Having opted to not signal a non-disclosure settlement with LIV Golf, Gary McCord confirmed on Saturday that he has had talks with the upstart tour about becoming a member of its broadcast workforce for its 14-event schedule in 2023.
No deal is imminent, he mentioned, however the former CBS announcer has had two conferences with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, and a 3rd assembly, through Zoom, is on his docket this week.
“You all the time should hearken to what somebody has to say when they’re excited about providing you a job, particularly at my age,” McCord, who turned 74 in Might, mentioned by cellphone from his dwelling in Scottsdale, Ariz. “I’m principally rounding third right here, career-wise, and it’s type of good to have the cellphone ring.”
A former PGA Tour participant and three-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions, McCord used his wry humor and irreverence to carve out a profitable broadcasting profession with CBS Sports activities over 4 many years beginning in 1986. CBS opted to not renew his contract after the 2019 season. He at the moment co-hosts a weekly program on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio known as “The Dry Heave” with former CBS colleague David Feherty and Drew Stoltz.
LIV Golf made official on Friday what had been rumored for days when it introduced that Feherty, who had been working for NBC, has joined its broadcast workforce. It isn’t but recognized if Feherty can proceed on the radio program as a result of it airs on the PGA Tour’s SiriusXM platform. The tour has banned all gamers who’ve jumped to the Saudi-backed collection that can stage its third occasion within the coming week at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey.
McCord didn’t disclose any potential monetary phrases being supplied as a result of he doesn’t know and doesn’t wish to know. “I advised my agent to not point out any numbers as a result of I don’t wish to decide simply primarily based on cash,” he mentioned. “You recognize me; there are all kinds of issues happening in my head.”
What intrigues him, he mentioned, is the potential for reuniting on air with Feherty, who has remained a detailed good friend after the native of Northern Eire left for NBC in 2016, and maybe additionally working extra intently with Charles Barkley, the favored NBA analyst for TNT. McCord and Barkley have beforehand teamed up as broadcast companions for a few editions of “The Match,” a collection of made-for TV golf showdowns which have aired on TNT.
“Yeah, I feel it could be enjoyable to trip in that clown automobile with these two,” McCord mentioned, laughing. “There’s a whole lot of potential there for some entertaining methods of doing this. Proper now, I’m simply listening and taking all of it in and seeing the place this factor goes. No matter your emotions proper now about LIV—and everybody has their opinions—you possibly can’t deny it’s the most important factor going so far as what individuals are speaking about, and will probably be fascinating to see what golf appears like within the subsequent 5 years.”
