The Loop

Forward Press: TV times for Daly’s debut, Rory’s defense, NCAA Regionals and National Instruction Day

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It’s Rory’s month and we all hope to be living vicariously through him. At least, if you are one of the fans who wants to see McIlroy make a run at regaining his world No. 1 status, the next month or so figures to be all about the Northern Irishman.

While his month works around the same Irish Open that he hosts May 19-22, there are the tournaments he’s been less than thrilled to play in recent years (The Players, BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour). But McIlroy kicks off a busy month with his title defense in the Wells Fargo at Quail Hollow, where a third-round 61 helped him hold off Webb Simpson and Patrick Rodgers in 2015.

In recent years Quail Hollow has battled conditioning issues but appears to be all set to go:

Golf Channel airs live coverage of the golf from Quail Hollow from 4-7 PM ET Thursday and Friday, with weekend bonus coverage from 1-2:30 PM ET. CBS picks up the telecast time at noon until 3 PM ET.

John Daly Only Has To Survive 54 Holes These Days

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Unless it’s one of the fourteen senior majors, then he has to play four rounds of golf. But at events like the Insperity Invitation from the The Woodlands Country Club’s “Tournament Course,” Daly is only locked in to 54 holes. He debuts at a course that once hosted the Houston Open and is joined in the field by Colin Montgomerie, Kenny Perry, Tom Lehman, Fred Funk, Jay Haas, Mark O'Meara, Woody Austin, David Frost and John Cook.

The Insperity also will include highlights of a Saturday exhibition played by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino.

Golf Channel airs coverage on tape Friday from 7-10 PM ET, followed by live telecasts Saturday and Sunday from 5-7 PM ET. Those attending the event can get a Daly bobblehead Friday, according to Long John his ownself.

LPGA Heads To The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

The Yokohama Tire Invitational lands at RTJ Golf Trail’s Senator Course in Prattvile, Alabama.

Kris Tamulis defends her title against a field that includes struggling American stars Michelle Wie and Stacy Lewis, along with Morgan Pressel, Minjee Lee, Charley Hull, Cristie Kerr, Brooke Henderson, Hyo Joo Kim, Brittany Lincicome, So Yeon Ryu, Karrie Webb, and Cheyenne Woods.

Golf Channel is live each day, starting at 12:30 PM ET Thursday and Friday, followed by 3-5 PM windows Saturday and Sunday

Selection Show Madness!

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Well, not really, but it’s nice to see college golf getting a boost with Thursday’s Morning Drive 9:30 AM ET announcement of the NCAA Division I men’s golf tournament.

The regionals will sort out 81 qualifying teams, including 31 conference champions, 50 at-large berths and 45 individuals not on a qualifying team.

The announcement will sort out who the at-large berths are and will, at least to family and friends, tell us where the NCAA is sending teams to the six 54-hole regionals May 16-18.

The six regional sites are: Ol’ Colony Golf Complex in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (hosted by the University of Alabama), Gallery Golf Club, Marana, Arizona (University of Arizona), Blackwolf Run Meadow Valleys Course, Kohler, Wisconsin (Marquette University), Championship Course at University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico (University of New Mexico), Karsten Creek Golf Club, Stillwater, Oklahoma (Oklahoma State University) and Vanderbilt Legends Club, Franklin, Tennessee (Vanderbilt).

The finals are hosted by Eugene Country Club May 27 to June 1 and will not include defending invidual champion, Bryson DeChambeau, who left SMU early after his school was put on probation. The reigning U.S. Amateur champion turned pro the week after the Masters.

National Instruction Day, All Day

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The Golf Channel and PGA of America are getting serious about instruction to celebrate the PGA’s 100th birthday, going live all day Wednesday to ranges across the country to hear from the game’s great instructors. Coverage begins at 7 AM with co-hosts for National Instruction Day Blair O’Neal & Jeff Ritter kicking off the proceedings.

Highlights include Michael Breed, Lou Guzzi and Tom Henderson from Baltusrol (10-11 AM ET), Cameron McCormick, Tony Martinez and Randy Smith from Dallas’ Keeton Park Golf Course (2-3 PM ET), Stan Utley from Cog Hill (4-5 PM ET), Hank Haney from Fossil Trace Golf Club (7-8 PM ET) and David Leadbetter (8-9 PM ET) at TPC Harding Park.