FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 20th, 2014
GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (NOVEMBER 19-23)
Golf Channel to Feature Extensive Coverage of the Final Event of the LPGA Tour Season at the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples
European Tour Season Concludes with DP World Tour Championship
Scott Vyes for Record Third-Consecutive Victory at the Australian Masters
ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 18, 2014) – The LPGA Tour concludes its 2014 season with the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, as the top-nine players in the season-long Race to the CME Globe points standings have an opportunity to win the $1 million bonus prize at week’s end. The top-three in the standings, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park and Lydia Ko control their fate, as they are guaranteed to win the title with a victory this week. The European Tour also wraps up its 2014 season with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. While World No. 1 Rory McIlroy has already clinched the Race to Dubai title, the top-15 in the standings at week’s end will split a $5 million bonus pool, with $1.25 million going to McIlroy. Adam Scott will attempt to win a record third-consecutive Australian Masters, after successfully defending his 2012 title in last year’s PGA Tour Australasia event.
LPGA TOUR
CME Group Tour Championship
Dates: Nov. 20-23
Venue: Tiburon Golf Club (Gold Course), Naples, Fla.
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 1:30-4 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-7 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 1:30-4 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-7 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 1:30-4 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-7 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 1:30-4 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-7 p.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
Race to CME Globe yet to be decided heading into final event of LPGA Tour 2014 season: The LPGA Tour season comes to a close this week with the CME Group Tour Championship. The field is made up of 69 players having qualified based on the season-long points Race to the CME Globe, and the top-nine players in standings are eligible to win the $1 million prize. The top-three in the point standings control their fate with a win this week, as Stacy Lewis is in first, Rolex Rankings World No. 1 Inbee Park in second, and 2014 Rookie of the Year Lydia Ko in third.
Golf Channel to air the CME Group Tour Championship news conferences, Wednesday, 1-2 p.m. ET: Golf Channel’s on-air coverage of the tournament begins on Wednesday with an hour-long news conference show which will feature Michelle Wie, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park and Lydia Ko answering questions from credentialed media on-site ahead of Thursday’s opening round.
Expanded coverage on Golf Central, Morning Drive: Prior to and immediately following live coverage Thursday-Sunday, Golf Central will feature live, on-site reports from Tiburon Golf Club courtesy of Golf Channel’s George Savaricas and Lisa Cornwell, including interviews, highlights and analysis. Golf Channel’s daily news and lifestyle show, Morning Drive also will feature live on-site interviews and reports throughout the week.
Feng defends: Shanshan Feng finished one shot clear of Gerina Piller for her third career LPGA Tour win.
Headlining the field – Race to the CME Globe top-nine (those eligible to win the $1 million prize): 1. Stacy Lewis; 2. Inbee Park; 3. Lydia Ko; 4. Michelle Wie; 5. So Yeon Ryu; 6. Shanshan Feng; 7. Anna Nordqvist; 8. Chella Choi; 9. Karrie Webb.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Terry Gannon
Analyst: Judy Rankin
Tower: Tom Abbott
On Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill
EUROPEAN TOUR
DP World Tour Championship
Dates: Nov. 20-23
Venue: Jumeirah Golf Estates (Earth Course), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 3-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Replay)
Friday 3-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday 3-8 a.m. (Live) / 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Replay)
Sunday 2:30-7:30 a.m. (Live) / 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Replay)
Broadcast Notes:
European Tour Final Series concludes with Race to Dubai bonus purse on the line: Although World No. 1 Rory McIlroy has already clinched the 2014 Race to Dubai title, the top-15 in the final Race to Dubai standings at week’s end will split a $5 million bonus pool, with $1.25 million going to McIlroy. Players finishing in the top-30 of the standings also will receive exemptions into the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
Stenson defends: Henrik Stenson won by six strokes over Ian Poulter for his eighth career European Tour victory, wrapping up the season-long Race to Dubai title and in doing so became the first player to win both the Race to Dubai and the FedExCup in the same year.
Headlining the field: Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Graeme McDowell and Marcel Siem.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Mike Ritz
Play by Play: Dominik Holyer
Analyst: Tony Johnstone / Ken Brown
On Course: Paul Eales
PGA TOUR Australasia
Australian Masters
Dates: Nov. 19-22
Venue: Metropolitan Golf Club, South Oakleigh, Australia
Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Live)
Thursday 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Live)
Friday 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Live)
Saturday 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Scott goes for third-straight Australian Masters title: Adam Scott won the Australian Masters in both 2012 and 2013, and will attempt to win it for a record third-consecutive time this week. His 2013 win was a part of an impressive stretch of golf in his native Australia which included wins at the Australian PGA Championship, Australian Masters, a team title for Australia in the World Cup with teammate Jason Day, and a runner-up finish to Rory McIlroy at the Australian Open to fall just short of winning Australian golf’s “triple crown”.
Scott defends: Adam Scott finished two shots ahead of Matt Kuchar to successfully defend his 2012 title.
Headlining the field: Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Stuart Appleby, Greg Chalmers, Robert Allenby, Daniel Popovic, Michael Sim, Craig Perry, Peter Lonard and Nick O’Hern.
Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Scott Walker
Play by Play: Peter Donegan
Analyst: Ian Baker-Finch / Wayne Grady
On Course: Ossie Moore
-NBC Sports Group-
