The PGA always brings up the rear of the men’s major championship season. This year, though, the fourth and final major on the 2016 calendar seems even more of an afterthought, squeezed in as it is 11 days after the Phil and Henrik show at the British Open and two weeks before the Olympics.
PGA Championship 2016 live stream: How to watch Round 1 online
Jason Day’s sleepless in Springfield, Dustin Johnson’s restless for another major, Jordan Spieth wants to snap his major-less streak, and we wonder if new tourney favorite Rory McIlroy will be 3-wood-less before the PGA Championship is over.
Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Yes, a major win’s a major win (what would Tiger Woods give to be able to contend for that elusive 15th?), and — based on the Official World Golf Rankings — the field at Baltusrol this week is the most robust of any event in recent history.
But when Tiger’s protege and devout major planner, world No. 1 and defending champ Jason Day, played his first-ever 18 holes on the New Jersey track the day before the tourney kicked off, you know this is not your father’s PGA.
“I haven’t played a practice round, I haven’t seen the course, I don’t know what it looks like,” Day said on Wednesday before hitting the course for his only 18 holes ahead of the real thing. “I’m not coming into this week expecting a lot.”
Despite Day’s attempt to temper expectations, the PGA is the real thing, and the festivities begin bright and early Thursday morning. Unfortunately for those tied to their TVs, Day and playing partners Phil Mickelson and Rory will likely be finishing up their opening rounds by the time the sparkling personality that is Ernie Johnson begins his broadcasting duties for TNT at 1 p.m. ET. You will, however, be able to follow the marquee trio (8:30 a.m. tee time) all morning on PGA.com and on mobile via the PGA Championship app.
You may catch the three most recent major winners -- Danny Willett (Masters), Dustin Johnson (U.S. Open) and Henrik Stenson (Open Championship) -- on the tube, since they tee off at 1:45 p.m. And fortunately for those watching at home, Jim Nantz and many of his colleagues at CBS, which takes the baton from TNT for the weekend’s final two rounds, will offer their takes during the Thursday and Friday telecasts as well.
Here are all your media options for the opening round at Baltusrol:
Thursday’s first-round coverage
Television
1-7 p.m. -- TNT
Online streams
8:30 a.m - 7 p.m. -- Marquee groups on PGA.com and on mobile via PGA Championship app
- 8:30 a.m. -- Rory McIlroy / Phil Mickelson / Jason Day
- 9:30 a.m. -- Adam Scott / Keegan Bradley / Jamie Donaldson
1-7 p.m. -- TV simulcast stream on PGA.com and on mobile via PGA Championship app
Radio
Noon - 7 p.m. -- PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 92/208)
See More:
