Overview

• During the intrusion, Dan Hicks flailed his arms while commentator Kevin Kisner hid under his sports coat as Mike Tirico provided live narration.
• After circling the broadcast tower roughly 20 times, the bat exited the booth and NBC’s coverage swiftly returned to tournament play.
• The circulated footage has drawn widespread attention online and highlighted the unpredictability of extended live golf broadcasts.
• In a follow-up interview, Kisner said his reaction stemmed from concern over rabies transmission from bats and admitted to fearing for his safety.
• The event underscores how variable weather and local wildlife at Royal Portrush can pose unexpected risks for broadcasters covering The Open.