"TEXAS SWING" WINDS DOWN IN LONE STAR STATE AT "HP BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP" ON CBS SPORTS, MAY 28-29

 

The PGA TOUR's "Texas Swing" winds down this weekend at the HP BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP, a tournament with one of the richest traditions in the game of golf, as CBS Sports broadcasts the third and final rounds on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET, both days), live from TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.

 

Defending champion Jason Day aims to become the first player to win back-to-back titles here since Tom Watson won three straight from 1978-80. This year's field includes 14 of the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings including Nick Watney, K.J. Choi, Rory Sabbatini and Gary Woodland.  Local favorite and former U.S. Junior Amateur Champion Jordan Spieth returns to compete on a Sponsor Exemption. Last year, at 16-years-old, he became the sixth youngest player in TOUR history to make a cut. Dallas resident and 2007 Byron Nelson winner Scott Verplank will be making his 25^th start at the tournament. In addition, the standout field includes last week's Colonial runner-up Charlie Wi, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Anthony Kim, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Charley Hoffman, Jeff Overton, Ricky Barnes, Brian Gay, Scott McCarron, Sean O'Hair, Brett Wetterich, Robert Allenby, D.A. Points, Rich Beem, Brian Davis, Justin Leonard, Michael Bradley, Steve Elkington, Tim Herron and Chez Reavie.

 

Jim Nantz, the 2009 and 2008 Emmy Award Winner for "Outstanding Sports Personality - Play-by-Play" and five-time National Sportscaster of the Year, now in his 26^th year at CBS Sports, serves as anchor of CBS Sports' golf coverage. Sir Nick Faldo, winner of six major championships and more than 40 tournaments worldwide, serves as lead analyst. Ian Baker-Finch calls the action at the 17^th hole and Gary McCord at the 16^th hole. Peter Kostis 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.

  

OFF THE TEE WITH GARY McCORD

 

(On TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas)

The HP Byron Nelson Championship is about ready to hoot and holler Texas style. That is, the wind should be blowing and that's what makes this track tough. The start on this golf course is very hard for the first three holes ending with a 528 yard par 4. It's one of the toughest driving courses on the TOUR because of the pop-and-fresh cross winds. TPC Four Seasons is a decent track helped along with a face lift a few years ago by Texan D.A. Weibring, who incorporated a lot of run-offs around the greens to create some angst for the players with a wedge in their hand.

 

(On His Favorites To Win)

Dustin Johnson:  Drives it longer and straighter than anyone, proven winner and has a good record here -- three times played and two Top 10's. It's time to quit falling asleep out there Dustin and start winning on a consistent level.

Rory Sabbatini:  He's turned into a model citizen the last couple of weeks after a few altercations with marshals and fellow players that led to speculation of a suspension. I have seen him rake the bunkers for other players, buy furniture for a house donated to a military family and generally displayed acts of passion and human decency. The heck with the fact he has already won $2.5 million this year.  I'm picking him because he's turned into a nice guy!

 

 The first tournament was played in 1944 at Lakewood Country Club where Byron Nelson won by 10 strokes.  His victory that year was the start of a two-year run in which the World Golf Hall of Famer won 26 tournaments, including his PGA TOUR record-streak of 11 consecutive wins in 1945. Nelson has had his name attached to this tournament since 1968.  He was a fixture at this event, greeting players on the first tee and watching from the porch behind the 18^th green where many of the players would stop after completing their round.

 

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2011 CBS GOLF  SCHEDULE

 

 

Broadcast Dates

And Times (PM, ET)                         Tournament                            Location         

 

May 28 (3:00-6:00 PM)                       HP Byron Nelson                   TPC Four Seasons Resort

May 29 (3:00-6:00 PM)                       Championship                       Irving, Texas

 

June 4 (3:00-6:00 PM)                         the Memorial Tournament    Muirfield Village Golf Club

June 5 (2:30-6:00 PM)                         presented by                           Dublin, Ohio

                                                            Nationwide Insurance

 

June 11 (3:00-6:00 PM)                       FedEx St. Jude Classic          TPC Southwind

June 12 (3:00-6:00 PM)                                                                       Memphis, Tenn.

  

June 25 (3:00-6:00 PM)                      Travelers                                 TPC River Highlands

June 26 (3:00-6:00 PM)                      Championship                       Cromwell, Conn.

                                                                                                           

July 2 (3:00-6:00 PM)                          AT&T National                      Aronimink Golf Club

July 3 (3:00-6:30 PM)                                                                          Newtown Square, Pa.

 

July 9 (3:00-6:00 PM)                      John Deere Classic                    TPC Deere Run

July 10 (3:00-6:00 PM)                                                                       Silvis, Ill.

 

July 23 (3:00-6:00 PM)                      RBC Canadian Open            Shaughnessy Golf and CC          

July 24 (3:00-6:00 PM)                                                                       Vancouver, British Columbia

 

July 30 (3:00-6:00 PM)                      The Greenbrier Classic           The Old White Course TPC

July 31 (3:00-6:00 PM)                                                                        White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.

 

Aug. 6 (2:00-6:00 PM)                       WGC-Bridgestone                   Firestone Country Club                    

Aug. 7 (2:00-6:00 PM)                        Invitational                              South Course

Akron, Ohio

 

Aug. 11 (12:37-1:07 AM)                   PGA Championship                 Atlanta Athletic Club

Aug. 12 (12:37-1:07 AM)                                                                    Johns Creek, Ga.

Aug. 13 (2:00-7:00 PM)                      

Aug. 14 (2:00-7:00 PM)

 

Aug. 20 (3:00-6:00 PM)                     Wyndham Championship        Sedgefield Country Club

Aug. 21 (3:00-6:00 PM)                                                                       Greensboro, N.C.

 

Aug. 27 (3:00-6:00 PM)                      The Barclays                         Plainfield Country Club

Aug. 28 (2:00-6:00 PM)                                                                      Edison, N.J.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robin Brendle

(212) 975-1533

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