Win McMurry Interview…….Worth the Wait!!
Hi to all of you. I apologize profusely for my lack of updates over the past month and a half. The reason being I have started my own business and my time is therefore extremely limited unfortunately at present. So much so, I am debating whether or not the blog will continue into the new year.
Before then however, I will include some great content and what better way to start than with an interview with the beautiful Win McMurry. I can’t thank Win enough for her time and would like to congratulate her on the excellent job she does with the PGA Tour (I’m beginning to sound like a love sick puppy I fear!!) Anyway, enough about me, lets see what Win had to say:
Q. Was it always your intention to get into broadcasting at a young age?
When I was young what I wanted to do when I grew up ranged depending on the day from professional ballerina to novelist, actress to high-powered businesswoman. I had always enjoyed playing and watching sports, but it was my junior year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that I really decided I wanted to work in sports broadcasting. I had a fantastic sports journalism professor, Mick Mixon, who helped me discover my passion for sports reporting.
Q. How did your big break in break come about in broadcasting?
After graduating from college, my work with CBS Sports coverage of the PGA TOUR positioned me for my role as host of PGA TOUR Today. It was that experience combined with my passion for golf, my work with WCBS-TV in New York, and my Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill that gained me the position. I sent my composite reel of my on-camera work along with my resume to the PGA TOUR. They invited me down to the studios and I was offered the job after an interview and screen test/audition.
Q. Who would you say has been your favourite people to interview over the past few years?
I’d have to start out by saying ‘who doesn’t enjoy a Will Mackenzie or Boo Weekley interview?!’ They usually provide some of the biggest laughs. So does Jerry Kelly, who won earlier this year at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. I also have enjoyed interviewing David Toms who is having a great year. Marc Turnesa, who won last year in Las Vegas, is one of the most humble guys out there and has an amazing golf heritage. Veterans Tom Lehman, Stewart Cink, and Rocco Mediate are also players that I have great respect for and have enjoyed having the opportunity to interview.
Q. What does the rest of the year hold in store for Win McMurry?
Well next up is the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup! I’m traveling up to NYC and am planning to go to the U.S. Open of tennis after the Barclays to catch some matches. We have the Presidents Cup this year at Harding Park, and while at this time I am not scheduled to be in San Francisco to cover the event, I’ll be watching and recapping that every night from our studio at the World Golf Village. I love traveling, so once the Fall Series winds down, I plan to use some vacation time and maybe head over to your side of the pond!
Q. Have you ambitions to move forward from your current broadcasting position?
I love my job with the PGA TOUR. It’s a wonderful organization, not only because I get to watch golf everyday, but because of its loyalty and commitment to charities. Living in Florida is fantastic as well! But travel is something I really enjoy doing so I hope to do more of that in the future!
Question related to Golf
Q. Tell me a little about your childhood and how you became interested in golf?
Golf has been part of my life since I was young. My family almost moved to Pinehurst, NC when I was a child because my dad is such an avid golfer. Instead, my parents chose the coastal town of Wilmington, NC where I was on my high school golf team, though I must admit, I was not a great player. Improving my game has been a longtime project!
Q. What is your current handicap and do you get to play often?
Ha ha
wouldn’t you like to know! I’ve been working on my game a lot over the last three months and my ball striking is pretty strong. I’m never going to be an LPGA player, but I’m trying to get my game back into shape. I play whenever I can, but with my busy schedule, I usually end up squeezing in an hour or so a week on the range.
Q. You have the choice of playing one course for the rest of your life….which one is it and what time are we teeing off?
This is really tough. Right off the bat, I was going to say Augusta National, but if it is for the rest of my life I think I’d have to go with Pebble Beach
or maybe Cypress Point!
Q. Have you played links golf before?
I have never played links golf. But don’t count on me coming out like Steve Marino did at Turnberry and shooting a 67 in my first try!
Q. What is your ideal four-ball and who is your golfing hero?
I’d love to play with Tiger Woods
but after reading the book The Match by Mark Frost, I’d love to re-create that four-ball match and witness Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Ken Venturi, and Harvie Ward and play Cyrpess Point.
Q. If I were to ask you to name 3 potential winners of the final major of the year, the US PGA Championship, who would they be?
Tiger Woods. I think playing three events in a row (unlike what he did to prepare for the other three majors) will pan out for him at Hazeltine. Retief Goosen has shown strong promise as of late and how about Paul Casey to capture his first major!
Q. Will Tiger Woods beat Jack Nicklaus and will the US retain the Ryder Cup on foreign soil next year?
Tiger’s win at the Buick Open put him only four total career wins behind the Golden Bear, the same number of majors he has left to equal Nicklaus. Tiger’s only 32. Nicklaus captured his final major at age 46. Consider it done. As for the US retaining the Ryder Cup in 2010
as an American I hope they do. But I know the Europeans will be looking for some revenge on their home turf!
Other Questions
Q. What do you like to do outside of golf?
I enjoy riding my bike at the beach, traveling, going boating with my family and friends, and dancing.
Q. For all our male readers, are you single?
Hmmm
well I am not married nor am I engaged 
Q. Which golf blog do you read most?
I love WeGetGolf.com! I read tons of other golf blogs, including the BleacherReport.com’s golf blog and golfobserver.com. And of course, I have to give a nod to my own blog which can be read on the PGA TOUR’s Facebook page.
Q. You always appear immaculately dressed on the PGA Tour show. Are you big follower of fashion? What do you think of fashion in golf these days? Would you prefer the conservative look of say Tiger Woods or the more radical John Daly / Ian Poulter?
I do enjoy reading fashion magazines and watching TV programming to get ideas for my on-air wardrobe. It’s difficult when you have to come up with different attire for shows five days a week and so I have fun with it. While I have read in some country club’s dress codes that the golf course is not a place to make a fashion statement, I’d have to disagree. I believe what you wear is your calling card. It is a way that you chose to express yourself. Fashion has always influenced golf. You can’t watch old footage of Jack Nicklaus and say that he wasn’t influenced by the 1970s fashion culture. I enjoy observing the different golf course fashions and love that Ian Poulter can push the envelope and have fun with what he wears. But I would have to say I am really digging Ryan Moore’s look at the moment. It’s a twist between old school Bobby Jones with a button-down shirt and skinny tie and the skate/surf culture. He wears Pumas that look just like skate shoes, only with spikes. It’s awesome.
So there you have, the interview you were all waiting for. I’m off now to get my hair done just like Ryan Moore and find out just where he buys those damn cool clothes!!
