Masters Final Attracts Massive Viewership Amid Broadcast Flaws
The final round of the Masters golf tournament captivated one of its largest audiences in over a decade, with an average of 14 million viewers tuning in to watch Rory McIlroy secure his second consecutive green jacket. At its peak, the broadcast reached more than 20 million viewers, highlighting the event's enduring appeal. CBS, which shares the tournament's broadcast rights with ESPN under a long-standing agreement with Augusta National, carried these critical final hours. However, the coverage was marred by significant technical and production issues that sparked widespread criticism from viewers and analysts alike.
Missed Shots and Confusion at the Closing Hole
The most pointed frustrations centered on the closing stretch at Augusta National. On the 18th hole, as McIlroy's pursuit of back-to-back titles reached its climax, cameras failed to clearly show where his approach shot from the pine straw had landed. The same problem occurred for his playing partner, Cameron Young, whose approach into the green was also not immediately located. For over a minute, viewers were left in the dark about the tournament leader's ball position or the remaining shot type. The tension persisted on the green, where the eventual winning putt was filmed from behind, partially obscuring the ball as it dropped—a choice that drew immediate backlash from fans who had followed the four-day buildup.
Kevin Kisner Questions Delays and Taped Coverage
Kevin Kisner, working on the SiriusXM radio broadcast and also an analyst for NBC, was among the most vocal critics of CBS's coverage. Speaking on the Fore Play podcast on April 14, he described struggling to keep up with the action. "I was so confused the entire time by trying to follow the behind-the-scenes CBS feed," Kisner said. "They're literally showing stuff that I knew happened 10 minutes ago all day long." He highlighted broader delays, noting, "There were a couple of shots in the two days that were seven to 10 minutes behind. It was unbelievable." Kisner added that he found it easier to track the tournament via the official Masters app than the television feed.
He particularly criticized the presentation of taped footage as live, comparing it to watching a delayed Super Bowl. Kisner emphasized standard practices in live golf coverage, stating, "Our production team at NBC prides themselves on playing every shot that they possibly can live. When we can't, we have to say, 'A moment ago...' to make the movie make sense." His comments stood out as rare public criticism within golf broadcasting, where networks typically avoid commenting on rivals.
CBS Response Focuses on Live Broadcast Demands
Jim Nantz, CBS's lead commentator, addressed the criticism during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on April 14. "It's live television. We all make mistakes," Nantz said. "But I'm really proud of our crew. You're making so many decisions, split-second decisions. I can't speak to the difficulty and some of the decision-making and some of the things that people are responsible for. I just know that our crew is the best in the business." He pointed to the scale of the production, involving hundreds of people over four days and 30 hours of television, and noted the crew's Emmy nominations for technical team effort and best show in television.
Reflecting on the final moment, Nantz added, "If he [McIlroy] would have missed [the final putt], we would have had the all-time story in the history of golf." Despite the backlash, the Masters final underscored the tournament's massive viewership and the challenges of live sports broadcasting.
