Australian Open Marks First of 11 Events in The Open Qualifying Series
Leading up to Golf Channel and NBC’s Coverage of The 146TH Open
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 14, 2016 – The official qualifying series for The 146TH Open at Royal Birkdale begins this week at the Emirates Australian Open, airing live in primetime on Golf Channel Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 17-20. The Australian Open is the first of 11 professional tour events in 10 countries that will comprise The Open Qualifying Series for 2017. A total of 44 places in the field of 156 for The Open will be determined via The Open Qualifying Series.
GOLF CHANNEL COVERAGE OF THE OPEN QUALIFYING SERIES IN 2017: Golf Channel will provide coverage of 10 of the 11 tournaments on The Open Qualifying Series, where each of the major tours are represented. Coverage begins this week with the Australian Open on the PGA TOUR Australasia and concludes with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on the European Tour and the John Deere Classic on the PGA TOUR, July 13-16, 2017.
The Australian Open field will be headlined by World No. 5 Jordan Spieth, and Australian standouts Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Aaron Baddeley. Golf Channel’s live, primetime coverage will air Wednesday from 8 p.m.-1 am ET, and from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. ET Thursday-Saturday. Three places in The Open will be awarded to the leading three players not otherwise exempt who finish in the top-10 and ties. The next Open Qualifying Series event will be in January at the SMBC Singapore Open on the Asian Tour.
In addition to the 11 professional tour events, Final Qualifying for The Open will take place at four venues throughout the United Kingdom on July 4, with each location offering four spots (12 total). Golf Channel’s Morning Drive and Golf Central will provide news coverage of Final Qualifying.
NBC SPORTS GROUP RECORD VIEWERSHIP AT THE 145TH OPEN: NBC Sports Group kicked off its inaugural coverage of The Open in 2016 at Royal Troon, Scotland, as part of its 13-year partnership with The R&A, in record fashion. Fueled by the dramatic Sunday play between Phil Mickelson and eventual champion Henrik Stenson, NBC’s final round coverage was the most-watched final round at The Open since 2009. Golf Channel also recorded its most watched Open Week on record, with Friday’s second round coverage helping to become the most watched day in Golf Channel network history.
The Open Qualifying Series for The 146TH Open at Royal Birkdale
Date Spots Event
November 17-20 3 Australian Open (PGA TOUR AUSTRALASIA/ONEASIA)
Royal Sydney Golf Club, Sydney, Australia
The 3 places go to the leading 3 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 & ties
January 19-22 2 SMBC Singapore Open (ASIAN TOUR/JAPAN GOLF TOUR)
Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore
The 2 places go to the leading 2 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 & ties
February 23-26 3 Joburg Open (SUNSHINE TOUR/EUROPEAN TOUR)
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, Johannesburg, South Africa
The 3 places go to the leading 3 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 & ties
April 13-16 2 Ho Tram Players Championship (ASIAN TOUR)
Bluffs Ho Tram Strip, Ho Tram, Vietnam
The 2 places go to the leading 2 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 & ties
May 25-28 4 Mizuno Open (JAPAN GOLF TOUR, Golf Channel news coverage)
JFE Setonaikai Golf Club, Kasaoka, Japan
The 4 places go to the leading 4 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 & ties
TBD 3 Open de France (EUROPEAN TOUR)
Le Golf National, Paris, France
The 3 places go to the leading 3 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 & ties
June 29-July 2 4 Quicken Loans National (PGA TOUR)
TPC Potomac, Avenel, Maryland
The 4 places go to the leading 4 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 & ties
July 6-9 3 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (EUROPEAN TOUR)
Portstewart Golf Club, Portstewart, Northern Ireland
The 3 places go to the leading 3 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 & ties
July 6-9 4 The Greenbrier Classic (PGA TOUR)
The Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
The 4 places go to the leading 4 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 & ties
July 13-16 3 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open (EURO. TOUR)
Dundonald Links, Irvine, Scotland
The 3 places go to the leading 3 players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 & ties
July 13-16 1 John Deere Classic (PGA TOUR)
TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois
One place goes to the leading player (not otherwise exempt) who finishes in the top 5 & ties
-NBC Sports Group-