Starting tonight, the Golf Channel will have programming devoted to The Players Championship, also known as “Golf’s Fifth Major”. Coverage begins with a one hour Golf Central at 6 and will last all week through Sunday’s final round. Of course, Golf Channel will have extensive live 1st and 2nd round coverage Thursday and Friday before yielding to Comcast corporate sibling NBC for the weekend. But Golf Channel will have plenty of wraparound programming as you’ll see below.
Golf Channel Has THE PLAYERS Covered
More Than 25 Hours of Live News Coverage from TPC Sawgrass
Twelve Hours of Live Tournament Coverage Thursday and Friday
Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller Join Golf Channel’s Tournament Coverage
Morning Drive Special Editions Monday-Sunday During PLAYERS WeekORLANDO, Fla. (May 7, 2011) – Golf Channel is primed to deliver more than 40 hours of combined live tournament and wrap-around news coverage of THE PLAYERS – the PGA TOUR’s crown jewel – on-site at TPC Sawgrass, featuring live tournament action, live news reports, inside analysis, player interviews, special guest appearances and compelling features throughout the week.
40 Hours of On-Site Coverage: Golf Channel’s coverage will begin Monday with an hour-long Golf Central and will continue Tuesday and Wednesday with pre-tournament news conference shows. Thursday and Friday, Golf Channel will air 12 hours of live tournament action from TPC Sawgrass, complemented by the network’s franchise news show – Live From THE PLAYERS – with wrap-around news coverage Thursday-Sunday. Morning Drive, the network’s live weekday morning show, will expand to seven days next week, with daily special guests from TPC Sawgrass. The Grey Goose 19th Hole will broadcast live Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET from TPC Sawgrass, and on Monday at 7 p.m. ET, Michael Breed will host a special The Golf Fix from the TPC Sawgrass driving range.
News Conferences: Live From THE PLAYERS will kick off with pre-tournament news conferences Tuesday and Wednesday from TPC Sawgrass. News conference coverage airs from 2-4 p.m. ET Tuesday and Wednesday.
Live From THE PLAYERS: Headlining Golf Channel’s coverage will be the network’s franchise news program – Live From THE PLAYERS. Beginning Tuesday, Live From THE PLAYERS will provide 25 hours of comprehensive wrap-around news coverage of THE PLAYERS, 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 PLAYERS will air Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. ET and Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. ET; Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET and 7-9 p.m. ET; Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. ET and 7-9 p.m. ET.
Golf Talk Live – Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. ET within Live From THE PLAYERS, Golf Channel will air Golf Talk Live, where Golf Channel and Golf Channel on NBC on-air personalities will discuss the hot topics in golf.
Live From THE PLAYERS Broadcast Team and Special Guests: Golf Channel’s Live From THE PLAYERS broadcast team will include Rich Lerner, Kelly Tilghman, Kraig Kann, Steve Sands, Todd Lewis, Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo, Alex Miceli, Tim Rosaforte, Charlie Rymer, Jason Sobel and Rex Hoggard reporting from two sets at TPC Sawgrass – overlooking the famed 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass and from the driving range. Members of Golf Channel on NBC’s on-air team also will contribute daily to the broadcasts, including Peter Jacobsen, Dottie Pepper, Gary Koch, Roger Maltbie and Jimmy Roberts.
Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller Join Golf Channel’s Live Tournament Coverage – Golf Channel on NBC’s Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller will join the booth on Thursday and Friday for live tournament coverage, marking the first time the duo will call action for a PGA TOUR event on Golf Channel. Hicks and Miller will alternate with Golf Channel’s on-air team during live coverage. Golf Channel’s live tournament coverage will air from 1-7 p.m. ET Thursday and Friday, followed a three-hour re-air at 9 p.m. ET. Saturday and Sunday, Golf Channel will re-air NBC Sports’ coverage from 9-11 p.m. ET.
GolfChannel.com Editorial Coverage and Live Chats: Golf Channel’s online team will complement the network’s on-air coverage on GolfChannel.com. Randall Mell, Rex Hoggard, Jay Coffin, Jason Sobel and Ryan Ballengee 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. Sobel will host a live blog Thursday and Friday from 12-4 p.m. ET and Saturday and Sunday from 2-7 p.m. ET. John Hawkins will participate in two-hour live chats with fans Thursday and Friday from 9-11 a.m. ET.
Live From THE PLAYERS Programming (all times ET)
Monday, May 9
Golf Central – 6-7 p.m.
The Golf Fix – 7-8 p.m.
World Golf HOF Induction Ceremony – 9:30-11:30 p.m.Tuesday, May 10
Morning Drive – 7-9 a.m.
Live From THE PLAYERS – 2-4 p.m. (news conferences)
Live From THE PLAYERS – 6-8 p.m.Wednesday, May 11
Morning Drive – 7-9 a.m.
Grey Goose 19th Hole – 6-7 p.m.
Live From THE PLAYERS – 2-4 p.m. (news conferences)
Live From THE PLAYERS – 7-9 p.m. (Golf Talk Live, 8-9 p.m.)Thursday, and Friday, May 12 and 13
Morning Drive – 7-9 a.m.
Live From THE PLAYERS – 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
THE PLAYERS – 1-7 p.m.
Live From THE PLAYERS – 7-9 p.m.
THE PLAYERS – 9 p.m.-12 a.m. (Re-Air)Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15
Morning Drive – 6-8 a.m.
Live From THE PLAYERS – 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Live From THE PLAYERS – 7-9 p.m.
THE PLAYERS – 9-11 P.M. (NBC Sports Re-Air)
That’s all.
