For the first time in 17 years, the American Bowling Congress Masters will air on network television. The finals of the 48th classic will be televised live by CBS this Saturday from 3-4 p.m. at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
This will be the third of nine PBA telecasts on CBS this season and produced in conjunction with PBA Tour Productions. It marks the first network airing of the event since 1981 when it also was televised by CBS.
The Masters is one of professional bowling's richest tournaments with a prize fund estimated at $250,000.
The finals will conclude a week where 624 of the sport's best professionals and top amateurs will compete against each other in bowling's premier match play event.
The Masters was first televised in 1980 by ESPN, bringing it into the arena of big money tournaments offering more than a $100,000 prize fund.
In 1986, the Anheuser-Busch Bud Light brand became title sponsor, boosting the prize fund to $215,000 and eventually $235,000. With Bud Light's involvement came the event's return to ESPN.
In 1995, Prime SportsChannel carried telecasts of the Masters, and the prize fund reached a record $250,000, with $50,600 going to winner Mike Aulby. A then-record 608 entrants competed in that inaugural Masters at the stadium.