The Masters Broadcast Ban That Lasted a Quarter Century
The 2026 Masters tournament has once again brought attention to one of golf's most enduring controversies: the bitter dispute between legendary golfer Tom Watson and broadcaster Gary McCord that resulted in a 25-year broadcasting ban. This remarkable saga began during CBS's coverage of the 1994 Masters and demonstrates the strict standards maintained by Augusta National Golf Club.
The Infamous Comment That Changed Everything
During the final round of the 1994 Masters, as Spanish golfer Jose Maria Olazabal prepared a putt on the notoriously fast 17th green, CBS commentator Gary McCord attempted to convey the extreme conditions with a humorous analogy. "I don't think they mow these greens," McCord quipped, "I think they bikini wax them."
While many viewers found the remark entertaining and characteristic of McCord's lively commentary style, the joke failed to amuse Augusta National's leadership. More significantly, it deeply offended two-time Masters champion Tom Watson, who viewed the comment as disrespectful to the tournament's traditions and prestige.
Watson's Decisive Intervention
Initially, McCord appeared to have escaped any serious consequences for his remark. Neal Pilson, then president of CBS Sports, was seated beside McCord during the broadcast and seemed to appreciate the humor. However, the situation changed dramatically when Tom Watson decided to take action.
The eight-time major champion personally wrote a letter to CBS golf producer Frank Chirkinian, expressing his strong objections. McCord later described the moment he was shown this letter: "I get called into Frank's office and he goes, 'Close the door.' So I close the door, and he throws me a letter, and it's written in pencil."
Watson's letter, addressed to Augusta National, contained particularly strong language: "We need to eradicate this lesion on golf. He is the Howard Stern of golf and we need to pay attention to this and what he said." The letter was signed by Watson himself, leaving no doubt about his position.
The Consequences and Aftermath
Augusta National, famous for its fiercely protective approach toward the Masters tournament, took Watson's complaint seriously. CBS provided no support for McCord, and within months, the broadcaster was discreetly removed from all future Masters coverage. Remarkably, McCord continued as a regular fixture on CBS's golf programming until 2019, but was effectively barred from covering the Masters at Augusta for twenty-five years.
The drama continued beyond the initial decision. The following year at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, McCord confronted Watson about the letter, expressing bitterness that the golf legend hadn't spoken to him directly before taking the matter to Augusta's leadership.
Reconciliation and Reflection
Despite the initial animosity, McCord and Watson eventually reconciled and now maintain a cordial relationship. In retrospect, McCord acknowledges that the incident paradoxically boosted his broadcasting career. "I got more publicity for doing this than anything I ever did in golf," he admitted in a later interview.
Nevertheless, this episode remains one of the most notorious moments in televised golf history, serving as a stark warning about the boundaries of humor when covering the Masters at Augusta National. The incident highlights the delicate balance broadcasters must maintain between entertainment and respect for golf's most prestigious tournament and its traditions.
