USA NETWORK ENTERS ITS 25TH YEAR OF EXCLUSIVE CABLE COVERAGE OF THE MASTERS

Woods Seeks to Defend Challenged by Best Players in the World Including Singh, Els, Mickelson and Goosen

NEW YORK -- April 4, 2006 -- USA Network, in its 25th consecutive year of exclusive cable coverage of the Masters, will offer live coverage from Augusta National Thursday and Friday from 4-7 p.m. ET/1-4 p.m. PT, as Tiger Woods looks to defend his 2005 title and seeks his fifth Masters victory overall (1997, 2001-02, 2005).

Woods will be challenged by Phil Mickelson, the 2004 champion, and other former champions including Mike Weir (2003), Fred Couples (1992), Vijay Singh (2000) and Jose Maria Olazabal (1994, 1999). In all, 31 Masters champions have been invited to Augusta this year. Other top players in the field include Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia and Davis Love III.

A total of 103 invitations were extended in 2006. The list includes 58 U.S. and 45 international players. Among the field are five amateurs and 16 first-time participants.

Bill Macatee will host USA Network's live coverage from the Butler Cabin on Thursday and Friday. Joining Macatee on USA Network's Thursday and Friday coverage will be Jim Nantz and Lanny Wadkins in the 18th Tower, along with David Feherty, Peter Oosterhuis, Bobby Clampett, Verne Lundquist, Peter Kostis and Dick Enberg. PGA TOUR veteran John Cook and Bill Patrick will provide special reports and analysis.

High Definition coverage of USA's coverage will be simulcast on Universal HD. USA Network will re-air its Thursday and Friday coverage from 8-11 p.m. ET/PT both days. USA also will offer live "look-ins" and updates at Noon and 2 p.m.

Gordon Beck is USA Network's Senior Vice President, Production & Sports/ Executive Producer and Kevin Landy is Vice President, Sports Programming and Senior Producer golf.

USA Network is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. USA Network is seen in 90 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

For more information about the Masters and Augusta National, log on to www.masters.org. Featured this year on masters.org will be "Amen Corner Live," streaming video of all live action Thursday through Sunday from hole Nos. 11, 12 and 13.