“I don’t know how you can say that you see anything but wonderful things in her future.” – Judy Rankin on 2021 ANA Inspiration champion Patty Tavatanakit (18-under)

“Holding off a charge from one of the game’s best, and one of the great final rounds you’re going to see from Lydia Ko, she had an answer every step of the way.” – Terry Gannon on Tavatanakit’s final round

“The 62 today, we saw the Lydia of old… If she can keep doing this more consistently, she’s going to be that force to be reckoned with that we saw in 2014, 2015.” – Amanda Blumenherst on Lydia Ko (16-under, 2^nd)

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 4, 2021 – NBC Sports presented final round coverage of the ANA Inspiration, golf’s first major of 2021, today on GOLF Channel from Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Cal.

Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (-18) won her first career major title, which also marked her first LPGA Tour win, holding off a final round charge from Lydia Ko (-16, second place), who tied a course record with a 62 in today’s final round.

ANA Inspiration – Final Leaderboard

On Patty Tavatanakit (18-under, 2021 ANA Inspiration champion)

Terry Gannon: “With power and poise, Patty Tavatanakit is a major champion…Holding off a charge from one of the game’s best, and one of the great final rounds you’re going to see from Lydia Ko, she had an answer every step of the way.”

Judy Rankin: “She’s the kind of player that she wants to have the chance, she wants to have the shot. I don’t know how you can say that you see anything but wonderful things in her future.”

Rankin: “Not only did Patty win, but we saw what she’s capable of, and that is really interesting as you go on through this season and the next seasons…Seeing that kind of distance and that kind of control and those kind of scores from a player that we had not seen it from ever before, is really eye-opening.”

Jerry Foltz: “She’s special, and I think that pretty much sums it up…She came out with more on the line than she’s ever had in her life, had somebody chasing her down in almost historic fashion, and never really blinked.”

Amanda Blumenherst on Tavatanakit’s distance: “We have long hitters out on the LPGA Tour, but there’s nothing like this and it’s also consistent. She’s consistently hitting it far and in the fairway…It makes life a lot easier when you have a short wedge into a green.”

On Lydia Ko (16-under, 2nd)

Gannon: “What a day for Lydia Ko, kind of signaling that she is all the way back and ready to win again.”

Rankin: “There’s something very unusual about someone really good starting to fight it, to lose it, and then to do all the work and all the things you must do mentally to regain it. That’s a different kind of confidence. That’s got to really make you strong.”

Blumenherst: “The 62 today, we saw the Lydia of old when this was going to be the next Annika (Sorenstam), and this is the next Lorena (Ochoa)…If she can keep doing this, maybe not week-in and week-out, but more consistently, she’s going to be that force to be reckoned with that we saw in 2014, 2015.”

Billy Kratzert: “When you think about what Lydia Ko had done and where she started, it was amazing…Lydia, she found her game.”

–NBC SPORTS–

“This is a player who can play from anywhere. If she keeps it out of penalty areas, I don’t know where she can’t play from if she has a swing at the ball.” – Judy Rankin on leader Patty Tavatanakit (14-under)

“It doesn’t seem like she’s going to come back to the field. It seems like, to me, somebody’s got to go after it, and come after her early.” – Terry Gannon on Tavatanakit’s lead heading into the final round

“The defending champ, she obviously knows this golf course and has a great feel for it. So, she’s definitely in the hunt.” – Amanda Blumenherst on Mirim Lee (9-under, T-2^nd)

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 3, 2021 – NBC Sports presented third round coverage of the ANA Inspiration, golf’s first major of 2021, today on GOLF Channel from Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Cal.

Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (-14) leads the field heading into Sunday’s final round, with coverage beginning tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel.

ANA Inspiration – Third Round Leaderboard

On Patty Tavatanakit (14-under, leader) on her lead heading into the final round

Judy Rankin: “This is a player who can play from anywhere. If she keeps it out of penalty areas, I don’t know where she can’t play from if she has a swing at the ball. When you hit it as far as she hits it, any trouble that you get into is minimized, because you’re so much closer to the green. It’s a different proposition tomorrow than we’ve seen.”

Rankin: “It’s so much fun to watch someone who is just maturing into their complete game, which is what she’s doing this week. If she has any little slip up, and someone catches fire and makes two or three birdies early, it could be a different story. But she clearly has the ability to run away with this.”

Terry Gannon: “It doesn’t seem like she’s going to come back to the field. It seems like, to me, somebody’s got to go after it, and come after her early.”

Whit Watson: “A host of major champions trying to chase down a 21-year-old at the ANA Inspiration, and unable to do so on Saturday. That was one of the more impressive rounds I’ve seen all year on the LPGA Tour.”

Amanda Blumenherst: “This is a major championship. The golf course is not playing easy; Patty made it look easy today.”

On Mirim Lee (9-under, T-2)

Blumenherst: “She’s right there. The defending champ, she obviously knows this golf course and has a great feel for it. So, she’s definitely in the hunt.”

On contenders at the ANA Inspiration

Blumenherst: “What I take from the chasers…all those major winners that were at minus-five starting the round, they really didn’t give anything away. And Patty, just really, she was the star of the show today.”

Billy Kratzert: “Different styles of play. Is length going to win? Probably.”

–NBC SPORTS–

More Than 500 Tournament Hours of Women’s Golf Coverage – Most Hours and Events Ever Dedicated to Women’s Golf in a Single Year 

Schedule Highlighted by Coverage of 34 LPGA Tour Events, including all Five Major Championships  

Golf at Tokyo Olympics Headlines Summer Slate of Global Events 

Solheim Cup from Inverness Club on Labor Day Weekend Across NBC and GOLF Channel

STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 17, 2021 – NBC Sports presents 34 LPGA Tour events in 2021, headlined by live coverage of all five major championships, as well as the Solheim Cup and the women’s golf at the Summer Olympics, in a season that marks the record purse total in women’s professional golf at more than $78 million.

In additional to LPGA Tour coverage, with the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, NBC Sports will produce more than 500 tournament hours of women’s golf coverage in 2021, the most hours and events ever dedicated to the women’s game in a single year.

Highlights of NBC’s 2021 LPGA Tour coverage include:

• Live coverage of all five major championships: ANA Inspiration (April 1-4), U.S. Women’s Open (June 3-6), KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (June 24-27), Amundi Evian Championship (July 22-25) and AIG Women’s Open (Aug. 19-22).

• The Solheim Cup, which pits the best 12 players from the United States against their European counterparts, taking place at storied Inverness Club on NBC and GOLF Channel on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4-6).

• The world’s top players convening upon Kasumigaseki Country Club, with NBC Sports airing comprehensive coverage of the women’s Olympic golf competition.

• The 2021 season finale at the CME Group Tour Championship (Nov. 18-21), with the winner receiving $1.5 million, the largest single prize in women’s golf history.

• 50th anniversary celebrations at the ANA Inspiration (April 1-4) and Cambia Portland Classic (Sept. 16-19)

• Introducing fans to the many diverse Members of the LPGA Tour

“Players on the LPGA Tour come from all walks of life, from countries literally circling the globe. Thanks to our friends at NBC and GOLF Channel, fans across the country will have so many opportunities to get to know these athletes and learn their inspirational stories,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “The future of the game really is female, and I can’t wait for our fans – especially all the young girls watching the telecast – to get to know these athletes who have made such an impact on my life and my career.”

“With more than 30 LPGA Tour events, all five majors, the Tokyo Olympics and the Solheim Cup, NBC Sports is primed to deliver unprecedented coverage of women’s golf in 2021,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer, GOLF Channel and NBC Olympics. “We will present the most hours ever dedicated to the women’s game in 2021 and continue to elevate the LPGA Tour’s stars throughout these fantastic international events.”

GOLF Channel and NBC’s team of commentators for the 2021 season will include Terry Gannon and Grant Boone as play-by-play hosts; Hall-of-Famer and 26-time LPGA Tour winner Judy Rankin, Paige Mackenzie and Karen Stupples as analysts; and Tom Abbott, Jerry Foltz, Kay Cockerill, Jim Gallagher Jr. and Stupples as hole announcers and on-course reporters.

NBC Sports’ 2021 LPGA Tour Schedule

Note: Dates and networks are subject to change

ABOUT THE LPGA

The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 Members representing more than 30 countries. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while the Symetra Tour, the official development and qualifying tour of the LPGA, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. Additionally, LPGA Professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management.

The LPGA demonstrates its dedication to the development of the game through The LPGA Foundation. Since 1991, this charitable organization has been committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental, humanitarian and golf community initiatives, including LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the LPGA Women’s Network and the LPGA Amateur Golf Association.

Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via http://www.LPGA.com. Join the social conversation at http://www.facebook.com/lpga, http://www.twitter.com/lpga and http://www.youtube.com/lpgavideo, and on Instagram at @lpga_tour.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS GROUP’S GOLF DIVISION

NBC Sports Group’s GOLF division delivers multimedia golf content, technology and services. Anchored by GOLF Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 – GOLF Channel content is available to nearly 500 million viewers in nine languages across more than 70 countries around the world. GOLF features more live coverage of the sport than all other U.S. networks combined, including global tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, European Tour, NCAA, THE PLAYERS, The Open, Olympics, Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering unmatched coverage from the world of golf via GOLF Channel Digital, fans can access 24/7 live streaming through the NBC Sports app, as well as complementary coverage via PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold. In addition, NBC Sports connects the world to golf through a wide array of technology and lifestyle services, including: GolfNow, the world’s largest online tee-time marketplace; GOLF Business Solutions, solving business needs through leading technology, marketing and services; GolfPass, an all-in-one digital membership delivering comprehensive benefits tailored to the modern golfer’s lifestyle; and GOLF Advisor, the ultimate digital destination for the traveling golfer, featuring the largest number of user-generated golf course ratings and reviews in the industry. GOLF’s global reach originates from its world headquarters in Orlando, Fla., and extends to its international office in Belfast, Northern Ireland; regional offices across North America, Europe and Australia; and also includes collaborations with Sky Sports and serving as the Official Media Partner of St Andrews Links.

–NBC SPORTS–

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

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

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

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

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.

–NBC SPORTS–