Why Is Everyone Mad at ESPN for Their PGA Championship Broadcast?

Golf fans do not like ESPN anymore, and they have a good reason not to. The well-known sports network has been criticized for its coverage of the PGA Championship, particularly with its focus on Scottie Scheffler‘s arrest at last year’s tournament rather than the actual game. Despite Max Homa’s impressive round of 64, bringing him to -5 and into contention, ESPN’s broadcast prioritized a documentary about Scheffler’s arrest, leaving fans feeling frustrated. The crumbs of coverage are stale, and fans are calling out ESPN for its priorities. And if ESPN was trying to improve, their new move is definitely not going to make a good case.

Per the reports, Shane Lowry’s second round at the 2025 PGA Championship was a painful one, marked by frustration and disappointment. A devastating bogey on the 8th hole at Quail Hollow, stemming from a bad break in a deep divot, contributed to his missing the cut by just one stroke. Lowry’s ball landed in the divot, and despite knowing the rules regarding pitch marks, he called in a rules official to be certain.

However, things took a turn when an ESPN on-course reporter’s interference during this critical moment added fuel to Lowry’s rage. The reporter chimed in, “That’s not your pitch mark,” without being asked, which Lowry felt was unwarranted and annoying. “I was just asking the referee, and the ESPN guy comes straight over and he’s like, ‘That’s not your pitch mark, ‘” Lowry said. “And I’m like, ‘That’s not for you to talk about. ‘”

Lowry explained that he was simply trying to clarify the rules with the referee, given the high stakes and his ball’s precarious position in the divot. “I don’t want a drop because it’s not my pitch mark. But I’m just saying,” he added. He emphasized that he wasn’t trying to exploit a loophole or get a free drop but rather sought certainty in a confusing situation. Lowry also highlighted the disparity in treatment, wondering what would happen to a player not on ESPN Live facing a similar situation. “I just said to the rules official, what happens to the guy at 7:10 who’s not on ESPN Live?”

Well, ESPN and coverage blunders have been going hand in hand for quite some time now. Last month, the 2025 PGA Championship got underway, and many golf fans expressed dissatisfaction with the coverage, citing baffling programming choices, technical glitches, and perceived bias in commentary. Viewers were left bewildered by ESPN’s decision to show a video about Rory McIlroy‘s Masters victory during live play, with some questioning the timing.

Technical issues with ESPN are not limited to the game of golf only, as College Basketball has suffered from the same fate. But at least there, the broadcaster took some accountability.

ESPN issued an apology after a College Basketball broadcast blunder

ESPN issued an apology after a technical difficulty interrupted the broadcast of the Auburn vs. Kentucky men’s college basketball game in March 2025. A generator caught fire at Rupp Arena, causing a loss of power and knocking the broadcast off the air. ESPN stated, “In a freak accident, a generator at Rupp Arena caught on fire, causing us to lose power and be knocked off the air as a result. Thankfully, no one was harmed on-site. We apologize that fans watching on ABC were impacted for a period in the second half.”

The apology was appreciated, with ESPN’s Dan Shulman also addressing the issue on-air, “First and foremost, thankfully, from what we understand, everybody is OK. But obviously that knocked us off the air for a long, long time. We are back.” The incident highlights the challenges of live broadcasting and the importance of accountability when things go wrong. So, do you think ESPN will issue an apology for their blunders in golf as well? Let us know in the comment section below!