FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 29th, 2018

Masters Week on Golf Channel (April 1-8) Led by “Golf Central Live From the Masters”

GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE MASTERS HEADLINES

NEARLY 150 HOURS OF NEWS, FEATURES, & MASTERS-

THEMED PROGRAMMING ON GOLF CHANNEL, APRIL 1-8

 

Masters Champions Including Nicklaus, Watson, Crenshaw & Floyd Expected

to Join Golf Central Live From the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club

Masters Features Include: Matt Parziale’s Improbable Journey; Long-Awaited

Moment of Vindication for Sergio and DeChambeau’s Fateful Encounter

Masters Week on Golf Channel to Kick Off with 2018 Drive, Chip & Putt

National Finals from Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 1

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 29, 2018) – The 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals will officially kick off Masters week on Golf Channel, Sunday, April 1 at 8 a.m. ET, featuring junior golfers from across the U.S. and Canada making up the field of 80 finalists convening at Augusta National Golf Club. The network will dedicate more than 150 hours to Masters-themed programing April 1-8, led by Golf Central Live From the Masters, focusing on emerging storylines, analysis, features and guest interviews throughout the week surrounding the first men’s major of 2018. Notable guests expected to join Golf Channel’s coverage include past Masters champions: Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Watson and Raymond Floyd.

Anchoring Golf Central Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National will be Rich Lerner in primetime, along with Steve Sands and Mike Tirico during the day, while Cara Banks and Ryan Burr will host from Golf Channel’s World Headquarters in Orlando. Analysts on-site for the network in primetime include Brandel Chamblee, David Duval and Frank Nobilo, in addition to Notah Begay, Justin Leonard and Mark Rolfing during the day. Todd Lewis and Whit Watson will serve as reporters from the golf course. Golf Channel Insiders Jaime Diaz, Rex Hoggard and Tim Rosaforte will join to discuss emerging storylines as the tournament unfolds, while Ken Schofield and Geoff Shackelford will act as contributing guests over the course of the week.

Coverage of Golf Central Live From the Masters will be complemented by a number of dedicated feature stories, including:

  • An Improbable Journey for Matt Parziale – A former mini tour professional, Matt Parziale assuredly once had visions of walking inside the ropes at Augusta National. As Rich Lerner details, only after Parziale stepped away from the professional game – to instead follow in his father’s footsteps to become an active fireman in his hometown – was he able to fulfill his dream of competing in the Masters.
  • A Long-awaited Moment of Vindication for Sergio – With his victory at the Masters last year, Sergio Garcia at long last erased the anguish of two decades of near misses: 12 previous top-5 finishes in major championships. Todd Lewis ventured to Garcia’s roots in Borriol, Spain, where the Spainard and his father/coach Victor reflected on the younger Garcia’s proudest moment of his professional career.
  • DeChambeau’s Influence on Fate and Good Fortune – Bryson DeChambeau has quickly demonstrated that his uncommon approach translates to the PGA TOUR. However, as Todd Lewis details, it was DeChambeau’s heroics as an amateur that ultimately led to a series of fateful events that would save his father’s life.
    Rory’s Latest Crack at the Career Grand Slam – For the fourth consecutive year, Rory McIlroy enters the season’s first major with a chance to capture the career Grand Slam. As Mike Tirico details, this go-round McIlroy has dedicated his entire off-season toward winning the one event that has agonizingly escaped him.
  • Bob Goalby’s Unfortunate Injustice – Bob Goalby for decades has been the overlooked footnote to the 1968 Masters when he slipped into a green jacket as a result of Robert De Vicenzo notoriously signing an incorrect scorecard. Ridiculed by fans for years in the aftermath of his victory, Rich Lerner details how Goalby never really got his proper due aside from Masters co-founder Bobby Jones.
  • An Introduction to Fred Ridley – Augusta National Golf Club named Fred Ridley its next chairman last August. From his collegiate golf days at the University of Florida to U.S. Amateur champion and a successful career in law, Mike Tirico visits with several of Ridley’s closest friends in golf and in business to learn more about the game’s newest leader.
    Rory’s Latest Crack at the Career Grand Slam – For the fourth consecutive year, Rory McIlroy enters the season’s first major with a chance to capture the career Grand Slam. As Mike Tirico details, this go-round McIlroy has dedicated his entire off-season toward winning the one event that has agonizingly escaped him.
  • Bob Goalby’s Unfortunate Injustice – Bob Goalby for decades has been the overlooked footnote to the 1968 Masters when he slipped into a green jacket as a result of Robert De Vicenzo notoriously signing an incorrect scorecard. Ridiculed by fans for years in the aftermath of his victory, Rich Lerner details how Goalby never really got his proper due aside from Masters co-founder Bobby Jones.
  • An Introduction to Fred Ridley – Augusta National Golf Club named Fred Ridley its next chairman last August. From his collegiate golf days at the University of Florida to U.S. Amateur champion and a successful career in law, Mike Tirico visits with several of Ridley’s closest friends in golf and in business to learn more about the game’s newest leader.

Additional features airing throughout the week include: Geoff Shackelford consulting with past champions Nick Faldo and Ben Crenshaw to weigh the merits of lengthening the par-5 13th hole, Azalea; a closer look at the privileged view inside Augusta National’s Crow’s Nest with Tim Rosaforte; perspective from Masters champions on the secrets to navigating Augusta National’s demanding greens; and a look at Bobby Jones’ venture into Hollywood.

Drive, Chip & Putt Championship National Finals: Sunday, April 1
Coverage of the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship National Finals will kick off at 8 a.m. ET on Sunday, April 1, airing live from Augusta National Golf Club. In partnership with the Masters Tournament, PGA of America and USGA, the youth golf initiative highlights the 40 boys and 40 girls having advanced from more than 260 local events, 50 sub-regional events, and a culmination of 10 regional qualifiers. Golf Channel – in its fifth year of televising live coverage of the National Finals – also will showcase a series of features introducing viewers to competitors across the eight respective age groups (Boys/Girls 7-9, 10-11, 12-13 and 14-15).

Rich Lerner and Peter Jacobsen will call the action from the booth, while Justin Leonard and Paige Mackenzie will report from the Tournament Practice Area, and Charlie Rymer from the 18th green. Steve Sands will handle interviews with special guests on-site, including Tournament Invitees and past Masters champions. Golf Channel also will dedicate pre- and post-event coverage on its daily news shows, Golf Central and Morning Drive, and on Golf Channel Digital.

Morning Drive
Morning Drive will kick off each day of Masters week dissecting the latest news and storylines. Damon Hack and Charlie Rymer will report live from Augusta National, while John Cook, Robert Damron, Tom Abbott, Lauren Thompson and Matt Ginella will cover the latest news from Golf Channel’s World Headquarters in Orlando. Guests expected to join Morning Drive from Augusta National include Masters champions Gary Player and Nick Faldo, reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion and Tournament Invitee Matt Parziale, among others.

International Programming
Golf Channel will produce international Masters news programming from its Orlando World Headquarters in both Japanese and Mandarin, featuring reports and custom content throughout the week. These productions will complement the international distribution of Golf Central Live From the Masters, which is distributed to markets within Golf Channel’s worldwide footprint of nearly 500 million viewers in 78 countries and nine languages around the world.

Golf Channel Digital Coverage
Golf Channel Digital will feature expanded coverage of the men’s first major championship, with Jay Coffin, Rex Hoggard, Ryan Lavner and Randall Mell reporting from on-site at Augusta National. Beginning Thursday, April 5 and continuing through the tournament’s conclusion, Golf Channel Digital will feature a live blog with up-to-the-minute analysis and reaction to the latest news. Chantel McCabe, George Savaricas, Brian Bateman and Tripp Isenhour will provide previews, analysis and news coverage throughout the week via Golf Channel Digital, originating from Golf Channel’s headquarters in Orlando, Fla., including “Instant Analysis” once tournament play begins.

PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center: Monday, April 2
At 11:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 2, a new episode of PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center will showcase several past Masters champions ahead of the season’s first major. Hosted by Vince Cellini, the episode will feature a 20th anniversary reenactment of Mark O’Meara sinking his memorable putt in the 1998 Masters. Two-time Masters champion Berhard Langer and 1991 champion Ian Woosnam will share insight into their respective victories; address the favorites among this year’s Tournament Invitees; and assess Tiger Woods’ chances. Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal also will provide a swing analysis of his friend and defending champion Sergio Garcia.

Masters Week Programming Air Times (All Times EST):

Sunday, April 1

8 a.m.-1 p.m.              Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals

Monday, April 2

7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive

9 a.m.-2 p.m.            Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals (Replay)

2-5 p.m.                      Golf Central Live From the Masters

5-6 p.m.                      Masters Highlights: 2013 (Adam Scott)

6-7 p.m.                      Masters Highlights: 2017 (Sergio Garcia)

7-9 p.m.                      Golf Central Live From the Masters

11:30 p.m.                   PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center

Tuesday, April 3

7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive

9 a.m.-5 p.m.            Golf Central Live From the Masters

5-6 p.m.                      Masters Highlights: 2014 (Bubba Watson)

6-7 p.m.                      Masters Highlights: 2015 (Jordan Spieth)

7-10 p.m.                    Golf Central Live From the Masters

Wednesday, April 4

7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive

9 a.m.-3 p.m.            Golf Central Live From the Masters

6-9 p.m.                      Golf Central Live From the Masters

Thursday, April 5

6-8 a.m.                       Morning Drive

8 a.m.-3 p.m.              Golf Central Live From the Masters

7:30-9:30 p.m.            Golf Central Live From the Masters

Friday, April 6

6-8 a.m.                       Morning Drive

8 a.m.-3 p.m.              Golf Central Live From the Masters

7:30-9:30 p.m.            Golf Central Live From the Masters

Saturday, April 7

7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive

9 a.m.-3 p.m.            Golf Central Live From the Masters

7-9 p.m.                      Golf Central Live From the Masters

Sunday, April 8

7-9 a.m.                       Morning Drive

9 a.m.-2 p.m.            Golf Central Live From the Masters

7-9 p.m.                      Golf Central Live From the Masters

-NBC Sports Group-