FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 5th, 2017

GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (JULY 6-JULY 12): DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN; THE GREENBRIER CLASSIC; THORNBERRY CREEK LPGA CLASSIC; LECOM HEALTH CHALLENGE; SENIOR LPGA CHAMPIONSHIP

McIlroy Looks to Defend Title Amidst Strong Field at Dubai Duty Free Irish
Open, with Nearly 25 Live Hours of Coverage Scheduled on Golf Channel

The Greenbrier Classic Returns a Year Removed from Flood-
Damaged Cancelled Event, as Mickelson, Reed Headline the Field 

LPGA TOUR in Wisconsin for Inaugural Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic

Web.com Tour in Upstate New York for LECOM Health Challenge 

Coming Up… French Lick to Host Inaugural Senior LPGA Championship

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 5, 2017) – Rory McIlroy will look to defend his title at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on the European Tour, against a strong field that includes World No. 2 Hideki Matsuyama and Spaniard Jon Rahm. A year removed from flood damage that left the course unplayable, the PGA TOUR will return to West Virginia this week for The Greenbrier Classic. Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson headline the field at the course that recently underwent renovations. The LPGA Tour will stage the inaugural Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic outside of Green Bay, Wis., as World No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn looks to regain her form against a field that includes 12 other major champions. The Web.com Tour is in Findley Lake, N.Y., for the second playing of the LECOM Health Challenge. And next week, the LPGA Tour will host the inaugural Senior LPGA Championship Presented by Old National Bank, for players (aged 45 and older) at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in Indiana.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
Dates: July 6-9
Venue: Portstewart Golf Club, Portstewart, Northern Ireland

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         5:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday              5:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday          7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Sunday            7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
McIroy defends: World No. 4 Rory McIlroy will look to defend his 2016 title in his home country, where he won by three shots over Bradley Dredge and Russell Knox. McIlroy also will play host of the event for the third consecutive year.
Headlining the field: Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Thomas Pieters, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Danny Willett, Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play-by-Play: Terry Gannon
Analyst: Curt Byrum
Tower: Tom Abbott
On-Course: Phil Blackmar / Warren Humphreys
Interviews: Damon Hack

PGA TOUR

The Greenbrier Classic
Dates: July 6-9
Venue:  The Old White TPC, Greenbrier Resort, White Sulfur Springs, W.Va.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         3-6 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Friday              3-6 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Saturday          1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday            1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay) 

Broadcast Notes:
Tournament returns following flood-damaged cancellation in 2016: The 2016 Greenbrier Classic was canceled when flood damage the week prior to the event left the Old White TPC unplayable. It marked the first time since the 2009 Sanderson Farms Classic that weather caused a TOUR event to be canceled.
Course renovations: Due to the flood damage, the course underwent significant renovations and rebuilding. The Greenbrier brought in architect Kevin Foster who rebuilt and lifted all 18 greens; rebuilt or repositioned every bunker; and cleaned up the entire course.
Mickelson’s new caddie: This week marks the first time Phil Mickelson will tee it up since his recent split from caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay after their 25-year partnership. Mickelson’s brother, Tim, will be on the bag.
Lee defends: Danny Lee, the 2015 tournament winner, finally gets a chance to defend his first PGA TOUR victory. Lee won in a four-man playoff against David Hearn, Robert Streb, and Kevin Kisner.
Headlining the field: Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jimmy Walker, Si Woo Kim, Luke Donald, Vijay Singh, John Daly, Davis Love III, Danny Lee and Dru Love.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play-by-Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Nick Faldo
Tower: Matt Gogel
On-Course: Arron Oberholser
Interviews: George Savaricas

LPGA TOUR

Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
Dates: July 6-9
Venue: Thornberry Creek at Oneida, Oneida, Wis.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         6-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-5:30 a.m. (Replay, Friday)
Friday              6-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 3-4:30 a.m. (Replay, Saturday)
Saturday          5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 2-4 a.m. (Replay, Sunday)
Sunday            5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 2-4 a.m. (Replay, Monday)

Broadcast Notes:
Inaugural event: The Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic is the first of four new events on the 2017 LPGA Tour schedule.
Reid to be featured in “Rookie Spotlight: First-year LPGA Tour professional Mel Reid will be featured in “Rookie Spotlight” during Golf Channel’s second round coverage on Friday.
Gal to participate in “Caddie Knows Best”: Friday’s coverage also will feature LPGA Tour veteran Sandra Gal (along with her caddie) taking part in “Caddie Knows Best,” testing the knowledge of how well the tandem truly know one another.
Headlining the field: Ariya Jutanugarn, In Gee Chun, Brooke Henderson, Casey Danielson, Cristie Kerr, Sei Young Kim, Haru Nomura, Suzann Pettersen and Karrie Webb.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play-by-Play: Whit Watson
Analyst: Karen Stupples
Tower: Jim Gallagher Jr.
On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill

WEB.COM TOUR 

LECOM Health Challenge
Dates: July 6-9
Venue: Peek’n Peak Resort, Findley Lake, N.Y.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         12:30-2:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday              12:30-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6 a.m. (Replay, Saturday)
Saturday          3-5:30 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Replay, Sunday)
Sunday            3-5:30 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Replay, Monday)

Broadcast Notes:
Headlining the field: Aaron Wise, Beau Hossler, George Bryan, Brendon de Jonge, Jason Gore, Lanto Griffin, George McNeill, Chase Parker, Cameron Wilson and Jonathan Byrd.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play-by-Play: Grant Boone
Analyst: Craig Perks
Tower: Steve Burkowski
On-Course: Tripp Isenhour / Gary Christian

COMING UP…

Senior LPGA Championship
Dates: July 10-12
Venue: French Lick Resort, French Lick, Ind.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Monday           4-6 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Replay, Tuesday)
Tuesday           4-6 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Replay, Wednesday)
Wednesday     4-6 p.m. (Live) / 3-5 a.m. (Replay, Thursday)

Broadcast Notes:
Inaugural event: This is the first playing of the Senior LPGA Championship Presented by Old National Bank. The staging of this event – a major – comes just after the announcement of the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open, which will take place next summer. The field will be comprised of LPGA Tour competitors aged 45 and older.
Headlining the field: Amy Alcott, Pat Bradley, Laura Davies, Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Liselotte Neumann, Val Skinner, Hollis Stacy and Suzy Whaley.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play-by-Play: Whit Watson
Analyst: Judy Rankin
Tower: Jim Gallagher, Jr.
On-Course: Karen Stupples

-NBC Sports Group-