ESPN promises to not steal Masters spotlight

By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune

Last update: April 9, 2008 - 12:30 AM

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TODAY ON ESPN

Par 3 Contest, 2-4 p.m.

For the first time, the Masters is allowing its traditional day-before competition to be shown on TV. It is played on Augusta National's separate nine-hole course and gives golfers a chance to relax a bit before the tournament starts.

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The Masters always will be seen as a prim and proper event, but it appears the folks that run the show at Augusta National have at least loosened the top button on their collars.

The latest example is the inclusion of ESPN as the tournament's new cable partner. The all-sports network, which outbid USA Network for the rights, will carry the first two rounds Thursday and Friday (3 to 6 p.m.) and has been given clearance to air the tournament's famed Par 3 contest from 2 to 4 p.m. today. That event, which started in 1960, has never been televised.

The relationship between the Masters and ESPN seems a bit odd, given the former's preference for reverence and the latter's tendency to embrace big and loud productions. But that isn't going to be an issue according to ESPN executive vice president John Wildhack.

"This is about the Masters tournament," he said. "It's exciting and a privilege to televise it and never our intent to say, 'How do we inject ESPN?' It's not. All you have to do is present it."

And that presentation is largely going to feel like a CBS production. CBS, which is entering its 53rd year of airing the Masters and will have live coverage Saturday and Sunday, is in charge of producing all four rounds. Its announcers also will be part of what viewers see on ESPN.

The ESPN personality with a significant presence on Thursday and Friday will be Mike Tirico, who will host the opening two days and also today's Par 3 contest. Not included in the mix is longtime ESPN personality Chris Berman. On the surface, Berman's absence doesn't appear to be an accident.

Masters officials -- and second-year Augusta chairman Billy Payne in particular -- might be willing to include ESPN but Berman's loud antics likely were seen to be a bit much. It's not that Berman doesn't have golf experience; he has worked on ESPN's coverage of the U.S. Open.

Not surprisingly, Wildhack attempted to downplay Berman's exclusion.

"Mike has called over 10 British Open championships on ABC, he was our lead golf host for PGA Tour coverage on ESPN and ABC and he's done the U.S. Open," Wildhack said. "April is a busy time for Chris as he prepares for the NFL draft. I know that Mike is very, very excited and will do just a wonderful job as host."

Tirico, who also calls "Monday Night Football" for ESPN, said the person whose voice you hear on the Masters should be secondary.

"The Masters is the Masters," he said. "You're tuning in to see the golf. It's not about the people broadcasting it. We appreciate the interest level that is drummed up by our presence at Augusta National and this new relationship, but you turn on the TV to watch the Masters, not the person describing the action."

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