Big Break

It’s been almost a year since my last Big Break Indian Wells interview with champion David Byrne and the always entertaining Shank and Carl.  I sadly had to miss BB Ireland due to other commitments, but that only makes this new Big Break Atlantis that much more exciting for me. As usual the stakes are high with the champion receiving an exception …

…and $70,000 richer!  Not too shabby for 11 days work. But like all things in David’s life, it didn’t come easy. His story about how his mother and he worked multiple jobs and struggled to make ends meet, has been told more than once on this series. But it’s worth remembering – David worked hard for his money his whole …

Carl certainly named this show appropriately didn’t he? I don’t know about you, but for me it was as exciting as a Ryder/President Cup match or the Stanley Cup, but this time around, Canada prevailed.  The Canucks (Kent and David) shut down Jamerica (Carl and Will)  in two nail-biting matches that were so indicative of this entire series.  Mano-a-mano – the guys fought tirelessly …

….but he won’t soon be forgotten after this week’s show.  There’s a new SHANK in town!  I can’t ever remember a Big Break episode with such emotion and such a grand finale as this week’s, and it’s not even the last show!  My mouth dropped more than once, whether it was from Carl’s amazing 3-wood or Robbie’s surprise revelation at the …

I guess it was inevitable that there would be an episode with two eliminations in it, given that Petey had come back and we only had a few shows left, but I was still thrown for a loop on how it happened. Imagine how the Music Man felt that morning. John had just paid the price for avoiding elimination the …

How does a golfer putt from 35+ yards out and get it to tap-in range at the hole and then miss the next putt?  I guess we’d have to ask Oren – this week’s Big Break eliminated contestant.  No question, given 100 chances to make that short putt, Oren would have sunk it 99 times.  But isn’t it always the way?  …

Or sour, depending on which Big Break hotel you happen to be staying in. Once again, Golf Channel has come through with a great new format change to the Big Break.  Sure we’ve seen playback challenges before, but this one added a new twist on an old theme.  I loved it! Offering “potential” redemtion to an eliminated contestant was a …

After the first 2 episodes of the Big Break Indian Wells, I was a bit put off by Russell.  He seemed so wound up and aggressive – almost like he had a chip on his shoulder.  And his comments about David having it in for him last week, beating him twice, seemed so ridiculous.  But I was wrong. This week …

There have been many Big Breaks with players that just don’t connect with the viewing audience.  We had Brian at BB PEI and DR; and David Mobley got the drama working at BB Michigan and DR, but both of those players were somewhat caricatures.  They were showmen playing to the cameras.  And I got to know them and really enjoyed …

Well, we’ve been waiting a long time for another Big Break to hit the Golf Channel (almost as long as we’ve been waiting for spring to arrive in Vancouver). Luckily GC is a little more reliable than Mother Nature who has decided that Spring is not for those north of the 49th parallel.  For some reason this year, she’s decided …