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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Longtime readers of ESPN.com’s golf coverage weren’t the only ones to welcome back senior golf writer Jason Sobel when he returned to ESPN last week. His teammates were also glad for his return, just in time for this week’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Sobel joined ESPN’s studio production department in 1997, where he won four Sports Emmy Awards. He became ESPN.com’s golf editor in 2004, and then a columnist/blogger in 2008, before leaving ESPN in 2011 to become a senior writer for GolfChannel.com.
“When I returned to ESPN last week, I received some genuinely nice messages from former co-workers, who are now current co-workers,” Sobel said. “One came in the form of a tweet from [SportsCenter anchor and golf reporter] Scott Van Pelt, who simply said, ‘Welcome home.’ That’s exactly what this feels like — a homecoming.”
Senior golf writer Bob Harig felt similarly.
“Jason and I go back more than 10 years to when he was the ESPN.com golf editor and he had no writers,” Harig said. “We covered the tour together and when he left we continued to see each other often. Although much has changed in the game and the way golf is covered, it is like he never left.”
– Jason Sobel
Michael Collins, senior golf analyst, joined ESPN after Sobel left and is now working alongside him for the first time.
“All the greatest NFL and NBA teams had a triple threat and we now have that for our golf,” said Collins. “Each one of us brings something different to the table yet we are unselfish in sharing ideas with each other that will make our page the best.”
Kevin Maguire, golf editor for ESPN.com, and Sobel worked an ESPN.com live chat together during Tiger Woods’ news conference on Tuesday, and Sobel will be at the helm of the live chat for much of the day when play begins today.
“Who wouldn’t want to add another voice to our golf coverage?” Maguire said. “Having Jason back in the ESPN.com fold gives us another very strong voice, especially in the live space, which is quickly becoming more and more important.”
Sobel’s week at the Masters also has included more than 25 live interviews with ESPN Radio affiliates around the country.
“I’m thrilled to be back with ESPN and honored to be covering the Masters Tournament once again with our talented team,” said Sobel. “This is the perfect welcome home party.”
