After practice rounds and the Par 3 Contest, the 2013 Masters Golf Tournament opens on Thursday, with coverage available both on television and online. But as is tradition at Augusta National, the hours of coverage will be limited and no, you won't be able to watch the first round of Tiger Woods.
Chairman Billy Payne talked about the tradition of trolling golf fans and casual observers alike at his press conference on Wednesday, reiterating Augusta National's policy towards limited coverage (via ASAP Sports):
We have through time expanded a little bit, and you know, we know everybody wants more. And we know we're at the beginning of what digital platforms can do for you in terms of having your own control over the experience, and we are right in the middle of all that trying to learn. But you know, I think it's fair to say that one of the tenets that we hold to most dearly is that, you know, it is limited. And I think because it is, it makes it a little more special.
Technically, television coverage will start at 11 a.m. ET with "Live Masters - On The Range" on CBS Sports Network. So tune in there if you want to see golfers hit practice shots.
ESPN will then carry the broadcast the first round with live coverage running from 3 to 7:30 p.m. The broadcast will also be available on ESPN 3D from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. ESPN will then also replay the first round beginning at 8 p.m. while CBS will air a highlight show from 11:30 to 11:45 p.m.
Some coverage will be available online with multiple streams. Masters.com will feature a live stream of Amen Corner from 10:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Live streams of holes No. 15 and No. 16 will run from 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. while streams of the two featured groups will run from noon to 7:30 p.m. There will also be additional coverage and highlights available from 3 to 7:30 p.m
Here is a look at the first round schedule and coverage.
Television coverage:
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: "Live Masters - On The Range" on CBS Sports Network
3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Live Coverage on ESPN
4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Live 3D coverage on ESPN 3D
8 p.m. - 11 p.m.: Replay of the telecast on ESPN
11:30 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.: Highlights show on CBS
Online streams via Masters.com:
10:45 a.m - 6 p.m.: Live coverage of Amen Corner
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Masters - On The Range
11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m.: Live coverage of holes No. 15 and No. 16
12 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Live coverage of featured group one and featured group two
3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Masters In-Depth video coverage and highlights
More Masters from SB Nation:
• Does Tiger need a green jacket to be "back"?
• Cute kid gifs, holes-in-one highlight Par 3 Contest
• Arnold Palmer is still cooler than you
• Masters picks and predictions
• How all 94 players earned entry into the most exclusive major in golf
• Bubba breaks down at his Masters press conference