FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 6th, 2016

GOLF CENTRAL LIVE FROM THE U.S. OPEN HEADLINES NEARLY 60 LIVE HOURS OF NEWS, ANALYSIS & HIGHLIGHTS, JUNE 13-19 ON GOLF CHANNEL

U.S. Open Week Features Include: A Tree Removal Revolution; the History of Oakmont Country Club, Bob Ford’s Final Farewell to Oakmont

Golf Channel Digital to Offer Live Blog for One-Stop Destination for All Things Surrounding 116th U.S. Open

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 6, 2016) – Golf Channel has announced its programming plans for the 116th U.S. Open, taking place June 13-19 at Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh, led by Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open contributing to nearly 60 total hours of live news coverage throughout the week. Hosting the championship for a record-ninth time, Oakmont is often identified as one of the most difficult golf courses in the world.

Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open will originate primarily from a dedicated set positioned between Oakmont’s 14th and 15th holes. Golf Channel’s on-site news presence at Oakmont will feature 10 strategic camera locations, which will include robotic cameras staged adjacent to the driving range, short game area and putting green to give viewers an inside the ropes perspective as players in the field prepare for competition. Coverage also will make use of an additional robotic camera stationed between the 3rd and 4th hole fairways, offering unique views of Oakmont’s iconic “church pews” bunker.

Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open will begin on Monday, June 13 and continue through Sunday, June 19. Rich Lerner (primetime shows), Kelly Tilghman and Ryan Burr will rotate hosting duties, while Brandel Chamblee, David Duval, Frank Nobilo, Mark Rolfing, Arron Oberholser and Michael Breed will serve as analysts, along with 2014 European-winning Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley. Golf Channel Insiders Tim Rosaforte, Rex Hoggard and Ken Schofield along with award-winning author John Feinstein will offer insight and storylines on players in the field, while Todd Lewis and Steve Burkowski will provide reports from inside the ropes and conduct player interviews.

Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open Scheduled Features (previews available upon request):

  •  A Tree Removal Revolution: Known for its expansive and undulating greens, Oakmont at one time also showcased an abundance of trees which helped to define one of golf’s most storied venues. Matt Ginella examines the unique story behind Oakmont’s architectural shift, led by a well disguised revolution to remove hundreds of the courses’ trees one-by-one in the middle of the night. The move to return to the course’s original sans-foliage design saw Oakmont remove some 7,000 trees ahead of the 2007 U.S. Open, and another 7,500 in the years following leading into 2016’s edition.
  •  The History of Oakmont Country Club: Hosting a record ninth U.S. Open this year, Ginella considers why Oakmont makes for such a fitting venue for the year’s second men’s major. From the remorseless test the course presents, to the willing support of the club’s membership, mixed with a long history of signature U.S. Open moments, several experts weigh in on why Oakmont makes for the perfect confluence of ingredients for golf’s most difficult test.
  •  Bob Ford’s Final Farewell to Oakmont: Celebrating his 37th year as head professional at Oakmont, Bob Ford is arguably as synonymous with Oakmont as is Johnny Miller for his historic final round 63 in 1973. Ford will say goodbye to Oakmont at year’s end, stepping down in order to focus full-time on a head pro position at Seminole Golf Club in Florida – a role he’s held during the winter months for the past 16 years. Gary Williams profiles the legacy Ford will leave at Oakmont when he steps away later this year.

Morning Drive

Morning Drive will kick off each day of U.S. Open week with the latest news and storylines surrounding the competition. The show will feature live reports from Oakmont with Gary Williams, Damon Hack, Chris DiMarco and Matt Ginella, who will be joined by other guests throughout the week. Coverage will showcase original content shot on-site at Oakmont, including segments with Williams and Charlie Rymer from throughout the golf course, and Williams’ sit-down interview with Oakmont head pro Bob Ford to preview what players will encounter ahead of Thursday’s opening round. Morning Drive also will provide viewers with a taste of some of downtown Pittsburgh’s most iconic sights and venues.

The Golf Fix

Hosted by 2012 PGA Professional Teacher of the Year Michael Breed, The Golf Fix will air on Monday, June 13 at 6 p.m. ET, live from the range at Oakmont. The show will focus on how those in the field can prepare to conquer the toughest test in golf, including tips for fast, undulating putts, and keys to finding the Oakmont fairways and holding its firm greens.

PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center

On Monday, June 13 at 11:30 p.m. ET, PGA TOUR Champions Learning Center will air a new episode dedicated to the U.S. Open. Larry Nelson, champion of the 1983 U.S. Open –contested at Oakmont – will be featured, offering insight into the course’s most demanding holes.

International U.S. Open Programming

Golf Channel also will produce live international U.S. Open news programming from its Orlando World Headquarters in both Japanese and Mandarin. The shows will feature live reports and custom content from Oakmont throughout the week. These productions will complement the international distribution of Golf Central’s Live From the U.S. Open, which is distributed to markets within Golf Channel’s worldwide footprint in more than 80 countries, 200 million households and 11 languages.

Digital Coverage

GolfChannel.com will feature expanded coverage from its team of writers on-site at Oakmont: Rex Hoggard, Ryan Lavner, Randall Mell, Jay Coffin and NBCSports.com’s Joe Posnanski. Content will be driven by a live blog which will serve as the one-stop destination for everything U.S. Open. Coverage also will include up-to-the-minute scoring updates, features, analysis and reaction to emerging storylines and photo galleries.

U.S. Open Week Programming Air Times (all times ET):

Monday, June 13

7-9 a.m.                                   Morning Drive

1-4 p.m.                                   Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

7-9 p.m.                                   Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

Tuesday, June 14

7-9 a.m.                                     Morning Drive

9 a.m.-7 p.m.                           Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

7-9 p.m.                                    Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

Wednesday, June 15

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 16

6-8 a.m.                                   Morning Drive

8-10 a.m.                                 Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

8-10 p.m.                                 Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

Friday, June 17

6-8 a.m.                                   Morning Drive

8-10 a.m.                                 Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

8-10 p.m.                                 Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

Saturday, June 18

6-8 a.m.                                   Morning Drive

8-11 a.m.                                 Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

7-9 p.m.                                   Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

Sunday, June 19

6-8 a.m.                                   Morning Drive

8-11 a.m.                                 Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

7:30-9:30 p.m.                      Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open

-NBC Sports Group-