How Tom Watson's book led to the shooting of Gary McCord's Masters

Thirty years ago, Gary McCord was famously fired from the CBS Masters broadcast team for comparing the speed of green wax to a bikini. But Augusta National's reaction to the comments was not quick – in fact, it was only after receiving a critical letter from Tom Watson that McCord's dismissal began.

How did it all go down? McCord recounted the story along with longtime CBS colleague Peter Kostis on a recent episode of “Kostis & McCord: Off Their Rockers,” a GOLF production.

“What happened is, we have Jose Maria Olazabal, he's on the road, he's talking to his friend about what the next shot is and, the pin went back on the last day. And I said, let me interpret. I said, the caddy – now they're speaking Spanish, obviously – and I said, the caddy, his brother, told him, 'Don't hit it on the green because there are body bags there.' A cliche, its a euphemism he is dead. That's all. That's right. No big deal. That was earlier in the show.

“Now we go back in time, then we go to a commercial break, and we're late for the television show,” McCord continued. “We are on the 17th hole. I found the president of CBS Sports sitting next to me with a bat phone. Direct red phone [Augusta National chairman] Hord Hardin. So, he's in the caves below, and that's the phone he can get where the television is on and he's sitting next to me.”

McCord then explained that she liked to keep magazines in the booth, and saw an ad for the Golden Door spa in Escondido, Calif. A bikini wax was among the treatments offered on the menu.

“Now, as you know, at Augusta, the one thing they're really afraid of is the speed of these greens,” McCord said. “So Jose hits it here to the left and he puts it to the right, and you know that putt, and it's just faster than hell. So I said, you know, this putt that Jose has here is really, really weak. When he reaches the top of that hill, the speed suddenly drops. In fact, I don't think they mow these plants. I think they make them bikinis.

“Neal Pilson is laughing his own next to me. He is the president of CBS Sports. The phone does not turn off. Anyway, that was it. [CBS Sports golf producer] Frank [Chirkinian] he never said anything. Nobody said anything!”

The following week's tournament was in Hilton Head, SC, and McCord and Kostis recalled being called into Chirkinian's office the Wednesday before the tournament began.

“I get called into Frank's office and he says, 'Close the door.' “I closed the door, and he threw the book at me, it was written in pencil,” said McCord. “And I look at the letter, it says it's addressed to Augusta National. And it says, 'We need to get rid of this golf bug. He is the Howard Stern of golf and we need to pay attention to what he has to say,' signed Tom Watson.

“I looked at Frank and said, 'What the hell?' He goes, 'I don't know. I got it from Augusta, and they sent it to me.' And I go, 'What does this mean?' He goes, 'I don't know yet.' I went, 'Okay, let me know.'

Two days later, McCord was called back to Chirkinian's office.

“So on Friday, Frank goes, 'Get in here,'” McCord said. “And I go, 'What?' He goes, 'Augusta is on the mend now.' I said, 'Why?' 'By your death.'”

McCord said Chirkinian told him that the network would not protect him and that he would have to handle the matter himself. Chirkinian offered him one word of advice, however: “Be above the process.”

A few months later, McCord was officially kicked off the Masters broadcast, but remained on the CBS roster for all of the network's tournaments.

In the end, McCord said he respects Augusta National's decision to fire him but didn't like that Watson didn't confront him personally about his grievances before taking the matter to Augusta.

McCord said he had a chance to face Watson the following year at Pebble Beach when he saw Watson walk in.

“Tom signs up in front of me and then he turns to walk out and I say, 'Do you have a second?' McCord said. “He goes, 'Yeah.' I said, 'I'll meet you right there in the alcove.'

“So I go in there, he is sitting. The next thing I know, he's pushing me in the chest and I'm pushing him in the chest and I'm just looking over there and you're sitting there laughing because we're going to fight over there.

“I also just told him that I don't understand why he didn't do this and he got up and talked to me first. He was trying to be God in all this. That was the purpose of the conversation.”

Over the years, McCord said he and Watson have played on the Champions Tour together and have gotten along. In fact, McCord now credits Watson for giving him so much attention.

“I got more credit for doing this than anything I've ever done in golf,” McCord said.

“It's believable that he didn't just hurt your income, he improved it,” commented Kostis.

“I have to pay him the last bill,” McCord said.

For more great anecdotes from golf's master storytellers, check out the latest episode of Kostis & McCord: Off Their Rockers, a GOLF production, below.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia's first varsity golf class, Jessica knows how to outrun everyone on the golf course. He can pass them through the office, too, where he is primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF's first Style Issue, which began in February 2018. His first interview series, “A Round With,” released in November 2015, and appeared in both magazine and video form on GOLF.com.