Golf on TNT

TNT's golf coverage is produced by Turner Sports and consists of television broadcasts of some of the key professional golf events in the United States. Currently, TNT has the cable rights to the PGA Championship (with full coverage of the first two rounds and early coverage of the weekend rounds since 1999 after being on sister channel TBS since 1991) under a contract with the PGA of America that runs through 2019.^[1]

The channel has generally only carried major competitions, as opposed to the other week-to-week tournaments which are under the auspices of the PGA Tour, an organization which is independent from the PGA of America.

Past coverage

In the past, TNT owned cable rights to the (British) Open Championship,^[2] as well as the Women's British Open and Senior British Open, from 2003 to 2009 (with ABC picking up weekend coverage), replacing (and ultimately being replaced by) ESPN. TNT also carried the biennial PGA Tour-managed Presidents Cup^[3] from 2000 to 2007; Golf Channel assumed those rights beginning with the 2009 event as part of its overall deal for PGA Tour cable rights.

Beginning in 2004, TNT as well as CBS, began broadcasting the PGA Championship in HDTV.

Total scheduled time for Turner Sports' golf coverage by year

British Open

• 2003-2004: 19 - When TNT took over the cable package for the British Open in 2003, they started providing 2 hours of early morning coverage on both weekend days prior to the start of ABC's air-time.
• 2005-2006: 20
• 2007-2009: 19

PGA Championship

• 1991-1996: 16 - When TBS took over the cable package for the PGA Championship in 1991, they increased the weekday coverage to 6 hours per day. TBS also added 2 hours of Saturday and Sunday coverage.
• 1997: 17
• 1998: 17
• 1999-2005: 17
• 2006-2009: 18
• 2010: 19
• 2011-2013: 18 - Because inclement weather stopped play during the third round of 2012 PGA Championship on Saturday, TNT added coverage starting at 8 a.m. ET on Sunday.

Commentators

Current

• Play-by-play: Ernie Johnson, Jr. (since 1991) - Beginning with the 1995 PGA Championship, Johnson became the primary golf anchor for Turner.
• Analysts: Ian Baker-Finch (since 2007) - Beginning with the 2008 British Open, Baker-Finch took over as lead TNT golf analyst.
• Verne Lundquist (1995-1997, 2006, 2011, 2014)
• Bill Macatee from CBS
• David Feherty from CBS
• On course reporter: Billy Kratzert (since 2009)
• Interviews: Vince Cellini (since 2012)

Former

• Jim Huber (2000-2011)
• Verne Lundquist (1995-1997, 2006, 2011) - During the 2006 PGA Championship, Lundquist filled in on TNT for Ernie Johnson, Jr., who was undergoing chemotherapy. During TNT's Sunday coverage of the 2011 PGA Championship, Lundquist once again stepped in for Johnson after Johnson's father died. On both occasions, Lundquist was already on-site as a tower announcer for CBS's coverage.
• Craig Sager (1991-1999) - Sager was the main golf interviewer and essayist during the early years of Turner's coverage.
• Mike Tirico (2006) - During the 2006 Open Championship, Tirico filled in for Ernie Johnson, Jr., who was undergoing chemotherapy. Tirico was also hosting ABC's coverage that week, leading to 11-hour shifts for him.
• Matt Winer

TBS era (1991-1998)

• Gary Bender
• Mary Bryan - For the 1996 PGA Championship, former LPGA player Bryan moved over from CBS to join the TBS team.
• Donna Caponi
• Bobby Clampett - By the 1996 PGA Championship, Clampett once again assumed the lead Turner analyst role, having previously served in that capacity in 1991. When TNT took over the Thursday and Friday rounds of the British Open from ESPN beginning in 2003, Clampett anchored the TNT coverage (which also used some the ABC announcers) with Ernie Johnson, Jr.
• Pat Haden
• David Leadbetter - For the 1992 PGA Championship, TBS installed Leadbetter as its lead analyst. Gary Bender and MLB analyst Don Sutton were also part of the TBS crew.
• Dave Marr - Marr served as the lead analyst for TBS during their 1995 PGA Championship coverage.
• Bob Neal - For the 1991 PGA Championship, Neal and Bobby Clampett (as previously mentioned) anchored the TBS coverage. TBS also used golf instructor David Leadbetter, former LPGA player Donna Caponi, and NFL analyst Pat Haden for the 1991 PGA Championship coverage.
• Vin Scully
• Don Sutton

References

1. "History of PGA Championship TV coverage (1958-present)". Classic TV Sports. 5 August 2013.
2. "History of British Open on US TV (1962-present)". Classic Sports TV and Media. July 15, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
3. "History of Presidents Cup TV coverage (1994-present)". Classic Sports TV and Media. September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2013.

External links

• TNT.tv: Sports - Golf on TNT
• Turner Newsroom: Press Kits: Professional Golf on TNT
• TNT Golf Theme
• Golf Channel adds Presidents Cup to collection
• PGA Championship - Fang's Bites
  • TNT