Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis Hosts “Masters Tournament Golf Town Hall Discussion” On April 6

On April 6, the night before play begins at Augusta National, legendary sportscaster Jack Whitaker and Golf Industry Entrepreneur Barney Adams will lead a unique Masters Golf Town Hall Discussion.  Both Whitaker and Adams are Masters' insiders. They will separate Masters fact from fiction.  

Jack Whitaker remains one of the country’s best known sportscasters. An Emmy Award winner, Whitaker covered the Masters for many years during his two-decade with CBS. While at CBS he hosted the anthology series CBS Sports Spectacular. Whitaker also covered thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown Events, golf's four major championships, the very first Super Bowl, championship boxing, the National Professional Soccer League in 1967, the North American Soccer League a year later, and Major League Baseball. He was a studio host for The NFL Today at CBS, the network's pre-game show. Moving to ABC in 1982, Whitaker served as a reporter for both news and sports divisions. He was a part of ABC's sports team at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and the 1984 Winter and Summer Olympic Games. He has also reported sports for ABC's World News Tonight, Nightline, and 20/20. “I am always happy to do anything about golf and always happy to be with Barney Adams who is one great guy and has done great things for the industry.” says Whitaker who covered thirteen Masters during his career. “It’s a tournament steeped in tradition and I am glad to be able to share some of what I experienced.”

Barney Adams is the founder of Adams Golf based in Plano, Texas and was this year's recipient of the PGA’s Ernie Sabayrac Award for lifetime achievement in golf.  Adams Golf initially specialized in custom fitted golf clubs, becoming associated with Hank Haney and setting up a club fitting and repair shop at the Hank Haney Golf Ranch. Adams Tight Lies fairway wood became a commercial success as the result of television infomercial, with Jack Whittaker as the host and narrator; Haney, then Tiger Woods' coach; Bill Rogers, British Open winner and PGA Player of the Year in 1981; and LPGA Hall of Famer Carol Mann, as spokespersons. In 1998 Adams Golf went public on Wall Street. Adams was selected as Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 1999. Although semi-retired since 2000, Barney Adams retains the title Chairman of the Board of Adams Golf. Adams book, The Wow Factor, is an insider’s look at the golf industry and offers business advice to entrepreneurs. Adams continues to be an avid golfer  “I am honored to have Jack and Barney here and invite the public to come out and listen to two great golf legends,” notes Carlson. 

The Masters Tournament played at Augusta National Golf Club is the first of the four major PGA championships played each year.  The Masters was started by Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones. Jones designed Augusta National with course architect Alister MacKenzie.  It is long on tradition with the famous green jacket being awarded to the winner since 1949. The jacket must be returned to the clubhouse after one year. Jack Nicklaus has won more Masters Tournaments than any other golfer, winning six times between 1963 and 1986. Other multiple winners include Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods, with four each. South African, Gary Player was the first non-American player to win the tournament in 1961.