One of the most popular personalities in golf, David Feherty just returned from PyeongChang where he worked as a correspondent on NBC’s Olympics coverage and now turns his attention back to golf, where he will play a key role in NBC Sports’ coverage of the PGA Tour over the next four weeks leading up to the Masters. Meanwhile, his Emmy-nominated Feherty series returns tonight with the launch of season eight in its familiar 9p slot on Golf Channel, with the premiere episode featuring Rickie Fowler, Jack Nicklaus and tennis doubles champion Bob Bryan – as the show debuts a new multi-guest format in 2018. Cynopsis Sports asked Feherty about PyeongChang, what we can expect this year with NBC and his dream guest…
Feherty on his experiences in PyeongChang: Much colder than the Summer Olympics as it turns out. I fell in love with a few of the sports seeing them up close for the first time: short track speed skating, ski jumping and the sliding sports. The people of South Korea were very kind and helpful. What little English they spoke was still better than my Korean.
On season eight: We surpassed 100 episodes last year and since the show wasn’t broken, naturally we decided to fix it anyway by introducing a multi-guest roundtable format in 2018. We’ve shot four episodes using this new style so far and while it’s taken some getting used to, I’m most surprised by the unique moments it allows for. Like if former NBA champ Ray Allen asks World Series champ Jon Lester a question amidst crosstalk on the couch, it’s just as relevant as a question I might ask, and probably more interesting.
On being a host: I do my best to stay out of the way and let the guest offer insight on what makes them stand out amongst their peers. They’re guests, not victims. I’m not here to skewer anybody, and hopefully it helps for them to know that going in.
On his dream guest: Probably Tiger Woods – but only provided he’s in a place where he feels like he can be himself and be vulnerable. He’s been suffocated by media for so long and because of it, he’s offered the same canned responses to every reporter sticking a microphone in his face. I’d like for others to see the side of Tiger that I’ve known for 20+ years since he was a young kid on the PGA TOUR.
On the state of golf: Golf is in a great place at the moment with kids like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler leading the way and making the sport cool again. When you add Tiger to that mix if he continues his recent good form, the effect could really be something to behold. The game is so much better with him in it.