By Jim Williams
The Washington Examiner
Today begins the most extensive coverage of the Masters in the long and storied history of this the first of golf’s Majors.
ESPN’s coverage of the first two rounds of the Masters Tournament includes expansive live tournament coverage, highlights, news and information and analysis on a variety of ESPN platforms. ESPN and ESPN HD will present live first- and second-round coverage, Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10, from 4-7:30 p.m., ET, each day. An encore presentation will be available in primetime each night from 8-11 p.m. ESPN Deportes, the company’s Spanish language U.S. sports network, will also televise the first and second rounds live from 4-7:30 p.m.
Host Mike Tirico told me Monday from a snowy Detroit that this is one of his most favorite assignments: “Being able to be the host of the Masters broadcast ranks right up there in my career highlights. This is a tournament that golf fans the world over care about and somehow year after year Augusta is able to produce great storylines. Sitting in Butler Cabin for the Thursday and Friday coverage working with Andy North is as good as it gets.”
North told me from Augusta that he expects big things from this years Masters: “Tiger Woods is back in form and playing well. You got the world’s #2 in Phil Mickelson ready to challenge Tiger for the top golfer in the world status. This could finally be where we see the rivalry blossom. I really think that this year those two men could be playing in the final pairing on Sunday in Augusta.”
Lance Barrow and his team at CBS will produce total coverage of the Masters. That means fans we see all four days of Jim Nantz as the host with Nick Faldo, Peter Oosterhuis, Verne Lundquist, David Feherty, Bill Macatee, Peter Kostis and Ian Baker-Finch all part of the broadcast team Thursday and Friday on ESPN and then on the weekend on home turf on CBS.
Radio coverage will be done by Westwood One all four days and can be heard on selected stations, online at or on Sirius-XM radio.
Some important details on where to find the coverage starting today:
SportsCenter
Scott Van Pelt will host SportsCenter coverage from a set on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club. He will be joined by Andy North and reporter Tom Rinaldi. Coverage on every SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt who will also host a special 60-minute preview show SportsCenter at the Masters today at 5:00 p.m.
ESPN.com
Coverage includes: a Road to Augusta, a series of articles leading up to the Masters; live leader board link from Masters.com; features on Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Fuzzy Zoeller and Padraig Harrington; columns by national columnist Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com golf writers Bob Harig and Jason Sobel; a live ESPN.com Masters blog; and live audio updates and interviews on ESPNRadio.com.
ESPN360.com
Coverage highlights: live simulcast of ESPN’s coverage including the Par 3 Contest (Wed., April 8, 3 – 5 p.m.) and the first two rounds of the Tournament; on-demand coverage of the Putting Green Ceremony Sunday on ESPN360.com (and Masters.com).
ESPN Deportes
Live Spanish-language coverage in the U.S. of the first and second rounds from 4-7:30 p.m. each day. Francisco Aleman and Silvia Bertolaccini will call the action. John Sutcliffe will serve as the on course reporter.
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