FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 15th, 2014

GOLF CHANNEL ANNOUNCES DEBUT OF RYDER CUP ALTERNATE SHOT, COMPLEMENTING NBC’S LIVE WEEKEND COVERAGE OF 2014 RYDER CUP FROM SCOTLAND

NBC Sports Group’s Unprecedented 85.5 Live Hours of Coverage Features Ryder Cup’s First Tee Shot to Last Putt, and Week-Long Access

via Golf Central’s Live From the Ryder Cup with Behind-the-Scenes Access, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Practice Sessions, Press Conferences and Comprehensive News and Analysis

Golf Channel’s Ryder Cup Alternate Shot Telecast Features Additional View with Host David Feherty, Former Ryder Cup Captains and Players, and Golf Channel’s Gary Williams

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2014) – A first-time, exclusive collaboration between NBC and Golf Channel at the 2014 Ryder Cup, Sept. 22-28, will present 85.5 hours of unprecedented coverage designed to bring fans closer to the action of one of the world’s most exciting sporting events. Debuting this year will be Golf Channel’s Ryder Cup Alternate Shot coverage, which will feature a different view of the action that complements NBC’s live weekend coverage.

“As NBC Sports Group unparalleled coverage of the 2014 Ryder Cup, one of the most unique events in sports, this coordinated effort between Golf Channel and NBC will super-serve fans’ appetite for the passion and patriotism that surrounds this event,” said Golf Channel Executive Producer Molly Solomon. “The Ryder Cup Alternate Shot coverage will be perfect complement to NBC’s coverage, and will showcase the unconventional Feherty and legends from past Ryder Cups discussing the action like only they can, because they have stood on Ryder Cup first tees with the hopes of their nation on their shoulders.”

“Tom’s team is the hungry, young underdog in this contest,” said Feherty.  “We’ll talk about that during Alternate Shot coverage and will show viewers a different spin on analysis, as well as give them a fun and informative way to enjoy the Ryder Cup.  It’ll also be fun for me because I’ll get to argue with Wadkins all day.”

 

GOLF CHANNEL’S RYDER CUP ALTERNATE SHOT: Hosted by the outspoken, Emmy-nominated David Feherty – former 1991 Ryder Cup European Team member, but now a proud American citizen and host of the award-winning Feherty – and Morning Drive host Gary Williams. Former U.S. Ryder Cup Captain (1995) and player (1977-93) Lanny Wadkins – who is second only to Arnold Palmer with the most Ryder Cup matches ever won by an American – and former U.S. Ryder Cup team members David Duval (1999-2002) and Justin Leonard (1997-99, 2008) will join the Feherty and Williams in studio to help break down the matches through lively discussion and analysis. Additional features of the Ryder Cup Alternate Shot telecast include:

  • Conversations from Scotland with former Ryder Cup players and captains:
  • Sir Nick Faldo: European Team Captain 2008; Player 1977-97 – played in more Ryder Cups (11) than any other player in history; also will contribute all week to Golf Channel’s Live From the Ryder Cup telecasts
  • Colin Montgomerie: European Team Captain 2010; Player 1991-2006 – tied for the most singles matches won in Ryder Cup history.
  • Tony Jacklin: European Team Captain 1983-89; Player 1967-79
  • Darren Clarke: European Team Vice Captain 2010-12; Player 1997-2006
  • Peter Alliss: eight-time Ryder Cup player for Great Britain (1953-69); known as the “Voice of Golf” and one of the all-time great golf commentators.
  • Jesper Parnevik: European Team player (1997-2002)
  • Viewers also will be treated to alternative live coverage throughout the Ryder Cup Alternate Shot telecast via the world satellite feed hosted by members of the European broadcast team regularly featured on Golf Channel.
  • An on-screen graphic frame, similar to Golf Channel’s Spotlight coverage of PGA TOUR events, will highlight real-time statistics, as well as social media conversation surrounding the Ryder Cup.
  • Hands-on analysis using Golf Channel’s simulator, which will feature a virtual version of the Centenary Course at Gleneagles.

 

EXCLUSIVE NBC SPORTS GROUP EVENT COVERAGE: NBC and Golf Channel will provide live coverage of the 2014 Ryder Cup from Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, from Friday, Sept. 26 through Sunday Sept. 28. This will mark the first European-hosted event to be televised and streamed online live in the United States. Earlier this year, Golf Channel acquired the exclusive Ryder Cup telecast North American rights for Friday’s matches, which will be the first time the network has provided live coverage of this event. Both networks combined will air the most live coverage ever for a European-hosted event – from the opening tee shot on Friday through the final putt on Sunday. Coverage will also be streamed via Golf Live Extra and NBC Sports Live Extra.

Play-by-play and lead analyst roles for Friday and Saturday will include Terry Gannon and either Nick Faldo (Friday) or Frank Nobilo (Saturday) for morning matches, and Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller for afternoon matches.  Outer towers will be manned in the morning by Tom Abbott and Curt Byrum, and in the afternoon by Gary Koch and Peter Jacobsen.  Reporting from the course for both sessions on both days will be a combination of Roger Maltbie, Mark Rolfing, Notah Begay and Jerry Foltz.  Singles matches on Sunday will feature Hicks and Miller in the booth, Koch and Jacobsen in outer towers; and a combination of Maltbie, Rolfing, Begay, Foltz and Byrum on the course.  Steve Sands and Jimmy Roberts will handle interviews all days.  Several guest analysts, including Montgomerie, are expected to contribute to the coverage throughout the matches.

 

NBC SPORTS GROUP’S LIVE RYDER CUP COVERAGE (all times ET)

Friday, Sept. 26          Ryder Cup – Day One                        2:30 a.m.-1 p.m.          Golf Channel

Saturday, Sept. 27      Ryder Cup – Day Two                        3 a.m.-1 p.m.               NBC*

Ryder Cup Alternate Shot       3 a.m.-11:30 a.m.        Golf Channel

*Coverage on NBC will begin at the conclusion of regularly scheduled late-night programming in Mountain and Pacific time zones. Streaming will be available via NBC Sports Live Extra

Sunday, Sept. 28         Ryder Cup – Final Day           7 a.m.-1 p.m.               NBC

Ryder Cup Alternate Shot       7 a.m.-11:30 a.m.        Golf Channel

 

GOLF CENTRAL’S LIVE FROM THE RYDER CUP & MORNING DRIVE: Beginning Monday, Sept. 22, and originating from a custom-made set overlooking the world-famous Gleneagles Hotel – host of such prestigious events as the 1986 NATO conference and 2005 G8 Summit – Live From the Ryder Cup will feature comprehensive news, highlights, and expert analysis; every news conference from players on both teams; exclusive “look-ins” that will show players preparing for their matches, whether on the practice range or during warm-up rounds; Opening and Closing Ceremonies; compelling feature stories; and special access to chronicle the building anticipation and excitement on the 1st tee just prior to the start of the Ryder Cup. Comprising the Golf Channel team in Scotland will be hosts Rich Lerner and Kelly Tilghman, analysts Brandel Chamblee and Frank Nobilo, and reporters Todd Lewis and Steve Burkowski.  Making his Golf Channel debut as guest analyst will be popular Swedish professional golfer and three-time European Ryder Cup team member Jesper Parnevik.

On Monday, Sept. 22, Golf Channel’s Morning Drive will kick the week off with all the current news from Scotland, including Ryder Cup analysis, discussion and interviews hosted by Gary Williams, Damon Hack and the rest of the team.  The two shows comprise more than 45 hours of live programming surrounding Ryder Cup action.

 

GOLF CHANNEL’S LIVE FROM THE RYDER CUP & MORNING DRIVE AIR TIMES (all times ET)

Monday, Sept. 22                   Morning Drive                                                            7-9 a.m.

Live From the Ryder Cup                                           10-11 a.m.

7-8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 23                   Live From the Ryder Cup                                           6 a.m.-2 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 24              Live From the Ryder Cup                                           6 a.m.-2 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 25                  Live From the Ryder Cup (Opening Ceremony)         6 a.m.-1 p.m.

Live From the Ryder Cup                                      10 p.m.-2:30 a.m.

Friday, Sept. 26                      Live From the Ryder Cup                                           1-4 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 27                  Live From the Ryder Cup                                        Midnight-3 a.m.

Live From the Ryder Cup                                           1-4 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 28                     Live From the Ryder Cup                                           5-7 a.m.

Live From the Ryder Cup (Closing Ceremony)          1-4 p.m.