FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017

GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (OCT. 5 – 8): SAFEWAY OPEN; ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

Mickelson Headlines Field as 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season Kicks Off at Safeway Open

 European Tour Returns to Home of Golf for Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

ORLANDO, Fla. (October 3, 2017) – Two weeks removed from the TOUR Championship, the PGA TOUR 2017-18 wraparound season kicks off this week in Napa, California for the Safeway Open, where Phil Mickelson headlines the field. Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Branden Grace lead the field at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at a historic rotation of three Scottish courses – St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns – over the first three rounds. St. Andrews will host the final round of play Sunday.

PGA TOUR

Safeway Open

Dates: Oct. 5-8

Venue: Silverado Resort & Spa (North Course), Napa, Calif.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Friday              5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Saturday          5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Sunday            5:30-8:30 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)

Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         4:30-5:30 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-9 p.m. (Live)

Friday              5-5:30 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-9 p.m. (Live)

Saturday          5-5:30 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-9 p.m. (Live)

Sunday            5-5:30 p.m. (Live) / 8:30-9:30 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

2017-18 PGA TOUR season kicks off: This week marks the first of 48 official events during the 2017-18 PGA TOUR season, with eight of those events being played in 2017.

Napa resident Johnny Miller to contribute to Golf Channel’s event coverage: Napa resident and NBC Sports analyst Johnny Miller will make multiple appearances during Golf Channel’s telecasts of the Safeway Open this week.

Steele defends: Brendan Steele won by one shot over Patton Kizzire to earn his second TOUR event, and first since 2011.

Headlining the field: Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, Adam Hadwin, Tony Finau, John Daly, Bryson DeChambeau, Keegan Bradley, Emiliano Grillo and Bill Haas.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play-by-Play: Terry Gannon

Analyst: Curt Byrum

Tower: Matt Gogel / Steve Sands

On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Billy Ray Brown

EUROPEAN TOUR

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Dates: Oct. 5-8

Venue: Old Course at St. Andrews; Carnoustie Golf Links; Kingsbarns Golf Links, Scotland, United Kingdom

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         8 a.m.-Noon (Live) / 1-4:30 p.m. (Replay)

Friday              8 a.m.-Noon (Live) / 1-5 p.m. (Replay)

Saturday          8 a.m.-Noon (Live) / 1-5 p.m. (Replay)

Sunday            7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live) / 12:30-5:00 p.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:

Event format: 168 professionals and 168 amateurs pair up as two-man teams, playing one round each at St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. A 54-hole cut will take place with the low 60 professionals (and ties) and the low 20 teams advancing to compete in a final round at St. Andrews.

Hatton defends: Tyrrell Hatton won by four strokes over Ross Fisher to claim his first European Tour victory.

Headlining the field: Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Branden Grace, Ernie Els, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Graeme McDowell.

Notable amateurs in the field: Tom Chaplin, Jamie Dornan, Dave Farrell, Ronan Keating, Greg Kinnear, Huey Lewis, Kelly Rohrbach, Mike Rutherford and Tico Torres.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly

Analyst: Ken Brown / Mark James

Tower: Sam Torrance

On-Course: Dale Hayes

– NBC Sports Group –