Jim Gray tees off on caddy at Northern Trust Open
Jim Gray was pulled off the air by the Golf Channel after an incident with Dustin Johnson’s caddy. He's now free to take in this weekend’s marquee NBA and NASCAR events.
Players walk the ninth hole toward the clubhouse in the first round of the Northern Trust Open PGA golf tournament in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011.
Reed Saxon/AP
Golf Channel analyst Jim Gray has been removed from the broadcast team for the remainder of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
Dustin Johnson was assessed a two stroke penalty but avoided disqualification because he was late for his tee time Thursday morning. Johnson’s caddy, Bobby Brown took responsibility for the logistical mistake.
However, Brown and other members of the threesome took exception to Gray’s questioning of Johnson during live action. After the round was complete Brown and Gray got into a heated, profanity-laced argument.
Golf Channel spokesman Dan Higgins said Friday: "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." Gray was not available for comment immediately following the incident.
He's no stranger to controversy involving his assignments with the Golf Channel. The analyst also got into a fiery exchange with last year’s U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Corey Pavin. Gray insisted that Pavin had told him Tiger Woods would be a shoe-in for the team, while Pavin refuted it.
Gray was also the host in the controversial decision by ESPN to air LeBron James’ decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. During the special Gray asked a series of softball questions, seemingly in an effort to string viewers out, before finally asking the only question people cared about.
Gray now has the weekend off to enjoy the Daytona 500 and NBA All Star festivities. Do you think Gray’s line of questioning and technique crosses the line, or do you believe controversy only helps to drum up interest?