So, TNT bought the rights to early-round coverage of this year's PGA Championship, golf's fourth major tournament. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are paired together for the first two days of the four-day event. The ideal pairing. A marketer's and advertiser's dream. The top two in the world. Huge fan bases. Endorsement megastars. An intense and often icy rivalry. The biggest draw in golf, arguably in sports. TNT will cover the entire afternoon.
Only, Tiger vs. Phil tees off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Now, I know I only work at ABC 4 TV in Salt Lake City, and we're only the 35th largest TV market in the nation, so perhaps I'm speaking out of turn here, but WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING, TNT?! Which TNT executive's grandmother needed to see her reruns of ER instead of the best major tournament pairing of all time (and one that may never be repeated, ever)? Golf on TV has enough marketing and survival issues without this travesty of exclusion.
So come on, Ted Turner. Pony up the extra several million that the PGA is undoubtedly asking for to buy the first few hours of the round. Earn my loyalty as a viewer. Make millions of TiVo owners happy. Do the right thing.
And Phil, to ensure a competitive round... please leave that damn driver in the bag.
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