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NBC SPORTS DELIVERS SECOND MOST-WATCHED U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IN FIVE YEARS

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Final Round on NBC Averages 5.7 Million Viewers, Up 76% vs. 2020; Viewership Peaks at Nearly 9 Million Viewers

Nearly 40 Hours of U.S. Open Coverage Across NBC and GOLF Channel Average 3.1 Million Viewers, Up 43% vs. 2020

Second Round on GOLF Channel Delivers Network’s Most-Watched Weekday Telecast On Record

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 22, 2021 – NBC Sports’ comprehensive coverage of the 121st U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif., delivered the second most-watched U.S. Open in five years, one of many viewership milestones for the championship across NBC and GOLF Channel last week.

Sunday’s final round coverage on NBC (12-8:36 p.m. ET) averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 5.7 million viewers, up 76% vs. 2020, marking the network’s most-watched golf telecast since the 2018 Tour Championship, won by Tiger Woods. Viewership peaked at nearly 9 million viewers (8.932 million) in the 8-8:15 p.m. ET quarter hour, as Jon Rahm defeated Louis Oosthuizen by one shot for his first career major championship win.

Thursday-Sunday coverage across NBC and GOLF Channel – which totaled nearly 40 hours across the four days – averaged a TAD of 3.1 million viewers, up 43% vs. 2020 to rank as the second most-watched U.S. Open in five years only behind the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, which featured Tiger Woods in contention for all four days. Early round coverage across the NBC and GOLF Channel averaged 1.7 million viewers, also the second most-watched early rounds behind 2019.

The U.S. Open also produced viewership milestones for GOLF Channel. Friday’s second-round coverage (12:30-6 p.m. ET) averaged nearly 1.4 million TV-only viewers to rank as the network’s most-watched weekday telecast on record (since 2006).

Friday’s primetime Live From the U.S. Open studio coverage (10 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET) averaged 247,000 viewers – up 24% vs. the comparable Friday coverage in 2020 and up 129% vs. 2019. Overall, Live From the U.S. Open primetime coverage averaged 147,000 viewers, up 32% vs. 2019.

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – JON RAHM WINS THE 121ST U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP ON NBC (FINAL ROUND)

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“Another one has landed at the 72nd hole! This time for Rahm to take the lead at the U.S. Open!” – Dan Hicks on Jon Rahm’s birdie putt on 18

“That’s a goosebump moment.” – Paul Azinger on Rahm’s putt on 18

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 20, 2021 – NBC Sports presented final round coverage of the 121st U.S. Open Championship from Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., on NBC, capped by Live From the U.S. Open on GOLF Channel.

Jon Rahm (-6), who birdied the 17th and 18th holes, won his first career major with a one-stroke victory over second-place Louis Oosthuizen (-5).

U.S. Open – Final Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Jon Rahm -6
Louis Oosthuizen -5
Harris English -3

 

On Jon Rahm

Rahm to Steve Sands on his U.S. Open Championship: “I’m a big believer in karma and after what happened a couple of weeks ago, I stayed really positive knowing big things were coming…I just felt like the stars were aligning. I knew my best golf was to come and I have a hard time explaining what just happened because I can’t even believe I made the last two putts and I’m the first Spaniard ever to win a U.S. Open. This was definitely for Seve (Ballesteros). I know he tried a lot, and usually we think a lot about him with The Masters, but I know he wanted to win this one most of all.”

Rahm to Sands on Torrey Pines: “It reminds me a lot of back home. It’s not exactly the same, but the coastline, the weather, the temperature…I think it’s something that really just resonates with me. I’m really confident in it.”

Dan Hicks on Rahm’s birdie putt on the 18th: “Another one has landed at the 72nd hole! This time for Rahm to take the lead at the U.S. Open!”

Azinger: “That’s a goosebump moment. What a putt. He had to give this one wide berth, most everyone’s missed this high.”

Azinger: “That’s an old school thinker, that Jon Rahm. He doesn’t come around here on this tour with a big entourage like some of these guys. They’ve got their full swing coach, short game coach, their trainer, their chef, their sports psychologist. Not Jon Rahm.”

Brandel Chamblee on Rahm’s U.S. Open win after The Memorial: “You can call this, as he did, karma. You can call it poetic justice, a reversal of fortune. Or is it misfortune, the reversal of? … But to me, it was the great-hearted, magnanimous statement that he made subsequent to that positive COVID test result that told me as much about what he was made of as his six-shot lead (at The Memorial) did tell me about his form…and I believe it was his constitution that had more to do with those putts falling on the last two holes. ”

On the final round

Dan Hicks on the leaderboard backing up: “We’ve seen some real crash and burns here in the last half hour.”

Azinger: “I said the cream has risen to the top, but it looks to me like it’s just soured…All of a sudden, the best players on the planet are just folding up on some shots…it’s still so hard to close the deal.”

Gary Koch on field’s collective back-nine struggles: “I have seen some shots on this back nine today that I haven’t seen in quite some time.”

On Louis Oosthuizen

Hicks: “He looks like he’s just out there for a little Sunday stroll.”

Roger Maltbie on 18 prior to Oosthuizen’s tee shot: “(Oosthuizen’s playing partner) Mackenzie Hughes said a very classy thing to me in the middle of the last fairway. He said, ‘I wish I could have given this tee shot to Louis.’”

Azinger on Oosthuizen’s tee shot on 17 into the hazard: “I can’t get that tee shot out of my head. I just can’t believe he hit it in the hazard.”

On Bryson DeChambeau, who shot 44 on the back nine

Azinger: “I think all of the wind went out of his sails – and his focus.”

Hicks: “He’s just become unraveled…I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like this. A guy on the back nine trying to make it back-to-back U.S. Open titles has just imploded.”

–NBC SPORTS–

NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 121ST U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP ON NBC (THIRD ROUND)

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“Three big-time stars made big-time moves today – Rory, Bryson and Dustin Johnson giving themselves a chance.” – Paul Azinger on the third round

“He’s one of those guys where when he gets it going, he doesn’t back up. He’s proved that previously in his three PGA TOUR wins.” – Dan Hicks on Russell Henley

“He’s going to have the Canadian people conflicted whether to watch the hockey tomorrow or watch Mackenzie Hughes trying to win a U.S. Open.” – Azinger, with the Montreal Canadiens playing in the Stanley Cup Semifinals

“Another eagle has landed here on a Saturday at Torrey Pines. If you’re watching, Tiger, I hope a smile came to your face.” – Dan Hicks after Louis Oosthuizen’s eagle on 18

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 19, 2021 – NBC Sports presented third round coverage of the 121st U.S. Open Championship from Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., on NBC, capped by Live From the U.S. Open on GOLF Channel.

Russell Henley, Mackenzie Hughes, and Louis Oosthuizen are tied atop the leaderboard (-5) with a two-shot lead after third round play, with Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy two shots back at -3.

Final round coverage begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel and Peacock and continues at Noon ET on NBC.

U.S. Open – Third Round Leaderboard

Player Total
Russell Henley -5
Mackenzie Hughes -5
Louis Oosthuizen -5
Rory McIlroy -3
Bryson DeChambeau -3

 

On the third round

Paul Azinger: “Three big-time stars made big-time moves today – Rory, Bryson and Dustin Johnson giving themselves a chance.”

Justin Leonard: “Torrey Pines, it’s a course that most every player in the field is very familiar with…It creates that drama and I think it’s an advantage for players that we don’t normally see in major championships contending – meaning Russell Henley and Mackenzie Hughes…I think that familiarity has led to a lot of parity on this leaderboard.”

On Russell Henley

Dan Hicks: “He’s one of those guys where when he gets it going, he doesn’t back up. He’s proved that previously in his three PGA TOUR wins.”

On Mackenzie Hughes

Hughes to Steve Sands on his eagle putt on the 13th hole: “I know Tiger was further right (in 2008), this putt was going right to left…the charge through your body when the ball goes into the hole and the crowd goes wild is kind of why we play. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.”

Azinger on Hughes, who missed five consecutive cuts heading into the U.S. Open: “You can be in a slump and you’re just a swing or two away at this level – the switch can just flip.”

Azinger: “He’s going to have the Canadian people conflicted whether to watch the hockey tomorrow or watch Mackenzie Hughes trying to win a U.S. Open.”

Jim “Bones” Mackay on Hughes’ pairing with Kevin Streelman: “You get the feeling this has been a fantastic pairing for Mackenzie Hughes. He and Kevin Streelman have been getting along tremendously well, having a lot of fun out here. Kevin was teasing Mackenzie a lot about how far he drove it past him here at 18.”

On Louis Oosthuizen

Dan Hicks on Louis Oosthuizen’s eagle at 18: “Another eagle has landed here on a Saturday at Torrey Pines. We saw (Mackenzie) Hughes eagle the 13th earlier, which Tiger did in 2008, and Oosthuizen with an ode to history with the first eagle of the day today, just like Tiger did at 18 in 2008. If you’re watching Tiger, I hope a smile came to your face.”

Azinger: “You just get the feeling that this guy is ready to win another major…I’ve been liking Louis Oosthuizen, he feels like he’s due.”

On Bryson DeChambeau

Hicks: “Every drive is like a long drive show. He hits as hard as he can and then he takes a couple of steps back like the guys at the World Long Drive contest do. It’s working. DeChambeau has not abandoned that bomb-and-gouge method that won him the U.S. Open last September.”

Azinger on DeChambeau hitting five-of-14 fairways in the third round: “Normally, you would say that he has to do better than that tomorrow. But I’m not sure he does. He’s had a zillion chances for birdie today.”

John Wood: “And I think half of the ones that he missed were tactical. I don’t think he was trying to hit the fairway on those.”

DeChambeau to Steve Sands on blocking distractions and comments from the crowd: “For me, I’ve learned to turn it into a compliment. Everyone thinks there’s a negative connotation to it. They can say what they want, but at the end of the day, I’m out here playing and contending for a major championship…when people say things, I look over and smile and appreciate that.”

On Richard Bland

Hicks: “The king of perseverance.”

Azinger on Bland after his shot in water on 18th hole: “It’s heartbreaking. He hasn’t played that poorly for the score that he’s shooting. He’s hit a lot of quality shots, just hasn’t been able to get anything out of it, and he’s come undone at the end.”

On Matthew Wolff

Notah Begay III on Matthew Wolff, who hit two fairways in the third round: “Of those misses, only one has been left of the fairway. Every other one has been to the right. There is something happening in his golf swing where he’s just not squaring it up at the right time.”

–NBC SPORTS–

*REMINDER* – NBC SPORTS 2021 U.S. OPEN MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL – TODAY AT 1 P.M. ET

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Play-by-Play Commentator Dan Hicks, Analyst Paul Azinger, On-Course Reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay and Producer Tommy Roy

Dial 800-437-2398 to Participate

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 9, 2021 – NBC Sports play-by-play commentator Dan Hicks, analyst Paul Azinger, and on-course reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay, as well as producer Tommy Roy, will preview the upcoming 2021 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., on a media conference call today at 1 p.m. ET.

Media interested in participating should call 800-437-2398; Passcode: 3652725.

    • WHAT: 2021 U.S. Open Media Conference Call
    • WHO: Dan Hicks, Paul Azinger, Jim “Bones” Mackay, and Tommy Roy
    • WHEN: Wednesday, June 9, at 1 p.m. ET
    • NUMBER: 800-437-2398
    • PASSCODE: 3652725

In total, NBC Sports will provide more than 45 hours of live U.S. Open championship coverage Thursday-Sunday – reaching 100-plus hours of live coverage from Torrey Pines including featured groups and featured holes coverage.

Click here for NBC Sports’ comprehensive U.S. Open coverage schedule.

—NBC SPORTS—

NBC SPORTS 2021 U.S. OPEN MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL – WEDNESDAY AT 1 P.M. ET

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Play-by-Play Commentator Dan Hicks, Analyst Paul Azinger, On-Course Reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay and Producer Tommy Roy

Dial 800-437-2398 to Participate

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 7, 2021 – NBC Sports play-by-play commentator Dan Hicks, analyst Paul Azinger, and on-course reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay, as well as producer Tommy Roy, will preview the upcoming 2021 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., on a media conference call this Wednesday, June 9, at 1 p.m. ET.

Media interested in participating should call 800-437-2398; Passcode: 3652725.

    • WHAT: 2021 U.S. Open Media Conference Call
    • WHO: Dan Hicks, Paul Azinger, Jim “Bones” Mackay, and Tommy Roy
    • WHEN: Wednesday, June 9, at 1 p.m. ET
    • NUMBER: 800-437-2398
    • PASSCODE: 3652725

In total, NBC Sports will provide more than 45 hours of live U.S. Open championship coverage Thursday-Sunday – reaching 100-plus hours of live coverage from Torrey Pines including featured groups and featured holes coverage.

—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-

U.S. OPEN NOTABLE QUOTES – FINAL ROUND

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GOLF Channel Notable Quotes

Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open – Final Round

Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course), Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Sunday, September 20

120th U.S. Open – Final Round Leaderboard

Bryson DeChambeau -6
Matthew Wolff E
Louis Oosthuizen +2
Harris English +3
Xander Schauffele +4

 

On 120th U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau

Brandel Chamblee – “The future just happened. This beefed-up, bulked-up Bryson just changed the game…there’s been some seismic championships that have happened in this game…I would argue that this one will eventually change the game either in the way it’s played – I think both actually – or perhaps in the equipment that it’s played with because the golf world’s abuzz with is this good or is this bad? It can’t decide. But what is, I think, amazing, is to see the transformation that he’s made, the risks that he took. He risked it all to have it all.”

Chamblee – “There’s a definitive before and after with Bryson. We saw what he was and he is unrecognizable in body and in technique to the player that he was. If you’re not paying attention to this and you’re in professional golf, you’re going to get left behind…it is one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen in the game.”

Chamblee – “Dick Schaap wrote the book ‘The Massacre at Winged Foot’ – this was ‘The Mass That Massacred Winged Foot.’”

Justin Leonard – “This week was a showdown between the modern golfer and a classic course that has been modernized. This U.S. Open is proof that all of the metrics about getting it down there as far as you can…there was doubt, including from myself, that this would work in a major championship…this week proved, at least in my mind, that if there was any doubt it should be erased.”

Leonard – “I think it will affect how every player in the field looks at a golf course. They may not be willing to go through the transformation, take the risk that Bryson did, to completely change everything…but I think they are taking notice of club choices off of tees, of ‘I need to be a better player out of the rough’…it will be fascinating to see the players that do change…if you’re not taking notice of this and you’re playing on the PGA Tour, you’re really putting yourself behind the 8-ball.”

Chamblee – “If you’re not an early adopter to this, you’re missing out. This is as seismic as the metal wood was in the transformation from wood to metal.”

Rich Lerner – “Head and shoulders, and biceps, better than everyone at Winged Foot…he crushed consensus and won the U.S. Open, not only with power, but with a wrecking ball and a razor.”

DeChambeau post-round interview with Todd Lewis – “I had a chance to play with Phil (Mickelson) on Monday or Tuesday. He shared some amazing insight into this golf course. He told me how unbelievable his short game was that whole entire week, it was the best of his career. I thought about that, and I said, ‘I’m going to take a little bit of time during the practice rounds to work around the greens.’ I’m in shock right now. It’s amazing.”

Lewis to DeChambeau – “Do you feel like you are a revolutionary participant in the game today?”

DeChambeau – “Let’s just say that every day I’m going to try and do my absolute best. Let today’s garbage be better than yesterday’s. Moving forward I’m going to try a 48-inch driver. I’m going to keep pushing the boundaries and keep finding little, distinct advantages.”

 

NBC Sports Notable Quotes

120th U.S. Open – Final Round

Winged Foot Golf Club (West Course), Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Sunday, September 20

On 120th U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau

Paul Azinger – “Nobody that’s ever played this game has thought like Bryson DeChambeau…is Bryson’s philosophy going to drip down to the other players that play this sport? What are the guys in high school going to do? Are they going to swing for the fences? He’s shaping the future of golf I think.”

Chamblee – “He may just change the very nature of the way this game is played…this is  to change the way people prepare to play major championship golf.”

Dan Hicks – “He’s the 225th different major champion – perhaps the most different of them all…they said it couldn’t be done, and they said it couldn’t be done here at Winged Foot.”

Azinger – “Self-believe comes first. Bryson has more self-belief maybe than anybody that’s ever played the Tour, because he’s doing everything so counter-intuitive to what everyone’s taught over the years…people would just declare that he’s got it wrong, that he’s doing the wrong thing…that he’s wrong, that he can’t win this way.”

Azinger – “He’s proving there’s no shortcut to success. This guy works as hard as anybody in the game…he’s one of the few guys who takes information in and it makes the game simpler for him.”

Hicks – “There were a lot of people who doubted him. I had my own ideas about it. I just didn’t think he could do it around a place like this. So far, it’s paying off huge.”

Azinger – “The dollar will never hurt his drive. I think Bryson is going to be a trophy hunter. Like Tiger Woods, like Justin Thomas. These guys have one goal, one thing in mind, and that’s to win.”

Azinger – “It’s the intestinal fortitude – the stuff you can’t see – that Bryson showed us today.”

David Feherty – “Is there a Nobel Prize for golf? If there was, you have to think this man would win it.”

 

On Matthew Wolff (Even, 2nd Place)

Azinger – “He came out of the gates hitting it great. Bryson just outplayed him.”

Hicks – “His first two major starts – a tie for fourth and a second.”

Azinger on Wolff’s eagle on 9th hole – “It’s like match play between these two!”

 

USGA CEO Mike Davis to Steve Sands on the 120th U.S. Open

Mike Davis – “When it was March and April, we really didn’t think we would be playing a U.S. Open at Winged Foot…To not have fans is obviously disappointing, but to play this championship for that coveted trophy, that Jack Nicklaus Gold Medal, it inspires the players. It’s good for the game…it’s amazing we are playing.”

Davis – “This weather is allowing us to set the course up where Winged Foot is one of the stars.” 

-NBC Sports Group- 

NBCUNIVERSAL OFFERS ALL-ENCOMPASSING COVERAGE OF 120TH U.S. OPEN FROM WINGED FOOT, TODAY-SUNDAY

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Nearly 45 Hours of Live U.S. Open Primary Coverage to Air Across NBC,

GOLF Channel, & Peacock, Along with Complementary Alternate Feeds

MAMARONECK, N.Y. (Sept. 14, 2020) – Today, NBCUniversal kicks off its all-encompassing week-long coverage of the 120th U.S. Open, taking place at Winged Foot Golf Club, Thursday-Sunday. NBCUniversal will present nearly 45 hours of live primary coverage of the 2020 U.S. Open exclusively across NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock, NBCUniversal’s new streaming service.

U.S. OPEN PRODUCTION & BROADCAST TEAM: Led by 29-time Emmy Award-winning producer Tommy Roy – along with NBC Sports’ producer Brandt Packer – the network’s U.S. Open production will utilize the deepest roster of broadcasters in golf, including five USGA champions: Kay Cockerill (1986, ’87 U.S. Women’s Amateur), Trevor Immelman (1998 U.S. Amateur Public Links), Peter Jacobsen (2004 U.S. Senior Open), Gary Koch (1970 U.S. Junior Amateur) and Justin Leonard (1992 U.S. Amateur). And, in continuation of the USGA’s extensive partnership with Rolex, the final hour of Sunday’s coverage on NBC will air uninterrupted (commercial-free) during the closing stretch of the championship.

The USGA previously announced in June that the United States media rights for its championships had been transferred to NBCUniversal, with the partnership agreement continuing through 2026. The renewed partnership between the USGA and NBC Sports elevates a long-standing relationship dating back to 1954, when the U.S. Open first aired on television (NBC), and most recently from 1995-2014, when NBC Sports carried media rights to all USGA championships.

U.S. OPEN ALTERNATE FEEDS: In addition to primary live coverage of the championship (Thursday-Sunday), fans will be able to access alternate, complementary feeds via DIRECTV (channels 901-905), Peacock, USOpen.com and USGA.org. Dedicated feeds include:

  • Featured Groups: Will include two (daily) featured morning groups, and two featured afternoon groups.
  • Featured Holes (also available in 4K through Comcast Xfinity X1 and DIRECTV channel 105): Focusing on those in the field as they play the (par-4) 6th, (par-3) 10th, and (par-4) 17th holes on Winged Foot’s West Course.
  • U.S. Open 360: Showcasing players as they warm up for their round from Winged Foot’s practice areas, as well as post-round interview sessions with on-site media.

U.S. OPEN CONTENT & PROGRAMMING ON PEACOCK: Previously announced in August, Peacock will exclusively stream two hours of live U.S. Open coverage across each of the four rounds to complement live coverage windows on GOLF Channel and NBC. Peacock additionally has created a new, U.S. Open pop-up channel, streaming exclusively through Sept. 24. The channel will feature classic U.S. Open highlights from some of the most memorable editions of the championship, along with a robust library of docuseries and documentaries, including History Makers, U.S. Open Decade, My First U.S. Open and U.S. Open Classic Finishes.

U.S. Open highlights also will be featured in Peacock’s ‘Trending’ section, a hub for short-form content that is updated on a daily basis and includes sports highlights, pop culture updates, and shorter interview and news segments. Looking ahead, Peacock will feature live U.S. Women’s Open programming later this year (Dec. 10-13) as well as the 2021 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Senior Open championships. Fans can learn more and sign up for Peacock at www.peacocktv.com/golf, as featured in this video tutorial.

COMPREHENSIVE NEWS COVERAGE: GOLF Channel’s Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open will provide comprehensive wraparound news coverage from on-site at Winged Foot Golf Club, with interviews, highlights and analysis throughout the week. Coverage also will be complemented by several dedicated GOLF Films shorts (features) appearing within Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open and Morning Drive, as well as across the network’s digital and social media platforms, including:

  • Reflections on the 2006 U.S. Open: Recollections from the dramatic final round the last time the U.S. Open was held at Winged Foot, when Colin Montgomerie and Phil Mickelson double-bogeyed the 72nd hole to pave the way for Geoff Ogilvy’s victory.
  • Mickelson’s Close Calls: Examining Mickelson’s record six runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open, and how the U.S. Open trophy continues to allude the five-time major champ.
  • Skinny House: Exploring an architectural marvel, built by African-American carpenter Nathan Thomas Seely in 1932, and now a tourist destination in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
  • Winged Foot, an ultimate U.S. Open venue: Consistently one of the most formidable U.S. Open layouts, analyzing what makes Winged Foot the ultimate U.S. Open host.

 

U.S. OPEN PRIMARY BROADCAST TEAM (GOLF Channel, NBC & Peacock) Tom Abbott, Paul Azinger, Notah Begay, Curt Byrum, Kay Cockerill,

Nick Faldo, David Feherty, Terry Gannon, Damon Hack, Dan Hicks, Trevor Immelman, Peter Jacobsen, Gary Koch, Justin Leonard, Jim “Bones” Mackay, Roger Maltbie, Jimmy Roberts, Steve Sands, Mike Tirico
U.S. OPEN ALTERNATE FEEDS BROADCAST TEAM (Featured Groups): Tom Abbott, Curt Byrum, John Cook, Trevor Immelman, Tripp Isenhour, George Savaricas, Jay Townsend; (Featured Holes): Gary Christian, Lisa Cornwell, Craig Perks, John Swantek; (U.S. Open 360): Billy Kratzert, Mark Rolfing, Gary Williams
GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN BROADCAST TEAM (Primetime): Brandel Chamblee, Jaime Diaz, Justin Leonard, Rich Lerner, Todd Lewis; (Daytime): Cara Banks, Steve Burkowski, David Duval, Trevor Immelman, Arron Oberholser, Mark Rolfing, Gary Williams

 

NBC SPORTS’ “CHIP TRUCK” CELEBRATES U.S. OPEN: As the U.S. Open is being contested without spectators, NBC Sports has developed a creative fan activation: a custom-designed replica of Winged Foot’s 18th green situated on the back of a flatbed truck. The no-contact “Chip Truck” fan engagement made its way up the East Coast en route to the New York metropolitan area, giving participants a chance to win prizes for “holing out” their shot attempt.

FEHERTY, FALDO SET TO MAKE GOLF BROADCASTER HISTORY: In contributing to NBC Sports’ live coverage at Winged Foot, David Feherty and Nick Faldo each will join a select group of golf broadcasters having called action from all four men’s major championships. Feherty and Faldo also will become the only two broadcasters to have called professional golf’s four men’s major championships, THE PLAYERS Championship, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, TOUR Championship and the Olympics.

NBC SPORTS’ SIGNATURE U.S. OPEN MUSIC, FULL-FIELD COVERAGE RETURN:

Viewers tuning in to live coverage from Winged Foot will recognize a familiar musical refrain previously synonymous with NBC Sports’ coverage of the U.S. Open, as Yanni’s In Celebration of Man will be incorporated throughout the championship. Coverage additionally will aim to showcase each of the 144 players in the field, under the mantra that if a player is good enough to make it into the U.S. Open field, they deserve the opportunity to be shown on the broadcast.

U.S. OPEN DIGITAL COVERAGE & ACTIVATIONS: GOLF Channel Digital will feature expanded U.S. Open editorial coverage from its writers on-site at Winged Foot: Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner. Coverage will features, analysis and reaction to emerging storylines throughout the week.

120TH U.S. OPEN – LIVE COVERAGE ACROSS NBCUNIVERSAL (SEPT. 14-20, EST):

 

Monday, Sept. 14 7-9 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
Tuesday, Sept. 15 8-9 a.m. Morning Drive GOLF Channel
  9 a.m.-5 p.m. / 7-9 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
Wednesday, Sept. 16 8-9 a.m. Morning Drive GOLF Channel
  9 a.m.-5 p.m. / 7-9 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
Thursday, Sept. 17 6-7:30 a.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
  7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. U.S. Open – First Round GOLF Channel
  2-5 p.m. U.S. Open – First Round NBC
  5-7 p.m. U.S. Open – First Round Peacock
  7-9 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
Friday, Sept. 18 6-7:30 a.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
  7:30-9:30 a.m. U.S. Open – Second Round Peacock
  9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. U.S. Open – Second Round GOLF Channel
  4-7 p.m. U.S. Open – Second Round NBC
  7-9 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
Saturday, Sept. 19 7-9 a.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
  9-11 a.m. U.S. Open – Third Round Peacock
  11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. U.S. Open – Third Round NBC
  7:30-9:30 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
Sunday, Sept. 20 6-8 a.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel
  8-10 a.m. U.S. Open – Final Round Peacock
  10 a.m.-Noon U.S. Open – Final Round GOLF Channel
  Noon-6 p.m. U.S. Open – Final Round NBC
  6-8 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open GOLF Channel

-NBC Sports Group-

U.S. OPEN RETURNS TO NBC SPORTS, SEPT. 17-20, FROM WINGED FOOT GOLF CLUB IN NEW YORK

By

Nearly 45 Hours of Live U.S. Open Coverage to

Air Across NBC, GOLF Channel, & Peacock 

Feherty, Faldo Set to Make Golf Broadcaster History at Winged Foot

ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 25, 2020) – The U.S. Open is set to return to NBC Sports next month, as Winged Foot Golf Club (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) hosts the 120th edition of the Championship, Sept. 17-20, with domestic (U.S.) coverage airing exclusively across NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock, NBCUniversal’s new streaming service.

The USGA previously announced in June that the United States media rights for its championships had been transferred to NBCUniversal, with the partnership agreement continuing through 2026. The renewed partnership between the USGA and NBC Sports elevates a long-standing relationship dating back to 1954, when the U.S. Open first aired on television (NBC), and most recently from 1995-2014, when NBC Sports carried media rights to all USGA championships.

NBCUniversal will present nearly 45 hours of live primary coverage of the 2020 U.S. Open across NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock, beginning Thursday, Sept. 17. And, in continuation of the USGA’s extensive partnership with Rolex, the final hour of Sunday’s coverage on NBC will air uninterrupted (commercial-free) during the closing stretch of the championship.

“It is with great pride that NBC Sports welcomes the return of the U.S. Open to our portfolio in partnership with the USGA, to further elevate their slate of championships,” said Pete Bevacqua, president, NBC Sports Group. “Under a tight timeframe, our world-class production team is prepared to showcase the U.S. Open next month from famed Winged Foot Golf Club, capturing the drama of the world’s best vying for this year’s second major championship.”

“The USGA is excited to be back in the NBCUniversal family, including GOLF Channel and NBC’s Peacock platform, in providing extensive coverage of the U.S. Open Championship,” said USGA CEO Mike Davis. “A talented and knowledgeable group of broadcasters, including several USGA champions, and an experienced production team, led by Tommy Roy, will provide in-depth perspective on the championship and help us celebrate the greatness of the U.S. Open and the players who compete in it.”

COVERAGE OF THE U.S. OPEN ON PEACOCK: Across each of the four rounds, Peacock will exclusively stream two hours of live U.S. Open coverage for free. U.S. Open content on Peacock also will include featured groups and featured holes coverage across all four rounds, with additional content elements being announced in the coming weeks. NBCUniversal’s coverage of the U.S. Women’s Open later this year (Dec. 10-13) also will feature live programming on Peacock.

TOURNAMENT PRODUCTION & BROADCAST TEAM: Led by 29-time Emmy Award-winning producer Tommy Roy – along with NBC Sports’ producer Brandt Packer – the network’s U.S. Open production will utilize the deepest roster of broadcasters in golf, including five USGA champions: Kay Cockerill (1986, ’87 U.S. Women’s Amateur), Trevor Immelman (1998 U.S. Amateur Public Links), Peter Jacobsen (2004 U.S. Senior Open), Gary Koch (1970 U.S. Junior Amateur) and Justin Leonard (1992 U.S. Amateur).

U.S. OPEN BROADCAST TEAM (GOLF Channel, NBC & Peacock) Tom Abbott, Paul Azinger, Notah Begay, Curt Byrum, Kay Cockerill,

Nick Faldo, David Feherty, Terry Gannon, Damon Hack, Dan Hicks, Trevor Immelman, Peter Jacobsen, Gary Koch, Justin Leonard, Jim “Bones” Mackay, Roger Maltbie, Jimmy Roberts, Steve Sands, Mike Tirico

 

FEHERTY, FALDO SET TO MAKE GOLF BROADCASTER HISTORY: In contributing to NBC Sports’ live coverage at Winged Foot, David Feherty and Nick Faldo each will join a select group of golf broadcasters having called action from all four men’s major championships. Feherty and Faldo also will become the only two broadcasters to have called professional golf’s four men’s major championships, THE PLAYERS Championship, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, TOUR Championship and the Olympics.

NBC SPORTS’ SIGNATURE U.S. OPEN MUSIC, FULL-FIELD COVERAGE RETURN:

Viewers tuning in to coverage from Winged Foot will recognize a familiar musical refrain previously synonymous with NBC Sports’ coverage of the U.S. Open, as Yanni’s In Celebration of Man will be incorporated throughout the championship. Coverage additionally will aim to showcase each of the 144 players in the field, under the mantra that if a player is good enough to make it into the U.S. Open field, they deserve the opportunity to be shown on the broadcast.

COMPREHENSIVE NEWS COVERAGE: GOLF Channel’s Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open will provide comprehensive wraparound news coverage from on-site at Winged Foot Golf Club, with interviews, highlights and analysis, Monday-Sunday, Sept. 14-20.

U.S. OPEN – LIVE COVERAGE AIRTIMES (SEPT. 17-20, EST):

 

Thursday, Sept. 17 7:30a.m.-2 p.m. GOLF Channel
  2-5 p.m. NBC
  5-7 p.m. Peacock
Friday, Sept. 18 7:30-9:30 a.m. Peacock
  9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. GOLF Channel
  4-7 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Sept. 19 9-11 a.m. Peacock
  11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. NBC
Sunday, Sept. 20 8-10 a.m. Peacock
  10 a.m.-Noon GOLF Channel
  Noon-6 p.m. NBC

 

-NBC Sports Group-