Tuesday, August 18, 2026

CBS’ Masters Coverage Won’t Take Sides in PGA vs. LIV Feud

  • CBS won’t put its ‘head in the sand,’ says boss Sean McManus.
  • Nothing bigger than Masters, says analyst Trevor Immelman.
CBS Sports and the Masters
Rusty Jarrett/Augusta National/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports

CBS Sports vows it will not play favorites in covering players from the competing PGA Tour and LIV Golf series during its coverage of next week’s 2023 Masters Tournament.

“The Masters Tournament and Augusta National is bigger than any player that has come before, any player that’s around now, and any player that will come in the years ahead,” said CBS’ Trevor Immelman, the 2008 champion who will call his first Masters as lead analyst with Jim Nantz. 

“What we are focused on is giving the tournament justice and crowning a great champion, putting a green jacket on a great champion that Sunday afternoon.”

Sean McManus, chairman of CBS Sports, promised that while the network won’t treat LIV players differently, it also won’t “cover up or hide” anything. 

This will be the first time PGA and LIV Golf rivals tee it up at Augusta National Golf Club with the coveted Green Jacket at stake.

Led by three-time winner Phil Mickelson (2010, 2006,2004), LIV boasts a number of former Masters champions, including:

  • Dustin Johnson (2020)
  • Patrick Reed (2018)
  • Sergio Garcia (2017)
  • Bubba Watson (2014, 2012)

The powerful Augusta National always wants to keep the focus on the players and the beauty of the grounds. 

As CBS director Sellers Shy said: “We’re not cheerleaders here. We just want to cover the golf tournament.” 

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