Television executives and PGA Tour organizers should actively encourage more players to participate in golf broadcasts for their ‘Walk-and-Talk’ interviews, a feature that has become increasingly popular during weekend telecasts.
Fans, media personnel, and fellow players have all been treated to engaging content and insightful conversations, exemplified by MacKenzie Hughes’ recent dialogue with Jim Nantz on CBS during the Genesis Invitational.
Adding to the roster of compelling walk-and-talks is England’s Matt Wallace.
During the third round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta, Wallace graciously agreed to chat with the NBC broadcast team while navigating the par-5 14th hole.
Despite finding himself in the rough after missing the fairway, Wallace faced a challenging 265 yards to the flag. Undeterred, he opted for his 3-wood, aiming for the green despite the water hazard looming short and right.
Unfortunately, his shot found the pond, spinning off course to the right.
“I thought the lie was good enough,” Wallace candidly shared with NBC’s audience immediately after the errant shot.
“We knew it’d come out a little spinny. Wind out of the right, it was a perfect number for 3-wood. I didn’t expect it really to come out that spinny and that cutty… Yeah, it’s not quite going my way today.”
At that juncture, Wallace stood at 11-under, even par for the day. Despite a subsequent bogey on the 14th, he rebounded with a birdie on the subsequent hole, the par-4 15th, ultimately carding an even-par 71 for the day.
Understandably, the Manchester United supporter expressed frustration, particularly after witnessing his team’s 2-1 loss to Fulham earlier in the day, a team his caddy, Samuel Bernard, roots for. NBC’s lead announcer, Dan Hicks, lightened the mood with a jest about United’s defeat.
Navigating such conversations proved challenging for Wallace, especially given his shared lead at the start of Saturday’s third round, following impressive rounds of 66 and 65 on Thursday and Friday.
Nonetheless, he exhibited remarkable resilience and fortitude, mirroring his performance on the 15th hole.
“This is all part of it, isn’t it?” Wallace remarked.
“I need to deal with this. I need to get stronger. I need to play better golf and accept it. Get this up and down, and we go again. I can’t do anything more than what I’m trying to do right now. It’s just not going my way [today].”
Jack Milko serves as a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, visit @_PlayingThrough and follow him on Twitter @jack_milko.
