This Tiger knows how to win
For the second week in a row, CBS has a Tiger on its hands.
Last weekend it was the Memphis Tigers at the men’s basketball Final Four. This weekend it’s Tiger Woods at the Masters and the beginning of his quest to win golf’s Grand Slam.
The Memphis Tigers’ bid for their first championship was thwarted by a resilient Kansas team. Whether Woods can tame Augusta National to win his 14th major or a new Masters champion emerges, CBS is ready for what may come around Amen Corner.
After today’s round on ESPN, CBS has coverage beginning with the third round on Saturday, from 12:30 to 4 p.m. On Sunday, the broadcast will feature all 18 holes and starts at 11:30 a.m.
Also, CBSSports.com has expanded its live streaming of play on Augusta’s back nine, including Amen Corner (holes 10, 11 and 12) and the 15th and 16th holes.
The telecast will be anchored by Jim Nantz and the lead analyst is three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo. Both were asked this week in a conference call if the golf world was in for a letdown if Woods doesn’t win.
“I don’t think the whole year hinges on Tiger’s performance at Augusta,” Nantz said.
Faldo agreed.
“The three other majors are equally magnificent in their own way,” he said. “If Tiger doesn’t win, you have a new champion and what does that set up for the rest of the year, and who is it?”
Nantz added, “The odds are astronomical to win a Grand Slam, but with a player like Tiger it’s not too far-fetched to dream that big.”
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Also available for viewing this weekend:
New Orleans Hornets at Lakers (tonight, 7:30 p.m., FSNW) and San Antonio Spurs at Lakers (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7). Andrew Bynum won’t be around to give the Lakers a boost against the two teams they’re battling for the top spot in the Western Conference standings.
San Diego Padres at Dodgers (tonight, 7:30 p.m., Prime; Saturday, 7 p.m., Channel 9; Sunday, 1 p.m., Prime). After being swept by the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers are back home, and are hoping their Andruw shows up too. Center fielder Andruw Jones is hitting a pitiful .129, a marker of the team’s anemic offense so far this season.
Angels at Seattle Mariners (tonight, 7 p.m., Channel 13, Saturday, 6 p.m., FSNW, Sunday, 1 p.m. FSNW). The Angels begin their second trip of the season with a weekend in the Pacific Northwest, then they head to Texas to play the Rangers. The Angels are starting to hit with power again and can only hope it continues.
Dallas Stars at Ducks (Saturday, Prime, Versus, 7 p.m.). The Ducks continue defense of their Stanley Cup title with Game 2 of the NHL’s Western Conference quarterfinals at the Honda Center. On Prime’s telecast, John Ahlers will call the play-by-play, Brian Hayward is the analyst and Tom Murray will report from rinkside. In other weekend playoff games, NBC will televise the Nashville Predators at Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, and Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals on Sunday. Both games start at 11 a.m.
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 11; Sunday, 5 p.m. ESPN). With a new Joe (Girardi) as manager, a content (at least for now) Alex Rodriguez and a young pitching staff, the Yankees travel to Fenway Park to renew one of baseball’s best rivalries. Fox commentator Tim McCarver worries about New York’s chances of making a 14th straight playoff appearance, citing their young pitchers -- Phil Hughes and Chien-Ming Wang -- as a concern. “The Yankees have too many question marks in their pitching staff,” McCarver said. “If the young pitchers take time to get established, like most do, they won’t make it to postseason play.”
Toronto FC at Galaxy (Sunday, noon, KFTR, 4:30 p.m., FSNW). Can David Beckham score his second goal of this season or is it back to merely corner kicks for the highly paid superstar?
NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500 (Saturday, 5 p.m., Ch. 11). The Sprint Cup Series goes for an evening drive in the desert at Phoenix International Raceway, where Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds will call the race. Expect challenges to both drivers and crews as they try to adjust to the changing track temperatures as the sun sets. “The hotter the track is, the more likely it is for the car to slide,” McReynolds says, “while later in the race, as the track gets cooler, the car will gain grip.”
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Christine Daniels is on vacation.
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