NBC’s biggest star has been following Bryson to the Open – for a surprising reason

SOUTHPORT, England — On the small list of witnesses who may be punished by Bryson DeChambeau’s two world penalties on Friday at the Open Championship, there is at least one who came in as a surprise.

In his name? Mike Tirico. The leading voice of NBC Sports and the famous sports broadcaster calls the action this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from the golf course at Royal Birkdale, but on Friday afternoon enjoy the fun from a slightly different perspective. In a peach-colored NBC Sports polo and pants, he went all 18 holes with the golfer who drilled the straightest hole in the golf side: Bryson DeChambeau.

Tirico was not his usual self Friday afternoon. Instead of taking the stage in the booth overlooking the 18th street, Tirico was enjoying the second of two unusual days in his life as a broadcasting star. The USA Network has coverage from all of the first two days at the Open, meaning Tirico doesn’t have to spend most of his days on the air.

And how did Tirico spend his time? By going 18 holes alongside a team that included DeChambeau, that proved to be good luck for the golf broadcaster hoping to get the inside scoop on the weekend’s story.

But here’s where things come up indeed pleasure. Tirico wasn’t just coming into the wire as a broadcaster, he’d taken a gig as a member of the production crew – playing ear and microphone as he relayed information over the phone to the production truck.

Tirico served as a “watcher.” It was his job to track players and golf balls as well as club selection and other advanced production truck.

“He’s helping people over there in the truck,” said Tirico GOLF On Friday. “He calls and says, ‘Whoever’s next, he’s getting his second shot.’ You look at every shot of every player to make sure the broadcaster knows the shot and what the shot is doing at the end.”

The spotter is an important role in any golf broadcast – the person responsible for keeping the radio chaos in order. But as any self-respecting site will tell you, it’s not a regular job for Super Bowl commentators.

In fact, scouts and runners are common first jobs for college-bound students, which makes Tirico’s participation on Friday all the more interesting.

What on earth was he doing in this fight? It’s easy. He was making progress.

“Actually, I wanted to learn a trade,” said Friday. “If you learn how things work behind the scenes, hopefully it will make you better.”

Tirico saw nothing wrong with DeChambeau’s shot on the 5th hole that eventually led to two penalties. At least not in the sense that it will be top of mind in the minutes following DeChambeau’s round. The most memorable shot of the day, he said, was Scottie Scheffler’s on the 17th.

“Scottie, three, seventeen,” he said, practicing the native language that he had obviously learned in the afternoon.” “Even though he didn’t make birdies today, that shot was it’s unbelievable.”

Although it may it seems It is surprising to see such a famous sports broadcaster in such an unlikely place, the truth is very rare. In Tirico’s long and decorated career, he has earned a reputation as a tireless worker and seeker of sports knowledge. Those who know him say he collects sports broadcast memorabilia the way some people collect art – willing to travel long distances and make a lot of noise to get another shot at his collection. He does it from time to time in the hope that it will make him better or stronger, but mostly because of the true love of the job.

As it turns out, a few doses of limited professional development are worth 18 holes and five hours of work under the hot sun. You have to love it. Tirico does it.

“I’ve been covering major tournaments since 1997, I’ve never finished a full round in the majors,” he said. “Every shot was amazing. Bryson’s ball went off the face of the team noise of that. Power in the team. Everything was really good.”

Tirico said he was happy to return to his home the original work when play resumed on Saturday morning at the Open Championship, and for good reason. In less than two days, he’ll help the NBC Sports team — from broadcasters to grounders to spotters — tell golf’s ultimate 2026 story.

But if you want to know How did you do it? If you wanted to know what it takes to be one of the best?

You only needed to travel on Friday to the Open Championship near Tirico, where a long journey under the sun culminated in first-person access to the tournament’s biggest story.

It was a little shot of dumb luck, yes. But a very large dose of good karma.

Mike Tirico has that these days. He has earned it.

You can reach the author at james.colgan@golf.com.

“>