Release

CBS SPORTS BRINGS TEE-TO-GREEN COVERAGE OF 99th PGA CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 27th CONSECUTIVE YEAR FROM QUAIL HOLLOW CLUB AUGUST 10-13

 

 

August 2, 2017

 

CBS SPORTS TECHNICAL ENHANCEMENTS AND INNOVATIONS EXPAND FOR 2017 COVERAGE

 

For the 27th consecutive year, CBS Sports will be on-hand for the PGA Championship contested at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.  CBS Sports broadcasts the third and final rounds on Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13 (2:00-7:00 PM, ET; both days).

Jim Nantz, three-time Emmy Award-winner and five-time National Sportscaster of the Year, will serve as anchor of CBS Sports’ 2017 PGA Championship coverage. Sir Nick Faldo, winner of six major championships and more than 40 tournaments worldwide, will serve as lead analyst. Ian Baker-Finch will call the action at the 17th hole, Gary McCord at the 16th hole, Frank Nobilo at the 15th hole, Verne Lundquist at the 14th hole and Bill Macatee at the 13th hole. Dottie Pepper and Peter Kostis will serve as on-course reporters. Amanda Balionis serves as reporter/Smartcart.

In addition, CBS Sports will broadcast highlights of early-round action with Macatee and Baker-Finch on Thursday, August 10 and Friday, August 11 (12:35-1:05 AM, ET/PT; both nights).

CBS Sports production will once again feature expanded technical enhancements and innovations for the 99th PGA Championship. Production elements on CBS will include:

  • Trackman – CBS will use Trackman’s newest broadcast technology for the first time on all 18 holes using 3D radar tracking to provide the viewer with a true sense of distance, height, curvature and more. Tracing live tee shots on various holes showing the apex, ball speed, distance and curve, will be staples of this technology throughout the Championship.

  • ARL Virtual Eye – Virtual Eye technology returns this year with increased coverage of more holes. Virtual Eye uses Trackman’s ball tracing capabilities on tee shots within a 3D hole model while simultaneously showing the golfer hit the tee shot, as well as provide a flyover animation to give a second shot perspective once the ball comes to rest. Virtual Eye now has the ability to record and playback where previously could only be used live.

  • Toptracer – Similar to Trackman, Toptracer wireless technology provides ball tracking graphics and statistics on players second shots from the fairway anywhere at Quail Hollow Club.

  • 4K – Quail Hollow’s closing holes 16, 17 and 18 will be captured in 4K beginning Thursday and concluding with the final round. For the fourth time in 2017, CBS will produce live 4K golf coverage, which includes using five 4K cameras at the PGA Championship to air on DIRECTV.

  • Smartcart – Introduced last year for the first time at a PGA Championship, Smartcart returns. The 72-inch mobile screen, attached to a custom-fitted golf cart for broadcast applications, will be used to analyze and telestrate a myriad of data including golf swings and shots, difficulty of holes, and scorecards bringing a new dimension to golf coverage with compelling content from action on the course. CBS Sports Network also will use Smartcart for Thursday and Friday’s PGA CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE RANGE.

  • SwingVision – CBS returns its Emmy Award-winning technical innovation, SwingVision, featuring super-slow action to break down players’ swings and demonstrate shots from various parts of the course.

  • Fly Cam/Bunker Cams – Fly Cam is a 2-point cable camera system providing coverage of the tournament practice range with the ability to move into position behind any golfer. CBS Sports also uses Bunker Cams, small point-of-view cameras positioned in various bunkers at Quail Hollow.

  • Aerial Drone Coverage – CBS Sports aerial drone coverage captures all the elevations, undulations and hazards of Quail Hollow Club. Coverage will provide viewers a unique perspective of the entire course and the clubhouse.

CBS Sports’ full coverage of the PGA Championship on Saturday and Sunday will be streamed on CBSSports.com and via CBS All Access, the CBS Television Network’s digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service. 

Lance Barrow, Coordinating Producer, Golf, produces along with David Winner. Steve Milton and Bob Matina direct. Jim Rikhoff serves as videotape producer and Chris Svendsen as replay director. Sellers Shy will produce the highlight shows. Jim Cornell will direct. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer & Senior Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

 

Rob Correa is Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. David Berson is President, CBS Sports. Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports.

 

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Follow Us on Twitter: @CBSSportsGang and @GOLFonCBS

 

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CBS Sports Contacts:

Jen Sabatelle 212/975-4120              jsabatelle@cbs.com

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