A lot of golf fans were far from happy Saturday for the third round of the 2023 Masters. It wasn’t because of controversy over who made the cut, and it wasn’t about the treacherous weather wreaking havoc on the course.
No, it was because Saturday afternoon, the two golfers at the top of the leaderboard, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, were nowhere to be found on national network TV.
Masters Leaderboard: Live leaderboard, Schedule, Tee times
CBS is the primary broadcaster for the Masters this weekend, like usual, but the network’s TV coverage didn’t begin until 3 p.m. ET, as the Masters’ site notes. The CBS Sports App was streaming live from Augusta National and offered a variety of options, including live looks at featured groups.
Those featured groups included big-name players like Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and reigning Masters champ Scottie Scheffler. Absent were the leaders, and seemingly the only way to watch Koepka and Rahm play live was through the Masters app or site.
So sure, if you wanted to watch the leaders Saturday, you had options — even if they were limited. But sports fans everywhere are used to using apps and streaming live action, so asking them to take the extra step of going through the Masters app is hardly an outrageous request.
And a happy yet unfound middle ground could have been the CBS Sports App streaming the leaders, showing Augusta and the leaders as much as possible while not disrupting scheduled TV programming nor pushing people to figure out the Masters app.
Still, some golf fans weren’t happy the Masters wasn’t on network television the entire day Saturday.
And they raged about it on Twitter...
I love watching the leaders of The Masters shots on a 4 inch screen via the app with no announcing instead of on my TV. No seriously. This os fantastic coverage @TheMasters 🤡
— 🍊 Follower of Fowler 🍊 (@smylies_army) April 8, 2023
I think us golf fans deserve an explanation as to why we can't see live video broadcast of the LEADERS AT THE MASTERS @masters @PGATOUR
— Tyler D (@desdawg09) April 8, 2023
Despicable that @CBSSports doesn’t bring in early coverage when all the players are in the course right now… no one wants to watch this garbage on tv right now over the actual Masters. Give the people what they want @TheMasters
— Colin Biles (@CBees_knees) April 8, 2023
It is Saturday at the 2023 Masters.
Leaders teed off just after 1PM ET, and the every player is now on the course.
I will never understand why network TV coverage does not begin until 3PM ET.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) April 8, 2023
46 mins until we get TV coverage of the @TheMasters. It can’t get here soon enough…this is brutal to put it lightly.
— Jeffrey Benson (@JeffreyBenson12) April 8, 2023
This weekend Masters TV coverage is always a joke…… unbelievable
— Ricky D (@RickDiesel06) April 8, 2023
So we can’t see the leaders tee off on Saturday of The Masters?? What a joke golf TV coverage is. #themasters
— Andrew Sarre (@A_sarre97) April 8, 2023
So, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm have just teed off as leaders in the 3rd round of the Masters and there’s no live TV coverage. Get with the times, ffs.
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) April 8, 2023
The Masters’ TV coverage has been horrendous. The national broadcast doesn’t start until 3 PM, and by that time the leaders would be 2 hrs through their rounds. If this is supposed to be the biggest golf event, act like it and show the actual golf and not a bunch of interviews
— Stan DaMan (@ComeHomeTrout) April 8, 2023
Golf continues to be the only sport that chooses to broadcast guys talking about the tournament instead showing the actual tournament for over half of the day. Don’t worry though, you can catch the leaders of the Masters briefly on the 4-6 hole stream
— Ted Ferguson (@tedpferguson) April 8, 2023
How is it possible that I have YouTube TV, ESPN+, and the #Masters app, and I can't watch the leaders right now?
— Brian (@Brian___H) April 8, 2023
We can talk about the “traditions” of the Masters all we want. But the fact Augusta still don’t allow full TV coverage of the event is like something from the Stone Age.
I can’t think of another sporting event anywhere who wouldn’t want the absolute maximum exposure. #Masters
— Josh Jeffery (@JeffCarnage) April 8, 2023
Always the most ridiculous thing is major golf is that Masters doesn't come on network TV until 3pm. The leaders are already off and both have a birdie. And it's not on TV yet. I'll never understand it.
— Mike Kearney (@MKPGH) April 8, 2023
I cannot believe the Masters is not on live TV right now…🙄😑😞
— Mark Dickinson (@mwdickinson) April 8, 2023
.@TheMasters @espn @CBSSports why isn’t the Masters on TV? This is nonsense.
— TG9288 (@tg9288) April 8, 2023
Masters TV coverage is putrid right now.
— Taylor Hutchison (@tayhutch2) April 8, 2023
#Masters coverage right now is a crime. How do you not have the leaders on tv
— Pat Sullivan (@PSully39) April 8, 2023
Hey @espn @CBSSports It’s Saturday of the Masters Tournament. AMERICA WANTS TO WATCH GOLF. How about you broadcast the actual tournament! #MastersTournament #Masters2023
— Stanford Troyer🇺🇸 (@TroyerU90) April 8, 2023
New rule: when we move up the Masters tee times for weather, move up the tv broadcast
— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) April 7, 2023
The coverage of the Masters today is an absolute travesty. Get this Pat Cantlay group off my TV!
— Deez 👉🏼👉🏼 (@pwolfgang15) April 8, 2023
