Talented PGA TOUR professional-turned-broadcaster shares candid views.
RIO GRANDE, PR – MARCH 13: Notah Begay III hits a drive during the second round of the Puerto Rico … [+] Open presented by Banco Popular at Trump International Golf Club held on March 13, 2010 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)
When he stopped to chat, Notah Begay III had just finished his final round of PGA TOUR Champions qualifying school in Scottsdale AZ. It was a disappointing tournament for the former PGA TOUR pro, whose T37 finish left him well out of contention for a fully-exempt 2024 card.
However, the 51-year old, four-time PGA TOUR winner entered the competition with realistic expectations. Afterall, he no longer plays golf full time and is instead a master of multi-tasking. Occasional PGA TOUR Champions competitor, NBC Sports/Golf Channel golf analyst/reporter, philanthropist (NB3 Foundation), entrepreneur (KivaSun Foods), father, and role model in the Native American community, he constantly juggles numerous balls at once.
And TOUR play requires a 100% commitment and sacrifice that he is unable to make.
“I played 18 tournaments last year on the Champions Tour and failed to make it into the top 25 once,” he explains. “That’s a reflection on my play but also that type of elite level performance is difficult to achieve. You can’t compete at a high level unless you’re fully vested.”
He also notes that the increasing numbers of golfers who now transition directly from the PGA TOUR have never left that competitive mind/body space.
Broadcast News
As a three-time collegiate All-American and PGA TOUR veteran, Begay brings a unique perspective to television coverage. He has spent a decade honing his broadcast skills and is well-respected for providing thoughtful remarks and opinions.
“It’s a huge responsibility to broadcast the game to the masses. and I take that responsibility seriously,” he says. “I want to be prepared and be informative, entertaining and insightful. What I find out from talking to players, fans and people that follow our game is that they appreciate when there’s good smart commentary.”
He stays in touch with every aspect of the game, noting, “It’s global. We incorporate so many different elements of junior golf, college golf, amateur golf that if you don’t stay on top of it, you kind of fall behind.”
Rolling back the golf ball
It was certainly not easy to stay on top of everything that happened in golf during the tumultuous 2023 season.
One of the emerging controversies is the golf ball “rollback” proposed by the United States Golf Association (USGA), a decision that Begay and fellow tour professionals question.
The USGA rationale has been that essentially the ball goes too far and that distance parameters need to be adjusted to protect the integrity of golf course designs.
Begay, on the other hand, likens the proposed changes to almost a punishment for ability.
“I don’t think enough credit has been given to the athlete themselves,” he insists. “These guys work hard. They’re bigger, faster, stronger. Like, that’s what you’re supposed to do in sports.”
He makes an analogy to professional basketball.
“I don’t think the sport of basketball was designed to be played the way it is on the men’s side, above the rim. But nobody’s moving the rim height,” he explains.
He adds, “It would be similar to some regulatory body coming in and putting the rim at 15 feet when nobody could dunk. Right, how many people would want to sell out Madison Square Garden to go watch people miss a bunch of shots and not be able to dunk a basketball?”
He worries about the impact the rollback might have on both player performance and the entertainment component related to tournament broadcasts. To Begay, it presents a conflict between the governing bodies trying to anticipate and create a protection mechanism against an unknown future, the continued development of the athletes, and fans who want to see 300+ yard drives.
The evolution of the automobile is another way to consider the issue. A hundred years ago, nobody imagined a car was going to be able to hit 200 plus miles per hour, or drive itself. So, speed limits were introduced as a protective measure, not unlike the golf ball rollback.
While acknowledging the chicken and egg sides of the issue, Begay does offer a critique of those making the decision, noting, “It’s tough to govern a sport where the governing bodies can’t identify with what the elite level players are doing. They just can’t play that well and they don’t understand.”
LIV and let live?
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 09: Jon Rahm of Spain poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket … [+] Ceremony after winning the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Yet another complex issue that dominated the 2023 season was LIV, the Saudi-backed golf league. Recently, two-time major champion Jon Rahm announced his move to LIV, sending some shock waves throughout the PGA TOUR and raising questions about what it means for the future of the tour.
Rahm’s defection dealt a blow to the PGA TOUR but, according to Begay, not a fatal one.
“Anytime you lose a superstar in your game, I mean a very charismatic, flamboyant type of player like Rahm, there’s always going to be a strong sense of sense of loss, but ratings won’t go down,” he insists.
He adds, “Rahm’s not a needle mover. He’s great to have in your field and he’s one of the most talented golfers out there, but there’s only a couple of players actually in the world that move the needle like a Tiger, like Rory, and Jordan when he’s playing well.
As far as the potential working relationship between the PGA TOUR and LIV, Begay is as much in the dark as the players.
”It’s like nobody really has any clue right now what’s going to happen. It’s unfortunate that we’re here but we’ve got to get this worked out, we have to get the best players playing together as often as possible.”
Growing the Game
One of the most important balls that Begay juggles is the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship (NB3 JGNC), a nationwide tournament that provides a platform for players to compete against the best junior golfers in the country. Growing the game among juniors of color, and providing access to competitive opportunities, is Begay’s passion, and the Championship has become the second biggest golf tournament in America, with over 6 ,000 kids playing every year.
The Stanford grad is most proud about the academic success achieved by the young golfers.
“Over 90 % of our participants that are college-age eligible go on and play collegiate golf, and that’s a huge win for us,” he says, adding, “We’ve had kids that that have gone on to play at Power Five conference programs and any everything in between, so it’s been a great reflection on our platform and our ability to keep more kids in the game.”
The NB3 JGNC keeps pricing low to encourage diversity and participation from underserved kids who normally don’t have access to tournaments. The boys and girls championships are televised on Golf Channel, providing exposure for competitors to showcase their talents on a national stage.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – MARCH 11: (L-R) Cara Banks, Notah Begay, Mark Rolfing and Michelle Wie … [+] West on the Golf Channel set during a practice round prior to The PLAYERS Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 11, 2020 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Legacy
As the first full-blooded Native American on the PGA TOUR, Begay has spent his life shattering glass ceilings. He continues to embrace his role in the Native American community, establishing a legacy that will outlast any golf ball or tour controversy.
