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NAPLES, Fla. - He's from Bangor, Northern Ireland, has five European Tour titles, played in the 1991 Ryder Cup and will be broadcasting his sixth Franklin Templeton Shootout this week at Tiburón.
David Feherty is a whimsical personality who traded in the clubs for a microphone in 1996 and can be found roaming the fairways for CBS.
"I really don't bring anything except the here and now, and a keen sense of the absurd," Feherty quipped. "I don't prepare for a telecast the way a tower announcer has to. I don't know where the guy went to college, how many dogs he has or what kind of music he likes. I'm just whacking myself in the forehead with my microphone a lot. I show up, they plug me in and I just sort of go off."
His knowledge of the game and professional playing career gave him instant credibility, and his quick wit and colorful analysis add a new dimension to golf telecasts. His approach to broadcasting is appreciated by golf fans and critics alike.
The Shootout caps a 17-event season for Feherty, and he is very much looking forward to this week's festivities.
Announcers, like players, prepare differently for each tournament. The relaxed atmosphere in Naples suits the comical Irishman perfectly.
"For a guy like me there's a lot more leeway this week," he said. "I have to mind my p's and q's and this is like a breath of fresh air especially with me being on the fairway. Golf can be pretty serious, and while there's a lot of money to be played for here, the guys are willing to loosen up a little.
"This week is really about the kids though, and I love being a part of that. Greg and Laura do so much for the NCCF. They reach out in so many ways."
He said it's a testament to the Normans and the tournament staff when so many players return year after year.
Feherty was a five handicap and a youthful 17 years of age when he abandoned school and decided to invest all his time in golf. (He wanted to be an opera singer, but said the last thing the world needs is another mediocre Irish tenor.) He dreaded telling his father, but fondly recalls the response.
"He asked if it gave me goose bumps," Feherty said. "I said yes and he said, 'Well, you better do it.' He never gave me the impression that it might be a bad idea."
Feherty's success extends beyond broadcasting. He is an accomplished author, currently writing a monthly column for GOLF Magazine and another for Golfonline that appears twice a month. He rarely writes about golf, rather some social aspect that runs parallel to the game. He is currently working on a story about a fictional golf club in the United Kingdom.
Feherty, 44, lives in Dallas with his wife, Anita, and their five children. The sweltering summer heat took some getting used to, but the central location suits his hectic travel schedule well.
"It's a great city to leave," he said. "I love coming back, but leaving is perhaps easier than any other city in the U.S. I drive to the airport, park about 100 yards from the plane and I'm gone."
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