Maltbie

The idea, says Maltbie, is to show a public course can generate more local pride than a private one: Usually with Opens at private courses, there are a few hundred members.

Cowherd, Beadle to co-host ESPN2's 'SportsNation' 2009

NBC reporter Roger Maltbie, a touring pro from 1975 to 1996 who finished with $2.2 million in career winnings, seems a bit taken aback when asked how he'd have handled such a mega-putt.

Open Mikes: Who is the top NFL television rookie? 2009

That gave Maltbie the chance to bunk up with three local golfers — Ed Rich, Lenny Mulqueen, Mike Finnegan — in a parking lot full of people queued up overnight to get on the course.

Cowherd, Beadle to co-host ESPN2's 'SportsNation' 2009

NBC golf reporter Roger Maltbie went way off the fairways for a feature for the network's U.S.

Cowherd, Beadle to co-host ESPN2's 'SportsNation' 2009

NBC golf reporter Roger Maltbie, who calls Palmer "my hero growing up and is my hero to this day," recalls listening to Palmer, who helped found The Golf Channel, when he occasionally popped up as a TV analyst: "Arnold has never said anything in his entire career that would offend anybody, and that's my memory of him on TV."

'The camera fell in love with Arnold Palmer' 2009

Maltbie was familiar with the trio: He'd hung out with them for a similar feature in 2002.

Cowherd, Beadle to co-host ESPN2's 'SportsNation' 2009

But, says Maltbie: "For some of these players, it'd be life-changing."

Open Mikes: Who is the top NFL television rookie? 2009

Says NBC analyst Roger Maltbie: Let's be honest, the golf world needs Tiger Woods.

Networks hope Woods' return brings casual viewers back to golf 2009

That allowed ESPN's Chris Berman to give NBC reporter Gary Koch the nickname "Diet" — a sort of yin to Berman's yang of Roger "Chocolate" Maltbie.

Woods brings out top ratings for U.S. Open 2008

He was the recipient of the 2003-04 David Couture Maltbie Memorial Scholarship.

USATODAY.com 2005