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 53rd consecutive year from the majestic setting of Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.  This year marks the 72nd Masters Tournament, one of the most highly-anticipated sporting events of the year.  Defending champion Zach Johnson returns this spring looking to win his second Green Jacket.

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 12 (3:30-7:00 PM, ET).  Final-round 18-hole coverage is scheduled for Sunday, April 13 (2:30-7:00 PM, ET).  Highlights of early-round play will be presented by CBS Sports on Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11 (11:35-11:50 PM, ET; both nights).

For the 23rd consecutive year Jim Nantz will cover the Masters for CBS (his 21st 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 18^th 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 12^th  holes.  Bobby Clampett and Billy Kratzert return along with Ian Eagle to call the live streaming video action for Amen Corner Live and 15 & 16 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.  Johnson returns to Augusta to lead the tournament field of invitees, which is considered America's most prestigious gathering of professional and amateur golfers. The 2008 tournament field of invitees expected to compete includes past Masters champions: Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Jose Maria Olazabal, Mark O'Meara, Larry Mize, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Couples, Craig Stadler, Tom Watson,  Ian Woosnam, Raymond Floyd, Gary Player, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Fuzzy Zoeller ;  other U.S. players:   Jim Furyk,  Davis Love III,  Chad Campbell, Charles Howell III, David Toms, Mark Calcavecchia, Stewart Cink, Arron Oberholser, Scott Verplank, JB Holmes, J.J. Henry and Vaughn Taylor.  Other international stars include Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, K.J. Choi, Luke Donald, Aaron Baddeley, Justin Rose, Jeev Milkha Singh, Geoff Ogilvy, Trevor Immelman, Ian Poulter, Michael Campbell,  Rory Sabbatini, Darren Clarke,  Colin Montgomerie, Tim Clark, Camilo Villegas,  Angel Cabrera, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Shingo Katayama, Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby and  Lee Westwood.  (*For the complete 2008 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 sixth consecutive year, the standard analog and HDTV productions of the Mastersâ Tournament will be unified and provide 18-hole coverage in HDTV's highest definition format.

In the largest HDTV golf production, CBS Sports will utilize 60 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.

Sean McManus is President of CBS News and Sports.

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IN AUGUSTA AS OF TUESDAY, APRIL 8 at 706-736-5662

CBS Sports Contacts:     LeslieAnne Wade     lwade@cbs.com                                                                        Robin Brendle                           rlbrendle@cbs.com