FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 5th, 2018
FEDEXCUP PLAYOFFS MOVES TO PHILADELPHIA AS THE TOP-70 ELIGIBLE PLAYERS TO COMPETE AT THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP, AIRING ON GOLF CHANNEL AND NBC
Daly, Kaymer, Jimenez Headline Field at Omega European Masters in Switzerland
Golf’s Longest Hitters Convene for the 43rd Volvik World Long Drive Championship Live Tonight in Primetime on Golf Channel
ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 5, 2018) – The PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs continue with the third leg of the four-event series at the BMW Championship from Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia. The top-70 players in the current FedExCup standings are eligible to compete, led by Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Tony Finau and Justin Thomas. The top-30 in the standings at week’s end will be eligible to advance to the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Sept. 20-23. On the European Tour, major champions Martin Kaymer and John Daly lead the field at the Omega European Masters. And tonight in primetime, golf’s longest hitters will compete for the championship belts in the Volvik World Long Drive Championship.
PGA TOUR
BMW Championship
Dates: Sept. 6-9
Venue: Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pa.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 2-6 p.m. (Live) / 7-11 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 2-6 p.m. (Live) / 7-11 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 3:30-6 p.m. (Live) / 7 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Sunday Noon-2 p.m. (Live) / 7 p.m.-Midnight (Tuesday replay)
Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):
Saturday Noon-3:30 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 2-6 p.m. (Live)
PGA TOUR Live Streaming Airtimes (Eastern)
Thursday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Groups)
- Woods/Fowler/Spieth
- DeChambeau/Johnson/Rose
Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Featured Groups)
- Finau/Thomas/Koepka
- Woods/Fowler/Spieth
Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 12:30-2 p.m. / 6-7 p.m.
Friday 12:30-2 p.m. / 6-7 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m.-Noon. / 6-7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.-Noon / 6-7 p.m.
Broadcast Notes:
Third of Four FedExCup Playoff Events – The field will be comprised of the top-70 players in the current FedExCup standings. After Sunday’s final round the top-30 will advance to compete in the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in a couple of weeks.
Leishman defends: Marc Leishman finished five strokes ahead of Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose at Conway Farms Golf Club to earn his third career PGA TOUR win.
Headlining the field: Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Tony Finau, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson.
NBC Sports Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Dan Hicks / Steve Sands (Golf Channel – Saturday/Sunday)
Analyst: Johnny Miller / Gary Koch (Golf Channel)
Tower: Jimmy Roberts / Peter Jacobsen / David Feherty / Steve Sands
On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Mark Rolfing / Jim “Bones” Mackay
Interviews: Steve Sands / Todd Lewis (Golf Channel – Saturday/Sunday)
EUROPEAN TOUR
Omega European Masters
Dates: Sept. 6-9
Venue: Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 5:30-7:30 a.m. / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 5:30-7:30 a.m. / 9:30 a.m.-Noon (Live)
Saturday 6:30-11 a.m. (Live)
Sunday 6-11 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes
Headlining the field: John Daly, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Doug Ghim, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer, Thomas Pieters, Charl Schwartzel, Matt Wallace, Lee Westwood and Danny Willett.
Golf Channel Tournament Broadcast Team:
Host: Mike Ritz
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analyst: Ken Brown / Sam Torrance
On-Course: Julian Tutt
WORLD LONG DRIVE ASSOCIATION
43rd Volvik World Long Drive Championship
Dates: Sept. 4-5
Venue: WinStar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville, Okla.
Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Wednesday 9-11 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Golf Central On-Site: Golf Central will preview live event coverage both nights, with a special hour pre-game show dedicated to analyzing the matchups along with interviews with those in the field preparing to compete.
Format: The championship will showcase three respective divisions (Open – Men’s, Women’s, Masters – Age 45+). Tonight’s s telecast will feature showcase the quarterfinal, semifinal and championship matches in the Open Division, along with the semifinal and championship matches in the Women’s Division.
Technology-Enhanced Production: The production will utilize 13 dedicated cameras, capturing all angles from the hitting platform and the landing grid, including two SuperMo cameras as well as two craned-positioned cameras that will track the ball in flight once it leaves the competitor’s clubface. An overlaid graphic line on the grid, the “DXL Big Drive to Beat,” (similar to the “1st & 10 line” made popular in football) will display the longest drive during a given match to signify the driving distance an opposing competitor will need to surpass to take the lead. Trackman technology also will provide viewers with a sense of ball flight, tracing the arc of each drive from the moment of impact.
Digital & Social Media Coverage: Fans can stay up-to-date on all of the action surrounding the Volvik World Long Drive Championship by following @GolfChannel and @WorldLongDrive on social media. Golf Channel social media host Alexandra O’Laughlin will be on-site contributing to the social conversation as the World Championship unfolds, and, the telecast will integrate social media-generated content during live coverage on Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 4-5 using the hashtag, #WorldLongDrive
Headlining the field: Open (Men’s) Division: Will Hogue, Justin Moose, Jim Waldron, Ryan Steenberg, Josh Cassaday, Tim Burke, Mark Costello and Maurice Allen. Women’s Division: Emily Tubert, Chloe Garner, Phillis Meti and Heather Manfredda.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Jonathan Coachman
Analysts: Art Sellinger
Interviews: Jerry Foltz
Reporter: George Savaricas (Golf Central)
-NBC Sports Group-