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“BECOMING ANNIKA” – DOCUMENTARY PROFILING GOLF ICON ANNIKA SORENSTAM – PREMIERES MAY 10 ON GOLF CHANNEL

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Narrated by Academy Award-Winning Actress Hilary Swank

Includes Interviews With Members of Sorenstam’s Family and World Golf Hall of Famers Dame Laura Davies, Juli Inkster and Nancy Lopez

“Becoming ANNIKA” Produced By All-Female Production Crew

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 3, 2022 – “Becoming ANNIKA” – a new documentary produced by NBC Sports in conjunction with the United States Golf Association profiling the life and career of golf icon Annika Sorenstam – will premiere Tuesday, May 10, at 9 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank narrates “Becoming ANNIKA,” which brings viewers on Sorenstam’s journey from her hometown golf course in Sweden to becoming one of the most prolific golfers in history. The film also touches on Annika’s personal life and her foundation work, providing women’s golf opportunities to girls at the junior, collegiate and professional levels.

Click here to watch a preview.

“Watching a movie about yourself, it’s a bit surreal. It’s interesting to hear other people’s perspectives,” said Sorenstam. “Of course, I’ve spoken with my caddie many times and with my kids all the time, but for them to speak when I’m not there, the film just captures it all beautifully.”

The documentary, which began production at the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, Sorenstam’s first USGA championship in 13 years, features interviews with members of Sorenstam’s family, as well as influential players, executives and reporters within the game of golf, including:

  • Parents Tom and Gunilla Sorenstam
  • Sister Charlotta Sorenstam
  • Husband Mike McGee
  • Former caddie Terry McNamara
  • World Golf Hall of Famers Dame Laura Davies, Juli Inkster and Nancy Lopez
  • Two-time major winner and current golf analyst Dottie Pepper
  • USGA CEO Mike Whan
  • Long-time golf reporters Beth Ann Nichols and Ron Sirak

 

“Becoming ANNIKA” was produced in conjunction with Greenlight Production and GO Agency by an all-female production crew – led by executive producer Staci Green and Emmy Award-winning director Adrienne Gallagher – and marks the latest documentary from GOLF Channel’s GOLF Films division, overseen by Emmy Award-winning coordinating producer Israel DeHerrera.

“When we committed to an all-female production crew, we promised to deliver a film that you couldn’t tell was made by women,” said Gallagher, “but ultimately I think you can. And that’s a good thing.”

“Becoming ANNIKA” will also be shown on the NBC broadcast network on Sunday, June 5, ahead of final round coverage of the 77th U.S. Women’s Open Presented by ProMedica from Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

ABOUT GOLF & NBC SPORTS

NBC Sports delivers comprehensive live golf tournament, studio and shoulder programming; technology; and services around the sport of golf. Anchored by GOLF Channel, NBC Sports, GOLF Channel and USA Network feature more live coverage of the sport than all other U.S. television networks combined, including global tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, DP World Tour, NCAA, USGA Championships – including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open – Olympics, The Ryder Cup and The Presidents Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. GOLF Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 – is available to nearly 500 million viewers in nine languages across more than 70 countries. 24/7 live streaming can be accessed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, as well as exclusive content on Peacock.

NBC Sports Next, the sports and technology services division of NBC Sports, complements NBC Sports and GOLF Channel’s comprehensive golf coverage by reaching millions of consumers via GolfNow, the leading online tee-time marketplace and provider of golf course operations technology and services; and GolfPass, the ultimate golf membership that connects golfers to exclusive content, tee time credits, coaching, tips and other benefits.

ABOUT GREENLIGHT PRODUCTIONS

Greenlight is an Emmy Award-winning, full-service video production house specializing in features, commercials, documentaries, branded content, and live television. Founded in 2020 as a branch of GO, a full-service marketing communications agency with locations in Hartford,
Connecticut and Atlanta, Georgia, Greenlight comprises a team of insightful producers and directors who believe in the impact of storytelling through video. For more information about Greenlight, visit www.greenlightproductions.com.

-NBC SPORTS-

GOLF CHANNEL DETAILS JOURNEY TO U.S. OPEN WITH RETURN OF “GOLF’S LONGEST DAY” AND FROM MANY, ONE: INSIDE THE 2021 U.S. OPEN DOCUSERIES

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GOLF Channel Covers U.S. Open Final Qualifying With 10 Hours of Coverage From Nine Sites Across the U.S. on Monday, June 7

From Many, One: INSIDE THE 2021 U.S. OPEN Docuseries Debuts June 8 on GOLF Channel – Featuring 2020 U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau, 2020 U.S. Amateur Champion Tyler Strafaci, and San Diego Native Xander Schauffele

Darius Rucker to Narrate From Many One: INSIDE THE 2021 U.S. OPEN

 

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 25, 2021  – GOLF Channel chronicles the path taken by thousands of golfers who dream of becoming U.S. Open champions, beginning June 7 with the return of “Golf’s Longest Day” on GOLF Channel, featuring live coverage and reports from U.S. Open Final Qualifying sites around the country.

The following night, Tuesday, June 8, at 8 p.m. ET, GOLF Channel, in partnership with the USGA, will debut From Many, One: INSIDE THE 2021 U.S. OPEN. The three-part docuseries is headlined by 2020 U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau, San Diego native Xander Schauffele, and U.S. Amateur Champion Tyler Strafaci as they prepare for the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

“GOLF’S LONGEST DAY” – MONDAY, JUNE 7 BEGINNING AT 7 A.M. ET ON GOLF CHANNEL

“Golf’s Longest Day” coverage will begin at 7 a.m. ET and continue through 9 a.m. as the players on the east coast begin their rounds. From Noon to 2 p.m. ET, GOLF Channel will feature interviews, analysis, highlights and scoring updates from nine U.S. Open Final Qualifying Sites in the U.S., as well as insight from experts located at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) – site of next month’s U.S. Open – and GOLF Channel studios in Stamford, Conn.

Elevated coverage plans will continue from 6 p.m. until final results, and the U.S. Open field is nearly completed at around midnight ET.

Shane Bacon, Damon Hack, Anna Whiteley, Jaime Diaz and Tripp Isenhour will anchor studio coverage. Rich Lerner and Paige Mackenzie will report from Torrey Pines. Following are reporting assignments across the U.S. Open Final Qualifying locations:

Reporter Course
George Savaricas Long Cove Club – Hilton Head, S.C.
Ryan Lavner The Bear’s Club – Jupiter, Fla.
Steve Burkowski Piedmont Driving Club – Atlanta, Ga.
Hailey Hunter Woodmont Country Club (North Course) – Rockville, Md.
Jimmy Roberts Century Country Club & Old Oaks Country Club – Purchase, N.Y.
Todd Lewis Brookside Golf & Country Club & The Lakes Golf & Country Club – Columbus, Ohio
Rex Hoggard Springfield Country Club – Springfield, Ohio
Kira K. Dixon Rolling Hills Country Club – Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.
Matt Ginella Meadow Springs Country Club – Richland, Wash.

 

FROM MANY, ONE: INSIDE THE 2021 U.S. OPEN – PREMIERES TUESDAY, JUNE 8 AT 9 P.M. ET ON GOLF CHANNEL

From Many, One: INSIDE THE 2021 U.S. OPEN is an extension of the USGA’s “From Many One” campaign launched in March of 2020. The three-part docuseries focuses on the “open” nature of the championship, the grit and determination it takes to become a U.S. Open champion, and the triumph for the select few who will make the field.

Produced by GOLF Channel, in partnership with the USGA, the first-of-its-kind docuseries gives fans an all-access pass to defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, San Diego native Xander Schauffele and 2020 U.S. Amateur champion Tyler Strafaci as they prepare for Torrey Pines in June.  From Many, One will also provide an unprecedented glimpse into “Golf’s Longest Day,” complementing GOLF Channel’s comprehensive live coverage on June 7.

Grammy and ACM Award-winning recording artist Darius Rucker will serve as the narrator of the From Many, One docuseries.

“From Many, One: INSIDE THE 2021 U.S. OPEN” is a natural extension of our brand campaign and a celebration of the struggle and commitment of the 10,000 or so players that work to qualify for one of the U.S. Open’s 156 spots,” said Navin Singh, USGA Chief Commercial Officer. “We are excited to use this platform to tell some of their stories while seeing how generational talent prepares for the journey from Many to One.”

“As a golf fan, I’ve always been curious about what went into the preparations and course setup for the U.S. Open,” said Israel DeHerrera, supervising producer of features and films for GOLF Channel.” Our goal is to show that the U.S. Open isn’t just a one-week championship, that preparations extend back weeks, months, and even years. From the players’ perspective, there are a number of storylines for golf fans to sink their teeth into in this docuseries – from well-known stars like Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele, to amateurs like Tyler Strafaci, and 74-year-old Mel Hughes, who’s the oldest of more than 8,500 players who registered to qualify this year.”

NBC SPORTS’ U.S. OPEN COVERAGE

NBC Sports will surround the 2021 U.S. Open with nearly 100 hours of live tournament and studio coverage from Torrey Pines across NBC, GOLF Channel, and Peacock. Coverage windows and commentators will be announced in the coming weeks.

-NBC SPORTS-