continues to improve its product, especially with the recent threat of LIV Golf. The PGA Tour has already been working with Netflix on a behind the scenes docuseries (opens in new tab), set to release on the 15th February and, with the introduction of players being mic’d up, it’s yet another initiative that will bring fans closer to the action and hopefully give them an edge over the Saudi-backed series.
So, how did users react to the new feature? Well, rather well, as many praised the initiative and wanted to see more of it in future events. Homa himself was also pleased with how it went down, as the 32-year-old stated: “Yeah, I think it went well. There were a couple bumps, but overall I was pretty happy with it. I hope the fans at home liked it and I hope that we can do something like that, if not the same thing, going forward.
“I thought it was good. I thought it was good to have insight on the golf course. Obviously it’s going to take us as players being a lot more flexible, but this is an entertainment product and that means we should entertain.”
Homa sits in a tie for fourth, five shots back of the lead
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