Two Golf Notes

A couple of golf notes for you this weekend. First from CBS Sports, it will carry the final two rounds of the Texas Open this weekend, the start of the Texas Swing for the PGA Tour.

ZACH JOHNSON LOOKS TO LASSO THIRD STRAIGHT “TEXAS OPEN” AS PGA TOUR TEES OFF IN LONE STAR STATE ON CBS SPORTS MAY 15-16

CBS Sports’ golf coverage moves to Texas for the first of three consecutive tournaments beginning this weekend with the TEXAS OPEN.  This year, the TEXAS OPEN moves to the new TPC San Antonio AT&T Oaks Course where CBS Sports covers all the action on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET; both days), live on the CBS Television Network.

Jim Nantz, the 2009 Emmy Award Winner for “Outstanding Sports Personality – Play-by-Play” and 2009 National Sportscaster of the Year, serves as anchor of CBS Sports’ golf coverage. Ian Baker- Finch joins Nantz in the 18^th hole tower. Gary McCord calls the action at the 17^th hole and Peter Kostis at the 16^th hole. David Feherty serves as on-course reporter. Lance Barrow is Coordinating Producer and Steve Milton is Director of CBS Sports’ golf coverage.  Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

Two-time defending champion Zach Johnson looks for his third straight win at the Valero Texas Open  as he takes on a strong field that includes Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, David Duval, Justin Leonard, Adam Scott, Chad Campbell, Steven Ames, J.B. Holmes, Aaron Bawdily, Rocco Mediate,  James Driscoll, Paul Gods, Charlie Wig, Charley Hoffman, Kirk Triplett, Chris Dim Arco, Tim Herron, Tom Penrice, Jr. and John Daly.  

Last year Johnson was 15-under at the end of regulation and tied with Driscoll.  Johnson birdied the first playoff hole for the win.  He will be shooting to become only the second player in the tournament’s history to win three straight years since Arnold Palmer did from 1960 to 1962. Ells, a two-time winner this season and first in the FedEx Cup standings, is playing in his first Texas Open.  Garcia is serving in two capacities, player and course consultant on the Texas Open’s new home. Leonard, a Texas native, has won this tournament three times and finished second twice.   The Texas Open is the third-oldest event on the PGA TOUR (1922) and is the longest-running event held in the same city.

And a programming note for the Golf Channel after the break.

Golf Channel has an interview Sunday with famed swing coach Hank Haney on why he chose to leave Tiger Woods. Of course, Hank is a part of Golf Channel programming so this is not surprising that he chose to do this interview here.

Golf Channel Exclusive with Hank Haney to Air On Golf Central, Sunday, 6 PM ET

Jim Gray Sits with Tiger Woods’ Former Swing Coach at His Dallas Home

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 13, 2010) – Close on the heels of his voluntary separation from Tiger Woods, swing coach Hank Haney sits with Golf Channel Correspondent Jim Gray for his first on-camera interview, which will air Sunday as part of an extended presentation of Golf Central.

During the interview, Haney talks at length about topics the news media and the public, at large, have been demanding answers to since Woods’ infamous car crash last November, including his role as part of Woods’ inner circle, Woods’ treatment for addiction and his rumored use of performance enhancing drugs, among other topics.

Portions of the interview currently can be viewed at www.GolfChannel.com.  Sunday’s telecast of Golf Central will begin at 6 p.m. ET, following Golf Channel’s live, final round coverage of the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.

That’s it.