CBS wants you to know that the front nine at the Masters Tournament has been shown on television before.

As the USA Network, with CBS personnel, begins live coverage of the first round today at 4 p.m., the annual question of why the Augusta National Golf Club doesn't allow more coverage came up again this year. USA is on from 4 to 6:30 p.m., today and Friday, and CBS picks up the weekend broadcast from 3:30 to6 Saturday and 4 to7 p.m. Sunday.

``This is not a tournament where we only show the back nine,'' CBS golf commentator Jim Nantz said in a conference call Tuesday. ``Ever since I`ve been here (1996), we've had at least 14-hole coverage. One year, we started on the fourth hole, another the fifth. I don't know where the idea we don't do 18-hole coverage came from. It's often a lot closer to 18 holes than nine.''

CBS points out that Augusta National limits the duration of the broadcast, not the amount of holes. Sunday's three-hour, final-round broadcast is the longest of the week.

Questions come up annually about why more of the tournament is not shown, as other networks offer for other major championships. Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson said Wednesday that the club is happy with the ratings and length of the broadcast.

``Depending on where they're playing golf is where we'll start,'' CBS golf producer Lance Barrow said. ``If there's a long rain delay, and the leaders are on the first tee when we start the show, that's what we'll cover.''

The CBS team will include veteran Verne Lundquist again this year. He worked with CBS from 1982-96 before taking a full-time NBA job with another network. He will work the 14th hole this year and replaces former U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate on the broadcast team.

USA's coverage today and Friday will be co-hosted by Bill Macatee and Peter Kostis.

The Golf Channel increases its coverage this year with updates every 30 minutes today through Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing until USA and CBS come on with live coverage. The Golf Channel updates will vary in length from 30 seconds to seven minutes, according to The Golf Channel public relations office in Orlando, Fla.