Jim Nantz hits back at Bryson DeChambeau’s critics comments: ‘Bots’

Masters week is upon us, and CBS’ Jim Nantz and two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau will be paying close attention in the coming days. Nantz will be the leading TV commentator on Saturday and Sunday. DeChambeau is one of the betting favorites to win his first green jacket.

However, heading into tournament week, the two men have been embroiled in a feud stemming from recent comments Nantz made about DeChambeau before the Masters.

On Monday, Nantz joined the “Pat McAfee Show” to defend himself, saying he “stands by his words” while slamming criticism his comments received from “bots” and LIV Golf’s communications team. But he also tried to quash any further controversy by citing his “great friendship” and “long association” with DeChambeau.

Here’s what you need to know.

Nantz calls DeChambeau’s friend: ‘My son was almost named after him’

The Nantz-DeChambeau feud began last week, when Nantz participated in a conference call previewing coverage of CBS’ 2026 Masters.

Responding to a question about DeChambeau’s form heading into the Masters, Nantz first said he considers Bryson among the favorites to win the Masters. But then he admitted that he “didn’t see Bryson hit a single shot this year. I never saw him.”

The comments spread far and wide, with some viewers taking it as a dig at DeChambeau, while others saw it as criticism of LIV Golf.

In his appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, the first day of Masters week, Nantz tried to clarify his comments about DeChambeau, saying it was “taken out of context” in which he selected Bryson as one of the Masters favorites.

“I really like Bryson’s chances. I was on the phone with the media the other day and a lot of people picked up on the statement I made about Bryson, I haven’t watched a shot so far this year. He’s definitely been winning on the LIV tour, he’s won a few times, and I want to say that’s where I made Scottie the favorite. [Scheffler]number one,” Nantz said on the Pat McAfee Show.

Nantz then tried to defend himself by explaining the “long relationship” he had with DeChambeau. The surprise is that he even said that he he almost named his son Bryson.

“I have said that I have a long relationship with Bryson, he has come home, my son was almost named after him, I mean there is great friendship and respect there,” said Nantz. “I think he’s going to win Augusta, maybe this year.”

He then gave the same excuse for not watching DeChambeau in 2026 in the one he gave last week’s press call, saying he “has my stuff going on” including his own CBS PGA Tour. (Both of DeChambeau’s LIV wins this year came after CBS’ latest golf broadcast).

He continued to defend his actions by saying that he doesn’t even need to watch DP World Tour events to prepare for those players’ appearances at the Masters.

“I was trying to make a point. I have my own stuff going on. We broadcast. The point is, I read everything. I don’t have to sit down and watch the DP World Tour to prepare for those players, or LIV Golf,” Nantz said. “But I give them their due, and I expect Jon Rahm to come in and play well. I expect both Jon and Bryson to be there, both good guys, and I’d love to have them on the leaderboard.”

When McAfee asked Nantz if he said his comments were excluded, Nantz said he “stands by his comments” and blamed “all these bots” and LIV’s “powerful social media group” for the criticism Bryson received. He also insisted that they did not intend to attack DeChambeau, and that he considers Bryson “a friend.”

“You have all these bots, and LIV has a very powerful social media group, from what I hear because I’m not on social media, but if you say anything that can be loosely interpreted as negative, they follow you. And that’s fine. I stand by my comment,” said Nantz. “I wasn’t trying to take a shot at Bryson. Like I said, I have a lot of respect for him, I consider him a friend, and I consider him a favorite this week.”

DeChambeau begins the week of the 2026 Masters as the second favorite in the Masters odds, with the opening round starting on Thursday. CBS’ Nantz broadcasts begin Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.