NBC SPORTS GROUP SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON GOLF’S BEST IN DECEMBER, HEADLINED BY EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF THE HERO WORLD CHALLENGE AND PNC FATHER/SON CHALLENGE

Watson, Westwood, Garcia, Clarke, Kaymer and Bjorn Headline Asian Tour’s Thailand Golf Championship Field, the Second Open Qualifying Series Event for 2016, Dec. 9-12 in Primetime

World No. 1 and Defending Champion Jordan Spieth Headlines Elite 18-Player Field at Hero World Challenge, Dec. 3-6

Jack Nicklaus Leads Legendary Field at PNC Father/Son Challenge, Dec. 12-13

Day / Tringale to Defend Title at Franklin Templeton Shootout, Dec. 11-13

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 1, 2015 – NBC Sports Group this month is gearing up to showcase the game’s best players – past and present – led by exclusive coverage of the Hero World Challenge (Dec. 3-6) in the Bahamas and the PNC Father/Son Challenge (Dec. 11-13), in Orlando, Fla. Golf Channel also will showcase the Thailand Golf Championship live and in primetime (Dec. 9-12), the second of 14 events in The Open Qualifying Series for 2016 and the penultimate event on the 2015 Asian Tour season; as well as the first two days of the Franklin Templeton Shootout (Dec. 11-12) in Naples, Fla.

WORLD NO. 1 JORDAN SPIETH HEADLINES HERO WORLD CHALLENGE FIELD, FEATURING SIX OF THE WORLD’S TOP-10: Headlined by World No. 1 and defending champion Jordan Spieth and 2015 Open Champion Zach Johnson, the Hero World Challenge will feature 18 of the PGA TOUR’s top players competing in a 72-hole, stroke play event for a $1 million first-place prize, taking place at Albany Resort in The Bahamas. Tiger Woods, the tournament host, will be in attendance and is scheduled to join the broadcast booth during the week. Golf Channel will air live coverage Thursday, Dec. 3 and Friday, Dec. 4, followed by weekend coverage on Golf Channel and NBC, Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6.

HERO WORLD CHALLENGE BROADCAST TEAM: Terry Gannon and Frank Nobilo will call the action for Golf Channel’s live tournament coverage Thursday and Friday, Dec. 3-4, with Steve Sands and Nobilo calling “lead-in” coverage Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6. Gannon and Roger Maltbie will anchor NBC’s weekend coverage, with Notah Begay and Jerry Foltz reporting from the course for both Golf Channel and NBC. PGA TOUR player and major champion Justin Leonard will join Gary Koch as tower reporters for both Golf Channel and NBC coverage.

ASIAN TOUR’S THAILAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP MARKS SECOND EVENT IN 2016 OPEN QUALIFYING SERIES: The Thailand Golf Championship, the penultimate event on the 2015 Asian Tour schedule, boasts a strong international field featuring 2016 European Ryder Cup Captain Darren Clarke, two-time winner of the event Lee Westwood, 2013 champion Sergio Garcia, 2014 runner-up and two-time major champion Martin Kaymer and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson. Airing in primetime on Golf Channel Dec. 9-12, the Thailand Golf Championship is the second of 14 events being staged in nine countries that comprise The Open Qualifying Series for 2016. The top-3 players finishing in the top-10 not already qualified will receive exemptions into The Open at Royal Troon in July, airing for the first time on Golf Channel and NBC.

JACK NICKLAUS HEADLINES HALL-OF-FAME FIELD AT PNC FATHER/SON CHALLENGE: World Golf Hall-of-Famer Jack Nicklaus and his son, Gary, headline a 20-team field comprised of World Golf Hall-of-Fame members, golf legends and their children at the PNC Father/Son Challenge, taking place Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 12-13 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. The 2015 field collectively has amassed 350 victories and 64 major championships. To qualify for the PNC Father/Son Challenge, participants must have won either a major championship or THE PLAYERS in their career. The professional’s partner must not currently hold a Tour card, and while the majority of partners in the history of the event have been the sons of the golf legends, the family-themed tournament has seen daughters and grandsons participate over the years. Golf Channel and NBC will carry two days of coverage, Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 13. Golf Channel also will air a special Pro-Am show on Friday, Dec. 11, taking viewers inside the ropes with the players in the field as they prepare for competition and share instruction tips and insight with viewers.

PNC FATHER/SON CHALLENGE BROADCAST TEAM:  Steve Sands and Gary Koch will anchor Golf Channel and NBC’s coverage of the PNC Father/Son Challenge. Peter Jacobsen will report from an on-course tower, with Notah Begay and Roger Maltbie reporting from the course. Jimmy Roberts will deliver his signature essays and conduct post-round interviews.

MORNING DRIVE ON-SITE AT PNC FATHER/SON CHALLENGE: Morning Drive, Golf Channel’s daily news and lifestyle show, will conduct live interviews on-site at the PNC Father/Son Challenge. Golf Central also will provide wraparound news coverage of both the Hero World Challenge and the PNC Father/Son Challenge.

LIVE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY COVERAGE OF THE FRANKLIN TEMPLETON SHOOTOUT: Golf Channel will televise live coverage of the first two days of the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Thursday, Dec. 11 and Friday, Dec. 12 from 1-4 p.m. ET. The 24-player field (12 two-man teams) features seven of the top-30 players in the world, including two reigning major champions and eight players having won during the 2014-15 season. Last year’s champions, Jason Day and Cameron Tringale, will defend their title as the teams compete for a piece of the $3.1 million purse. The format of the tournament will be a Scramble (Thursday), Modified Alternate Shot (Friday) and Better Ball (Saturday).

FRANKLIN TEMPLETON SHOOTOUT BROADCAST TEAM: Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo anchor Golf Channel’s coverage, and will be joined by tower announcer Tom Abbott. Curt Byrum and Jerry Foltz will report from the course.

Golf Channel / NBC Programming Schedule (all times Eastern):

-NBC Sports Group-