ATLANTA — It’s a steamy, sweaty Friday at East Lake, as temperatures have soared above 90 levels, a typical late summer time day in Georgia. However the warmth and humidity don’t decelerate NBC Sports activities’ Curt Byrum, the broadcasting veteran who has referred to as as a lot golf in 2024 as anybody.
He shall be out on the course once more as Lead Producer Tommy Roy gave him one other high-profile task: to stroll with and report on Xander Schauffele and Adam Scott, the penultimate second-round pairing on the Tour Championship.
Therefore, Byrum determined to don a white NBC Sports activities shirt and a white NBC Sports activities hat, hoping his outfit would assist him keep cool whereas calling the motion from contained in the ropes. Thick sun shades additionally praise his outfit, which, just like the PGA Tour professionals, additionally features a pair of pants—a should for all broadcasters. Absolutely, he would do his greatest to seek out as a lot shade as attainable, a way more difficult job after architect Andrew Inexperienced took down “numerous” timber in his current restoration of East Lake. However Byrum is rarely bothered by the circumstances, regardless of how unhealthy they might be.
He loves the sport and his job an excessive amount of to care.
Look no additional than this 12 months’s third spherical of The Open at Royal Troon, which Byrum described as his favourite second of the 12 months.
Benign climate within the morning gave method to a hellish afternoon in Scotland, among the worst circumstances the game had ever seen. Gale-force winds, rain, and colder temperatures made it virtually unattainable to grip a membership. Situations have been so unhealthy that Schauffele couldn’t even lookup on the leaderboards from beneath his umbrella. But, Schauffele carded a 2-under 69, a spherical of epic proportions that performed an enormous function in him successful the Claret Jug the subsequent day. However strolling step-for-step with him and his taking part in accomplice Patrick Cantlay was Byrum, who referred to as the motion and soaked in each second with pleasure.
“That spherical, for some cause, actually stands out in my thoughts,” Byrum mentioned when reflecting on that afternoon at Troon.
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Along with his real admiration for the sport, Byrum’s perspective as a former PGA Tour professional makes him a terrific broadcaster. He gained the 1989 John Deere Basic and competed in eight main championships, even tying for 14th on the 1987 PGA Championship at PGA Nationwide. No surprise why he has spent over 20 years calling golf.
His outlook on that Saturday at Troon proves why he has been such a fixture on tv for over twenty years:
“If you happen to get off to a foul begin on a wet day like that, a participant may come aside on the seams and simply not have that angle to hold in there and grind all day. Nevertheless it says all the pieces that you must find out about Xander. He by no means provides up. He could be a couple over and is at all times in tremendous grind mode, making an attempt to hit each shot the very best he can,” Byrum mentioned.
“[That day] ranks fairly excessive [in terms of challenging conditions]. However [Schauffele] made it look fairly simple that day.”
After all, Byrum has spent loads of time within the cozy confines of the printed sales space, the place climate-controlled temperatures preserve the announcers snug. Different occasions, he’s located in a tower overlooking one of many holes, offering perception into the way it performs on any given day. He’s a jack-of-all-trades, a Swiss military knife, having no desire on the place he’s assigned. That retains it “contemporary,” he says.
“I take pleasure in all of it,” Byrum mentioned with a captivating chuckle and smile.
“No matter they inform me to do, I’ll be there.”
Maybe no one in golf has had a busier schedule this 12 months than Byrum, who seems on tv virtually each week. He referred to as the motion at each Signature Occasion. He additionally referred to as Bryson DeChambeau’s U.S. Open triumph and was clearly at Royal Troon. The week earlier than Schauffele gained, Byrum was in Scotland, too. He referred to as the primary two rounds of the Scottish Open from the sales space for the Golf Channel however stayed at The Reinassance Membership all through the weekend. He did the lead-in telecast for the third and ultimate rounds, a staple for him and the Golf Channel for when CBS has the late-afternoon rights.
Byrum had numerous weeks like this all through 2024, beginning with The Sentry in Hawaii.
The one notable occasions he missed have been The Masters and the PGA Championship, which ESPN broadcasts on days one and two, giving Byrum a little bit reprieve. But when Golf Channel and NBC Sports activities had these occasions, Byrum would undoubtedly be there.
“I’ve had a terrific schedule,” Byrum mentioned.
“I like working.”
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When Byrum arrives on the golf course for the week, he checks the tee occasions earlier than anything. He needs to see who will play in a given TV window and can then focus his prep from there. He’ll undergo stats, outcomes, and traits, touching up on everybody earlier than heading over to the driving vary, considered one of his favourite spots. Byrum will then chat with gamers to get a way of how they really feel, achieve a greater understanding of their mindset, and ask in the event that they made any gear modifications. All of that helps make for a extra insightful broadcast for the viewer at dwelling.
But when a participant is occupied with observe or doesn’t really feel conversational, Byrum will speak to a caddy, a swing coach, or an agent as a substitute. He’s naturally personable, so this a part of the job is easy. Nevertheless it additionally helps that he’s a former participant, making it simple for him to resonate with the sport’s present stars.
Heck, Byrum performs with a handful of prime gamers when he’s at dwelling in Scottsdale. He has performed quite a few rounds with 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark. He additionally performs fairly a bit with J.J. Spaun. Beau Hossler not too long ago moved to the neighborhood, so Bryum has teed it up with him as properly.
“I at all times have an open invite with a handful of fellows to come back down,” Byrum mentioned.
“It’s actually enjoyable to get them off the tour and be snug. Spending the day with them that means is way more enjoyable.”
Byrum has loads of enjoyable deliberate for this autumn, which features a a lot lighter broadcasting schedule after the Tour Championship wraps up on Sunday. He deserves a while off, in any case.
He’ll head to Napa Valley for the primary occasion of the FedEx Cup Fall, the Procore Championship. Then, he’ll crisscross North America, going to Royal Montreal for the President’s Cup.
After that, Byrum can have roughly two months off, throughout which he’ll golf in Scottsdale and take a prolonged journey to his native South Dakota, the place his 92-year-old mom nonetheless lives. He’ll spend time together with her at dwelling. He can even hunt and fish together with his brother Tom, who simply retired from taking part in on the PGA Tour Champions.
Then, in early December, he’ll head to the Bahamas for the Hero World Problem, the place he sat within the lead analyst chair a 12 months in the past alongside Dan Hicks. It stays to be seen if he’ll achieve this once more, however he can little doubt deal with the task—identical to another job Roy and co-producer Tom Randolph throw his means.
Byrum has develop into probably the most devoted and dependable broadcasters within the business, lending his knowledge to tens of millions of golf followers all over the world. He has additionally leaned closely on his producers, studying from them week in and week out to hone his craft and develop into the very best of the very best.
It has been one outstanding season on the PGA Tour, which has seen Scottie Scheffler win The Masters, The Gamers, 4 Signature Occasions, and a gold medal on the Olympics (Sure, Byrum was in Paris, too). However Schauffele gained a pair of majors, making this 12 months one to recollect for many years to come back. And calling all of it was Byrum, the person who loves his job, this recreation, and the gamers as a lot as anybody, making him a outstanding and underrated broadcaster. So be careful for Byrum all through 2025; he definitely shall be onerous to overlook.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
