Smylie Kaufman realized a tough broadcasting lesson on the British Open on Friday: At all times assume the mic is dwell.
The previous PGA Tour winner-turned-NBC Sports activities reporter was on responsibility throughout Spherical 2 at Royal Portrush when an awkward technical glitch led to an surprising NSFW second on air.
Whereas establishing a report on the 14th gap, Kaufman began his common on-course commentary when a sudden audio difficulty popped in his headset. Apparently considering his mic was lower, Kaufman muttered, “What the f—,” loud sufficient for the world to listen to.
Viewers had been fast to note, and NBC’s Mike Tirico jumped in moments later with an on-air apology, chalking it as much as technical points. Tirico defined that broadcasting from abroad generally messes with headset connections, and on this case, led to an expletive making it into houses in all places.
Hey yall! I made a double bogey at 15 at this time with a weird audio scenario. Sorry about that as I clearly didn’t know I used to be on air 😳! Apologies and a lesson realized! pic.twitter.com/psCDnZfR2m
— Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) July 18, 2025
Kaufman didn’t duck the error. After his shift ended, the 33-year-old took to social media with a simple apology. “Effectively, I suppose there’s a primary for every thing,” Kaufman wrote. He defined that the pop in his ear normally meant his mic was useless, including, “Clearly it wasn’t.” He apologized to his crew, the community, and followers, promising it wouldn’t occur once more.
It was the sort of genuine response you’d count on from Kaufman, who’s been identified for his humor and honesty since his days on tour. The previous LSU standout turned broadcaster has introduced an everyman high quality to his reporting, and Friday’s mic mishap simply added to his relatability.
Whereas it wasn’t the sort of British Open spotlight Kaufman, or NBC, deliberate, it served as a reminder to anybody with on-air aspirations: the mic is all the time scorching. And in a sport identified for its prim-and-proper traditions, slightly human second like this in all probability resonated greater than anybody anticipated.
As for Kaufman, he’s staying centered on the weekend’s protection and possible double-checking his headset earlier than each phase.
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