PGA Tour fans fuming as 'technical difficulties' prevent live coverage of Zurich Classic

PGA Tour fans were prevented from watching live coverage of the early stages of the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, all as a result of 'technical difficulties' on Golf Channel and CBS Sports. 

Fans were able to watch the final group of Andrew Novak & Ben Griffin and Jake Knapp & Frankie Capan III play the first two holes.

Then a "huge power issue" hit New Orleans by the time the final groupreached the green at the par-3 3rd.

Defending champions Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry had played four holes before the power outage. 

McIlroy & Lowry are looking to become the first team to successfully defend the title. 

Technical difficulties lasted a full hour from 1.10pm to 2.10pm local time. 

By that time only limited pictures could be drip-fed into the final round broadcast on Golf Channel and CBS Sports. 

The PGA Tour communications team then posted an update at 2.24pm, just before play was suspended due to lightning at 2.43pm.

"The final-round broadcast of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is experiencing technical difficulties. The issue is currently being addressed."

Displeased PGA Tour fans stormed onto social media to vent their frustrations into their keypads and keyboards following the technical difficulties.

Even some of the most ardent PGA Tour fans decided they had no other option than to tune into the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City. 

"Absolute disgrace, all this money on the PGA Tour in 2025 and they can't even find 50 cents to stick in the meter," said one disgruntled PGA Tour fan.

"Over to watch LIV Golf Mexico it is then," said another golf fan. 

"Are you kidding me?" commented another. 

"Wanted to watch Rory tonight, but guess it will have to Bryson," wrote one golf fan. 

"Utter joke," commented one fan. 

Senior Golfweek writer Adam Schupak tweeted: "I can't remember the last time a sporting event experienced "technical difficulties" for this long. No bueno for GC/CBS and Zurich Classic."

"Truly embarrassing," wrote one fan. 

All presenters could do on Sky Sports Golf in the UK was apologise for the power issues being experienced at TPC Louisiana.

Instead, Sky switched over to the final round of The Chevron Championship, the first ladies major of the season.

Over on Golf Channel, the broadcaster provided 'bonus coverage' of the Mistsubishi Electric Classic on the PGA Tour Champions.

Power eventually returned an hour later but full live coverage had still yet to return on Golf Channel and CBS Sports. 

One of the commentators said: "We are getting cameras set up gradually again here... there was a pretty massive power failure at TPC Louisiana and the cameras on the course were unable to feed anything anywhere. We'll get them back one by one and get the microphones back shortly."

The PGA Tour's blushes were then somewhat saved during the technical issues when the final round was suspended due to lightning at 2.43pm. 

Play then resumed at 4.15pm local time, and thankfully by that time power was restored and live final round coverage had fully returned. 

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