GOLF Channel, Peacock to Carry Live, Primetime Coverage Wednesday-Sunday from World-Renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon

Peacock (NBCUniversal’s New Streaming Service) to Precede GOLF Channel (Wednesday-Friday) with Live Exclusive Bonus Hour Stream of U.S. Amateur

‘92 U.S. Amateur Champ Justin Leonard to be Lead Analyst on GOLF Channel

ORLANDO, Fla., (Aug. 10, 2020) – GOLF Channel today announced its live coverage plans for the 120th United States Amateur Championship (U.S Amateur) this week, airing Wednesday through Sunday in primetime from renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. Coverage will be presented by Rolex – uninterrupted – including a bonus hour preceding GOLF Channel’s telecast (Wednesday-Friday) that will stream live, exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s new streaming service.

Announced in June, the USGA transferred the U.S. media rights for all of its championships to NBCUniversal. The U.S. Amateur is the second of four USGA championships to be televised by NBC Sports in 2020, (following Rose Zhang’s U.S. Women’s Amateur victory yesterday in 38 holes), with a full slate of nine USGA championships in 2021 as part of a long-term agreement through 2026. The renewed partnership between NBC Sports and the USGA saw last week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur register the most-watched Thursday at the event in 13 years, since 2007.

“In collaboration with Peacock and in partnership with the USGA and Rolex, we’re eager for the U.S. Amateur to return to GOLF Channel as part of our commitment to televising comprehensive coverage of all marquee amateur events to our avid golf audience,” said Molly Solomon, GOLF Channel executive producer and president, NBC Olympics production. “We’re looking forward to highlighting an elite field of amateur competitors and simultaneously giving viewers an opportunity to become acquainted with one of golf’s most revered destinations.”

120th U.S. Amateur Live Programming on GOLF Channel & Peacock (all times EST)
Wednesday, Aug. 12 6-7 p.m. (Live, Round of 64) Peacock
7-9 p.m. (Live, Round of 64) GOLF Channel
Thursday, Aug. 13 6-7 p.m. (Live, Round of 16) Peacock
7-9 p.m. (Live, Round of 16) GOLF Channel
Friday, Aug. 14 6-7 p.m. (Live, Quarterfinals) Peacock
7-9 p.m. (Live, Quarterfinals) GOLF Channel
Saturday, Aug. 15 7-10 p.m. (Live, Semifinals) GOLF Channel
Sunday, Aug. 16 7-10 p.m. (Live, Championship) GOLF Channel

The 120th U.S. Amateur will feature a field of 264 competitors, comprised entirely of exempt players due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 31 countries are being represented, and the field will include 18 past USGA champions, led by 2019 U.S. Amateur winner Andy Ogletree. The field also will feature five of the top-10 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

“The scenic vistas and rugged elements along the Pacific Ocean at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort will offer the perfect backdrop for the second championship broadcast in our renewed partnership with NBC Sports,” said Navin Singh, USGA Chief Commercial Officer. “The U.S. Amateur Championship is the top showcase for the next generation of talent and a highlight in the career of all of the competitors. This week will feature incredible golf with astounding natural visuals, and we are excited to work together to share it with the world.”

FIVE DAYS OF MATCH PLAY COVERAGE ACROSS GOLF CHANNEL, PEACOCK: GOLF Channel and Peacock will combine to provide 15 hours of live match-play competition Wednesday through Sunday, featuring uninterrupted coverage presented by Rolex. Peacock will carry a one-hour live stream (6-7 p.m. ET) Wednesday-Friday, immediately preceding live tournament coverage on GOLF Channel (7-9 p.m. ET). The final two days of the competition will air Saturday and Sunday, exclusively on GOLF Channel (7-10 p.m. ET).

Live tournament coverage will look to highlight Bandon Dunes’ scenic architecture against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, featuring overhead drone footage, along with an airplane camera high above the golf course. Live telecasts also will utilize Toptracer technology, powered by Topgolf to trace shots while in-flight.

Coverage on Peacock and GOLF Channel will begin Wednesday with the round of 64 matches, continuing Thursday with the round of 16 matches, and quarterfinal matches on Friday. GOLF Channel will carry the semifinal matches on Saturday and the championship match on Sunday.

U.S. AMATEUR BROADCAST TEAM: Dan Hicks will serve as play-by-play host and be joined in the broadcast booth by 1992 U.S. Amateur champion and GOLF Channel analyst Justin Leonard. Steve Burkowski will contribute as GOLF Channel’s amateur golf expert during the early portion of coverage each day, and will transition to interviewing those in the field after they complete their matches in the latter part of the telecast window. Notah Begay and Jim “Bones” Mackay will serve as on-course reporters, providing insight on matches from an inside the ropes perspective.

NEWS, DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: Throughout the week, GOLF Channel’s news programs – Morning Drive and Golf Central – will include daily coverage, highlights and analysis of the U.S. Amateur. All five days of tournament coverage also will be available via live streaming through GOLF Channel Digital. GOLF Channel’s social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – will feature dedicated content throughout the week, including daily video highlights. GOLF Channel Digital also will provide editorial coverage throughout the week, led by staff writer Brentley Romine, reporting on-site from Bandon Dunes.

U.S. OPEN, U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN TO AIR ACROSS NBCUNIVERSAL PLATFORMS: Upcoming USGA championships in 2020 include the U.S. Open (Sept. 17-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and the U.S. Women’s Open (Dec. 10-13 at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas), with live coverage airing on NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock.

-NBC Sports Group-

Playing Lessons Episode with Host Jim “Bones” Mackay Available on GolfPass Today

ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2020) – In celebration of Collin Morikawa’s first major championship victory, GolfPass is offering its members a chance to go inside the ropes and inside the mind of the 2020 PGA Championship winner during a practice round on a special encore episode of GOLF Channel’s Playing Lessons series.

In the episode, Morikawa is joined by legendary caddie and NBC on-course reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay for a one-on-one conversation from tee to green, during which the two discuss swing tips, shot selection and course management. The episode was shot on location in October 2019 at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.

Morikawa is just one of many stars – including Matthew Wolff, Cameron Champ and Jennifer Kupcho – playing on professional tours today who have been introduced to GOLF Channel viewers through the network’s burgeoning collegiate golf programming.

GOLFPASS IS DESIGNED FOR TODAY’S GOLFER: Playing Lessons is included in a vast library of video content available exclusively as part of a GolfPass membership, including originals like The Conor Moore Show, Lessons with a Champion Golfer, Breaking into the Game: Juniors with Michael Bannon, My Daily Routine, My Roots, and more. GolfPass is the only comprehensive digital golf membership that delivers exclusive content and comprehensive benefits tailored to the modern golfer’s lifestyle across five pillars – Play, Learn, Shop, Travel, Watch – which are the most frequent ways golfers engage with the sport. Developed in partnership between global golf superstar Rory McIlroy and NBC Sports Group, GolfPass is a first-of-its-kind, direct-to-consumer subscription program, which offers opportunities to play more golf, comprehensive tools to improve any golfer’s game, high-quality video content, and enhanced shopping and travel experiences. A GolfPass membership is available in North America at GolfPass.com, in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland at GolfPass.co.uk, and in Australia at http://www.golfpass.com.au. The GolfPass membership also is available via connected TV, iOS and Android apps.

-NBC Sports Group-

August 15-16 on NBC – Indianapolis 500 Qualifying and First-Ever NASCAR Cup Series Race on Daytona Road Course

August 23 on NBC – 104^th Running of the Indianapolis 500; NASCAR Cup Series Doubleheader at Dover August 22-23 on NBCSN

August 29 on NBC in Primetime – NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona – Final Race of NASCAR Regular Season

Nearly 50 Hours of Live Practice, Qualifying and Race Coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on NBC, NBCSN and NBC Sports Gold Starting August 12

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 10, 2020 – The next three weekends across NBC Sports will be “Motorsports Madness” for racing fans throughout the United States with iconic events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway, headlined by the 104^th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, August 23, with coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

In addition, the NASCAR Cup Series makes a pair of visits to Daytona on NBC, with the first-ever event on the Daytona Road Course on Sunday, August 16, at 3 p.m. ET, followed by the final race of the 2020 regular season on the superspeedway in primetime on Saturday, August 29, at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

In total, NBC Sports will present more than 100 hours of motorsports coverage spanning NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA, MotoGP and Pro Motocross across NBC, NBCSN and NBC Sports Gold through the end of August, including nearly 50 hours of live INDYCAR coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Coverage from Indianapolis begins Wednesday, August 12, with three consecutive days of six-plus hours of live Indy 500 practice on NBC Sports Gold.

AUGUST 15-16

The weekend of August 15-16 is headlined by the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race at the Daytona Road Course on Sunday, August 16, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Indianapolis 500 qualifying will air on NBC on Saturday, August 15, at 3 p.m. ET, and Sunday, at 1 p.m. ET, leading into NASCAR from Daytona. Sunday’s motorsports coverage on NBC begins at noon ET with the first race of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season, the Loretta Lynn National, and live MotoGP coverage from Austria airs Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN.

AUGUST 22-23

NBC Sports presents the 104^th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, August 23, with pre-race coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series will run doubleheaders at Dover International Speedway on NBCSN, with the Cup Series races airing on Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. The weekend’s coverage on NBCSN will also include the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Washougal (Saturday night at 12:30 a.m. ET), the MotoGP Styrian Grand Prix (Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET), and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship from VIR (Sunday at 10 a.m. ET).

AUGUST 29-30

The NASCAR Cup Series regular season will wrap up under the lights at Daytona on Saturday, August 29, in primetime on NBC, as drivers have one final chance to make the Playoffs. The NTT INDYCAR Series runs a doubleheader from World Wide Technology Raceway outside of St. Louis on Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Following is NBC Sports’ full slate of motorsports coverage across the next three weeks:

–NBC SPORTS–

GOLF Channel Notable Quotes
Golf Central Live From the PGA Championship
TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, Calif.
Sunday, Aug. 9

PGA Championship Final Leaderboard
Collin Morikawa -13
Paul Casey -11
Dustin Johnson -11
Matthew Wolff -10
Jason Day -10
Bryson DeChambeau -10
Tony Finau -10
Scottie Scheffler -10

On Collin Morikawa (13-under, winner)
Brandel Chamblee – “The most power-dominated major championship that I think I’ve ever seen. The top of the leaderboard seemed to have scores of players who have had golf professionals come out of the shop and tell them to stop hitting driver because the range wasn’t long enough. What he had to do this week to win was almost unprecedented. In the strokes-gained era, this is the first time a player has ever led in fairways hit, proximity to the hole and strokes-gained putting. You put all that together and it’s just not fair that somebody after 29 events on the PGA TOUR has all of those skills and has their whole career in front of them.”
Justin Leonard – “There’s a maturity there that at 23, it shouldn’t exist. The skillset that he has is a little different than what we see in a modern young player. But there are some intangibles there that we don’t necessarily have statistics or categories for. But you can see it when you watch him play, and it was on full display today. He won high level amateur events. This guy came out here ready to play. We’re seeing the job that these college coaches are doing in getting their players ready for the PGA TOUR.”
Chamblee – “He’s the lone man that managed to play this golf course mostly from the fairway and mostly not make mistakes of strategy, mental errors and what not. You’re just not supposed to do this stuff after 29 events.”
Leonard – “Despite the lack of fans, there was an atmosphere here. There were enough people and volunteers where the players knew something was going on. Even without the fans, without the roars, there was energy. And Collin Morikawa had a great sense of rising to the occasion and a feel for the moment.”

On Dustin Johnson (11-under, T-2nd)
Chamblee – “Dustin Johnson has been on TOUR for 13 years. Only twice in his career has he been in the top-10 in scoring average on Sunday. Mostly, he’s well outside the top-10. 79th this year, 126th last year. And then when you look at what you have to do on Sunday, you have to make clutch putts. Only once has he been in the top-25 in putting in 13 years. These are not minor weaknesses. The highest score he shot last year was when he had a 54-hole lead. The highest score he shot in 2018 was when he had a 36-hole lead. The highest score he shot in 2017 was when he had a 54-hole lead. He’s going straight to the Hall of Fame, a marvelous player. But there’s reasons why he’s only won one major championship.”
Leonard – “He didn’t hit enough really good shots and give himself those opportunities to where he had any margin for error. It wasn’t his day.”

-NBC Sports Group-

GOLF Channel Notable Quotes
Golf Central Live From the PGA Championship
TPC Harding Park
San Francisco, Calif.
Saturday, Aug. 8

GOLF Channel’s PGA Championship news coverage continues Sunday with Morning Drive from 8-10 a.m. ET; concluding with Golf Central Live From the PGA Championship following the Sunday’s final round network coverage from 9-11 p.m. ET.

PGA Championship Leaderboard
Dustin Johnson -9
Cameron Champ -8
Scottie Scheffler -8
Brooks Koepka -7
Collin Morikawa -7
Paul Casey -7

On Saturday’s third round at the PGA Championship
Brandel Chamblee – “I think the top blew off of this tournament today. It was like Mount St. Helens. It has been bubbling for a long time. All of the longest hitters got together today and said, ‘Let’s go have at it.’”
Chamblee – “It was like a home run derby. It was fun to watch. Long drives and long putts.”
Justin Leonard – “It was a very entertaining day of golf. It defined where the game is today. Hammer it down there, go find it and hope for a good lie. When you find it, go make a birdie.”

On Dustin Johnson, leader at -9
Brandel Chamblee – “Every single day this week he has been trending in the right direction.”
Justin Leonard – “I think he plays without scar tissue. This is a different and more mature Dustin Johnson that is out here today.”
Chamblee – “While Dustin appears to be carefree and scar free, I think it gets to him that Brooks Koepka has won four and he hasn’t.”
Leonard – “He [Johnson] is happy for his friend Brooks, but it also inspires him. It inspires him to work harder. He wants to get back in that conversation. He doesn’t like being down 1-4. He wants to be down 2-4 at the end of tomorrow.”
Chamblee – “Talent-wise it is a toss-up between Koepka and Johnson. Brooks plays like he has Jim Valvano’s speech going on in a loop in his head. Dustin sometimes plays like he has the AM radio playing in his head. That’s the difference between the two.”
Rich Lerner – “We don’t say this a whole lot. Dustin Johnson rode a red-hot putter to take the lead heading into Sunday.”

On Brooks Koepka, T4 at -7
Justin Leonard – “This is a guy that has no scar tissue. Everybody in this field has scar tissue. The only scar tissue is what is in his knee and that is not bothering him.”
Rich Lerner – “He is not just lurking. He’s looming. Great athletes intuitively understand that this is it. This is Game 7. This is the fourth quarter. This is how Koepka competes in major championships.”

-NBC Sports Group-