For a very long time — most of his profession, in actual fact — Trevor Immelman by no means needed to step into the broadcasting sales space.
“I did not give it some thought in any respect whereas enjoying,” Immelman informed Yahoo Sports activities. “I used to be very considerate, centered on myself, my recreation and the way I might attempt to enhance and obtain the objectives I set for myself.”
However on Friday, Immelman will take over as one in all golf’s chief analysts. The previous Masters champion is ready to make his debut as a CBS golf analyst on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open, which begins Wednesday, at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
“I’m so excited,” stated Immelman. “I am so excited. I am so humbled by the truth that I have been given this chance. I’ve solely been doing tv for 5 or 6 years, and all of the sudden discovering myself on this place with this chance is so humbled. However I am unable to wait.”
Substituting for Nick Faldo
Immelman has not been on tv for lengthy. He was nonetheless competing as of 2019.
The 43-year-old South African has received twice on the PGA Tour in his profession, most notably on the Masters in 2008. Immelman beat Tiger Woods by three strokes that 12 months at Augusta Nationwide in what was by far the most important win of his profession.
Immelman can be a six-time worldwide, performed on two Presidents Cup groups and was the worldwide group captain for the 2022 Presidents Cup in North Carolina.
Though he had not performed significantly on tour for a number of years, Immelmann was nonetheless competing in 2019. He final competed within the Portugal Masters that 12 months on the DP World Tour, which got here after simply 4 appearances on the tour at that season.
However together with his enjoying profession winding down, Immelman started working with The Golf Channel in 2017, then joined CBS as an analyst two years later.
Immelman stated shifting into broadcasting was one thing he by no means thought-about when he was nonetheless competing. Then, subsequent factor he knew, Immelmann was proper within the combine.
“I received into it fairly rapidly,” stated Immelman. “It solely began to germinate as soon as I received on TV, and it has been an incredible journey over the previous 5 or 6 years.”
He rapidly rose by the ranks at CBS, and received the decision final fall — simply minutes earlier than he went on the air on The Golf Channel — that the community needed him to interchange Nick Faldo, who had been He retired after 16 years at that place.
Trevor Immelman joins the unique membership within the function of Principal Golf Analyst
The job itself was not held by many. In his 66 years of overlaying the PGA Tour, Immelman will probably be solely the fifth particular person to tackle the lead analyst function — one thing he stated he realized solely final week.
“I used to be blown away…that was one of many moments when all of this grew to become extra actual as we counted the times to Torrey Pines,” stated Immelman.
Immelman will probably be thrown into the combo immediately this week on Torrey Pines, the primary of 23 occasions CBS will air this season. The community will broadcast each The Masters and the PGA Championship, 11 of the 17 new “excessive” occasions and all three FedExCup Playoff occasions this fall.
Though he’ll be alongside longtime announcer Jim Nantz all season, Immelman’s first trip on this spot goes to be a bit distinctive. Nantes will name the championship remotely from Kansas Metropolis, the place he’ll speak in regards to the AFC Championship recreation between the Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.
“It could be totally different, for positive… We’ve Jim Nantz, maybe probably the most legendary sportscaster in American historical past, shepherding us by this,” Immelman stated. “I undoubtedly belief him and his expertise.”
Immelman is aware of he has massive footwear to fill. However, no less than at first, he tries to not concentrate on something aside from being himself.
“I am unable to act like, or say issues like, what different individuals on this place have performed,” Immelman stated. “I’ve to be myself. I’ve to be genuine. I’ve to be sincere. I’ve to let my love for the game shine by. I feel if I do this, if I take off the shackles so to talk, we’ll see what occurs from there. … Most significantly That, on the finish of the day, it’s important to be entertaining.
“If somebody goes to go forward and sit on the sofa and make investments their treasured time watching PGA TOUR golf on CBS, it should be entertaining.”
Though his golf profession ended quicker than he anticipated, Immelman is totally embracing this second chapter in golf.