MICKELSON, STRICKER, FURYK HEADLINE FIELD AT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD ON NBC SPORTS THIS WEEKEND
“It’s a real gem. I’m interested to see if they’ve changed a ruby into a diamond.” – NBC Sports’ Johnny Miller on Bay Hill’s redesign
“No other network can match NBC’s star analysts.” – St. Petersburg Times on NBC Sports’ golf coverage (3-22-10)
NEW YORK – Mar. 24, 2010 – Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk headline an impressive field at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard from Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla. to be broadcast on NBC Sports this Saturday and Sunday from 2:30-6 p.m. ET.
Host Dan Hicks and analyst Johnny Miller, in their 11th season together as NBC’s lead golf team, will anchor the coverage from the 18th hole tower. They are joined by tower reporters Brad Faxon and Gary Koch; course reporters Roger Maltbie, Dottie Pepper and Mark Rolfing; and interviewer/essayist Jimmy Roberts.
MILLER ON THE COURSE: “I’m pretty excited about the changes to the course. They’ve moved the bunkers so there are more penalties for the pros. This is a great course. It could host a major. It’s a real gem. I’m interested to see if they’ve changed a ruby into a diamond.”
The field includes 10 of the top 20 players in the world: Stricker (No. 2), Mickelson (3), Jim Furyk (6), Ernie Els (9), Camilo Villegas (11), Henrik Stenson (13), Robert Allenby (15), Retief Goosen (16), Kenny Perry (18), and Sean O’Hair (19).
It also includes 10 of the 13 winners on the PGA TOUR this year, including each of the last five winners: Furyk (Transitions Championship), Els (WGC-CA Championship), Derek Lamely (Puerto Rico Open), Villegas (Honda Classic) and Hunter Mahan (Waste Management Phoenix Open).
MILLER ON THE FIELD: “The field is great. I don’t think you have a chance at this course if you don’t hit the fairway. Players who are driving it well are in the best position.”
BEFORE TEEING OFF: Global Golf Adventure hosted by Mark Rolfing, a groundbreaking first-of-its kind golf, travel and adventure show, will air on Saturday from 2-2:30 p.m. ET. On Sunday, The 2010 Golf Digest Equipment Special, an insider’s look at the newest trends in golf technology and equipment, will air from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET.
ST. PETERSBURG TIMES ON NBC SPORTS’ GOLF COVERAGE (3-22-10): “What sets NBC apart from the other networks are the analysts, specifically Johnny Miller, Dottie Pepper and Gary Koch. Host Dan Hicks is a real pro – No other network can match NBC’s star analysts. One could compliment practically everything that comes out of their mouths – After watching NBC’s coverage of the Transitions Championship, it made perfect sense that NBC’s golf coverage was nominated for an Emmy in audio/sound even though we’re talking about a sport where silence is golden. NBC’s audio work, especially hearing the caddies and golfers talk to one another, made the tournament that much more enjoyable and certainly is Emmy-worthy.”
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard is the fourth of five consecutive weeks of NBC Sports’ PGA TOUR coverage. The first three events were the Honda Classic, the WGC-CA Championship, and the Transitions Championship. The remaining event is the Shell Houston Open (all times ET):
Shell Houston Open – Houston, Texas
Saturday, April 3 1-5 p.m.
Sunday, April 4 3-6 p.m.
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