How to Watch Byron Nelson: Step-by-Step Guide
The AT&T Byron Nelson airs live on Golf Channel and CBS, with additional streaming coverage on ESPN+ and PGA Tour Live. If you have cable or a live TV streaming service that includes these channels, you’re set. If not, you can watch via a free trial from DIRECTV STREAM or other services.
Quick Answer
- Event: AT&T Byron Nelson (PGA Tour)
- Course: TPC Craig Ranch (McKinney, Texas)
- TV channels: Golf Channel (Thursday–Friday, early Saturday–Sunday) and CBS (Saturday–Sunday afternoon)
- Streaming: ESPN+ (early-round featured groups), PGA Tour Live (full coverage), plus channel-specific apps (Golf Channel, CBS Sports) with a valid login
- Dates: Typically mid-May (check current year’s schedule)
- Time zone: All times listed are Eastern; adjust for your local zone
If you don’t have cable, services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM carry both Golf Channel and CBS. DIRECTV STREAM offers a 5-day free trial—enough to watch the entire tournament.
Tools and Prerequisites
| Requirement | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cable or live TV streaming subscription | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, Sling Orange + Sports Extra |
| Device | Smart TV, phone/tablet, computer, streaming stick (Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV) |
| Internet connection | Minimum 10 Mbps for HD streaming |
| PGA Tour Live subscription (optional) | $9.99/month or $99.99/year; includes all early-round coverage and featured groups |
| ESPN+ subscription (optional) | $10.99/month or $109.99/year; streams early-round featured groups Thursday–Friday |
You do not need a separate subscription for ESPN+ if you already have PGA Tour Live—PGA Tour Live now includes ESPN+ coverage as part of its bundle.
Step-by-Step Plan
Step 1: Confirm the exact broadcast schedule
The Byron Nelson runs Thursday through Sunday. Golf Channel handles the first two rounds (Thursday–Friday, 3–6 p.m. ET) and early weekend coverage (Saturday–Sunday, 12:30–2 p.m. ET). CBS takes over Saturday–Sunday from 2–6 p.m. ET. Check the PGA Tour’s official site or the tournament’s page for any time shifts.
Step 2: Choose your viewing method
- If you have cable: Tune to Golf Channel and CBS at the times above. Use the channel’s app (Golf Channel Everywhere, CBS Sports App) if you’re away from home—log in with your cable provider credentials.
- If you use a live TV streaming service: Open the service’s app, search for Golf Channel or CBS, and select the live feed. Make sure your plan includes CBS (some regional variants may not; check before the weekend).
- If you want extra coverage: Subscribe to PGA Tour Live or ESPN+ to watch featured groups, including the “On the Range” pre-show and marquee pairings. For example, past coverage has included Billy Kratzert and Johnson Wagner on featured-group commentary, with Stephen Ames, Geoff Ogilvy, and Ned Michaels as on-course reporters for holes 15 and 16.
Step 3: Set up a free trial (if needed)
If you don’t have any live TV subscription, start a free trial of DIRECTV STREAM (5 days), YouTube TV (5–7 days, varies), or Fubo (7 days). Cancel before the trial ends if you don’t plan to keep it. This covers all four rounds.
Step 4: Test your stream before the first tee time
- On Thursday morning, open your chosen app and confirm the channel loads.
- Check internet speed—if buffering occurs, lower streaming quality (e.g., 720p instead of 1080p) or move closer to the router.
- Verify it works: Tune to a live sports clip or a previously recorded event on the same channel (Golf Channel often replays older tournaments). If the video plays smoothly in HD, your setup is ready. If you see a “geo-blocked” or “not authorized” message, move directly to the Troubleshooting section below.
Step 5: Have a backup plan
If one service fails mid-round, switch to a free trial of another provider. For CBS-only coverage, a digital antenna (under $30) gives you free over-the-air HD broadcast—no internet needed.
Troubleshooting
- “This video is unavailable in your location”
CBS and Golf Channel streaming rights are region-locked. If you’re outside the U.S., you’ll need a VPN with a U.S. server. Note that using a VPN may violate the service’s terms; proceed at your own risk.
- Blackout in your area?
The Byron Nelson is not subject to local blackouts on cable, but some streaming services may block CBS in certain markets due to retransmission disputes. If CBS doesn’t appear in your lineup, use a digital antenna (free over-the-air) to watch CBS locally, or switch to a different streaming service.
- Stream is laggy or pixelated
Pause for 10 seconds to let the buffer catch up, or restart the app. On a computer, close other tabs and disable ad blockers temporarily.
- A common failure: false geo-block on a home network
Symptom: You live in the U.S. but the app shows a “not available in your region” error. Likely cause: Your ISP assigned an IP address that the streaming service flags as outside the broadcast territory. Next move: Restart your modem/router to get a new IP. If that fails, switch to a different internet source (e.g., mobile hotspot) or use the channel’s app with your cable login (which often bypasses IP checks).
- When to stop DIY troubleshooting
If you have tried two different devices, restarted your router, and still cannot watch any live coverage from Golf Channel or CBS after 30 minutes, contact the streaming service’s support (phone or chat). For urgent issues during a round, a digital antenna for CBS is your fastest fallback. If the problem persists across multiple services, it’s likely an account or region issue—escalate to the PGA Tour’s customer service or your streaming provider’s billing team.
Related Questions
Is the Byron Nelson on ESPN+?
Yes. ESPN+ streams early-round featured groups (usually 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Thursday–Friday) and select weekend coverage. You need a separate ESPN+ subscription or a PGA Tour Live subscription (which bundles ESPN+).
Can I watch for free without cable?
You can sign up for a free trial of a live TV streaming service (DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, Fubo) and cancel before the trial ends. Also, CBS is available free over the air with an antenna in most U.S. markets (check reception at antennaweb.org).
What time does the final round start?
Sunday coverage begins on Golf Channel at 12:30 p.m. ET, then moves to CBS at 2 p.m. ET. Tee times typically start around 7:30 a.m. ET, but the main broadcast window is afternoon.
Do I need a VPN if I’m traveling outside the U.S.?
Yes, if you want to stream U.S. coverage. You must set the VPN to a U.S. server before opening the streaming app. Keep in mind that some services block known VPN IP addresses.
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.