LPGA Stages Golf’s First Major of 2018 – ANA Inspiration; Golf Channel Airing 20 Hours of Live Coverage from Mission Hills in Southern California
PGA TOUR’s Houston Open Offers Final Tune-up Ahead of the Masters
80 Boys and Girls Set to Compete in 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National, Airing Live on Golf Channel, Sunday, April 1
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 27, 2018) – Professional golf’s first major championship in 2018 will get underway this week, as the LPGA stages the ANA Inspiration in Southern California. Golf Channel will air 20 hours of live tournament coverage of the ANA Inspiration, including two broadcast windows Thursday-Friday to show the morning and afternoon waves; and a combined eight hours of live tournament coverage in primetime Saturday and Sunday. The PGA TOUR hosts the Houston Open, providing a final tune-up for those in the field ahead of the Masters next week. Golf Channel will carry early-round coverage Thursday-Friday, with NBC airing third and final round coverage Saturday-Sunday. 80 national finalists from across the U.S. and Canada will convene at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday for the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals to officially kick off Masters week. Airing on Golf Channel beginning at 8 a.m. ET, the extraordinary field is made up of 40 boys and 40 girls who advanced from more than 260 local qualifying events across the United States, followed by 53 sub-regional and 10 regional qualifiers.
LPGA TOUR
ANA Inspiration
Dates: March 29-April 1
Venue: Mission Hills Country Club (Dinah Shore Tournament Course), Ranch Mirage, Calif.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday Noon-4 p.m. / 7-9 p.m. (Live); 12:30-3:30 a.m. (Friday replay)
Friday Noon-4 p.m. / 7-9 p.m. (Live); 12:30-3:30 a.m. (Saturday replay)
Saturday 5-9 p.m. (Live) / 2-6 a.m. (Sunday replay)
Sunday 5-9 p.m. (Live) / 3-7 a.m. (Monday replay)
Golf Central Pre and Post Round Coverage on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday 10 a.m.-Noon / 9-9:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday 10 a.m.-Noon / 9-9:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday 1-2 p.m. / 9-10 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 1-2 p.m. / 9-10 p.m. (Live)
Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Terry Gannon / Grant Boone
Analyst: Judy Rankin
Tower: Tom Abbott
On Course: Jerry Foltz / Kay Cockerill / Karen Stupples
Interviews: Lisa Cornwell
Broadcast Notes:
20 hours of live tournament coverage: Golf Channel will air 20 hours of live tournament coverage of the ANA Inspiration. Coverage includes 12 combined hours of early round coverage on Thursday and Friday – featuring two broadcast windows each day to show the morning and afternoon waves; and a combined eight hours of live tournament coverage in primetime Saturday and Sunday.
Pre-tournament news conferences airing Tuesday-Wednesday (5-6 p.m. ET): Golf Central will provide wraparound news coverage of the ANA Inspiration, highlighted by pre-tournament news conferences on Tuesday and Wednesday (5-6 p.m. ET) from the media center at Mission Hills Country Club. Golf Central also will preview and recap live tournament coverage each day, including two-hour pre-game shows on Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.-Noon ET. Morning Drive also will expand to three hours on Thursday and Friday (7-10 a.m. ET) with news, highlights and analysis.
Ryu defends: So Yeon Ryu defeated Lexi Thompson with a birdie on the first playoff hole to earn her fourth career LPGA Tur win.
Headlining the field: Shanshan Feng, Lexi Thompson, So Yeon Ryu, Sung Hyun Park, I.K. Kim, Anna Nordqvist, Cristie Kerr, Ariya Jutanugarn, Inbee Park, In Gee Chun and Michelle Wie.
PGA TOUR
Houston Open
Dates: March 29-April 1
Venue: Golf Club of Houston (Tournament Course), Humble, Texas
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Thursday 4-7 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday 4-7 p.m. (Live) / 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday 2-3 p.m. (Live) / 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday 2-3 p.m. (Live)
Tournament Airtimes on NBC (Eastern)
Saturday 3-6 p.m. (Live)
Sunday 3-6 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
Henley defends: Russell Henley finished three shots ahead of Sung Kang to earn his third victory on the PGA TOUR.
Headlining the field: Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Tony Finau, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Matt Kuchar and Shubhankar Sharma.
Golf Channel/NBC Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Dan Hicks / Steve Burkowski (Golf Channel weekend lead-in)
Analyst: Curt Byrum (Golf Channel) / Johnny Miller (NBC)
Tower: Gary Koch / Steve Burkowski (Golf Channel early-round)
On-Course: Roger Maltbie / Notah Begay / Jim “Bones” Mackay
Interviews: George Savaricas (Golf Channel) / Steve Burkowski (NBC)
Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals
Date: April 1
Venue: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.
Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern)
Sunday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Live)
Broadcast Notes:
80 national finalists convening at Augusta National: This Sunday, 40 boys and 40 girls from across the U.S. and Canada will convene at Augusta National Golf Club after advancing from more than 260 local qualifying, 53 sub-regional and 10 regional qualifiers. Each competitor will participate in three respective skills: the Drive, Chip and Putt. Participants will accumulate points in each skill, with champions recognized in each skill across the eight age groups. The participant with the highest number of combined points from all skills will be declared the overall champion of his or her age group.
Dedicated features on those in the field: Televising live coverage of the National Finals for the fifth consecutive year, Golf Channel will showcase the talents of the 80 national finalists in addition to airing several dedicated features introducing viewers to players across the eight respective age groups (Boys/Girls 7-9; 10-11; 12-13 and 14-15.)
Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Rich Lerner
Analyst: Peter Jacobsen
On Course: Justin Leonard / Paige Mackenzie / Charlie Rymer
Interviews: Steve Sands
-NBC Sports Group-