FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES AND NOTES (JUNE 30-JULY 3): WGC-BRIDGESTONE INV., 100TH OPEN DE FRANCE, CAMBIA PORTLAND CLASSIC AND BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP

Golf Channel Tournament Airtimes and Notes: June 30-July 3

Strong International Field at WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

McIlroy, Westwood, McDowell and Willett Headline European Tour’s 100th Open de France With Four Qualifying Spots for The Open

Henderson Returns to Defend First LPGA Tour win at the Cambia Portland Classic

PGA TOUR returns to Nevada with the Barracuda Championship, Featuring a Modified Stableford Format and One Qualifying Spot for The Open

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 29, 2016) – The International Federation of PGA TOURS stages its next World Golf Championships event this week – the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational – in Akron, Ohio. 40 of the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking are competing in the no-cut field with 61 players, which feature 22 of 24 members of the 2015 U.S. and International Presidents Cup teams and 24 of 29 winners from the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season. The PGA TOUR also is staging the Barracuda Championship (formerly known as the Reno-Tahoe Open) this week in Reno, Nevada, featuring a modified stableford format. The Barracuda Championship is part of The Open Qualifying Series, where the low finisher who places within the top-5 and ties that is not otherwise exempt will receive an exemption to The Open at Royal Troon. The LPGA Tour returns to the Pacific Northwest for the Cambia Portland Classic, where Brooke Henderson captured her first LPGA career win in 2015. At the European Tour’s 100th French Open in Paris, France, Rory McIlroy headlines the field, where four places are available to The Open as part of The Open Qualifying Series. The leading four players not otherwise exempt who finish in the top-12 will earn an invitation to The Open at Royal Troon.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PGA TOURS

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Dates: June 30 – July 3
Venue: Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         1:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday              1:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday          Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-4 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday            Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-4:30 a.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Field of 61: 40 of the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking are entered in the field this week, including 22 of 24 members of the 2015 U.S. and International Presidents Cup teams and 24 of 29 winners from the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season.
Lowry defends: Shane Lowry defeated Bubba Watson by two strokes to earn his first career PGA TOUR win in 2015.
Headlining the field: Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Davis Love III, Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play:   Terry Gannon
Analyst:           Nick Faldo
Tower:             Matt Gogel, Gary McCord
On Course:      Phil Blackmar
Interviews:      George Savaricas

European Tour

100th Open de France
Dates: June 30-July 3
Venue: Le Golf National (Albatros Course), Paris, France

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         4:30-7:30 a.m. (Live) / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday              6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday          7:30 a.m.-Noon (Live)
Sunday            7:30 a.m.-Noon (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Open Qualifying Series Event: The leading four players not otherwise exempt for The Open who finish in the top-12 this week will earn spots to The Open at Royal Troon.
McIlroy, McDowell, Westwood, Willett Headline Field – World No. 4 Rory McIlroy headlines the 100th edition of the French Open, alongside Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and 2016 Masters Champion Danny Willett.
Wiesberger defends: Bernd Wiesberger defeated James Morrison by three strokes at 13-under par to earn his third career European Tour win.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host:    Scott Walker
Play by Play:   Warren Humphreys
Analysts:         Denis Hutchinson, Julian Tutt
On Course:      Jay Townsend

LPGA Tour
Cambia Portland Classic
Dates: June 30-July 3
Venue: Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Ore.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         9-11 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Friday              9-11 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Saturday          4-7 p.m. (Live)
Sunday            4-7 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Henderson defends: Brooke Henderson returns to the site of her first career LPGA Tour win, when she finished at 21-under par and won by eight strokes in 2015 after Monday qualifying for the tournament.
Stackhouse to Make Professional Debut: Stanford All-American Mariah Stackhouse makes her professional debut this week at the Cambia Portland Classic.
“Caddie Knows Best” – Cheyenne Woods: LPGA Tour professional Cheyenne Woods and her caddie will be featured in “Caddie Knows Best” during Thursday’s tournament coverage, where Woods will try to match answers to questions posed to her caddie about her habits on Tour.
Headlining the field: Brooke Henderson, Stacy Lewis, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Morgan Pressel, Yani Tseng, Karrie Webb and Cheyenne Woods.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Play by Play:   Tom Abbott
Analyst:           Judy Rankin
Tower:             John Cook
On Course:      Jerry Foltz, Karen Stupples

PGA TOUR

Barracuda Championship
Dates: June 30-July 3
Venue: Montreux Golf & Country Club, Reno, Nevada

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         6:30-9 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6:30 a.m. (Friday Replay)
Friday              6:30-9 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6 a.m. (Saturday Replay)
Saturday          7-10 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Sunday Replay)
Sunday            7-10 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-7 a.m. (Monday Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Modified Stableford format: The Barracuda Championship features a modified stableford format. Players receive eight points for a double eagle, five points for an eagle, two points for a birdie, zero points for a par, losing one point for a bogey and losing three points for a double bogey or worse.
Open Qualifying Series event: Due to the cancellation of the Greenbrier Classic, this event is now a part of the Open Qualifying Series with one spot in The Open at Royal Troon going to the low finisher not otherwise exempt who finishes within the top-5 this week.
Major Champion Justin Leonard to Make Lead Analyst Debut: 1997 Open Champion Justin Leonard will serve as lead analyst for Golf Channel’s coverage this week, working alongside play-by-play host Rich Lerner.
Henry defends: J.J. Henry defeated Kyle Reifers with an eagle on the second playoff hole to earn his third career PGA TOUR win and his second win at this event.
Headlining the field: John Daly, Graham DeLaet, J.J. Henry, Trevor Immelman, Rocco Mediate, Geoff Ogilvy, Jon Rahm and Camilo Villegas.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play:   Rich Lerner
Analyst:           Justin Leonard
Tower:             Curt Byrum
On Course:      Billy Ray Brown, Jim Gallagher Jr.

-NBC Sports Group-