FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 20th, 2018
NBC SPORTS GROUP TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES & NOTES (MARCH 21-25): WGC-DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY; KIA CLASSIC; RAPISCAN SYSTEMS CLASSIC; CORALES PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Defending Champ & World No. 1 Johnson Leads Stout Field of 64 at
WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin; NBC Sports Group to
Carry Nearly 35 Hours of Live Tournament Coverage, Wednesday-Sunday
Feng & Thompson Headline Field at Kia Classic in California; Golf
Channel to Showcase Live Coverage in Primetime Thursday-Sunday
Jimenez Defends in Mississippi at Rapiscan Systems Classic
Romo Making PGA TOUR Debut Alongside Past Major Champions at
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Thursday-Sunday
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 20, 2018) – The PGA TOUR is in Austin for the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, where World No. 1 Dustin Johnson defends as NBC Sports is set to carry nearly 35 hours of live tournament coverage. The field of 64 is separated into 16 four-man groups competing in round-robin matches Wednesday-Friday, with 16 advancing to single-elimination matches this weekend. Shanshan Feng and Lexi Thompson lead the field at the Kia Classic in Southern California, as players utilize the event as a final tune-up for next week’s ANA Inspiration: professional golf’s first major in 2018. The PGA TOUR Champions are in Mississippi for the Rapiscan Systems Classic, where Miguel Angel Jimenez looks to win for the third consecutive year. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is set to make his PGA TOUR debut (on a sponsor’s exemption), playing alongside major champions in the Corales Puntacan Resort & Club Championship in the Dominican Republic.
PGA TOUR
WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
Dates: March 21-25
Venue: Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Wednesday 2-8 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-3 a.m. (Replay)
Thursday 2-8 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 2-8 p.m. (Live) / 12:30-3:30 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern)
Saturday 2-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 3-7 p.m. (Live)
Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Wednesday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. / 8-9 p.m. (Live)
Thursday 1:30-2 p.m. (Live) / 8-8:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 1:30-2 p.m. / 8-8:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 9-10 a.m. (Live) / 9-10 p.m.
Sunday 9-10 a.m. (Live) / 9-10 p.m.
Broadcast Notes:
Match play format: The 64-man field has been divided into 16, four-man groups competing amongst one another in a round-robin format Wednesday-Friday, with each player in the field guaranteed to play at least three matches. The player in each group with the most points (1 point for a win, ½ point for a halved match) advances to single-elimination match play: round of 16 and quarterfinals on Saturday, and the semifinals and final on Sunday. The top-16 seeded players (based on World ranking) are the top seeds in their respective groups, while the remaining 48 players were divided into three groups (17-32, 33-48, 49-64) and placed through a blind draw on Monday night.
NBC Sports showcasing nearly 35 hours of live tournament coverage: Over the course of the tournament (Wednesday-Sunday), NBC Sports will dedicate nearly 35 hours to live tournament coverage.
Johnson defends: World No. 1 Dustin Johnson defeated Jon Rahm 1up in the finals last year to earn his 15th PGA TOUR victory.
Headlining the field: Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day, Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey.
Golf Channel/NBC Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Terry Gannon (Golf Channel) / Dan Hicks (NBC)
Analyst: Nick Faldo (Golf Channel) / Johnny Miller (NBC)
Tower: Gary Koch / Peter Jacobsen / David Feherty (Golf Channel) / Steve Sands (Golf Channel) / Jimmy Roberts (Golf Channel)
On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Notah Begay / Jim “Bones” Mackay / David Feherty (NBC)
Interviews: Todd Lewis (weekend, Golf Channel) / Steve Sands
Essays: Jimmy Roberts
LPGA TOUR
Kia Classic
Dates: March 22-25
Venue: Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad, Calif.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 8:30-10:30 p.m. (Tape delay) / 7-9 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Channel Digital)
Friday 8:30-10:30 p.m. (Tape delay) / 7-9 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Channel Digital) Saturday 7-9 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 7-9 p.m. (Live)
Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Grant Boone
Analyst: Judy Rankin / Karen Stupples (Thursday)
Tower: Tom Abbott
On Course: Jerry Foltz / Karen Stupples (Friday-Sunday)
Broadcast Notes:
“Caddie knows best” with Juli Inkster on Friday: Juli Inkster and her caddie will be featured in “Caddie knows best” during Friday’s second round coverage, where Juli will try to match answers to questions posed to her caddie about her interests and habits on Tour.
Green to be featured in “Rookie Spotlight”: LPGA Tour rookie Hannah Green will be profiled during Friday’s coverage as part of Golf Channel’s “Rookie Spotlight” feature.
Lee defends: Mirim Lee finished six shots clear of the field in 2017 to win her third LPGA Tour win.
Headlining the field: Shanshan Feng, Lexi Thompson, So Yeon Ryu, Ariya Jutanugarn, Anna Nordqvist, I.K. Kim, Inbee Park, Cristie Kerr, Brooke Henderson, Michelle Wie and Lydia Ko.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
Rapiscan Systems Classic
Dates: March 23-25
Venue: Fallen Oak, Biloxi, Miss.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Friday 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Tape delay) / 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Streaming on Golf Channel Digital)
Saturday 5-7 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 5-7 p.m. (Live)
Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Lanny Wadkins
Tower: John Mahaffey
On Course: Billy Ray Brown / John Cook
Broadcast Notes:
Round 1 on Friday to look ahead to the Masters: With multiple past Masters champions in the field, Golf Channel’s opening round coverage will include a special focus on the Masters in two weeks. Coverage will include winner picks from the broadcast team, including past major champions Lanny Wadkins and John Mahaffey.
Jimenez defends: Miguel Angel Jimenez defeated Gene Sauers with a birdie on the first playoff hole to defend his 2016 title and earn his fourth PGA TOUR Champions win.
Headlining the field: Bernhard Langer, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Colin Montgomerie, Vijay Singh, Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly, Kevin Sutherland and Rocco Mediate.
PGA TOUR
Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship
Dates: March 22-25
Venue: Corales Golf Club, Punta Cana, Dominic Republic
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 2-5 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 2:30-5 p.m. (Live)
Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Whit Watson
Analyst: Curt Byrum
Tower: Matt Gogel
On Course: Craig Perks / Kay Cockerill
Broadcast Notes:
New event: Previously staged as a Web.com Tour event, this week marks the first time that the PGA TOUR will stage an official event in the Dominican Republic.
Romo making PGA TOUR debut: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is in the field on a sponsor’s exemption, making his PGA TOUR debut.
Headlining the field: Tony Romo, Jim Furyk, Graeme McDowell, Emiliano Grillo, Davis Love III, John Daly, Paul Dunne, Retief Goosen, K.J. Choi, Mike Weir and Angel Cabrera.
-NBC Sports Group-
