The Masters CBS coverage will not treat LIV Golf players any differently to PGA Tour players in 2023, according to representatives of the US sports network.
Golf fans are braced for the first clash of PGA Tour and LIV players at Augusta National Golf Club, as the famous course didn’t alter its qualification criteria despite the current divide in the game.
CBS is reportedly prepared to show over 100 hours of footage in Georgia which could include players such as Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed in contention for the green jacket.
Whether it is Amen Corner, hole 15, or the 18th green, CBS aims to show the Masters tournament like it is just another year.
Sean McManus, the chairman of CBS Sports, asserted the bottom line of the broadcaster’s objective on a recent call with the media – show golf to the millions who watch it.
“We’re not going to cover up or hide anything,” McManus said. “As I’ve said so often, our job is to cover the golf tournament.
“We’re not going to show any different treatment for the golfers who have played on the LIV tour than we do the other golfers.
“And if there’s a pertinent point or something that we need to, or we feel that we should bring up in our coverage on Saturday and Sunday, or on our other coverage throughout the week, we’re not going to put our heads in the sand.
“Having said that, unless it really affects the story that’s taking place on the golf course, we’re not going to go out of our way to cover it.
“I’m not sure there’s anything that we could add to the story as it already exists. We’ll cover it as is suitable.”
The Masters is not an event to dwindle in viewership down the years, and with the current dynamic and hostility in the game, CBS and other worldwide broadcasters could be in for a more fruitful week than usual.
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But CBS will endeavour not to play up to this drama – “We’re not cheerleaders here,” producer Sellers Shy added.
“We just want to cover the golf tournament. So whoever is on that leaderboard, we’re covering them because they’re invited to the Masters.”
18 players from the LIV Golf League are in the Masters field and they will continue to participate in major championships for as long as they can earn exemptions.
CBS commitment to giving impartial coverage to players on both sides of the professional fence is arguably something the PGA Tour has been accused of lacking.
After showing a graphic of previous WGC-Dell Match Play winners at the Texas event last, some golf fans criticised the Tour for removing Johnson and Bubba Watson’s names from the list.
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