The 2026 Masters has officially begun, bringing in the biggest stars in golf from defending champion Rory McIlroy to Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler.
If viewers hoped for a smooth, simple way to watch Thursday’s opening round, they were quickly disappointed. Instead, the day turned into a maze of apps, subscriptions, and time slots that left golf fans frustrated.
Podcaster Chris Gordy summed up the chaos perfectly in a sarcastic post that instantly went viral. He listed out all the platforms viewers needed just to follow the first round:
- 6:00–7:30 a.m. ET: Masters App
- 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET: Masters App & Paramount+
- 12:00–2:00 p.m. ET: Amazon Prime
- 2:00–6:30 p.m. ET: ESPN
In other words, fans needed a TV, a laptop, a phone, and multiple subscriptions — just to avoid missing key shots.
One fan admitted they simply gave up:
“I have access to all of that but still quit watching when it’s so fragmented.”
Another fan said they had to screenshot the broadcast schedule just to keep track. Others pointed out how streaming has made watching major sports far more complicated than it used to be.
One viewer summed up the irritation with a harsh take:
“It’s almost like we had it all with cable, and they took it away just to sell subscriptions.”
Many also blasted the official Masters app, calling it delayed, repetitive, and incomplete arguing that a tournament this prestigious should have a straightforward, single-feed option.
And then there were the jokes. One fan even wrote:
“It’s harder for a golf fan to watch the tournament than it is for an illegal to get a CDL.”
Until full coverage moves to CBS on Saturday, fans will have to bounce between apps and platforms to follow the action at Augusta National.