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GOLF CHANNEL POSTS MOST-WATCHED, MOST-STREAMED & MOST-ENGAGED THIRD QUARTER EVER

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Golf Digital’s Video Starts Already Sets Best Year Ever Mark

NBC Sports Group’s 2018 PGA TOUR Broadcast Season Posts Most-Watched Year Since 2006

 

Orlando, FL, (Oct 4, 2018) – Golf Channel wrapped its best third quarter ever, across viewership, streaming and digital engagement. This was fueled by Tiger Woods’ return to the top echelon of the game, especially across NBC Sports’ slate of marquee third quarter events, including The 147th Open, PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, and the Ryder Cup.

 

MOST-WATCHED, MOST-STREAMED, MOST-ENGAGED THIRD QUARTER EVER

  • Golf Channel posted its most-watched third quarter ever (126,000, P2+) across a 24-hour period, up 9% vs. 2017 (116k).
  • September was Golf Channel’s most-watched September ever (132k), up 33% vs. 2017, and becomes the third month this year to set a most-watched milestone (January and March).
  • Golf Digital’s most-streamed quarter ever with 342 million minutes streamed, up 72% vs. 2017.
  • Golf Digital’s record-setting pace in 2018 includes video starts already setting its most-engaged year ever with 53.4 million starts with the full fourth quarter still remaining.

 

“Golf’s third quarter benefitted from NBCUniversal’s expertise in promoting, producing and partnering with some of golf’s biggest events and the return of the sport’s biggest star. Golf Channel is now on record pace for its best year ever,” said Mike McCarley, president, Golf, NBC Sports. “This momentum continues as we chronicle Tiger Woods’ comeback in a unique situation where he’s competing against a generation of athletes he inspired, across an improved 2019 schedule featuring marquee events from March through August.”

 

ADDITIONAL YEAR-TO-DATE HIGHLIGHTS IN 2018 INCLUDE:

  • With nearly 3,450 live hours programmed in 2018, Golf Channel has its most live hours ever programmed, up 107% vs. 2010, the year prior to Golf Channel becoming a part of the NBC Sports Group.
  • NBC Sports’ PGA TOUR live coverage has averaged 3.7 million viewers in 2018, up 60% vs. 2017, and making it NBC’s most-watched PGA TOUR season since 2006.
  • Golf Channel’s PGA TOUR live coverage has averaged 523k viewers for the 2017-2018 season, up 29% vs. the 2016-2017 season and Golf Channel’s most-watched PGA TOUR season since the wrap-around season began in fall, 2012.

 

THIRD QUARTER EVENTS DRIVING RECORD VIEWERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT:

  • Ryder Cup: Up vs. 2014:
    • NBC Sports’ live television coverage of the Ryder Cup drew nearly 3 million unique viewers, up 8% vs. 2014, the last time Europe hosted the event.
    • Across Golf Channel and NBC, Total Audience Delivery (TAD) was up all three days 2014.
  • PGA TOUR FedExCup Playoffs: Best Ever In Playoff History:
    • NBC Sports’ live television coverage of all four FedExCup Playoff events was most-viewed since 2007, drawing 32.6 million unique viewers, up 44% vs. 2017.
    • The last three weekends’ TAD Delivery of 3.33 million average viewers on NBC, up 55% vs. 2017, and early round coverage at all four events TAD was 863k average viewers on Golf Channel, up 40% vs. 2017.
  • The 147TH Open: Largest Total Audience in Five Years:
    • NBC Sports’ live television coverage drew 26 million unique viewers, most for The Open since 2013, and up 19% vs. 2017.
    • Across all four days, digital streaming garnered 125 million minutes, up 24% vs. 2017, and making The 147th Open the most-streamed golf event ever for NBC Sports.
    • Viewership across The R&A’s three major championships, The Open, Senior Open and Women’s British Open, was the most-watched since 2009 (TNT/ABC), and up 24%, vs. 2017

 

GOLF CHANNEL’S FOURTH QUARTER SCHEDULE OF MARQUEE EVENTS:

  • Scotland to South Korea This Week:
    • European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship each morning from the historic trio of the Old Course St. Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, which earlier this year hosted The 147th Open and was where Champion Golfer of the Year and European Ryder Cup hero “Frankie” Molinari was first matched up against a resurgent Tiger Woods.
    • PGA TOUR’s 2018/2019 FedExCup Season kicks off at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif. Golf Channel is the exclusive home to the next nine PGA TOUR events, leading up to NBC Sports’ coverage of Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in December.
    • UL International Crown featuring 32 LPGA Tour stars in primetime from golf-crazed South Korea as they represent their countries in this eight-team, match play event. USA is defending their 2016 crown.
  • October’s East Lake Cup, College Golf’s Marquee Fall Event: Mon., Oct 29-Wed., Oct 31
    • The 2018 NCAA Championships’ semi-final men’s and women’s teams square off again at East Lake Golf Club. Women’s: Reigning NCAA National Champions Univ. of Arizona, Alabama, Stanford and USC, defending East Lake Cup champions. Men’s: Reigning NCAA Champions Oklahoma St., Alabama, Auburn and Duke.
  • PGA TOUR Champions, LPGA Tour and European Tour Wrap Season-Long Races:
    • PGA TOUR Champions: Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Phoenix, Nov. 8-11
    • LPGA Tour: CME Group Tour Championship, Naples, Fla., Nov 15-18
    • European Tour: DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, Nov 15-18

Sources: TV: Nielsen, Live + Same Day US HH Rtgs. P2+ Avg 000’s and P2+ reach with 6-minute qualifier. Digital: Adobe Site Catalyst. Details available.

 

ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL

Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. Serving the most-affluent audience in all of television, Golf Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of NBC Sports Group – is available to nearly 500 million viewers in more than 80 countries and nine languages around the world. Golf Channel features more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, including tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, The Open, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, fans are able to enjoy 24/7 live streaming of Golf Channel content through Golf Digital and the NBC Sports App, powered by Playmaker Media. In addition, Golf Channel connects the world to golf through a wide array of digital and lifestyle services including Golf Channel Mobile, a comprehensive app covering golf’s latest headlines, scores and analysis; GolfNow, the world’s largest online tee time booking platform and golf course technology partner, which includes the GolfNow Mobile App, featuring on-course GPS tracking, in-round scoring and game tracking; Revolution Golf, the largest direct-to-consumer digital platform in golf ; GolfAdvisor.com, the world’s largest golf course ratings and review resource for golfers, by golfers; a North American network of Golf Channel Academy instructional facilities; and Golf Channel Am Tour, the world’s largest amateur golf tour; and as the Official Media Partner of St. Andrews Links, the Home of Golf.

 

-NBC Sports Group-

Golf Channel Tournament Airtimes and Notes (Oct. 3-7): UL International Crown, Safeway Open, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

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Women’s Golf Takes Center Stage in Primetime This Week with the UL International Crown Biennial Match-Play Competition

Mickelson Headlines Field as the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season Kicks Off at the Safeway Open

European Tour Returns to the Home of Golf for Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2018) – Women’s golf will take center stage starting tonight in primetime with the UL International Crown biennial match play competition, featuring 32 players representing eight countries battling to be crowned the best women’s golf nation. The 2018-19 PGA TOUR wraparound season begins this week in Napa, Calif., with the Safeway Open, where Phil Mickelson headlines the field. The European Tour returns to the Home of Golf this week with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, taking place at the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

 

LPGA TOUR

UL International Crown

Dates: Oct. 3-6

Venue: Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, Incheon, South Korea

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Wednesday     8 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / Noon-4:30 p.m. (Thursday replay)

Thursday         9 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / Noon-5 p.m. (Friday replay)

Friday              9 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / Noon-5 p.m. (Saturday replay)

Saturday          9 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / 12:30- 5 p.m. (Sunday replay)

Golf Central Coverage on Golf Channel Airtimes (Eastern):

Wednesday     7:30-8 p.m. (Live)

Thursday         8:30-9 p.m. (Live)

Friday              8:30-9 p.m. (Live)

Saturday          8:30-9 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Eight Countries, 32 Players represented: The UL International Crown will feature eight countries competing in four days of head-to-head competition: Australia, Chinese Taipei, England, Japan, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Thailand and the United States. Four players will represent each country in the competition, who qualified based on the Rolex Women’s Rankings at the conclusion of the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Countries and Players:

No. 1 Republic of Korea – Sung Hyun Park, So Yeon Ryu, In-Kyung Kim, In Gee Chun
No. 2 United States – Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, Cristie Kerr, Michelle Wie
No. 3 Japan – Nasa Hataoka, Misuzu Narita, Mamiko Higa, Ayako Uehara
No. 4 England – Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Bronte Law
No. 5 Australia – Minjee Lee, Katherine Kirk, Sarah Jane Smith, Su Oh
No. 6 Thailand – Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn, Pornanong Phatlum, Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong
No. 7 Sweden – Anna Nordqvist, Pernilla Lindberg, Madelene Sagstrom, Caroline Hedwall
No. 8 Chinese Taipei – Teresa Lu, Wei-Ling Hsu, Phoebe Yao, Candie Kung

United States defends: The United States (Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis, Gerina Piller and Cristie Kerr) captured the 2016 UL International Crown at the Merit Club outside of Chicago.

Expanded Social Media Coverage: Golf Channel’s social media host Alexandra O’Laughlin will be contributing on-site throughout the week in South Korea for Golf Channel’s social media platforms.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Host: Mike Ritz

Play-by-Play: Tom Abbott / Peter Donegan

Analysts: Karen Stupples / Kate Burton

Tower: Alison Whitaker

On-Course: Kay Cockerill, Jerry Foltz, Dom Boulet

 

PGA TOUR

Safeway Open

Dates: Oct. 4-7

Venue: Silverado Resort & Spa (North Course), Napa, Calif.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Replay)

Friday              5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Replay)

Saturday          5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-6 a.m. (Replay)

Sunday            5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)

Golf Central Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         4:30-5:30 p.m. (Live)

Friday              5-5:30 p.m. (Live

Saturday          5-5:30 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            5-5:30 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

2018-19 PGA TOUR season kicks off: This week marks the first of 46 official events during the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season, with eight of those events being played in 2018.

Steele defends: Brendan Steele defeated Tony Finau in 2017 by two strokes to win back-to-back titles at the Safeway Open.

Headlining the field: Phil Mickelson, Patrick Cantlay, Fred Couples, Russell Knox, Anirban Lahiri, Hunter Mahan, Maverick McNealy, Mark Mulder, Patrick Rodgers, Sam Saunders, Brandt Snedeker, Brendan Steele, Peter Uihein, Danny Willett.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play-by-Play: Terry Gannon

Analyst: Curt Byrum

Tower: Matt Gogel / Steve Sands

On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Craig Perks

Interviews: George Savaricas

 

EUROPEAN TOUR

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Dates: Oct. 4-7

Venue: Old Course at St. Andrews; Carnoustie Golf Links; Kingsbarns Golf Links, Scotland, United Kingdom

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         8 a.m.-Noon (Live)

Friday              8 a.m.-Noon (Live)

Saturday          8 a.m.-Noon (Live)

Sunday            7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Event format: 168 professionals and 168 amateurs pair up as two-man teams, playing one round each at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. A 54-hole cut will take place with the low 60 professionals (and ties) and the low 20 teams advancing to compete in a final round at St. Andrews.

Hatton defends: Tyrrell Hatton defeated Ross Fisher by three strokes to successfully defend his title in 2017.

Headlining the field: Zac Blair, Ernie Els, Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood, Padraig Harrington, Tyrrell Hatton, Trevor Immelman, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer, Brooks Koepka, Chase Koepka, Matt Kucher, Paul McGinley, Thorbjorn Olesen, Louis Oosthuizen, Thomas Pieters, Brandon Stone, Norman Xiong.

Notable amateurs in the field: Hugh Grant, Ronan Keating, Wladimir Klitschko, Huey Lewis, Tico Torres

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly

Analyst: Ken Brown / Mark James

Tower: Sam Torrance

On-Course: Jay Townsend

-NBC Sports Group-

NBC Sports Group to Air 30 Live Hours of Ryder Cup Coverage Friday-Sunday From First Tee Shot to Final Putt

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PGA TOUR Champions in Pebble Beach for the Pure Insurance Championship, Featuring Junior Golfers Representing The First Tee Chapters Throughout the U.S.

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2018) – Golf Channel and NBC will combine for 30 hours of live tournament coverage of the 42nd Ryder Cup Friday-Sunday, the biennial competition featuring the top professional golfers representing the United States and Europe. Live coverage from Le Golf National outside of Paris will span from Friday morning’s opening tee shot just after 2 a.m. ET through the clinching point on Sunday. The United States will look to retain the Ryder Cup after defeating Europe in 2016 (17-11) and aim to win for the first time on European soil in 25 years, since 1993. The PGA TOUR Champions will be at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the Pure Insurance Championship, where junior golfers representing The First Tee chapters from throughout the country will compete alongside the PGA TOUR Champions professionals.

 

PGA OF AMERICA

42ND Ryder Cup

Dates: Sept. 28-30

Venue: Le Golf National (Albatross Course), Paris, France

 

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel / NBC (Eastern):

Friday              2 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live, Golf Channel) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay, Golf Channel)

Saturday          2-3 a.m. (Live, Golf Channel) / 3 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live, NBC) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay, Golf Channel)

Sunday            6 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live, NBC) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay, Golf Channel)

 

Golf Central Live From the Ryder Cup on Golf Channel (Eastern)

Friday              Midnight-2 a.m. / 1-3 p.m.

Saturday          Midnight-2 a.m. / 1-3 p.m.

Sunday            4-6 a.m. / 1-3 p.m.

 

Broadcast Notes:

30 hours of live tournament coverage on Golf Channel, NBC: Golf Channel and NBC will combine for nearly 30 hours of its Emmy-nominated live event coverage, spanning from Friday morning’s opening tee shot just after 2 a.m. ET through the clinching point on Sunday.

Golf Central’s Live From the Ryder Cup Wraparound News Coverage: Leading into and following live tournament coverage, Golf Channel’s team of news reporters and analysts will provide comprehensive wraparound news coverage from both on-site in France and from Golf Channel’s worldwide headquarters in Orlando.

Defending Champion: The United States are the reigning Ryder Cup champions, having defeated Europe 17-11 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota in 2016.

United States Team: Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson and Tiger Woods.

European Team: Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen, Ian Poulter, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson

Golf Channel/NBC Sports Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Terry Gannon, Dan Hicks

Analysts: Nick Faldo, Justin Leonard, Johnny Miller

Tower: Tom Abbott, Curt Byrum, Peter Jacobsen, Gary Koch

On-Course: Notah Begay, David Feherty, Roger Maltbie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, Mark Rolfing

Interviews: Steve Sands, Jimmy Roberts

News reports: Tim Rosaforte

 

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Pure Insurance Championship

Dates: Sept. 28-30

Venue: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Poppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach, Calif.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Friday              5-8 p.m. (Live)

Saturday          5-8 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            5-8 p.m. (Live)

 

Broadcast Notes:

81 First Tee Participants Competing in the Field: The field at the Pure Insurance Championship will be comprised of professionals playing alongside 81 junior golfers representing The First Tee Chapters from throughout the country, along with 162 amateurs.

Headlining the field: Paul Broadhurst, Darren Clarke, John Cook, Fred Couples, Chris DiMarco, Hale Irwin, Jerry Kelly, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Scott McCarron, Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara, Kenny Perry, Charlie Rymer, Vijay Singh and Tom Watson.

 

Golf Channel Tournament Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Whit Watson

Analyst: Lanny Wadkins

Tower: John Mahaffey

On-Course: Arron Oberholser, Billy Ray Brown

Interviews: Lisa Cornwell

 

-NBC Sports Group-

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ROUND BECOMES MOST-WATCHED FEDEXCUP PLAYOFFS TELECAST EVER AND MOST-WATCHED PGA TOUR TELECAST OF 2018

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Total Audience Delivery Eclipsed 7.8 Million Average Viewers,

Fueled by Most-Streamed NBC Sports Golf Round Outside of The Open

ORLANDO, Fla., (Sept. 25, 2018) – NBC Sports Group’s final round coverage of the TOUR Championship on Sunday (3:00-6:19 p.m. ET) garnered a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 7.8 million average viewers, as Tiger Woods claimed his 80th career victory, and his first in five years. The telecast’s TAD was up 212% vs. 2017 (2.5m). Television viewership posted 7.18 million average viewers, up 192% YOY (2.46m) and a 4.45 U.S. household rating, up 178% vs. 2017 (1.60). It also becomes the most-watched telecast in the history of the FedExCup Playoffs (2007-2018) and the most-watched PGA TOUR telecast in 2018 (excludes majors).

Coverage peaked from 5:45-6 p.m. ET with 10.84 million average viewers as Woods finished his TOUR Championship-winning round and Justin Rose sealed his season-long victory as the FedExCup champion. The peak viewership number trails only the Masters (16.84m) and PGA Championship (12.39m) in 2018. The extended coverage window (1:30-6:19 p.m. ET) drew 5.89 million average viewers and a 3.69 U.S. household rating to become the most-watched and highest-rated TOUR Championship telecast on record (1991-2018).

Sunday’s final round saw 18.4 million minutes streamed across NBC Sports Digital platforms (+561% year-over-year), and becomes NBC Sports’ most-streamed Sunday round (excluding majors) on record (2013-’18).

Sunday’s lead-in coverage on Golf Channel (11:54 a.m.-1:25 p.m. ET) also garnered a Total Audience Delivery of 829K average viewers and posted a .56 U.S. household rating, becoming the most-watched and highest rated lead-in telecast of the TOUR Championship ever (2007-2018). Golf Channel was the No. 2 Sports Network during this window and No. 7 out of all Nielsen-rated cable networks during that span.

This week, NBC Sports Group will offer weeklong coverage of the biennial Ryder Cup from Le Golf National outside of Paris. Live From the Ryder Cup continues all week on Golf Channel, surrounding nearly 30 hours of NBC Sports’ Emmy-nominated live event coverage, spanning from Friday morning’s opening tee shot just after 2 a.m. ET through the clinching point on Sunday. The United States will look to retain the Ryder Cup after defeating Europe in 2016 (17-11), and aim to win for the first time on European soil in 25 years, since 1993.

-NBC Sports Group-

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ROUND BECOMES HIGHEST-RATED FEDEXCUP PLAYOFFS TELECAST EVER AS TIGER WOODS WINS FOR FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS

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5.21 Overnight Rating Becomes Highest-Rated PGA TOUR Telecast of 2018

18.4 Million Minutes Streamed on Sunday (+561% YoY); Most-Streamed

NBC Sports Sunday Golf Round Ever (Excluding Majors) 

ORLANDO, Fla., (Sept. 24, 2018) – NBC Sports Group’s final round coverage of the TOUR Championship on Sunday (3:00-6:15 p.m. ET) earned a 5.21 Overnight rating, as Tiger Woods claimed his 80th career victory, and his first in five years. The telecast is up 206% vs. 2017 (1.70).  It also becomes the highest-rated telecast in the history of the FedExCup Playoffs (2007-’18) and the highest-rated PGA TOUR telecast in 2018 (excluding majors). Coverage peaked from 5:30-6p (7.19) as Woods finished his round and as Justin Rose was being crowned the FedExCup champion, only trailing the peaks for The Masters (11.03) and PGA Championship (8.28) in 2018. The extended coverage window (1:30-6:15 p.m. ET) posted at 4.35 Overnight rating, which is the highest-rated TOUR Championship telecast on record (2000-’18)

“Tiger Woods’ win at the TOUR Championship was an unforgettable event in golf,” said Mike McCarley, President, Golf, NBC Sports Group. “The massive gallery following Tiger up the 18th fairway was matched by record viewership across NBC Sports’ platforms. Golf is experiencing a surge in momentum with Tiger and the young stars of the Tiger-inspired generation atop leaderboards. We look forward to this momentum continuing this week at the Ryder Cup.”

Sunday’s Final Round saw 18.4 million minutes streamed across NBC Sports Digital platforms (+561% year-over-year), and becomes the most-streamed NBC Sports’ Sunday round (excluding majors) on record (2013-’18).

Sunday’s lead-in coverage on Golf Channel (Noon-1:30p) also earned a .74 Overnight rating to become the highest Sunday lead-in telecast of the TOUR Championship ever (2007-’18).

This week, NBC Sports Group will offer weeklong coverage of the biennial Ryder Cup from Le Golf National outside of Paris, beginning with the premiere of its latest Golf Films’ project, Famous 5, tonight at 9 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. The network’s Ryder Cup week programming will be led by nearly 30 hours of its Emmy-nominated live event coverage, spanning from Friday morning’s opening tee shot just after 2 a.m. ET through the clinching point on Sunday. The United States will look to retain the Ryder Cup after defeating Europe in 2016 (17-11), and aim to win for the first time on European soil in 25 years, since 1993.

-NBC Sports Group-

PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs Culminate at TOUR Championship; NBC Sports Group to Air More Than 20 Live Hours of Tournament Coverage

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Web.com Tour Championship to Award 25 PGA TOUR Cards for 2018-19 Season

PGA TOUR Champions in South Dakota for Inaugural Sanford International

Garcia Leads Field at European Tour’s Portugal Masters

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 19, 2018) – Thirty players convene in Atlanta this week for the culmination of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, with the $10 million prize on the line at the TOUR Championship. NBC Sports will carry more than 20 live hours of tournament coverage, with the current top-five in the FedExCup standings guaranteed to hoist the FedExCup by week’s end with a victory at East Lake Golf Club: Bryson DeChambeau (No. 1), Justin Rose (No. 2), Tony Finau (No. 3), Dustin Johnson (No. 4) and Justin Thomas (No. 5). The Web.com Tour Championship is being staged in Florida, with the fourth and final event of the Web.com Tour Finals awarding 25 PGA TOUR cards on Sunday for the 2018-19 season. The PGA TOUR Champions stage the inaugural Sanford International in South Dakota, with a handful of World Golf Hall of Fame members headlining the field. Sergio Garcia leads the field at the Portugal Masters on the European Tour.

PGA TOUR

TOUR Championship

Dates: Sept. 20-23

Venue: East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday 1-6 p.m. (Live) / 7 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Friday 1-6 p.m. (Live) / 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Replay)

Saturday 12:30-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)

Sunday Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 7 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):

Saturday 2:30-6:30 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 1:30-6 p.m. (Live)

Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern)

Thursday 12:30-1 p.m. / 6-7 p.m.

Friday 12:30-1 p.m. / 8-8:30 p.m.

Saturday Noon-12:30 p.m. / 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Sunday 6-7 p.m.

Broadcast Notes:

More than 20 hours of live tournament coverage on Golf Channel, NBC: Golf Channel and NBC will combine for more than 20 hours of live tournament coverage from East Lake Golf Club. The field of 30 players features a top-five that automatically will win the FedExCup (and $10 million prize) with a victory this week: Bryson DeChambeau (No. 1), Justin Rose (No. 2), Tony Finau (No. 3), Dustin Johnson (No. 4) and Justin Thomas (No. 5).

Schauffele defends: Xander Schauffele finished one stroke ahead of Justin Thomas to earn his second PGA TOUR victory. Despite not winning the TOUR Championship, Thomas would claim the FedExCup.

Headlining the field: Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley, Brooks Koepka, Bubba Watson, Billy Horschel, Cameron Smith, Webb Simpson, Jason Day, Francesco Molinari, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Tiger Woods, Aaron Wise, Kevin Na, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm, Kyle Stanley, Paul Casey, Hideki Matsuyama, Gary Woodland, Marc Leishman and Patton Kizzire.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Terry Gannon (Golf Channel) / Dan Hicks (NBC)

Analyst: Frank Nobilo (Golf Channel) / Johnny Miller (NBC)

Tower: Gary Koch / Peter Jacobsen / David Feherty

On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Notah Begay / Jim “Bones” Mackay

Interviews: Steve Sands / Todd Lewis (Golf Channel, Saturday-Sunday)

Essays: Jimmy Roberts

WEB.COM TOUR

Web.com Tour Championship

Dates: Sept. 20-23

Venue: Atlantic Beach Country Club, Atlantic Beach, Fla.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)

Friday 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)

Saturday 2:30-4:30 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 1:30-4 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Web.com Tour Finals culminate with 25 PGA TOUR cards on the line: This week marks the conclusion of the four-event Web.com Tour Finals, with eligible players vying for 25 PGA TOUR cards for the 2018-19 season. Players in the field include the top-75 on the Web.com Tour money list and Nos. 126-200 in the final FedExCup regular season standings.

Headlining the field: Hunter Mahan, Maverick McNealy, Julian Suri, Lucas Glover, Peter Malnati, Robert Streb, Curtis Luck, Henrik Norlander, Ben Crane and Jonathan Byrd.

Tournament Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Steve Burkowski

Analyst: Craig Perks

Tower: Phil Blackmar

On-Course: Gary Christian / Tripp Isenhour

Interviews: Chantel McCabe

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Sanford International

Dates: Sept. 21-23

Venue: Minnehaha Country Club, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Friday 6-8 p.m. (Tape delay) / 4:15-6:15 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Channel Digital)

Saturday 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 4-6 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Inaugural event: The PGA TOUR Champions will unveil an inaugural event for the second time in as many weeks, with this week’s Sanford International in South Dakota.

Headlining the field: Paul Broadhurst, Vijay Singh, Scott McCarron, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Jay Haas, Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker, Colin Montgomerie, David Toms and Corey Pavin.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: John Swantek

Analyst: Lanny Wadkins

Tower: John Mahaffey

On Course: Billy Ray Brown / John Cook

EUROPEAN TOUR

Portugal Masters

Dates: Sept. 20-23

Venue: Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, Portugal

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday 6:30-8:30 a.m. (Live)

Friday 6:30-8:30 a.m. (Live)

Saturday 7:30 a.m.-Noon (Live)

Sunday 7:30 a.m.-Noon (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Bjerregaard defends: Lucas Bjerregaard finished four strokes ahead of Marc Warren to earn his first European Tour victory.

Headlining the field: Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Angel Cabrera, Jose Maria Olazabal, Thorbjorn Olesen, Charl Schwartzel, Hunter Stewart and Danny Willett.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Host: Scott Walker

Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly

Analyst: Jay Townsend / Tony Johnstone

On-Course: Ken Brown

-NBC Sports Group-

NOTABLE QUOTES: TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP BY COCA-COLA, SUNDAY’S FINAL ROUND ON NBC – SPIETH WINS TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP AND FEDEXCUP

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Golf Channel on NBC Notable Quotes
TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola
Final round, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015
East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.

Jordan Spieth, 2015 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola winner and FedExCup champion, speaking to Golf Channel on NBC’s Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller during the trophy presentation
Jordan Spieth – “This is incredible. This is an event where we approach it like a major championship because we know this is possible at the end of it. We didn’t have a great playoffs but we put a lot of hard work into this week. I was out here early Monday morning. We approached it as if it was a major, and mentally we stayed in it even when I didn’t have my best ball striking. Boy that putter sure paid off.”

Spieth, on the week off prior to the final two playoff events
Spieth – “I got frustrated. I missed two cuts in a row. I had never done that. I lost the number one ranking. I was watching Jason Day just dominate golf. It was frustrating so I got to work. Put my head down a little more right after the PGA knowing we could still peak this week and that is what we did.”

Spieth, on assessing his year
Spieth – “Unreal. This year was unreal. I don’t know how we sit down and figure out how to improve on it, but we are going to try to do that.”

On Jordan Spieth, 2015 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola winner at 9-under par and 2015 FedExCup champion
Dan Hicks – “The year of Spieth comes to a close to a championship winner and he does indeed take it all. FedExCup winner, 2015.”
Hicks – “How sweet it is for Jordan Spieth.”
Johnny Miller – “You just got to keep reminding yourself this guy is 22 years old.”
Hicks – “I think that is one of the reasons why he is so much fun to watch play golf. You get inside his head on every shot. He really shows the audience what is going on in his mind.”
Miller – “First player to go over 12 million in official earnings. Half of his friends will be hitting him up for some kind of loan.”
Miller – “He did not play great tee-to-green, but he played adequate. His putter made the difference.”
Hicks – “That putter has just not let him down.”
Peter Jacobsen – “He talks about ‘we.’ He is inclusive. He talks about everybody on his team in his success.”
Jacobsen – “He just seemed to be so focused and so dialed in.”

On Henrik Stenson, T2 at 5-under par for the championship, 2-over par on Sunday
Miller – “His ball striking let him down, and he couldn’t make many putts either.”
Miller – “You can see the look on his face. This back nine sucked all of the energy out of him.”

On Stenson’s long birdie putt on 18 following his shank approach shot on 17
Hicks – “After a shank at 17, that is what the Golf Gods had in store for Stenson to end his PGA TOUR season.”
Miller – “He can’t smile though. Took it out of him.”

On Justin Rose, T2 at 5-under-par for the championship, 4-under par on Sunday
Billy Ray Brown – “After that double bogey at 10, he buckled up his straps and really turned it on coming down the stretch.”
Hicks – “Another good run at East Lake.”

On Dustin Johnson, T5 at 4-under-par for the championship, 6-under par on Sunday
Hicks – “Dustin Johnson will go to Korea with the good vibes of going 7-under on his final 11 holes.”

On Rory McIlroy, T16 at 1-over par for the championship, 4-over par on Sunday
Miller – “Doesn’t look like he has a lot of fire in his eyes.”
Jacobsen – “Got off to a good start, birdied the first but everything else went backwards today.”

On the young players on the PGA TOUR
Gary Koch – “The great thing to me about these young players. They not only play well, they are great with the fans , they are great with the media. I think the game – especially the PGA TOUR – is in very good shape.

-NBC Sports Group-