Golf Channel is primed to deliver 60 live hours of news coverage from this week’s Masters tournament – the most-anticipated major championship in golf -– with live news reports, inside analysis, player interviews, special guest appearances and compelling features throughout the week. Sixty Hours of Coverage: Headlining the 60 hours of news coverage will be the network’s franchise news program -– Live From the Masters – providing more than 42 hours of live wrap-around news coverage throughout the week from Augusta, Ga., and Golf Channel’s Orlando studios, beginning Monday and concluding Sunday following tournament coverage. Morning Drive, the network’s live weekday morning show, will expand to seven days, with daily guests from Augusta. The 19th Hole will broadcast live from Golf Channel’s Orlando studios on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, and on Monday at 7 p.m. ET, Michael Breed will host a special Golf Fix from Augusta Country Club.
Live From the Masters Broadcast Team and Special Guests: PGA TOUR professionals Notah Begay, Paul Goydos and Steve Flesch and Champions Tour professional Olin Browne are scheduled to join Golf Channel this week as contributing analysts on Live From. Begay will contribute from Augusta, with Goydos, Flesch and Brown in Orlando. Legends of the game also are scheduled to make special guest appearances on the Golf Channel set throughout the week, including Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Ray Floyd and Greg Norman.
Golf Channel’s Live From the Masters broadcast team will include Rich Lerner, Steve Sands, Todd Lewis, Whit Watson, Nick Faldo, Frank Nobilo, Brandel Chamblee, David Feherty, Charlie Rymer, Billy Andrade, Ken Schofield, John Feinstein, Alex Miceli, Tim Rosaforte, Jason Sobel, Rex Hoggard and Jay Coffin reporting from Augusta, Ga. Kelly Tilghman, Mike Ritz, Tripp Isenhour and Randall Mell will report and contribute from the network’s Orlando studios.
News Conferences: Live From the Masters news coverage will feature pre-tournament news conferences Tuesday and Wednesday from Augusta National, including top-ranked players Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and defending champion Charl Schwartzel. Tuesday’s news conference coverage airs from 1-4 p.m. ET, and Wednesday’s coverage airs from 12-1 p.m. ET.
Live From the Masters News Coverage: Live From the Masters will provide more than 42 hours of comprehensive wrap-around news coverage of the Masters, including player interviews, analysis, up-to-the-minute leaderboard 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 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. ET, and Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. ET.
Live From the Masters Scheduled Features:
Defending Champion Charl Schwartzel Recalls Masters Victory – Tim Rosaforte visits with Charl Schwartzel to recount his 2011 Masters victory.
Fred Couples on 20th Anniversary of Masters Victory – Fred Couples will sit down with Rosaforte to discuss his Masters victory in 1992 and what it meant to him.
Mickelson on the Masters – Steve Sands will sit down with three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson to discuss his success at Augusta National and why the tournament has a special place in his heart.
Rory McIlroy Discusses Masters Heartbreak – Sands visits with Rory McIlroy to discuss his 2011 Masters heartbreak and what he gained from that experience that helped him elevate to World No. 1.
Larry Mize on the 15th Anniversary of his Memorable Masters victory – In one of the more memorable playoffs in Masters history, Larry Mize defeated Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman when Mize chipped in from well off the green to claim his lone Green Jacket. The shot is widely known as one of the most memorable shots in tournament history. Rich Lerner will visit with Augusta native Mize, who will take a look back at his remarkable victory.
World’s Top-Ranked Amateur Patrick Cantlay Talks About his First Masters – UCLA golfer and the world’s top-ranked amateur Patrick Cantlay will visit with Steve Burkowski to discuss his successful 2011 season, resisting the pressures on turning professional and preparing for his first Masters.
Morning Drive Expands to Seven Days: Kicking off Golf Channel’s Masters coverage will be Morning Drive, hosted by Gary Williams and Erik Kuselias. Golf Channel’s popular weekday morning show will expand to seven days during Masters Week and will include special expanded bonus coverage throughout the week, featuring daily guests from Augusta. (Complete airtimes appear below)
Wall-to-Wall Coverage on GolfChannel.com: GolfChannel.com will feature expanded editorial content and interactive capabilities with fans timed to the Masters this week, including:
Live Blogs & Chats
Jason Sobel and John Hawkins will host live chats Thursday-Sunday to keep fans up to date as the action unfolds.
Editorial Coverage
Jason Sobel, Rex Hoggard, Randall Mell, Jay Coffin and John Hawkins and Ryan Ballengee will contribute daily to the Golf Talk Central blog, along with daily columns, news articles, features and breaking news.
Exclusive Online Video Content
Morning and evening updates from Golf Channel’s Live From the Masters team will be available each day.
Live From the Masters Programming (all times ET)
Tuesday, April 3
Live From the Masters 1-4 p.m. (news conferences)
Live From the Masters 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, April 4
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 5 and Friday, April 6
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 7
Morning Drive 7-9 a.m.
Live From the Masters 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Live From the Masters 7-9 p.m.
Sunday, April 8
Morning Drive 7-9 a.m.
Live From the Masters 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Live From the Masters 7-9 p.m.