David Feherty
A former Ryder Cup golfer who reinvented himself as the sport's most irreverent and insightful television voice, blending razor wit with deep knowledge.
Born 1958 (age 68)·Professional golfer, broadcaster, writer·Birthday: August 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
David Feherty's journey from the manicured fairways to the broadcast booth is a tale of two distinct careers, bridged by a uniquely off-kilter perspective. Hailing from Bangor, Northern Ireland, he found success on the European Tour, notching five wins and earning a spot on the memorable 1991 Ryder Cup team at Kiawah Island. His playing career, however, was often overshadowed by his own self-deprecating humor and battles with personal demons. Retirement opened a new door: his quick wit, lilting accent, and fearless commentary made him a star as an on-course reporter for CBS. Feherty didn't just describe shots; he psychoanalyzed players, cracked jokes that walked the line, and offered technical insights few could match. His move to NBC and his own popular interview show, 'Feherty,' allowed his personality to flourish, where conversations with legends and celebrities ranged from profound to absurd. His public struggles with addiction and mental health, and his subsequent advocacy, added a layer of hard-won depth to the man known for making golf dangerously entertaining.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
David was born in 1958, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won five tournaments on the European Tour during his professional playing career.
- Represented Europe in the 1991 Ryder Cup, known as the 'War by the Shore,' at Kiawah Island.
- Created and hosted the popular interview series 'Feherty' on Golf Channel and NBC, conducting in-depth conversations with sports and cultural figures.
- Served as a primary on-course reporter for CBS Sports' golf coverage for nearly two decades, revolutionizing the role with his humor and insight.
- Authored several bestselling books blending golf anecdotes with his trademark humorous autobiography.
Did You Know?
He is a naturalized United States citizen and served as a volunteer infantryman in the Irish Army in his youth.
Feherty has been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder, alcoholism, and addiction to painkillers.
He once famously described a golfer's putting stroke as looking like 'an octopus falling out of a tree.'
After leaving CBS, he signed a multi-year deal with NBC Sports that was reportedly worth millions.
He is an avid cyclist and has undertaken long-distance rides for charitable causes related to veterans' mental health.
“The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing.”
