Dan Hicks, Paul Azinger to be Joined by David Feherty, Jim “Bones” Mackay &

Henni Zuel; Marks Debut of Tiger Woods’ First Public Golf Course Design

Woods & Justin Thomas to Compete Against Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose in

Team Match Play Competition Benefiting Payne Stewart Family Foundation

ORLANDO, Fla., (Sept. 10, 2020) – NBC Sports announced its broadcast team for the Payne’s Valley Cup presented by Bass Pro Shops, an 18-hole charity match airing live on GOLF Channel on Tuesday, Sept. 22 (3-7 p.m. ET) that will feature Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.

Dan Hicks (play-by-play) and Paul Azinger (lead analyst) will anchor the network’s coverage of the competition, which will commemorate the grand opening of Payne’s Valley Golf Course (Ridgedale, Mo.) at Big Cedar Lodge. Coverage also will include on-course commentary from David Feherty, in addition to insight from Jim “Bones” Mackay. Henni Zuel will serve as a reporter and conduct interviews with the four competitors. Additionally, Notah Begay will be on-site to contribute to live pre and post-round news coverage (2:30-3 p.m. / 7-8 p.m. ET) on Golf Central.

Payne’s Valley represents the first public golf course design for Woods, who will team up with Thomas to take on the European duo of McIlroy and Rose. The Payne’s Valley Cup will feature a mix of competition formats synonymous with international team competitions: best ball, alternate shot and singles matches.

Hosted at Big Cedar Lodge, Mastercard will serve as the featured sponsor of the Payne’s Valley Cup. In collaboration with Excel Sports Management, NBC Sports will produce the made-for-television exhibition match, with all four players being mic’d up throughout the competition while showcasing Woods’ new golf course that pays tribute to Ozarks-native and World Golf Hall-of-Famer, Payne Stewart. In addition to the live telecast on GOLF Channel, NBC will televise a special encore of the Payne’s Valley Cup as two separate broadcasts on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 26-27 from 4-6 pm ET.

Through a partnership between Johnny Morris (noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops and Big Cedar Lodge) and Woods, the 18-hole layout of Payne’s Valley was created with the intent to foster a deeper connection to nature through the game of golf. The course features a picturesque par-3, 19th bonus hole designed by Morris to celebrate the nature and beauty of the Ozarks. Payne’s Valley is part of Morris’ larger vision to have Big Cedar Lodge – and all accompanied golf courses – designated as an Audubon Signature Sanctuary. This distinction would place these properties in the highest category of environmental planning, and ensure the stability of the land for future generations.

EVENT TO BENEFIT PAYNE STEWART FAMILY FOUNDATION: To honor the namesake of the golf course and one of Missouri’s all-time great sports legends, the Payne’s Valley Cup will raise funds for the Payne Stewart Family Foundation – a foundation that supports beneficiaries that were vitally important to the late Stewart, including Kids Across America, the AJGA and The First Tee.

ON-SITE EVENT AND SAFETY INFORMATION: The match will be closed to the public, with a select group hosted by Big Cedar Lodge granted access on-site to preview the amenities at Payne’s Valley Golf Course and walk the course for the exhibition match. The Payne’s Valley Cup will implement a comprehensive health and safety play that will follow all recommended protocols put in place by the PGA TOUR and local government, utilizing testing measures to help protect the health and safety of the players, officials, the production team and others on-site.

DIGITAL/STREAMING COVERAGE: In addition to live coverage on GOLF Channel, the Payne’s Valley Cup will stream live via GOLF Channel and NBC Sports mobile apps, along with GolfChannel.com and on GolfPass.

-NBC Sports Group-

PGA TOUR Kicks Off 2020-‘21 Season with Safeway Open in California;

Live Coverage Airing Thursday through Sunday on GOLF Channel

PGA TOUR Champions in South Dakota for Sanford International, Friday-

Sunday (GOLF Channel); First Event with Spectators Since Pre-COVID-19

Fleetwood Headlines Field at Portugal Masters on European Tour

ORLANDO, Fla., (Sept. 9, 2020) – The LPGA Tour is in Southern California for the second women’s major of the year, as GOLF Channel will carry 20 hours of live tournament coverage for the ANA Inspiration, Thursday-Sunday. The field will feature eight of the top-10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, including Danielle Kang and Nelly Korda. The PGA TOUR begins its 2020-’21 season in Napa, Calif., with live coverage of the Safeway Open airing Thursday-Sunday on GOLF Channel. Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar lead the field. The PGA TOUR Champions are in South Dakota for the Sanford International, which will mark the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned event allowing spectators since prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples headline the field, with coverage airing Friday through Sunday. Tommy Fleetwood leads the field at the Portugal Masters on the European Tour, airing Thursday-Sunday live on GOLF Channel.

LPGA TOUR

ANA Inspiration

Dates: Sept. 10-13

Venue: Mission Hills Country Club (Dinah Shore Tournament Course), Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         Noon-4 p.m. / 7-9 p.m. (Live) / 1-5 a.m. (Friday replay)

Friday              Noon-4 p.m. / 7-9 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-4:30 a.m. (Saturday replay)

Saturday          2-6 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-4:30 a.m. (Sunday replay)

Sunday            2-6 p.m. (Live) / 2:30-4:30 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast Notes:

Second of four women’s major championships in 2020: The ANA Inspiration this week will mark the second of four women’s major championships taking place in 2020, after originally being scheduled in April before being postponed due to COVID-19.

“ANA Inspiration Charity Skins Match” airing live at 7 p.m. ET Tonight: Tonight at 7 p.m. ET, GOLF Channel will air live coverage of the “ANA Inspiration Charity Skins Match,” which will benefit Eisenhower Health. The competition will feature four players in the field this week, as Katherine Kirk and Amy Olson will team up against Christina Kim and Angela Stanford in a nine-hole match for charity.

Headlining the field: Danielle Kang, Nelly Korda, Sung Hyun Park, Minjee Lee, Sei Young Kim, Nasa Hataoka, Inbee Park, Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson, Hinako Shibuno, Rose Zhang and Gabriela Ruffels.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Terry Gannon / Grant Boone

Analyst: Judy Rankin / Karen Stupples

Tower: Tom Abbott

On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Jim Gallagher Jr. / Karen Stupples

Reporter: Lisa Cornwell

PGA TOUR

Safeway Open

Dates: Sept. 10-13

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

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         4-7 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-1 a.m.

Friday              4-7 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

Saturday          6-9 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

Sunday            6-9 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold (Eastern):                              

Thursday                     10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Featured Groups)

• Shane Lowry/Phil Mickelson/Brendan Steele (10:30 a.m. ET)
• Sergio Garcia/Emiliano Grillo/Kevin Tway (10:40 a.m. ET)

Friday                          10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Featured Groups)

• Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker/Jordan Spieth (10:30 a.m. ET)
• Keegan Bradley/Pat Perez/Kevin Streelman (10:40 a.m. ET)

Broadcast Notes:

2020-’21 PGA TOUR season kicks off: This week marks the first of 50 official events that will make up the 2020-’21 PGA TOUR season, and represents the seventh time in the last eight years that the Safeway Open will kick off the new season.

Headlining the field: Matt Kuchar, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Shane Lowry, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Brendan Steele, Jim Furyk, Maverick McNealy, Brandt Snedeker and Jimmy Walker.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Steve Sands

Analyst: Justin Leonard

Tower: Matt Gogel

On-Course: Phil Blackmar / Kay Cockerill

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Sanford International

Dates: Sept. 11-13

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

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Friday              9:30-11:30 p.m. (Tape delay) / 5-7 p.m. (Streaming on GOLF Channel Digital)

Saturday          9:30-11:30 p.m. (Tape delay) / 5-7 p.m. (Streaming on GOLF Channel Digital)

Sunday            9:30-11:30 p.m. (Tape delay) / 4-6 p.m. (Streaming on GOLF Channel Digital)

Broadcast Notes:

First event with spectators since pre-COVID-19: The Sanford International is scheduled to be contested as the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned event to welcome back spectators on-site since prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Award-winning musician Colt Ford to make PGA TOUR Champions debut: Country music star Colt Ford – a former golf professional – will make his PGA TOUR Champions debut this week, competing on a sponsor’s exemption. A frequent competitor on various golf tours, Ford turned 51 last month.

Mediate defends: Rocco Mediate finished two shots ahead of Ken Duke, Bob Estes and Colin Montgomerie to earn his fourth PGA TOUR Champions victory.

Headlining the field: Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly, Tom Lehman, Scott Parel, Brett Quigley, Colin Montgomerie and Colt Ford (a).

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: George Savaricas

Analyst: Lanny Wadkins

On-Course: Billy Ray Brown / John Cook

EUROPEAN TOUR

Portugal Masters

Dates: Sept. 10-13

Venue: Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, Portugal

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         6-8 a.m. / 9-11:30 a.m. (Live)

Friday              6-8 a.m. / 9-11:30 a.m. (Live)

Saturday          8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Brown defends: Steven Brown outlasted Brandon Stone and Justin Walters by one stroke to win for the first time on the European Tour.

Headlining the field: Tommy Fleetwood, Haotong Li, Jose Maria Olazabal, Paul Waring, John Catlin and Steven Brown.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly

Analyst: Richard Boxall

On-Course: Warren Humphreys / Anthony Wall / Marc Roe

Reporter: Jamie Spence

-NBC Sports Group-

European Tour in Spain for Andalucia Masters, Airing Live Thursday-Sunday

ORLANDO, Fla., (Sept. 2, 2020) – The PGA TOUR will determine its season-long champion in Atlanta this week, as 30 players advance to compete in the TOUR Championship, with the title of FedExCup champion and a $15 million first-place prize on the line. The PGA TOUR’s season-culminating event will be contested Friday-Monday, finishing on Labor Day, with Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas entering the week at Nos. 1-3 in the FedExCup standings. GOLF Channel and NBC will combine to air more than 20 hours of live tournament coverage from East Lake Golf Club, which will be preceded each day by PGA TOUR LIVE coverage on NBC Sports Gold. The European Tour is in Spain for the Andalucia Masters, with live coverage airing Thursday-Sunday on GOLF Channel.

PGA TOUR

TOUR Championship

Dates: Sept. 4-7

Venue: East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

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

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

Sunday            1-3 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)

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

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):

Sunday            3-7 p.m. (Live)

Monday           1:30-6 p.m. (Live)

PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold (Eastern):                              

Friday              10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. (Featured Groups)

Saturday          10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. (Featured Groups)

Sunday            11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. (Featured Groups)

Monday           10:45 a.m.-Noon (Featured Groups)

Broadcast Notes:

Payne Stewart Award ceremony airing live at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight on GOLF Channel: GOLF Channel will air live coverage of the Payne Stewart Award ceremony at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight. Twelve-time PGA TOUR winner Zach Johnson is the 2020 recipient of the Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company. Each year during the week of the TOUR Championship, the PGA TOUR presents the award to a professional golfer who best exemplifies Stewart’s steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship. NBC Sports’ Dan Hicks will host the ceremony.

“Golf with a Purpose” charity challenge airing Thursday at 2 p.m. ET: A pair of PGA TOUR players in the field this week will team up with renowned other-sport athletes to take part in the Golf with a Purpose” charity challenge, airing Thursday at 2 p.m. ET live on GOLF Channel. Ryan Palmer will compete alongside retired NBA star Vince Carter, while Zach Johnson will be paired with Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis. The competition will utilize a scramble format and take place on the back-nine of East Lake Golf Club, to benefit the East Lake Foundation and the TOUR Championship’s other charitable beneficiaries. The match will be a PGA TOUR LIVE production, and is being simulcast live on GOLF Channel.

Last two hours of Monday’s live final round coverage on NBC to air commercial-free: The final two hours of Monday’s live final round coverage on NBC will air commercial-free (presented by Coca Cola and Southern Company), around the time that the final group makes the turn to the back-nine.

TOUR Championship format: Utilized in 2019 for the first time, the top-30 in the FedExCup standings this week will follow a strokes-based (starting strokes) system, with each player beginning with a score (relative to par) based on their position in the FedExCup standings following the BMW Championship.

McIlroy defends: Rory McIlroy finished four shots ahead of Xander Schauffele to join Tiger Woods as the only players to win the FedExCup on multiple occasions.

Headlining the field: Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Webb Simpson, Collin Morikawa, Daniel Berger, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, Sungjae Im, Hideki Matsuyama, Brendon Todd, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed, Xander Schauffele, Sebastian Munoz, Lanto Griffin, Scottie Scheffler, Joaquin Niemann, Tyrrell Hatton, Tony Finau, Kevin Kisner, Abraham Ancer, Ryan Palmer, Kevin Na, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Viktor Hovland, Mackenzie Hughes, Cameron Champ and Billy Horschel.

NBC Sports Broadcast Team:

Host: Mike Tirico

Play by Play: Dan Hicks / Terry Gannon

Analyst: Paul Azinger / Justin Leonard

Tower: Gary Koch / David Feherty

On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Notah Begay / Mark Rolfing

Reporter: Steve Sands

Essays: Jimmy Roberts

EUROPEAN TOUR

Andalucia Masters

Dates: Sept. 3-6

Venue: Royal Valderrama Club, Sotogrande, Spain

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         6-8 a.m. / 9 a.m.-Noon (Live)

Friday              6-8 a.m. / 9 a.m.-Noon (Live)

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

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

Broadcast Notes:

Headlining the field: Martin Kaymer, Bernd Wiesberger, Jose Maria Olazabal, Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn, Rasmus Hojgaard, Haotong Li, Victor Perez and Andy Sullivan.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly

Analyst: Richard Boxall

On-Course: Warren Humphreys / Anthony Wall / Marc Roe

Reporter: Tim Barter

-NBC Sports Group-

12-Time PGA TOUR Winner Zach Johnson to be Recognized as 2020 Payne

Stewart Award Recipient, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET, Live on GOLF Channel

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 1, 2020) – The PGA TOUR will determine its season-long champion in Atlanta this week, as 30 players advance to compete in the TOUR Championship, with the title of FedExCup champion and a $15 million first-place prize on the line. The PGA TOUR’s season-culminating event will be contested Friday-Monday, finishing on Labor Day. GOLF Channel and NBC will combine to air more than 20 hours of live tournament coverage from East Lake Golf Club, which will be preceded each day by PGA TOUR LIVE coverage on NBC Sports Gold. The final two hours of Monday’s live final round coverage on NBC will air commercial-free (presented by Coca Cola and Southern Company), around the time that the final group makes the turn to the back-nine.

Utilized in 2019 for the first time, the top-30 in the FedExCup standings this week will follow a strokes-based (starting strokes) system, with each player beginning with a score (relative to par) based on their position in the FedExCup standings following the BMW Championship. Those in the TOUR Championship field will begin Friday’s opening round with the following scores, based on their position in the standings:

Dustin Johnson (No. 1): 10-under par

Jon Rahm (No. 2): 8-under par

Justin Thomas (No. 3): 7-under par

Webb Simpson (No. 4): 6-under par

Collin Morikawa (No. 5): 5-under par

Nos. 6-10: 4-under par

Nos. 11-15: 3-under par

Nos. 16-20: 2-under par

Nos. 21-25: 1-under par

Nos. 26-30: Even par

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP BROADCAST TEAM:

Host	Play-by-Play	Lead Analyst	Tower	On-Course	Reporter	Essays
Mike Tirico	Dan Hicks Terry Gannon	Paul Azinger Justin Leonard	Gary Koch David Feherty	Roger Maltbie Notah Begay Mark Rolfing	Steve Sands	Jimmy Roberts

After suspending competition in March due to COVID-19 and then returning to play in June, the PGA TOUR season will culminate on Labor Day with the 36th and ultimate event of the 2019-’20 season. In recognition of its latest FedExCup champion, the PGA TOUR will become one of professional sports’ first leagues to successfully return to competition and ultimately crown a season-long champion.

PAYNE STEWART AWARD CEREMONY, WEDNESDAY AT 6:30 P.M. ET: GOLF Channel will air live coverage of the Payne Stewart Award ceremony at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Twelve-time PGA TOUR winner Zach Johnson is the 2020 recipient of the Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company. The award is given annually by the PGA TOUR to a professional golfer who best exemplifies Stewart’s steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship. NBC Sports’ Dan Hicks will host the ceremony.

COMPREHENSIVE NEWS COVERAGE: GOLF Channel’s news programs, Golf Central and Morning Drive, will provide comprehensive wraparound news coverage surrounding the TOUR Championship, including Todd Lewis reporting from on-site at East Lake Golf Club throughout the week for Golf Central.

Golf Central in-studio pre and post-round coverage will feature analysis from Brandel Chamblee and Jim Gallagher Jr., across each of the four rounds, Friday-Monday.

DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: GOLF Channel Digital will have comprehensive editorial coverage of the TOUR Championship with columns and daily blogs, led by on-site coverage from senior writer Rex Hoggard.

GOLF Channel’s social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – will provide expanded social coverage surrounding the TOUR Championship. GOLF Channel and NBC also will integrate social media content throughout its live tournament telecasts, incorporating social media posts from players and fans. News and tournament action surrounding the TOUR Championship can be accessed at any time on any mobile device and online via GOLF Channel Digital. Fans also can stream NBC Sports’ coverage of live golf via NBC Sports.com and the NBC Sports App.

NBC SPORTS’ TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP LIVE TOURNAMENT COVERAGE (ET):

TOUR Championship (Sept. 4-7)
Friday, Sept. 4	10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Featured Groups)	PGA TOUR LIVE
	1-6 p.m. (Live)	GOLF Channel
Saturday, Sept. 5	11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Featured Groups)	PGA TOUR LIVE
	1-6 p.m. (Live)	GOLF Channel
Sunday, Sept. 6	10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Featured Groups)	PGA TOUR LIVE
	1-3 p.m. (Live)	GOLF Channel
	3-7 p.m. (Live)	NBC
Monday, Sept. 7	10:30 a.m.-Noon (Featured Groups)	PGA TOUR LIVE
	Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live)	GOLF Channel
	1:30-6 p.m. (Live)	NBC

-NBC Sports Group-

Blessings Golf Club (Fayetteville, Ark.) to Host Simultaneous Men’s & Women’s

Competition in Celebration of College Golf’s Return, Airing Live on GOLF Channel

ORLANDO, Fla., (Sept. 1, 2020) – GOLF Channel announced today a multi-year partnership with Blessings Golf Club and Tyson Foods to create and televise the Blessings Collegiate Invitational presented by Tyson Foods, a new men’s and women’s college golf championship that will take place at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark., Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 5-7. Marking the first televised event for the 2020-‘21 college golf season, the announcement was made today by John Tyson, founder of Blessings Golf Club and Chairman of Tyson Foods, Inc., and Tom Knapp, GOLF Channel executive vice president of programming and partnerships.

The Blessings Collegiate Invitational will feature men’s and women’s teams competing in a 54-hole stroke play format for individual and team honors. GOLF Channel will deliver live tournament coverage all three days, complemented by news and digital coverage.

“Tyson Foods believes strongly in the power of college athletics to shape the leaders of tomorrow and to inspire our country today,” said Tyson. “Through the Blessings Collegiate Invitational, we are proud to give college golfers a platform to compete, and fans another chance to view these incredible athletes. In these challenging times, it’s important to show how our lives can continue by supporting athletic programs that contribute to the success and future of the sport in a safe and responsible way.”

“As we continue to expand our college golf platform, partnering with Mr. Tyson and the Blessings Golf Club to create a new collegiate event in Northwest Arkansas underscores GOLF Channel’s commitment to raising the profile of college golf,” said Knapp. “Our viewers saw this firsthand in 2019 with Arkansas’ Maria Fassi completing her college career by winning the individual national championship on her home course. We look forward to highlighting the sport’s future stars in October.”

Blessings Collegiate Invitational Airtimes on GOLF Channel (All Times EST):

Monday, Oct. 5           4:30-7:30 p.m. (Live)

Tuesday, Oct. 6           4:30-7:30 p.m. (Live)

Wednesday, Oct. 7      4:30-7:30 p.m. (Live)

The Blessings Collegiate Invitational is expected to feature some of college golf’s top-ranked individuals, including Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (South Carolina – No. 1 in World Amateur Golf Ranking) and Ingrid Lindblad (LSU – No. 4) in the women’s field, along with Ricky Castillo (Florida – No. 2) and Davis Thompson (Georgia – No. 4) on the men’s side. Five of the top-25 in the current PGA TOUR University ranking are expected to take part in the men’s competition, including: Thompson (No. 4), John Augenstein (Vanderbilt – No. 9) and Jovan Rebula (Auburn – No. 10).

In partnership with the University of Arkansas, Blessings Golf Club served as host for the NCAA Women’s and Men’s Division I Golf Championships in 2019, with both events televised live on GOLF Channel. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and refreshed by Kyle Phillips, the course originally opened in 2004, and previously hosted the men’s NCAA regional in 2013.

The 2020 Blessings Collegiate Invitational will be contested without spectators. Event officials are working closely with Blessings Golf Club and other health-related resources to carefully monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers will implement increased health and sanitation procedures in effort to protect the health and safety of the players, coaches, officials, staff and production personnel on-site.

The Blessings Collegiate Invitational becomes one of six college golf championships televised on GOLF Channel, which includes the NCAA Women’s and Men’s Division I Golf National Championships, taking place in May of 2021 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

GOLF Channel is the television home for college golf. Following its announcement in 2013 as the exclusive television provider of the NCAA Golf Championships, GOLF Channel has provided live coverage of the men’s NCAA championships since 2014 and the women’s NCAA championships since 2015, which now are hosted at the same venue in consecutive weeks.

Throughout the collegiate golf season, GOLF Channel will deploy its comprehensive portfolio of news, digital and social media coverage year-round in covering collegiate golf, including specials for regional and national qualifying, on-site and wraparound news from golf’s biggest college events, and year-end award shows for the Haskins and ANNIKA Awards presented by Stifel.

-NBC Sports Group-

Mickelson Aiming for First PGA TOUR Champions Win; Final Round of

Charles Schwab Series Airs Today at 1 p.m. ET, Live on GOLF Channel

Korn Ferry TOUR Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance

Airing from Indiana, Thursday-Sunday Live on GOLF Channel

LPGA Stages Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Friday-Sunday

European Tour Hosts UK Championship; Live Coverage on GOLF Channel

ORLANDO, Fla., (Aug. 26, 2020) – The PGA TOUR is outside of Chicago this week for the BMW Championship, the second of three FedExCup Playoff events. Being contested at Olympia Fields, the tournament will feature 69 players positioned inside the top-70 of the FedExCup standings, with the top-30 advancing to next week’s season-culminating TOUR Championship in Atlanta. NBC Sports will carry exclusive live tournament coverage of the two-week stretch across GOLF Channel and NBC, as the network’s live tournament broadcast team reconvenes for its first on-site PGA TOUR production since THE PLAYERS Championship in March. Today at 1 p.m. ET live on GOLF Channel, Phil Mickelson will look to win his inaugural start on the PGA TOUR Champions, where he holds a four-shot lead entering the final round of the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National in Missouri. The Korn Ferry TOUR Championship takes place in Indiana this week, with the top-10 on the points list at week’s end gaining access into select PGA TOUR events next season. Danielle Kang headlines the field on the LPGA Tour this week at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, with coverage airing Friday-Sunday on GOLF Channel. The European Tour hosts the UK Championship at the Belfry, with live coverage Thursday-Sunday on GOLF Channel.

PGA TOUR

BMW Championship

Dates: Aug. 27-30

Venue: Olympia Fields Country Club (North Course), Olympia Fields, Ill.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         3-7 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Friday              3-7 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)

Saturday          Noon-3 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)

Sunday            1-3 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):

Saturday          3-6 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            3-7 p.m. (Live)

PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold (Eastern):                              

Thursday                     12:15-3 p.m. (Featured Groups)

• Daniel Berger/Dustin Johnson/Justin Thomas (1:03 p.m. ET)
• Carlos Ortiz/Bubba Watson/Tiger Woods (1:14 p.m. ET)

Friday                          12:15-3 p.m. (Featured Groups)

• Rory McIlroy/Brendon Todd/Xander Schauffele (12:52 p.m. ET)
• Bryson DeChambeau/Harris English/Collin Morikawa (1:03 p.m. ET)

Broadcast Notes:

“BMW Match Play Challenge” airing today at 3 p.m. ET: Four players in the field this week will convene this afternoon to take part in the BMW Match Play Challenge, a nine-hole charity exhibition to benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation. The match will take place on the back nine of Olympia Fields’ North Course and feature Collin Morikawa and Max Homa teaming up against Bryson DeChambeau and Kevin Na. The format will be a six-point Scotch match, with the two-man teams competing to earn up to six points per hole. The competition will air as a PGA TOUR LIVE production, and is being simulcast live on GOLF Channel beginning at 3 p.m. ET today.

FedExCup Playoffs continue with top-70 in the standings: Sixty-nine players are in the field at the BMW Championship, featuring the current top-70 in the FedExCup standings. Webb Simpson (No. 3 in the standings) opted to skip this week’s tournament in advance of next week’s season-culminating TOUR Championship in Atlanta.

Thomas defends: Justin Thomas finished three shots ahead of Patrick Cantlay at Medinah Country Club to earn his 10th PGA TOUR win.

Headlining the field: Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger, Collin Morikawa, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, Sungjae Im, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

NBC Sports Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Dan Hicks / Steve Sands

Analyst: Paul Azinger / Curt Byrum

Tower: Gary Koch / David Feherty

On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Mark Rolfing

Reporter: Steve Sands / George Savaricas

Essays: Jimmy Roberts

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National

Date: Aug. 26

Venue: Ozarks National Golf Course, Ridgedale, Mo.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Wednesday     1-3 p.m. (Live) / 1-3 a.m. (Thursday replay)

Broadcast Notes:

Mickelson vying for PGA TOUR Champions victory in inaugural start: World Golf Hall of Fame member Phil Mickelson holds a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National. After turning 50 in June, Mickelson is making his inaugural start on the PGA TOUR Champions, with live final round coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET this afternoon on GOLF Channel. Rod Pampling and Tim Petrovic each trail Mickelson by four shots heading into the final round.

KORN FERRY TOUR

Korn Ferry TOUR Championship

Dates: Aug. 27-30

Venue: Victoria National Golf Club, Newburgh, Ind.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         1-3 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Friday replay)

Friday              1-3 p.m. (Live)

Saturday          3-5 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            3-5 p.m. (Live) / 5-7 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast Notes:

Korn Ferry TOUR Championship: This week marks the 12th Korn Ferry TOUR event being staged following a 14-week hiatus due to COVID-19. With the creation of a combined 2020-’21 wraparound season, PGA TOUR cards will not be awarded this year. Instead, the top-10 on the points list at the end of this week will gain access into select PGA TOUR events next season.

U.S. Open exemptions up for grabs: The top-five cumulative point earners across the Albertsons Boise Open, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship and Korn Ferry TOUR Championship (not already exempt) will earn a spot in the field at next month’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club.

Headlining the field: Will Zalatoris, Davis Riley, Lee Hodges, Taylor Pendrith, Paul Barjon,

Mito Pereira, Stephan Jaeger, Dylan Wu, Chad Ramey, David Lipsky, Jared Wolfe and Max McGreevy.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Steve Burkowski

Analyst: Craig Perks

Tower: Phil Blackmar

On-Course: Gary Christian

LPGA

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship

Dates: Aug. 28-30

Venue: Pinnacle Country Club, Rogers, Ark.

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Friday             7:30-9:30 p.m. (Tape delay) / 2-5 p.m. (Streaming on GOLF Channel Digital)

Saturday          5-7 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            5-7 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

Gillman, Knight and Lincicome to be “mic’d up” during Friday’s opening round: GOLF Channel will “mic up” Kristen Gillman, Cheyenne Knight and Brittany Lincicome during Friday’s opening round coverage. While competing in the same group, each player will wear a microphone to provide an inside-the-ropes perspective for fans tuning in during the course of the telecast.

Noh to be spotlighted in “rookie feature”: During Saturday’s second round telecast, Yealimi Noh will be spotlighted as part of a “rookie feature,” focusing on her inaugural season on the LPGA Tour.

Rankin returns to broadcast booth for first time in 2020: This week, World Golf Hall of Fame member Judy Rankin will resume her 10th season as GOLF Channel’s lead LPGA Tour analyst, and 36th year overall in television.

Headlining the field: Danielle Kang, Nelly Korda, Minjee Lee, Sei Young Kim, Nasa Hataoka, Inbee Park, Brooke Henderson, Ariya Jutanugarn, Carlota Ciganda, Jessica Korda, Stacy Lewis, Gaby Lopez, Maria Fassi and Alexa Pano (a).

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Grant Boone

Analyst: Judy Rankin

Tower: Jim Gallagher Jr.

On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Karen Stupples

EUROPEAN TOUR

UK Championship

Dates: Aug. 27-30

Venue: The Belfry (Brabazon Course), Sutton Coldfield, England

Tournament Airtimes on GOLF Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         7-9 a.m. / 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)

Friday              7-9 a.m. / 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)

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

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

Broadcast Notes:

Headlining the field: Martin Kaymer, Bernd Wiesberger, Danny Willett, Matt Wallace, Lee Westwood, Eddie Pepperell, Thomas Bjorn, Haotong Li and Victor Perez.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Dominik Holyer

Analyst: Richard Boxall

On-Course: Wayne Riley / Warren Humphreys / Anthony Wall

Reporter: Tim Barter

-NBC Sports Group-