For many years, the Masters has remained an event closely followed by many, but primarily watched by fans who truly adore the sport. However, this year, the major looks different from most others and many have ESPN to blame for it.
Unlike most events, the Masters collects $0 from broadcasters. This year, for the 41st edition of the tournament, Amazon Prime has joined ESPN and CBS in covering the major. Despite the addition, ESPN has grabbed most of the headlines, but largely for the wrong reasons.
The legendary sports network drew criticism when it introduced Pat McAfee, Bert Kreischer, and Jason Kelce as part of the Par 3 Contest broadcast on Wednesday. But things didn’t stop there. For Day 1 coverage, ESPN also brought in WWE superstar The Miz to discuss golf.
Moreover, Kelce later joined the broadcast and began discussing his daughter’s growing interest in the sport. Many fans questioned how that was relevant to the ongoing tournament, giving them more reasons to dislike the coverage. “How about showing the actual golf that’s going on,” wrote one fan.
The current ESPN coverage is noticeably different from traditional broadcasts, which usually feature fewer celebrities discussing the sport live. Meanwhile, CBS has maintained its familiar lineup of Trevor Immelman, Jim Nantz, Colt Knost, and others.
One reason Augusta National may be allowing more of ESPN’s proposals and relaxing its strict guidelines is to attract a broader audience. However, that shift comes with the risk of losing some of its original identity. As this new style of coverage unfolds, some fans may dislike it, but others may embrace it.
