Jim Gray removed from Golf Channel after confrontation with caddie
Jim Gray, everyone’s favorite reporter (insert sarcasm) may have lost all semblance of integrity over the summer what with the “Decision” debacle and the alleged threats to Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin. Well, according to the Associated Press, Gray is at it once again.
Gray “was” covering the Northern Trust Open for the Golf Channel this week but a report indicates that he was removed for his handling of Dustin Johnson’s penalty which was enforced due to being late for his tee time. Johnson’s caddie, Bobby Brown (no, not Whitney’s Bobby Brown) was either at fault or he’s falling on his sword to protect his star golfer as he admitted to mixing up the times for the opening round which cost Johnson a two stroke penalty.
Brown indicates that Jim Gray approached Dustin Johnson on his way to the 14th tee to ask him why he was late to open the round and the tournament. Brown then approached Gray following the round to notify him that the middle of the round was not the appropriate time to ask the question.
The Golf Channel released this statement regarding the situation:
“Our aim is to provide the best possible golf coverage for our viewers. Anything else is a disservice. In order not to provide further distraction, we’ve decided to remove Jim from this particular assignment.”
As I referenced before, this is not the first time Gray was in a public argument involving the golf world and a similar move was made by the Golf Channel last August as well at the PGA Championship because of the heated altercation between Gray and Pavin.
In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t all that exciting, but as far as the PGA Tour is concerned, this is some pretty scandalous stuff! Gray clearly isn’t able to conduct himself in a professional manner and you just have to wonder when the Golf Channel will get fed up with his antics and stop hiring him for events. Gray is considered a “freelance” reporter so he’s not under contract with the Golf Channel and he is only hired for select events.
I can’t imagine the public holds any affinity towards him so one can only guess why the Golf Channel and others are even dealing with this nutjob anymore.
