ESPN’s 2009 Masters Coverage

In addition, there will be expansive coverage of the Masters Tournament for fans across ESPN.com, ESPN360.com and Masters.com.  Coverage highlights include:

Also, the Masters Par 3 Contest will be aired Wednesday, April 8, live in high definition from 3-5 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN360.com.  The Par 3 Contest is the traditional event held each Wednesday prior to the Masters that includes Tournament participants, non-competing past champions and honorary invitees in a fun, family atmosphere. The event, which began in 1960, was first televised by ESPN in 2008.

This year 105 countries will carry the Masters on ESPN networks. Fans in these countries can follow The Masters on ESPN television, online, mobile and broadband platforms.  The Masters is available in Asia (25 countries, 180 million households via ESS) Latin America (52 countries, 24 million households), and Canada (8.5 million households via TSN/RDS) and North Africa and the Middle East (24 countries, 1.2 million households).  Additionally, there will be live streaming of the  Par 3 Contest, the first two rounds and exclusive Amen Corner coverage on ESPN360.com services in Mexico, North Africa and the Middle East.

ESPN’s Mike Tirico will serve as host of ESPN’s telecasts, including the Par 3 Contest. Among the features on ESPN’s coverage of the Masters is the story of Greg Norman’s return to the Masters after a seven-year absence. Andy North will work with Tirico and CBS announcers on the Par 3 Contest telecast.

CBS will produce the telecasts of the first two rounds and the Par 3 Contest. Jim Nantz will host with Nick Faldo, Peter Oosterhuis, Verne Lundquist, David Feherty, Bill Macatee, Peter Kostis and Ian Baker-Finch.

Additional coverage of the Masters on ESPN includes:

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 will commence April 5 with Tom Rinaldi interviewing Tiger Woods in a “Sunday Conversation” on SportsCenter, followed by reports on every SportsCenter beginning with Monday’s 6 p.m. program. Van Pelt will also host a special 60-minute preview show SportsCenter at the Masters Wednesday, April 8 at 5:00 p.m.

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.

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).

Extensive coverage of the Masters Tournament will be available to fans across all of Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East.  Coverage includes television, online, mobile and broadband rights.  ESPN networks will televise a minimum of 15.5 hours of live Masters coverage throughout all rounds of the tournament, as well as the Par 3 Contest on ESPN’s pan-regional network in Latin America, and live coverage in the Middle East and northern Africa.   ESS will air up to 17.5 hours of live coverage throughout Asia, while Canadian fans will be able to watch the first two rounds of The Masters live on TSN, with same-day re-airs in primetime of the final two rounds. RDS (French-language) will offer all four rounds live in Canada.

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.

ESPN Radio SportsCenter reporter Dan Davis will present updates from Augusta National Golf Club throughout the Masters Tournament, April 8-12.  Davis will provide hourly, drive-time updates (3:40 p.m.-8:40 p.m.) during the first two rounds Thursday and Friday, April 9-10.  During the weekend for the third and final rounds, Davis will present updates at 20 and 40 minutes after the hour (1:20 p.m. – 8:40 p.m.). Tirico and Van Pelt will make appearances on ESPN Radio to discuss the news and events surrounding the Tournament.

ESPNEWS will offer day-long coverage beginning on Tuesday, April 7, including taped news conferences from former Masters champions including Tiger Woods, Trevor Immelman, and Phil Mickelson.  All news conferences will be televised in HD.  On Thursday through Sunday, ESPNEWS will also carry taped post-round news conferences and analysis segments hosted by Scott Van Pelt with Andy North.

ESPN Classic will televise a 24-hour Masters Tribute featuring Official Masters Films beginning Wednesday, April 8, at 4p.m. leading up to first-round coverage on Thursday.

The Par 3 Contest and first and second rounds will be simulcast live on the ABC SuperSign in New York City’s Time Square, Wednesday April 8 (3-5 p.m.) and Thursday/Friday April 9/10 (4-7:30 p.m.) respectively.

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