Valspar Championship 2018: Time, TV schedule for Tiger Woods on Friday

Tiger Woods blessed the Valspar Championship exactly one week ago and this weekend, he may take it to another level. The Valspar has worked hard to improve its once lower-tier status, but it’s come together this week in a way that perhaps even their own organizers could have never envisioned. They’ve got Tiger Woods in the field, playing in Tampa for the first time in 22 years. And they have Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth getting some pre-Masters reps among a vastly improved field on a Copperhead Course that’s carved out a loyal following.

Tiger, however, is the main show. He’s always the main show and completely changes the dynamic of an event when he enters it. He’s the rainmaker and the biggest draw in the history of the game. For years, the entire PGA Tour season schedule could be separated into two categories: Tiger tourneys, and everything else. The Tampa stop was never a Tiger tourney, but the Cat needs reps before the Masters. He wasn’t qualified for the two WGCs this month, and he never plays the week right before the Masters. So Tampa got the nod, along with next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, which we always expected him to patronize.

So Tiger is not only make playing in Tampa, but playing well. It could get wild this weekend. Tiger will tee off alongside Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson at 7:56 a.m. ET on Friday. He starts the second round inside the damn top 10, tied for eighth at 1-under. Only a handful of players were in red numbers after Thursday’s first round, and Tiger was one of them. Spieth and Stenson both struggled in the windy and tough conditions, while Tiger’s positive comeback trend continued.

The bad news for Tiger watchers is that his round is so early that it won’t fall within the TV window. That window will be dedicated to the afternoon wave at the Valspar, which includes Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy. The good news is that Tiger’s entire round will be streamed on PGA Tour Live during their morning featured groups coverage. That’s an OTT subscription service, so you’ll need to put down some money or find a way in if you don’t have an account. But if you’re a golf geek, it’s worth a one-month trial for Tiger this week, Tiger next week, and the WGC match play the following week.

Here are your coverage options for Friday’s round in Tampa:

2 to 6 p.m. ET — Golf Channel

6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. -- PGA Tour Live starts with coverage from range and opening holes

• 6:45 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. — Free PGA Tour live stream on Twitter

Featured Groups (PGA Tour Live subscription required)

3 to 6 p.m. -- PGA Tour Live featured holes Nos. 15 and 17 coverage (No subscription required)

2 to 6 p.m. -- Golf Channel simulcast stream

12 to 6 p.m. — PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 92/208 and streamed here)