Sports Innerview With Ann Liguori

Ann talks with Matt Adams, Golf Channel and NBC Sports Golf Analyst, best-selling author and Host of ‘Fairways of Life’ podcast, about how the 2020 golf season will be viewed because of the pandemic; how golf is booming on the amateur level; his observations of Tiger Woods, on and off the course, the dynamic between Tiger and the media; and what’s really responsible for Bryson DeChambeau’s distance off the tee. Ann talks with American tennis star Sam Querrey about the World Team Tennis season at The Greenbrier, the legendary Bryan Brothers doubles team; golf at The Greenbrier and how he thinks the US Open tennis will be without spectators.

Ann talks with Matt Adams, Golf Channel and NBC Golf Analyst, best-selling author and host of ‘Fairways of Life’ podcast, about how the 2020 golf season will be viewed because of the pandemic; sport being a metaphor of life; his observations about Tiger Woods, on and off the course, the dynamic between Tiger and the media; and what’s really responsible for Bryson DeChambeau’s distance off the tee.

Part 2 of Ann’s in-depth interview with the legendary Gary Player. In this second segment of 6, Player talks about his rough childhood in South Africa, saying “I’d lie in bed every night wishing I were dead...but that’s what made me a world champion and that’s what put love in my heart.” Player talks about the 4 keys to living well, his ‘animal’ work ethic, his exercise routine, The importance of having gratitude, how he met his wife of 63 years, Vivian, who is suffering with cancer, and the importance of having a great partner.

Ann talks to Notah Begay, former PGA Tour winner/NBC Golf Analyst, about what stars from other sports bring to golf and why they are so challenged by the game. He also talks about his friend Tiger Woods and peaking for the Majors and the revised schedule.  

Ann plays segments two and three of her interview with the legendary Gary Player who talks about his commitment to regular exercise and good nutrition, his childhood, his work ethic, his advice to live well, divine intervention and he shares stories about Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Winston Churchill, Billy Graham and about his 63-year marriage to Vivian Player and the importance of having a great partner.  Ann also talks with Notah Begay about what stars from other sports bring to golf and how his friend Tiger Woods is preparing to peak for the Majors and the revised schedule.

Ann talks with Mardy Fish, US Davis Cup Captain, former top American tennis player, and they discuss his golf game, his passion for playing in the American Century Championships, his friendly rivalry with buddy Andy Roddick on the links, why he chose tennis over golf to pursue professionally and what he thinks of a US Open with no spectators.

Ann talks with tennis star/Davis Cup Captain Mardy Fish & former PGA Tour winner/NBC Golf Analyst Notah Begay about this weekend’s American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe. Hear who called Mardy’s golf game the ‘best he’s seen from a non-professional golfer;’ what Mardy brings from his tennis game to golf; why he pursued a professional tennis career rather than a pro golf career; and what he needs to do to win what he calls ‘one of the best weeks of the year’ in an event he’s finished Runner-Up several times. And Notah Begay talks about why some of the biggest stars in sports have a passion for golf; how their skills from other sports transfer over to golf; how Tony Romo, Steph Curry & Mark Mulder became such good players and what Notah is doing to help the Native American community during the pandemic.

Ann speaks with Ken Bentley, Co-Founder and CEO of the APGA Tour about the organization’s mission to bring greater diversity to golf by developing African Americans and other minorities for a variety of careers in the sport. Ann also talked with Tony Biata, PGA, who heads up the golf operations for Folds of Honor, who’s mission is to provide educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and take care disabled Service-members. 

Ann talks with PGA Tour and Champion Tour winner Billy Andrade about the revised Champions Tour schedule, the resumption of the PGA Tour, if the 3 month break helps or hurts players, how to play out of a slump and how the PGA Tour has changed since he played on that Tour. Ann catches up with Music Hall of Famer Alice Cooper, ‘King of Shock Rock’ and passionate golfer, about his addiction to golf, still performing world-wide at the age of 72, getting up early to play golf to beat the heat in Scottsdale and still connecting to young people after all these years.

Ann talks about the resumption of the PGA Tour and the first two rounds of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Ft. Worth, Texas; interviews John McLaughlin, CEO, North West Coast Links Ireland about the status of Irish tourism and golf during the Pandemic; and with Mike Nichols, Chief Business Officer, Symetra Tour, about the ‘Road to the LPGA’ for women professional golfers.

Ann replays her classic Sports Innerview TV interview with legendary Running Back Jim Brown who was a civil rights activist and still voices his opinions on race relations, respecting the American flag and a variety of other issues. And Ann interviews Alex Lifeson, legendary guitarist and co-founder of RUSH and a passionate golfer. Alex opens up about RUSH drummer Neil Peart’s death, whether he’ll ever get back on stage with Geddy Lee again and shares fascinating stories about his career and golf.

On this special Memorial Day weekend show, Ann replays her classic ‘Sports Innerview’ cable series’ conversations with two of the most legendary icons in sports: Yogi Berra & Ted Williams. Both had decorated military careers that they didn’t talk much about. Yogi served in World War II and at 19 years of age, was on a rocket boat that stormed the shores of Normandy on D-Day. Two months later, he was bloodied by a bullet in Operation Dragoon and earned a Purple Heart. Ted Williams served in the US Navy and in the Marine Corps. He was a Naval Aviator during World War II and flew as a wingman for John Glenn (astronaut & US Senetor) in the Korean War. He flew 39 combat missions and earned several Gold Stars. True American heroes!

Ann previews the Skins match for charity featuring Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson vs Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff, taking place at Seminole Golf Club in Fla., on Sunday, on NBC, 2-6pm, the first ‘live’ golf event in months. Ann talks with Nathan Grube, Tournament Dir., Travelers Championship, about putting a PGA Tour event together in such uncertain times and to Carl Alexander, Pres., MET PGA, about how the coronavirus is affecting the golf industry in the NY Metro area.

Ann talks with Gary Player, one of the greatest golfers in history and one of the great golf Ambassadors. Gary has strong opinions on a variety of issues and at the age of 84, continues to inspire with his fitness, work ethic and love for America. Ann also catches up with former heavyweight champ Gerry Cooney.

Ann talks with the legendary Annika Sorenstam, one of the greatest golfers in history, about what she and her family have been doing during the corona virus quarantine, about her playing career, her brand ‘Annika,’ and her Foundation that supports girls around the world in pursuit of a better life, on and off the course. Ann also chats with renown sports psychologist, Dr. Bob Winters.

Ann recaps the 2021 World Golf Hall of Fame selections, the 1st Rd of the NFL Draft and other news in sports that week. Ann talks with Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America, about the state of the golf industry during COVID-19, whether they would move the PGA Championship beyond their rescheduled August date and what their plans are for the Ryder Cup in mid-September, with or without spectators. 

Ann talks about Tom Brady heading to Tampa Bay and replays Classic Sports Innerview shows, interviews she did with two of the greatest athletes in their perspective sports: Gordie Howe in hockey and Wilt Chamberlain in basketball. Whether you’re young or old, Ann’s conversations with these legends educate, entertain and enlighten. Take the trip back to a simpler, less chaotic time.