I’m sitting in my Man Cave watching the USA telecast of the 150th Open Championship that is taking place July 16-19 at St. Andrews, the home of golf. But all this time while viewing, I haven’t seen Harold Varner III hit a shot, hit a putt, or even put a tee in the ground, and mine you, he’s playing with Jordan Speith and Jon Rahn, two iconic golf figures, who are getting plenty of televised coverage.
Lord knows we all love Tiger, but he’s +6 and has 0 chance of even making the cut, yet the USA television coverage is showing every shot he hits and even that of driven 61-year-old golf veteran Mark Calcavecchia, who was +21 got coverage.
Come on now, let’s not be that obvious. If St. Andrews is the home of golf and the “Holy Grail” that Tiger, Rory, and everybody say it is, I would think it would want to be looked upon as being “Inclusive”. But not showing the only other golfer of color in the entire field other than Tiger is not what I consider “Inclusive”.
Even USA broadcaster Nick Faldo, Hall Of Fame golfer, hasn’t mentioned one thing about the disparity.
Now, if Harold, listed 38th in the PGA Tour world ranking, decided to join the so-called “Enemy” LIV Tour, he would no doubt get some TV coverage then. And just for the record, this is not the first time Harold has been overlooked during tournament broadcasts. While we as a people are still on a quest for equality and a more level playing field, it’s time the PGA Tour, USGA, R&A, DP World Tour, etc. all walk the walk, and not just talk the talk.
John Perry is a freelance writer, poet and active golfer with a passion for calling shots like he sees them and, then, telling it like it is. He resides in Orlando, Florida.