Golf fans just want to watch golf when it is being played. That is not a crazy thing to ask.
This week brought the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the fourth Signature Event of the PGA Tour season. These events are a bigger deal than others, as they come with bigger purses and offer more FedExCup points. Again, they are a big deal.
Winning, and therefore losing, big-time events like this have major ramifications on a player’s career.
Look no further than what happened down the stretch on Sunday. Russell Henley was one back of Collin Morikawa on the par-5 16th hole. NBC, the network airing the tournament, was amid a commercial break and returned in the middle of a chip from Henley that rolled in for eagle.
Both players would go on to par the final two holes, which meant that Henley’s eagle served as the pivotal moment. He took a one-shot lead then, and ultimately did not relinquish it.
It is not hyperbolic to say that this chip in was the most crucial shot authored throughout the entire tournament. NBC missing it, even partly, was a big deal and did nothing to calm the idea that television partners are not catering to golf fans.
HAHAHAHAHAHA Henley holing out for eagle to take the lead on the 70th hole and they weren’t back from commercial in time for the shot
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) March 9, 2025
Bro did NBC just miss the first half of that Henley eagle or was that just streaming
— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) March 9, 2025
Appreciate you showing it here, as it wasn’t available on the broadcast. Not sure if I needed to flip over to peacock or what.
— Tron Carter (@TronCarterNLU) March 9, 2025
Imagine coming back from commercial break in an NBA playoff game and the first thing you see is a potential series-clinching 3 pointer in the air with no context.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) March 9, 2025
Television comes with commercials and that is an understood part of the deal. We all get that.
But consider that ahead of this week’s action, the API was specifically hyped up to be airing fewer commercials than in the past. The ultimate irony is that the tournament’s most pivotal shot was stepped on by… a commercial.
Let golf fans watch important golf being played. This is all we are asking for.
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