Hey there, golf enthusiasts! Are you ready to dive into the excitement of the Charles Schwab Challenge? Even though the 2023 tournament has already concluded (it took place from May 25-28, 2023), understanding how to watch major PGA Tour events is always a valuable skill for any golf fan. Whether you missed it and want to catch up on highlights, or you're planning for future tournaments, this comprehensive guide will walk you through all the steps to ensure you never miss a moment of the action.
The Charles Schwab Challenge is a prestigious event on the PGA Tour calendar, held annually at the historic Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Known for its challenging course and rich history, it always delivers thrilling finishes. For 2023, Emiliano Grillo emerged as the champion after a dramatic playoff!
Let's break down how you could have watched (or can watch similar future events) the Charles Schwab Challenge 2023, with a focus on both traditional TV and various streaming options.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Watching the Charles Schwab Challenge 2023
How To Watch Charles Schwab Challenge 2023 |
Step 1: Determine Your Viewing Preference: Live TV or Streaming?
First things first, how do you prefer to consume your golf? Are you a traditionalist who enjoys the comfort of live television broadcasts, or do you lean towards the flexibility and on-demand nature of streaming services? This crucial decision will guide your next steps.
- Traditional TV Broadcasts: If you have a cable or satellite TV subscription, this is often the most straightforward option.
- Streaming Services: If you've cut the cord or prefer to watch on the go, streaming services offer a fantastic alternative.
Step 2: Identify the Official Broadcasters and Streaming Partners
For major PGA Tour events like the Charles Schwab Challenge, there are specific channels and platforms that hold the official broadcasting rights. For the 2023 tournament, these were:
QuickTip: Keep a notepad handy.
-
Television:
- Golf Channel: Provided coverage for the early rounds and portions of the weekend.
- CBS: Carried the main broadcast for the weekend rounds (Saturday and Sunday afternoons).
-
Streaming:
- ESPN+ (PGA TOUR LIVE): This was the primary hub for comprehensive streaming coverage, offering the main feed, marquee groups, featured groups, and featured holes throughout all four days of the tournament.
- Paramount+: Since CBS holds broadcast rights, Paramount+ (CBS's streaming service) also offered live streaming of the CBS portions of the tournament.
- Peacock: NBC Sports often has streaming rights, and Peacock might have offered coverage, particularly for Golf Channel portions.
Step 3: Accessing Live TV Coverage
If you opted for traditional TV, here's what you needed to do:
Sub-heading: Tuning into Golf Channel
- Check your TV schedule: Consult your local cable or satellite TV guide for the exact broadcast times for the Charles Schwab Challenge 2023 on Golf Channel.
- Tune in: Simply navigate to the Golf Channel on your television during the scheduled times. For 2023, Golf Channel typically covered:
- Thursday, May 25: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET
- Friday, May 26: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET
- Saturday, May 27: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
- Sunday, May 28: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Sub-heading: Catching the Action on CBS
- Switch to CBS: For the weekend's peak action, you'd switch to your local CBS affiliate.
- Know the times: CBS typically had the coverage during these windows for 2023:
- Saturday, May 27: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
- Sunday, May 28: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
Step 4: Exploring Streaming Options (for 2023 and Future Events)
For those who prefer to stream, this is where the real flexibility comes in.
Sub-heading: ESPN+ (PGA TOUR LIVE) - Your Ultimate Golf Streaming Hub
- Subscription Required: ESPN+ is a subscription service. If you didn't have it, you'd need to sign up. It offers a monthly or annual subscription.
- Accessing PGA TOUR LIVE: Once subscribed, you can access PGA TOUR LIVE through the ESPN app or ESPN.com. This platform provides:
- Main Feed: Primary tournament coverage.
- Marquee Group: Follow every shot from a select group of top players.
- Featured Groups: Coverage of two concurrent groups.
- Featured Holes: Focus on key holes on the course.
- Extensive Coverage: For the Charles Schwab Challenge 2023, PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ generally offered coverage from 8:00 AM ET until the end of play each day, providing a much broader viewing window than traditional TV.
Sub-heading: Paramount+ for CBS Coverage
- Subscription to Paramount+: If you wanted to stream the CBS portions of the tournament, a Paramount+ subscription (particularly the "Paramount+ with Showtime" plan) would grant you access to your local CBS live feed.
- Seamless Transition: This is a great option for seamlessly transitioning from early-day ESPN+ coverage to the afternoon's main broadcast on CBS without needing a cable TV subscription.
Sub-heading: Other Live TV Streaming Services (Cord-Cutters' Choice)
If you've cut the cord but still want live TV channels, several streaming services include Golf Channel and CBS in their packages. These often come with free trials, so you could have signed up for a trial to watch the Charles Schwab Challenge 2023. Popular options include:
- Hulu + Live TV: Often includes ESPN+, Golf Channel, and CBS.
- fuboTV: Known for its sports coverage, it typically includes Golf Channel and CBS.
- YouTube TV: Another comprehensive live TV streaming service that usually carries Golf Channel and CBS.
- Sling TV: You might need the "Sling Blue" package and potentially an "Sports Extra" add-on for Golf Channel. However, Sling TV does not typically offer CBS, so you'd need another solution for those weekend broadcasts (like Paramount+).
Step 5: Checking Tee Times and Daily Schedules
No matter how you're watching, knowing the tee times and daily broadcast schedules is essential.
QuickTip: Stop scrolling fast, start reading slow.
- PGA TOUR Official Website: The official PGA TOUR website (PGATOUR.com) is the best resource for updated tee times, pairings, and detailed broadcast schedules for each round.
- Sports News Websites: Major sports news outlets (ESPN, Golf Channel, NBC Sports, Yahoo Sports, etc.) also publish daily schedules and tee times leading up to and during the tournament.
Step 6: Enjoy the Golf!
Once you've set up your preferred viewing method, sit back, relax, and enjoy the world-class golf action from Colonial Country Club! Remember, even though the 2023 tournament is over, these methods apply to most PGA Tour events.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to watch PGA Tour events online?
You can primarily watch PGA Tour events online through ESPN+ (PGA TOUR LIVE), which offers extensive live coverage, including main feeds, featured groups, and featured holes. Other live TV streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, and YouTube TV also carry channels broadcasting PGA Tour events.
How to get PGA TOUR LIVE?
PGA TOUR LIVE is exclusively available through an ESPN+ subscription. You can purchase an ESPN+ subscription directly from their website or through the ESPN app.
How to watch the Charles Schwab Challenge for free?
Watching the entire Charles Schwab Challenge for free legally is generally not possible as it requires subscriptions to various services. However, you could potentially utilize free trials offered by live TV streaming services (like Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV, or Paramount+) during the tournament dates.
QuickTip: Slow down when you hit numbers or data.
How to watch Charles Schwab Challenge without cable?
To watch the Charles Schwab Challenge without cable, you can subscribe to streaming services like ESPN+, Paramount+, or live TV streaming services that include Golf Channel and CBS, such as Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, or YouTube TV.
How to find the Charles Schwab Challenge TV schedule?
The TV schedule for the Charles Schwab Challenge can be found on the official PGA TOUR website (PGATOUR.com), major sports news websites (e.g., ESPN, Golf Channel, NBC Sports), and through the program guides of your live TV streaming service or cable/satellite provider.
How to stream Charles Schwab Challenge on my smart TV?
To stream the Charles Schwab Challenge on your smart TV, download the ESPN app (for PGA TOUR LIVE via ESPN+) or the app for your chosen live TV streaming service (e.g., Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Paramount+) from your smart TV's app store, then log in with your subscription credentials.
How to watch Charles Schwab Challenge highlights?
After the tournament, highlights for the Charles Schwab Challenge are usually available on the official PGA TOUR website (PGATOUR.com), the PGA Tour's YouTube channel, and sports news websites like ESPN.
Tip: Read the whole thing before forming an opinion.
How to watch past Charles Schwab Challenge tournaments?
Past Charles Schwab Challenge tournaments, including the 2023 event, might have full replays or extensive highlights available in the archives section of PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+. Additionally, you can often find highlight packages on the PGA Tour's official YouTube channel.
How to know the Charles Schwab Challenge tee times?
The tee times for each round of the Charles Schwab Challenge are released closer to the event days and can be found on the official PGA TOUR website (PGATOUR.com), as well as on various golf news websites that cover the PGA Tour.
How to listen to Charles Schwab Challenge radio coverage?
The Charles Schwab Challenge, like other PGA Tour events, typically offers radio coverage through PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and often through a free live audio stream available on