In 6 silent minutes, CBS delivered a Masters broadcast masterpiece

THE SOUND OF SILENCE

Golf television is an exercise in relentless motion. On a typical Sunday, eight voices are employed to speak about at least 50 balls spread over 18 fields, while two dozen production folks work any number of jobs focused on the past (replays), present (directing) and future (production, graphics, commercials, pre-produced segments). 

When it works, it all sounds like a symphony orchestra — a series of masterfully talented individuals serving as a necessary piece of a much larger whole. And when it works really well, sometimes it sounds like it did for six straight minutes on Masters Sunday: nothing at all.

WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART

CBS did not say a word for six minutes as Rory McIlroy wept his way to the scorer’s room at Augusta National on Masters Sunday. Instead, in what might be the CBS team’s finest moment under the leadership of lead producer Sellers Shy, the network sat back and watched, holding a single steady-camera on McIlroy as he faced his first moments as the Grand Slam winner.

It can be excruciating — and feel somewhat counterproductive — for those who are paid to talk to sit in silence in the aftermath of a historic moment. But often silence tells the story far better than analysis could. That was the case here.

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‘IF TEARS COULD TELL A STORY’

Shy has found himself thinking those words often in the days since McIlroy tearfully clinched the career Grand Slam at the Masters. McIlroy’s histrionics on the 18th green provided the tournament, and broadcast, with an iconic image befitting the moment.

“The truth is that I didn’t have to say a word to anyone. Everyone knew exactly what to do in that moment,” Shy told GOLF. “The truth is that there’s nothing we could have said that would have matched the tears rolling down his face.”

The tears really did tell the story for CBS, and Shy wants very little credit for orchestrating it.

“[Director] Steve Milton’s brilliance to stick on the Atlas Cam for 95 percent of that walk — and the rest of our team’s synergy, it was incredible,” he said. “It freed me up to look ahead. As soon as Rory turned into scoring, I’d imagine we had 10-12 replays lined up like airplanes at an airport.”

The best sports TV minds are experts in the fields of abundance and scarcity — knowing when to slam the gas pedal down on replays, analysis and graphics, and when to sit in a singular moment for an eternity. The CBS crew earns high marks for their grasp of both here.

Shy was thrilled with his team’s handling of the situation, but the unsung hero of it all was Nantz, who delivered the closing line  — “The long journey is over — McIlroy has his masterpiece!” — and then disappeared into the night.

Nantz’s grasp of the brevity required in that moment was quickly followed by the rest of his CBS Sports counterparts and delivered an added depth of emotion.

“In that moment, that’s when you want Jim Nantz,” Shy said. “He knows what to do in that moment, and we all take his lead. The visuals speak for themselves.”

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