Fowler, Watson Headline at Waste Management Phoenix Open, with NBC Sports Group Dedicating More Than 25 Hours of Live Programming On-Site
Ko to Make 2016 Debut at Coates Golf Championship; Lee & Pettersen Paired Together for 1st Time Since Solheim Cup, Airing Wednesday-Saturday
McIlroy Returning to Familiar Setting to Defend Omega Dubai Desert Classic
PGA TOUR Champions Shifts to South Florida for Allianz Championship
ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2016) – NBC Sports Group will feature more than 25 hours of live programming from on-site TPC Scottsdale surrounding the Waste Management Phoenix Open, including tournament coverage on Golf Channel and NBC, and Golf Central originating from an embedded set location within the raucous par-3 16th hole “coliseum.” Veteran on-course reporter and one of golf’s most animated personalities – David Feherty – is set to make his NBC Sports Group live tournament debut as lead analyst during Thursday-Friday first and second round coverage on Golf Channel. World No. 1 Lydia Ko is set to make her first start of 2016 on the LGPA Tour at the Coates Golf Championship, airing Wednesday-Saturday on Golf Channel. Alison Lee and Suzann Pettersen are paired together for the first two rounds, which will be the first time the two will compete alongside one another since their controversial match at the 2015 Solheim Cup. World No. 3 Rory McIlroy will look to defend his title at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, an event he has won twice in his career. And the PGA TOUR Champions returns with the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Fla.
PGA TOUR
Waste Management Phoenix Open
Dates: Feb. 4-7
Venue: TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Friday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-3 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-3 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 3-6 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Feherty debut: David Feherty, joining NBC Sports Group exclusively in 2016 following a nearly 20-year career with CBS as an on-course reporter, will make his live tournament debut this week. Feherty will join Rich Lerner in the 18th tower as lead analyst for Golf Channel’s first and second round coverage Thursday-Friday, and he’ll transition to his familiar on-course reporter role during Saturday-Sunday afternoon coverage on NBC.
Golf Central on-site from raucous par-3 16th hole: Golf Central, the network’s signature evening news program, will originate from on-site, embedded within TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole spectator “coliseum.” The show, which will feature live news and analysis leading in and out of live tournament coverage, will be hosted by Kelly Tilghman, and feature Brandel Chamblee and Arron Oberholser as analysts, with George Savaricas providing reports and player interviews.
Largest crowds on PGA TOUR: The event attracts the largest galleries on the PGA TOUR, with a record 564,000 in attendance throughout the week in 2015, including nearly 160,000 during Saturday’s third round alone.
Koepka defends: Brooks Koepka finished one shot ahead of Hideki Matsuyama, Ryan Palmer and Bubba Watson for his first career PGA TOUR win.
Headlining the field: Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson, Kevin Kisner, Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka.
LPGA TOUR
Coates Golf Championship
Dates: Feb. 3-6
Venue: Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, Ocala, Fla.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 2-5:30 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-10 p.m. (Replay)
Thursday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live)
Friday 8-10 p.m. (Tape delay) / 3-5 pm. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Saturday 3-5 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Pettersen & Lee paired together for first time since controversial Solheim Cup match: Alison Lee and Suzann Pettersen – the two players at the center of last fall’s controversial moment in the 2015 Solheim Cup – will be paired together for the first two rounds this week. Wednesday’s opening round 12:25 p.m. ET tee time will feature Lee and Pettersen playing alongside Stacy Lewis.
Choi defends: Na Yeon Choi defeated Lydia Ko, Ha Na Jang and Jessica Korda by one stroke for her eighth LPGA Tour win.
Headlining the field: Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson, So Yeon Ryu, Sei Young Kim, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Anna Nordqvist, Brooke Henderson, Charley Hull and Alison Lee.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Dates: Feb. 4-7
Venue: Emirates Golf Club (Majlis Course), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 11 p.m.-4 a.m. (Live, Wednesday Overnight) / 6:30-8:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday 2:30-8:30 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-Noon (Replay)
Sunday 3:30-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-Noon (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
McIlroy defends: Rory McIlroy won by three shots over Alex Noren to earn his 10th career European Tour victory, and his second time winning the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Headlining the field: Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer, Bryson DeChambeau (a), Danny Willett and Lee Westwood.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
Allianz Championship
Dates: Feb. 5-7
Venue: Broken Sound Club (Old Course), Boca Raton, Fla.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 5-7 p.m. (Tape delay) / 3-5 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Sunday 3-5 p.m. (Tape delay) / 2-4 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Broadcast Notes:
Goydos defends: Paul Goydos finished one stroke ahead of Gene Sauers for his second career PGA TOUR Champions win.
Headlining the field: Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Jeff Maggert, Jay Haas, Kenny Perry, Tom Lehman, Duffy Waldorf, Mark O’Meara, Jesper Parnevik and Nick Price.
ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2016) – World No. 1 Jordan Spieth will tee it up at the Asian Tour’s SMBC Singapore Open, and his opening round will air in primetime on Golf Channel beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday night. The LPGA Tour kicks off its 2016 season with the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, as Nos. 2-4 in the world: Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson lead a field that includes 11 of the top-20 in the world. The PGA TOUR shifts to Torrey Pines outside of San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open, with Jason Day (No. 2 in the world) and Rickie Fowler (No. 4) headlining the field. On the European Tour, South African Branden Grace defends his title at the Qatar Masters.
ASIAN TOUR
SMBC Singapore Open
Dates: Jan. 27-30
Venue: Sentosa Golf Club (Serapong Course), Sentosa Island, Singapore
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 8-11 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Replay)
Thursday 8-11 p.m. / 2-4:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday 11 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-Noon (Saturday replay)
Saturday 11 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-Noon (Sunday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Spieth’s opening round airing in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday: World No. 1 Jordan Spieth is in the field competing in the 50th edition of Singapore’s national open. Spieth will tee off in his opening round at 6:50 p.m. ET, with the majority airing in primetime on Golf Channel beginning at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday night.
Event returns for first time since 2012: The event is being played for the first time since 2012, and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour. Matteo Manassero won the event in 2012 when it was last contested.
Headlining the field: Jordan Spieth, Byeong Hun An, Darren Clarke, Jamie Donaldson, Y.E. Yang, Jeev Milkha Singh, K.T. Kim and Shingo Katayama.
LPGA TOUR
Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic
Dates: Jan. 28-31
Venue: Ocean Club Golf Course, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 3-5 p.m. (Live) / 5-7 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 3-5 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Season-opening event: The 2016 LPGA Tour season kicks off this week with the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, airing live on Golf Channel Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 28-31. The event begins a series of eight LPGA tournaments airing live on Golf Channel over the next 10 weeks leading into golf’s first major championship of 2016, the ANA Inspiration.
Kim defends: Sei Young Kim defeated Ariya Jutanugarn and Sun Young Yoo with a birdie on the first playoff hole to earn her first career LPGA Tour win.
Headlining the field: Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson, Sei Young Kim, Hyo Joo Kim, Cristie Kerr, Michelle Wie, Anna Nordqvist, Brittany Lincicome, Brooke Henderson and Cheyenne Woods.
PGA TOUR
Farmers Insurance Open
Dates: Jan. 28-31
Venue: Torrey Pines Golf Course (North & South Courses), La Jolla, Calif.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 7:30-11 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-11 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Golf Central special: Day, Fowler news conference, Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET: Jason Day and Rickie Fowler (ranked No. 2 and No. 4 in the world respectively) headline the field and will take part in a Golf Central special news conference from Torrey Pines, airing at 3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Course rotation: The event utilizes both the North and South courses at Torrey Pines, with players competing once on each course over the first two rounds prior to the 36-hole cut. The final two rounds are then contested on the South Course on Saturday-Sunday.
Day defends: Jason Day defeated J.B. Holmes with a par on the second playoff hole to win his third PGA TOUR victory.
Headlining the field: Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, J.B. Holmes, Hideki Matsuyama, Brandt Snedeker, Anirban Lahiri and Bill Haas.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
Dates: Jan. 27-30
Venue: Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 1:30-4:30 a.m. / 6-8:30 a.m. (Live)
Thursday 1:30-4:30 a.m. / 6-8:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday 4:30-8:30 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 4-8:30 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Grace defends: Branden Grace won by one shot over Marc Warren for his sixth career European Tour victory.
Headlining the field: Bryson DeChambeau (a), Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Branden Grace, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Louis Oosthuizen, Thomas Pieters, Peter Uihlein and John Daly.
PGA TOUR
Hero World Challenge
Dates: Dec. 3-6
Venue: Albany Resort, Albany, Bahamas
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday Noon-4 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-7:30 p.m. (Replay)
Friday Noon-4 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-7:30 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday Noon-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 5:30-8 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday Noon-2 p.m. (Live) / 6-11 p.m. (Replay)
Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):
Saturday 2:30-5 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 2-5 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Leonard to take part in Golf Channel / NBC coverage of Hero World Challenge: 12-time PGA TOUR winner, major champion and 1999 Ryder Cup hero Justin Leonard will work as a tower analyst for Golf Channel and NBC’s live coverage of the event.
Elite field: The field includes six of the top-10 players in the world, and each of the 18 players are currently ranked in the top-43 in the world. 11 of the 12 members of the victorious United States Presidents Cup team also are in the field.
New venue: This week marks the 17th playing of the event, but the first time being held at the Albany Resort on the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. The event is not an official PGA TOUR stop, though players will receive Official World Golf Rankings points.
Spieth defends: World No. 1 Jordan Spieth separated himself from the field with a 10 shot victory at Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Florida last December.
Headlining the field: Paul Casey, Rickie Fowler, Bill Haas, J.B. Holmes, Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Chris Kirk, Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar, Anirban Lahiri, Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Bubba Watson.
PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA / EUROPEAN TOUR
Australian PGA Championship
Dates: Dec. 3-6
Venue: RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, Australia
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Live)
Thursday 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Live)
Friday 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 8 p.m.-1 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Chalmers defends: Greg Chalmers defeated Adam Scott and Wade Ormsby on the seventh playoff hole for his second Australian PGA Championship title.
Final event of “Australian Triple Crown”: This week marks the third and final event of the “Australian Triple Crown,” which also features the Australian Masters and Australian Open. Australian Masters winner Peter Senior is in the field but Australian Open champion Matt Jones is not. And for the first time, the event is being co-sanctioned by the European Tour and will count as an official event.
Headlining the field: Brandt Snedeker, John Senden, David Lingmerth, Peter Senior, Cameron Smith, Peter Uihlein, Jarrod Lyle, Robert Allenby, Greg Chalmers and Paul Dunne.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Nedbank Golf Challenge
Dates: Dec. 3-6
Venue: Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-10 a.m. (Live)
Friday 3-10 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 4-10 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 4-10 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Event changes: This is the 35th edition of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and the first of two times that it will be contested during the 2016 Race to Dubai season. The event will move to November in 2016 and become the second leg of the European Tour’s Final Series. The field of 30 this week will increase to 72 next November. Following the conclusion of play on Sunday, the European Tour will take a four-week hiatus and resume in 2016 with the South African Open in Johannesburg on January 7.
Willett defends: Danny Willett defeated Ross Fisher by four shots to earn his second career European Tour win.
Headlining the field: Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer, Robert Streb, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen, Danny Willett, Shane Lowry, Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley.
ASIAN TOUR
Ho Tram Open
Dates: Dec. 3-6
Venue: The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip, Vietnam
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 1-3 a.m. (Live)
Friday 1-3 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 1-4 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 1-4 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Inaugural event: This week marks the first playing of the Ho Tram Open, being contested in Vietnam, two hours southeast of Ho Chi Minh City.
Headlining the field: Sergio Garcia, Geoff Ogilvy, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Robert Rock, Oliver Wilson, David Lipsky, Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal.
LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
The Queens
Dates: Dec. 4-6
Venue: Miyoshi Country Club, Aichi, Japan
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Saturday 2:30-5 p.m. (Tape delay)
Sunday 2-5 p.m. (Tape delay)
Broadcast Notes:
Format: The inaugural match play event features four nine-person teams comprised of members of the Ladies European Tour (captained by Laura Davies), LPGA of Japan, Korean LPGA Tour and Australian Ladies Professional Golf Inc. The format features 34 matches being contested over three days: eight fourball matches on day one, eight foursomes matches on day two, and 18 singles matches on day three, with 102 total points available. Each match is worth three points to the winning team, and one point will be given for matches ending all square.
Ladies European Tour Team: Laura Davies (captain), Hannah Burke, Karine Icher, Nanna Madsen, Catriona Matthew, Gwladys Nocera, Emily Kristine Pedersen, Melissa Reid and Marianne Skarpnord.
LPGA of Japan Team: Momoko Ueda (captain), Erika Kikuchi, Ayaka Watanabe, Misuzo Narita, Akane Iijima, Shiho Oyama, Erina Hara, Miki Sakai and Ritsuko Ryu.
Korean LPGA Team: In Gee Chun, Sei Young Kim, Sung Hyun Park, Jung Min Lee, Yoon Ji Cho, Jin Young Ko, Seon Woo Bae, Min Sun Kim, Bo-Mee Lee.
Australian Ladies Professional Golf Team: Rachel Hetherington (captain), Nikki Campbell, Nikki Garrett, Whitney Hillier, Sarah Kemp, Katherine Kirk, Stephanie Na, Sarah Jane Smith and Lindsey Wright.
PGA TOUR / EUROPEAN TOUR
WGC-HSBC Champions
Dates: Nov. 5-8
Venue: Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 10 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Thursday replay)
Thursday 10 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Friday replay)
Friday 10 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 10 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Sunday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Elite field: The event features four of the top-5 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, including Jordan Spieth (No. 2), Rory McIlroy (No. 3), Bubba Watson (No. 4) and Rickie Fowler (No. 5). The no-cut event is the second of four tournaments being played as part of the European Tour’s Final Series in addition to being co-sanctioned by the PGA TOUR.
Watson defends: Bubba Watson defeated Tim Clark on the first playoff hole for his seventh career PGA TOUR victory.
Headlining the field: Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Henrik Stenson, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed and Adam Scott.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Dates: Nov. 5-8
Venue: Desert Mountain Club (Cochise Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Friday replay)
Friday 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Broadcast Notes:
Schwab Cup Championship at Stake for Montgomerie, Maggert and Langer: Three players will tee it up with an opportunity to claim the season-long Charles Schwab Cup with a victory this week in Colin Montgomerie, Jeff Maggert and Bernhard Langer. The scenarios in which each can mathematically win the Schwab Cup are:
Montgomerie – Can finish 30th and win if Maggert finishes 18th or worse, and Langer finishes 14th or worse.
Maggert – Can finish 2nd and win if Montgomerie finishes 3rd or worse, and Langer does not win the tournament. Can finish 17th, but would need Montgomerie to finish 27th or worse and Langer 13th or worse.
Langer – Wins with a 2nd place finish if Montgomerie and Maggert finish 3rd or worse. Can finish solo 13th and win if Maggert finishes 18th or worse and Montgomerie finishes 27th or worse.
Pernice Jr. defends: Tom Pernice Jr., outlasted Jay Haas on the fourth playoff hole for his fourth career Champions Tour win.
Headlining the field: Colin Montgomerie, Jeff Maggert, Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Marco Dawson, Tom Lehman, Mark O’Meara, Kenny Perry, Tom Pernice Jr., and Duffy Waldorf.
PGA TOUR
Sanderson Farms Championship
Dates: Nov. 5-8
Venue: Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Miss.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-10 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-10 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-10 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Live) / 7:30-10:30 p.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Taylor defends: Nick Taylor defeated Jason Bohn and Boo Weekley to earn his first career PGA TOUR win.
Headlining the field: Ollie Schniederjans, Smylie Kaufman, Graham DeLaet, Patrick Rodgers, Scott Stallings, Lucas Glover, Billy Hurley, David Toms, Jarrod Lyle and K.J. Choi.
PGA TOUR
CIMB Classic
Dates: Oct. 29-Nov. 1
Venue: Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (West Course), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 10:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Live) / 2-6 p.m. (Thursday replay)
Thursday 10:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. (Live) / 1-5 p.m. (Friday replay)
Friday 11 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / 1-5 p.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 11 p.m.-3 a.m. (Live) / Noon-4 p.m. (Sunday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Tournament format: The field consists of 78 players including 60 players from the 2014-15 FedExCup standings, 10 from the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and eight sponsor’s exemptions, competing in a 72-hole no-cut format.
Moore defends: Ryan Moore won by three strokes over Gary Woodland, Kevin Na and Sergio Garcia to successfully defend his 2013 title.
Headlining the field: Henrik Stenson, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Patrick Reed, Anirban Lahiri, Daniel Berger, Justin Thomas, Branden Grace and Kevin Na.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Turkish Airlines Open
Dates: Oct. 29-Nov. 1
Venue: The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Antalya, Turkey
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 5-10 a.m. (Live)
Friday 5-10 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 5-10 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 3:30-8:30 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Final Series begins as McIlroy looks to maintain Race to Dubai lead: Rory McIlroy headlines the field as the Race to Dubai leader in the first of four events a part of the European Tour’s Final Series. Each of the four events features a field of 60-78 players with no cut, totaling a combined purse of $30.5 million.
Headlining the field: Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Charl Schwartzel, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Shane Lowry, Victor Dubuisson and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Toshiba Classic
Dates: Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Venue: Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Friday 5-8 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 5-8 p.m. (Live) / 2-3:30 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 4:30-7 p.m. (Live) / Midnight-2 a.m. (Monday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Three continue to battle for Charles Schwab Cup title: This is the final event prior to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, with Colin Montgomerie, Jeff Maggert and Bernhard Langer still in the race to win the Charles Schwab Cup, with only 66 points separating Montgomerie (first place) from Langer (third place). At week’s end, the top-30 in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup race will advance to next week’s season-culminating Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Arizona. Players on the bubble hoping to advance to compete in next week’s field include: Fred Couples (No. 28); Miguel Angel Jimenez (No. 29); Duffy Waldorf (No. 30); Stephen Ames (No. 31); Rod Spittle (No. 32); Rocco Mediate (No. 33); and Fred Funk (No. 34).
Couples defends: Fred Couples defeated Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer and Steve Pate by one stroke for his 10th career Champions Tour victory.
Headlining the field: Colin Montgomerie, Jeff Maggert, Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Jay Haas, Vijay Singh, Mark O’Meara, Rocco Mediate, Marco Dawson and Tom Lehman.
LPGA TOUR
Blue Bay LPGA
Dates: Oct. 29-Nov. 1
Venue: Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course, Hainan Island, China
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 2:30-5 a.m. (Tape delay) / Midnight-4 a.m. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Friday 2:30-5 a.m. (Tape delay) / Midnight-4 a.m. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Saturday 8-10:30 p.m. (Tape delay) / Midnight-4 a.m. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Sunday 8 p.m.-Midnight (Tape delay) / Midnight-3 a.m. (Streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Broadcast Notes:
Pace defends: Lee-Anne Pace defeated Caroline Masson by three strokes for his first LPGA Tour win in a 54-hole shortened event due to heavy rains.
Headlining the field: Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Shanshan Feng, Hyo Joo Kim, Amy Yang, Suzann Pettersen, Sei Young Kim, Anna Nordqvist and Brittany Lincicome.
Coming Up…
East Lake Cup
Dates: Nov. 2-3
Venue: East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Monday, Nov. 2 Semifinals, Match Play 2-5 p.m. (Live) / 7-10 p.m. (Replay)
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Finals, Match Play 2-5 p.m. (Live) / 6-10 p.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Format: The four NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships semifinalist teams will reconvene to compete in the inaugural East Lake Cup collegiate match play championship from East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga., home of the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola. The event will benefit the East Lake Foundation. In addition to live tournament coverage on Golf Channel, the network will provide pre-and-post event news coverage on Golf Central, with live reports and interviews from on-site at Eat Lake.
Participating Universities: The four participating men’s teams include: reigning National Champions Louisiana State University (LSU), the University of Southern California (USC), who lost to LSU in the championship match; the University of Illinois, who has won three of their last four fall collegiate events and is currently the top-ranked team in the country according to the GCAA Coaches Rankings, and the University of Georgia (UGA), two-time national champions (1999 and 2005). The women’s division features three of the top-four ranked teams in the current Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings including 2015 NCAA Women’s National Champion Stanford University. The remaining field includes Championship runner-up Baylor University; the University of Southern California (USC), currently the top-ranked team in the country in both the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings and Golfstat Relative Ranking; and six-time national champions Duke University.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
