Golf Channel will kick off the 2009 PGA Tour season in Hawaii with the Mercedes-Benz Championship - produced for the first time in high definition - Thursday-Sunday (Jan. 8-11) at 6 p.m. ET.

The network will introduce several live tournament production elements to the telecast, combining the assets and resources of TrackMan, Virtual Eye, Vistas Unlimited's virtual graphics and Golf Channel's proprietary Mutual of Omaha Putting Line powered by AimPoint technology.

Golf Channel's announcing team will include play-by-play host Kelly Tilghman and analysts Nick Faldo and Mark Rolfing in the broadcast booth. Frank Nobilo will call the action from the tower with Jerry Foltz and Billy Ray Brown reporting from the course. Steve Sands will conduct post round interviews and show host Rich Lerner will set the scene for viewers at the beginning of the telecasts and also will conduct player interviews. The telecasts will re-air Thursday at 11:30 p.m. ET and Friday - Sunday at 11 p.m. ET.

PGA Tour Opening Drive (Special Presentation)
Thursday (Jan. 8) at 3 p.m. ET, GOLF CHANNEL will deliver to viewers all of the color and pageantry of the Opening Drive Ceremonies at the Mercedes-Benz Championship with PGA TOUR Opening Drive, serving as the official kickoff for the 2009 PGA TOUR season. The half-hour special will include Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open champion Marc Turnesa hitting the first official shot of the 2009 season. GOLF CHANNEL analysts and personalities will speak with the pros as they prepare to start their season.

Golf Central
Golf Central will move to a permanent timeslot in 2009, airing live at 6 p.m. ET, followed by a second live show immediately following prime-time tournament coverage Thursday - Sunday. Monday - Wednesday (Jan. 5-7) at 6 p.m. ET, Golf Central will preview the 2009 golf season and the Mercedes-Benz Championship from the network's Orlando studios and on-site at Kapalua. Thursday - Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET, Steve Sands and Frank Nobilo will host Golf Central on-site from Kapalua to break down all of the action from the Mercedes-Benz Championship and the Joburg Open on the European Tour. Sunday at 10 p.m. ET, Sands and Nobilo will host an hour-long newscast live from Kapalua to recap all of the action with interviews, features and analysis.

Golf Central Pre Game
Thursday (Jan. 8), at 4 p.m. ET, Golf Central Pre Game will prepare viewers for live, opening round coverage at the Mercedes-Benz Championship with interviews and features, hosted by Vince Cellini, Kraig Kann and Brandel Chamblee from Orlando, joined by the network's team of analysts and reporters at Kapalua. Steve Sands and Frank Nobilo will host Golf Central Pre Game Friday - Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET at Kapalua, leading up to live tournament coverage.

The Grey Goose 19th Hole (Premiere)
The Grey Goose 19th Hole will debut a new set during its season premiere, Wednesday (Jan. 7) at 8 p.m. ET. Vince Cellini and Golf World senior writer John Hawkins will debate the hot topics in golf on the network's popular opinion-based series.

Immediately following Golf Central on Thursday, (Jan. 8), at 11 p.m. ET, Rich Lerner and Golf Channel insider Tim Rosaforte will host a special Grey Goose 19th Hole live from the Mercedes-Benz Championship, serving as a continuation of the network's coverage kicking off the 2009 PGA TOUR season.

The Approach with Callaway Golf (Premiere)
Alex 'Stat Man' Miceli and Andrew 'The Player' Magee will attack all of the hot topics in the world of golf and, more importantly, each other, when The Approach with Callaway Golf makes its season premiere on Tuesday (Jan. 6) at 8 p.m. ET. The panelists will tackle the issues from different perspectives and will break down tournaments in an entertaining and informative manner. GOLF CHANNEL's Kraig Kann will serve as host and moderator.

Inside the PGA TOUR (Premiere)
Tuesday (Jan. 6) at 7:30 p.m. ET, Inside the PGA TOUR will premiere for 2009, giving viewers an insider's look into start of the 2009 PGA TOUR season at the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua.

For more information, please contact Jeremy Friedman at 407-355-4058, or jfriedman@golfchannel.com.