Biased PGA Championship Coverage Infuriates Golf World: ‘Show the People on the Course!’

Michael Block, last year’s hero, kicked off the 106th PGA Championship from the first tee at 7:15 AM. But not everyone was able to watch it. As the first round goes underway, fans complain about the broadcaster’s choice to show star players on the range rather than the golfers on the tee. 

Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka, and Rory McIlroy have dominated the coverage since the beginning. But their tee times were later in the morning. Woods, paired with Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott, teed off at 8:54 AM from the 10th tee. 

Whereas Rory McIlroy, grouped with Dustin Johnson, and Justin Rose teed off at 8.15 AM from the back nine. Over an hour after the second major started at Valhalla. On the other hand, Brooks Koepka, paired with Max Homa and Jordan Spieth, will start his title defense at 8:37 a.m. 

Before them, the group of Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele, and Justin Thomas teed off at Valhalla. And fans lament that instead of the players—nine groups, 27 golfers—who started their game, broadcasters were focusing their cameras on the range. And the sentiment on social media echoes that they would rather have it the other way around. 

Fans want the PGA Championship to broadcast the players on the course

Many on the Internet pointed out that the broadcasters are giving undue importance to established stars. Naturally, they will eventually take center stage when they tee off a back-to-back. So, fans ask, why not show the others while they warm up?

One fan sarcastically commented, “Rory absolutely dominating the coverage so far at the PGA Championship and he hasn’t event tee’ed off  Also a few shots of Tiger, Adam Scott and Justin Thomas just to share the love. And the occasional golf shot on the course!” Woods and Scott were yet to tee off at that time, while McIlroy’s tee time was 51 minutes later. Another user lent their support: “Rory… Isn’t… Playing… Yet… Show the people on the course!”

Another enraged fan tweeted, “Calling to ‘fire everyone’” Another user wrote, “I’ve been watching for one hour and have seen 4 shots thats one shot every 15 mins fire everyone”  The Tour’s broadcasting has ticked off viewers before as well. Mostly it was commercials taking precedence over the game. This time, however, even ESPN+ faced the wrath of fans.

One user tweeted, “Apparently @ESPNPlus  has the coverage for the PGA championship but it keeps telling me my coverage will start soon, it started at 7 why can’t I watch it. GARBAGE APP” 

Tiger Woods opened his round with a par save on the 10th, before carding his first bogey of the day on the 11th. Whereas, Rory McIlroy has moved to 1-under through the 10th, his first hole. Who are you going to be rooting for this weekend? A LIV golfer or the PGA Tour pro? Let us know your picks for the competition below.