Tiger Woods Tees Off at 4:09 AM ET Thursday and You Won't See It

Tiger Woods is set to tee off at 9:09 AM local time Thursday morning, which is fine if you live in Scotland. If you're on the East Coast of the United States, however, it's a little more problematic: it will be 4:09 AM ET. Since TNT doesn't begin their television coverage until three hours later, you won't be able to watch Tiger's opening round in its entirety, but for most of us, that's not an issue.

Even if TNT went on the air when the first group (Paul Broadhusrt, Michael Campbell and Mark Calcavecchia!) goes off at 1:30 AM ET, there's no way I'd watch. Same holds for Tiger when he tees off two-and-a-half hours later (although I would fire up the DVR just in case). But there are some folks who might be interested in seeing the world's best player in one of the most important tournaments of the year, even if it meant setting the alarm clock.

I suppose the "You only show Tiger!" faction would have more ammunition for their argument, but it's not like networks try to hide the fact that Woods means ratings, even if the handful of people who'd prefer to watch, say, Billy Mayfair might be inconvenienced. On the other hand, there are plenty of hardcore golf nuts who would be willing to get up a couple hours before work to see Tiger's round.

I'm sure there are legal issues, and maybe the BBC has television rights that TNT or ABC doesn't, but assuming they don't, what's the downside to showing live golf at 4 AM on a Thursday morning? The only thing I can come up with: it's 4 AM on Thursday morning. There's not much drama during the first round of any tournament, even one that features Woods.

That said, I regularly got up at 2 AM to watch the 2002 World Cup, which was played a half a world away in South Korea. Those matches carried much more weight than 18 holes of Thursday golf, and I feel confident in writing that soccer is approximately a billion times more popular.

For now, those fans pining to watch Woods' every shot will have to wait. Just like they do at the Masters, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship when he's on the course before the network carrying the event is on the air. On the upside, when TNT fires up their British Open coverage, it will be live, even if Tiger is already more than nine holes into his round.

That's more than NBC can say about Wimbledon.

Latest British Open Photos

HONG KONG July 15, 2009 (AFP) - AFP photo coverage advisory Tel: (852) 2829 6206 Duty editor: Laurent --ASIA-- URUMQI, China: Situation as develops PAKISTAN: Continued military operation against Taliban militants AFGHANISTAN: US military troop increase as available TOKYO: Political situation as develops JAKARTA: Political developments following vote in presidential elections SYDNEY: Visit by former US vice-president Al Gore --MIDEAST-- BAGHDAD: Situation as develops TEHRAN: Developments as available SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: Two-day Non-Aligned Movement summit begins ABU DHABI: US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner visits BEIRUT: Russia's deputy foreign minister and special envoy for the Middle East peace process, Alexander Sultanov, visits --EUROPE-- THE HAGUE: Former Liberian president Charles Taylor stands trial STRASBOURG: The new European parliament holds the first plenary session of its five-year term --AFRICA-- --AMERICAS-- HONDURAS: Situation following coup d'etat PERU: Second hearing of ex-president Alberto Fujimoris trial on corruption charges COSTA RICA: Visit of Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli BUENOS AIRES: South American health ministers meet to discuss swine flu WASHINGTON: Hearings for Sonia Sotomayor to be an associate judge of the US Supreme Court WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a foreign policy address KENNEDY SPACE CENTER: Launch of US space shuttle Endeavour, as develops HAWAII: Visit by Japanese Emperor Akihito --SPORTS-- FIELD HOCKEY: Women's Champions Trophy hockey in Sydney CYCLING: Tour de France GOLF: Build-up to the British Open TENNIS: ATP at Bastad and Stuttgart; WTA at Palermo and Prague Your opinion matters - Online customer satisfaction survey Click here to win one of 50 copies of the AFP Yearbook for 2009. http://www.sphinxonline.net/afpmarketing/photo2008/start.htm (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Japanese golfer Ryo Ishikawa prepares to putt on the green of the 9th hole during a practice round, on July 14, 2009, ahead of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, which begins July 16. AFP PHOTO/Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Japanese golfer Ryo Ishikawa plays out of the rough on the 9th hole during a practice round, on July 14, 2009, ahead of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, which begins July 16. AFP PHOTO/Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Kenny Perry of the United States gestures during a press conference during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Rebecca Naden, PA) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE **

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan takes a shot during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan prepares a shot during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Padraig Harrington of Ireland, right, signs autographs for fans during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Padraig Harrington of Ireland putts on the 15th green, as Ailsa Craig Island is seen in the background, during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan takes a shot from the 16th tee during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-15-2009 @ 8:31AM

Paskulo said...

(1) Golf is not a sport.
(2) Golfers are not athletes.
(3) Eldrick Woods is not black.

7-15-2009 @ 10:36AM

tmast691 said...

dude, don't you have anything better to do?
every story about golf or tiger has your asshat signature on it. Go away troll.

7-14-2009 @ 9:03PM

Matt said...

This is a crazy idea but maybe one day we'll be able to get around lack of TV coverage by watching on our computer.

Nah....never happen.

http://www.pga.com/openchampionship/2009/

7-14-2009 @ 10:14PM

ryan said...

Holy Moses. That's what I get for letting Bacon talk me into writing this.

7-14-2009 @ 10:16PM

Which can only mean one thing. He owes us all a live blog on Sunday.

7-15-2009 @ 8:00AM

Matt,

Done and done.

/feels quite confident speaking for Bacon

7-14-2009 @ 9:51PM

msmed71796 said...

I'm pretty sure TNT will show most of Tiger's shots (on delay of course) if not all of them when they come on the air at 7am. Would be shocked if you didn't see most of Tiger's round. They after all have 12 hours to fill I do believe.

7-15-2009 @ 9:59AM

claytor said...

Oh noes! How will fairweather golf fans ever deal?!?!?

A sport thats been around for hundreds of years cannot exist without Tiger!

/makes jerking motion