FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 29th, 2014
Woods, McIlroy Headline Golf Channel’s Coverage of the European Tour’s 25th Showing of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Mickelson Defends Waste Management Phoenix Open Title
in Front of Largest Crowd on TOUR Schedule
ORLANDO, Fla., (Jan. 28, 2014) – Golf Channel’s coverage will feature the group of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and defending champion Stephen Gallacher during the first two rounds of this week’s 25th anniversary of the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. On the opposite side of the globe, the PGA TOUR stages the Waste Management Phoenix Open, home to the famed par-3 16th hole that showcases enclosed stadium seating, making it the loudest hole on TOUR. TPC Scottsdale is known for yielding some of the lowest scores on TOUR, including four rounds of 60 in the past 18 years of the event. Last year, Phil Mickelson came within a lip-out on the final hole of his opening round of shooting golf’s magic number of 59.
European Tour
Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Dates: January 30 – February 2
Venue: Majlis Course, Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 10:30 p.m-Midnight (Live)
Thursday Midnight-4 a.m. / 5:30-8:30 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 1-8:30 a.m. (Live) / 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Replay) / 6:30-10:30 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 4-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Replay) / 6:30-10:30 p.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Golf Channel to feature Woods, McIlroy News Conference Coverage on Wednesday’s Morning Drive, 7-8 a.m. ET: Golf Channel will provide coverage of a Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy news conference on Wednesday, 7-8 a.m. ET within the first hour of its Morning Drive broadcast.
Woods, McIlroy Grouped Together: Tiger Woods makes his first appearance in Dubai since 2011 and will be grouped with Rory McIlroy and Stephen Gallacher, winner of last year’s event for the opening two rounds of competition.
Special Hour-Long Primetime Golf Central Pre-Game will Lead Into Wednesday’s Opening Round: Golf Channel will air a special, hour-long Golf Central Pre-Game at 9:30 p.m. ET leading into Wednesday’s first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Headlining The Field: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, John Daly, Matteo Manassero, Thomas Bjorn, Stephen Gallacher and Mark O’Meara.
Tournament Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Mike Ritz
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analysts: Ken Brown / Warren Humphreys
On Course: Jay Townsend
PGA TOUR
Waste Management Phoenix Open
Dates: January 30 – February 2
Venue: Stadium Course, TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 7:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-7 p.m. (Live) / 7:30-11:30 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Largest Gallery on TOUR: Attracting the largest crowds on the TOUR schedule, the 2013 tournament drew an attendance of more than 525,000 for the week, and a single-day record of nearly 180,000 on Saturday alone.
Mickelson defends: Phil Mickelson went wire-to-wire to win last year’s event, sparked by an opening round of 60 that included a lip-out for a 59 on his final hole, en route to winning the event for the third time in his career.
Headlining The Field: Phil Mickelson, Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker, Lee Westwood, Bubba Watson, Gary Woodland, Rickie Fowler, Ian Poulter, Nick Watney and Bill Haas.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Rich Lerner
Analyst: Curt Byrum
Tower: Peter Oosterhuis
On Course: Phil Parkin
Interviews: Matt Ginella