Watching Golf this Week: Valero Texas Open, or, 1 Week Until the Masters

April 4, 2013 by Paul Kapustka Leave a Comment

Call it the last chance open — as in, last chance for someone to qualify for next week’s first major of the year, THE MASTERS, by winning the Texas Open in San Antonio this weekend. Who might win the golden ticket? No idea, check back on Saturday to see who is close. If you need to watch golf this weekend to get caught up before the Masters, yes that is Rory McIlroy hacking it around (might only be around tomorrow) and yes that is Padraig Harrington in glasses.

That’s all we have for now. You’re on your own this weekend. See you next week with all the Masters info we can find.

VALERO TEXAS OPEN

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE

Friday, April 5 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 6 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 7 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.

LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

Thursday and Friday, Golf Channel TV simulcast coverage via PGATour.com and GolfChannel.com; Saturday and Sunday, NBC coverage via the PGA site and from NBC sites, which include Golf Channel. Right now only Comcast cable subscribers can watch live online video on weekdays. NOTE: If you are using the PGA Mobile app to watch the Golf Channel online video, be advised that it only works with iOS phones and with some (not all) Android phones. There is no fix planned for the immediate future.

RADIO
SIRIUS XM (Satellite) 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The live broadcasts are also available to subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

FACEBOOK PAGE
Here is the Valero Texas Open Facebook page.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW
Valero Texas Open Twitter feed.
Geoff Shackelford — well known golf writer. If you’re not following Geoff you are missing the online boat.
Golf Channel — official Golf Channel feed
@PGATOUR — official PGA Twitter feed
@StephanieWei — great golf writer who is a Twitter fiend.
Doug Ferguson is the lead golf writer for AP. Good Twitter insights that often aren’t part of your wire-service lead.

WHAT’S THE COURSE LIKE?
Take a good look at the TPC San Antonio.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST TIME?
Ben Curtis.

CBS, Masters Team Up Again with Massive Masters Online Coverage

April 3, 2013 by Paul Kapustka 1 Comment

We’ve said it before: Nobody does online sports better than the combination of CBS Sports and the Masters. And if press releases are any indication, the duo is setting out to defend its title with a massive online coverage plan for this year’s Masters, which begins next week.

Forget having to validate viewership through a cable plan: More than 90 hours of live online coverage is scheduled, and it can be accessed via both the Masters.com live TV site as well as the CBSSports.com site. (We found the Masters.com site to be a bit better performing last year, but it’s simply a matter of personal preference. They will both get you to where you want to go, which is live online coverage.)

We are also guessing all the online coverage will also be available through the Masters app, though no press release yet on whether or not there are more goodies in the apps. From what we hear last year’s iPad app really was magnificent. Looks like iPad, iPhone and Android are all supported again this year.

While the online stuff from the Masters will be different from the simulcast TV coverage we’ve seen for regular tour stops this year (and by the way — what a great treat that service is for us lucky Comcast customers), there’s still enough online to keep you satisfied for the few hours you won’t be in front of your couch during golf’s “holy weekend.” Or, let online be your “second screen” since the online offerings include the always-popular Amen Corner channel (coverage of holes 11, 12 and 13), another channel for the underrated 15th and 16th holes, plus two “featured group” channels.

There’s also a Masters studio show, recaps, and highlights from the Par 3 contest but really, the thing we want and the thing we get at the Masters is an unbelievable amount of online coverage. TV coverage, by the way, will be on ESPN Thursday and Friday (3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, both days) and CBS on the weekend, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m Saturday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. But online coverage starts earlier — the Amen Corner cam is scheduled to go live at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, with the others following later on.

No word yet whether or not we’ll be able to use WatchESPN to see simulcast coverage Thursday and Friday — we’ll check that out by next week. ESPN will also show the Par 3 contest live on Wednesday, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, but wondering how many people are like me… I don’t want to jinx my Masters viewing by watching the Par 3 contest since… well, you know. Anyway: we usually don’t do this but the full CBS press release with all the details and times is below. Enjoy.

Masters Live on CBSSports.com Returns for 2013 Masters®

Four channels of live golf action let fans follow the Masters Tournament on CBSSports.com and Masters.com

NEW YORK, NY, and AUGUSTA, GA, April 3, 2013 – CBSSports.com, in conjunction with Masters.com, CBS Sports and the Masters Tournament, today announced that Masters Live, live full day video coverage from the Augusta National Golf Club, will return for the 2013 Masters Tournament. With four live channels of golf action, Masters Live will be presented throughout the week of the 2013 Masters, April 8-14, providing more than 90 hours of live video from Augusta National.

The 2013 Masters Live suite of video productions features a line-up of four channels of live golf action from the Masters, including:

● Masters On The Range: Now in its third year, the live show originating from the Tournament Practice Range at Augusta National will be available on CBSSports.com, Masters.com and CBS Sports Network. Presented on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Masters week on CBSSports.com and Monday through Sunday on Masters.com and CBS Sports Network, Masters On The Range will feature interviews with players and analysis of the field leading up to the start of the 2013 Masters. Brian Crowell, Billy Kratzert and Bobby Clampett will provide commentary and analysis for Masters On The Range.

● Amen Corner: Live streaming video of the 11th, 12th and 13th holes from Augusta National. Grant Boone and Matt Gogel will provide commentary and analysis for Amen Corner.

● Hole Nos. 15 & 16: Live streaming video of the 15th and 16th holes from Augusta National. Jerry Foltz and Billy Ray Brown will serve as the announcers for 15 & 16.

● Featured Group: Live streaming video of selected groupings as they play hole Nos. 10-18 from Augusta National. Andrew Catalon and Kratzert will be providing commentary and analysis of the featured groupings.

Immediately following the conclusion of CBS Sports’ television coverage on Saturday and Sunday, CBSSports.com will present a Masters Live Weekend Recap Show. Hosted by Boone and Gogel, the Masters Live Weekend Recap Show will review all of Saturday’s and Sunday’s action and be available live and on demand.

In addition to the four channels of live golf action and the Masters Live Weekend Recap Show, CBSSports.com will present the following video highlights from the 2013 Masters Tournament:

Highlights from the Par 3 Contest: First played in 1960, the Par 3 Contest has become a beloved Wednesday tradition at the Masters. The 2013 Masters Par 3 Contest will be held on Wednesday, April 10. CBSSports.com will provide video highlights of the action.

Press Room: Video highlights of player interviews conducted in the Interview Room from Augusta National.

Tournament Highlights: Video highlights of play from each day of the 2013 Masters Tournament.

Historical Highlights on Demand: On-demand video of memorable highlights and classic moments from past Masters Tournaments.

Augusta National Aerials: On-demand video fly-overs of the Augusta National Golf Club, allowing fans to enjoy the beauty of one of the most famous golf courses in the world.

All elements of Masters Live will be available free of charge at CBSSports.com and Masters.com.

The Masters, the most renowned tournament in golf, will be broadcast on CBS Sports for the 58th consecutive year, a record for the longest-running sporting event broadcast on one network. This year marks the 77th Masters Tournament, one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year.

Schedule for Masters Live Video on CBSSports.com and Masters.com in 2013 (all times Eastern U.S.)

Masters on the Range (Presented Monday-Wednesday on CBSSports.com and Monday-Sunday on Masters.com)
Monday, April 8: 12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM
Tuesday, April 9: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Wednesday, April 10: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Thursday, April 11: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Friday, April 12: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday, April 13: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sunday, April 14: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Featured Group*
Thursday, April 11: 12:00 Noon – Completion of play
Friday, April 12: 12:00 Noon – Completion of play
Saturday, April 13: 12:30 PM – Completion of play
Sunday, April 14: 12:30 PM – Completion of play

Amen Corner*
Thursday, April 11: 10:45 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday, April 12: 10:45 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, April 13: 11:45 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, April 14: 11:45 AM – 6:00 PM

15 & 16*
Thursday, April 11: 11:45 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday, April 12: 11:45 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 13: 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Sunday, April 14: 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM

* Start and end times are estimates and subject to change. All times eastern daylight.

Filed Under: CBS Sports, ESPN, Golf, PGA, The Masters, Tiger Woods Tagged With: Amen Corner, CBS, CBS Sports, ESPN, Mobile Sports Report, Paul Kapustka, The Masters, Tiger Woods, Watching the Masters online

Watching Golf this Week: Rory Returns at Shell Houston Open

March 28, 2013 by Paul Kapustka 1 Comment

Call it the “pull my finger” tournament — all eyes (and other body parts) are on former No. 1 Rory McIlroy as he returns to action at the Shell Houston Open this weekend. Missing from the field is new world No. 1, Tiger Woods, who won at Arnie’s house last week and then sent the tweet of the year to Rory, basically telling him to get in gear if he wants this Nike rivalry to take off.

With two weeks to go until the season’s first major — the Masters — even minor events like the Shell tourney take on extra meaning, especially so in the case of Rory, who hasn’t been in top shape yet this year. There are also two more chances for players who haven’t qualified for the Masters to possibly get in by winning — so at the very least, a little more built in drama possibility.

SHELL HOUSTON OPEN

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE

Thursday, March 28 — Golf Channel, 4 p.m. — 7 p.m.
Friday, March 29 — Golf Channel, 4 p.m. — 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 30 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 31 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.

LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

RADIO
SIRIUS XM (Satellite) 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The live broadcasts are also available to subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

FACEBOOK PAGE
Here is the Shell Houston Open Facebook page.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW
Shell Houston Open Twitter feed.
Geoff Shackelford — well known golf writer. If you’re not following Geoff you are missing the online boat.
Golf Channel — official Golf Channel feed
@PGATOUR — official PGA Twitter feed
@StephanieWei — great golf writer who is a Twitter fiend.
Doug Ferguson is the lead golf writer for AP. Good Twitter insights that often aren’t part of your wire-service lead.

WHAT’S THE COURSE LIKE?
It’s all about the golf at the Redstone Golf Club.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST TIME?
Hunter Mahan.

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel, NBC Sports, PGA Tagged With: Mobile Sports Report, NBC Sports, Paul Kapustka, PGA, Rory McIlroy

Watching Golf this Week: Arnold Palmer Invitational, aka Another Tiger Favorite

March 21, 2013 by Paul Kapustka Leave a Comment

What are you doing watching golf this week — is your bracket already busted? Well if you need a fix of sports that doesn’t involve one shining moment, tune in to the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, and see if Tiger Woods can notch his eighth victory in this tournament.

Thanks to the drawing power of The King, aka Arnold Palmer, there’s a stellar field at Bay Hill, though curiously not No. 1 Rory McIlroy. Any other week we might make a stink but hey, we’ve got NCAA hoops to watch so who really cares what Rory is up to. Since Tiger has shown of late a penchant for turning up his game when he’s at a course he likes (see Pines, Torrey) it’s as good a bet as any that he will do well if not win again this weekend. The good thing is, you can switch over from watching hoops online to catch the extra PGA Live@ online coverage, which is back this week.

ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE

Thursday, March 21 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Friday, March 22 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.; NBC, 2:30 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 24 — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.; NBC, 2:30 p.m. — 6 p.m.

LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

Here’s a link to both online simulcast and Live@ coverage.

LIVE@ COVERAGE
The PGA’s extra online Live@ coverage returns to the AP Invitational, with coverage of the 10th and 12th holes at Bay Hill. Sometimes they show more holes, so, click over if you are online.

RADIO
SIRIUS XM (Satellite) 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day. The live broadcasts are also available to subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

FACEBOOK PAGE
Here is the Facebook page for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW
The AP Invitational Twitter feed.
Geoff Shackelford — well known golf writer. If you’re not following Geoff you are missing the online boat.
Golf Channel — official Golf Channel feed
@PGATOUR — official PGA Twitter feed
@StephanieWei — great golf writer who is a Twitter fiend.
Doug Ferguson is the lead golf writer for AP. Good Twitter insights that often aren’t part of your wire-service lead.

WHAT’S THE COURSE LIKE?
Here’s an interactive map of the Bay Hill course.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST TIME?
Um, Tiger Woods.

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel, NBC Sports, PGA, Tiger Woods Tagged With: Arnold Palmer, Bay Hill, Mobile Sports Report, Paul Kapustka, PGA, Tiger Woods

Watching Golf this Week: Tampa Bay Championship

March 14, 2013 by Paul Kapustka Leave a Comment

It’s a bit of a sleeper week on the PGA Tour, with a relatively anonymous tournament (the Tampa Bay Championship?) and none of the big names like we’ve seen on the leaderboards recently (no Tiger, Phil or Rory). For the players, of course, that means an opportunity to shine — so look for someone like last year’s tourney winner Luke Donald to use this stop to revive or kickstart a season that so far has been dominated by Tiger Woods.

Wood’s win last week at the WGC Cadillac Championship not only makes him the odds-on favorite to win the Masters this year, it makes events he’s not in (like this week’s) seem much dimmer in comparison. With 8,000 college hoops games on this weekend, you may find time for golf as a break — broadcast is on NBC again this weekend, with no extra live online coverage other than the simulcast still only available to Comcast cable subscribers.

TAMPA BAY CHAMPIONSHIP

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE

Thursday, March 14 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Friday, March 15 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 16 — Golf Channel, 1:30 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 17 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.

LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

RADIO
SIRIUS XM (Satellite) 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day. The live broadcasts are also available to subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

FACEBOOK PAGE
Here is the Tampa Bay Championship Facebook page.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW
Tampa Bay Championship Twitter feed.
Geoff Shackelford — well known golf writer. If you’re not following Geoff you are missing the online boat.
Golf Channel — official Golf Channel feed
@PGATOUR — official PGA Twitter feed
@StephanieWei — great golf writer who is a Twitter fiend.
Doug Ferguson is the lead golf writer for AP. Good Twitter insights that often aren’t part of your wire-service lead.

WHAT’S THE COURSE LIKE?
Here’s the lowdown on the Innisbrook Copperhead course.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST TIME?
Luke Donald.

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel, NBC Sports, PGA Tagged With: Mobile Sports Report, NBC Sports, Paul Kapustka, PGA, Tampa Bay Championship

Watching Golf this Week: Cadillac Championship and Rory’s Apology

March 7, 2013 by Paul Kapustka Leave a Comment

Are we all clear about the great toothache now? With a no-excuses apology Wednesday for his sudden departure last week, No. 1 Rory McIlroy cleared the decks of controversy (for now) ahead of the World Golf Championship Cadillac Championship this week at Doral.

Since there’s no cut for the select field this weekend, McIlroy will have to grind it out over four rounds at the TPC Blue Monster at Doral, bad molars or not. As of Thursday afternoon it didn’t look like much fun, as McIlroy was flirting with last place. Expect more questions over the weekend about his switch to Nike clubs, which so far this year has been a disaster.

Putting Rory aside, there’s still plenty of good golfers in the pack this weekend, including Sir Eldrick. No Live@ video this week, but you can still catch simulcasts online if you are a Comcast cable subscriber. NBC picks up on the weekend, for you Johnny Miller fans.

WGC CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE

Thursday, March 7 — Golf Channel, 2 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Friday, March 8 — Golf Channel, 2 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 9 — Golf Channel, 12 p.m. — 2 p.m.; NBC, 2 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 10 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 7 p.m.

LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

RADIO
SIRIUS XM (Satellite) 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The live broadcasts are also available to subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

FACEBOOK PAGE
Use the PGA Facebook page for the WGC event this week.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW

Geoff Shackelford — well known golf writer. If you’re not following Geoff you are missing the online boat.
Golf Channel — official Golf Channel feed
@PGATOUR — official PGA Twitter feed
@StephanieWei — great golf writer who is a Twitter fiend.
Doug Ferguson is the lead golf writer for AP. Good Twitter insights that often aren’t part of your wire-service lead.

WHAT’S THE COURSE LIKE?
Here’s a hole by hole description of the TPC Blue Monster at Doral.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST TIME?
Justin Rose.

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel, NBC Sports, Tiger Woods Tagged With: Comcast, Golf Channel, Mobile Sports Report, NBC Sports, Paul Kapustka, PGA, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, WGC

Watching Golf this Week: Valero Texas Open, or, 1 Week Until the Masters

VALERO TEXAS OPEN

CBS, Masters Team Up Again with Massive Masters Online Coverage

Watching Golf this Week: Rory Returns at Shell Houston Open

SHELL HOUSTON OPEN

Watching Golf this Week: Arnold Palmer Invitational, aka Another Tiger Favorite

ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

Watching Golf this Week: Tampa Bay Championship

TAMPA BAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Watching Golf this Week: Cadillac Championship and Rory’s Apology

WGC CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP

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