The Masters Tournament tees off this week, and ESPN and CBS will air the tournament April 8-11. As you may have heard, this will be Tiger Woods’ first competitive round of the year, and while ESPN won’t be airing The Masters when Woods tees off at hole No. 1, they will be allowed to break in to air Woods’ first tee shot live during SportsCenter. From ESPN:
Prior to the live television windows Thursday and Friday, SportsCenter will provide live cut-ins and in-progress highlights beginning at 9 a.m., including the first tee shots Thursday live from the grouping that includes Tiger Woods.
The complete Masters TV schedule is below, followed by the full press release from CBS. Click here for the full press release and coverage plans from ESPN.
The Masters 2010 TV Schedule
Thursday, April 8 — 4-7:30pm ET, First Round, ESPN
Friday, April 9 — 4-7:30pm ET, Second Round, ESPN
Saturday, April 10 — 3:30-7pm ET, Third Round, CBS
Sunday, April 11 — 2-7pm ET, Final Round, CBS
ANGEL CABRERA DEFENDS 2009 MASTERS® VICTORY
CBS SPORTS BROADCASTS MASTERS® FOR 55th CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Masters® Is Longest-Running Sporting Event Broadcast on One Network
The Masters®, the most renowned tournament in golf, will be broadcast on CBS for the 55th consecutive year from the majestic setting of Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. This year marks the 74th Masters Tournament, one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year. Last year, Argentinean Angel Cabrera became the Masters’ first South American champion by defeating Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell in the Tournament’s first three-man playoff since 1987.
CBS Sports will bring viewers all the color, artistry and drama inherent to the world’s most prestigious golf tournament and first major of the year with live third-round coverage of the Masters on Saturday, April 10 (3:30-7:00 PM, ET). Final-round 18-hole coverage is scheduled for Sunday, April 11 (2:00-7:00 PM, ET). Highlights of early-round play will be presented by CBS Sports on Thursday, April 8 and Friday, April 9 (11:35-11:50 PM, ET; both nights).
For the 25th consecutive year Jim Nantz will cover the Masters for CBS (his 23rd year as host). He also handles coverage of the Highlight Shows, originating from Butler Cabin on the grounds of Augusta National. Three-time Masters champion Sir Nick Faldo joins Nantz in the 18th hole tower as lead analyst. This year marks 20 years since Faldo’s 1990 sudden-death playoff with Raymond Floyd to win the Green Jacket for the second consecutive year. Peter Oosterhuis will describe the action at the 17th hole; Verne Lundquist, the 16th hole; David Feherty, the 15th hole and Highlight Shows; Bill Macatee, the 14th hole; Peter Kostis, the 13th hole; and Ian Baker-Finch will tell the story at the 11th and 12th holes. Ian Eagle and Matt Gogel return to call the live streaming video action for Amen Corner Live, along with Bobby Clampett for 15 & 16 Live and Grant Boone and Billy Kratzert for Featured Group.
Augusta National, home of the Masters since its inception in 1934, is the unrivaled host to the world’s greatest players and the most memorable moments in golf. Cabrera returns to Augusta to lead the tournament field of invitees, which is considered America’s most prestigious gathering of professional and amateur golfers. The 2010 tournament field of invitees expected to compete includes past Masters champions: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Jose Maria Olazabal, Mark O’Meara, Trevor Immelman, Larry Mize, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Couples, Craig Stadler, Tom Watson, Zach Johnson, Ian Woosnam, Raymond Floyd, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle; other U.S. players: Kenny Perry, Anthony Kim, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, David Duval, Chad Campbell, Stewart Cink, Sean O’Hair, Nick Watney, Steve Marino, Justin Leonard and Kevin Na. Other international stars include Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Camilo Villegas, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Ryo Ishikawa, Luke Donald, Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Campbell, Rory Sabbatini, Adam Scott, Tim Clark, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Shingo Katayama, Nathan Green, Marc Leishman, Robert Allenby and Lee Westwood. (*For the complete 2010 Masters Tournament invitees log onto Masters.com)
CBS Sports’ coverage of the Masters will be produced by Lance Barrow, coordinating producer of CBS golf, along with David Winner, and directed by Steve Milton and Bob Matina. Jim Rikhoff will serve as replay producer. Bob Mansbach will produce the late night highlight shows and Chris Svendsen will direct. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.
Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports.
Golf Channel has a bunch of bogus analysts talking about holes they played and are advertising it as “Live” at The Masters. They could at least cut to some actual golf shots.
I can’t beleive you can’t watch full coverage of the masters from 1st to last hole. It doesn’t seem you’d have any trouble selling air time.