Famed golf reporter on TV Bob Rosburg dies
Bob Rosburg, who won the PGA Championship in 1959 and remained with ABC Sports as the first reporter close to three decades, died. He was 82. Rosburg died at his home in Palm Springs, California. He had cancer, but longtime friend Sal Johnson posted on his blog that Rosburg suffered head injuries after a fall, causing his death.
Bob Rosburg’s biggest victory was at the 1959 PGA Championship at Minneapolis Golf Club. He beat Doug Sanders and Jerry Barber for his only major, rallying from six shots behind. He was second at the US Open in the same year. However, he achieved bigger fame and name through television.
Rosburg spent his early years in San Francisco. He was fondly known as Rossie by his colleagues. ABC Sports hired him in 1974. The network decided it needed an experienced golfer ‘to call the action’ from the course. Now, every network hires on-course reporters. He achieved fame for responding to queries about a particular shot by remarking, ‘he’s got no chance’.
“Rossie was indeed one of a kind,” stated the ESPN golf broadcaster, Mike Tirico. “He altered the business of televised golf dramatically; he put the viewer right there, next to the players at some truly big moments in their careers. They all trusted and respected Rossie. That’s what made it work.”
Tags: golf reporter
May 26th, 2009 at 12:04 am
he will be missed.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
A legend has gone to the golf course in the sky!