Golf Channel's 2013 PGA Tour Coverage Begins with Hyundai Tournament of Champions, 1/4

NBC Sports Group will present comprehensive coverage of the kickoff of the 2013 PGA TOUR season this week with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions from Hawaii. Featuring a stellar field comprised only of 2012 tournament champions, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, which is scheduled as a Friday through Monday tournament (Jan. 4-7), will be held at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui. NBC's and Golf Channel's coverage features a combined 20 hours of live tournament action, including NBC's third-round lead-in coverage, which marks the first time the Hyundai Tournament of Champions has aired on broadcast television in 15 years. Golf Central, Golf Channel's signature news program, will complement live coverage throughout the week with shows hosted on-site in Kapalua.

"The return of broadcast television coverage for the first time in 15 years coupled with the Monday night finish and the unprecedented production resources across two networks will showcase the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and give the PGA TOUR season the kickoff it deserves," said Mike McCarley, President of Golf Channel. "We're also looking forward to giving viewers a much needed dose of Hawaiian paradise during this tough winter."

TOURNAMENT BROADCAST TEAM: Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller will join Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo in calling the action from the 18th hole tower at the Plantation Course in Kapalua. Both teams will be joined by tower reporters Gary Koch and Mark Rolfing; on-course reporters Roger Maltbie and Jerry Foltz; and interviewer Steve Sands.

NBC PRODUCTION: For the first time since Golf Channel became part of the NBC Sports family in 2011, NBC's award-winning golf production team will produce events airing primarily on Golf Channel. Tommy Roy, a 28-time Emmy Award-winner, will produce the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the Sony Open in Hawaii. The Hyundai Tournament of Champions broadcast will feature an increased number of cameras and camera towers, including aerial coverage from a fixed wing airplane for a second-consecutive year at Kapalua.

DRIVING GRID GRAPHIC DEBUTS ON THE 18TH: Driving Grid, a new graphic representation that measures the yardage of tee shots, will make its debut on the 18th hole at the Plantation Course during the Hyundai Tournament of Champions tournament broadcasts. Similar to the "First and 10" graphic lines used during NFL broadcasts, the Driving Grid graphic lines will be marked off in 25-yard increments on the 18th fairway, which regularly sees some of the longest drives during the entire PGA TOUR season. Since 2003, 92 drives have eclipsed 400 yards on the par-5 18th hole, more than 25 percent of all 400-yard drives on the PGA TOUR in the last nine years. The penultimate group in Friday's opening round on Golf Channel will be two of the longest hitters on the PGA TOUR, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson.

NEW PLAYER INTRODUCTIONS, "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL STYLE" - Players competing in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions will introduce themselves on the first tee during Friday's opening round on Golf Channel and Sunday's third round coverage on NBC in a new graphic package that models NBC's Sunday Night Football broadcasts. Players will introduce themselves by name, hometown and the 2012 tournaments they won.

Hyundai Tournament of Champions Airtimes (all times ET)

Jan. 4 Friday Round 1 5:30-10 p.m. Golf Channel
Jan. 5 Saturday Round 2 5:30-10 p.m. Golf Channel
Jan. 6 Sunday Round 3 3-6 p.m. NBC
Jan. 7 Sunday Round 3 6-10 p.m. Golf Channel
Jan. 8 Monday Final Round 4-8 p.m. Golf Channel

MORE THAN 20 HOURS OF NEWS COVERAGE: Golf Channel has scheduled more than 20 hours of live, wraparound news coverage of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions throughout the week. Coverage will begin Wednesday with the 2013 premieres of Morning Drive and Golf Central and continue with comprehensive coverage on-site at Kapalua before and after tournament play Thursday-Monday. Golf Central and Golf Central Pre Game will originate from a dedicated set at the Plantation Course. Kelly Tilghman, Brandel Chamblee and Tim Rosaforte will anchor Golf Central and Golf Central Pre Game on-site from the Plantation Course in Kapalua.

GOLF CENTRAL SCHEDULED FEATURES:
- Ian Poulter Goes One-on-One with Tim Rosaforte: Ian Poulter sits down with Tim Rosaforte for a candid discussion looking back at the 2012 season. Discussion includes the 2012 European Ryder Cup victory and closing the 2012 season on a high note with a victory at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.
- 2012 FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker: Brandt Snedeker, winner of the 2012 FedExCup, talks about his 2012 season and looking ahead to 2013.
- Rich Lerner Essay on Bubba Watson - Rich Lerner will deliver one of his signature essays on a memorable year for 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson.

ON THE RANGE RETURNS THURSDAY: On the Range, Golf Channel's weekly series that takes viewers to the driving ranges of golf's professional tours, returns Thursday at 5 p.m. ET at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Host Gary Williams and analysts Bill Kratzert and Billy Harmon will examine the players' swings and routines as they prepare for Friday's opening round of play. Alex Miceli will report on-site from Kapalua and will be joined by Ian Poulter, who will discuss his preparations for 2013.

HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS PRO-AM: Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, Golf Channel will air an hour-long Hyundai Tournament of Champions Pro-am special, eavesdropping on players as they get ready to kick off the 2013 PGA TOUR season.

COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL COVERAGE: GolfChannel.com will provide users with comprehensive online coverage of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions throughout the week. GolfChannel.com senior writer Jason Sobel will report from Kapalua.

NBC Sports Group Hyundai Tournament of Champions Coverage (all times ET):

Show Network Airtime (all times ET)
Wednesday, Jan. 2
Golf Central Golf Channel 6-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 3
Morning Drive Golf Channel 7-9 a.m.
On the Range (2013 Premiere) Golf Channel 5-6 p.m.
Golf Central Golf Channel 6-8 p.m.
Hyundai TOC Pro-Am Golf Channel 8-10 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 4
Morning Drive Golf Channel 7-9 a.m.
Golf Central Pre Game Golf Channel 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Hyundai Tournament of Champions Golf Channel 5:30-10 p.m.
Golf Central Golf Channel 10-10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 5
Golf Central Pre Game Golf Channel 5-5:30 p.m.
Hyundai Tournament of Champions Golf Channel 5:30-10 p.m.
Golf Central Golf Channel 10-10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 6
Hyundai Tournament of Champions NBC 3-6 p.m.
Hyundai Tournament of Champions Golf Channel 6-10 p.m.
Golf Central Golf Channel 10-10:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 7
Morning Drive Golf Channel 7-9 a.m.
Golf Central Pre Game Golf Channel 3-4 p.m.
Hyundai Tournament of Champions Golf Channel 4-8 p.m.
Golf Central Golf Channel 8-9 p.m.