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Watching Golf this Week: Tampa Bay Championship

March 14, 2013 by 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

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. 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: , , , ,

Watching Golf this Week: Rory and Tiger Return at The Honda Classic

February 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Honda Classic flag logoIt’s back to Florida time for the PGA Tour, and the stars are definitely out, with defending champ Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods heading the full-force field. If you watch on TV or online, get ready for a full weekend of references to “The Bear Trap,” the finishing three holes at the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA National course in Palm Beach Gardens.

I’m not sure if the full press promo will move “The Bear Trap” into golf lore — personally I think it will take some real history, like a mano a mano showdown over the last three holes with some spectacular shots to really make the Bear Trap something real. But the good news is, with a full field and a high profile tourney we get the return of @Live, the PGA’s own extra online coverage of a couple holes. Good stuff for those of us who watch more on the PC than on the couch.

THE HONDA CLASSIC

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE

Thursday, Feb. 28 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Friday, March 1 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 2 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 3 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 3 p.m.; NBC, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.

LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

The PGA’s @Live returns this week for the Honda Classic, with exclusive coverage of the par-5 third and par-4 ninth at PGA National. Here is the @Live link.

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. all four days. The live broadcasts are also available to subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

FACEBOOK PAGE
Here is the Honda Classic Facebook page.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW

Honda Classic 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 look at the PGA Resort and Spa’s Champion Course.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST TIME?
Rory McIlroy.

Filed Under: Golf, Golf Channel, NBC Sports, PGA, Tiger Woods Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Watching Golf this Week: The Frozen Open, or WGC Accenture Match Play Championship

February 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Pardon us for our late entry for this week’s watching golf episode… can we claim we were just waiting for our keyboard to thaw?

In case you hadn’t heard, the opening rounds Wednesday of the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play Championships got put “on ice,” so to speak, after a snowstorm moved in on The Golf Club at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz. Snow? In Arizona? You bet. Watch Ricky Fowler get pasted by a snowball… what fun!

Seriously, there is a golf tournament going on, but my personal opinion is that match play does not make for a good TV viewing experience, especially in the first rounds when there are so many matches going on that it’s hard to keep track of where anybody is. In the spirit of March Madness, which is just around the corner, I say it’s best to wait until Saturday or Sunday to see if there are matches you care about, then tune in. If you’ve joined the PGA bracket competition you can track it live to see if your bracket is busted, like mine was thanks to Richard Sterne’s 1-up upset of Jason Dufner Thursday. As of this writing, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are still playing. Update: Rory and Tiger are out. But you can still watch this weekend!

UPDATE 2: Here’s Saturday’s pairings:

Below are starting times for Saturday’s third-round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Attached is an updated bracket with results from Friday’s second round included.

Saturday 2/23/13
Tee Time Match # Players
1 07:10 AM Match 49 Robert Garrigus vs Fredrik Jacobson
1 07:22 AM Match 50 Nicolas Colsaerts vs Matt Kuchar
1 07:34 AM Match 53 Shane Lowry vs Graeme McDowell
1 07:46 AM Match 54 Bubba Watson vs Jason Day
10 07:10 AM Match 51 Scott Piercy vs Steve Stricker
10 07:22 AM Match 52 Tim Clark vs Ian Poulter
10 07:34 AM Match 55 Gonzalo Fdez-Castano vs Webb Simpson
10 07:46 AM Match 56 Martin Kaymer vs Hunter Mahan

Round 4 – Approximate Starting Times: Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m., one tee start

All times local Arizona MT

WGC ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE

Thursday, Feb. 21 — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 22 — Golf Channel, 2 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 23 — Golf Channel, 12 p.m. — 2 p.m.; CBS, 2 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 24 — Golf Channel, 9 a.m. — 1 p.m.; CBS, 2 p.m. — 6 p.m.

LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

Thursday and Friday, Golf Channel coverage via PGATour.com and GolfChannel.com; Saturday and Sunday, CBS coverage at CBSSports.com. 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 CBS or 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) Thursday-Friday-Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The live broadcasts are also available to subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

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?
The Golf Club at Dove Mountain is a Jack Nicklaus design, and we expect it plays better when the snow melts off. Not sure if there are chairlifts. End of snow jokes.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST TIME?
Hunter Mahan, over Rory McIlroy.

Filed Under: CBS Sports, Golf, Golf Channel, PGA Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Watching Golf this Week: Northern Trust Open

February 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Northern Trust Open logoWill it be Phil, Keegan, Bill… or Freddie? Those are the questions about possible winners at the Northern Trust Open, which is underway today at the famed Riviera Country Club outside of Los Angeles. Phil, Bill and Keegan, if you recall, were all in a playoff last year, the best part of which came at the end of regulation when Phil dumped a long putt on 18 and Keegan responded in kind. Then Kill Bill came through in the extra time.

The dark horse here is the “old guy,” Boom Boom Couples, who loves Riviera just like he loves Augusta. Since we were a little late getting this post up today we already know that Freddie is -3 for his first round, not bad for a Champions Tour kinda guy. This is a Golf Channel/CBS weekend, so online video is available for Comcast subscribers only.

NORTHERN TRUST OPEN

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE

Thursday, Feb. 14 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 15 — Golf Channel, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 16 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.; CBS, 3 p.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 17 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.; CBS, 3 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.

LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE

Thursday and Friday, Golf Channel coverage via PGATour.com and GolfChannel.com; Saturday and Sunday, CBS coverage at CBSSports.com. 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 CBS or 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) Thursday-Friday-Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 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
The tournament has its own Facebook page. Like it.

SMS ALERTS
Text NTOGolf to 94253 for tournament updates.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW

The Northern Trust 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?
Pros and those who follow the PGA love the Riviera Country Club. We’ve never been there but the history is solid and the place looks great on TV.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST TIME?
Bill Haas, the least exciting member of the three-man playoff. Best part of last year was Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley with their back-to-back long putts on 18 to get into the playoff… which they both then lost to the steady Eddie, Bill Haas.

Filed Under: CBS Sports, Golf, Golf Channel, PGA Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Wi-Fi Whispers: AT&T Beefs Up Wi-Fi and Cellular for Pebble Beach

February 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

AT&T social media sign at the tourney. Credit: @James_Raia.

AT&T social media sign at the tourney. Credit: @James_Raia.

With a field full of entertainment and sports celebrities in addition to pro golfers, the AT&T National Pro-Am in Pebble Beach this weekend is a fan-snapshot nirvana — and AT&T has beefed up its wireless coverage yet again to make sure all those pictures, tweets and Facebook updates can get posted.

“Every year, the data volumes [from the event] go up significantly,” said Chad Townes, vice president of AT&T’s Antenna Solutions Group, in a phone interview last week. “Between the celebrities and the beauty of the course, there’s definitely a lot more [wireless] traffic than at other golf tournaments.”

According to Townes, AT&T has provided fans at the tourney with several Wi-Fi hotspot areas where AT&T customers can get a high-bandwidth signal for Internet connection. This year, AT&T also deployed three additional COWs, or cell towers on wheels, to augment the existing cellular infrastructure.

Bringing wireless signals to a golf course, Townes said, is always a challenge, due to the very nature of the venue, with hills, trees and other obstacles to surmount. There are also aesthetic challenges, such as the fact that most of these courses don’t want any cables to be visible during the TV broadcasts.

Townes said there is also the whole discussion about whether phones should even be allowed at golf tournaments, given the possibility of fans distracting players with loud calls or with camera noises. Still, he said, providers need to figure out how to bring better coverage to courses, since fans want to be able to use phones to communicate with friends and family at the event, say using text messages to say “meet us at the next hole.” The PGA seems to be on board with this idea, since it just introduced a course-finder app that not only shows players and scored superimposed on a Google map, but also adds in locations for amenities and concessions — meaning the PGA expects fans to have phones at events.

Filed Under: 4G LTE, AT&T, PGA, Wi-Fi Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cool New Web App for Getting PGA Scores: Live Interactive Course Map

February 7, 2013 by 2 Comments

PGA scoring map appThere’s a cool new way to get live scores from PGA Tournament events, which uses live data superimposed on a Google map to give you a graphic way to see who is playing on which hole, and what their current score is.

Built by a company called Earthvisionz from my old stomping grounds of Boulder, Colo., the app is already live on the web — go take a look at livemaps.pgatour.com to see how it works, since you will be able to figure it out faster than I can tell you about it. Basically, it’s a Google map of the course with live data that shows who is playing the hole, how far they’ve hit their shots, how far to the hole, etc. From what we can tell, it’s the PGA’s Shot Link info but put into a form that’s cooler to use than looking up and down a graphical list.

The only quibble I have right now is that you have to click on the bubble twice to get the full shot info like distance and score. (See screenshot below) But according to the press release from Earthvisionz the app is designed to do a lot more, including being able to see where you are on a course, and where important “amenities” like bathrooms and beer tents are located. (This would have been a great app to have at last year’s U.S. Open!) Since this looks like a web app it should be available to any device… let us know if you can’t see it on a particular device. Looks great from our desktop connection, I wonder how well it works on cellular. Anyone at the tourney this week, please let us know!

We will circle back next week with an interview with the Earthvisionz folks as time allows… but for now take a look and let us know what you think of the new app.

Screen shot 2013-02-07 at 11.48.24 AM

(Click on the image to the left to see what the app does when you click through the scoring bubbles)

Filed Under: Apps, Golf, PGA Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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