No offense, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Lee Janzen.
But golf fans on Sunday, especially those with two thumbs and a social media account, wanted to watch Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler more.
“You have the biggest names in golf like Rory, Morikowa, and Rickie trying to make a comeback and you air the champions tour?!?!” tweeted @BFarraye. “At this rate we won’t see the PGA tour until the leaders are on the FIFTEENTH HOLE!!”
Search some version of “PGA Tour” or “Golf Channel” on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, and you could find more of the same. The issue? Golf Channel was to broadcast the final round of the Champions Tour’s SAS Championship from 2-5 p.m. ET, then show the final round of the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup — but when the SAS went past 5 for a playoff between Jimenez and Janzen, and Golf Channel stuck with it over McIlroy, Fowler and others slugging it out for the lead, fans went to their phones and computers.
To add to the furor, some fans found that Golf Channel’s website was also showing only the Champions event. Viewers then were left to occasional split-screen updates on Golf Channel and online scoreboards.
A sampling of the social media rage:
What an absolute disgrace of a network. You have the biggest names in golf like Rory, Morikowa, and Rickie trying to make a comeback and you air the champions tour?!?! At this rate we won’t see the PGA tour until the leaders are on the FIFTEENTH HOLE!! How is that acceptable?!?!
— Brandon Farraye (@BFarraye) October 17, 2021
@PGATOUR @PGATOURComms @GolfChannel @GolfChannelPR You deserve to be dragged/ratio'd in the replies for how TERRIBLE the lack of TV coverage this weekend has been. Please show your bosses these replies so they're aware that they've been further exposed as staggeringly incompetent
— James Zale (@jameszale) October 17, 2021
It’ll be over by the time the @ChampionsTour finishes at this rate… talk about “dropping the damn ball”…
— AlfyGee (@Garner45550181) October 17, 2021
Dear @PGATOUR, we support the Champions Tour but for Pete's sake can we watch the CJ Cup instead? FFS!!!
— Cecil (@CecilPadayachee) October 17, 2021
it legitimately feels illegal what the PGA Tour does with its broadcasts
— Randy (@randy__vision) October 17, 2021
Morikawa, Fowler, Rory all tied for the lead at CJ but @GolfChannel shows the champions tour… figure it out
— Ben Momon (@B3nJaminsince92) October 17, 2021
This is so bad @GolfChannel. Please let me watch the #CJCup somewhere.
— Kenny Kim (@KendoVT) October 17, 2021
What the heck @GolfChannel — not showing CJ Cup???? C'mon. What the heck good is the golf channel???
— CatLvr5303 (@CatLvr5303) October 17, 2021
I know no one cares about golf during football season but Collin is going absolutely bonkers and you legit cannot watch it for another half hour. Sweet @GolfChannel @PGATOUR @PGATOURComms
— James Mazzola (@jmazzjd) October 17, 2021
Champs tour going long. Gotta stream online. Greeted with this on Golf Channel Website.
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) October 17, 2021
Everything burns. pic.twitter.com/S7bI8wJeVB
While golf TV coverage and complaints of golf TV coverage tend to go hand in hand, Sunday’s anger seemed elevated due to both the CJ Cup’s all-star leaderboard and a birdie bonanza at the Summit Club, the event’s host. Eventually, things settled down.
At 5:39 p.m. ET (and 5:40 p.m. online), after Janzen won on the first playoff hole, the coverage switched to the CJ Cup.
