FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 25th, 2015
NBC SPORTS GROUP TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (MARCH 26-29)
PGA TOUR Shifts to San Antonio as Mickelson, Spieth
Headline the Field at Valero Texas Open
Ko, Park, Lewis Lead Strong Field Featuring 18 of the World’s Top-20
at Kia Classic Airing in Primetime
Jimenez Aims for Three Straight Champions Tour Wins
in U.S. at Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic
Canizares Defends Trophee Hassan II in Morocco
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 24, 2015) – The PGA TOUR shifts to the Lone Star State for the Valero Texas Open, the first of two events remaining before the Masters. Eleven-time PGA TOUR winner John Cook will step in as a tower analyst during live tournament coverage on Golf Channel and Golf Channel on NBC, while four-time European Tour winner and 2014 European Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley will work as a guest analyst on Golf Central. The LPGA Tour stages the final event prior to its first major of the season with the Kia Classic in Southern California, as Lydia Ko leads a strong field that includes 18 of the top-20 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Miguel Angel Jimenez will try for his third straight Champions Tour win in as many starts on U.S. soil this week, as he joins Fred Couples and Colin Montgomerie at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. And the European Tour is in Morocco, as Alejandro Canizares defends at the Trophee Hassan II.
PGA TOUR
Valero Texas Open
Dates: March 26-29
Venue: TPC San Antonio (AT&T Oaks Course), San Antonio, Texas
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-3 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-3 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 3-6 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Cook steps in as tower analyst: John Cook, 11-time PGA TOUR winner will join Golf Channel and Golf Channel on NBC as a tower analyst this week. The 10-time Champions Tour winner has had his own share of success at TPC San Antonio, having won twice (2007, ’08) on the Canyons Course in the Champions Tour’s San Antonio Championship. Golf Channel reporter Angela Hamann also will make her live tournament telecast debut this week, conducting player interviews on-site from TPC San Antonio.
McGinley to serve as guest analyst on Golf Central: Paul McGinley, four-time European Tour winner and 2014 European Ryder Cup captain will serve as a guest analyst for Golf Central, beginning with Thursday’s Golf Central Pre-Game at 2 p.m. ET and continuing throughout the weekend.
Final opportunity to qualify for the Masters via the top-50: This week serves as the final opportunity for players to qualify for the Masters via the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. The only remaining category in which a player can qualify outside of receiving a special invitation is by winning next week’s Shell Houston Open.
Bowditch defends: Steven Bowditch finished one shot ahead of Will MacKenzie and Daniel Summerhays for his first career PGA TOUR victory.
Headlining the field: Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Jim Furyk, Billy Horschel, Martin Kaymer, Matt Kuchar, Davis Love III, Matt Every and Graeme McDowell.
Golf Channel / NBC Sports Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Steve Sands (Golf Channel) / Dan Hicks (NBC)
Analyst: Frank Nobilo (Golf Channel) / Peter Jacobsen (NBC)
Tower: Gary Koch / John Cook
On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Mark Rolfing / Notah Begay
Interviews: Angela Hamann (Golf Channel) / Steve Sands (NBC)
LPGA TOUR
Kia Classic
Dates: March 26-29
Venue: Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad, Calif.
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 6-9 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Friday replay)
Friday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 6-9 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Mo Martin featured in “Caddie Knows Best”: Mo Martin will join her caddie Kyle Morrison during Thursday’s tournament telecast for “Caddie Knows Best” – a segment testing players’ and caddies’ knowledge of one another.
Cheyenne Woods to be showcased in “Rookie Spotlight”: Cheyenne Woods will be the focus of this week’s “Rookie Spotlight”, as she talks about adjusting to a full-time LPGA Tour schedule.
Nordqvist defends: Anna Nordqvist won by one stroke over Lizette Salas for her fourth career LPGA Tour win.
Headlining the field: Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Hyo-Joo Kim, Shanshan Feng, So Yeon Ryu, Suzann Pettersen, Michelle Wie, Karrie Webb, Lexi Thompson and Cheyenne Woods.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Whit Watson
Analyst: Judy Rankin
Tower: Tom Abbott
On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic presented by C Spire
Dates: March 27-29
Venue: Fallen Oak Golf Club, Biloxi, Miss.
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Friday Noon-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 12:30-2:30 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 3-6 p.m. (Live) / 5-7 a.m. (Monday replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Jimenez aiming for third straight Champions Tour title:
Miguel Angel Jimenez will attempt to earn his third consecutive Champions Tour win in as many starts on U.S. soil this week, after winning the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in January, and the Greater Gwinnett Championship last April.
Maggert set to attempt improbable shot in “Blue Greens” Challenge: During Friday’s opening round coverage, Golf Channel will recap tournament presenting sponsor C Spire’s “Blue Greens” Challenge sweepstakes – featuring defending champion Jeff Maggert – as he attempts to hit a golf ball over a highway overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and successfully hit an airborne target. If Maggert successfully hits the airborne target during one of his 10 attempts, a contestant selected at random will win a grand prize valued at over $15,000, and C Spire also will donate $5,000 to the Habitat of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the tournament’s non-profit charitable beneficiary.
Maggert defends: Jeff Maggert won by two shots over Billy Andrade to become the 17th player to win in their Champions Tour debut.
Headlining the field: Miguel Angel Jimenez, Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie, Jesper Parnevik, Jay Haas, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin, Kenny Perry, Bart Bryant and Jeff Maggert.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Lanny Wadkins
Tower: John Mahaffey / Dave Marr
On-Course: Billy Ray Brown
EUROPEAN TOUR
Trophee Hassan II
Dates: March 26-29
Venue: Golf du Palais Royal, Agadir, Morocco
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 7-9 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 7-9 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.-Noon (Live)
Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Canizares defends: Alejandro Canizares finished five strokes clear of the field for his second career European Tour victory.
Headlining the field: Matteo Manassero, Marcel Siem, Jose Maria Olazabal, George Coetzee, Ross Fisher, Tommy Fleetwood, Pablo Larrazabal, Oliver Wilson and Alejandro Canizares.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Scott Walker
Play by Play: Dominik Holyer
Analyst: Warren Humphreys
On-Course: Paul Eales
-NBC Sports Group-
