FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 28th, 2015
GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES: JAN. 28- FEB. 1
Woods Returns to Waste Management Phoenix Open this Week for First Time in 14 Years as PGA TOUR Shares Stage with Super Bowl XLIX
McIlroy, Stenson Headline Field at Omega Dubai Desert Classic
LPGA Tour Begins 2015 Season with Inaugural Coates Golf Championship
in Ocala, Fla., Wednesday-Saturday, Jan. 28-31
ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 27, 2014) – The PGA TOUR is in Scottsdale, Ariz. this week as Tiger Woods will make his 2015 debut by appearing in the Waste Management Phoenix Open for the first time since 2001. The PGA TOUR will share the sports media spotlight with the NFL this week, as tournament venue TPC Scottsdale is only 31 miles from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale – host of Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, Feb. 1. Golf Channel’s signature evening news program – Golf Central – will air on-site from TPC Scottsdale throughout the week from a dedicated set embedded within the iconic 16th hole known as the loudest, most raucous hole in the world. The set is carved out amongst the estimated 20,000 spectators within the amphitheater which surrounds the hole completely. Meanwhile, the European Tour is in Dubai with World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 2 Henrik Stenson headlining the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. And the LPGA Tour kicks off its 2015 schedule this week with the inaugural Coates Golf Championship in Ocala, Fla., with coverage airing Wednesday-Saturday, Jan. 28-31 due to Super Bowl XLIX. The field features 21 of the top-25 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
PGA TOUR
Waste Management Phoenix Open
Dates: Jan. 29-Feb. 1
Venue: TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 8-10 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-11:30 p.m. (Replay) / 11:30-4 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-11:30 p.m. (Replay) / 11:30-4 a.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Woods returns to Scottsdale for the first time since 2001: Tiger Woods makes his first start of 2015 this week, returning to TPC Scottsdale for the first time in competition since 2001.
Golf Central airing live, embedded within TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole amphitheater: Beginning today, Jan. 27 and continuing through Sunday, Feb. 1, Golf Central – the network’s signature evening news program – will air from a customized set embedded within TPC Scottsdale’s raucous par-3 16th hole hospitality amphitheater. This is the first time that Golf Channel has built a set directly into the hospitality seating at TPC Scottsdale, and on Wednesday, Golf Central will feature a special “Shot at Glory” celebrity closest-to-the-pin challenge beginning at 5 p.m. ET.
Golf Channel’s Feherty Live also in Phoenix, airing back-to-back nights Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 28-29: Emmy-nominated host David Feherty also has descended upon the Phoenix-area this week for two special Feherty Live shows, airing on back-to-back nights this week, Wednesday and Thursday Jan. 28-29 at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. Guests include PGA TOUR professional Erik Compton, actor Tom Arnold, NBC’s Sunday Night Football announcers Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, who will be calling Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIX on NBC, professional golfer Rocco Mediate and commentator Gary McCord, as well as NBC’s Football Night in America analysts and former Super Bowl champions Rodney Harrison and Hines Ward, and ESPN football analyst Herm Edwards.
Headlining the field: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Erik Compton and Robert Allenby.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Rich Lerner
Analyst: Frank Nobilo
Tower: Matt Gogel
Interviews: Steve Burkowski
Golf Central Broadcast Team:
Host: Steve Sands / Ryan Burr (Wednesday)
Analyst: Brandel Chamblee / Notah Begay / Arron Oberholser
Reporter: Steve Burkowski
EUROPEAN TOUR
Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Dates: Jan. 29-Feb. 1
Venue: Emirates Golf Club (Majlis Course), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 1-4 a.m. / 5:30-8:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday 1-4 a.m. / 5:30-8:30 a.m. (Live) / 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 9:30 a.m.-Noon (Replay)
Sunday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 9:30-Noon (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Gallacher going for third straight Omega Dubai Desert Classic victory: Stephen Gallacher successfully defended his title in last year’s event, finishing one shot ahead of Emiliano Grillo for his third European Tour win.
Headlining the field: Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Ernie Els, Victor Dubuisson, Graeme McDowell, Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Peter Uihlein.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Mike Ritz
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analyst: Ken Brown / Tony Johnstone
On Course: Jay Townsend
LPGA TOUR
Coates Golf Championship
Dates: Jan. 28-31
Venue: Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, Ocala, Fla.
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 2-5 p.m. (Live)
Thursday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live)
Friday 8-10 p.m. (Tape delay) / 3-5 p.m. (Live streaming on Golf Live Extra)
Saturday 3-5 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
LPGA season begins with inaugural event: The 2015 LPGA Tour season kicks off with the inaugural Coates Golf Championship this week from Ocala, Fla. The full field event will be contested from Wednesday-Saturday, Jan. 28-31 due to Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, Feb. 1. The field will feature 21 of the top-25 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. This week also marks the first time since 2001 that the Tour will begin its season in the state of Florida, and the first time since 2009 that the season opener will be held in the United States. After this week, the LPGA will not return to the United States until March, with upcoming events scheduled in the Bahamas, Australia, Thailand and Singapore.
Golf Channel featuring player self-introductions for final group during LPGA Tour weekend coverage: Beginning this week, Golf Channel’s LPGA Tour telecasts will include special player intros for the final group, with players introducing themselves in their own words during third and final round coverage.
Headlining the field: Michelle Wie, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson, Anna Nordqvist, Ai Miyazato, Azahara Munoz, So Yeon Ryu, Paula Creamer and Cheyenne Woods.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Terry Gannon
Analyst: Judy Rankin
Tower: Tom Abbott
On Course: Jerry Foltz / Karen Stupples
-NBC Sports Group-
