OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
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SUMMER 2015
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obsports.com
where all I do is talk about and play
golf, and then coming home and just
being a dad.
As a kid did you always want to be
a commentator, too? I actually never
thought about commentating. My focus
in college, besides golf, was education. I
was originally a business major. I was
playing a lot of golf though, and it's
hard to be gone for two weeks and then
come back and keep up with the aca-
demic demands of a major like that. I
was good even then at speaking in front
of people, so I changed my major to
communications.
When I was on the PGA Tour, I was
asked to write a column for Golf
World, about being a rookie on
tour, and then one for Sports
Illustrated. As time went on,
people in TV would ask me
to come be a guest on their
shows for a few minutes to talk
about the columns I was writing. I
was asked to do more and more shows,
and I would say, "What are you talking
about? I'm busy! I'm a golfer!" But they
just kept asking … and sooner or later I
was doing TV.
In all my years of playing and com-
mentating, I've never quit studying the
game. I'm always reading and analyz-
ing and watching and analyzing.
What is the best thing about your
job at Golf Channel? My favorite part
is trying to answer questions, and try-
ing to figure things out. Trying to make
sense of why someone who should win
doesn't, or why someone who shouldn't
win does.
I also love the atmosphere of golf. It's
a way of life as much as it is a sport. My
job takes me to great places, and the
people I meet are the greatest sports
fans, in terms of decorum and the pas-
sion with which they play the game.
There's a lot of civility in this sport.
What is the most challenging as-
pect of your job? At some point some-
body loses, and you have to say why.
There's always only one person that
wins, and a lot of people that lose. So I
have to try to make sense of why they
lost. And a lot of time that rubs people
the wrong way. But it's part of my job.
We'll spend 10 minutes talking about
why someone won, and then it in-
evitably turns to, "Okay, now why did
so-and-so lose?" So I'll give my reasons,
and then the golfers all talk about what
Brandel said about them on TV. And the
next time I see them they're mad at me.
But my job requires me to answer those
questions. I have to have an answer.
And I'm prepared – I research my opin-
ions for hours and hours and hours. By
the time I'm asked those questions I'm
ready, but I still get the "Who are you to
tell me why?"
What's your greatest strength as a
broadcaster? I think my attention to
detail. I do a lot of research, and I take
that part passionately. I pursue every
angle. When I get up on the set, I feel
CLICK
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BRANDEL
CHAMBLEE ON
THE CITY HE
LOVES
HOT
LINKS
›› CLICK HERE to read
Brandel Chamblee's per-
sonal blog, where he shares
valuable tips and insight.
›› CLICK HERE to experi-
ence Scottsdale golf and
learn more about the region.
VIDEO EXTRA!
››
CLICK HERE to watch
Chamblee discuss PGA Tour
players on Golf Channel.
l
Q&A
Brandel Chamblee on Golf Channel.
