The World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship takes place Feb. 22-26 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain Resort in Marana, Ariz. The top 64 players in the Official World Golf Rankings compete in this single-elimination tournament (you can download a complete tournament bracket here.) Golf Channel and NBC have 50 hours of on-site news and tournament coverage this week. Full press release from the NBC Sports Group and WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship TV schedule below:
NBC SPORTS GROUP TO AIR MORE THAN 50 HOURS OF LIVE TOURNAMENT AND NEWS COVERAGE OF WGC-ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
WGC-Accenture Match Play Marks One Year Anniversary Golf Channel/NBC Collaboration
‘Golf Central’ Live and On-Site Throughout the Week
‘Golf Central’ to Air Live on NBC Saturday and Sunday
Miller, Chamblee and Faldo to Participate in ‘State of the Game’ Special Friday Night on Golf
ORLANDO, Fla. Feb. 17, 2012 – Golf Channel and NBC Sports will mark the one year anniversary of the collaboration between the two networks next week at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship with a combined more than 50 hours of on-site news and live tournament coverage from Dove Mountain Resort in Marana, Ariz.
Golf Channel and NBC will air a total of 28 hours of live tournament action Wednesday through Sunday. Golf Channel also will deliver comprehensive news coverage throughout the week – produced and broadcast on-site – and headlined by a special State of the Game show Friday in primetime, and Golf Central Pre Game shows airing on NBC prior to NBC’s live tournament coverage.
Golf Channel / NBC Live Tournament Airtimes (all times Eastern)
Wednesday Noon-6 p.m. (Golf Channel) Day One Matches – 32
Thursday 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel) Day Two Matches – 16
Friday 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel) Day Three Matches – 8
Saturday Noon-2 p.m. (Golf Channel) First Two Quarterfinal Matches (Front Nine Only)
Saturday 2-6 p.m. (NBC) Quarterfinal Matches
Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf Channel) Two Semifinal Matches
Sunday 2-6 p.m. (NBC) Consolation and Championship Matches
More than 25 Hours of On-Site News Coverage: Golf Channel’s news coverage will begin Monday with an hour-long Golf Centraland will continue Tuesday with pre-tournament news conferences. Golf Central will provide on-site, wraparound news coverage for both Golf Channel and NBC Sports’ live tournament coverage for the balance of the week, including special Golf Central Pre Game shows that will air exclusively on NBC at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday. Morning Drive, the network’s live, weekday morning show, will expand its weekday coverage and will air a bonus show on Sunday leading into Golf Channel’s live tournament coverage.
State of the Game: The biggest names in golf that cover the game – Dan Hicks, Johnny Miller, Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee – will discuss golf’s biggest issues in a roundtable format on State of the Game, Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. A Golf Central special, State of the Game will feature discussion of relevant events making news at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, including Tiger Woods and his recent troubles closing tournaments; Mickelson’s sudden resurgence and the ongoing long putter debate.
Golf Central on NBC: Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo Tim Rosaforte and Steve Sands will host special editions of Golf Central that will air exclusively on NBC Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET leading in to live tournament coverage. The shows will feature early highlights, analysis and interviews, preparing viewers for all of the upcoming action on NBC.
Golf Channel and Golf Channel on NBC Broadcast Team: Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller, in their 13th season together, will anchor ‘Golf Channel on NBC’ coverage Saturday and Sunday from the main tower. Gary Koch and Peter Jacobsen will serve as tower reporters while Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing and Dottie Pepper will report from the course. Jimmy Roberts will serve as interviewer/essayist. Kelly Tilghman will host Golf Channel’s tournament coverage Wednesday-Sunday with Terry Gannon and Nick Faldo anchoring from the main tower. Maltbie, Koch, Rolfing, Pepper and Roberts will have dual roles joining Curt Byrum and Steve Sands for Golf Channel’s live tournament coverage.
GolfChannel.com Editorial Coverage and Live Chats: Golf Channel’s online team will complement the network’s on-air coverage throughout the week on GolfChannel.com. Rex Hoggard and Randall Mell will report on-site from Dove Mountain throughout the week with daily columns, blogs, news articles and breaking news. John Hawkins also will participate in a live chat online at Noon ET on Wednesday.
Golf Channel and NBC will share 10 tournaments on the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup schedule in 2012, including the PGA TOUR Playoffs. The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship is the start of NBC’s six-week run on the PGA TOUR leading up to the Masters in April.
Golf Channel / NBC WGC-Accenture Match Play News Coverage Airtimes (all times Eastern)
Monday
Morning Drive 7-9 a.m.
Golf Central 6-7 p.m.
Tuesday
Morning Drive 7-9 a.m.
Golf Central Special: News Conferences 4:30-6 p.m.
Golf Central 6-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Morning Drive 7-10 a.m.
Golf Central Pre Game 10 a.m.-Noon
Golf Central 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Morning Drive 7-9:30 a.m.
Golf Central Pre Game 1:30-2 p.m.
Golf Central 6-6:30 p.m.
Golf Central 12:30-1 a.m.
Grey Goose 19th Hole 1-1:30 a.m.
Friday
Morning Drive 7-9:30 a.m.
Golf Central Pre Game 1:30-2 p.m.
Golf Central 6-6:30 p.m.
State of the Game 8:30-9:30 p.m.
Golf Central 1:30-2 a.m.
Grey Goose 19th Hole 2-2:30 a.m.
Saturday
Golf Central Pre Game 11:30 a.m.-Noon
Golf Central Pre Game 1:30-2 p.m. (NBC)
Golf Central 6-6:30 p.m.
Golf Central 12:30-1 a.m.
Sunday
Morning Drive 7-9 a.m.
Golf Central Pre Game 1-1:30 p.m.
Golf Central Pre Game 1:30-2 p.m. (NBC)
Golf Central 6-7 p.m.
Golf Central 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
