One of the big reasons television networks are looking to implement artificial crowd noise into sports broadcasts is because athletes, coaches, and officials don’t exactly use squeaky-clean language. We got multiple examples of such language loud and clear on Friday’s second-round coverage of the RBC Heritage on Golf Channel.
Rory McIlroy was quite unhappy with his tee shot on the ninth hole. And the mics, to go with no crowd chatter from the nonexistent gallery in Hilton Head, SC, made it very easy to hear an f-bomb from McIlroy on the Golf Channel broadcast.
McIlroy shouted, “Every fucking…”
That was followed by analyst Nick Faldo saying, “Excusez-moi. That means… that’s a technical term- he keeps blocking it right.”
Later, Harold Varner III didn’t like a shot on the 18th: “Oh, fuck you.”
Faldo immediately started laughing, and play-by-play man Whit Watson said, “We apologize for the quality of the microphone in the fairway.”
Yes, it was definitely the quality of the microphone in the fairway. Good save by Watson.
[Golf Channel]
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.
Recent Posts
Donald Trump has awkward exchange with reporter over son’s college athletics career
As expected, the much ballyhooed college sports roundtable at the White House hosted by President Donald Trump was...
UFC White House card already hit with fight cancelation
Dana White revealed the UFC White House card has already hit a stumbling block before it's even been announced.
Most Valuable Promotions launches women’s boxing platform MVPW, announces multiyear ESPN deal
"We’re proud to bring these championship matchups to ESPN and the ESPN App and further elevate women’s boxing for fans across the country."
Seth Davis, Mike Fratello among 2026 Curt Gowdy Media Award recipients
Recipients include Davis, Fratello, Brooklyn Nets play-by-play announcer Chris Carrino, and CCTVB-5 founder Ma Guoli.
Once again, Prime Video to exclusively air 21 Yankees games in 2026
Cue the complaining!
College basketball viewing picks for March 7, 2026: How to watch penultimate day of regular season
Championship Week continues while we have the second matchup between North Carolina and Duke in the ACC.