FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 15th, 2017

UNITED STATES LOOKS TO DEFEND SOLHEIM CUP AS BIENNIAL, INTERNATIONAL MATCH PLAY EVENT RETURNS TO NETWORK TELEVISION ON NBC

United States Looks to Defend Solheim Cup as Biennial, International

Match Play Event Returns to Network Television on NBC

 Stenson, Kisner Headline in Greensboro at Wyndham Championship

in Final Chance for Players to Qualify for FedExCup Playoffs

 PGA TOUR Champions in Upstate New York for Dick’s Sporting Goods Open

 4-Man Field Convenes at Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play

 PGA Tour Australasia in South Pacific for Fiji International

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 15, 2017) – The best in the women’s game representing the U.S. and Europe are in Des Moines, Iowa for the biennial Solheim Cup. Juli Inkster and Annika Sorenstam captain the Americans and Europeans respectively in their quest to claim the trophy. This year marks the Solheim Cup’s return to network television for the first time in 15 years, as NBC will broadcast coverage on Saturday and Sunday. The last time the two teams met in 2015, the United States narrowly clinched the victory, 14 ½ – 13 ½, the closest margin in the event’s history. The PGA TOUR will stay in North Carolina this week as players head to Sedgefield Country Club for the Wyndham Championship; the last tournament before the start of the FedExCup Playoffs. Kevin Kisner, who led the PGA Championship going into the final round, and world No. 9 Henrik Stenson headline the field as players look to cement their place inside the Top 125 of the season-long standings. The PGA TOUR Champions head to Upstate New York for the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, as Charles Schwab Cup leader Bernhard Langer looks for his fifth win of the season. Paul Lawrie plays host and competitor this week on the European Tour for the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play in Germany, with a field of 64 vying for the title. The PGA Tour Australasia joins the European Tour in co-sanctioning the Fiji International. Fiji-native Vijay Singh – coming off a made cut at the PGA Championship last week – is in the field for the tournament’s fourth playing.

LPGA TOUR

Solheim Cup
Date: August 18-20
Venue: Des Moines Country Club, West Des Moines, Iowa

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         6-7 p.m. (Live, Opening Ceremony)
Friday              9 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4-7 p.m. (Live) / 2-4 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Channel Digital) Saturday   8 a.m.-4 p.m. (Live)
Sunday            12:30-4 p.m. (Live)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):
Saturday          4-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday            4-6 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Return to network television: This marks the first time in 15 years the Solheim Cup will air on network television, with NBC showing Saturday and Sunday matches.
Playing through: Golf Channel and NBC will implement the popular “Playing Through” commercial enhancement in an effort to elevate the viewing experience for fans tuning in to the Solheim Cup. NBC Sports Group will employ a split-screen model for a select number of national commercial breaks. This enhanced break will display both the commercial with audio as well as a continuous feed of the Solheim Cup action.
Enhanced digital coverage: Golf Channel Digital will provide expanded editorial coverage during Solheim Cup week, with editorial director Jay Coffin and senior writer Randall Mell reporting on-site throughout the week. Golf Channel social media host Alexandra O’Laughlin also will contribute to the network’s social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at all of the action during Solheim Cup week, including a special look at the 1st tee amphitheater area Friday-Sunday leading into the day’s matches.
Koch joins broadcast team: 2015 European Solheim Cup captain Carin Koch will make her Golf Channel debut as an analyst for the network’s news coverage on Golf Central and Morning Drive, as well contributing to the network’s live tournament coverage on-site.
U.S. defends: The United States won in 2015 for the first time since 2009, after narrowly defeating Europe in the closet margin in the event’s history.
United States Team: Paula Creamer, Austin Ernst, Danielle Kang, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lang, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Gerina Pillar, Lizette Salas, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie and Angela Yin. Captain: Juli Inkster.
Euorpean Team: Carlota Ciganda, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Georgia Hall, Charley Hull, Karine Icher, Caroline Masson, Anna Nordqvist, Florentyna Parker, Emily Pedersen, Suzann Pettersen, Mel Reid and Madelene Sagstrom. Captain: Annika Sorenstam.

NBC Sports Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Terry Gannon / Grant Boone
Analyst: Judy Rankin / Karen Stupples
Tower: Tom Abbott
On-Course: Kay Cockerill / Jerry Foltz / Jim Gallagher, Jr. / Karen Stupples

PGA TOUR

Wyndham Championship
Dates: August 17-20
Venue: Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, N.C.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         2-6 p.m. (Live) / 8 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Friday              2-4 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday          7-10 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday            7-10 p.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Last chance to earn spot in FedEx Cup Playoffs: The Wyndham Championship serves as the final event in which players can earn points to solidify their position within the top 125 of the FedExCup standings to qualify for the Playoffs, beginning next week.
Headlining the field: Henrik Stenson, Jason Dufner, Kevin Kisner, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Davis Love III and Chris Stroud.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Steve Sands
Analyst: Nick Faldo
Tower: Frank Nobilo / Matt Gogel
On-Course: Phil Blackmar
Interviews: Todd Lewis

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Dick’s Sporting Goods Open
Dates: August 18-20
Venue: En-Joie Golf Club, Endicott, N.Y.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Friday              7:30-9:30 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Channel Digital)
Saturday          4-6 p.m. (Live) / 1-3 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday            4-6 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast notes:
Goydos defends: Paul Goydos won by two shots over Wes Short Jr.
Headlining the field: Bernhard Langer, Paul Goydos, John Daly, Corey Pavin, Mark O’Meara, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Kenny Perry and Ian Woosnam.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Lanny Wadkins
Tower: John Mahaffey / Dave Marr
On-Course: Billy Ray Brown

EUROPEAN TOUR

Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play
Dates: August 17-20
Venue: Bad Griesbach Golf Resort, Bad Griesbach, Germany

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         6:30-8:30 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)
Friday              6-8 a.m. (Live)
Saturday          5-7 a.m. (Live)
Sunday            5-11 a.m. (Live)

Broadcast notes:

Wall defends: Anthony Wall defeated Alex Noren 1-up last year to capture his second career Tour win, and first in more than 16 years. Wall holds the record for the longest period between victories on the European Tour.
Headlining the field: Nicolas Colsaerts, Thomas Detry, Paul Lawrie, Edoardo Molinari, Richie Ramsey and Anthony Wall.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analyst: Warren Humphreys
Tower: Tony Johnstone
On-Course: Jay Townsend

PGA TOUR AUSTRALASIA

Fiji International
Dates: August 17-20
Venue: Natadola Bay Golf Course, Natadola Beach, Fiji

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         4-6 a.m. (Live)
Friday              4-6 a.m. (Live)
Saturday          3-5 a.m. (Live)
Sunday            3-5 a.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Co-sanctioned event: PGA TOUR Australasia and the European Tour will co-sanction the event for the second time in the tournament’s four year history.
Headlining the field: Angel Cabrera, Mike Weir and Vijay Singh.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Brendon Julian
Analyst: Paul Gow
Tower: Ossie Moore
On-Course: Dom Boulet

-NBC Sports Group-