Sports Media News

Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases

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

By 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–

PGA TOUR SONY OPEN LIVE IN PRIMETIME THIS WEEK FROM HONOLULU ON GOLF CHANNEL

By Leave a Comment

PGA TOUR Hawaii Swing Continues This Week at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu

Golf Today and Golf Central Provide Wraparound Tournament Coverage Thursday-Sunday on GOLF Channel

Broadcast Team: Steve Sands, Justin Leonard, Mark Rolfing, Jim “Bones” Mackay, John Wood, Todd Lewis

GOLF Channel and NBC Deliver Most-Watched PGA TOUR Sentry Tournament of Champions Since 2017

STAMFORD, Conn. – Jan. 13, 2021 – The PGA TOUR continues its Hawaii swing with the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii, live in primetime Thursday-Sunday on GOLF Channel. The first full-field PGA TOUR event of the year features Sentry Tournament of Champions winner Harris English attempting to join Justin Thomas and Ernie Els as the players to win both events in Hawaii in the same year since 1999.

Last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions on GOLF Channel and NBC was the most-watched edition of the event since 2017, averaging 477,000 viewers across the two networks, up 4% vs. 2020 (457,000 viewers). Additional Sentry Tournament of Champions viewership highlights:

  • Most-watched First and Third Rounds on GOLF Channel since 2018
  • Most-watched Second Round on GOLF Channel since 2016
  • Final Round on GOLF Channel/NBC up 12% vs. comparable Third Round on GOLF Channel/NBC last year.

GOLF Channel Broadcast Team – Sony Open

  • Play by Play: Steve Sands
  • Analyst: Justin Leonard
  • Tower: Mark Rolfing
  • On-Course: Jim “Bones” Mackay / John Wood
  • Interviews: Todd Lewis


HOW TO WATCH – THURSDAY, JAN. 14 – SUNDAY, JAN. 17

  • TV – GOLF Channel
  • Streaming – NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app
Date GOLF Channel
Thursday 7–10:30 p.m.
Friday 7–10:30 p.m.
Saturday 7–10:30 p.m.
Sunday 6–10 p.m.

*All times Eastern


NOTABLES PLAYERS THIS WEEK

  • Adam Scott
  • Collin Morikawa
  • Harris English
  • Jim Furyk
  • Sergio Garcia
  • Webb Simpson
  • Zach Johnson
  • Matt Kuchar
  • Sungjae Im


BROADCAST NOTES

  • Aloha State of Mind: The Sony Open marks the first full-field PGA TOUR event of the year. Sentry Tournament of Champions winner Harris English attempts to join Justin Thomas (2017) and Ernie Els (2003) as the players to win both events in Hawaii in the same year since 1999.
  • Smith defends: Cameron Smith defeated Brendan Steele in a playoff to earn his second career PGA TOUR victory at the 2020 Sony Open.
  • 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 Wednesday-Sunday editions of Golf Today. Cara Banks, Brandel Chamblee and Jaime Diaz contribute to Golf Central pre- and post-round coverage this week.
Date Golf Today Golf Central
Thursday 4-6 p.m. 6-7 p.m./10:30-11:30 p.m.
Friday 4-6 p.m. 6-7 p.m./10:30-11:30 p.m.
Saturday 4-6 p.m. 6-7 p.m./10:30-11:30 p.m.
Sunday 3-5 p.m. 5-6 p.m./10-11 p.m.

 

–NBC SPORTS–

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

By 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-

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

By

 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-

 

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

By

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–

ESPN+ to Stream PGA TOUR Featured Hole Coverage at 23 Events in 2021

By

ESPN+ and the PGA TOUR have reached an agreement for ESPN+ to stream live, featured-hole coverage from 23 PGA TOUR events in 2021, starting with the Farmers Insurance Open in January and continuing through the FedExCup Playoffs and the TOUR Championship in September. The new agreement follows a similar pact that covered 12 events in 2020 and comes ahead of the launch of PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+, as part of the nine-year U.S. rights agreement announced in March, which begins in 2022.

The post ESPN+ to Stream PGA TOUR Featured Hole Coverage at 23 Events in 2021 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

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

By

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–

Notable Quotes: Golf Central Live From the Masters (Second Round)

By

GOLF Channel Notable Quotes

Golf Central Live From the Masters – Second Round (In Progress)

Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.

Friday, Nov. 13

**Second Round play was suspended due to darkness and will resume Saturday morning**

On Dustin Johnson (9-under, T-1st)

Brandel Chamblee – “There’s nobody in the game that makes golf look simpler than Dustin Johnson and that was the case today…we talk all the time about how carefree he looks – well I guess it’s easy to be carefree when you know where it’s going, and he certainly knew where it was going today.”

Justin Leonard – “The one concern I have with DJ is the difference between the time it takes him to hit a driver or an iron shot or a chip around the green – the difference between that and his putting routine…part of it I think is the difficulty this week without the greens book…this is anything but a normal week at The Masters because they don’t allow those books. I’m sure he’s come up with some sort of system, but it isn’t what he’s used to.”

On Justin Thomas (9-under, T-1st)

Leonard – “He’s making the adjustment around the greens to suit the conditions of the golf course…just really fun to watch. It’s almost not fair when you’ve got that many tools to play with.”

On Jon Rahm (8-under thru 12, T-5th)

Chamblee – “It’s very likely that tomorrow when he finishes his (second) round, he will have a lead of one, two or maybe even three shots with so many gettable holes right in front of him.”

Leonard – “Two years ago, you could see the frustration…I’d be worried about it (but) I’m not worried about it anymore. He’s shown me enough determination and grit…Jon Rahm is a real student of the game and I think of any Major championship, the history and willingness to get into it pays off most at The Masters…I have no doubt that he will win here at some point in his career and I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s multiple times.”

On Tiger Woods (4-under thru 10, T-22nd)

Chamblee – “Numerous things have impressed me about Tiger Woods…when you see Tiger Woods working it in both directions, it certainly gives you hope for this weekend.”

Leonard – “He needs to get it to 6-under…the four or five shots back doesn’t concern me, but just the number of players and quality players at the top of the leaderboard. I think he’d feel great if he could get into the clubhouse at 6-under through two rounds. He’s got to hope the greens firm up, the pace comes up, and the course gets a little tougher because that’s when real experience pays off.”

On Bryson DeChambeau (1-over thru 12, T-61st)

Leonard – “He’s looked off.”

Chamblee – “I thought you were going to say awful.”

Leonard – “The driver’s been fun to watch. Where he hit it on No. 2, where he hit it on No. 5…but the iron game hasn’t been very good.”

Chamblee – “I think his play has been a reminder just how great a golf course this is and how there’s so much integrity to its design.”

On 2020 Masters Through Friday

Leonard – “A lot of surprises…surprising how soft and slow the golf course still is. A little surprised at how bunched up the leaderboard is. A little surprised that we’ve got massive hitters and a couple shorter hitters (at the top of the leaderboard)…I thought somebody would break out because the scoring is so good.”

Chamblee – “I can’t remember the last time I saw this many great iron shots the first two days at The Masters. Ordinarily these greens are about as hard to hit as a Gaylord Perry spitball. They’ve been more like slow-pitch softball.”

-NBC Sports Group-