I don’t know who is responsible for determining the TV schedule for coverage of the Masters golf tournament — CBS, Augusta National or both.

Whoever it is, for golf’s first major (of 4) of the year, the TV schedule really sucks.

Thursday, April 5: 4pm to 7pm on USA (TSN in Canada)
Friday, April 6: 4pm to 7pm on USA (TSN in Canada)
Saturday, April 7: 3:30pm to 7pm on CBS
Sunday, April 8: 2:30pm to 7pm on CBS

Only 3 hours on Thursday and Friday when the entire field is playing.  Not starting until 3:30pm on Saturday.  Come on?!?!

Yesterday being Good Friday made matters worse as I was home from work and could have watched the tournament all day.  I’m sure I wasn’t the only golf fanatic that wanted to watch, but couldn’t.  Instead, I had to watch the Golf Channel telling me, rather than showing me, what was happening.

I even tried to watch CBS’ live feed of Amen Corner on the web, but was informed its not available outside of the US. Why the hell not?  Isn’t the Internet borderless?

The Masters does not need to worry about people watching the tournament on TV instead of buying tickets.

The patron list for tickets to the Thursday to Sunday rounds has been closed for 35 years, since 1972.  A waiting list began in 1972 and was closed in 1978.  The waiting list re-opened briefly in 2000, but is now closed.

The Masters does not need to worry about selling tickets and millions of people want to watch every shot.

Why not do a deal with the Golf Channel, like the PGA Tour did this year and let them provide early coverage each day before CBS / USA takes over?  I’m sure the Golf Channel would do it in a heart beat.  They’re already broadcasting from and about Augusta basically all day, all week, they are just not able to show any actual golf.

Or why not just broadcast the entire tournament, from first tee time to final putt, on the Internet?