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April 2, 2007
PHIL MICKELSON DEFENDS 2006 MASTERS® VICTORY
CBS SPORTS BROADCASTS MASTERS® FOR 52nd CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Masters® Is Longest-Running Sporting Event Broadcast on One Network
The Masters®, the most renowned tournament in golf, will be broadcast on CBS for the 52nd consecutive year from the majestic setting of Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. This year marks the 71st Masters Tournament, one of the most highly-anticipated sporting events of the year. Defending champion Phil Mickelson returns this spring looking to win his third Masters in four years.
CBS Sports will bring viewers all the color, artistry and drama inherent to the world's most prestigious golf tournament and first major of the year with live third-round coverage of the Masters on Saturday, April 7 (3:30-7:00 PM, ET). Final-round 18-hole coverage is scheduled for Sunday, April 8 (2:30-7:00PM, ET). Highlights of early-round play will be presented by CBS Sports on Thursday, April 5 and Friday, April 6 (11:35-11:50 PM, ET; both nights).
For the 22nd consecutive year Jim Nantz will cover the Masters for CBS (his 20th year as host). He also handles coverage of the Highlight Shows, originating from Butler Cabin on the grounds of Augusta National. Three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo joins Nantz in the 18th hole tower as lead analyst. Peter Oosterhuis will describe the action at the 17th hole; Verne Lundquist, the 16th hole; David Feherty, the 15th hole and Highlight Shows; Bill Macatee, the 14th hole; Peter Kostis, the 13th hole; and Ian Baker-Finch will tell the story at the 11th and 12th holes. Bobby Clampett, Mike Hulbert and Billy Kratzert will call the live streaming video action for Amen Corner Live.
Augusta National, home of the Masters since its inception in 1934, is the unrivaled host to the world's greatest players and the most memorable moments in golf. Mickelson returns to Augusta to lead the tournament field of invitees, which is considered America's most prestigious gathering of professional and amateur golfers. The 2007 tournament field of invitees includes past Masters champions: Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Jose Maria Olazabal, Mark O'Meara, Larry Mize, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Couples, Craig Stadler, Tom Watson, Ian Woosnam, Seve Ballesteros, Charles Coody, Raymond Floyd, Gary Player, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Fuzzy Zoeller; U.S. players: Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Chad Campbell, Lucas Glover, Tim Herron, Chris DiMarco, David Toms, Fred Funk, Rich Beem, Stewart Cink, Arron Oberholser, Scott Verplank, Brett Quigley, J.J. Henry and Augusta resident Vaughn Taylor playing in his second Masters Tournament. International stars include Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, Jeev Milkha Singh, Geoff Ogilvy, Trevor Immelman, Ian Poulter, Michael Campbell, Rory Sabbatini, Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Tim Clark, Camilo Villegas, Luke Donald, Angel Cabrera, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Shingo Katayama, Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Lee Westwood and K.J. Choi * *For the complete 2007 Masters Tournament invitees log onto Masters.org
CBS Sports' coverage of the Masters will be produced by Lance Barrow, coordinating producer of CBS golf, along with David Winner, and directed by Steve Milton and Bob Matina. Jim Rikhoff will serve as replay producer. Bob Mansbach will produce the late night highlight shows and Chris Svendsen will direct.
For the fifth consecutive year, the standard analog and HDTV productions of the Masters® Tournament will be unified and will provide 18-hole coverage in HDTV's highest definition format.
In the largest HDTV golf production, CBS Sports will utilize 54 high definition cameras including 10 hand-held HDTV cameras. The unified productions will be produced in HDTV's highest definition format, 1080i, and down-converted for CBS's analog broadcast. This production technique also produces a better quality analog picture.
The 2000 Masters was the first golf tournament presented live in HDTV on network television. The 2003 Masters marked the first time that the standard and HDTV productions of the Tournament were unified.
Tony Petitti is Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, CBS Sports.
