The brief history of golfers in ESPN 'This is Sportscenter' ads
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The brief history of golfers in ESPN ‘This is Sportscenter’ ads

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ESPN has been doing "This is Sportscenter" ads for 20 years. Seriously.

In that time, they've produced hundreds of spots featuring athletes from every major American sport. Golf has played a small, but entertaining, part in the series.

We take a look at the 'This is Sportscenter' ads starring golfers over the years.

Tiger Woods (1994)

After Tiger Woods won his first U.S. Amateur title, he starred in a spot where he is talking with Stuart Scott about meeting up for lunch. Trailing him? An enormous gallery.

Rich Beem (2003)

Rich Beem shocked the world in winning the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine. The win took him up on a road trip to Bristol. Entering the ESPN parking lot in, of course, a BMW ("Beemer"), Beem has to avoid a zamboni and a pothole as he arrives in his parking space with the Wanamaker trophy as his passenger. Turns out, Scott Van Pelt caught a ride, too -- in the trunk.

Arnold Palmer (2009)

"The King" found himself in the ESPN cafeteria, standing in line for drinks. Palmer demonstrates how he perfectly makes an Arnold Palmer, with half iced tea and half lemonade. Anchors Stuart Scott and Scott Van Pelt are amazed.

Phil Mickelson (2012)

Phil Mickelson stops by Bristol, Conn., to help coach anchor Scott Van Pelt how to best deliver highlights (and introduce mindless banter). Mickelson takes Van Pelt through some ridiculous exercises before deciding to just let the Golf Channel alum be as he is.

Rickie Fowler (2013)

Rickie Fowler walks into the break room looking for coffee to perk him up. Anchor John Anderson realizes Fowler grabs for decaf, though, by the clue of the orange pot handle. Fowler denies he is color blind when asked about it by Anderson before pouring orange juice -- which he believes is milk -- into his cup of joe.

Jesper Parnevik

At ESPN, they're fans of sports as much as we are. Or at least that's the idea conveyed in this spot, where Jesper Parnevik makes a cameo, doing the Wave as it spreads throughout the Bristol campus.

Caddie Mike "Fluff" Cowan has also been in a "This is Sportscenter" ad, but the footage isn't available online.

Bubba Watson (2014)

In this spot, called "Tree," Watson and caddied Ted Scott encounter the Stanford Cardinal as an obstacle in their way on the ESPN campus.

In a second spot, called "Pencils," Watson is sitting in a cubicle sharpening standard pencils down to the size of ones used on a golf course...and taking off the erasers.

Jordan Spieth (2016)

Spieth and caddie Michael Greller in the ESPN cafeteria in Bristol, Conn., and the two are having a conversation about how Spieth should best approach eating his macaroni and cheese. Should he use a fork or a spoon? After making a choice, Spieth re-thinks it and takes Greller's advice.

About the author

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is a scratch golfer...sometimes.

Ballengee can be reached by email at ryan[at]thegolfnewsnet.com

Ryan occasionally links to merchants of his choosing, and GNN may earn a commission from sales generated by those links. See more in GNN's affiliate disclosure.

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