FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017

NBC SPORTS GROUP TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (FEB. 23-26): THE HONDA CLASSIC; HONDA LPGA THAILAND; JOBURG OPEN

PGA TOUR Moves East for The Honda Classic as NBC Sports Group Kicks Off Six Consecutive Weeks of PGA TOUR Coverage Ahead of the Masters

Ko, Jutanugarn Lead Field as Thompson Defends Honda LPGA Thailand

Joburg Open in South Africa Marks Third Open Qualifying Series Event 

ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2017) – The PGA TOUR moves east this week for The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., the first of six straight TOUR events airing exclusively on Golf Channel and NBC leading up to the Masters. Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn lead the field at the Honda LPGA Thailand, as Lexi Thompson defends her 2016 title. The Joburg Open in South Africa will be staged as the third Open Qualifying Series Event, with three spots in the 2017 Open field available to those finishing in the top-10 (and ties) not previously exempt for the 146TH Open at Royal Birkdale in July.

PGA TOUR

The Honda Classic
Dates: Feb. 23-26
Venue: PGA National Resort & Spa (Champion Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         2-6 p.m. (Live) / 7-11 p.m. (Replay)
Friday              2-6 p.m. (Live) / 7-11 p.m. (Replay)
Saturday          1-3 p.m. (Live) / 7 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Sunday            1-3 p.m. (Live) / 7 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)

Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern):
Saturday          3-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday            3-6 p.m. (Live)

Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         1-2 p.m. (Live) / 6-7 p.m. (Live)
Friday              1-2 p.m. (Live) / 6-7 p.m. (Live)
Saturday          11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live) / 6-7 p.m. (Live)
Sunday            11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live) / 6-7 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
NBC Sports Group kicks off six consecutive weeks of PGA TOUR coverage ahead of the Masters: Beginning with Thursday’s opening round of The Honda Classic, Golf Channel and NBC will combine to present nearly 130 live tournament hours across the six week stretch of PGA TOUR events leading into the Masters.
The Honda Classic Pro-Am airing Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET: Golf Channel will televise The Honda Classic Pro-Am today at 5 p.m. ET, showcasing players in the field making final preparations ahead of Thursday’s opening round.
Scott defends: Adam Scott finished one shot ahead of Sergio Garcia to claim his 12th career PGA TOUR win.
Headlining the field: Adam Scott, Justin Thomas, Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Thomas Pieters, Jimmy Walker, Brooks Koepka, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

NBC Sports Broadcast Team:
Play by Play: Rich Lerner (Golf Channel) / Dan Hicks (NBC)
Analyst: Curt Byrum (Golf Channel) / Johnny Miller (NBC)
Tower: Gary Koch / Peter Jacobsen
On-Course: Roger Matlbie / David Feherty / Notah Begay
Interviews: Steve Sands

LPGA TOUR

Honda LPGA Thailand
Dates: Feb. 23-26
Venue: Siam Country Club Pattaya (Old Course), Chonburi, Thailand

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         1-5 a.m. (Live)
Friday              1-5 a.m. (Live)
Saturday          1-5 a.m. (Live)
Sunday            1-5 a.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Park to compete for first time since Olympics: 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Inbee Park, is set to make her first official LPGA Tour start since the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last June.
Thompson defends: Lexi Thompson finished six strokes clear of the field to earn her seventh career LPGA Tour win.
Headlining the field: Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson, Ha Na Jang, Brittany Lincicome, Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis, Gerina Piller and In Gee Chun.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Joburg Open
Dates: Feb. 23-26
Venue: Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club (East & West Courses), Gauteng, South Africa

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         5-7 a.m. (Tape delay) / 7-9 a.m. (Live)
Friday              5-7 a.m. (Tape delay) / 7-9 a.m. (Live)
Saturday          5-9:30 a.m. (Live)
Sunday            5-9:30 a.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Porteous defends: Haydn Porteous won by two shots over Zander Lombard for his first career European Tour win.
Headlining the field: Haydn Porteous, Darren Clarke, Trevor Immelman, Y.E. Yang, Thomas Detry, Haotong Li and Brandon Stone.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host: Mike Ritz
Play by Play: Dougie Donnelly
Analysts: Dennis Hutchinson / Ken Brown
On-Course: Julian Tutt

-NBC Sports Group-