GOLF CHANNEL’s coverage of the 2011 Masters Tournament

By Ryan Berenz (Twitter: @ChannelGuideRAB)

Maybe someday, especially now that GOLF CHANNEL is under the NBC Sports Group umbrella, the network devoted to all things golf will actually have live tournament coverage from Augusta National. But for now, GOLF CHANNEL has all the ancillary stuff covered, including news, updates, analysis, interviews and more from Augusta. Here’s the schedule and release from GOLF:

Golf Channel Has Masters Covered

More Than 50 Hours of Live News Coverage from Augusta and Orlando
Palmer, Player, Floyd, Crenshaw and Watson Among Daily Special Guests

Morning Drive to air Monday-Sunday During Masters Week

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 1, 2011) – Golf Channel is primed to deliver more than 50 live hours of news coverage from next week’s Masters tournament – the year’s first and most-anticipated major championship in golf – with live news reports, inside analysis, player interviews, special guest appearances and compelling features throughout the week.


54 Hours of Coverage: Headlining the news coverage will be the network’s franchise news program – Live From the Masters – providing 37 hours of live wrap-around news coverage throughout the week from Augusta, Ga., beginning Tuesday with news conference shows and concluding Sunday following tournament coverage.  Morning Drive, the network’s live weekday morning show, will expand to seven days next week, with daily special guests from Augusta.  The Grey Goose 19th Hole will broadcast live Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET from Augusta, and on Monday at 7 p.m. ET, Michael Breed will host a special Golf Fix from The First Tee of Augusta.

Live From the Masters Broadcast Team and Special Guests: Golf Channel’s Live From the Masters broadcast team will include Rich Lerner, Kelly Tilghman, Kraig Kann, Steve Sands, Todd Lewis, Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo, Curt Byrum, Mark Lye, John Mahaffey, John Feinstein, Alex Miceli, Tim Rosaforte, Charlie Rymer, Randall Mell and Rex Hoggard reporting from Augusta National and nearby Augusta Country Club.  PGA TOUR professional Notah Begay will make his return as an analyst throughout the week, and legends of the game are scheduled to make special guest appearances on the Golf Channel set, including Tom Watson (Tuesday), Ray Floyd (Wednesday), Arnold Palmer (Thursday), Ben Crenshaw (Saturday) and Gary Player (Sunday).

News Conferences: Live From the Masters news coverage will kick off with pre-tournament news conferences Tuesday and Wednesday from Augusta National. The world’s top-ranked players, like Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell and returning champion Phil Mickelson, will talk about their impressions of the course and strategies for winning.   Tuesday’s news conference coverage airs from 1-6 p.m. ET, and Wednesday’s coverage airs from 12-1 p.m. ET.

Live From the Masters News Coverage: Beginning Tuesday, Live From the Masters will provide 37 hours of comprehensive wrap-around news coverage of the Masters, including player interviews, analysis, up-to-the-minute leader board updates and daily features from Golf Channel’s team of anchors, reporters and contributors.  Live From the Masters will air Tuesday and Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. ET; Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET; Saturday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. ET, and Sunday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. ET.

GolfChannel.com Live Chats: Thursday-Sunday, members of Golf Channel’s on-air team will participate in a series of one-hour live chats with fans on GolfChannel.com immediately following the network’s early Live From the Masters news coverage.  Kelly Tilghman will participate Thursday (3-4 p.m. ET); Rich Lerner on Friday (3-4 p.m. ET), Gary Williams on Saturday (3:30-4:30 p.m.) and Win McMurry on Sunday (2-3 p.m. ET).  In addition, GolfChannel.com’s team of writers will contribute to the popular shag bag blog with entries and posts throughout the week, along with daily columns, news articles, features and breaking news.

Live From the Masters Programming (all times ET)

Monday, April 4
Morning Drive                       7-9 a.m.
Golf Central                          6-7 p.m.
The Golf Fix                          7-8 p.m. ET

Tuesday, April 5
Morning Drive                       7-9 a.m.
Live From the Masters        1-6 p.m. (news conferences)
Live From the Masters        6-8 p.m.

Wednesday, April 6
Morning Drive                       7-9 a.m.
Live From the Masters        12-1 p.m. (Billy Payne news conference)
Live From the Masters        6-8 p.m.
Grey Goose 19th Hole          8-9 p.m.

Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8
Morning Drive                       6-8 a.m.
Live From the Masters        8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Live From the Masters        7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 9
Morning Drive                       7-9 a.m.
Live From the Masters        12:30-3:30 p.m.
Live From the Masters        7-9 p.m.

Sunday, April 10
Morning Drive                       7-9 a.m.
Live From the Masters        11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Live From the Masters        7-9 p.m.

About Ryan Berenz 2166 Articles
Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.