Golf on TNT

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 of the PGA of America.

Since 2020, TNT has televised The Match, a series of exhibition matches with top professional golfers and professional athletes from other sports.

Tournaments

• The Match (2020-present)
• PGA Championship (1991-2019, on TBS from 1991 through 1998)
• PGA Grand Slam of Golf (?-2014)
• The Open Championship (2003-2009)
• Women's British Open (2003-2009)
• Senior Open Championship (2003-2009)
• Presidents Cup (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007)
• World Challenge (1999-2002)
• Bob Hope Classic (1995-1998)

History

In the past, TNT owned cable rights to the

Beginning in

On October 10, 2018, it was announced that ESPN would replace TNT as the PGA Championship's cable partner beginning in 2020, with CBS remaining broadcast television rightsholder.^[6] This deal left TNT without any golf coverage.

Scheduled time for Turner 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.

The Match

In May 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic, TNT gained the rights to “Capital One’s The Match 2: Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning vs. Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady”. The event took place May 24 at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida. The regular TNT golf team from the 2019 PGA covered the event, in addition to NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley and PGA Tour player Justin Thomas.

TNT had previously produced coverage of the original “The Match” event between Woods and Mickelson in 2018, however that aired only on pay-per-view. Like the original, “The Match 2” featured all players mic’d up, and also provided earpieces to allow the players, from their custom-designed golf carts, to chat with the members of the broadcast booth (including Barkley) who were in the 18th tower.

The telecast, which was delayed slightly by rain, peaked at 6.3 million viewers, and averaged 5.8 million for the afternoon. The 3pm

Commentators

• Brian Anderson
  (2019-present)
• Amanda Balionis (2016-present)
• Charles Barkley (2020-present)
• Gary Bender (1992)
• Vince Cellini (2012-2015)
• Pat Haden (1991)
• Jim Huber (2000-2011)
• Ernie Johnson Jr. (1995-2018, 2022-present)
• Verne Lundquist (1995-1997, 2006 and 2011, fill-in)
• Bob Neal (1991-1994)
• Mike Tirico (2006, fill-in)
• Craig Sager (1991-1999)
• Don Sutton (1992)
• Matt Winer

Analysts

• Mary Bryan (1995-1996)
• Ian Baker-Finch (2007-2019)
• Donna Caponi (1991)
• Bobby Clampett (1991, 1996-2007)
• Billy Kratzert (2009-2019)
• Trevor Immelman (2017-present)
• David Leadbetter (1991-1994)
• Dave Marr (1995)
• Don Sutton

References