For a very long time — most of his profession, the truth is — Trevor Immelman by no means wished to step into the broadcasting sales space.
“I did not give it some thought in any respect whereas taking part in,” Immelman informed Yahoo Sports activities. “I used to be very considerate, targeted on myself, my sport and the way I may attempt to enhance and obtain the objectives I set for myself.”
However on Friday, Immelman will take over as certainly one of 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,” mentioned 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 – 6 years, and all of a sudden discovering myself on this place with this chance is so humbled. However I can not 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 largest win of his profession.
Immelman can also be a six-time worldwide, performed on two Presidents Cup groups and was the worldwide crew 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 taking part in profession winding down, Immelman started working with The Golf Channel in 2017, then joined CBS as an analyst two years later.
Immelman mentioned transferring into broadcasting was one thing he by no means thought of when he was nonetheless competing. Then, subsequent factor he knew, Immelmann was proper within the combine.
“I acquired into it fairly shortly,” mentioned Immelman. “It solely began to germinate as soon as I acquired on TV, and it has been a tremendous journey over the previous 5 – 6 years.”
He shortly rose by the ranks at CBS, and acquired the decision final fall — simply minutes earlier than he went on the air on The Golf Channel — that the community wished him to exchange 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 likely be solely the fifth individual to tackle the lead analyst function — one thing he mentioned he realized solely final week.
“I used to be blown away…that was one of many moments when all of this turned extra actual as we counted the times to Torrey Pines,” mentioned Immelman.
Immelman will likely 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 outing on this spot goes to be a bit of distinctive. Nantes will name the championship remotely from Kansas Metropolis, the place he’ll speak in regards to the AFC Championship sport between the Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday.
“It could be completely different, for certain… We’ve Jim Nantz, maybe probably the most legendary sportscaster in American historical past, shepherding us by this,” Immelman mentioned. “I positively belief him and his expertise.”
Immelman is aware of he has massive sneakers to fill. However, no less than at first, he tries to not give attention to something apart from being himself.
“I can not act like, or say issues like, what different individuals on this place have executed,” Immelman mentioned. “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 believe 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, you must be entertaining.
“If somebody goes to go forward and sit on the sofa and make investments their valuable time watching PGA TOUR golf on CBS, it have to be entertaining.”
Though his golf profession ended quicker than he anticipated, Immelman is totally embracing this second chapter in golf.