Covering golf events can seem monotonous at times, but a LIV Golf Miami event is anything but boring. From smoke and confetti exploding into the sky prior to each round to the DJ spun music heard throughout the golf course you would think you were at a rock concert and not a golf tournament. It’s why covering this event is one of my yearly highlights. It’s always different and you never know who will show up.
What I enjoy about covering LIV Golf Miami is how it structured. With the PGA they have tee times from early morning that runs throughout the day. You’re out there for hours and hours tracking down the leaders. With LIV Golf, everyone starts in a shotgun tee time so everyone is out on the course at the same time. It’s 54 holes instead of 72 and the best part is that it’s, in theory, a short day.
It’s frustrating when covering the PGA that there is a new leader and you have to head back out to track them down to get their photos. With LIV Golf I know where everyone is at all times and it makes it easier for me to track people instead of waiting hours later to find a player.
How to Photograph a LIV Golf Event
When working for a wire service covering a golf event you always have to have photos of the daily leaders. That is a given. You also want to get the big names as well like Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Brooks Koepka and others.
With new rules saying mirrorless cameras only, it’s easier now to photograph the players in their backswing. What I never understood about the mirrorless camera rule was because of the noise a camera makes when the shutter is pressed. At LIV Golf events they have a DJ blaring music on every hole so the sound “reason” doesn’t add up for me.
With LIV Golf Miami being in Miami where palm trees and sunshine are abundant I try to frame the players with their tropical surroundings. I love palm trees regardless so why not have them in frame? And bonus points for me if I get the palm trees reflected in their sunglasses.
And the other thing I look for on the course are the sand traps. Sand trap photos are my favorite especially when you see the ball high in the frame and a trail of white sand following it. Those are the photos that get picked up the most for me.
Luckily for me, I cover the event with the same people I cover other sports with. Prior to a round we devise a plan on how to attack the course and we all work together. Granted we are each other’s competition in the sense that we’re trying to get our photos picked up on the wire so we can make money, but we also get along so well so it’s like working with friends.
We make sure to get the name brand guys, but we also follow the leader for a good amount of time. And what is fun to watch is how, while we’re shooting the same players, we go about it differently. From the lens selection, to the angles in how we frame the player, it’s all unique to each of use. We’re covering the same hole, but all have a different perspective about it.
Presidential Lockdown
Since President Trump owns the property at Doral, he almost always shows up. When he wasn’t in office it wasn’t too much of an security hassle; you couldn’t go here or had to wait over here. Typical stuff. In office was another story. I was introduced to a White House photographer from the AP and hung around him all day. I was fascinated by his stories and how he knew every detail of when and where the President would move.
Once we knew where the President was going to land on the golf course, the White House Press secretary moved the photographers to a location closer than where the general public would be, but still far enough away. Secret Service made us take all of our gear off, place it on the ground and we had to stand 10 feet away while they searched and swept our gear. We also got searched and once cleared we were able to grab our things and get in position for the arrival.
Regardless of your political affiliations seeing a President arrive in a helicopter and all that logistics that go into it was pretty neat. Before he even landed I noticed snipers everywhere on rooftops and with large caliber weapons all over the golf course. There were three helicopters, but you didn’t know which one had the President in it until he walked out. He hopped in a golf cart, waved to supporters and drove off. The whole thing lasted longer than one of his tariffs.
Stretch Before Working
If you never covered a golf event like LIV Golf Miami and think it’s an easy gig because golf is so laid back, you’re mistaken. With LIV Golf Miami or even the PGA Tour, you have to walk to cover it. I’m talking miles a day and if you don’t stretch prior to walking you will be hating life later.
Like stretching, comfortable shoes are a must. I try to wear the lightest sneakers I have because if I’m walking several miles a day, I don’t want to be walking in bricks basically. So if you ever have to cover a golf event, think about your feet.
I can’t wait to cover this event next year!
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