2020 Colonial: Viewer’s guide, TV times, how to watch

Golf Channel and CBS face limitations in staffing as PGA Tour returns to competition with plan to minimize possibility of coronavirus infections

Golf fans will get their first look in three months at tournament play on the PGA Tour when the Charles Schwab Challenge tees off Thursday at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

In one of the first major sporting events since a nationwide shutdown from the coronavirus pandemic paused or ended sports seasons worldwide, the Tour will restart in north Texas with a stacked full-field event (tee times). The top five players in the Official World Golf Ranking – that’s Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson, in order – will be joined by Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Matthew Wolff, Phil Mickelson and many of golf’s other A-listers. Just about the only American star who won’t be playing is Tiger Woods, whose season restart remains unknown.

Though fans have been barred from attending at Colonial as the Tour tries to limit the possibility of exposure to the virus, golf fans will be treated to four days of action via their TVs or mobile devices with Golf Channel and CBS.

Calling the broadcast for CBS will be Jim Nantz, per usual, but counterpart Nick Faldo will be providing color commentary from Golf Channel studios in Orlando, Fla. In fact, the combined onsite broadcast teams have been cut in half. Joining Nantz in Texas will be on-course reporters Dottie Pepper and Mark Immelman, while fellow analysts Ian Baker-Finch and Frank Nobilo will provide commentary from Orlando. Reporter Amanda Balionis also will work remotely from her home.

Coverage windows follow (all times EDT):

Network	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Golf Channel (pregame)	Noon-4 p.m.	2-4 p.m.	11 a.m.-1 p.m.	11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Golf Channel	4-7 p.m.	4-7 p.m.	1-3 p.m.	1-3 p.m.
CBS			3-6 p.m.	3-6 p.m.

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