Release

CBS SPORTS' FOLLOWS THROUGH ITS "WEST COAST SWING" WITH RETURN TO LOS ANGELES FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF NORTHERN TRUST OPEN ON FEB. 21-22

CBS Sports' early season coverage of the PGA TOUR's "West Coast Swing" concludes this weekend with a return to the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. for live third and final-round coverage of the NORTHERN TRUST OPEN on Saturday, Feb. 21 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, Feb. 22 (3:00-6:30 PM, ET, both days), on the CBS Television Network.

  

Jim Nantz, now in his 24th year overall covering golf for CBS Sports, serves as anchor for the Network's golf coverage. Nick Faldo, winner of six majors and more than 40 tournaments worldwide, is in his third year as lead analyst alongside Nantz in the 18th tower.  Peter Oosterhuis calls the action at the 17th hole, Gary McCord at the 16th hole, and Ian Baker-Finch at the 15th hole.  Peter Kostis and David Feherty will be on-course reporters.

 

            Boasting one of the PGA TOUR's strongest fields so far this season, Phil Mickelson looks to defend his title against 29 of the top 50 players in the world rankings including 2008 PGA TOUR Player of the Year Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Kenny Perry,  Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Justin Rose, Mike Weir, Steve Stricker, K.J. Choi, Trevor Immelman, Justin Leonard, Zach Johnson, Ben Curtis, Robert Allenby, Tim Clark, Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and fan-favorite Fred Couples.     

 

Lance Barrow is Coordinating Producer and Steve Milton is Director of CBS Sports' golf coverage. Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

 

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TEE-TO-GREEN WITH PETER KOSTIS

(On Japanese teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa making his PGA TOUR debut in Northern Trust Open):  Ryo Ishikawa, is another great young player.  I have not seen him play in person and not many Americans have. It's the first time he is playing over here. He's going to be on stage as there will be a huge contingent of Japanese press following him around.  Ishikawa is another in a long list of kids like Rory McIlroy and Anthony Kim who are the next generation who grew up with Tiger Woods as their idol. At 17-years-old, he was six or seven when Tiger came on Tour. It will be interesting to see how they react and play, and the style of play, especially since Tiger is their role model...(On defending champion Phil Mickelson): The only thing consistent about Mickelson's  game right now is his inconsistency. Clearly he didn't put enough time in preparing in the off-season. It seems like he would have found some answers. He is changing equipment almost weekly and it's hard to really develop your golf swing when you always have different sets of iron and clubs in the bag. You need to pick something and stick with it...(On what to expect this weekend):  Good solid golf would be nice to see with some names in contention. Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh - the staples of our Tour haven't played worth a darn this year. We need some veterans to step up and challenge the young guys. Kenny Perry did in Phoenix, but the big names have not showed up.

 

 

 

 

 

After the Northern Trust Open, CBS Sports is ON THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR with college basketball and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.  Golf coverage returns in early-April when CBS Sports broadcasts the 2009 Mastersâ, the most prestigious competition in golf, for the 54th consecutive year from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.   Coverage of the longest-running sports event ever presented on one network begins with highlight shows re-capping early-round action on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10 (11:35-11:50 PM, ET).  Live coverage of the final two rounds of the Masters will be broadcast on Saturday, April 11 (3:30-7:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, April 12 (2:00-7:00 PM, ET). 

 

The LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship final round on Sunday, April 5 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET) is next up on CBS Sports' golf broadcast schedule.

 

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CBS Sports Contact:   

Robin Brendle              212/975-1533              rlbrendle@cbs.com