In the latest episode of “Kostis & McCord: Off Their Rockers,” Gary McCord shared the story of how he was famously fired from the CBS Masters broadcast team thirty years ago for a controversial comment he made comparing the speed of a green at Augusta National to a bikini wax. McCord’s ouster was set in motion after receiving a critical letter from golfer Tom Watson. The incident took place during a live broadcast where McCord made a lighthearted comment about a golfer not hitting his ball over the green due to the fast speed of the greens.
McCord shared the details of the incident, explaining that he made the comment in a joking manner and did not anticipate the backlash it would receive. Despite the president of CBS Sports sitting next to him during the broadcast, no immediate action was taken by the network or Augusta National in response to the comment. However, McCord’s troubles began the following week when he was called into the CBS golf producer Frank Chirkinian’s office and presented with a letter from Tom Watson criticizing his commentary.
After being summoned back to Chirkinian’s office, McCord learned that Augusta National was preparing to remove him from the Masters broadcast team. Despite the network not defending him, McCord was allowed to remain on the CBS roster for other tournaments. The decision to fire McCord ultimately came from Augusta National, but McCord expressed disappointment that Watson did not address his concerns with him personally before involving the Masters.
In the aftermath of the incident, McCord confronted Watson at a tournament the following year, expressing his frustration with the situation and the way it was handled. However, McCord acknowledged that the controversy brought him a significant amount of publicity, and he and Watson have since played on the Champions Tour together and maintained a cordial relationship. McCord now looks back on the incident as a unique chapter in his career that ultimately did not have a negative impact on his earnings.
Despite the controversy surrounding his firing from the Masters broadcast, McCord continues to work in the golf industry and reflect on the incident with humor. The story serves as a reminder of the complexities of commentary in sports broadcasting and the importance of handling controversies with professionalism and transparency. McCord’s experience offers valuable lessons for broadcasters and athletes alike on how to navigate difficult situations and maintain relationships in the competitive world of golf.
