Golf Channel and the LPGA Tour have agreed to an exclusive three- year extension of the network’s exclusive rights to the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the season’s first major championship. The joint announcement was made this week by LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan and Golf Channel President Mike McCarley. Golf Channel viewership for its inaugural coverage of the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2011 kicked off with the tournament’s highest-rated and most-watched first round in 18 years, which was followed by a second round that was the highest in 17 years. Golf Channel also aired 280 percent more hours of coverage than the previous year when the event aired on CBS and ESPN2 (34 hours in 2011 versus 9 hours in 2010). Average viewers for the entire tournament increased 29 percent from 2010 (511,000 on Golf Channel versus 395,000 on CBS/ESPN2). The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of two LPGA Tour major championships airing exclusively on Golf Channel in 2012, also including the LPGA Championship (June 7-10). This week’s event will host an elite field, headlined by defending champion Stacy Lewis and current World No. 1 Yani Tseng, who already has won three times in 2012 and is seeking her sixth major title. Golf Channel will begin its coverage with a one-hour Golf Central Special Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on the eve of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, kicking off the LPGA Majors season. Golf Channel will air six hours of daily, live coverage Thursday and Friday from Noon-3 p.m. ET and 6:30-9:30 p.m. ET. Weekend coverage will air live from 4:30-8:30 p.m. ET. Kelly Tilghman will serve as Golf Channel host of each day’s telecast, while also conducting one-on-one interviews with players. Terry Gannon will handle play-by-play, joined by lead analyst and LPGA Hall-of-Famer Judy Rankin. Tom Abbott will call the action from a tower position on the golf course, with Jane Crafter, Phil Parkin and Jerry Foltz reporting from the ground. Scott Walker will conduct post-round interviews and report for Golf Central throughout the week.