The Masters Tournament and one of the leaders in televised sports are teaming up to promote the game of golf internationally.

Cable giant ESPN will televise the first two rounds of the 2008 Masters, Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Billy Payne announced Wednesday.

The move is part of a worldwide initiative to use the Masters brand to further promote the game of golf, Payne said. He said Mercedes-Benz and Rolex have signed on to support the telecast and golf development programs outside of the United States.

Terms of the deal with ESPN were not disclosed, but the Masters traditionally has a one-year agreement with its television partners and sponsors. CBS, which has aired the weekend rounds of the Masters since 1956, will remain as the primary television partner. AT&T, ExxonMobil and IBM will remain as sponsors for the tournament, which will be held April 10-13.

ESPN's global reach extends to 194 countries, including those in Europe, Latin America and Canada, and parts of Asia, the Middle East and Africa. A Spanish-language telecast of the first two rounds of the tournament also will be presented in the United States on ESPN Deportes. ESPN has televised the Masters internationally since 1993.

"With the worldwide reach of ESPN, and their demonstrated leadership in new media, we think ESPN is uniquely positioned to showcase the Masters and golf to new audiences," Payne said in a prepared statement.

ESPN replaces USA Network, which had broadcast the first two rounds since 1982. Television times will remain the same with live coverage scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with rebroadcasts from 8 to 11 each night.

"The Masters and USA Network enjoyed a wonderful 26-year relationship," NBC Universal Sports and Olympics chairman Dick Ebersol told The Associated Press. "We wish them all the best."

The Masters is traditionally the highest-rated golf telecast of the year. ESPN also has deals in place to televise the U.S. Open and Ryder Cup, in conjunction with NBC, through 2014.

ESPN's Mike Tirico will be the host of the Thursday and Friday telecasts and will work in conjunction with the CBS announcing crew, which will air the Saturday and Sunday rounds. ESPN also will broadcast a preview show on the eve of the tournament, and ESPN Classic will televise Masters highlights films leading up to the tournament.

"For sports fans, the Masters represents a most hallowed rite of spring with its rich tradition and indelible imagery," ESPN President George Bodenheimer said in the release. "We are honored by the opportunity to work with the tournament to help it achieve its goal of growing the game of golf around the world."

More announcements on the worldwide initiative are expected in the coming weeks. In the past decade, Augusta National and the Masters has contributed more than $30 million to the Community Foundation for the CSRA, golf's governing bodies, the First Tee and the Tiger Woods Foundation.

"We think our new worldwide initiative is important," said Payne, who added that the program will focus on young people. "The other major golf organizations have rightly identified a need to accelerate the growth of golf throughout the world. We will utilize the goodwill of the Masters and our other resources in support of these bodies and programs."