PGA Tour golfer says sorry publicly after making off-limits comments at the Masters
Kevin Kisner has apologized for strongly criticizing CBS Sports’ coverage of The Masters in a public statement.
Millions around the world watched Rory McIlroy make history at Augusta National this year, becoming only the fourth man to win the tournament two years in a row.
In the U.S., CBS shares broadcast rights for the famous golf event with ESPN. According to SportsPro, the final round on CBS had over 14 million viewers on average, with a peak of 20.05 million—the biggest audience since 2013. Still, many fans were unhappy with how CBS covered the tournament.
One of the most vocal critics was former PGA star Kisner. He made some harsh comments about CBS missing important shots throughout the four rounds during an appearance on Barstool Sports’ Fore Play podcast.
Now, Kisner, who is the main golf voice for rival network NBC, returned to the podcast to apologize directly to CBS Sports. He admitted he went too far.
“It’s been an interesting few days, but it is what it is,” Kisner said.
“I just want to apologize to the golf team at CBS. I probably crossed the line by being too harsh about everything. I know from my time in the business that live production is really tough. Everyone tries their best.
“NBC messes up too—we’re all trying to do our best. I was too critical of them, and I want everyone at CBS to know I’m sorry. They are our partners with the PGA Tour and do a great job sharing the game we love.”
One issue with CBS’ coverage was the choice to film McIlroy’s winning putt from behind, which made it hard to see the golf ball clearly. In fact, McIlroy’s legs actually blocked the ball as it went into the hole.
CBS lead commentator Jim Nantz responded to Kisner’s criticism on The Pat McAfee Show, saying, “It’s live television. We all make mistakes. If McIlroy had missed that putt, it would have been the biggest story in golf history.”