"Due Process" article in Golf Magazine June 2003

[mikeyolympic]

i had a chance to read this article in golf magazine's june 2003 issue about how the USGA sets up its pairings, and how ABC got jipped from no longer telecasting all USGA events since 1994 at oakmont.

what did you think about how the pairings are done and how executive network producers have a hand in it? do you think that's unfortunate, or just part of the corporate business side of a major championship these days... frank hannigan, former USGA exec director, freaked out when he heard tom meeks doing this according to the article...

to be honest... i'm glad NBC took over the USGA coverage from ABC. NBC's coverage is emmy-award winning, and it just stands out from the rest of any golf coverage (CBS's coverage is pathetic...catering to dead grandpas)... i like NBC's coverage of the US Open because they just show everything... from when the players enter the facility, to them practicing, and the players getting announced on the first tee... great TV...

[Andrew_Roberts]

Well there is something positive about the executive's influence.  It usually makes for good TV and great pairings.  Should it be this way.  Probably not.  Personally, for just one year I would like to see the pairings totally random except for the defending champion's.  

Would it not be cool to see one of the top players in the world paired with some club pro from Odessa Texas who might not break 80.

How the pairings are done is probably a good thing.

[buffett_guy]

There is a good section about how USGA pairings are done in Feinstein's new book "Open". I think a lot of people are aware that there are some not-so-coincidental pairings some times. However, in the book it is revealed that after the USGA realized it was going over the top on some of the pairings they tried to tone it down and transferred the pairing duties to someone else.

Examples: Jerk parings, Mental pairings, hothead pairings, reunion pairings, etc.