Reminder: Blue Monster Finishers Get Golf Channel Spotlight

As I noted in this week's Golf World Preview, Doral's 18th was essentially the hardest hole on the PGA Tour last year (the 6th a Olympic edged it but is that really a tour stop?).

NBC is giving it the spotlight treatment this weekend along with holes 15 and 16.

GOLF CHANNEL’S SPOTLIGHT COVERAGE AT THE WGC-CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP TO INCLUDE THE TOUGHEST FINISHING HOLE ON THE PGA TOUR – THE 18TH AT TPC BLUE MONSTER
 
Traditional Coverage on NBC and ‘Spotlight’ Coverage on Golf Channel Both Begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday

Spotlight Coverage to Highlight TPC Blue Monster’s Top Finishing Holes – 15, 16 and 18

NBC Sports Group Airing 26 Hours of Live Coverage of the WGC-Cadillac Championship

ORLANDO, Fla., (March 7, 2013) – NBC Sports Group’s tournament coverage of the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami this weekend will feature the debut of Golf Channel’s Spotlight Coverage at one of the most anticipated events on the golf calendar. Spotlight coverage at TPC Blue Monster at Trump Doral will feature live action of players navigating the three finishing holes, including the toughest finishing hole on the PGA TOUR – the famous par-4 18th hole – complementing traditional coverage that also will air live on NBC.

While NBC is on the air live this weekend with traditional coverage, Golf Channel also will be on the air live, but focusing only the challenging holes that include 15, 16 and 18 at TPC Blue Monster. In 2012, the par-4, 467-yard 18th at TPC Blue Monster ranked as the toughest finishing hole on the PGA TOUR and the second toughest overall, with a scoring average of more than 4.5 strokes. At the 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship, the field of 74 players combined for 55-over par on Thursday’s opening round, alone.

Golf Channel’s Spotlight coverage will conclude at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday and 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, when viewers will be directed to the final hour of NBC’s third- and final-round coverage.

The Spotlight coverage on-air team includes play-by-play host Whit Watson, Curt Byrum as lead analyst, Phil Parkin as tower analyst and Steve Flesch and Scott McCarron reporting from the course. Todd Lewis will conduct post-round interviews.

NBC’s production, which will be overseen by Emmy Award-winning producer Tommy Roy, will operate side-by-side with Golf Channel’s Spotlight production unit led by producer Keith Hirshland.

WGC-Cadillac Championship – LIVE TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES
Thursday 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live traditional coverage)
Friday 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live traditional coverage)
Saturday Noon-2 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live lead-in coverage)
Saturday 2-5 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live Spotlight Coverage)
Saturday 2-6 p.m. ET (NBC live traditional coverage)
Sunday 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live lead-in coverage)
Sunday 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel live Spotlight Coverage)
Sunday 3-7 p.m. ET (NBC live traditional coverage)