David Livingstone Interview

Gi: You are one of a handful of presenters to have been with Sky Sports for the full 20 years – how did it all start?
DL: I started out as a classic news reporter in the early 1970s, did all the training and was fortunate enough to move into sport from there. Mostly football. Then I started working for Scottish Television as a reporter and production journalist. I was with BSkyB from Jan 1 1990, the merger with Sky Sports taking place later that year. Sky won its first Premier League contract in 1992 and I was a reporter on live games for the first six months or so of that season. Then Sky bought the rights to screen American golf and so the adventures began. In those days it was novel – the PGA Tour seemed a world away. But Sky saw an opportunity to screen live golf in prime time and I was just lucky. They gave me the opportunity to present the coverage, which was just a huge break for me. I could never repay the debt to Sky.

Gi: Was golf a passion at the time?
DL: I played a little bit and I knew golf, I had worked in golf, but it was quite something to go on to present live golf. And I think it showed. Ken Brown and I started at around the same time – he had never done TV – and I don't think it is too unkind to say it was the blind leading the blind. But you know that's what has been so wonderful about Sky over the last 20 years. Sky itself was going through its formative years and it gave these incredible opportunities to people like myself. They stuck with us. If you look at Sky over the last 20 years its gone from being a training camp to being a finishing school. Anyone coming in now is the finished article.

Gi: I read somewhere that you had some help from sports psychologist Alan Fine?
DL: One of the producers had mentioned to me that I had a tendency to um and err quite a lot – a subconscious habit that had to be broken. It just so happened I was talking to Alan about how he was helping David Feherty to overcome quitting on his shots. He told me about a technique he used, which was basically to attach a financial penalty every time you made that particular mistake (it worked for Feherty – he won the Italian Open). I was heading out to the TPC for the Players Championship, facing long hours over four days, and I decided to try it – and I didn't umm or err once. I haven't seen Alan since, he'd probably want a cheque off me!

Gi: What would you say has been the ultimate high of your job?
DL: I'd say quite early on, the first Ryder Cup for Sky Sports in 1995, which turned out to be such a massive Ryder Cup. As you know, at Oak Hill a few of the European team were getting up there close to their sell-by date. We knew it, they knew it: Howard Clarke, Seve, Mark James, Philip Walton, these guys knew they were unlikely to make another Ryder Cup. They were in the team because of their huge experience and on that final day they really made that experience count. The way it all happened on that final day – the Americans just in the lead thanks to Corey Pavin's chip-in at 18 on the Saturday night – it was still the best final day I have been at. A lot of people were questioning Sky's longevity and commitment to golf and I think the coverage we put together that week demonstrated something. Of course the result went so well for us. I think Sky derived a lot of benefit for that result, especially for Gallacher winning at the third attempt.

Gi: Happily, Sky's arrival also coincided with the birth of Tiger's pro career.
DL: I think the Tiger Woods story is the one we have all been privileged to have been a small part of. With Butch [Harmon] working as part of the Sky team, and Butch being so much a part of Tiger's development, we have had a terrific insight to the career of the world's best player. And, through Butch, Tiger actually became a little bit a part of our team for a time. The first time I met him was at the US Open at Oakland Hills in 1996, when he was still an amateur. He had played in the Masters that year and made the cut. At Oakland Hills he had just about everything on his card from a 2 to a 7, spectacular golf, fairly ‘green' in places, but just so exciting. They brought him over to our studio for a live interview on the Friday afternoon. The USGA official accompanying him nudged me and said it was the first time Tiger had made the cut in a major, and you know, some times when a USGA official tells you something you don't question it. So even though I was half thinking to myself, ‘hang on, what about the Masters?', I said this to Tiger. And Tiger just said straight back: ‘No, I made the cut in the Masters'. I knew right away what kind of a young guy he was. He doesn't forget anything and is a stickler for detail. We [Sky] were on the run with him from the very start. He gave us a five year high, at least, even when he quit working with Butch. He was very good to us and always has been.

Gi: What do you think of the way Tiger treats the media?
DL: In the early days I kind of admired that part of him, I thought it was a clever thing to be guarded. He was young and didn't want to say the wrong thing. But as the years go by I just wish that he would open up a little bit. Particularly after all the trouble he has been through. All this business about saying he wanted to be a ‘better human being', I think he could have helped himself by being just a bit more open to the media. Having said that he has been quite self-deprecating recently. I have noticed he pokes fun at himself but he still doesn't give away too much. I'm not criticising him – how can you – but I wish he would just give back a bit more.

Gi: Give us a reason to love him a little bit more?
DL: Absolutely. That's the distinction between Tiger and Mickelson. It's pretty obvious to me that Phil is the most loved golfer in America while Tiger is the most respected. I hope he doesn't take offence to that – but how can he? It's the way it is. How can you love someone when he doesn't give you anything. I think we all respect his golf game and his right and judgment as far as his own PR and all the things that go with it, which is fair enough up to now. But I want him so much to get love back from the galleries because he needs it after what he's been through.

Gi: You hadn't been to Augusta ahead of this year's Masters – did you get the opportunity to really experience the full thrill and spectacle of the place?
DL: My first day there was a practice day and I just walked the course as a punter. To me that was the biggest thrill of all at Augusta – just being one of the spectators, because I couldn't believe how spectator- friendly the course was, how easy it was, for example, to cross over fairways and get from one part of the course to another. People talk about it being a hilly and a demanding walk, which is true. And how easy it is to walk down to Amen Corner – that's the part of it for anyone who has been, you stand down there and think of all the years you have watched it on TV. It really blows you away. From a spectators point of view, how well they are looked after, beautiful picnic areas, the concessions are reasonably priced. I can really see why anyone who has been lucky enough to go just loves it and feel such a part of it. In fact more than at any other golf tournament the crowd literally is a part of it – certain parts of the course need the crowds to define the playing area and create the atmosphere.

Gi: Knowing the affection for Peter Alliss and the BBC how daunted were you at the prospect of broadcasting the Masters?
DL: On a personal level I was very nervous about the whole thing. There was a tremendous pressure. The BBC has covered the event with distinction for so many years and they do things their way and we do it our way. We had to show a great deal of respect and seriousness about what we were doing but at the same time we needed to stamp our own mark on the coverage. Sky Sports and the Masters is a great new partnership and obviously it was exciting. We knew the stakes were high and I think that everyone on the Sky team – the talent, the production staff etc. – simply concentrated on trying to do their job the very best they could. And,, by and large, I think we came away very happy that everyone involved had done a good job. We can always improve on what we do, but we'd probably give ourselves 8 out of 10. Maybe 8.5.

Gi: How difficult was it to watch events unfold on that last day?
DL: I think it would have been more difficult had we not expressed any notes of caution beforehand. The danger was in building it all up to be the ‘Rory McIlroy Show', which we tried not to do. Everyone who knows the history of the tournament understands what can happen on the final day – the Faldo/Norman episode in 1996 always reminds us of that. I had a sense of foreboding on the Sunday morning, I really did. Because we have seen it all before. At the tail-end of last season we saw Tiger Woods lose the lead at his own tournament and then a playoff with Graeme McDowell. So it happens to the very best. I just thought it was a lot to expect of Rory in these circumstances. I think it was good that we expressed the fact he was going to suffer a serious inquisition that day. And the fact that we had Colin Montgomerie in the studio, who has been through that in a major, made it a lot easier for us as broadcasters not to see it as a terrible failure. Because there was always a chance of it happening.

Gi: And there is nowhere in the world that your game can unravel faster than Augusta?
DL: What amazed me was that drive Rory hit at the 1st – that was pure adrenalin. Then he misses a short par putt and a flaw is exposed. Such a cruel game. With the way Tiger was playing over the opening 9 holes you just had this sense that things were not going to work out well for Rory. And then of course Schwartzel chips in at the first and holes a second shot for eagle at the third and the tournament is set alight. As it turned out, one of the best Masters maybe since '96.

GI; How did you rate Monty's performance in front of the cameras for Sky Sports?
DL: I thought he was good. By his own admission he was nervous at the outset and then began to grow into it and enjoy it as the days went by. He had to find the rhythm of the broadcast, just in terms of their being two different jobs – one in the studio, where he is required to answer questions and the other in the commentary box when he is required to speak when appropriate. After the first couple of days he really settled into the rhythm of the commentary and I thought he was excellent. I always enjoy listening to Monty because you never really know where he is going to go.

Gi: He came out with a number of terrific insights, as only a top pro perhaps can at times. I thought he brought a lot to the coverage.
DL: That's a good way of putting it. He did add to the coverage. We've had various guests over the years and when you can genuinely go to a guest at the end of the week and say you really brought something special to our coverage it's a great thing. And I said that to Monty every day because he was getting a great reaction at home. I think some people thought for the first few days he was seeing things too much from a Ryder Cup perspective, the players were still his, but then at the weekend he began to develop into the final two days at the Masters and he was great. You know, he has been there in the majors, suffered these last day pressures, and so he knew exactly what Rory McIlroy was going through and it was appropriate to have someone like him in the studio.

Gi: How's your own golf these days?
DL: I tried hard at one point and when I went through what I'd call my ‘fanatical periods' I managed to get down to 9. But I struggled to play to that. I suffered back and hip problems six or seven years ago and was in such pain I could hardly walk. I had to take a golf cart the whole time and it actually became so bad I stopped playing. I've since had a hip operation which has fixed me completely, but I've lost the habit. I don't know where I used to find the time. Everyone who plays golf will recognise this – where is the time to play? For me, I probably play a couple of times a year. I probably enjoy it more now because I don't have high expectations I once did. But I don't know if I'll ever be a member of a golf club again and feel that I need to play twice a week to justify it. I'm a gardener, you know, much happier pottering. On top of that, I walk down the range at tournaments and see these guys absolutely killing it. And you think, why do we go chopping around week after week?

Gi: You mention time pressure. We have recently had the announcement of PowerPlay Golf – what do you think needs to be done to get more people playing?
DL: First of all, PowerPlay, a lot of people are skeptical, but it's good to see things like this trailed. I've been saying for years I'd love to see a 6-club tournament for the pros where you see the top players who are truly capable of shot-making. But such is the success of golf globally it's difficult to see where they can fit these events in. But as far as developing the game I have a bee in my bonnet about shorter golf, you know 9-holes courses, par-three golf. I'd like to see families being able to go to shorter courses where the course management is not that important. Just a series of well-kept tees and big greens with lots of pin positions and vast areas of fairway – a place to simply try hitting a golf ball with no dress code whatsoever. Mickey Walker and I have a dream about opening a club called the ‘No Rules Golf Club' – a place where anyone can try golf. Young people, they should be able to turn up in what they like, in their jeans and trainers, and simply enjoy themselves. And if they want to take it further then they can look at joining a more traditional golf club. I really don't see kids these days getting on their slacks and their Pringle sweaters and going out to play golf.

Gi: I'm going to throw some names at you and I want your immediate reaction – the first thing that comes into your head. First up, Butch Harmon.
DL: Showman. Las Vegas style.

Gi: Ewen Murray?
DL: Smooth.

Gi: Mark Roe?
DL: Energy.

Gi: Denis Pugh?
DL: Interesting.

Gi: Bruce Critchley?
DL: Scholar.

Gi: Robert Lee?
DL: Confident.

Gi: You have travelled all over the world – where would you choose as the all-time favourite golfing destination?
DL: Probably the Monterey Peninsular. Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill. I went there to cover the US Open in 2000. I travelled all day to get there and arrived at midnight on the Saturday. We were staying with a great friend of Butch Harmon's who – wouldn't you know it – has a holiday home overlooking Cypress Point. As soon as I arrived they said ‘right, straight to bed, we are playing in the morning'. My back was still bad. I asked where we were playing. ‘Spyglass Hill in the morning and Cyprus Point on the afternoon.' Suddenly my back felt a little better.

Gi: A dream fourball, who would you invite along?
DL: Michael Parkinson, Butch Harmon and...oh, who is the other guy I always said I would include when asked this question. actor. I can't think of him. Let's go with Kenny Dalgleish. No, I've got it – Clint Eastwood. (Sorry Kenny.)

Gi: The next major on the schedule is the US Open at Congressional – who's your tip?
DL: Sentimentally, Ernie Els. Because he won there the last time and I spoke to him recently and said you must be looking forward to going back there. He told me he could hardly wait. We'll have to see if his putting can improve, as its frail just now. I see he's been talking about a belly-putter now after seeing Adam Scott at Augusta. 1997 was a great tournament, Monty was heartbroken that time, and I've spoken to Colin a lot about this. Everyone remembers Ernie's second shot to 17 with a 5-iron, but you tend to forget the five-footer he holed at 18 to win. He rolled it in like it was just another tap in. Monty was incredulous: ‘Did you see the way he hit that putt!' Congressional is a great venue and for Sky Sports the US Open is big – it was one of the first majors we covered, in 1993 at Baltusrol, where Lee Janzen won. We did our first outside broadcast the following year at at Oakmont when Ernie won his first US Open. And we've been every year since.

Gi: Out of the four, which is your favourite major?
DL: Probably the US Open. I know a lot of a lot of people say it's just a grind but I think it has really made it quite a sexy major now. I think it changed at Torrey Pines – it has a glamour about it now and that's down to the USGA's tournament director Mike Davis who has done a brilliant job and sets up the course just right. When Monty always challenged for it – before the World Championship events were invented – Monty always referred to it as golf's true World Championship. He felt it was a precision thing. I have a feeling Luke Donald might do well this year.