Golf Channel

60+ HOURS OF LIVE TOURNAMENT COVERAGE ACROSS GOLF CHANNEL & NBC THIS WEEKEND

January 20, 2021 By admin Leave a Comment

PGA TOUR Season Continues on GOLF Channel This Weekend with The American Express from PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.

LPGA Tour Season Tees Off on NBC and GOLF Channel with the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions from Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club in Orlando

Live Coverage on GOLF Channel Includes PGA TOUR Champions and European Tour Events

STAMFORD, Conn. – Jan. 20, 2021 – GOLF Channel and NBC present more than 60 hours of live tournament coverage this week, headlined by the start of the PGA TOUR’s West Coast swing at The American Express and the LPGA Tour’s season-opener, the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Orlando.

A staple of the PGA TOUR schedule since 1960, The American Express will be limited to two courses this weekend and the traditional pro-am format will be abandoned due to concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19. Tournament host Phil Mickelson¸ who tied for second place in 2019, headlines a field that also includes Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, last weekend’s Sony Open winner Kevin Na, and more.

The LPGA Tour season tees off this weekend with one of the most unique events on schedule, the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, as celebrities and athletes join LPGA champions from the previous three seasons. Gaby Lopez won last year’s event after outlasting Inbee Park and Nasa Hataoka in a seven-hole playoff.

The weekend also includes live coverage of the PGA TOUR Champions event, the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (Thursday-Saturday, GOLF Channel), and the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (Wednesday-Sunday, GOLF Channel).

PGA TOUR: THE AMERICAN EXPRESS

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team

- Play by Play: Terry Gannon
- Analyst: Trevor Immelman
- Tower: Curt Byrum
- On-Course: Arron Oberholser
- On-Course: Matt Gogel

How To Watch – Thursday, Jan. 21 – Sunday, Jan. 24 (all times ET)

- TV – GOLF Channel
- Streaming – NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

Date	GOLF Channel
Thursday	3-7 p.m.
Friday	3-7 p.m.
Saturday	3-7 p.m.
Sunday	3-7 p.m.

Notable Players This Week

- Brooks Koepka
- Phil Mickelson
- Rickie Fowler
- Kevin Na
- Patrick Reed
- Scottie Scheffler
- Gary Woodland

LPGA TOUR: DIAMOND RESORTS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

GOLF Channel & NBC Broadcast Team

- Play by Play: Grant Boone
- Analyst: Paige McKenzie
- Tower: Karen Stupples
- On-Course: Tripp Isenhour
- On-Course: Jerry Foltz
- Interviews: Chantel McCabe

How To Watch – Thursday, Jan. 21 – Sunday, Jan. 24 (all times ET)

- TV – NBC, GOLF Channel
- Streaming – NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

Date	GOLF Channel	NBC
Thursday	Noon-3 p.m.
Friday	Noon-3 p.m.
Saturday	1:30-2:30 p.m.	2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Sunday	2-3 p.m.	3-5 p.m.

Notable Players This Week

- InGee Chun
- Ally Ewing
- Brooke Henderson
- Danielle Kang
- Jessica Korda
- Nelly Korda
- Stacy Lewis
- Brittany Lincicome
- Gaby Lopez
- Angela Stanford
- Lexi Thompson

Notable Celebrities Playing This Week (subject to change)

- Marcus Allen
- Ray Allen
- Larry Fitzgerald
- Toby Keith
- John Smoltz
- Annika Sorenstam

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CHAMPIONSHIP AT HUALALAI

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team

- Play by Play: Bob Papa
- Analyst: John Cook
- Tower: Mark Rolfing
- On-Course: Billy Ray Brown

How To Watch – Thursday, Jan. 21 – Saturday, Jan. 23 (all times ET)

- TV – GOLF Channel
- Streaming – NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

Date	GOLF Channel
Thursday	7-10 p.m.
Friday	7-10 p.m.
Saturday	7-10 p.m.

EUROPEAN TOUR: ABU DHABI HSBC CHAMPIONSHIP

How To Watch – Wednesday, Jan. 20 – Sunday, Jan. 24 (all times ET)

- TV – GOLF Channel
- Streaming – NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

Date	GOLF Channel
Wednesday	10:30 p.m.- 3:30 a.m.
Thursday	6-8 a.m.
Friday	2-8 a.m.
Saturday	3-8 a.m.
Sunday	2-8 a.m.

BROADCAST NOTES

- Golf Today and Golf Central: Golf Today and Golf Central will provide pre-and post-tournament coverage on GOLF Channel Thursday-Sunday. Shane Bacon and Damon Hack anchor Thursday-Sunday editions of Golf Today. Rich Lerner, Jim Gallagher Jr., Jaime Diaz, and George Savaricas contribute to Golf Central pre- and post-round coverage this week.

Date	Golf Today	Golf Central
Thursday	9-11 a.m.	11 a.m.-Noon/10-10:30 p.m.
Friday	10-11:30 a.m.	11:30 a.m.-Noon/10-10:30 p.m.
Saturday	10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	12:30-1:30 p.m./2:30-3:30 p.m./ 10-10:30 p.m.
Sunday	11 a.m.-1 p.m.	1-2 p.m./7-8 p.m.

–NBC SPORTS–

BEYOND THE FAIRWAY – NEW NBC SPORTS PODCAST HOSTED BY DOUG SMITH AND WILL LOWERY – DEBUTS JAN. 19

January 13, 2021 By admin Leave a Comment

“The Intersection of Culture and the Lifestyle of Golf.”

Podcast to Examine Golf from Different Perspectives with In-Depth Interviews with Celebrities, Athletes and Golf Influencers

Debut Episode to Feature Two-Time NBA Champion Ray Allen; Don Cheadle, Larry Fitzgerald, Kyle Lowry and Cedric The Entertainer Slated to Appear

New Episodes Drop Each Tuesday – Trailer and Preview Available Now

Video Clips on GOLFChannel.com and GOLF Channel YouTube Page

STAMFORD, Conn. – January 13, 2021 – NBC Sports has launched Beyond The Fairway, a new podcast hosted by professional golfers Doug Smith and Will Lowery, aimed at examining golf from different perspectives through interviews with celebrities, athletes and golf influencers and expanding the reach of the game.

Basketball Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion Ray Allen will be the first guest on Beyond The Fairway, which will debut on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Click here to listen to a preview of Beyond The Fairway, which is available now across major podcast platforms.

Additional guests slated to appear on Beyond The Fairway in the coming weeks and months include actors Don Cheadle and Cedric The Entertainer, Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, and Toronto Raptors PG Kyle Lowry.

“We want Beyond The Fairway to be the intersection of culture and the lifestyle of golf,” said Smith. “Let’s dive into why people love this game so much. Why do we do such crazy things to chase a little white ball around grass? What drives our obsession and passion for this game? And never before have two black men been opposite each other to talk golf like this. It shows how NBC Sports and GOLF Channel are actually doing something to help diversify the golf landscape.”

“We’re going to be talking golf from a different clubhouse,” said Lowery. “Beyond The Fairway is going to have a relaxed atmosphere and welcome all golfers, opening the door to the casual golfer who might not care about greens-in-regulation statistics on the PGA TOUR. We’re not afraid of going out-of-bounds with conversations – and we might not make may holes-in-one either – but you’ve got two individuals who are from the rough to guide you through the experience.”

Lowery was a cast member on GOLF Channel’s hit reality series, “The Big Break,” and appeared on both “Big Break Indian Wells” and “Big Break NFL: Puerto Rico.” He currently competes on the SwingThought Tour and Advocates Pro Golf Tour, has several top-10 finishes and two victories on the mini-tour circuit, and advocates for minorities through production and content creation in the entertainment space.

Smith played collegiate golf at Florida A&M University and the University of Louisville, was the first African-American to play golf at Louisville and won the 2005 PGA National Minority Collegiate Championship during his time as a Cardinal.

Beyond the Fairway will be available for download on all major podcast platforms, including: NBCSports.com/podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart.

Video clips of Beyond The Fairway will be posted on GOLFChannel.com as well as the GOLF Channel YouTube page. Beyond The Fairway joins NBC Sports’ slate of podcasts spanning the NFL, the NHL, NASCAR and other motorsports, MLB, the NBA, rugby, and more.

-NBC SPORTS-

GOLF TODAY PREMIERES ON GOLF CHANNEL TODAY AT NOON ET

January 4, 2021 By admin

This Week’s Guests Include Jack Nicklaus, Brandel Chamblee, and Tony Dungy

Jimmy Roberts and Anna Whiteley Host Monday-Tuesday Episodes of Golf Today – Shane Bacon and Damon Hack Host Wednesday-Sunday

Golf Central Presented by Callaway Golf Makes 2021 Debut at 4 p.m. ET

STAMFORD, Conn. – January 4, 2021 – Golf Today – GOLF Channel’s new daily studio program shaping the daily conversation throughout the golf world – debuts today, Monday, Jan. 4, at noon ET.

Shane Bacon and Damon Hack will host Wednesday-Sunday episodes of Golf Today, while Jimmy Roberts and Anna Whiteley will anchor Mondays and Tuesdays. Golf Today will typically air 12-2 p.m. ET from Monday to Wednesday and precede pre-game tournament coverage from Thursday to Sunday on GOLF Channel.

Today’s premiere will feature contributions from all four co-hosts, as well as interviews with 18-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus and Golf Central analyst Brandel Chamblee. Additional guests scheduled to appear this week on Golf Today include Football Night in America analyst Tony Dungy and PointsBet editor Teddy Greenstein.

The program will also feature regular contributions from a number of GOLF Channel analysts and reporters, including Jaime Diaz, Paige Mackenzie, Tripp Isenhour, Steve Burkowski, Ryan Lavner and Matt Adams. Click here for a sneak peek of the Golf Today set. Golf Today harkens back to GOLF Channel’s inaugural year of 1995, when the program of the same name served as the network’s original live tournament pre-game show.

In addition, Golf Central Presented by Callaway Golf makes its 2021 debut today at 4 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel, hosted by Anna Whiteley with Tripp Isenhour and Todd Lewis. Golf Central will continue to air in its typical weeknight windows on GOLF Channel and encore editions will air the following morning.

-NBC SPORTS-

TIGER WOODS/CHARLIE WOODS AND JUSTIN THOMAS/MIKE THOMAS HEADLINE TEAMS AT PNC CHAMPIONSHIP ON GOLF CHANNEL, PEACOCK PREMIUM AND NBC

December 17, 2020 By admin

Star-Studded Field Includes Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam, Bubba Watson and John Daly

ORLANDO, Fla. – (Dec. 17, 2020) – The pairings of Tiger Woods/Charlie Woods and Justin Thomas/Mike Thomas headline a star-studded field competing at the PNC Championship in Orlando this weekend, with coverage airing on GOLF Channel, Peacock Premium and NBC.

The PNC Championship is a two-day, 36-hole scramble team event which has featured a multitude of family combinations, including father/son, father/daughter, father/grandson, son/father and more recently, daughter/father, when Annika Sorenstam paired with her father Tom last year.

The field features World Golf Hall of Fame members such as Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Vijay Singh, Annika Sorenstam and Lee Trevino, as well as current players on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions like Matt Kuchar, Tom Lehman, and Jim Furyk. Langer and son (Jason) won last year’s event in a playoff, marking Bernhard’s third victory at the PNC Championship.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Friday – 5-6 p.m. ET (Pro-Am)

Sunday – 2-3 p.m. ET / 11 a.m.-Noon ET (Streaming on GOLF Channel Digital)

Tournament Airtimes on Peacock Premium (Eastern):

Saturday – 1-2:30 p.m. ET (Live)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):

Saturday – 2:30-5 p.m. (Live)

Sunday – 3-6 p.m. ET / Noon-3 p.m. ET (Streaming on GOLF Channel Digital)

First Round Pairings/Tee Times:

10 a.m. ET – Team Harrington/Team Calcavecchia

10:12 a.m. ET – Team Kite/Team Norman

10:24 a.m. ET – Team Singh/Team Price

10:36 a.m. ET – Team Janzen/Team Lehman

10:48 a.m. ET – Team Duval/Team Kuchar

11 a.m. ET – Team Sorenstam/Team O’Meara

11:12 a.m. ET – Team Player/Team Trevino

11:24 a.m. ET – Team Furyk/Team Watson

11:36 a.m. ET – Team Daly/Team Langer

11:48 a.m. ET – Team Thomas/Team Woods

PNC Championship Broadcast Team

Play by Play: Dan Hicks

Analyst: Justin Leonard

On-Course: Notah Begay / Jim “Bones” Mackay / Kay Cockerill

Interviews: Steve Sands

Essays: Jimmy Roberts

Where to find Peacock: Viewers can sign up for Peacock Premium at peacocktv.com. Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices including Android, Android TV devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; and VIZIO SmartCast TVs and LG Smart TVs. Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, as well as eligible Cox Contour customers, enjoy Peacock Premium included with their service at no additional cost

-NBC SPORTS-

NBC SPORTS TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (DEC. 17-20)

December 16, 2020 By admin

World’s Top Female Golfers Complete 2020 Season at LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship on Golf Channel and NBC, Thursday-Sunday

Teams of Tiger Woods/Charlie Woods and Justin Thomas/Mike Thomas Headline PNC Championship on Golf Channel, Peacock Premium and NBC

ORLANDO, Fla., (Dec. 16, 2020) – The world’s top female golfers round out the 2020 season at the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., airing across GOLF Channel (Thursday-Saturday) and NBC (Sunday). In addition, the father/son duos of Tiger Woods/Charlie Woods and Justin Thomas/Mike Thomas headline the pairings for the PNC Championship, an annual event that features golf legends teaming up with family members in Orlando, on GOLF Channel, Peacock Premium and NBC.

LPGA

CME Group Tour Championship

Dates: Dec. 17-20

Venue: Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Fla.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday – 1-4 p.m. (Live) / 5-11 p.m. (Replay)

Friday – 1-4 p.m. (Live) / 6-9 p.m. (Replay)

Saturday – 1-4 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. (Replay)

Sunday – 11 p.m. – 2 a.m. (Replay)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):

Sunday – 12-3 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Kim defends: Sei Young Kim looks to defend her dramatic 2019 victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, when she sunk a 25-foot birdie putt on the 72^nd hole to best Charley Hull by one shot.

Race to the CME Globe: The Race to the CME Globe is a season-long points competition in which LPGA Members accumulate points in every official LPGA tournament to gain entry into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

Headlining the field: The top eight of the Rolex Rankings highlight the field, including World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, coming off a second-place finish at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, as well as Rolex Rankings No. 2 Sei Young Kim and No. 3 Inbee Park.

GOLF Channel/NBC Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Terry Gannon

Analyst: Judy Rankin

Tower: Tom Abbott

On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Karen Stupples

Interviews: Damon Hack

SPECIAL EVENT

PNC Championship

Dates: Dec. 18-20

Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes, Orlando, Fla.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Friday – 5-6 p.m. (Pro-Am)

Sunday – 2-3 p.m.

Tournament Airtimes on Peacock Premium (Eastern):

Saturday – 1-2:30 p.m. (Live)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):

Saturday – 2:30-5 p.m. (Live)

Sunday – 3-6 p.m.

Broadcast Notes:

Event Format: For more than 20 years, the PNC Championship has featured a multitude of family combinations including father/son, father/daughter, father/grandson, son/father and more recently, daughter/father, when Annika Sorenstam paired with her father Tom last year. The PNC Championship is a two-day, 36-hole scramble event.

Tiger Woods/Charlie Woods make team debut: Tiger Woods and 11-year-old son Charlie Woods will make their first team appearance at the PNC Championship.

Team Langer looks to defend: The father/son combo of Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer are the defending champions at the PNC Championship, following a dramatic playoff victory against Team Goosen and Team Lehman in 2019, marking Bernhard Langer’s third win at the event.

First Round Pairings/Tee Times:

10 a.m. ET – Team Harrington/Team Calcavecchia

10:12 a.m. ET – Team Kite/Team Norman

10:24 a.m. ET – Team Singh/Team Price

10:36 a.m. ET – Team Janzen/Team Lehman

10:48 a.m. ET – Team Duval/Team Kuchar

11 a.m. ET – Team Sorenstam/Team O’Meara

11:12 a.m. ET – Team Player/Team Trevino

11:24 a.m. ET – Team Furyk/Team Watson

11:36 a.m. ET – Team Daly/Team Langer

11:48 a.m. ET – Team Thomas/Team Woods

GOLF Channel/Peacock Premium/NBC Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Dan Hicks

Analyst: Justin Leonard

On-Course: Notah Begay / Jim “Bones” Mackay / Kay Cockerill

Interviews: Steve Sands

Essays: Jimmy Roberts

-NBC SPORTS-

GOLF TODAY – NEW DAILY GOLF CHANNEL PROGRAM – DEBUTS MONDAY, JAN. 4, 2021

December 15, 2020 By admin

Shane Bacon Joins GOLF Channel and NBC; Serves as Golf Today Co-Host Along With Damon Hack, Anna Whiteley and Jimmy Roberts

Golf Today to Lead Daily Conversation Across the Golf World, Drawing Upon GOLF Channel’s Roots and Representing Evolution of Morning Drive

STAMFORD, Conn. – December 15, 2020 – Golf Today – a new, live daily program that will lead and shape the daily conversation throughout the golf world – will debut Monday, January 4, 2021 on GOLF Channel, representing both a nod to GOLF Channel’s roots and the latest evolution of daily golf coverage on the network.

Shane Bacon will join GOLF Channel and NBC Sports beginning in 2021 and will serve as a co-host for Golf Today along with fellow hosts Damon Hack, Anna Whiteley and Jimmy Roberts. Bacon will also be a part of Golf Central Live From coverage and will provide play-by-play commentary and reports during GOLF Channel live tournament coverage.

“Golf Today represents a natural progression in our daily studio programming. At midday, we can lead the daily golf conversation with access to newsmakers in all time zones, Tour players on the range preparing for upcoming tournaments and live press conferences.” said Molly Solomon, executive producer, GOLF Channel. “We’re also thrilled to welcome Shane Bacon as a co-host of Golf Today. Shane has developed an avid fan base with his fresh and insightful approach across his work on golf broadcasts, social media and podcasts, and he’ll be a great fit with the Golf Today, Live From and tournament teams.”

“I’m excited to be joining the GOLF Channel and NBC family – it’s where golf happens, and I’m a golfer,” said Bacon. “The fact that I get to work with the top of the top in terms of analysts, play-by-play voices, and behind-the-scenes folks is a dream come true. I’ve known Damon for a long time and he’s the cream of the crop when it comes to golf journalism. Being a part of a new show will allow us to be creative and collaborative, lean on those ideas that we like, and build a great team together.”

Golf Today harkens back to GOLF Channel’s inaugural year of 1995, when the program of the same name served as the network’s original live tournament pre-game show. Golf Today also represents the evolution of Morning Drive, which winds down this week after kicking off weekdays on GOLF Channel for the better part of a decade. Golf Central will continue to air in its customary evening and pre- and post-event windows, with episodes re-airing on weekday mornings.

–NBC SPORTS–

GOLF Channel Notable Quotes – 2020 U.S. Women’s Open Final Round

December 14, 2020 By admin

Golf Central – Final Round

Champions Golf Club (Cypress Creek Course) – Houston, Texas

Monday, December 14

75^th U.S. Women’s Open – Final Round Leaderboard

A Lim Kim	-3
Jin Young Ko	-2
Amy Olson	-2
Hinako Shibuno	-1
Megan Khang	+1

On A Lim Kim (3-under, winner)

Brandel Chamblee – “You don’t see this every day – in fact, it’s been 25 years since someone came from five behind to win the U.S. Women’s Open…she didn’t just birdie the last holes, she birdied the last three holes. What she did today was stand up at the biggest moment of her life and do something that, well, you’d have to rack your brain to come up with anything comparable.”

Dan Hicks – “You think back to Charl Schwartzel at the Masters with a four birdie-in-a-row finish. This is right up there…she’s the only golfer to birdie 16, 17 and 18 here at Cypress all week long, and she did it with the heat on.”

Paige Mackenzie – “We’ve seen these dramatic finishes at this championship…(the U.S. Women’s Open) manages to produce the best golf because players are pushed to the limit. And when players are pushed, you often get the best player coming out when their back is against the wall.”

Chamblee – “She’s not just a long hitter, she’s a phenomenal putter. This is one of the coolest strokes I’ve seen in a long time. It reminds me a little bit of Rickie Fowler.”

Amanda Blumenherst – “She had a very relaxed demeanor and physically was relaxed with the putting stroke. One of the reasons she was relaxed is because she started the day in ninth place…when you don’t have that spotlight in that final group, there is something extremely freeing and relaxing about being able to come back…while you want to be in that final group, and everyone says that they do…she could just play relaxed.”

On Amy Olson (2-under, T-2^nd)

Hicks – “I know she came up one shot short, but everybody gained even more respect for Amy Olson for what she was able to do today amidst these incredibly trying circumstances.”

Mackenzie – “The difference between her runner-up finish at Evian and here is that she didn’t lose this event, A Lim Kim played tremendous down the stretch…a lot to be proud of today.”

Chamblee – “She didn’t win but she won a lot of friends and a lot of fans over the last few days…I can’t help but think she gained a lot of confidence about playing with all of the world watching her and certainly most of the world pulling for her.”

Blumenherst –“There seemed to be a sense of calm while she was playing today…having something bigger to play for and having that sense of, ‘It’s not always about golf…’ I saw that with Amy today. At the Evian when she lost in 2018, she was getting so anxious on the 72^nd hole and was all over the place. Today, from the first tee shot to the last putt…she had such confidence and that just impressed me so much, because she could have just mentally checked out.”

-NBC SPORTS-

GOLF Channel Notable Quotes – 2020 U.S. Women’s Open

December 12, 2020 By admin

Golf Central – Third Round

Champions Golf Club (Cypress Creek Course) – Houston, Texas

Saturday, December 12

75^th U.S. Women’s Open – Third Round Leaderboard

Hinako Shibuno	-4
Amy Olson	-3
Moriya Jutanugarn	-1
Ji Yeong Kim2	-1
Lydia Ko	E
Yealimi Noh	E
Megan Khang	E
Kaitlyn Papp (a)	E

**PROGRAMMING REMINDER** – Live Final Round coverage of the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open will begin Sunday at 10 a.m. ET on Golf Channel, followed by live coverage on NBC at 2 p.m. ET**

On Hinako Shibuno (4-under, 1^st)

Karen Stupples on Shibuno’s post-round practice – “We’re watching her practice and she’s looking disgusted with the shots that she’s playing. This is no way to cool down on the eve of the final round of the championship that you’re leading. There’s something she’s not happy with, it’s not the ‘Smiling Cinderella.’ If you contrast this to how Amy Olson was practicing, she was happy-go-lucky…obviously Shibuno did not hit it as well today…she’s not the longest of players off of the tee and she’s having to hit longer shots into the greens.”

Brandel Chamblee – “A little bit of Bryson DeChambeau on the eve of the final round of the U.S. Open. He was frustrated and went over to the range to blow off some team as much as to solve some riddles. It certainly looks like Hinako Shibuno is blowing a little steam off…not the demeanor you would think is leading the U.S. Open, but she’s coming off of a round where it was exceedingly difficult and an exceedingly long golf course.”

Lisa Cornwell to Stupples – “Will your expectations (for Shibuno) change now that you’ve seen this?”

Stupples – “Having seen the way Shibuno is trying to find something, yes a little bit. When you stand on that first tee tomorrow trying to win the U.S. Women’s Open, you need to know that you have it, you don’t want to hope that you have it.”

Chamblee – “She was an incredible scrambler today… she showed that she was up to the task with a number of beautiful pitches throughout the day. With inclement weather in the forecast tomorrow, it could be another day of mud balls and scrambling, and it could be Hinako Shibuno getting her second major championship because of her skill around the greens.

Amanda Blumenhurst – “I was very surprised at the aggressive lines that she was taking…she plays with a big smile on her face, freewheels it and lets it fly. She only hit 11 greens and it was because of the aggressive lines she was taking at those pins. Her short game really saved her today…she really had to rely heavily on her chipping. It could have been much higher than 3-over.”

On Amy Olson (3-under, 2^nd)

Chamblee – “I would say that 2020 is shaping up as the year of the underdogs…Olson has never won on the LPGA Tour, but she has come close in some major championships. Something about her ball flight…she could make her first victory on the LPGA Tour a major championship.”

Stupples – “She has the most fantastic attitude because she know what she wants and she has great belief in her abilities. When you win 20 times in college, you know you’re capable of doing it…I can’t help but think back to Nick Faldo. He changed his whole swing, he changed everything about his game so he could contend. Amy Olson has basically reworked everything about her game…she’s a work-in-progress and I think she’s seeing the fruits of her labor.”

Blumenhurst – “I really do believe she is ready. It’s a hard transition to go from college and amateur success…she has learned so much. We saw in 2018, she was going into the 72^nd hole of the Evian Championship with a lead and needed a par to win, a bogey to tie, she ends up making a doubling the par-5 18^th. What I’m hoping for Amy is that she’s putting these all of these bad days together and using them as a learning experience so that tomorrow she will know what to do and what not do.”

-NBC SPORTS-

JOHN WOOD JOINS NBC SPORTS’ GOLF COVERAGE AS ON-COURSE REPORTER

December 2, 2020 By admin

Former PGA Tour Caddie Brings More Than 20 Years of Experience to Golf Channel and NBC

Wood Makes Debut at Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Jan. 7-10 on Golf Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – December 2, 2020 – NBC Sports has announced that long-time PGA Tour caddie John Wood will join its golf coverage as an on-course reporter beginning in 2021. Wood will be featured on Golf Channel telecasts and will also contribute to select golf broadcasts on NBC. He will make his NBC Sports debut at the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions the weekend of Jan. 7-10 on Golf Channel.

Wood joins NBC Sports’ team of on-course reporters following more than 20 years as a caddie for a number of PGA Tour players, including Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Mark Calcavecchia and Kevin Sutherland.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the incredible team at Golf Channel and NBC,” said Wood. “They’ve set the standard in golf coverage and I hope to bring an interesting perspective to their incredible production. I thoroughly enjoyed my first time with the headset and microphone at the RSM Classic a few years ago, and I can’t wait to get started.”

“We’re thrilled to add John Wood to NBC Sports’ rotation of on-course reporters,” said Tommy Roy, lead golf producer, NBC Sports. “We first saw John’s on-air potential back in 2015, when he and Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay both joined us as on-course reporters at the RSM Classic and gave viewers their unique insights from a caddie’s perspective. John’s experience as a PGA Tour caddie for nearly two decades, combined with his passion and knowledge of the game, will be a great addition to our team during our busy slate of events in 2021.”

In addition to his work on the PGA Tour, Wood has caddied in a number of Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, and was also on the bag for Kuchar’s bronze medal performance in men’s golf at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Prior to his career as a caddie, Wood played golf collegiately at the University of California, Berkeley.

–NBC SPORTS–

Strong Field Convenes for KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Outside of Philadelphia; Live Coverage Airing Across GOLF Channel, NBC

October 6, 2020 By admin

PGA TOUR in Las Vegas at Shriners Hospitals for Children Open; First of

Three Consecutive West Coast Tournaments Airing Live on GOLF Channel

Reed, Rose, Fleetwood Lead Field at BMW PGA Championship; More Than

20 Hours of Live Tournament Coverage Thursday-Sunday on GOLF Channel

Kelly Defends at SAS Championship in North Carolina; Airs Friday-Sunday

Inaugural Blessings Collegiate Invitational Continues Live on

GOLF Channel from Arkansas, in College Golf’s Return to Television

ORLANDO, Fla., (Oct. 6, 2020) – The PGA of America and LPGA Tour are hosting the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship this week, the third of four women’s majors being contested in 2020. Taking place at Aronimink Golf Club outside of Philadelphia, more than 15 hours of live tournament coverage will air across GOLF Channel (Thursday-Sunday) and NBC (weekend). The PGA TOUR is in Las Vegas at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, the first of three consecutive West Coast tournaments in as many weeks airing live on GOLF Channel. Patrick Reed, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood lead the field at the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship, with more than 20 hours of live tournament coverage scheduled to air Thursday-Sunday on GOLF Channel. Jerry Kelly will defend his 2019 title at the SAS Championship in North Carolina, with coverage airing Friday-Sunday on GOLF Channel. Live coverage of the inaugural Blessings Collegiate Invitational presented by Tyson Foods continues today and Wednesday on GOLF Channel, showcasing a new college golf event originating from Fayetteville, Ark.

PGA OF AMERICA / LPGA TOUR

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

Dates: Oct. 8-11

Venue: Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pa.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday 1-5 p.m. (Live) / Midnight-4 a.m. (Friday replay)

Friday 1-5 p.m. (Live) / 2-4 a.m. (Saturday replay)

Saturday 11 a.m.-Noon (Live) / 2-4 a.m. (Sunday replay)

Sunday 10 a.m.-Noon (Live) / 2-5 a.m. (Monday replay)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):

Saturday Noon-3 p.m. (Live)

Sunday Noon-2 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Strong field convenes for third women’s major of 2020: Featuring one of the strongest fields of the year, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will include nine of the top-10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, as well as each of the event’s previous five winners: Hannah Green (2019); Sung Hyun Park (2018); Danielle Kang (2017); Brooke Henderson (2016) and Inbee Park (2015).

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship news conference show, Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET: Prior to Thursday’s opening round, Golf Central will present a special player news conference show on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit streaming live on Wednesday: The sixth-annual KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit is scheduled to take place (virtually) on Wednesday, with all sessions being streamed live at KPMG.com/WomensLeadership. 66th U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be among the keynote speakers of the summit, and Michele Tafoya – sideline reporter for NBC’s Sunday Night Football – will serve as the master of ceremonies. Wednesday’s live stream is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. ET.

Green defends: Hannah Green finished one stroke ahead of Sung Hyun Park to earn her first-career major championship victory.

Headlining the field: Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Brooke Henderson, Nasa Hataoka, Minjee Lee, Sei Young Kim, Sung Hyun Park, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson, Hinako Shibuno, Hannah Green and Mel Reid.

NBC Sports Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Terry Gannon

Analyst: Paige Mackenzie

Tower: Tom Abbott

On-Course: Kay Cockerill / Jim “Bones” Mackay

Interviews: Steve Sands

PGA TOUR

Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

Dates: Oct. 8-11

Venue: TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday 5-8 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Friday 5-8 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)

Saturday 5-8 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Sunday 5-8 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold (Eastern):

Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Featured Groups)

Cameron Champ/Bryson DeChambeau/Matthew Wolff (10:15 a.m. ET)
Collin Morikawa/Joaquin Niemann/Webb Simpson (10:25 a.m. ET)
Patrick Cantlay/Rickie Fowler/Kevin Na (3:05 p.m. ET)
Jason Day/Sergio Garcia/Hideki Matsuyama (3:15 p.m. ET)

Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Featured Groups)

Patrick Cantlay/Rickie Fowler/Kevin Na (10:15 a.m. ET)
Jason Day/Sergio Garcia/Hideki Matsuyama (10:25 a.m. ET)
Cameron Champ/Bryson DeChambeau/Matthew Wolff (3:05 p.m. ET)
Collin Morikawa/Joaquin Niemann/Webb Simpson (3:15 p.m. ET)

Broadcast Notes:

Na defends: Kevin Na defeated Patrick Cantlay with a par on the second playoff hole to capture his fourth PGA TOUR win.

Headlining the field: Bryson DeChambeau, Webb Simpson, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Matthew Wolff, Paul Casey, Cameron Champ, Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia and Hideki Matsuyama.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Rich Lerner

Analyst: Curt Byrum

Tower: Phil Blackmar

On-Course: Arron Oberholser / Trevor Immelman

Interviews: George Savaricas

EUROPEAN TOUR

BMW PGA Championship

Dates: Oct. 8-11

Venue: Wentworth Club (West Course), Virginia Water, England

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday 6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)

Friday 6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)

Saturday 6-11 a.m. (Live) / 11-11:30 a.m. (Streaming on GOLF Channel Digital)

Sunday 6-10 a.m. (Live) / 10-11:30 a.m. (Streaming on GOLF Channel Digital)

Broadcast Notes:

Willett defends: Danny Willett finished three shots clear of Jon Rahm to win for the seventh time on the European Tour.

Headlining the field: Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Bernd Wiesberger, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Dominik Holyer

Analyst: Paul McGinley / Richard Boxall / Alison Whitaker / Ewen Murray

On-Course: Wayne Riley / Andrew Coltart / Anthony Wall

Interviews: Tim Barter

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

SAS Championship

Dates: Oct. 9-11

Venue: Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, N.C.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Friday 8:30-10:30 p.m. (Tape delay) / 1:30-3:30 p.m. (Streaming on GOLF Digital)

Saturday 2-5 p.m. (Live)

Sunday 2-5 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Kelly defends: Jerry Kelly finished one shot ahead of David McKenzie to earn his sixth PGA TOUR Champions title.

Headlining the field: Bernhard Langer, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Jerry Kelly, Vijay Singh, Tom Lehman, Scott Parel, Colin Montgomerie, Mike Weir and John Daly.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Whit Watson

Analyst: Lanny Wadkins

On-Course: Billy Ray Brown / John Cook

COLLEGE GOLF

Blessings Collegiate Invitational presented by Tyson Foods

Dates: Oct. 6-7

Venue: Blessings Golf Club, Fayetteville, Ark.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Tuesday 3:30-7:30 p.m. (Live) / 7:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)

Wednesday 3:30-7:30 p.m. (Live) / 7:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:

Inaugural event: Announced earlier this month as a multi-year partnership with Blessings Golf Club and Tyson Foods, the new men’s and women’s college golf championship is being contested in Fayetteville, Ark.

Format: The competition marks the first televised event of the 2020-’21 college golf season and features a 54-hole stroke play format for individual and team honors. The competition is being contested without spectators.

Tournament field: The event features representatives of both the men’s and women’s golf teams from Southeastern Conference (SEC) universities.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Steve Burkowski

Analyst: Curt Byrum

Tower: John Cook

On-Course: Notah Begay / Billy Ray Brown

-NBC Sports Group-