FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 26th, 2018
GOLF CHANNEL TO AIR MORE THAN 40 HOURS OF COVERAGE OF THE ANA INSPIRATION, GOLF’S FIRST MAJOR OF 2018
“I love the test over at Mission Hills. I love the golf course, and what we all love about that tournament is how every player wants it so badly.” – Golf Channel analyst Judy Rankin
Michelle Wie’s game is definitely trending in the right direction with a win already this year. You can see the joy that she’s finding within the game itself again.” – Golf Channel analyst Karen Stupples
“It’s hard to discount Lexi Thompson’s motivation going into this week. I think she is going to be as focused as ever.” – Golf Channel analyst Jerry Foltz
ORLANDO, Fla., (March 26, 2018) – The LPGA Tour moves to the California Desert this week for golf’s first major championship of 2018, the ANA Inspiration. Featuring more than 40 hours of exclusive coverage on Golf Channel throughout the week, the world-class international field will be the strongest field to-date on the LPGA Tour in 2018.
20 HOURS OF TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: Golf Channel will air 20 hours of live tournament coverage of the ANA Inspiration from Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Thursday-Sunday, March 29-April 1. Coverage includes a one-hour, pro-am special on Wednesday; 12 combined hours of early round coverage on Thursday and Friday – featuring two broadcast windows each day to show the morning and afternoon waves; and a combined eight hours of live tournament coverage in primetime Saturday and Sunday.
WRAPAROUND NEWS COVERAGE: Golf Central, the network’s flagship news program, will provide wraparound coverage of the ANA Inspiration throughout the week, highlighted by pre tournament news conferences on Tuesday and Wednesday (5-6 p.m. ET) from the media center at Mission Hills Country Club. Golf Central also will preview and recap live tournament coverage each day with expanded news shows, including two-hour pre-game shows on Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.-Noon ET. Morning Drive, Golf Channel’s daily news and lifestyle show, also will expand to three hours on Thursday and Friday (7-10 a.m. ET) with news, highlights and analysis.
BROADCAST TEAM: Calling the action from the broadcast booth will be Terry Gannon and Hall-of-Famer Judy Rankin. They will rotate with Grant Boone and major champion Karen Stupples during Thursday and Friday coverage. Joining them will be tower analyst Tom Abbott and course reporters Kay Cockerill and Jerry Foltz. Stupples also will be on the course when not in the broadcast booth. Lisa Cornwell will conduct interviews and report for Golf Central, and Amanda Blumenherst will serve as a studio analyst from Golf Channel’s headquarters in Orlando, Fla.
Golf Channel Live Tournament Airtimes of the ANA Inspiration (all times Eastern)
Wednesday (Pro-Am Show) 11 p.m. – Midnight
Thursday Noon-4 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Friday Noon-4 p.m. / 7-9 p.m.
Saturday 5-9 p.m.
Sunday 5-9 p.m.
DIGITAL COVERAGE: Golf Channel Digital will cover the ANA Inspiration throughout the week with news, highlights and analysis clips from Golf Channel’s news programs – Golf Central and Morning Drive – as well as highlights from live tournament coverage. GolfChannel.com senior writer Randall Mell will report on-site at Mission Hills throughout the week with daily blogs, features and columns. Social media host Alexandra O’Laughlin will be on-site at the ANA Inspiration throughout the week providing exclusive content for Golf Channel’s social media platforms on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
STREAMING ON GOLF CHANNEL DIGITAL: News and tournament action surrounding the ANA Inspiration can be accessed on any mobile device via the Golf Channel app and online via Golf Channel Digital.
-NBC Sports Group-
