Morgan Pressel could’ve competed in this week’s LPGA Drive On Championship but instead will be calling the action from the booth as lead analyst.
The 32-year-old LPGA veteran has joined Golf Channel and NBC as an analyst and on-course reporter for the 2021 season. While she will continue to compete on the LPGA – in as many as 15 events this season – she’ll also work in television for a number of tournaments including the U.S. Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Championship, Solheim Cup and the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic.
“It’s kind of a bit of a trial year, so to speak, if that makes sense,” said Pressel in a pre-tournament press conference.
“Just try it and see how it works, see if I even enjoy doing television, which I think that I will. But I guess you never know. And if I’m any good at it. That as well.”
A six-time Solheim Cup participant and two-time winner on the LPGA, Pressel became the then-youngest-ever winner of a modern major championship when she won the 2007 ANA Inspiration at age 18. Last week she tied for 31st at the Gainbridge LPGA at Lake Nona.
“It’s close,” said Pressel of her game. “I don’t know. Some days I feel like it’s so far away and some days I feel like it’s close.”
Pressel’s first on-air experience came at the 2015 U.S. Open for Fox Sports, calling the action for their digital coverage from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. That, she said, was “pretty intense.” She has also worked as a guest on-course reporter for LPGA coverage on Golf Channel and was an analyst for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open for Fox.
“I would say the one piece of advice that I’ve been given by just about everybody, including Judy (Rankin), is not to try to be somebody else,” said Pressel. “Just be myself. I think literally every person who has given me advice has told me to be myself. I don’t know what that means, but we’ll find out.”
Golf Channel’s live coverage of the LPGA Drive On at Golden Ocala (Florida) will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. over the weekend.
