Around the Tours: What to Watch for May 8-14

Let’s go around the tours and check out the TV schedule for this week in golf.

Around the tours it’s back to reality week, so to speak. We’re on the heels of GolfSixes on the European Tour and match play on the LPGA Tour. Two weeks ago we took in the first ever team tournament on the PGA Tour at the Zurich Classic.

Now it’s stroke play across the board as far as the eye can see in 2017 until the President’s Cup this fall. And that’s fine, because it’s major championship season! There’s still nothing like watching the best players duke it out over a good ‘ol 72-hole stretch.

Speaking of majors, we have the supposed “fifth major” in men’s golf this week at The PLAYERS Championship at the PGA Tour galactic headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

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I’ll save the lengthy debate about whether or not The PLAYERS is the fifth major (it’s not), but it’s hard to refute that it brings out one of the best fields all year. That’s a lot of fun however you slice it. I don’t think I’m on an island (green) in that opinion.

Likely not a coincidence, the global golf schedule is relatively thin in its wake. The LPGA, Ladies European Tour, PGA Tour Champions and Web.com Tour are all off. The European Tour is off to one of its lesser elevated tournaments, the Portugal Open, which was deemed unworthy of Golf Channel coverage.

Also on the Golf Channel this week are a new episode of Feherty, a couple classic golf films and plenty highlights from yesteryears at The PLAYERS.

All times Eastern. Channels are Golf Channel unless noted.

Monday, May 8

Around the Tours — May 5, 2017; Wilmington, NC, USA; Wells Fargo mini stage coaches adorn the tee boxes during the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament at Eagle Point Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

1:30 p.m. — Reair of the Wells Fargo Championship final round
9 p.m. — Feherty (replays throughout the week)

Host David Feherty jets out to Hawaii to sit down with one of the most longevous professional golfers in history, Hale Irwin. The three-time US Open champ dishes on how he’d change golf, his career and more.

Tuesday, May 9

Live From The PLAYERS — First airing of the week at 6 a.m.

Golf Channel is blowing out its coverage of The PLAYERS Championship with Live from The PLAYERS superseding Golf Central this week, airing at least three times per day starting Tuesday live from TPC Sawgrass.

Wednesday, May 10

8:30 p.m. — Golf’s Greatest Rounds: The 2016 PLAYERS

It’s déja vú as Golf Channel is re-airing the 2016 PLAYERS for the second week in a row. Just one day before the 2017 action begins, you can watch Jason Day at his peak storm the field at Sawgrass.

Thursday, May 11

7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. — PGA Tour, The PLAYERS Championship 1st round on PGA Tour Live (online subscription-based service)
1 p.m. – 7 p.m. — PGA Tour, The PLAYERS Championship 1st round (abbreviated replay at 9 p.m.)

Did I mention there’s blow-out coverage of The Players this week? Six hours of live golf replaces the usual three allotted for first- and second-round coverage on Golf Channel. Plenty of time to see just about every big name in golf tee it up on a famed Pete Dye a track.

Friday, May 12

7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. — PGA Tour, The PLAYERS Championship 2nd round on PGA Tour Live
1 p.m. – 7 p.m. — PGA Tour, The PLAYERS Championship 2nd round (abbreviated replay at 9 p.m.)

Saturday, May 13

8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. — PGA Tour, The PLAYERS Championship 3rd round on PGA Tour Live
2 p.m. – 7 p.m. — PGA Tour, The PLAYERS Championship 3rd round TV broadcast on NBC
2 p.m. — “The Legend of Baggar Vance”
4:30 p.m. — “The Greatest Game Ever Played”

Golf in the real world not cutting it for you? Escape from reality and settle in for a lazy afternoon with two classic golf films, one of them featuring the man pictured above.

Sunday, May 14

PGA Tour Live times TBD
2 p.m. – 7 p.m. — PGA Tour, The PLAYERS Championship 4th round TV broadcast on NBC

Strap in for Sunday Johnny Miller. He should be rearing to go after five weeks away from the mic.

Next: Back Woes: Tiger, Trevino, Zoeller, Mediate

So around the tours this week, The PLAYERS is just about the only game in town, but it’s big and loud enough to satisfy even the most enthusiastic golf fans.