Maltbie/Koch team leads Raphael Division over North/Watson  PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator SAVANNAH, Ga. -- In the battle of the broadcasters, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch came out on top Friday.  Gary Koch (right) got Roger Maltbie to work on his posture, and it paid off. (Chris Condon/PGA TOUR/WireImage)
While teamed together in the Raphael Division, a 36-hole better-ball competition for ages 50-69 at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, Maltbie and Koch hold the lead at 9 under following the first round. Fellow television announcer Andy North and partner Tom Watson, last year's winners, sit alone in second at 7 under. Johnny Miller, another broadcaster, and Mike Reid are paired together and tied for third at 6 under along with Frank Beard/Al Geiberger and Pete Oakley/Larry Ziegler. Maltbie credited Koch for giving him a well-timed tip to move closer to the ball and stop stooping on his iron shots, which improved his game on the back nine. "On the front, I couldn't hit my rear end with a bow fiddle," quipped Maltbie. He later added, "Gary looked at me and said I was a little stooped over still, to put my chin up and stand a little taller. I committed myself to that on the back nine and started to hit good, solid iron shots." The two head into the second and final day of the competition in first place, but will face stiff competition from two-time defending champs North and Watson. "It's kind of a reversal of last year," said Koch, since they were paired with North and Watson in the final group but were two shots behind instead of ahead. "Let's hope Tom (Watson) doesn't play the way he did last year. Last year we went birdie-birdie-birdie and we must have made Mr. Watson angry," joked Koch, referring to Watson's clutch play on the final holes that gave Watson and North a total of 61 for the win. Maltbie added his recollection of last year's loss to North and Watson. "I was kind of trash-talking with Gary. I was pumping him up, saying, 'I don't care how many Masters and British Opens they've won, we can beat these guys.' Nope, there's a reason they won all that stuff." They're hoping for a victory this year, but regardless of the outcome the two are having fun. The "Odd Couple," as they referred to themselves, don't hit the links much together or separately, but know each other well from dinners, golf and time on the NBC broadcasts. "We joke about it, we are like Felix and Oscar," said Maltbie, as Koch butts in to add, "Opposites attract." Not missing a beat, Maltbie interrupts and finishes the thought, "He is neat, I'm pretty slovenly. He can be intense, I go the other way. We are different but we've been friends a long time." They get along well both off the course and on, as they shot a 63 together and had just one bogey on the 17th hole, their first in 89 holes. North and Watson have an even longer streak still intact, going on 90 straight holes bogey-free. Heading into the final round, though, both Maltbie and Koch expect Watson's recent experience in competitive golf to give him the edge over the three who have a different day jobs now. "Not putting yourself in this situation very often makes it a little more difficult," said Maltbie. "Andy North doesn't play a lot anymore. Certainly Tom is the most competitive of guys up there and I'm sure he will be more comfortable than the rest of us. It's just a matter of if we will do [well enough to win]. "If we don't, it's not like anyone expects us to win anyways. I'd be betting on Watson and North, too." Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved. |
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network