Golf fans rage at coverage of Rory McIlroy's Masters triumph as series of errors spark backlash

Jack Otway
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:54:11 +0000

Golf fans were left deeply frustrated during the 2026 Masters final round as CBS's Masters coverage was plagued by a series of technical mishaps at the worst possible moments.

Rory McIlroy's historic achievement at Augusta National was overshadowed for those watching from home by repeated production failures throughout Sunday's climactic action.

The broadcast team consistently failed to track golf balls during crucial shots as the competition for the green jacket reached its decisive stages.

Social media platforms were flooded with angry reactions from fans who found themselves unable to follow the tournament's most important moments.

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The Northern Irishman was in the process of making golfing history while viewers struggled to see it unfold.

The worst blunder came on the tournament's final hole, when cameras completely lost track of McIlroy's tee shot after it veered into woodland on the right side of the fairway.

Viewers sat in confusion for more than 60 seconds, uncertain whether the defending champion faced a catastrophic penalty or simply a difficult recovery shot on the 18th.

When the ball was finally discovered in a greenside bunker, even the commentary team appeared uncertain about whose ball they were looking at, unable to distinguish between McIlroy's and that of playing partner Cameron Young.

The production errors extended beyond the tee shot debacle, with CBS also failing to capture McIlroy's championship-winning putt entering the hole.

A poorly selected camera position meant the golfer's own body obscured the view of the ball dropping into the cup at the crucial moment.

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Analyst Dan Rapaport delivered a withering assessment on X, writing: "The biggest 10 minutes of the year in our sport and we've got no idea where the golf balls are."

Another critic posted: "Tough, tough day for the normally-great CBS broadcast... impactful shots of notable players nowhere to be found, total fail on the 72nd hole."

Viewers branded the coverage the poorest in recent memory, with some questioning whether camera operators were still in training.

Despite the broadcast chaos, the day ultimately belonged to McIlroy, who demonstrated remarkable composure to fend off a final-round challenge from world number one Scottie Scheffler.

The Northern Irishman claimed victory by a single stroke, securing his sixth major championship and confirming his position as the most-dominant force at Augusta National in this era.

By successfully navigating the treacherous back nine to retain his title, McIlroy has entered an exclusive club of golfers who have won consecutive Masters tournaments.

The Briton now stands alongside only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as players to have achieved back-to-back victories at the prestigious Georgia venue.

Speaking after his win, McIlroy said: "I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win The Masters and the Grand Slam, then this year I realised it's just really difficult to win The Masters.

"I tried to convince myself it was both.

"Yeah, just incredible. I obviously did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. I don't think I would have believed anyone if they said to me all you have to do is shoot even-par for the weekend and you'll win.

"I definitely thought I was going to need to go out there and at least shoot a couple of under-par scores. I just had to hang in there. Yeah, just absolutely delighted to be able to get it done.

"Having a six-shot lead going into the weekend, it would have been a bitter pill to swallow if I wasn't able to get myself over the finish line."