Sky Sports make on-air apology after star's F-bomb is overheard at The Open

Sky Sports issued an on-air apology through their commentator after an F-bomb was audible in their coverage of the second round at The Open on Thursday morning.

10:20, Fri, Jul 17, 2026 Updated: 10:23, Fri, Jul 17, 2026

Keegan Bradley looks on after teeing off on a hole

Keegan Bradley endured a nightmare start to his second round of The Open at Royal Birkdale on Friday (Image: Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)

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Sky Sports were left scrambling to say sorry during their coverage of The Open after Keegan Bradley let slip an F-bomb on Friday morning. Last year's Team USA Ryder Cup captain was overheard vocalising his frustrations after missing a bogey putt on the first hole of his second round.

Bradley, 40, has just two bogeys during Thursday's play, but managed to match that total with a double-bogey on the par-four after having his putt lip out. The American was understandably not best pleased by that outcome and could not help but turn around in disgust before ultimately airing his grievances.

Commentating on Bradley's putt just after 8:15am, Tim Barter said: "Keegan Bradley, Ryder Cup captain for the Americans last time, is having his problems. Sorry if you heard some inappropriate language there. That is not the start he was looking for, stating the bloomin' obvious."

Nick Dougherty added: "Shows you how psychological the game is. He played beautifully last year. The Ryder Cup has had an effect on his own personal performance, the aftermath of it, such was the heartbreak of it."

Barter agreed with his fellow commentator, concluding: "The Ryder Cup's just been cruel to him his whole career. There's no one in America who loves it more than he, and he's had nothing but disappointment as a player, and now as a captain."

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Keegan Bradley tees off on The Open's first hole

Keegan Bradley's double-bogey off the first tee encapsulated his difficult time since the Ryder Cup (Image: Charlie Crowhurst/R&A, R&A via Getty Images)

In the mixed zone following his opening round, Bradley was asked about his current form. The American replied: "Not that great, but it's been a challenging year. Coming off of last year and the Ryder Cup and everything, just trying to get back to normal. I'm starting to feel better.

"But I'm in a unique position in my career where I'm trying to make the (FedEx Cup) playoffs for the first time in my career. So it's kind of like in a weird way kind of fun."

Bradley currently sits 75th in the rankings—only the top 70 secure qualification for the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Recognising that his place in the playoff tournaments is far from guaranteed, he added: "It's annoying, but in a weird, like demented way, it's kind of fun that I have to go out and try to do it."

Bradley went on: "It's so tough coming off these Ryder Cups. Like, I'm in, again, a unique position of a person that's going back out and supposed to be a premier, top player trying to win tournaments and trying to navigate that, but we're getting there."

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