Pat McAfee has a lot of sports media connections, especially in the NFL world. However, it doesn’t appear likely that he’ll be able to film his show at one of the biggest events in golf this month.
The former NFL punter is known for his rambunctious behavior, and it seems that Augusta National isn’t a fan of the attention. The 2026 Masters will take place next week as the PGA Tour major season officially begins.
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However, McAfee revealed on “The Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday that the legendary golf course has made a decision on his program filming on-site.
Jason Kelce is headed to Augusta National for The Masters Par 3 Contest..
We think he will be an added bonus to the coverage#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/bMgYwCdFC9
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 1, 2026
The ESPN personality discussed Augusta’s decision to shoot down McAfee and his show filming live from The Masters. This comes despite the fact that ESPN is one of the broadcast partners for the tournament each year.
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Meanwhile, Scott Van Pelt and other network personalities will be live reporting from the event. Former NFL center Jason Kelce reportedly is even part of ESPN’s plans for the golf weekend, including attending the Par 3 Contest.
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“They told us to go to hell,” McAfee joked during his show Wednesday.
Why isn’t McAfee allowed to film at Augusta National?
McAfee has managed to keep his composure and celebrate Kelce’s invite to the event. However, it’s clear that he and his team are a bit frustrated by the fact that they were denied entry to broadcast their highly-popular show.
Nicolas Echavarria tees off during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
In the past, McAfee and Co. have received clearance for many top sporting events and been able to film on-site.
The sports media star is often spotted on the sidelines for many college football and NFL events. This includes during bowl games and the College Football Playoff.
However, the Masters is a different beast considering how strict Augusta National likes to keep its organization. Augusta is famous for filming its own broadcast and commercials during each tournament.
The legendary golf club allows networks like CBS and ESPN to be part of the coverage. Broadcasters like Jim Nantz and Van Pelt say Augusta creates lists of certain phrases that commentators aren’t allowed to utter.