Live golf provides live mics.
And live mics provide lively words.
Golf is back, f-bombs and all.
As Golf Channel’s coverage of the PGA Tour’s first tournament in three months began Thursday, cameras and announcers went to Jon Rahm’s second shot on the par-3 eighth hole at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Rahm’s chip shot dropped.
Brooks Koepka dropped something more.
“Pretty f—ing good there,” Koepka said to his playing partner.
Rahm smiled.
Rickie Fowler will be mic’d up for the PGA Tour’s return on Thursday
Golf Channel likely didn’t. The broadcast went silent for a few seconds.
Announcer Jim Nantz ended the awkwardness.
“Well, we were hoping for better audio with no fans surrounding the course,” Nantz said. “We apologize if anybody was offended by what they may have heard there.”
It could have been louder.
Players had been asked to wear individual mics during play. Only Rickie Fowler, in the group ahead of Rahm and Koepka, agreed to wear one.
On Tuesday, Rahm admitted he, too, would likely offend golf’s PG rating. And he wouldn’t be alone.
“Now, selfishly, because of who I am and I know how I am on the golf course, I wouldn’t support it just because they might need a 20-, 30-second difference from live, might be a little bit delayed,” Rahm said. “And I’m not the only one; a lot of people swear or something comes up where you can hear it. I don’t think it would be the best thing to do.”
The hot-mic clip is below, and heads up: It contains the language described above.