fbpx
Blog: Why the BBC won the Masters coverage battle for me

Blog: Why the BBC won the Masters coverage battle for me

Why the BBC totally outperformed Sky Sports at Augusta for me
 

Last weekend, I, like many others, faced a tough choice: do I watch the Masters coverage on the BBC or Sky?

It was a no-brainer for me, and the BBC won by a landslide.

My decision may have been influenced by the fact I don’t have access to Sky Sports from the comfort of my bedroom, but I genuinely believe the Beeb offered a much better all-round package. And as such it is a real shame they are only showing four more days of live golf this year.

For a start, the lack of tedious, repetitive adverts was a real bonus, as was the flowing coverage, which was almost like a highlights package at some points, unlike Sky’s which was about as slow as Jason Day’s pre-shot routine.

I loved how the BBC filled breaks in play with round recaps from important players, while Sky thought sticking Mark Roe on an oversized iPad to tell us that the 12th is ‘only short but very hard’ was more useful.
I found Ken Brown’s on-course antics incredibly entertaining and insightful, streets ahead of what Sky had to offer. Sticking with the theme of personalities, I thought Sky were outgunned quite comfortably, even with Jack Nicklaus making another cameo.

Colin Montgomerie was his usual self, referring to ‘his Ryder Cup team’ on several occasions and repeating words to fill space, while the loveable and enthusiastic Butch Harmon again forgot how to say hybrid.

Although some find him a little on the dull side, Peter Alliss in his brown aviators ticked all the boxes for me, and his short stints brought a lot of colour and humour to the coverage.

Andrew Cotter was consistent as ever and Wayne Grady’s self deprecating style was also highly amusing.

As always, I found Ken Brown’s on-course antics incredibly entertaining and insightful, streets ahead of what Sky had to offer.

Instead of seeing Mark Roe use green screen to stand next to Bubba Watson while he hit that famous shot in the play-off last year, telling us nothing we didn’t already know, we had Brown scuttling around on the greens, putting from perilous spots and measuring bunker depths. It had a much more informal feel and that really worked for me.

It is therefore saddening that the BBC’s lack of bidding power means we won’t be seeing any more of this until July. Bring on Muirfield and the Open Championship. 

Latest Posts

dp world tour 2024 schedule

DP World Tour

DP World Tour 2024 schedule and results

Read full article - DP World Tour 2024 schedule and results
liv golf schedule 2024

LIV Golf

LIV Golf schedule 2024: Every date, venue and result

Read full article - LIV Golf schedule 2024: Every date, venue and result
players championship field 2024

News

Players Championship field: Who is playing at TPC Sawgrass?

Read full article - Players Championship field: Who is playing at TPC Sawgrass?
LIV Golf

LIV Golf

How far have the LIV golfers fallen in the world rankings?

Read full article - How far have the LIV golfers fallen in the world rankings?
pga championship field

News

World Golf Rankings 2024: Who’s in the top 10?

Read full article - World Golf Rankings 2024: Who’s in the top 10?
LIV Golf

LIV Golf

Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?

Read full article - Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?
rory mcilroy talor gooch

News

Rory McIlroy’s advice for Talor Gooch: Be more like Joaquin Niemann!

Read full article - Rory McIlroy’s advice for Talor Gooch: Be more like Joaquin Niemann!
viktor hovland prize money

News

Soulless, comical and sad: Viktor Hovland has a bleak outlook on golf

Read full article - Soulless, comical and sad: Viktor Hovland has a bleak outlook on golf
talor gooch

LIV Golf

‘It’s noteworthy’: Talor Gooch defends controversial Rory McIlroy asterisk claim

Read full article - ‘It’s noteworthy’: Talor Gooch defends controversial Rory McIlroy asterisk claim