FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 20th, 2016
GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (JAN. 21-24): ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP; CAREERBUILDER CHALLENGE; MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CHAMPIONSHIP AT HUALALAI
Spieth, McIlroy and Fowler Grouped Together at Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship; Airing in Primetime on Golf Channel Wednesday-Saturday
Mickelson Makes 2016 Debut at CareerBuilder Challenge
PGA TOUR Champions Kicks off 2016 Season in Hawaii with Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 19, 2016) – World No. 1 Jordan Spieth, No. 3 Rory McIlroy and No. 6 Rickie Fowler headline a world-class international field at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates on the European Tour. The three will be grouped together for the first two rounds of play, with live primetime coverage beginning Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET. The PGA TOUR moves to the California desert this week for the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, with two-time winner Phil Mickelson making his 2016 debut and his first competitive start since the 2015 Presidents Cup. Golf Channel on NBC’s Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller will join the broadcast team for weekend coverage. A two-time winner of the event, Miller (along with Hicks) returns to the broadcast booth at this tournament for the first time since 1998. Miller also made his broadcast debut at this tournament – then known as the Bob Hope Classic – back in 1990. The PGA TOUR Champions kicks off its 2016 season in Hawaii with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, with live coverage in primetime Thursday-Saturday.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Dates: Jan. 21-24
Venue: Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 10:30 p.m.-3:30 am (Live, First Round Morning Wave) / 3:30-6 am (Replay)
Thursday 6-8 am (Live, First Round Afternoon Wave) / 10 am-2 p.m. Replay)
Friday 2-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-2p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 3:30-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Spieth, McIlroy and Fowler grouped together first two rounds: World No. 1 Jordan Spieth, No. 3 Rory McIlroy and No. 6 Rickie Fowler will be grouped together for the first two rounds of play. The trio tees off at 10:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday night for their opening round, and at 3:05 am ET on Friday morning for their second round.
Stenson making 2016 debut: In addition to Spieth, McIlroy and Fowler, World No. 5 Henrik Stenson also is scheduled to compete, making his 2016 debut in Abu Dhabi.
Stal defends: Gary Stal captured the 2015 title by one stroke over Rory McIlroy and two strokes over Martin Kaymer for his first career European Tour win.
Headlining the field: Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler, Darren Clarke, Bryson DeChambeau, Ernie Els, Branden Grace, Martin Kaymer and Gary Stal.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Mike Ritz
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analyst: Tony Johnstone / Ken Brown
On-Course: Jay Townsend
PGA TOUR
CareerBuilder Challenge in Partnership with the Clinton Foundation
Dates: Jan. 21-24
Venue: PGA West (TPC Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament Course), La Quinta, Calif.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Hicks and Miller join broadcast team for weekend coverage: Golf Channel on NBC’s Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller will join the broadcast team for weekend coverage, marking the first time since 1998 – the final year NBC covered the Bob Hope Classic – that the duo will be calling action at this tournament.
Miller returns to familiar venue: Johnny Miller made his broadcast debut on NBC at the Bob Hope Classic in 1990. The 1990 tournament also was where Miller made his first – and now legendary – “choke” reference, directed at Peter Jacobsen, now part of the broadcast team and a colleague of Miller’s. Jacobsen, playing this week at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, is scheduled to call-in during weekend coverage to recount the 1990 event.
Mickelson making 2016 debut: Two-time CareerBuilder Challenge winner Phil Mickelson makes his 2016 debut this week, his first competition since the 2015 Presidents Cup.
Format: 156 professionals will play alongside amateur golfers over 72 holes (the event was previously played as a five-round, 90 hole event.)
TPC Stadium course returns to rotation: For the first time since 1987 and the second time in tournament history, the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West joins the rotation of courses. For the first three rounds, all three courses (TPC Stadium, Nicklaus Tournament and La Quinta CC) will be used, with TPC Stadium hosting the final round.
Haas defends: Bill Haas defeated five players by one stroke to earn his sixth career PGA TOUR win and his second at this event.
Headlining the field: Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bill Haas, Zac Blair, Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Jason Dufner, Matt Kuchar, Ollie Schniederjans and Steve Stricker.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Steve Sands / Dan Hicks
Analyst: Curt Byrum / Johnny Miller
Tower: Gary Koch
On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Notah Begay / Jerry Foltz
Interviews: Todd Lewis
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
Dates: Jan. 21-23
Venue: Hualalai Golf Course, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 7-10 p.m. (Live)
Friday 7-10 p.m. (Live) / 2-4 a.m. (Saturday Replay)
Saturday 11:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (Live) / 2-3:30 am (Saturday Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Season-opening event: The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai is the season-opening event for the 2016 PGA TOUR Champions season, the first of 26 events scheduled in the 2016 race for the Charles Schwab Cup.
Elite field: The 44-player field consists of players who qualify by having won a PGA TOUR Champions major in the last five seasons or an official PGA TOUR Champions event in the last two seasons. The field also includes 10 sponsor exemptions.
Jimenez defends: Miguel Angel Jimenez defeated Mark O’Meara by one stroke for his second career PGA TOUR Champions win in 2015.
Headlining the field: Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Tom Watson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Colin Montgomerie, Jay Haas, John Cook, Tom Lehman and Jeff Maggert.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Lanny Wadkins
Tower: Mark Rolfing
On-Course: Billy Ray Brown
On-Course: Dave Marr
-NBC Sports Group-
