NBC Sports Group To Air More Than 30 Hours Of U.S. Women’s Open Programming

Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam to Join Tournament and News Coverage

Six Hours of Weekend Tournament Coverage on NBC

Golf Central Team to Broadcast On-Site

Golf Central to Air on NBC Saturday and Sunday

LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan, Annika Sorenstam, Judy Rankin and Dottie Pepper Highlight Panel for Wednesday’s “State of the Game”

“It will be a test of patience and perseverance.” – Annika Sorenstam

“Highlight of my season to cover the greatest championship in women’s golf.” – Dottie Pepper

ORLANDO, Fla., / NEW YORK – July 3, 2012 – NBC Sports Group will present more than 30 hours of combined, live tournament and wraparound news coverage of this week’s 2012 U.S. Women’s Open Championship – the third major championship on the women’s schedule this year – on both Golf Channel and NBC

“Golf Channel on NBC’s” weekend coverage on NBC will include three hours of live tournament action each day, which, for the first time, will be complemented by Golf Channel’s Golf Central pre-game show. Golf Channel’s wraparound coverage will originate from the tournament site throughout the week, featuring news, talk and instructional programming. GolfChannel.com also will provide comprehensive online coverage of the championship.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM TO MAKE NBC DEBUT – Hall-of-Famer and three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Annika Sorenstam will make her NBC on-air debut, joining analyst Dottie Pepper and play-by-play host Dan Hicks for a portion of the weekend tournament coverage. Sorenstam also will contribute to Golf Channel’s news shows throughout the week, including Golf Central, Golf Central Pre Game and Morning Drive.

TOURNAMENT BROADCAST TEAM – Host Dan Hicks and lead analyst Dottie Pepper will anchor coverage from the 18^th tower. They will be joined by tower reporter Gary Koch and on-course reporters Roger Maltbie, Kay Cockerill and Jane Crafter. Sorenstam will join Hicks and Pepper in the booth for a portion of the coverage each day.

ON-SITE NEWS COVERAGE – Golf Channel will provide the most extensive news coverage of the U.S. Women’s Open in its history, featuring live news reports, inside analysis, player interviews, special guest appearances and compelling features from the women’s third major championship of 2012.

Golf Central will broadcast live and on-site from Blackwolf Run throughout the week and will originate from a dedicated set near the 13th green – delivering news coverage before and after tournament play. Morning Drive, the network’s live, weekday morning show, will feature daily special guests from the tournament site. On the Range (Wednesday, 8-9 p.m. ET) will feature tips and instruction, while showcasing how the players are preparing on the driving range at Blackwolf Run; and The Grey Goose 19^th Hole (Thursday night at midnight ET and Friday night at 2 a.m. ET) will feature news, highlights and interviews from the U.S. Women’s Open. Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee and Tom Abbott will anchor Golf Central and will be joined by contributors Annika Sorenstam, GolfChannel.com senior writer Randall Mell and other NBC analysts throughout the week.

STATE OF THE GAME LIVE – Golf Channel will present a special U.S. Women’s Open edition of State of the Game, Wednesday from 9-10 p.m. ET, which will feature Golf Channel and NBC personalities discussing hot topics in women’s golf with some of the newsmakers in the game. Moderated by Rich Lerner, the discussion will feature LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, 10-time major winner and three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Annika Sorenstam, Hall-of-Famer and current commentator Judy Rankin and two-time major winner and “Golf Channel on NBC” commentator Dottie Pepper.

GOLF CENTRAL ON NBC – For the first time at the U.S. Women’s Open, Golf Channel will prep NBC’s weekend tournament action with a 30-minute Golf Central on NBC pre-game show, airing exclusively on NBC from 2:30-3 p.m. ET. Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee and Tom Abbott will host the shows, and will be joined by NBC analysts and contributors.

U.S. Women’s Open Programming

DIGITAL COVERAGE – GolfChannel.com senior writer Randall Mell will contribute daily columns, news articles, features and breaking news from the U.S. Women’s Open throughout the week.

–NBC Sports Group–