NBC cut away from its coverage of the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic for a special report on a major news story involving former President Donald Trump.
21:02 ET, 28 Feb 2026Updated 21:02 ET, 28 Feb 2026
The Cognizant Classic was interrupted by breaking NBC news(Image: Getty Images)
NBC rarely interrupts its programming for just anything, particularly during crucial moments of PGA Tour coverage with leading groups approaching the back nine. That’s why golf enthusiasts understood the significance when the network made an unusual break from the Cognizant Classic.
The third day of the PGA Tour‘s event at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens was underway when the broadcast suddenly switched from the course to NBC‘s studio. The tournament feed transitioned to the recognizable NBC News special report graphic, with Tom Llamas appearing on screen.
“This is an NBC News special report,” Llamas stated. “We are coming on the air with major breaking news out of the Middle East. President Trump just posted on Truth Social that Iran’s supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei, has been killed during the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran.”
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A comparable announcement also broke into the NHL’s broadcast of the Eastern Conference game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.
The segment outlined that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s most prominent political and religious figure, was confirmed dead following coordinated strikes by the U.S. and Israel that targeted Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear sites, as well as portions of its leadership.
NBC’s senior national security correspondent Courtney Kube noted that a senior U.S. official familiar with the matter believed Khamenei died based on communications with Israeli officials, although specifics were still developing.
Iran responded with missiles and drones aimed at Israel and U.S. military installations throughout the region, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
NBC interrupted coverage of the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic to announce the reported death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei(Image: NBC)
The Iranian Red Crescent documented over 200 fatalities and 700 casualties. NBC observed that the wider ramifications stretched beyond Iran’s borders.
The special report ran for approximately 10 minutes before NBC returned viewers to PGA National.
Multiple viewers commented that the golf broadcast was running behind schedule, with live coverage having aired earlier on Golf Channel. The disruption occurred during a critical segment of the third round.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry eliminated a three-stroke gap with a bogey-free 8-under 63 to match USA star Austin Smotherman at 13-under going into Sunday. Nico Echavarria and Taylor Moore were positioned one stroke behind at 12-under, whilst Jimmy Stanger finished at 11-under.
The Cognizant Classic coverage was interrupted
Tournament officials moved tee times earlier in the day to avoid severe weather, after forecasts predicted an 82 percent chance of thunderstorms during the original scheduled times. The competition experienced play halt for more than three hours in 2024 because of lightning and rain.
The PGA Tour recently renewed its partnership with Trump, bringing back the $20 million Signature Event to his National Doral’s “Blue Monster” course, expected to host the 2026 Cadillac Championship.
Commissioner Jay Monahan has also acknowledged Trump as a “facilitator” in the continuing merger discussions with LIV Golf.