Eight-time Past Champ Tiger Woods in the Field at Arnold Palmer Invitational

LPGA in Arizona for Bank of Hope Founders Cup, with Live Coverage Airing in Primetime on Golf Channel Thursday-Sunday

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Coming off a T-2nd finish on Sunday, 14-time major champion Tiger Woods will return to compete this week in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. This is the first time Woods will compete in the event since 2013, when he won for a record eighth-time at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Golf Channel and NBC will combine to air nearly 20 hours of live tournament coverage, which will be complemented by the network’s on-site presence of Golf Central and Morning Drive throughout the week.

The LPGA Tour this week kicks off the domestic portion of its schedule with the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in Arizona. This is the first of three consecutive weeks of events being staged by the Tour, including the first professional golf major of 2018 in two weeks at the ANA Inspiration (March 29-April 1).

PGA TOUR 

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard
Dates: March 15-18
Venue: Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Fla.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 2-6 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 2-6 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 12:30-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 12:30-2 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern)
Saturday 2:30-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 2-6:30 p.m. (Live)

Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday Noon-2 p.m. (Live) / 9-9:30 p.m.
Friday Noon-2 p.m. (Live) / 9-9:30 p.m.
Saturday 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live) / 9-10 p.m.
Sunday 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live) / 9-10 p.m.

Broadcast Notes:
Woods returns to Arnold Palmer Invitational for first time since victory in 2013: An eight-time past champion at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger Woods is in the field this week making his first start at the event since his win in 2013. Woods is coming off a T-2nd finish at the Valspar Championship on Sunday.

Golf Channel’s on-site presence at Bay Hill: Both Golf Central and Morning Drive will have an on-site presence at Bay Hill Club & Lodge throughout the week, with the latest storylines and reaction as the tournament unfolds. Golf Channel also will showcase the tournament’s opening ceremony on Wednesday, live at 11 a.m. ET which will include players hitting tee shots from the driving range in a processional format to honor the tournament’s namesake, Arnold Palmer.

Lerner to celebrate Palmer’s legacy with commemorative feature elements: In further tribute to Arnold Palmer’s indelible imprint left on the game, Golf Channel host Rich Lerner will voice a handful of feature elements dedicated to the King. The pieces will focus on iconic impressions left by Palmer, including: owning your swing, going for broke, dress/fashion and autographs.

Leishman defends: Marc Leishman finished one shot ahead of Kevin Kisner and Charley Hoffman to claim his second PGA TOUR win.

Headlining the field: Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton, Henrik Stenson, Marc Leishman and Alex Noren.

Golf Channel/NBC Broadcast Team
- Play by Play: Dan Hicks / Rich Lerner (Weekend lead-in, Golf Channel)
- Analyst: Peter Jacobsen (Golf Channel) / Johnny Miller (NBC)
- Tower: Gary Koch / David Feherty / Steve Sands (Golf Channel)
- On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Notah Begay / Jim “Bones” Mackay
- Interviews: Steve Burkowski (Golf Channel) / Steve Sands (NBC)
- Essays: Jimmy Roberts

Golf Central Broadcast Team
- Host: Lisa Cornwell / Ryan Burr (early week); Kelly Tilghman / Rich Lerner
- Analyst: Mark Rolfing / Notah Begay / Tripp Isenhour / Tim Rosaforte (early week);
- Brandel Chamblee / David Duval / Frank Nobilo
- Reporter: Todd Lewis (early week) / Steve Burkowski

LPGA TOUR 

Bank of Hope Founders Cup
Dates: March 15-18
Venue: Wildfire Golf Club, Phoenix, Ariz.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)                                  
Thursday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Friday 6-9 p.m. (Live)          
Saturday 6-9 p.m. (Live) / 3-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 6-9 p.m. (Live) / 3-6 a.m. (Monday replay)

Golf Channel Broadcast Team
- Play by Play: Tom Abbott
- Analyst: Karen Stupples
- Tower: Jim Gallagher Jr.
- On Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill

Broadcast Notes:
Domestic schedule kicks off this week, building toward first major of 2018: The Bank of Hope Founders Cup signals the start of the LPGA domestic schedule for 2018, and also marks the first of three consecutive weeks of events on the LPGA Tour. The first major of the year in professional golf (ANA Inspiration) is just two weeks away, March 29-April 1.

Creamer making competitive return following injury layoff: Ten-time LPGA Tour winner Paula Creamer is set to make her return to competition this week following a six month injury layoff. Creamer underwent season-ending surgery on her wrist in October upon withdrawing from the Evian Championship.

Talley to be profiled in “Rookie Spotlight” on Friday: LPGA Tour rookie Emma Talley will be profiled during Friday’s second round coverage as part of Golf Channel’s “Rookie Spotlight” feature.
‘Founders Film’ airing on Sunday leading into final round: On Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, Golf Channel will showcase a film “The Founders – Birth of the LPGA,” a tribute to the 13 original founders of the LPGA. The film will lead into live final round coverage of the tournament, beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

Nordqvist defends: Anna Nordqvist finished two shots clear of In Gee Chun, Ariya Jutanugarn and Stacy Lewis to earn her seventh LPGA Tour win.

Headlining the field: Sung Hyun Park, Anna Nordqvist, Ariya Jutanugarn, In Gee Chun, Cristie Kerr, Lydia Ko, Jessica Korda, Brooke Henderson, Michelle Wie, Sei Young Kim and Inbee Park.