FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 16th, 2015

Golf Channel Tournament Airtimes & Notes (April 15-19)

Spieth to Make First Start as Major Champion at RBC Heritage

Wie Defends at LOTTE Championship Airing

Wednesday-Saturday in Primetime on Golf Channel

Jimenez Defends at Greater Gwinnett Championship

Watson Headlines the Field at Inaugural Shenzhen International in China

 

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 14, 2015) – Jordan Spieth – who captured his first major at last week’s Masters to move to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking – is scheduled to make his first PGA TOUR start this week as a major champion at the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, S.C. On the LPGA Tour, Michelle Wie looks to defend her title in her home state at the LOTTE Championship, which will air Wednesday-Saturday in primetime on Golf Channel. On the Champions Tour, Miguel Angel Jimenez will defend his title at the Greater Gwinnett Championship in Georgia, while the European Tour stages the inaugural edition of the Shenzhen International in China with Bubba Watson headlining the field.

 

PGA TOUR

RBC Heritage

Dates: April 16-19

Venue: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         3-6 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)

Friday              3-6 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)

Saturday         1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-3:30 a.m. (Replay)

Sunday            1-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 7-11:30 p.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:

Spieth to compete for first time as major champion: Winner of last week’s Masters tournament, Jordan Spieth is in the field this week, having moved up to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking after last Sunday’s victory.

Golf Central Special to air Spieth news conference from Harbour Town Wednesday at Noon ET: Golf Channel will air a Golf Central Special Wednesday at Noon ET featuring Jordan Spieth’s press conference from Harbour Town ahead of the RBC Heritage.

Kuchar defends: Matt Kuchar finished one shot ahead of Luke Donald for his seventh career PGA TOUR win.

Headlining the field: Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Billy Horschel, Ernie Els, Bill Haas, Zach Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen and Ian Poulter.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Brian Hammons

Analyst: Curt Byrum

Tower: Matt Gogel / Craig Perks

On-Course: Billy Ray Brown

Interviews: Todd Lewis

 

LPGA TOUR

LOTTE Championship
Dates: April 15-18

Venue: Ko Olina Golf Club, Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii

Tournament Airtimes On Golf Channel (Eastern):

Wednesday     7-11 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)

Thursday         7-11 p.m. (Live) / 2 a.m.-6 a.m. (Friday replay)

Friday              7-11 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6 a.m. (Saturday replay)

Saturday          7-11 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:

­­­­­­­­­­­Event to air Wednesday-Saturday in primetime on Golf Channel: The LOTTE Championship is scheduled to begin on Wednesday and finish on Saturday, airing in primetime on Golf Channel from 7-11 p.m. ET each night.

Wie’s opening round to be featured in Golf Channel’s first round coverage on Wednesday: Michelle Wie – defending champion of the LOTTE Championship – will be featured during Golf Channel’s first round coverage, playing alongside Ai Miyazato and Suzann Pettersen (6:39 p.m. ET start).

Wie defends: Michelle Wie won by two strokes over Angela Stanford for her third career LPGA Tour victory.

Headlining the field: Inbee Park, Michelle Wie, So Yeon Ryu, Na Yeon Choi, Suzann Pettersen, Shanshan Feng, Brittany Lincicome, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Cheyenne Woods.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Tom Abbott

Analyst: Kay Cockerill

Tower: Mark Rolfing

On-Course: Jerry Foltz / Karen Stupples

 

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Greater Gwinnett Championship

Dates: April 17-19

Venue: TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Ga.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Friday              Noon-2:30 p.m. (Live) / 2-4:30 a.m. (Saturday replay)

Saturday         3-6 p.m. (Live) / 3:30-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)

Sunday            3-6 p.m. (Live) / 12:30-3 a.m. (Monday replay)

Broadcast Notes:

Jimenez defends: Coming off a solo 4th place finish at the 2014 Masters, Miguel Angel Jimenez finished two shots clear of Bernhard Langer for his first career Champions Tour win.

Headlining the field: Miguel Angel Jimenez, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Jesper Parnevik, Mark O’Meara, Corey Pavin, Peter Jacobsen, Jay Haas, Lee Janzen and Andy North.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Play by Play: Bob Papa

Analyst: Lanny Wadkins

Tower: John Mahaffey / David Marr

On-Course: Jim Gallagher Jr.

 

EUROPEAN TOUR

Shenzhen International

Dates: April 16-19

Venue: Genzon Golf Club (A Course), Shenzhen, China

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):

Thursday         6-10 a.m. (Tape delay)

Friday              6-10 a.m. (Tape delay)

Saturday         6-10 a.m. (Tape delay)

Sunday            6-10 a.m. (Tape delay)

Broadcast Notes:

Watson: Bubba Watson is in the field this week, following his T-38 finish in trying to defend his 2014 Masters title last week.

Inaugural event: This week is the inaugural edition of the Shenzhen International, which is one of six new events on the 2015 Race to Dubai.

Headlining the field: Bubba Watson, Peter Uihlein, Alexander Levy, Ross Fisher, Tommy Fleetwood, Peter Hanson, Matteo Manassero, Alex Noren, Gary Stal and Andy Sullivan.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:

Studio Host: Mike Ritz

Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly

Analyst: Dom Boulet

On-Course: Julian Tutt

 -NBC Sports Group-