By- Jim Williams
The first time CBS cameras telecast The Masters was first weekend in April back in 1956. Since then the two have forged the longest running relationship in sports television history at 53 years.
It is not that other networks have not tried to secure The Masters. ABC, NBC have all taken their best shot at snagging golf’s first major of the season but to the members of Augusta National Golf Club it is all about tradition.
They like CBS and the network has always been on the same page. Golf and tradition that is it and that is all that matters to the members of Augusta National Golf Club that CBS is as committed to those two issues – it is what been at the core of this 53 year long relationship.
Earlier in the week CBS Sports and News President, Sean McManus told me: “It would be easy to write The Masters off as old school but that would be unfair. They were first golf tournament to be broadcast totally in high definition. They have embraced the online and broadband technology. We have done very well on The Masters website with our all day coverage of Amen Corner. The extra content that we produce through CBS Sports.com has been great. We have also done some fine work with DirecTV covering the Amen Corner as well. So it would be wrong to think that the folks at Augusta National don’t embrace change they really do get it.”
CBS Producer Lance Barrow and his talented team of broadcasters will take up the coverage today at 3:30p.m. and 2p.m. on Sunday “Mr. Augusta” Jim Nantz who always seems to do some his best work at The Masters will again serve as host with Nick Faldo, Peter Oosterhuis, Verne Lundquist, David Feherty, Bill Macatee, Peter Kostis and Ian Baker-Finch all part of the broadcast for CBS.
Expect nothing but the best coverage of The Masters from the CBS team. They never disappoint and that is in large part is why they have had a 53 year relationship with The Masters.
Radio coverage will be done by Westwood One and can be heard on selected stations around the country as well at their website online and on Sirius-XM radio.
Our friends at the Golf Channel will get things underway at 12:30 -3:30 p.m.: “Live From The Masters.” They will have plenty of pre coverage interviews and reports from the course. They will return to night for their primetime show at 7p.m.
Sunday they will get started early with the action starting at 11a.am and they will then hand things off to CBS Sunday at 2p.m. with the wrap up show airing after the presentation of the Green Jacket.
My email box has been full this week blaming both ESPN and CBS for not doing full 18 hole wall to wall coverage of the Masters. To those out there who do not understand The Augusta National Golf Club is in total control of the air times. Unlike so many sporting events that allow TV dictate to them how event will be run and what time it will be on the air that is not the case at The Masters. As I told you before it is all about tradition here and so if they want to broadcast he even they must play the Augusta National rules.
