FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 31st, 2017

GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (FEB. 2-5): OMEGA DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC; WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN

Woods Headlines Field as Two-Time Champ at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Airing Starting Wednesday in Primetime

Matsuyama Defends at Waste Management Phoenix Open, with Golf  Channel Geared up for Nearly 40 Hours of Live Programming On-Site 

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2017) – Tiger Woods, two-time champion at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, headlines a field that includes defending champion Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia and Matthew Fitzpatrick, with coverage beginning Wednesday in primetime. On the PGA TOUR, Golf Channel will feature nearly 40 hours of live programming from on-site at TPC Scottsdale, including Golf Central originating from an embedded set location within the raucous par-3 16th hole “coliseum.”

EUROPEAN TOUR

Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Dates: Feb. 2-5
Venue: Emirates Golf Club (Majlis Course), Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         11 p.m.-4 a.m. (Live, Wednesday Overnight) / 6:30-8:30 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (Replay)
Friday              2:30-8:30 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday          3:30-8 a.m. (Live) / 9-11 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday            3:30-8 a.m. (Live) / 9-11 a.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Two-Time Champion Woods Returns: Tiger Woods, making his second start in as many weeks, returns to Dubai as a two-time champion of the event. Woods’ opening round tee time begins at 11:15 p.m. ET Wednesday evening.
Golf Central Pre-Game Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET Ahead of Opening Round Play: Prior to live tournament coverage Wednesday evening, Golf Channel will air a one-hour Golf Central with interviews, analysis and live look-ins on the driving range as players prepare for their opening round.
Willett defends: Danny Willett won by one stroke to earn his fourth career European Tour win.
Headlining the field: Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn and Trevor Immelman.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Mike Ritz
Play by Play: Dominik Holyer
Analysts: Sam Torrance / Jay Townsend
On-Course: Ken Brown

PGA TOUR

Waste Management Phoenix Open
Dates: Feb. 2-5
Venue: TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         3-7 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Friday              3-7 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Saturday          1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday            1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 6:30-11 p.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Golf Central on-site from famous par-3 16th hole: Golf Central, the network’s signature evening news program, will originate from on-site, embedded within TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole spectator “coliseum.” The show, which will feature live news and analysis leading in and out of live tournament coverage, will be hosted by Steve Sands, and feature Brandel Chamblee and Arron Oberholser as analysts, with Steve Burkowski providing reports and player interviews. Scottsdale resident and major champion Tom Lehman also will join Golf Central as a contributing guest analyst for Thursday and Friday’s news coverage. Morning Drive also will air from TPC Scottsdale Thursday-Sunday, with Matt Ginella, Chantel McCabe and Charlie Rymer anchoring on-site coverage.
Matsuyama defends: Hideki Matsuyama defeated Rickie Fowler on the fourth playoff hole to earn his second career PGA TOUR win.
Headlining the field: Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Jon Rahm.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Rich Lerner
Analyst: David Duval
Tower: Curt Byrum / Matt Gogel
On-Course: Billy Ray Brown
Interviews: Steve Burkowski

-NBC Sports Group-