Memorial Tournament 2018: Time, TV schedule for Tiger Woods and the field on Thursday

Tiger Woods is back on the PGA Tour and playing one of the circuit’s marquee events on Thursday. After a three-year hiatus, Woods returns to the Memorial Tournament, Jack Nicklaus’ little party held in his hometown of Columbus and at the course he built, Muirfield Village. Woods has won this event five times. It’s a dominant record but not as dominant as his career at several other venues like Firestone, Torrey Pines, and Bay Hill. If you combine Firestone and Muirfield Village, Tiger has bagged 13 total wins in the state of Ohio. That’s a career that about 95 percent of players would kill for these days.

Woods will get it going early on Thursday, playing with Justin Rose and Jason Dufner just before 8:30 a.m. ET. This is a mostly second-shot golf course, which could suit Woods’ strengths so far in this remarkable comeback season. His irons and distance control have been mostly dialed in, save for a couple off events. That’s been the strength of his career and it’s returning to form this year.

Tiger’s entire round on Thursday, barring any weather delays, will fall outside the TV coverage window. Golf Channel will go live on the air at 2:30 p.m. ET, which is a good five hours after Woods tees off in Columbus. There’s an off chance we get a weather delay and his round pushes into the TV window, but the forecast looks shakier for the afternoon compared to the morning wave.

So if you’re trying to get a Tiger fix, TV is not your option. He will play, however, in PGA Tour Live featured groups stream on Thursday morning. That requires a subscription to the Tour’s OTT service but there could be a workaround. Those streams are now simulcast on ESPN+, which added it to their inventory as that OTT attempt gets off the ground. ESPN+ is offering a free seven-day trial. So there’s your opportunity, if you need an immediate Tiger fix, to watch for free on Thursday morning. He will be back in the TV window playing in the late wave on Friday afternoon.

Here’s your full coverage schedule for Thursday at the Memorial Tournament:

2:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET — Golf Channel

7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET — PGA Tour Live starts with coverage from range and opening holes

• ESPN+ also now has simulcast of the PGA Tour Live coverage

• 7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. ET — Free PGA Tour live stream on Twitter

Featured Groups (PGA Tour Live or ESPN+ subscription required)

3 to 6:30 p.m. ET — PGA Tour Live featured holes Nos. 14 and 16 coverage (No subscription required)

2:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET — Golf Channel simulcast stream

12 to 6:30 p.m. ET — PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 92/208 and streamed here)