FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 7th, 2019
GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN LEADS MORE THAN 60 LIVE HOURS OF NEWS, FEATURES & ANALYSIS AT PEBBLE BEACH, JUNE 10-16 ON GOLF CHANNEL
World Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2019 Induction Ceremony to Air Live at 7 p.m. ET Monday Honoring Bell, Goosen, Payne, Stephenson & Walters
U.S. Open Week Features Include: Tiger’s Record 2000 U.S. Open; Examining a Potential Pebble Beach Restoration & the Mystery of Poa Annua Grass
Vantage Point with Mike Tirico Returns on Tuesday, June 11 at 9 p.m. ET
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 5, 2019) – GOLF Channel announced its programming plans surrounding next week’s 119th U.S. Open (June 10-16) from Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. Led by Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open, the network will devote more than 60 total hours of live news coverage throughout the week.
Labeled by Golf Digest as “the best 19th hole in television golf,” and “the best studio show in sports,” by SB Nation, Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open will originate from an open-ended set location, featuring backdrop views of the (par-3) 17th and (par-5) 18th holes during morning coverage, and views of nearby Carmel in the evening. On-site coverage will provide viewers with an inside-the-ropes perspective that will include the practice green and short game area, along with the driving range, where Toptracer technology will be utilized to showcase those in the field preparing for competition.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY ON MONDAY, LIVE AT 7 P.M. ET: On Monday, June 10, GOLF Channel will televise (live) the World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. ET, featuring the class of 2019 that includes the late Peggy Kirk Bell, Retief Goosen, Billy Payne, Jan Stephenson and Dennis Walters.
VANTAGE POINT WITH MIKE TIRICO, TUESDAY AT 9 P.M. ET: A new episode of Vantage Point with Mike Tirico will air on Tuesday, June 11 at 9 p.m. ET originating from Pebble Beach. The show will feature a handful of guests, including CBS Sports’ host (and Pebble Beach resident) Jim Nantz, along with Mark O’Meara and Johnny Miller.
BROADCAST TEAM: Anchoring Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open (beginning on Monday, June 10) will be Rich Lerner (primetime), along with Ryan Burr and Todd Lewis. Analysts on-site for the network in primetime include Brandel Chamblee, David Duval and Frank Nobilo, in addition to Notah Begay, Trevor Immelman, Justin Leonard and Mark Rolfing during the day. Steve Burkowski and George Savaricas will serve as reporters and conduct interviews with those in the field, while GOLF Channel Insiders Jaime Diaz and Tim Rosaforte will focus on emerging storylines as the week unfolds. Geoff Shackelford also will join as a contributing guest.
U.S. Open week coverage also will be complemented by several dedicated features appearing within Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open and Morning Drive, as well as across the network’s digital and social media platforms, including:
Tiger Woods’ 2000 U.S. Open: Nearly two decades removed from arguably the most dominant major championship performance ever, GOLF Channel Insider Jaime Diaz will recount Tiger Woods’ unthinkable 15-shot win in the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Recollections include anecdotes from the principal figures from the week, including Steve Williams (Woods’ then caddie), Ernie Els, Jesper Parnevik, Jim Furyk, Mark O’Meara and John Cook.
A Pebble Beach Restoration?: Geoff Shackelford poses the question of whether Pebble Beach should be restored to its original design layout. Examining the current architecture of the golf course in comparison to its initial iteration, Shackelford offers a blueprint for what the course would look like if it were to be restored.
The Mystrey of Poa: Shackelford also will explore the complicated and intricate nuances of Poa Annua grass, which those in the field will navigate throughout the week. The feature will include expert insight on the grass complex, in addition to a study outlining the difficulties in trying to putt on it.
MORNING DRIVE: GOLF Channel’s daily coverage of the U.S. Open will kick off on Morning Drive with the latest news and storylines surrounding the competition. Coverage will include guests joining from on-site, along with live reports and interviews.
DIGITAL COVERAGE: GOLF Digital will feature expanded coverage from its team of writers on-site at Pebble Beach: Will Gray, Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner. Coverage will include up-to-the-minute scoring updates, features, analysis and reaction to emerging storylines. Lisa Cornwell, Chantel McCabe, Brian Bateman and Tripp Isenhour will provide previews, analysis and news coverage throughout the week via GOLF Digital, originating from the network’s headquarters in Orlando, Fla., including select player “Instant Analysis” once the competition gets underway.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS LEARNING CENTER: On Monday, June 10 at 10:30 p.m. ET, GOLF Channel will air a special episode of PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center in conjunction with the U.S. Open. The episode will feature World Golf Hall of Fame members Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson breaking down their iconic shots and memories from their respective U.S. Open victories at Pebble Beach. Fellow Hall of Famer Tom Kite – who also won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 1992 – also will offer his strategy for playing in windy conditions. Reigning U.S. Senior Open champion David Toms also will demonstrate his technique for hitting a high, soft pitch show from out of the rough.
| Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open Broadcast Team | Notah Begay, Steve Burkowski, Ryan Burr, Brandel Chamblee, Jaime Diaz, David Duval, Trevor Immelman, Justin Leonard, Rich Lerner, Todd Lewis, Frank Nobilo, Mark Rolfing, Tim Rosaforte, George Savaricas, Geoff Shackelford |
| GOLF Digital | Will Gray, Rex Hoggard, Ryan Lavner |
U.S. Open Week Programming Air Times (all times ET):
Monday, June 10
7-9 a.m. Morning Drive
1-4 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
7-10 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open (Hall of Fame ceremony)
10:30 p.m. PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center – U.S. Open edition
Tuesday, June 11
7-9 a.m. Morning Drive
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
7-9 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
Wednesday, June 12
7-9 a.m. Morning Drive
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
7-9 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
Thursday, June 13
7-9 a.m. Morning Drive
10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
Friday, June 14
7-9 a.m. Morning Drive
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
Saturday, June 15
7-9 a.m. Morning Drive
9 a.m.-Noon Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
10 p.m.-Midnight Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
Sunday, June 16
7-10 a.m. Morning Drive
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
10 p.m.-Midnight Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open
-NBC Sports Group-
