Why do Sky Sports commentators keep apologising for golfers swearing? There’s a good reason.

If you’ve tuned-in to Sky Sports’ coverage of The 152nd Open at any point, you might have noticed the commentators apologising for players swearing.

In the second round alone, Andrew Coltart and Co. have said sorry to viewers for expletives uttered by the likes of Jordan Spieth, Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre.

You’re possibly sitting there thinking it’s completely unnecessary.

After all, this is professional sport. It’s intense, it’s emotive, it’s passionate. Bad words get said in the heat of the moment. Plus, we’re all grown-ups.

No big deal, right?

Wrong. Very, very wrong.

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There’s a reason for all the apologies – and a very good one.

Ofcom Compliance.

Sky Sports is required to apologise for swearing during live broadcasts, and edit it out of any repeats.

Failure to do so results in a fine (and a hefty one).

Indeed, in the past, it’s understood that the broadcaster has received fines for swearing caught on the stump mic in cricket, so this isn’t some empty threat. Penalties can, and do, happen.

“But why do they even do it after the watershed on PGA Tour broadcasts?” we hear you ask.

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Simple: the watershed rules don’t apply to live sport in the same way. So, it doesn’t matter what time the swearing happens; apologies must be made.

Don’t believe us? Have a look at the Ofcom website. A statement reads: “Ofcom has a duty to apply standards which provide adequate protection to audiences from offensive and harmful content on TV and radio.

“If broadcasters air programmes that break the rules, and if the breach is serious or repeated, we can impose sanctions on them, including fines.”

So there you f**king have it!