Pat McAfee may dominate the sports media world, but golf has never quite been his… lane. Sure, he got a taste of it at Augusta National Golf Club during a 2023 golf trip with the Mannings, but the Masters is at a different level altogether. For three straight years, he has tried to bring his show to life from the Masters Par-3 Contest, only to come up empty each time. So, when fellow NFL personality Jason Kelce revealed he’d be part of ESPN’s coverage of the 90th Masters, McAfee couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement.

The fans, however, were not. Many believe that Kelce, known for being loud and proud, didn’t fit the Masters. One can only imagine how they’d react had McAfee been allowed to cover it, and the podcast host acknowledges this, too.

“The internet goes on to say ‘we don’t need Jason Kelce at the Masters.’” McAfee said on the latest episode of the Pat McAfee Show. “And that’s probably a valid point if I had to guess. I’m only saying that strictly because we have attempted to be a part of the Wednesday coverage of the Masters at the par-3 thing for three consecutive years now. For the people who are mad about Jason Kelce being a part of the Masters, I have a good piece of news for you: They told us to go to hell.

“So, I think you should be happy that they [Masters] do try to preserve it as a whole. They have a certain thing that they are looking for.”

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Here’s the thing: Over the past decade, the Masters has noticeably relaxed some of its old-school rigidity. With Amazon Prime Video now part of the broadcast picture, and personalities like Jason Kelce and Marty Smith expected to bring a more lighthearted presence on-site for ESPN in 2026, the direction things could take from here feels more open-ended than ever.

Kelce is set to work the Par-3 Contest as an on-course reporter, where he’ll be speaking with players and their families. He’ll be part of a larger ESPN group that includes Scott Van Pelt, Marty Smith, and other network personalities.

The Masters Par 3 contest precedes the Augusta National tournament. It takes place on Wednesday and is a cherished and relaxed tradition for golf fans. This year, it will be on April 8 and will feature a scenic 9-hole course, as always. McAfee has been trying to cover the casual, family-oriented tournament.

However, his podcast is dedicated to the NFL and college football. Since officially joining ESPN’s lineup in the fall of 2023, he has also served as an analyst on College Gameday. Plus, his persona might not get along well with golf’s audience.

Surprisingly, the former NFL punter’s snub came just a month after it was announced that ESPN canceled its other free agency show and would rely entirely on McAfee.

ESPN decided that The Pat McAfee Show would be the main show when free agency commenced in the second week of March. The coverage will come live from McAfee’s Thunderdome studio in Indianapolis, not from ESPN’s usual East Coast studios. However, when it came to golf, ESPN was not ready to show the same faith in him. While McAfee failed to land the job, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce did. However, the outrage from fans has been difficult to ignore.

Fans are not happy with Jason Kelce covering the Masters Par 3

New Heights fans know that Jason Kelce is a massive golf fan. He regularly follows the sport, and got a chance to be part of the coverage crew last month. During the final three matches of the TGL regular season on March 1-3, Kelce served as a guest commentator. It was all part of the ESPN network. The NFL analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown did not have to wait long for his second golf gig.

The 6-time All-Pro will be present during the Masters Par 3 Contest at Augusta National as a guest on-course reporter. It will be a great opportunity for the former center, but the golf community was not pleased with the decision.

“The Masters is a tradition that cannot be matched. It doesn’t need some overpaid comedian. Leave it to ESPN to ruin this as well,” one person wrote on social media.

It is not just Kelce; even ESPN had to face the fans’ wrath.

“Get Jason Kelsey the f–k away from golf. Looks like a fucking douche in that Hawaiian cutoff,” a golf fan wrote on X.

The comments just kept on coming. The Masters tournament is one of the four major golf tournaments. Thousands of people watch the coverage. And his biggest asset is his versatility. He is right at home behind an NFL studio desk, and he brought that same energy and enthusiasm to the 2026 Winter Olympics, where his presence stood out. So, for ESPN, the decision to have him at an important golf tournament may have come naturally.

“Kelce? ESPN f–ks up everything it touches,” commented another fan on X.

Another commented, “I don’t get the appeal of him. He’s not funny or entertaining at all.”

Many believe elder Kelce got all the fame because of the New Heights podcasts, which also feature Travis Kelce, who is in a relationship with popular singer Taylor Swift. But irrespective of all the outrage, Pat McAfee has congratulated the 7-time Pro Bowler on his podcast. It remains to be seen how things unfold as the golf tournament nears.